Author's Note: I think this world will be shorter than the previous ones. Plus some things will connect to the real KH3 and a few others, sort of like Infinity War. But don't panic, because I have no intention of having this story end up like Infinity War! It's just...things are about to be even more tensed now.
To the two guests who reviewed: First off to "Guest", I'm sorry but there will be no Transformers/Beast Wars in this fanfic because we're nearing the end of this story. Secondly to "Gry22", this is the last Disney world the group will be in and I haven't seen Moana yet so I don't know much of the film. Again, I'm really sorry. Though maybe I could pitch that world in for "Second Life: Strelitzia's Story", not sure yet. Guess we'll have to wait and see.
One more thing: the new KH3 box art cover as been revealed as well as the extended trailer of the game at TGS and both are absolutely beautiful!
I don't own Kingdom Hearts, or Final Fantasy.
CH48: Brief Visit and Discovery.
As though he'd been hit hard on the head, Sora groaned as he opened his eyes, feeling disorientated and a bit stiff. But when he did, he discovered that he wasn't even lying down, but standing up. To make things more confusing, he found himself in some kind of room with a round table, five chairs, a small desk with another table that had scientific stuff like tubes and things like that. The window was colour, and at the wall next to him were giant gears that moved slowly and clock-work.
Where was he? What was this place? As Sora turned while gazing at his new surroundings, a somewhat familiar voice spoke behind him.
"You're in the room of the Foretellers."
"Wha-?" Sora, startled turned again to face the small desk and his eyes widened as he saw the familiar figure in the white robe and Unicorn Mask. "Wait...you're...You're the guy from that dream I had before I reached Olympus Coliseum!"
The Unicorn-Masked man nodded as he stood there. "You have connected your heart with so many, young Keyblade Master and had come this far. However, there are dangers that may be too much for you to handle. And yet, you may be the only one who can end the suffering the worlds have endured."
"That doesn't make any sense." Sora muttered as he folded his arms, thinking.
"It's obvious you're being put to the test to see if you're capable of fixing up anything that happens." A new unfamiliar male voice spoke behind him this time, startling Sora to turn and saw four more unfamiliar people, this time having seated in the chairs at the table as though they'd been there the whole time.
The one who spoke was a younger man, about Sora's height, wearing a yellow robe and a Leopard Mask. Another was a woman wearing a light blue robe and a Snake Mask. The third was a girl, about Kairi's height, wearing a light pink Robe and a Fox Mask. Finally the fourth, unlike most of them, were a black coat just like the one the Master of Masters wore, and his hood was up. But he was about the height of Sora and the guy in the Leopard Mask.
"Wait a minute...who're are you guys?" Sora asked, now more confused than ever.
"As you made it this far, it's time for you to know the truth." The Unicorn-Masked man began, making Sora to look at him as he continued, "We are the original Foretellers. I am Ira."
"I am Gula." The Leopard-Masked man introduced himself.
"Invi." The Snake-Masked woman introduced herself.
"My name is Ava." The Fox-Masked girl introduced herself.
Finally, the hooded figure introduced himself, "I am Luxu."
"The Foretellers...then you guys know Aced, right? And the Master of Masters too!" Sora realised, not sure if he should trust these people or not. Considering how Aced was crazy, Sora didn't want to take his chances.
Ira spoke again, "Aced was once a friend, and ally. Our Master, as you mentioned, was indeed our mentor. Yet, we know now that he had lead us down the wrong path, and yet he was not a traitor. He knew, the only hope for the future, is you."
"Me? But that doesn't make any sense either! Why didn't you guys prevent the Keyblade War in the first place?" Sora demanded, even more lost.
"Because we had no way of knowing how it would start until it was too late. No sooner had our Master vanished, a traitor was discovered, yet none of us knew who it would be." Ira sighed, lowering his head. "I made the mistake of thinking it could have been either one of us, regrettably. Slowly one by one we all began to lose our trust in one another, not yet realising that the traitor could have been someone else."
"It didn't help that the master gave each of us different goals, yet we know nothing of those except our own. Soon even the Keybearers of our unions began to fight each other. Thus-" Gula paused.
Sora nodded, getting a bit of a better idea, "That's how the Keyblade War started. But...what about the X-Blade? I thought that was the main reason why Xehanort wanted to know about it in the first place."
"...I'm the one who used it." Gula responded with a sigh. "I thought that, if I summoned Kingdom Hearts, that would bring the Master back. However, all it did was absorb the hearts of all those who perished in the battle, leaving behind their Keyblades. It was left unchecked, and when the real traitors were shown, Bhunivelze attacked, because the War was not yet over."
"When the two traitors were discovered as we could tell via spirit form, the God was awakened by them, forcing them to flee and put themselves into deep sleep. Three of the new Foretellers-Ventus, Skuld and Ephemer, were forced to fight Bhunivelze alone along with the Keyblade wielders they placed into sleep to prevent them from remembering the events of the tragedy. Yet, it was Ventus who used the power of the X-Blade as well as the inner power of his heart to seal him away." Ava spoke up this time.
"So it was Ven. But doing that caused him to lose his memory of everything except his name." Sora realised, before asking again, "But...how did they end up in the Realm of Darkness and Ven being found by Xehanort?"
The Foretellers shook their heads, as Invi spoke this time, "Unknown, though we can say that two of those traitors went into deep sleep within the darkness, one of them somehow managing to return to the light, but his memories lost, just as with Ventus."
"...Lauriam." Sora muttered. That was only traitor he knew of so far. "He killed Strelitzia and took her place as a Foreteller. That's what she told us earlier. But what about his Keyblade? It was wielded by Xehanort and when Riku and I destroyed it, Xehanort and his pieces of his heart vanished, but it brought the Master of Masters back including the Keyblade."
"As you had guessed," Luxu spoke this time, "It cannot be fully destroyed. The Keyblade lives on to each successor. However, if the current wielder is deeply bonded, damaging the Keyblade could result it's original owner to be revived. But his Eye-Gazing eye, which he pulled out as it allowed him to see the future despite him having vanished, allowed other wielders to see the future to give them that foresight."
Sora gasped in shock. "So...that's why Xehanort was always one step ahead of us. Up until he was defeated, but Chaos appeared."
"Yet, you and Roxas somehow managed to change the future, yet the original time-line still exists at the same time, Sora."
"Huh?"
"With you and Xehanort having travelled through time, the Time-line has been split into many, if not thousands of futures. It came with many outcomes, most the same, and others are different. Then again, Time has been split twelve years ago as well. One of those time-lines had been replaced for a more, peaceful timeline where our master never existed. But that alternate universe is facing problems of it's own, yet it's still linked to you, Sora."
"So it's really my fault?" Sora mumured, chest feeling heavy in guilt. Was it because of him that reality was messed up? Was it really hopeless? Was Aced right all along? Were Caius and Ardyn right? To make things worse, no matter what timeline he was in, Sora felt that every decision he could make would just result in being disasterous.
"Wha-!? No, that's not what I meant!" Luxu stuttered. "No one even predicted in the future changing even if some of us wanted to. I was chosen as our Master's first successor of the Keyblade, so I saw what he could see. Parts of it at least. Either way, you're still the only hope for all reality, Keyblade wielder or not, because your heart is one of the most powerful."
"But then, what Vanitas had shown me earlier when I first realised he was in my head, that's one of the realities of what is happening right now in another universe or whatever." Sora pointed out. "Axel disappeared, Roxas and Xion still inside me and Namine still inside Kairi, Aqua still trapped in the Realm of Darkness, Terra missing, Ven still sleeping, and Xehanort still would've gotten his Keyblade War."
The Foretellers grimly nodded in agreement, as Ira continued, "Which is happening right now, yet you cannot see it or even enter it or it will distrupt reality. In all of the possible realities and futures, this one is the most promising, yet Bhunivelze is slowly awakening as we speak. Still, you are the one who will end the hurting and save the Realm of Light, but it will be risky and there may very likely be losses."
Losses...Sora's mind whirled to all of his friends: Riku, Donald, Goofy, King Mickey, Lea, Roxas, Xion, Namine, Isa, Aqua, Ven, Terra, Skuld, everyone he's met in all of the worlds he visited, and lastly...Kairi-the girl he...
He really loved.
"Then once this is over, it may be best to erase the memories of everything that has happened to ensure the peace of the worlds and forget the hurting." Ava added.
"No." Sora shook his head, confusing the Foretellers. "I don't want anyone to forget. If we did, then that would only shatter the bonds everyone's made and what if the same thing happens all over again and no one remembers how it started? What if those selected few who do remember end up disappearing? Like what happened to Ven, Skuld and everyone else!?"
The Foretellers were silent in shock at the boy's words.
"Sure, the hurting of losing friends and everything you cared for won't go away, but it would hurt even more if the memories of them disappeared. It's like losing the past." Sora continued. "Some people move on while still remembering the good memories and some don't, but that's part of life! The best thing to do is face it head on, learn from those mistakes, not take things for granted, remember the good memories and always know that even though you've lost something or someone you cared about, that feeling for them in your heart will always remain. If I have to, as I had to do lately, I'll cope with it."
"But what if the most hurtful memories are too much?" Ava pointed out.
The sixteen year old shook his head again. "I'll figure something out. If I fall into darkness, I'll take that hurt with me. As long as everyone and all the worlds are safe, and everyone still remembers the good memories and be able to move on, I don't care what happens to me."
"But what is your true fear, Sora? Losing everyone you have? What will you do then?" A familiar, dark embodied voice snarked from behind Sora who spun around and saw Vanitas leaning casually against the desk with the tubes, his arms folded to his chest. "Has it ever occured to you that if you lost everything and you were all on your own? What will happen then, hm?"
Sora felt his heart and stomach drop. He hadn't thought much of that, instead feeling the utter hopelessness. He hasn't really encountered the true loss of anyone. Not even when Will and Jack both died briefly and yes those losses hurt. He remembered the hopelessness and searching for his friends being his top priority. But not once had Sora faced his true permament loss; not like how Elizabeth lost her father. Or Anya's Grandmother having spend ten years of not seeing her granddaughter, or how Lea, and Isa lost their parents in their teenage years and having lived as Nobodies for eleven years, or Aqua being trapped in the Realm of Darkness. Or Kairi losing her grandmother and memories for ten years and even then, her said grandmother is still gone along with her birth family.
Or what Mickey is going through with Yen Sid, and how Eraqus had been struck down twelve years ago.
"Sora." Ira spoke once more, even though Sora didn't turn. "That is the outcome you must accept should it ever happen. Think of what is more important; your happiness, or everyone else's safety and happiness? This is what being a Keyblade Chosen is all about; it's not a game or an adventure. It's a duty."
"I..." Sora trailed off, uncertain of what to say. In truth, he just didn't know. He thought he understood what he was up against. But what if his strength and his faith in his friends were not enough? Would he fail and end up all alone?
But when he looked up again, all of the Foretellers and even Vanitas were gone, and the scenery around him began to blur. The next thing Sora knew, he only saw darkness...
"...ora...Sora...Sora! Wake up!"
'Wha...what happened?' Sora thought groggily. His head ached a little, he felt that he was lying down on the ground and as he blinked his eyes open, blurs of red, blue, black and white along with pink became clear and soon he found himself staring upward at both Kairi and Mickey who hovered over him in great concern.
"Kairi? Your Majesty?" Sora blinked, as memories came flooding back to him before he gasped and sat up quickly which startled two of his friends. "What happened? Where's everyone else?" He asked, noticing that the rest of the group were missing.
"That light we saw seperated us from the others. You the last one to wake up and...I-we were so worried." Kairi replied, blushing a little in almost making a slip on her feelings.
"Oh, sorry." Sora muttered, sheepishly scratching at the back of his head while hoping that Riku and the others were alright. He then looked around their surroundings and discovered that, for the first time, that everything was...huge. The grass was huge, and there were giant mushrooms.
"Um? Where are we? Are we back in Basil's world or Wonderland?" The teenager asked, puzzled.
"Nope." Mickey spoke this time. "Not sure why, but I think we're in the land of the giants."
"Land of the Giants!?" Sora and Kairi exclaimed, shocked.
"Yup, and from the looks of it, it hasn't changed much." The King replied, admitting, "Gosh, it's been so long since I last came here a long time ago. Hmm, I wonder why that light brought us here?"
"Do you think everyone else is around here?" Kairi asked as she helped Sora to stand up. "Are there really Giants in this world?"
Mickey shrugged, "I don't know about the others, but maybe. As for the giants part, well, yeah. I know of one at least. But still, there must be a reason behind all this." and that concerned him quite a lot. Not to mention, with the situation going on, it brought back unpleasent memories that he knew he shouldn't let them get to him.
That made both Sora and Kairi share uncertain glances and hoped that they wouldn't be having any problems with encountering the Giant Mickey knew of, or fight him or end up getting caught. It wasn't a pleasent experience to do that, not with the Titans back at Olympus Coliseum or Calypso at the Caribbean.
Before any of them could think of how to solve this problem, they were suddenly surrounded by a horde of insect-like Heartless along with numberous types of Nobodies which alerted Sora, Kairi and Mickey who all grunted before summoning their Keyblades, ready to fight. The trio leaped out of the way to avoid a shot of silky string coming from one of the insect-Heartless.
Sora immediately thrusted his Keyblade downward at one Heartless and eliminating it before slashing at another at the side. The teenager slid-dodged out of the way from several more when they blasted spider-web attacks which he quickly burned with a Firaga. When the bulky Heartless appeared, Sora flipped over it's head and struck it single-handedly at the back which destroyed it almost instantly. Deciding to summon Meow Wow when he found himself surrounded by five other Heartless, Sora called out his Dream Eater friend and the two bounced around and around, knocking back the enemies who stood no chance against either of them or the shock-waves.
Kairi twirled and spun while thrusting her Keyblade at many enemies before chanting Thunder which she learned from Donald and Aqua. The Princess of Heart jumped back when a flower Heartless attempted to poison her with it's dart, before responding by chanting a Fire spell which gave it burns and began weakening it. She then summoned her Orbs of Light which not only destroyed her opponent, but also caused severe damage to the other Heartless attempting to get to her. Feeling the back of her neck prickle, Kairi spun and narrowly avoided in getting webbed by another spider-web attack before she thrusted her Keyblade in a sky-upper-cut skill she again learned recently.
Mickey spun around while taking out his enemies in multiple hits and then preformed his air-triple somersaults which knocked back three Heartless at the same time. The King then hovered slightly in the air and blasted his own Orbs of Light to defeat the Heartless that gathered around. When Mickey sensed something above him, he thrusted the Kingdom Key-D right onto the head of the flying Heartless, smacking it down to the ground where it crashed into the other Heartless before he finished them off with a combination of Thundaga and Firaga, followed up by his Orbs of Light which engulfed the Heartless and destroying them.
The fight continued on until the trio was certain that they'd taken care of the Heartless that had ambushed them. Sighing in relief, Sora, Kairi and Mickey desummoned their weapons for the time being and looked around once more, just in case there were more Heartless that would end up appearing. It wasn't until Kairi noticed something in the distance and gasped.
"Look!" Kairi cried out, pointing. Sora and Mickey looked to see what she was looking at and there stood a massive castle towering over everything.
"Whoa! It's huge." Sora gapped in awe.
"Yup. That's were Willie the giant lives." Mickey nodded, recongising it almost instantly. He then explained to the surprised teenagers, "He's not really evil. Well, not really. But even though we're both friends, we have to be careful because none of us know what's happenin' in this world or where our friends are. With the Heartless around, I got a feelin' this won't be a good visit."
"You think we should investigate?" Kairi quiered, somewhat nervously.
"Well, what else can we do? None of us have a clue where the others are and with the Heartless around, something's happening." Sora pointed out, though deep down, he wasn't keen to that idea of this either. Plus, more than anything...he felt doubt begin to grow inside him.
Mickey nodded in agreement. "Right, and the only way to find out is head to that castle."
Even though the three of them were nervous about this, they nodded in agreement and began to head towards the giant's castle, not knowing what they will find. Though as they walked and kept an eye out for the Heartless, Sora couldn't help but think about the dream he had after passing out. About what the Foretellers had told him, that everything, even time, was connected to him. How all of this unfolded and the other timelines were things went for a different outcome for the future.
But the timeline Sora really thought about was if he and Roxas hadn't saved Axel, then Roxas and Xion would've still been inside Sora himself, Namine inside Kairi, Aqua still trapped in the Realm of Darkness, and giving into darkness despite Riku and Mickey's efforts to save her, Isa becoming Xehanort's vessel, Ven still sleeping, Terra still missing, and most of the first Organization possibly revived and turned into more of Xehanort's vessels, Strelitzia still dead, the Master of Masters not appearing, Skuld and Ephemer still in the darkness themselves.
Not to mention the outcome of what will happen in this timeline.
"Sora. That is the outcome you must accept should it ever happen. Think of what is more important; your happiness, or everyone else's safety and happiness? This is what being a Keyblade Chosen is all about; it's not a game or an adventure. It's a duty."
The duty of being a Keyblade wielder...that's what Ira had said. Sora thought he understood that responsibility. But it was becoming very clear that he never truly understood at all. It would never be over. Sora would never stop fighting to protect the Realm of Light. He would never find peace in himself. Maybe he shouldn't even consider of being around his friends if he had to lose them to save the Realm of Light each time there was evil.
Did that mean Sora wasn't meant to save those close to his heart? Were Shalua and Shelke right? Was Aced right? Was sacrificing himself to protect everyone not enough?
'Maybe it really is all my fault. Everything came down to this...because of me.' Sora thought to himself, feeling guilt form in his heart.
"Sora? Are you okay?" Kairi's voice jarred Sora back into reality.
"Huh, what?" Sora blinked, and then realised that he must've paused in his steps, because both Kairi and Mickey were a few feet ahead of him and now both of them were looking at him in concern that Sora hadn't even noticed.
"Yeah, I'm fine, but..." Sora sighed, trailling off. He knew he should tell them, but they had so much to do, so much to worry about.
Before Sora could say what he wanted to say, however, there was a huge shockwave that nearly made the three of them lose their balance. When the sudden short tremor stopped, Sora, Kairi and Mickey looked to the direction where it was coming from and saw, to their shock, was a bit of a small explosion coming from inside the castle as a bit of smoke was seeing coming out of the window.
"Oh no! Somethin's gone haywire!" Mickey exclaimed.
Realising that he had to forget his thoughts later, Sora grunted. "Let's go!"
Both Kairi and Mickey nodded before they and Sora hurried to see what was happening and hoped to solve this world's sudden problems.
Inside the giant's castle itself, were the giant himself who was knocked out by the sudden electricity done bye Arlene who had also just electrocuted Pete who cringed and flinched by the woman's attacks.
It seemed they were fighting and Arlene had apparently won out.
"D'oooooh! Usin' electricity and a million knives just ain't fair!" Pete groaned, "And how'd you even knock out this old chump?" he jerked a thumb at the unconscious giant.
Arlene just cackled evilly while shrugging, "I'm just that darn good! If you're that such of a loser, it's no wonder those brats always defeat you and that old hag Maleficent."
That made Pete feel insulted as he glared back, "Now lookie here, ya' pipsqueak! Nobody, and I do mean NOBODY, messes with the mighty Pete or the great Maleficent!"
"Oh please. Just admit it, fatty. You're a loser, with a capital 'L'." The blonde-haired woman rolled her eyes.
Unaware to her and Pete, Sora, Kairi and Mickey had made it to the top of the stairs and were crawling under the door and entering the castle. It took a bit of climb and Heartless fighting to get to this place, but they had made it even though their potions and elixir were low and they had to restock once they met up with their friends and continued on to Radiant Garden. When the trio heard voices, Mickey gestured two of his friends to keep silent and both Sora and Kairi nodded in agreement. As the trio tip-toed while following familiar voices as became quickly shocked while wondering how it was possible, they peeked from behind the leg of a stand and there stood Arlene arguing with Pete, and unconscious giant on the floor.
"I am not fat! You've insulted me for the last time, lady!" Pete yelled.
"I can't believe those two are here!" Sora hissed in a whisper.
"That explains the Heartless problem." Kairi muttered.
Mickey gazed at the two villains before gazing at the giant and his heart froze in ice. Considering how Arlene-and he was certain it had been Arlene that knocked the giant down since Pete wouldn't even attempt in trying-rendered the giant unconscious, he was now very worried.
'Willie!' Mickey thought worriedly.
Arlene just scoffed. "Cry me a river. Once I've taken care of you, this big guy will be history before I move on to my next phase."
That had done it. Sora and his friends heard enough and even though they didn't know the condition of Willie the giant, they were not going to let Arlene or Pete get away with it. So the three Keyblade wielders shared a nod before rushing over to stop them.
"Don't even think about it!" Sora yelled out, as he, Kairi and Mickey quickly summoned their Keyblades while his voice startled both Arlene and Pete who looked to see the familiar trio.
"Well, well, well. I've been thinking about you." Arlene grinned cruelly as she turned to fully face them. "Oh? And it looks like only three of you are here. Where did your friends go, I wonder?"
"What? You pipsqueaks again!? Why don't ya's just stay outta MY way!?" Pete growled in disbelief at the group who glared back.
"One, it's none of your business!" Sora shouted at Arlene, before turning to Pete and added, "Two, because you don't know when to quit in being a bad guy!"
"What you did to my friend Willie is awful! We're here to stop ya's!" Mickey added.
"You won't get away with any of this!" Kairi concluded.
"Oooh! Three Keyblade wielders wanting revenge. I'm so scared!" Arlene mocked with a grin. Laughing again, she held a firm grip on her knives, serious this time. "Now's the time when you three and your friends are history!"
"Dream on!" Sora scoffed.
Pete on the other hand, seeing how serious this was going to turn out and that he still didn't have much luck in locating the Book of Prophecies or the Black Box, decided he didn't want to get involved in this world anymore.
"Maybe I'd outta be hittin' the road." Pete whispered to himself, slithering away hopefully un-noticed.
Unfortunately for Pete, Arlene took notice and immediately snapped her fingers with her free hand, saying, "Not so fast, tubby!"
Caught by surprise and knocked out for the second time, Pete screamed as he was comically electrocuted before falling onto the floor, unconscious. Sora, Kairi and Mickey gasped, before turning their attention back to Arlene and stood ready, preparing themselves for another round against her.
"Your turn, losers!" Arlene declared.
She struck first by casting Thundaga at the trio who either dodged or reflected the attack before she charged forward and threw her attacks at Sora, Kairi and Mickey who blocked all of her eight knives with their Keyblades. She then leaped back before attempting to claw them, but Mickey created a barrier which made her reflect back before he thrusted his Keyblade and attacked her as quickly as possible.
Quickly becoming angry, Arlene jumped and tossed her knives at him, but the king leaped and dodged out of the way, though one grazed him on the arm as he cried out in pain but attempted to ignore it. Sora tossed his Keyblade at the woman who attempted to block his attack, but growled when Kairi summoned her Pink Orbs of Light at her which made the blonde having no choice but to unleash a powerful jolt of electricity to block both. Unfortunately for her, it wasn't enough and she soon found herself hit by the two attacks while caught in the middle, causing her to scream in agony.
Though when the attack was done, Arlene was now really furious. She held up her hands and Lightning strikes began to rain down on the trio who, with Sora and Kairi remembering the previous fight when Lea had been fighting alone side them in the Kingdom of Corona, dodged and had trouble avoiding her attacks even though some managed to hit them and paralyze them briefly. This allowed Arlene to claw the trio who were nearly knocked over but the paralyze wore off, and both Mickey and Sora chanted another barrier spell which reflected Arlene off again, much to the madwoman's frustration. The trio then quickly casted Curaga and Cure on themselves and each other even though they knew they had to keep in check of their limited magic.
Deciding to try another higher level, Arlene leaped and jumped, using one of the legs of the giant table which Sora's group noticed and immediately followed her while dodging her knives and electricity which was a difficult task in and on itself, but the trio managed to reach the top and then jumped to avoid more of the woman's kunai knives thrown at them and avoid in falling off the table itself which thankfully was empty of all except for a giant battle of champhange.
Realising they were in trouble, Sora decided to try another Keyblade skill and held it up, which surprisingly transformed his weapon into a part sledge-hammer, part driller which he decided to try and charged forward and while Arlene successfully dodged most of the attacks, he managed to slam her by first creating shock-waves that hit only the woman and then used the drill part to cause more injuries and damage on her as she yelled in pain.
But she then counterattacked again by first teleporting out of the way to avoid Sora's next attack as well as avoiding Kairi's and Mickey's attacks and then created some Lightning Bolts which the three avoided as Arlene vanished, and reappeared at several spots where she threw knives as Mickey, Kairi, and Sora blocked or bashed them away while avoiding the Lightning bolts being cautious on what she will do. Realising what Arlene had in mind, Sora quickly dodge-rolled while pulling both Kairi and Mickey out of the way before Arlene could even attack them like the last time she surprised the two teenagers and Lea which irritated her even further before she attempted to surge a massive bolt of electricity.
When close she fired several bolts of lightning at close range which Mickey, Kairi, and Sora used their Keyblades to block the assault before Arlene split to two dopplegangers who charged, and struck them with their knifes before the real Arlene fired lightning bolts which the trio are having a tough time keeping track of both the dopplegangers, and the real Arlene attacking. Then Sora used his Flowmotion and disappeared into the table before reappearing behind the real Arlene and he bashed her to the ground before while Mickey jumped and bashed the doppleganger on the head, knocking it back towards the real Arlene, merging the two back together and Kairi bashed her with her Keyblade which send her flying.
But she recovered and landed on her feet. Arlene then held up her arms to create a new vortex of electrity which had Sora, Kairi and Mickey realise that this was her killing-move.
It was then that Sora had a memory form into his mind; one that seemed new to him but he realised that it was a forgotten memory that has finally returned to him.
Flashback: During KH-Chain of Memories...
A younger Sora, Donald and Goofy were righting Larxene when the trio came up with an idea. They stood on Goofy's shield and began to spin around and around and around while Sora and Donald both held up their weapons up in the air.
"Blizzard!" Donald chanted.
"Fire!" Sora chanted.
Both magic elements appeared from Sora's Keyblade and Donald's staff before the attacks combined while the trio spun, creating a make-shift shower which began to rain on Larxene who saw too late before she slowly began soaked while she summoned her Lightning, realising too late what their plan was and now she was at a complete disadvantage.
She screamed in denial while trying to keep herself dry, but it was too late as her own power turned against her and then...
Kaboom!
She literally exploded in water and electricity which weakened her to the point of panting heavily while Sora, Donald and Goofy slowly came to a stop as they stopped spinning, even though they were left dazed.
"No... No! I refuse to lose to such a bunch of losers!" Larxene grunted, before realising there was black mist forming and appearing from her body which then became see-through and she realised in her horror this was her demise. "I think I'm...I'm fading?! No, this isn't...the way I... I won't...ALLOW..."
Larxene had no chance of finishing her sentence as she faded completely into the oblivion of darkness.
Or so Sora's group thought.
End Flash-Back:
Sora blinked briefly before realising he had an idea, so he turned to Kairi and Mickey, calling out, "Guys! We need to spin around and combine our attacks to stop Arlene!"
"Huh?" Mickey blinked, confused.
"What do you mean?" Kairi asked.
"Just trust me!" Sora cried out, holding out his hand to them and, upon realising that Sora may have a plan, Kairi and Mickey both quickly nodded and held each other's free hands and began forming and spinning in the middle of the air and soon enough, Sora held up his Keyblade and chanted, "Firaga!"
It was then that Kairi and Mickey realised what Sora's idea was, especially since Arlene was using electricity and both of them copied his moves.
"Blizzard!" Kairi chanted, holding up her Keyblade.
"Light!" Mickey chanted, deciding that a bit of power of light would hopefully help.
It did because as the trio spun around and around, they created a new rain of water and light which spread the entire table and to Arlene's shock and horror when she saw this, it was too late for her. Not only it made her own attack backfire, it also began to cover her with both electricity, water and light as she attempted to keep herself dry, but it was no use.
"No! Nooooooo! Not this again!" Arlene screamed as she felt the agonized and familiar pain of her power turned against her. There was then a small explosion that engulfed her as she screamed.
When it stopped and the dust cleared, and Sora, Kairi and Mickey stopped spinning and landed back on the table, Arlene was on her knees, defeated, exhausted and in pure agony, severely weak.
"Why...WHY!?" Arlene screamed in anger, punching the hard wood with her fist. "Why do I always lose to a bunch of losers!? If I don't get my revenge, then things will only get worse!"
Despite that Arlene was nasty through and through, Sora, Kairi and Mickey couldn't help but feel sympathy for her.
"Arlene, revenge doesn't make anything better for anyone, even for yourself." Sora gently explained. "I get you're angry because everything went wrong for you when you were a Nobody. But you should really appreciate that you're a person again now, and be happy to have your heart again."
He then paused before asking, "Why did you and Marluxia want to overthrow Organization XIII by using me and Namine?"
"Why should I tell you!?" Arlene snapped angrily, glaring heatedly at the sixteen year old. "It's because of you, Axel, that witch and two of your friends that everything Marluxia and I had planned was ruined!"
"Because even though I know that you already figured it out, Xemnas lied to you and most of the Organization, even Axel. Xehanort's real plan was to put thirteen pieces of his own heart into your bodies, turning you into his vessels to re-create the X-Blade and start the Keyblade War." Sora explained.
"Not only that," Mickey spoke this time, "But Xehanort didn't even care about anyone but proving that the legend was true. He ruined so many lives, even your own. Even with him gone, the damage made in the past can't be undone. I don't know what you and Lamuria are up to, but attacking us isn't the right answer."
Arlene just scoffed, turning away from the group. "That doesn't make any difference. Thanks to you losers and your friends the Realm of Light is worse off than ever. You won't learn your lesson, because none of you brats are that good. So you defeated Xehanort; that's just beginners luck!"
"No. It's because Xehanort didn't understand that no one can have everything they want." Kairi said, which had the older woman glance at her. "Sometimes things are better left undiscovered and just learn what you can and understand that the past shouldn't be repeated. You have to look on into the future and think about the people you care about so much."
"You three are too naively forgiving." Arlene rolled her eyes.
"Maybe, but that doesn't change anything." Sora pointed out. "Look, I'm not happy the way you and Lamuria are doing things by attacking us, and I don't know what's going on with the other bad guys either. But I can't hate you guys without reason. I'm not a biggest fan of people doing rotten things, but I don't want to make myself a killer either. I'll only do that if I don't have a choice or if my friends and other innocent lives get hurt."
"But what if you end up dead and you won't be able to be with your friends anymore?" Arlene challenged.
To her surprise, Sora shook his head as he said, "I don't care what happens to me. As long as the Realm of Light and everyone in it are safe, including everyone I care about, that's all that matters."
"So if the situation calls for it, you're just going to sacrifice yourself?" Arlene asked, skeptically. "Like you did two years ago?"
Sora nodded and despite Kairi and Mickey's alarmed expressions, they didn't voice their thoughts of not wanting to lose Sora. Because once his mind was made up, there was no turning away from it.
"If you're trying to convince that crazy lady to join you, that won't happen." Vanitas snarked in Sora's mind, yet once again Sora chose to ignore him.
A moment of pause.
Eventually Arlene just glared, before standing up weakly, holding her side in pain as she said, panting, "Think what you want, but eventually you'll learn that it's already too late. The only way to fix up this mess is for one person to do it the right way. I hope you brats and Axel are still alive to see it."
With that, Arlene teleported herself away. Sora, Kairi and Mickey all sighed before sharing a glance, and then jumped when they heard Pete screaming and when all three of them turned around, a giant hand rested on the table, before the rest of it belonging to the Giant stood up, the other hand holding the terrified Pete as Willie stood up, now awake. Seeing this made Sora, Kairi and Mickey flinch in fright as they slowly backed away.
"Are you still causing trouble, Pete?" Willie the giant demanded angrily as he held the villian by the collar of his shirt with two fingers.
"W-well, not to you, at least. If ya wanna go and punish somebody, hehehe, try the blonde lady with her millions of knives and electricity powers." Pete chuckled nervously.
"I beg to differ." Sora scoffed at Pete's comment. Mickey and Kairi both nodded in agreement.
Hearing his voice, however, made Sora realise his mistake as Willie blinked in confusion before he looked to face the trio who flinched. Rather than being angry though, Willie looked puzzled as he recongised the mouse with the two human teenagers, which the boy was standing protectively in front of the girl.
"Is that my little friend Mickey Mouse?" Willie asked.
"S-sure is." Mickey stuttered, somewhat nervously as he still wasn't certain of this reunion. "Hiya, Willie. Long time no see."
"Golly, you haven't changed at all." Willie greeted, smilling. He then asked when he gazed at the teenagers, "Who're your new friends?"
"Oh! Sorry. This is Sora and Kairi." Mickey remembered and introduced. "Sora, Kairi, this is Willie."
"Nice to meet you." Kairi replied, nervously.
"Uh, hey there." Sora greeted to the giant, also nervous.
Pete groaned, "Oh great. Now the Keyblade brat and the li'l Princess are the giant's new palies."
"I'm not done with you!" Willie glared at Pete again. "You've been bothering my little friends again, haven't ya?"
"So what if I did?" Pete replied as he folded his arms with a raised eye-brow. "Besides, what're YOU four nimwits gonna do 'bout it?"
30 seconds later...
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaagggggghhhhhh!" Pete screamed as Willie had tossed him out of the window where the villian was sent flying through the air so far that no one saw where he landed. He ended up landing in a giant pond with a splash!
"He never learns, does he?" Kairi asked, exasperated.
"Nope." Mickey shook his head, while Sora placed his own hands behind his own head.
"So what's going on?" Willie asked, getting the trio's attentions as they turned to him. "How did you all get here and what's happening?"
"Oh, it's a very long story." Mickey sighed, and so he, Sora and Kairi told the giant parts of what was happening, such as the villians and everything connected to this situation and how none of them knew what was happening or if their missing friends were around or not.
They concluded on how a bright light and Sora's Keyblade brought them here.
"So um, have you seen any of our friends?" Mickey then asked.
"Nope. The only ones I've seen today were that yellow-haired lady with the knives, Pete, and you three." Willie shrugged apologetically, before adding, "Though I did see some kinda strange two magic holes earlier not too far from here."
"Strange magic holes? You mean like portals or corridors?" Sora asked, stunned as he, Kairi and Mickey thought about this new unusual event.
"I'm not sure where they come from, but I do know that both of them had different pictures of places. One had a place where you were in it with everybody, Mickey. The other had a white room with the glowing marble which last I checked was still around while the other just disappeared." The giant explained.
Mickey, Sora and Kairi gasped when the words registered in their heads.
"White room and glowing marble...that's the Hall of the Cornerstone! If it's still around, maybe it's a way back home." Mickey realised.
"Maybe the others went there." Kairi guessed hopefully.
"Maybe...Well, the only way to find out is to go and look." Sora stated in agreement.
"Plus with Pete havin' the Heartless around, I'm worried that Maleficent will try and take over the world again." Mickey added, and Kairi and Sora both nodded.
"I can take youse there to make it faster." Willie offered.
"Really?" Sora asked, surprised at the giant's offer.
The giant nodded, "Uh-huh. Maybe next time if you find a way here, you're all welcome to visit and we can all have Chocolate pot roast, with the smashus, uh, with the smashus, smimaga...uh, with yogart."
"That's very sweet of you, Willie. Thank you." Kairi smiled, and Sora and Mickey both nodded, in relief and gratefulness.
Yet none of them knew what else was about to happen.
Meanwhile, back in Radiant Garden in the computer room, Namine, Izeno, Even, Aeleus, Yuna, Rikku, Paine, and Von Drake were studying tons of books with the special scanner Von Drake had invented to connect to Ansem's computer, hoping one of them was the Book of Prophecies.
So far, no luck.
"How 'bout this one?" Rikku asked eagerly.
"I'm sorry, but this isn't the one we're looking for either." Tron replied apologetically and everyone sighed in disappointment, aind in both Even and Von Drake's case, sheer annoyance.
"Ooooh! That book is a tricky one to find, and a slithery one at that." Von Drake groaned in annoyance.
"Maybe that scanner you made isn't working properly." Paine suggested sarcastically.
"I heard that." The duck professor grumbled.
"Well, looking at all of these old books isn't going to help. It's a complete waste of time." Even scoffed. "If Master Ansem were still here, he would perhaps have been more helpful on whether such a book exists or not."
"I agree. Considering how the book itself is ancient, it would have been hidden in a secret area even after thousands of years without use." Ienzo theoried in agreement.
"Unless it's been destroyed." Aeleus spoke up, causing everyone to gaze at the taller man as he continued, "How do we know that the Book of Prophecies even still exists? After a long time without knowing, we're not certain if the book has survived or not or it's placed in a world no one has discovered yet."
"Hmmmm..." The youngest man thought deeply. "That is another theory. Yet considering that Maleficent has known of it's existance from someone, it could be that Xehanort told her at some point before converting his heart into Terra's body twelve years ago."
"Yet, how was it that Xehanort knew?" Even questioned. "We cannot simply ask him. You know as well as I do that Sora and Riku had eliminated him in the Realm of Sleep."
"Maybe Aced would know. He, Ven and Skuld do come from the era of the Keyblade War." Namine thought up. "What if he knew and is hiding it with him?"
"Do you think that's the case?" Yuna asked.
While most of the others thought deeply about that possibility, Ienzo on the other hand thought otherwise. "I highly doubt it. Given what we have learned so far from Skuld, it's possible that even Aced knew nothing more of the book itself."
"I think this is just getting us all around in circles." Von Drake rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Though I also think that it may be in another world that no one has been to before, just as Aeleus has suggested."
"The only other world that may have it is Twilight Town in the mansion." Namine said. "There is a library there that not even DiZ used. Maybe we should look there."
"...It is another possibility." Ienzo nodded in agreement.
"What mansion?" Rikku asked, confused.
"It's an old mansion DiZ used and where I restored Sora's memories. No one else has used that place in years." Namine answered.
"Like the ShinRa mansion in Nibelhiem?" Paine asked, raising an eyebrow.
This made Rikku shudder slightly. "Ugh, don't remind me of Nibelhiem. That place was darn right creepy and seeing that crazy half-giant guy Azul makes my skin crawl."
"It's not creepy. Even now, I don't feel like it's creepy at all. It's just...a bit lonely but it's better than Castle Oblivion." Namine ensured her.
"Indeed." Even frowned. "Castle Oblivion was a mystery in and on itself. But also frightfully dull."
"Perhaps we should look into getting to Twilight Town and investigate there, to see if the Book of Prophecies is located in the mansion. If not, then it makes our search more difficult." Ienzo suggested.
"We can ask Merlin to get there." Yuna suggested.
But before the others could respond their agreement, an unfamiliar and cold voice spoke cruely, "Unfortuntely, neither of you will be going to retrieve that book. Though that doesn't mean..."
"Who-UGH!" Aeleus yelled out when a sudden power of darkness knocked him and everyone else to the floor as they also screamed out when they too were hit. Scrambled on the floor at the sudden weakness and finding themselves unable to move as the dark mist was holding them firmly, they could only look up when they saw, unknown to them, Ardyn and Blaine who smirked evilly.
"...you won't be going anywhere." Ardyn finished.
"Who-Who are you!?" Ienzo demanded, hissing as though he had no control over his body.
"Ardyn Izunia." Ardyn introduced himself in a mock bow. "Such an honor to meet the vessels of the dark one; Xehanort."
"Xehanort's gone!" Namine grunted, glaring.
Ardyn and Blaine just laughed, as the former spoke, "True, but his heart is in fragments. All one needs is perfect vessels to bring about our master's true purpose. You on the other hand, little witch, are for another purpose."
Namine felt her heart freeze in ice, and she was certain by the horrified growing expressions of three of the original Organization, their hearts were frozen as well. Xehanort's heart still existed, but in fragements? Did that mean...Xehanort wasn't truly dead? Or was it...for Chaos? Or Aced? The former Nobody of Kairi didn't know. What she did know was that these two people were evil and they had come for her and Ienzo, Even and Aeleus.
"Don't worry." Blaine spoke this time, his eyes glowing red once more. "There'll be plenty of company for all of you...except those three girls and that old duck. They're no use for us."
"Say that again!" Von Drake grunted.
"We...will not...serve you or...your master!" Aeleus grunted.
"You have no choice, I'm afraid. This is the only path that is made for all of you." Ardyn replied, not sounding even the slightest of remorse.
"What do you think you're doing!?" Another voice shouted behind the two men who turned to look, while their trapped prisoners looked up to see Leon in the doorway, gunblade in hand and glaring at Ardyn and Blaine.
"Well, what have we here? Another foolish one?" Ardyn grinned, and before Leon could do anything, Ardyn simply snapped his fingers and the gunblade wielder gasped as a powerful painful jolt caused him to drop his weapon and found that he was frozen stiff, just like the others on the floor.
"C-Can't move!" Leon grunted.
"That should hold him." Blaine snickered, before turning back to Namine and the others, mockingly wondering, "Now, where were we?"
Seeing how Ardyn and Blaine had the full advantage, the others tried and failed to break free from their restrains. If they didn't do something soon, they would be taken to wherever the two men had in mind. Unfortunately, Blaine held out his hand and summoned a very familiar weapon that made everyone's eyes widen in shock and disbelief, a sharp, jagged black blade with a dark feather-teeth, the hilt looking like iron with spikes around it, and the keychain...it was just like the keychain of Xehanort's Keyblade; the demon blue eye.
"...A Keyblade!?" Namine exclaimed, frightened.
"It's impossible!" Ienzo grunted in disbelief.
"This is...this is absurd!" Even exclaimed, glaring at the apparent Keyblade wielder of Darkness.
Blaine didn't say anything. Instead he held up his Keyblade in the air and simply chanted, "Sleep."
By this magic spell, all except Ardyn were covered by Blaine's magic and no matter how hard they tried...no one could resist the Sleeping Spell, and the last thing Namine and her allies saw were the two evil men slowly approach before their world went black.
Back at the Land of Giants, Willie was carrying Sora, Kairi and Mickey to where he spotted the portal earlier, looking around thoughtfully and trying to remember where he saw it. Finally he spotted light and when he got closer, he smiled before gently lowing the trio down in front of it.
"Here we are." The giant told them, and Sora, Kairi and Mickey hopped off the giant's hand.
"So this is the portal." Sora thought, amazed.
"Do you think it'll take us to the Castle?" Kairi thought, worried that it might not actually work.
"Only one way to find out." Mickey said, stepping closer and cautionly made to touch it. Fortunately it went through with golden light shinining as Mickey, Sora, Kairi and Willie all sighed in relief.
"Great! Now we can get to the castle!" Sora cheered.
"Thank you for helping us, Willie." Kairi said to the giant, gratefully and both Sora and Mickey nodded in agreement.
Willie blushed bashfully, "Aw, it's nothin'. Hope you'll make it back safely. Maybe next time I can saw ya's around this place."
"We'll be sure to try and come back for a visit someday, pal." Mickey said happily.
"Yeah, it was awesome to meet you!" Sora added.
After sharing a goodbye with their new friend, the three Keyblade wielders stepped through the portal carefully on their way towards Disney Castle to hopefully reunite with their friends since none of them were seen or heard in this place and solve the mystery of why the barrier Aced created had disappeared.
Back in Disney Castle, the rest of the worldly travellers and Queen Minnie were still waiting anxiously for Sora, Kairi and Mickey to appear after failed attempts to enter the portal themselves, hoping they weren't trapped inside. But the longer they waited, the more they began to fear the worst.
Just then, the portal suddenly glowed which caught everyone's attentions and as they turned to look, shock, disbelief and relief all took place on their expressions and in their hearts as Sora, Kairi and Mickey stepped through and onto the floor of the Hall of the Cornerstone. The trio looked around and were very relieved when they saw where they were.
"We did it!" Kairi exclaimed happily.
"Oh, Mickey!" Minnie cried out happily upon seeing her husband who, along with two of his friends, saw along with the rest of their group.
"Minnie!" Mickey exclaimed happily, immediately rushing over to greet his beloved wife and caught her in his arms when she leaped into him, her own arms wrapped around his shoulders. The two royals shared the longing embrace, not wanting to let go.
"Where'd you guys been?" Lea asked urgently as he and the other's approached Sora and Kairi.
"Um, well...we were in this giant world and..." Sora began, before he, Kairi and even Mickey who long with Minnie rejoined the others explained what happene, including having to fight Arlene again and how Willie the Giant brought them to the portal back here.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. The giant brought you guys here? As in, the big, colossus guy who would've eaten you guys up for breakfest, lunch and dinner?" Myde asked, dumbfounded.
"Myde!" The rest of the worldly travellers exclaimed in annoyance, before Isa tugged the younger man's ear hard, causing Myde to squeal comically in pain again.
"If the King wasn't friends with this giant, he wouldn't be here right now." The blue-haired man whispered in annoyance.
"So Arlene thinks we've been doing it wrong too?" Riku thought with a frown, ignoring the commotion happening between Myde and Isa.
"Gawrsh. What could she mean by that?" Goofy thought, confused and worried.
"You don't think...he and Lamuria are with Aced, do you?" Xion spoke up, and when the group looked at the former replica, she continued, "Well, if Arlene said only one person can make things right and Aced thinks he's the only one who can save the Realm of Light, isn't that connected?"
"Arlene and Lamuria working with Aced?" Roxas thought, alarmed.
"Then that means they're teamed up with those two sisters too." Lea grunted, brows narrowing almost angrily in realization. "Except their reason is to get revenge on us at the same time."
"So Aced has four allies instead of two. This is very serious." Terra muttered. "We have to be more careful and see if we can't get proper answers out of them."
"Not by a long shot." Ven nodded.
"It still doesn't make sense on how Sora managed to break Aced's barrier in this world. For that kind of power to be broken, that means Sora's power is getting stronger." Aqua pointed out, which the group shared concerned and confused glances.
"Maybe Merlin will tell us more about this. We should head back to Radiant Garden and see what's going on." Skuld suggested.
"Not yet." Mickey shook his head. "First we gotta make sure everything's okay here and plus with the barrier gone, I'm worried Minnie could be put into grave danger since Maleficent is still lookin' for the Book of Prophecies."
"Book of Prophecies? What's that?" Minnie asked, puzzled.
The King shrugged apologetically to his Queen, "It's a long story, Min'. Let's just say that the book is powerful and dangerous and we think that's why Maleficent came here in the first place, because she thinks it's connected to the Datascape."
"He's right. We can't leave now." Donald agreed.
"Yeah. Let's stick around and make sure nothing bad happens." Sora nodded in agreement, and seeing that it was a good point, the rest of the worldly travellers all nodded in agreement.
"Your Majesty!" A familiar squeaky high-pitched voice cried out, and when everyone looked to see who it was, the two Chipmunks Chip and Dale raced over to the royals and the worldly travellers before stopping, panting and jumped when they saw their king and friends back, but quickly decided to worry about that later.
"It's terrible! There's a fight goin' on in town!" Dale cried out hysterically.
"And there's a bunch of monsters that look worse than Heartless too!" Chip added, much to everyone's shock.
"Oh no!" Mickey exclaimed in horror. Quickly becoming determined, he turned to his wife and said, "Minnie, you stay here 'til we get back."
"I'll stay with the Queen." Kairi said volunteerly.
"Me too." Xion added.
"Think I'll stay behind and protect the Queen too." Myde added
"I'll stay too." Ven nodded.
It was quickly decided that Skuld was staying too along with Kairi, Xion, Myde and Ven while the rest of the group nodded before promising that they'll be careful and immediately raced out to see what was happening.
Fully unaware on what will happen next as the situation is getting worse.
A/N: I am so sorry for the delay again. Been busy for the last several weeks and I'm fighting with this new computer that I'm trying to get used to, plus my Dad's birthday and everything. And I'm sorry that the giantland part wasn't long or that crash hot, but I decided to return to Disney Castle arc to not delay the most important parts of the main story.
Hopefully I won't take as long to update this story, but the next four days are gonna be so busy I won't have time to update any of my stories.
Until then, see you in the next chapter!