Chapter 28: The Mysterios Tower
Master Yen Sid was sitting down on his comfortable chair reading a book. And not just any book. It was a book that had information between the light and the dark and how everything must be at a balance. Yen Sid felt a disturbance in his chest. The dark forces were growing stronger and the villains had the upper hand in their worlds. One of them however was not from this galaxy even. This man, this terrible man... Palpatine. Yen Sid closed his eyes to picture the strange cloaked man. He came from another dimension as suggested by the way he spoke, his robes and the darkness he carried over. Yen Sid at first believed this to be Xehanort, but this man... was he more dangerous than Xehanort? Worse? Yen Sid was trying to think more and more about this stranger from another dimension. If there was even another dimension. He stood up and looked at the door being opened.
"Welcome home, Xehanort." said Yen Sid.
Xehanort himself stepped in, smiling a crooked smile and his eyes were glowing yellow very brightly.
"Yen Sid, it has been a very long time." said Xehanort.
"There is nothing for you here. Leave at once." said Yen Sid.
"I'll leave, just as soon as I take what is rightfully mine." said Xehanort.
"What do I have that you desire?" asked Yen Sid.
"This world! I see it as a disturbance in the new era that I will bring." said Xehanort.
"The villains from different worlds. They are your doing are they? Then tell me about this man... Palpatine. Did you bring him to this dimension?" asked Yen Sid.
"Oh yes. The Emperor. You see, I brought him here because the darkness was very strong in him. I know eventually he'll be a suitable replacement for Maleficent. As of now, he is guarding the Princess of Hearts while Maleficent captures the few that are left. And then... once Kingdom Hearts opens, the entire universe will be swallowed by darkness and a new era will begin! The Keyblade War will be reignited!" exclaimed Xehanort.
"You are foolish Xehanort. Foolish like a child!" cried Yen Sid.
Xehanort grabbed his Keyblade and attacked Yen Sid withouth even speaking more. Yen Sid on the other hand used his power to block Xehanort's frontal attack.
"Where's your Keyblade old man!? Are you not going to challenge me like a proper Keyblade Master?!" cried Xehanort.
"Your not even worth being struck down by a Keyblade." replied Yen Sid.
Xehanort scowled at Yen Sid and he angrily charged against him. But Yen Sid was much more agile. His powers blocked each and every one of Xehanort's blows and Yen Sid didn't suffer a scratch. During the struggle, Yen Sid formed a light ball on his hand and threw it at Xehanort's face.
"My eyes! My eyes!" screamed Xehanort.
Yen Sid took this opportunity to leave the Castle. He opened a portal and vanished, leaving Xehanort with his eyes bleeding excessivly. In that moment, King Mickey arrived.
"Master Yen Sid! Master! What did you do to him?!" cried King Mickey.
Xehanort was now completely blind, but he turned around to face Mickey with his horrible bleeding eyes, scaring King Mickey.
"Your master did this to me! TO ME! He will regret this!" screamed Xehanort as he struck his Keyblade to the ground and a dark smoke emerged from it. King Mickey quickly turned around to run away, knowing what was going to happen next.
"I may have lost my sight, but I am still the most powerful Keyblade Master the world has ever known!" He screamed as if he was triumphant. In a few moments, the Mysterious Tower was lost and all that remained was rubble.
Maleficent walked slowly in the great hall admiring her new collection. There were large capsules with different young maidens said to have the purest of hearts. Among them was Belle, Snow White, Aurora, Alice, Jasmine, Cinderella and of course Kairi. All seven that were known to exist were finally here. But seven was not enough. Not yet.
"You have forseen more of the purest hearts I assume?" asked Maleficent, teasing Palpatine who was standing in front of the giant Heart shaped dome that had electricity blocking the entrance.
"The Seven Princesses are enough to open the door. But there are more. If you wish to open Kingdom Hearts, you must need a lot more than just the seven." said Palpatine.
"I have not seen Xehanort in quite some time now. I wonder where he could be." said Maleficent.
Palpatine grinned. "Are you sure that you are wililing to trust Xehanort my dear? I sense betrayal from him very soon." said Palpatine.
"I know. We all are villains from our respective worlds and galaxies after all. And what assurance to I have that you won't betray me?" asked Maleficent.
"I don't care much of your galaxy or the worlds you intend to rule. I have my reasons to be here. This is a safe haven for me if you will." said Palpatine.
"There was someone stronger in your universe that tried to kill you?" asked Maleficetn carefully.
"In my galaxy, there was a Princess who declared war on my Empire. And her brother rose up against me from time to time. As for the father... well..." Palpatine turned around and smiled as a dark sinister being appeared in front of them both.
Maleficent turned too and was amazed to see a dark knight standing there with a breathing mask.
"The father I assume?" asked Maleficent.
"Lord Vader..." said Palpatine.
"What is they bidding my master?" asked Darth Vader in a deep and powerful voice, taking one knee on the ground.
"I want you to go and find the remaining princesses of heart. Among them is your daughter, Princess Leia. Bring her here and she will help open to door to new possiblities." said Palpatine.
"It will be done my master." replied Vader as he rose up and ignited his red hot light saber.
Xehanort arrived in the stronghold of Organization 13. It was his own personal caslte. overlooking a large city that was abandoned. His loyal followers arrived to help them. Among them were vicious looking men such as Saix, Xaldin, Luxord, and Xigbar. But not all of them looked dangerous. Some even looked somewhat tame such as Axel, Demyx, Larxene, the only woman in the group and Marluxia. Other three members arrived and among them was the doctor Vexan.
"What has happened to you great one?!" cried Vexen.
"Yen Sid happened. It's only a matter of time before things go south. We all must hurry if Kingdom Hearts is to open for us." said Xehanort.
"Old man, when will we strike Hollow Bastion and take what is rightfully ours?" asked Xigbar.
"Patience everyone. Let's allow the boy to do all the work for us. And when the time is right, we will take over Hollow Bastion and the worlds will be ours." said Xehanort.
Just then, a girl with blonde hair peeked out from her bedroom along with another girl with black hair.
"The master arrived? Should we greet him?" asked the blonde girl, Namine.
"Not yet little sister. Not yet. Once he's in a good mood, then we can speak." said Xion, the black haired girl.
Axel, the red haired one walked beside the door and closed it. He woulnd't want Xehanort to scare them, with his blood shut eyes and all.
Underneath the darkness of the castle, Vanitas had the heart of Ventus in a crystal ball, locked away from everyone.
"Xehanort is back. I'm going to tell him the good news." said Vanitas.
Riku and Max were standing next to eachother. "I heard there was an accident on him." said Riku.
"Perhaps. But he'll heal up in no time at all." replied Vanitas as he walked upstairs. Riku turned to Max Goof, who was wearing the black armor of a heartless and his eyes were orange, as if possessed. This boy looked familar, but Riku couldn't picture why.
"Can you speak at all?" asked Riku, feeling somewhat sympathetic towards the posssed boy dog like person.
Max didn't respond. He truly was a puppet for Vanitas. "What happend to you?" whispered Riku hoping to get an answer.
"Are you coming or not?" asked Vanitas.
Riku shook his head and followed Vanitas upstairs. Riku knew that deep down, everything Sora told him back in Monstro was true. The fact that Max was possesed by something meant that there was real evil in this castle. And he felt that time was running out.
