Chapter 3: Master of the House
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, Disney, Square Enix, or any of their properties, characters, or logos. This story is made solely for fun.
Shibuya - Cat Street
Shibuya was located in a bustling city that seemed to stretch on forever, though the novelty of traversing the streets had quickly grown old for a certain Keyblade Wielder. It had been several days since the cruel game began, and he spent most of that time running from the vicious animal-like creatures called Noise. Fighting them was easy, but much like the Heartless, these new creatures had a tendency to swarm in large groups. If this weren't grueling enough, they were now being targeted by the Reapers themselves.
His partner ducked into a tunnel leading under a bridge, pulling him along as a pack of wolf noise went running past. After letting out a deep sigh, they took a moment to catch their breaths.
"Screw this!" Neku clenched his fists, his gaze moving downwards. "I knew things were gonna get crazy after that arrogant bitch snuffed Beat, but this is just ridiculous."
"Tell me about it. That guy we met on the first day said Reapers weren't supposed to attack players directly? Could he have been lying."
"I've played the game several times, but this is the first time anyone other than the Game Master was allowed to mess with us. Somebody on top must've changed the rules."
"Maybe it's the composer? Though, it does seem a little weird that someone would work so hard just to get rid of us."
"Doesn't matter..." the gloomy teen irritably brushed the dirt from his clothes. "Lucky for us, the place I wanted to go is just a little further ahead. Let's get over there before those damned things come back."
"Sure..." Sora shrugged before following along in silence.
One thing he noticed in the last few days was how awkward it could be to spend time with the orange-haired recluse. The boy was incredibly cynical and prone to foul language, in many ways the exact opposite of himself. Not only that, but having a conversation with him was often strange. Unlike Donald and Goofy who always had something to contribute, Neku showed much less enthusiasm, but he wasn't exactly rude either. He always listened to everything that was said, and always answered properly. That said, he couldn't blame the sullen youth for his attitude.
Sora understood what it meant to fight for survival, and how it felt to lose someone important. He could scarcely imagine what it was like for a nihilistic introvert to discover the warmth of friendship, only to have it mercilessly torn away. The image of Mitsuki Konishi's calculating visage sent his thoughts back to that fateful moment when Master Xehanort scattered Kairi's heart. He grit his teeth as if trying to break them.
"We're here." Neku's voice called him back to the present.
They were greeted by a large sign bearing the words 'WildKat Cafe'. "Wait a minute! So we ran halfway across town... fighting off an army of monsters... just because you wanted to visit a... ... coffee shop!?"
"That's the gist of it." he answered flatly.
"If there wasn't any specific mission today, why go through all the trouble? We could've kept searching for that woman, instead."
"There's someone here I need to talk to." he turned his back to the Keyblade Wielder and hesitated before wrapping his fingers around the door handle. "Plus, I think it's about time you meet him, too."
Sora followed his partner into the shop, taking a moment to observe the casual decor and simple ambience. There were white tables and orange seats, giving the place the impression of a smaller school cafeteria. A single fan hung motionless from the ceiling, and there was a rickety shelf lined with prepackaged food and old magazines. Normally in Shibuya, spiritual beings would become visible to the living while inside of certain stores and restaurants, but it didn't make a difference today, seeing how there were no other customers to interact with.
"Hey Mr. H! Where are you!?" Neku called out to the empty room.
When nobody answered, Sora frowned. "Oh well... Maybe the place is closed and someone just forgot to unlock the door."
"Nope, we're open!" a voice called out from the back.
The door behind the front counter slid open, revealing a slightly scruffy-looking man. He was relatively thin and of average height, wearing a white collar shirt, a dark vest with gray buttons, black khakis, and dark open-toed sandals. His five o'clock shadow, sunglasses, and messy black hair gave the man the look of a hipster.
"Yo Phones, didn't think you'd show up here today." Upon seeing an unfamiliar guest, the coffee shop owner gave him an amused smile. "This dude your new partner?"
"For a lack of a better word. He's moderately useful when it comes time to fighting, but he sorta sucks at everything else."
Ignoring the rude comment, the brunette extended a hand to their host. "My name's Sora."
"Sanae Hanekoma... But most folks call me Mr. H; in fact, I prefer it!" he excepted the gesture. "So where're you from, kid?"
The young hero hesitated, silently contemplating how Donald would handle the situation if he were here. Having almost slipped and revealed secrets before, he decided to be more cautious like his friends. "I'm, uh... ... You might say I'm... not from around here."
"Lookin' a little green around the gills, aren't ya? No need to get nervous." the man let out a small chuckle, his expression suddenly becoming much more serious. "I can tell just by looking that you're not from this world."
"No... That's not... ... You really can!?" he stammered, looking helplessly at his companion.
"Mr. H is a colossal weirdo." the gloomy teen deadpanned, earning a frown from the shopkeeper.
"Don't go giving him the wrong idea." he then shrugged with an indifferent smile. "I'm just your average dude who happens to watch over Shibuya like a ninja hiding in the shadows."
"I'm a little lost, here. Someone care to tell me what's going on?"
"We can discuss that in a moment. In the mean time, you boys sit tight while I get you something hot to drink." the man sauntered from the room, returning moments later with a pair of Styrofoam cups. "Have some of my famous WildKat Special Blend coffee. It's on the house."
His guests accepted the gift without word, quietly taking a moment to savor the flavor. While Sora wasn't a big fan of the hot beverage, he had to admit, it wasn't too bad. Their host had apparently added a dash of cream and sugar to the mix, perhaps a little less than he would've preferred, but not enough to overshadow the delicate flavor of the blend. The Keyblade Wielder took another sip before batting a thumbs-up.
"Thanks, it's pretty good."
"Pretty good, huh? Any coffee man worth his salt would strive for an 'excellent' at the very least. Though, I'm guessing you're probably not much of a coffee drinker."
He rubbed the back of his neck. "Was it that easy to tell?"
"That sour look after your first taste is all I needed to see."
"My friends always said I'm super easy to read." Sora agreed with a note of embarrassment.
It wasn't necessarily a bad thing to be so open, but looking back, it must've been super easy for everyone to tell he had a crush on Kairi even before he had the courage to admit it. That could have been why Riku spent so many years joking with him about it with their friends. Come to think of it, the only person in their group who didn't realize the truth immediately was probably Kairi herself.
Pushing these thought from his mind, he focused on the present conundrum. "So Neku, how do you and Mr. H know each other?"
Neku placed both hands in his pockets and leaned against the nearest wall. "Remember what I told you about Beat and Rhyme?"
"You mean about how they were partners when you first played the Reaper's Game?"
"Yeah. that. After she got herself clobbered saving Beat, Mr. H saved him from getting eliminated by the Reapers. Since most players.,," at this, he looked tensely at Sora. "Can't fight in the UG without having a partner, he would've been erased a lot sooner if it weren't for this guy stepping in."
"He saved them!?"
At this, the orange-haired emo turned to their host. "I'm guessing you were also the one who saved Rhyme's soul and turned her into a Noise."
"Guilty on both accounts." Hanekoma replied before noticing his customer's sudden change in demeanor. "I'm sorry about what happened to them."
"Don't apologize. It was Ironface who erased her and Beat."
Sora took the ensuing lull to voice his own thoughts. "Y'know? We've been inside several stores in the last few days, but you're the first person who seems to know anything about the Reaper's Game."
"So, what of it?"
"Can every shopkeeper in Shibuya rescue players and turn people into Noise!?"
"Nope, just me." the coffee man replied.
"Don't you find this a little crazy, then?" he glanced at his partner, who subtly nodded. "Just who, or what, are you? Some kind of wizard!?"
"Nothing like that! I prefer to think of myself as that mysterious and handsome guardian everyone can rely on."
"You've been saying that for a long time, and at first I decided to buy it. But... ... ..." Neku's expression darkened. "I've had my suspicions, and I now I want a real answer. Who are you?"
Sora felt the tension rise in the room as the two locked eyes, though when he answered, their mysterious host was surprisingly jovial.
"Seems like you're not gonna let his drop, huh?" Hanekoma waved his hand lazily as if trying to sweep something aside. "I'm no one special, and even if I was, I'm not the person you think I am."
"What's going on?" the Keyblade Wielder. glanced between the two with trepidation, but the trio was disrupted by a violent rumbling that shook the room, sending items flying off shelves.
Neku stumbled backwards into a wall, catching himself mid-fall. "What the Hell is this!?"
"Yikes!" the brunette hero toppled out of his seat, quickly crawling over to his partner. "Feels like an Earthquake!"
The cafe's owner remained completely calm amidst the chaos, casually stepping aside as the room's fan came crashing down where he had been standing. Despite the rapid shaking, he remained impassive before stating in an amused tone: "He's here..."
"Who's here!?" Neku raised a fist defiantly. "C'mon, tell me what's going on!?"
No sooner had he spoken that a giant cascade of bright light seemingly evaporated the ceiling and poured into the room, scattering furniture and sending debris flying everywhere. The kinetic force sent the teenagers smashing through the front window, depositing them onto the open streets with a loud thud as the roof's pieces came down around them. It took a minute before either was able to regain their bearings. Sora emerged from a pile of rubble with a violent groan.
"Oh man, what just hit me?" he felt a sharp pain in his ribs, but it was quickly forgotten as his eyes caught sight of familiar orange hair only feet away. He rushed over, giving the boy a small shake. "Neku, you all right?"
He bit his own tongue to stifle a scream, before pushing himself into a sitting position. "Do I look like it?"
"Sorry dude, let's fix that, now... ... Heal!" Sora extended a hand causing a swirl of magic to heal the majority of this injuries to heal in an instant.
Neku stood up, taking a second to nurse his still aching arm. "Good trick, but I shoulda thought of it sooner." he held up a pin and used it on his partner, eliciting a similar reaction from the spiky-haired hero. "A healing pin." he clarified.
"Fair enough..." the Keyblade Wielder smiled, having grown used to his sulky nature.
Looking around, the cynical teen carefully surveyed the surrounding mess and half-destroyed shop. "Damn it! Looks like Mr. H took a hike while we were out to lunch. That explosion must've been some kind of distraction."
"Just be glad we're still alive." Sora paused awkwardly before remembering his situation. "Um... Relatively speaking, at least."
"Remind me to laugh if we manage to get out of this shit-hole game, alive."
"From what he said, it doesn't look like Mr. H was the one who did it. I mean, what kind of guy would demolish his own store while he was still inside?" This comment earned a single nod from his partner. "Whoever did it is probably still around."
"Well aren't you a flippin' genius!" a mocking voice called out from behind them, the booming volume causing them to cringe before facing their tormentor.
Standing atop a pile of rubble cobbled together from the cafe's broken roof was a tan-skinned man with piercing yellow eyes and messy gray hair. Aside from this one feature, he looked to be no older than twenty. He wore a high-collared jet black jacket with the sleeves torn off and the front undone, revealing his lean muscular build. His skull-shaped belt buckle and torn jeans gave the stranger the aura of a delinquent.
"Looks like he got away... That just jacks my radian!" He screamed, casually smashing his own megaphone to pieces.
"Who are you!?" the young hero quickly summoned his Kingdom Key.
"Just some mathematical freak who played Game Master..." Neku answered for him.
"Seems like you know a lot of this world's weirdoes."
His eyes displaying an unusual rage that surprised his partner. "He's the lunatic who blew Joshua to smithereens!"
"WHAT!?" Sora tightened his grip on his weapon. "Wait!? I thought you said he blew himself up, too?"
"Good times... Good times... ..." the man grinned wickedly. "It'll take more than few negative factors to subtract Sho Minamimoto from this equation. Miss me much? You hollow-skulled hectopascal!"
Neku tried to wrap his head around everything that had happened in the last few minutes, feeling almost overwhelmed by it all. Nonetheless, he faced the arrogant Reaper. "How are you even alive!?"
"I've been calculating this from square one. The attack I used to bake your partner, I used for a reason." Sho raised his left arm, causing the skin to turn a pitch black color.
Upon closer inspection, Neku realized that his entire body appeared to be covered in dark tattoos, forming symbols, "Your... your body!"
"Hmph, this? This is my latest masterpiece. I call it 'Myself'!" he announced dramatically, his expression unwavering. "The attack I used erased me, yes... But I was refactored, through the refinery sigil, into... this! This body, this power... All through the magic of taboo psycho-animation! And now this number cruncher is back with power that rivals even the Composer's!"
The Keyblade Wielder remained lost by his explanation, even more so due to his usage of odd mathematical terminology. Neku clearly knew this guy, but it was clear from a glance that even he wasn't sure what was going on, either. Sora wasn't acquainted with whoever their attacker was, but he knew one important thing: He didn't like him.
His partner tried to make sense of it all, but fell short. "You erased Joshua, attacked us for no reason, and now you're somehow alive after blowing up... This doesn't make any sense!"
"Sense is garbage... CRUNCH!" the Reaper flexed his hands as if smashing something. "I'll add it to the heap! All that matters is MY beauty!"
"This guy's kinda nuts." Sora murmured to himself, shifting into a defensive stance.
"Being reborn from the sigil was part of my equation. Everything that's happened has gone exactly how I planned it! I'll make an imposing new Composer!"
"Why you'd go after Mr. H?" Neku questioned.
"The dude up and vanished when I made my entrance." Sho Minamimoto ignored the question. He ran a hand through his messy hair, pulling it away to reveal a look of sheer frustration. "Rrgh... Where'd he run off to? You know, don't you!? Tell me!"
"We have no idea!"
"In that case... Who needs you?" he leapt from atop the pile of rubble before grinning with malice at the two players. "Attention, 000's. It's time for you to die '4' a cause..." he paused maddeningly, while cracking his knuckles. "MINE!"
"Not today!" Sora charged and swung his weapon, only for it to pass harmlessly through thin air. "Where'd he go!?"
"So zetta slow!" Sho called out. The two players realized with some confusion that their opponent had somehow managed to move outside of the strike range without being noticed or even changing his bodily position.
"How'd you do that!?" the orange-haired teen exclaimed.
"You mean this..." the Reaper began vanishing and reappearing in rapid succession, his erratic movements making it look as though he were everywhere at once.
Sora retaliated by blasting several spells off at once, but the enemy mockingly moved in front of each blast one moment, only to veer away from the impact zone with amazing precision. He was clearly playing around with them.
"You've fought this guy before, right?" he exchanged a frown with his partner. "Was he this fast the last time?"
"Nope." Neku formed a barrier around himself to block incoming energy blasts.
"You're outta your vector!"
Teleportation and super speed wasn't something new to the longtime hero of worlds, especially considering the members of Organization XIII possessed very similar abilities. Having fought so many people with mysterious powers, there was very little he hadn't seen before. Experience was useful, and thanks to many unfortunate circumstances, the young Keyblade Wielder had a lot of it.
"I've seen this trick before. It's an annoying ability, but not unbeatable."
"Looks like Pi-Face wasn't lying... He's learned some new tricks since the last time we fought!"
"You think my new speed's impressive, just wait till you see what else I've got!" Sho formed a large energy ball in his hands, which immediately split into a series of spinning energy bullets that scattered in every direction at once. "SOH-CA-TOA!"
Neku absorbed the impact with a wall of fire while the Keyblade Wielder managed to parry the incoming projectiles, nullifying the attack. Their foe retaliated by performing the same attack several more times. Though they managed to avoid it by jumping behind objects in the streets, the mathematical monster tossed several orbs into the air, which quickly took the shape of three black rhinos with jagged human-sized horns.
"More Noise!" Sora fired a lightning spell toward the charging beasts, only for it to bounce harmlessly off of their armored bodies.
"Move, stupid!" Neku pushed his partner out of the way and used a barrier to protect himself, though the force still sent him flying. He crashed into a building, taking a knee as the protective enchantment faded.
The Reaper watched in amusement. "You kids like my Trance Rhinos?"
Sora ignored him, instead turning to his companion for help. "Those things are a bit more resilient than usual, huh? What's up with these things?"
"Taboo Noise. A lot stronger than regular ones, and their attacks hurt a lot more."
"It's like fighting an armored bulldozer."
"Tell me about it." Neku launched a series of light bullets, which only seemed to irritate the rhino-like creatures.
"Figured you'd have warned me that they exist before now."
"Didn't see a need to. I've only seen that jerk use 'em. Not to mention until a minute ago, I thought he was straight-up dead!"
Seeing one of the monsters preparing to attack, the other boy tightened his grip on his Keyblade. "Looks like I'll have to take this a little more seriously."
Sora slid sideways and grabbed the horn of a the creature as it ran past before swinging onto its back and casting a fire spell in its face. He steered the beast into one of its fellows and finished the combo by channeling magic into his Keyblade and thrusting it into the back of the Noise's head, causing it to howl in agony before vanishing into nothingness. Its rider managed to right himself in mid-air, and created a large shockwave upon landing to stun the second while hitting it with an upwards slash. The gargantuan Noise was pushed back, revealing its vulnerable neck, which was slashed twice, finishing it off.
Neku knew the guy was tough, but it was still surprising to think he had so many tricks without any pins to use them. The third rhinoceros charged his partner from behind, but Neku caused the ground beneath its feet to rumble with an Earthquake-inducing badge, paralyzing it long enough to drop several miniature meteors onto its head, and finishing it with a shower of falling icicles.
"Nice one! Didn't recognize that pin's power."
He pocketed the talisman with indifference. " Don't get cocky. You're not the only one with a few hidden tricks up his sleeve."
"Hate to interrupt this touching moment, but you fractals have bigger problems!"
The rogue Reaper conjured several more Noise, these taking the form of a flock of predatory crows with exaggeratedly large talons. They quickly descended on the players like a swarm of killer bees, their sheer numbers resisting the heroes' attempts to fight back. Due to the stamina and ferocity of Taboo Noise, it took longer to destroy them than a normal flock of raven-type noise. Either way, he only ever intended them as a distraction.
"Did you forget that I'm still here?" Sho appeared behind the orange-haired teen and kicked him in the back, causing him to double over in pain before being blasted at point blank range.
"Damn it!" He hit the street, any attempt to get up being thwarted by the sensation of a foot pressing into his back.
"Factoring hectopascals is such a pain... At least now there'll be one less to worry about!"
"Neku!" Sora used a thunder spell to stun the Taboo Noise, knowing it wouldn't outright destroy them before closing the distance, reaching his partner's side in an instant. "Back off, math freak!"
"So zetta slow!" the Reaper bent backwards to avoid the slash of his Keyblade before teleporting a safe distance away.
"Get back here and fight me."
The flock of Noise gravitated towards the players, forcing Sora's attention away from the main enemy. It was difficult to guard on multiple fronts while protecting his injured friend, but as his strength began to wane, he caught a strange glow out of the corner of his eye. A hail of light bullets alerted him to Neku's presence. While the latter had recovered enough to rejoin the fight, the unusually large pin in his hand was giving off a bright sheen.
"Never seen that before. What is it?"
"Just follow my lead!" The green aura quickly surrounding his body expanded to Sora's. "Let's go!"
Augmented by the mysterious power, Neku began moving at alarming speed, flashes of brightly colored energy cascading around him like fireworks and obliterating the attacking Noise. Noticing the sudden surge of strength enter his own body. Sora swung his Keyblade, causing it to extend to triple its length every time he attacked, before retracting to its original state. While his previous attacks seemed almost ineffective, he was now able to eliminate the creatures with ease.
Charging straight into the oncoming enemies, he almost bypassed them due to his enhanced speed. "Whoa... Now this is what I call an upgrade!"
"It won't last for long. Let's take out that Reaper while we have the power!"
Sho barely managed to dodge as the two players began alternating attacks, their own speed beginning to match his. The two went back and forth with blinding agility, forcing him to defend from a series of explosions and energy blasts while the brunette hero struck him behind with the Keyblade. Sora sent him flying with a running slash before making a leap, appearing behind the enemy and bringing his weapon down with two hands, sending the Reaper hurtling into the streets.
"Sine... Cosine... ... Tangent!" the man fought back with a flurry of rampant energy blasts.
Neku countered with a barrier before raising both hands in the air, causing a large flaming orb to form over his head. He tossed it at the math-loving Reaper, who managed to divert his fate by teleporting. Seeing his chance, Sora intercepted the projectile and swung his Keyblade with two hands like a baseball bat, shattering the object and sending its fiery remains back at Sho. The glowing shards collided with the madman before he could teleport, bombarding him like a miniature meteor shower, and sending up a large cloud of dust and debris.
As he took a well-deserved breather, Sora noticed the strange glow fading from his body, causing the fatigue to catch up with him. "Wow, what a rush!"
"Looks like we might've overdone it. Though it took care of that monster, than it's fine."
"Did we win?" the brunette squinted his eyes as the smoke settled.
Sho Minamimoto stood in a crater in the streets, clearly still alive, though nursing an injured arm with the opposite hand. Even after his stunning rebirth, they had managed to inflict some real pain on his enhanced body, though still not enough to put him down for long. He ignored the unpleasant sensation, knowing it would be gone soon enough.
"Fighting this guy's like punching a freight train." Sora's gaze hardened as he prepared for the next round.
Neku clenched a fist. "Looks like we'll just have to try even harder!"
"And what would be the point of that?" the Reaper replied dismissively, his malicious smile returning. "I should thank you boys for helping me with this little experiment, but that's enough calibration for today."
The Keyblade Wielder took a step forward. "What do you mean?"
"You still don't get it!? This whole farce was a test of my new abilities! Now that I've factored all of the relevant numerals, the Composer will fall!" he gave them a cocky pointing gesture before disappearing in a blur, his presence completely gone.
Sora blinked twice, his expression one of mingled confusion and disdain. "Did he just say he was planning on destroying the Composer!?"
"That's what it sounded like." Neku turned to leave the destroyed venue. "C'mon... We should go before this mess attracts more enemies."
"Shouldn't we go after him?"
"Our best attacks barely even scratched the guy. Knowing that, I'd be stupid to pick a fight and risk getting erased before the end of the week."
His partner spared one last glance at the ruins before running to catch up. "I guess there's no helping it..."
Silence fell once more as he continued tailing the boy, unsure where he was going or where they needed to be. They had only been given one mission from the Game Master recently that superceded any other quest: Find Mitsuki Konishi and erase her before the week was over. Left with no clues as to her whereabouts, they had spent the last few days searching Shibuya for clues while avoiding erasure by the lesser Reapers and Noise. The fight just now had nothing to do with their mission, and had only cost valuable time. Growing tired of the situation, he found himself starting the conversation once again.
"You don't suppose anything bad happened to Mr. Hanekoma, do you?"
"I'm sure he's fine..."
Sora couldn't help but feel like he was being handled, though it didn't seem smart to push. "I do have a question. What was that weird surge of power back there."
He figured his partner at least had the right to know. "It's called a Fusion Combo." he pulled out the large pin from earlier, which now appeared blank. "When two partners are in full synch, it allows them to combine their abilities together and multiplies their powers exponentially."
"I'm not surprised something like that would save us. I've been all over, and the bond between people always helps guide them through even the most difficult times."
Neku found himself quietly appreciating everything he had learned since the Reaper's Game began. He had learned something from each of his companions, and though he often hid this behind his natural stoicism, his newest partner seemed to be able to see right through him. Not much for sappy talk, he chose to ignore the subject and kept on walking.
"So, um... Where are we going?"
"Hell if I know. We don't know where Ironface is hiding, and now the one person who might've been capable of giving us a hint is gone."
"You mean Mr. H? Come to think of it, the guy clearly wasn't normal." Sora tilted his head to the side, his eyes suddenly lighting up. "That mathematical jerk plans on beating the Composer, and somehow ended up attacking the store... You don't suppose Mr. H could be... ..."
Neku paused mid-step, his hands quivering. "I... I... I'm not sure..."
"Is that why you wanted to visit him so badly?"
The gloomy teen reluctantly faced his partner. "Maybe, but you see how well that went. The dude disappeared and now we're all out of leads."
"We still have two days left before this thing is over. If we can find the Composer before then, we might be able to settle this without having to deal with the Game Master."
"That was my intention." the orange-haired boy crossed his arms, looked as if he had eaten something bitter. "But even if we find the person controlling this game, it won't make things any easier."
"I know we might have to fight 'em, but we're not exactly pushovers."
"Did you already forget what Sho said? He claims his power rivals the Composer's. What does that tell you about the Composer?"
The spark of confidence never left his eyes. "I get that's he's tough, but I've seen much worse. If that's all that he has, I'm sure we'll pull through."
"I still don't get how you can be so optimistic." Neku sighed.
Sora placed both hands behind his head, looking surprisingly relaxed as he walked past his partner. "Survive the apocalypse enough times, and you'll see that there's always a light hidden somewhere in the darkness..."
Radiant Garden - Hollow Bastion
Ansem the Wise stood at the pinnacle of his kingdom, a place he had not seen in some time. Having spent days toiling away in the labs, the sage king had spent little time exploring the vast reaches of his old home. Hollow Bastion had been restored to its former glory with help from Merlin's committee, and now most of the mechanical components and gothic murals had been removed. Needless to say those particular decorative elements had been a product of the castle's evil and unwanted denizens, who had since been expunged.
The aging scientist had spent much of his time perusing the remaining contents of the old library, before ascending to the Grand Hall where the Seeker of Darkness had once opened the Final Keyhole. Little evidence of its existence remained, but he was aware of what had transpired here through the word of others. To think that so much evil had happened in his home was sickening, and yet after all this time, he had returned to the place where it all began.
"Xehanort... I can only imagine what force could drive a man to commit such acts... ... ..."
The king stood pondering the events of recent years, his countenance displaying discomfort. Did he deserve to be ruler after allowing evil to destroy the very land he was supposed to protect? These hallowed halls were filled with the darkest memories, not only his own regrets, but also the unspeakable actions of an ancient Keyblade Master and an evil fairy.
"Master Ansem." a familiar voice addressed him.
"Young Ienzo... What brings you to the reaches of this forsaken tower?"
"Dilan and I have been searching the castle for some time in an attempt to find you. When the search proved fruitless, we assumed you had come up here."
"Indeed."
"These chambers have not been used in some time. With all due respect, what brings you here?"
"I left the office to collect my thoughts, and strangely enough, they led me to the highest point in the land." the elder scientist explained calmly. "Even so, we need not remain here to converse. This place was once host to a great evil."
He headed towards the exit, Ienzo following behind shortly. The young researcher placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head. "I apologize for the disruption, but we have news."
"Of what, pray tell?"
"The Princess of Heart has begun to stir in her sleep for the first time in months. Even believes this sudden change could be the development we've been waiting for."
Ansem stroked his bearded chin with a pensive expression. "Hmmm, perhaps she may sense something that we have been unable too."
"You believe so?"
"We should not presume to know everything about the heart. After all this time, I hope you haven't forgotten just how mysterious it can be..."
Ienzo paused in thought before realizing he was falling behind and quickening his pace. "We should probably return to the lab at once."
"And that is precisely where I was headed."
It took several minutes at a brisk pace to traverse the halls and stairways of Hollow Bastion. From the highest tower to the basement was a trip in and of itself. At times like this, the researchers regretted the elevator system had been removed along with the technological components Xehanort had installed. Of course, the decision to expunge these elements from the grounds had been made by the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee before the apprentices returned.
Ansem practically threw open the double doors leading to his lab to discover that the others were already present. Dilan and Auleus were standing over the chair where Kairi's body had remained motionless for nearly a year, quietly presiding over the situation while Even checked the nearby monitors. While her eyes remained tightly closed, the Princess of Heart had begun thrashing violently, forcing the men to restrain her from harming herself.
"It is true..." the sage king slowly approached from behind.
While Auleus was a powerful man, even he was surprised by the girl's unusual strength. "She's been like this for the last ten minutes."
"She has remained dormant for so long while we examined her heart. This sudden change is most unexpected." Ienzo commented, earning the tiniest of nods from their leader.
"Careful, master!" Even warned the older scientist, who paused only a moment before moving closer.
Ansem the Wise placed a finger against the struggling girl's forehead, his largest apprentice keeping a tight hold on her arms. After a moment, he moved to view the nearest monitor. "Kairi is still unconscious, yet her heart appears to be reacting to something. This is causing her body to react strangely."
Even watched the others before addressing his superior. "It almost appears as if the girl is fighting some unseen force. Could she be sensing an invisible being that we cannot."
Their leader gestured to the screen, his disciples moving to see what appeared to be a graph. "This sudden change." he pointed to a line moving up. "It shows an emotional tremor resonating somewhere deep within."
"Do you think it possible her heart senses the connection with Sora which was lost upon his demise."
"True, the change in these readings does coincide with what we discovered during our initial research on this subject." Seeing his teacher's look of concern, Ienzo continued. "By exposing the heart to stimuli relating to someone for whom they care deeply, it triggers a change similar to what we can see here."
His words seemed to resonate with the others, though Even caught on quickly to his meaning. "Ah yes, I see... It would seem the child can somehow sense the presence of he who is closest to her heart. That being Sora, of course."
Dilan turned to face their mentor. "Surely you suspected this?"
"Indeed." he faced the gathered academics proudly. "Were it not for your collective research on the heart, I fear we may never have learned enough to compile and interpret its workings."
Ienzo's gaze wandered, settling on the lab's metallic floor. "I regret to admit, it was Xehanort's immoral research that laid the foundations for many of our discoveries."
Auleus gently laid Kairi's body back down. "We willingly took part in such evil. It's a past regret we may never overcome." his words had a profound effect on the others. though their master's expression remained warm.
"You are not the only ones to have given into such desires. Blinded by anger at your betrayal, I once sought the darkest vengeance on Xehanort, caring not for anyone save those who could further this ambition." the elderly king looked upon the now relaxed face of his patient. "Upon seeing the bonds between true friends, I realized how petty my own desires had become, and sought to right those wrongs."
"Master..." the youngest scientist murmured, causing his mentor to raise a hand.
"And now you have chosen to use our knowledge of the heart to help those in need. While the past need not be forgotten, we need not let it overshadow the future that has yet to be built."
Even knew all too well that it was most important to focus on what you can do, rather than to dwell on mistakes. "A wise sentiment, but enough rehashing the painful history of this place." he gestured around the room in a grandiose manner, as if to help get their minds off the subject. "We should concentrate instead on there here and now, and what is to be done next."
"Which would mean?" Ienzo questioned.
"I believe it is best we continue on to a new phase of this experiment. To do so, I fear we may have no other choice but to wake the child."
"With all due respect, I believe it may better to continue to observe her in this state. If we were to wake her now, whatever caused her heart to react so strongly may cease altogether."
Dilan observed the nearby computer screen, noting the previous deviation had returned to normal. "Say we were to do as Even requested... Changing the conditions could ultimately place the experiment in jeopardy."
"How so?" the chilly academic raised an eyebrow.
"There is no guarantee the same phenomena would occur again, even if we returned her to this dormant state."
Auleus looked between his companions, appearing uncertain of how to approach the topic. "We've learned relatively little in the last year, changing the conditions could either prove helpful or hurtful." he murmured in a deep, thoughtful voice.
Ienzo couldn't refute this. "It's important to consider all possibilities before acting... Though in that case, I believe it would be best to let the master decide."
Ansem puzzled through the situation carefully. "It is possible young Kairi may have consciously experienced the phenomena that caused her body to react so violently before." he thought to himself. "I believe we have no other choice but to find out the truth."
"The only person capable of confirming your theory is Kairi herself."
"Wake her." the elderly king spoke decisively.
Ienzo left the room and returned with a helmet-like instrument. Dilan slowly raised the unconscious girl into sitting position, allowing his colleague to place the device on her head, connecting a series of wires trailing from the helmet into the main computer terminal. Their leader gave it a quick inspection before exchanging a nod with the blonde apprentice, who checked the computer one last time before typing the commands in.
A surge of bright light enveloped the room. Kairi's eyes slowly opened as a glimmer of awareness returned. She blinked twice before looking around the familiar laboratory, a cry of surprise escaping her lips. She reached for the object on her head, but found her arms stiff from lack of use. It took effort just to move.
Ansem slowly removed the headgear so as not to startle his patient. "Easy now, you have not woken in nearly a year."
"Sora... I saw him... ... He needs help!" With considerable effort, she managed to sit up, placing one foot on the floor and using a weakened arm to support herself.
"Calm yourself, child." the elderly scientist placed a hand on her shoulder, only for her to swat him away. Kairi struggled to stand, her legs giving out underneath her.
She lurched forward, landing in Ienzo's arms. "Don't push yourself too hard. Your body hasn't regained its full strength, yet."
"He's in trouble! I need to get to him!"
Even approached the group, his eyes alive with curiosity. "It seems I was correct." he earned a nod from his mentor, though quickly turned his attention to the girl. "Before acting rashly, I believe it would be beneficial if you explained to us the content of these visions. You say Sora is in danger, but how and why?"
"Do you know where he is, now?" Ienzo pressed.
Kairi reluctantly sat back down with help from the young scientist. "I'm... Not sure... ..."
"Before you awoke, your body was moving as if it were fighting to survive. Perhaps we can be of help in discovering the truth behind these images in your mind." Ansem the Wise pulled up a chair beside her and sat. "Think carefully, now. What did you see?"
She closed her eyes as if trying to recall all of the details of her dreams. "I saw an endless city... A large building marked with a number... Countless people walking the streets..."
"And what of Sora?"
"He was fighting some creatures... Almost like the Heartless, but different... ..."
"Was he alone?"
She shut her eyes again, mentally calling the image of an orange-haired boy slightly resembling Sora, yet with a completely different demeanor. As her focus intensified, she could make out spiky orange hair, a pair of headphones, and a high collared jacket. The vision slowly came back to her, as if her very mind was putting together the pieces of a puzzle.
"I saw an unfamiliar boy with him." They seemed to be working together." She wracked her mind for more details, a shiver coursing through her spin as she remembered the final moments. "The creatures began to overwhelm Sora, and then a strange man appeared."
"This mysterious man... Was it someone you recognized?" the sage king's expression darkened. "Could it have been Xehanort?"
"It wasn't." she replied without an ounce of doubt. " I didn't recognize him, but they seemed to be shrouded in darkness. The monsters seemed to serve him. He wore a dark suit... and sunglasses."
"Hmmm... It appears this is not someone whom we are familiar with. Nor do I understand the ramifications of this scenario you have described."
Dilan shook his head in disbelief. "You seem convinced this vision is more than a dream. What proof do we have?"
"I know what I saw!" strength returned to Kairi's voice, her sudden fire startling the gathered scientists. Seeing this, she lowered her head in apology. "I can still feel Sora's presence somewhere out there. It's faint... And it's weakening... ... But he has to be out there!"
The others fell silent, uncertain of how to answer, but their master remained undaunted. "I believe you." he stood up and faced the others.
"Her testimony has given us very few leads to follow." Auleus commented.
Even pushed a strand of hair out of his face. "I disagree. Even if we don't know where the boy is, this new development has given the princess a glimmer of hope. We promised to help, so are we not obligated to see this through till the end?"
Ansem felt no dishonesty behind the words of his apprentice. He had changed quite a bit from the mad scientist who would have sacrificed anything to see his experiments completed. In fact, everyone had changed since those dark days. His castle guards had found a sense of peace after recovering their humanity, and even Ienzo was no longer burdened by any past regret. In spite of everything that happened, the sage king was proud to see them rise above it.
"It is our duty to help in any way we can. Not only to compensate for our past sins, but to ensure a brighter tomorrow for everyone... Discharge her."
"We were finally able to make a breakthrough. Shouldn't we continue searching her heart for more answers?" Ienzo asked.
"Kairi has remained here for quite some time, and it was not by our hand that her connection with Sora has been rediscovered. The best we can do now is allow her to follow her heart, which she cannot do trapped here with us."
A mix of excitement and surprise lit up her face as she looked up at the head scientist. "You'll let me search for him!?"
"Not alone. You will need your friends. No doubt they will be of much greater help to you from here on out." he gestured to the youngest of their group. "Make haste, Ienzo. Contact Riku and King Mickey."
"Yes sir." he bowed before excusing himself.
Kairi watched him go, a genuine smile gracing her features for the first time since Sora's departure. "I can't thank you enough." she hesitated. "For everything you've done. You agreed to help me, even though wasn't able to give you anything in return. Sorry for the trouble."
"It is I who should apologize. We were unable to yield the results you desired. It is clear to me now that the only person who can find him is you." he pointed to her chest. "Trust in the strength of your heart, and I have no doubt it will guide you to him."
Kairi dig her fingernails into the palms of her hands. "Don't worry... I will."
Gaia - City of Midgard
Pete stood in a gigantic room large enough to conduct a basketball game, the metal floor and shining walls giving it a futuristic ambiance slightly reminiscent of Space Paranoids. The main part of the floor was white with black tiles covering the walls, with a gray and black design on the center of the space. A ring of large pillars decorated the main office space, each adorned with an orb providing light. A pair of couches situated closer to the entrance, while the back wall was comprised a giant window overlooking the dismal city below. At the end of the room stood what appeared to be some kind of desk or control panel, surrounded by a metal shell shaped like a horseshoe, and a single chair occupied by the ruler of this world.
"I'm telling ya, everything she said was one-hundred percent true... Dis discovery of ours is gonna give ya everything we promised, and then some!" Pete beckoned his new benefactor, earning a thoughtful expression.
Bearing down on him from behind the raised desk was a young man with cold pitiless blue eyes, and blonde hair styled with a few strands dangling over his face. He wore an expensive white business suit with a black shirt underneath, both covered by a similarly patterned white jacket slightly resembling a lab coat. Despite Pete's constant rambling the last hour or so, he had listened quietly, only pausing to ask questions if something interested him.
"So, uh... What do ya say to our offer, Mr. Shinra?" the overweight cat finished lamely, the other man's silence unnerving him a bit.
Rufus Shinra stood up and turned his back to his visitor, staring through the window into the chaotic streets below. He was indifferent to the screams and gunfire that occasionally echoed through the night. "I am grateful for your assistance. It has been... most valuable... in ensuring my continued control of this world."
Pete groaned, having grown impatient with his stalling. "All we're askin' for is some help pumpin' out dem Heartless. It's a pretty good deal, that is, if ya want a seat o' power when Maleficent and me is in charge!"
The young CEO continued on as if he had not been disrupted. "The information you shared with Hojo on how to produce those creatures has proven useful in instilling fear in those who would rebel against the Shinra Corporation... It takes too much money to do it like my old man. A little fear does well to control the minds of the common people."
"Well I'm glad yer so happy with the results, but enough o' dat prattle. Tell me what ya think about the new deal we got going here? Sounds pretty snazzy, eh?"
Rufus Shinra remained unmoved as he shifted around in his seat. "So far I've kept my end of the bargain: In exchange for producing the Heartless on a mass scale, you allow me to use them for my own vendetta. Even if you are telling the truth about this mythical phantom, I still don't understand how the presence of this so-called monster affects our current arrangement?"
"This thing is offerin' us all the power in the universe, and all we gotta do is set him free. Now dat's pretty dang simple and straightforward far as I'm concerned."
The young man turned to face his visitor, his empty stare sending chills down his spine. "And what concern of that of mine?"
"So long as you lend us support in settin' the monster free, Maleficent is willing to give you and the rest of yours a share of the prize when every world in this big wide universe becomes ours for the taking."
"Your voice irks me."
Pete let out a loud, obnoxious laugh. "Pretty sweet deal, ain't it rich boy?
The executive locked gazes with his unwanted guest. "Allow me to explain this in a way you'll understand..." he began slowly, causing the toon to flinch slightly at his callousness. "This world belongs to me, but to challenge others would mean risking what I already have. Do what you will with the other worlds, I have no interest in them."
"You seem ta forget, that as long as yer using the darkness to keep this place under your thumb, there's bound to be some do-gooders out there who wanna stop ya.:
"Don't take me for an ignorant fool. I've dealt with such annoyances before."
"See here! There's this group of kids that's been houndin' ole Maleficent for a while now, and they're bound to show up here eventually to do the same to you!"
"Shinra Vessels and Heartless are constantly patrolling the airspace around this world. The chances that anyone will be able to penetrate Gaia's defenses while piloting a craft is nonexistent, and even if they survive, ground forces are prepared to strike. You'll find I'm a bit more cautious than the evil fairy."
"Now see here, you rotten little ankle biter, yer gettin' too big for your britches! These are the kids who beat down Maleficent once before!" The hulking goon snapped one of the room's pillars with a swing of his fist.
Pete stumbled back as a bullet shot ricocheted inches from where his foot had been, his entire body becoming encased by a pyramid-shaped structure composed entirely of energy moments later. He pounded against the walls of the miniature prison, finding them surprisingly resilient despite his own prodigious strength. Rufus Shinra put away his shotgun looking as if he had just swatted a bug, the sound of another person's footsteps catching Pete's attention.
A man with spiky red hair wearing a dark blue suit stepped out from behind the barrier, a strange metallic rod held loosely between his fingers, and a smirk like that of a Cheshire Cat.
"Is this overweight thug bugging you, Mr. Shinra?" the new visitor asked, looking highly amused by the sudden, and most notably violent, turn of events.
"I ain't dat plump, you scrawny little misfit!" Pete bellowed, conjuring his own barrier and expanding its range to shatter the prison. "You punks got a lot a nerve, pickin' a fight with me!"
"He's a talkative one, isn't he sir?"
"Why I oughta break you fellas in half, or flatten the tires on yer cars, at least."
Rufus sat back down with a dour expression, snapping his fingers over his shoulder. "Please escort Mr. Pete from my office immediately, Reno."
The blue-clad man twirled his Electro-Mag Rod between his fingers, pressing the end into their visitor's plump backside, causing him to jump as he was hit with a zap of electricity. "You heard the man. Time to go, feline Frankenstein!" he jeered, tugging the large toon roughly as he wrapped a hand around his hulking shoulder.
Pete yanked his arm free while using the darkness to rip open a portal. "Yer gonna live ta regret this, I'm tellin' ya that! Don't expect no help from us if those punks come knockin'!"
"You may have provided the information on how to utilize the Heartless, but you also lack the resources to produce the numbers Maleficent desires. That's why you came to my world to begin with, am I right?"
"What're you talkin' bout!?"
"If the worst truly does come to pass, you may have no choice but to assist me once more."
"Hear that? I'm no expert on this, but it sounds like you need us just as much as we need you guys." Reno added mockingly.
The man raised a foot and booted Pete headfirst into the Dark Corridor. "Oof!"
"And don't let the door hit you on the way out!"
The corrupt CEO straightened the wrinkles on his jacket, looking completely indifferent by his visitor's less than friendly departure. After stowing his weapon away, Rufus stepped past his bodyguard without so much as a backwards glance. Reno's energetic and mocking demeanor did little to amuse him at the moment, but he regarded the elites of his fighting force to be useful to the company's ability to maintain a firm grip over the City of Midgar, and all of Gaia.
"You, uh... don't really trust those guys, do you?" he asked the boss with a note of distaste.
"It doesn't matter whether or not I do, so long as the Shinra Group remains in power. I am curious about these people he mentioned." As the he reached the door, the CEO paused another moment, turning to get a better view of his companion. "Alert the remaining Turks of potential security breeches and have them double the security forces in the immediate vicinity."
"I'll handle the situation." Reno inclined his head slightly as he watched the other man leave. "Going somewhere right now?"
"I need to speak to Professor Hojo immediately..."
"The sick bastard's been happier than a raccoon at the dump since fatso gave him the data on the Heartless. What do you need him for?
"That is none of your concern." Rufus answered, the slamming of the door behind him signaling the end of their conversation.
Wasteland - Dark Beauty Castle
Pete continued his run through the Corridor of Darkness, his annoyance having reached its limits. He dealt with enough verbal abuse everyday working for Maleficent, but the last thing he wanted was to suffer the same from everyone else he was forced to be in contact with. The large toon continued his trip through the swirling shadow matter, having become quite accustomed to using the inter-dimensional tunnels are a means of transportation due to years of experience. He had done his jobs for the night and decided to return to the shadow world.
After what felt like forever, the lumbering cat touched down on solid ground once more, landing before the door of Dark Beauty Castle. The surroundings still gave him the creeps, especially since the first floor was home to those monstrous statues, but he was more concerned about the evil fairy's reaction to their benefactor's less than hospitable reaction. He heard voices coming from the castle's grand entry hall beyond the doors, slowly creeping forward to hear better, but accidentally stumbling through the entry as he leaned on the aged doors.
Maleficent stopped speaking to whoever was present, her attention shifting to her assistant. "I see you have returned, dear Pete... Perhaps you came to inform me of your success in mustering our remaining allies to the cause."
"Uh... ... Define the word, success?" Pete began slowly, earning an angry scowl from the sorceress.
"As expected, you're as worthless as ever!" she snapped, causing him to flinch in fear of the punishment that was certain to follow.
"Hey hey hey, no need to blow your top, Miss Horn-headed-turn-into-a-Dragon." a scheming voice spoke from the darkness, the sarcasm in his tone present. The presence of blue fire illuminated the man's sharp features as he stepped out of the shadows, revealing the face of the Lord of the Dead.
"What the Heck are you doin' here?" the anthropomorphic cat walked over to the group.
Hades took a seat on a large chair situated in the hall, leaning on his hand with a sleepy expression. "Things were going kinda slow at the old coliseum, so I says to myself 'Hey, why not see what Dragon Breath and the moron are up to?' So here I am now..."
"I summoned him here, and he agreed to lend his support to our cause once more." Maleficent swept past the Greek God with a look of disdain. "Perhaps this time, you might feel more compelled to personally involve yourself in the festivities... What say you?"
"What I says, is that you need to find someone else to do your dirty work. I came down here to hang around, take in the atmosphere, watch some people get hurt... Y'know, good stuff like that." he spoke a mile-a-minute, sounding arrogant and relaxed as ever. "You know what I'm saying, Male-babe?"
"Well I see you haven't changed any." Pete let out a low chuckle in response to his master's ensuing irritation, covering his mouth in fear as he eyes settled on him.
"Like I always say, a real bad guy let's other people do the fightin' for 'em." Hades explained. "The big bad doesn't need to handle the grunt work, or else they ain't really the top dog, you feel me?"
Pete angrily rounded on the deity. "Jus' cause I do the footwork, doesn't mean I ain't the big man?"
Maleficent tapped her staff against the stone floor, her expression going from livid to mere irritation. "Since you seem to keen on expressing yourself, perhaps you care to explain to me why your mission was less than successful?"
She began stepping towards him, causing the lumbering henchman to panic slightly. "Now hold on there, I didn't say it was a complete failure." he waved his hands protectively in front of his body.
"Go on..."
"I'd say about half of 'em agreed to help us out, although I couldn't find some of the others. I'd say we got a pretty good start, though."
"When they see the power we plan to unleash firsthand, the others will no doubt flock to our cause. If not, they will face the same fate as anyone else who would dare defy my will."
"You got dat right, sister!" Pete boasted, standing his hunched frame up a little straighter.
"It seems I'm not the only one around here who's got friends on the other side..." a deep voice spoke, his figure remaining hidden in the shadows.
Pete looked over his master's shoulder as if noticing for the first time the remaining silhouettes standing behind Hades. "Hey, looks like I'm not the only one who was out recruiting today." he squinted at the man who just spoke. "Though it looks like this guy's built like a stick. Better not break 'em by accident." he let out a booming laugh.
Maleficent gestured towards the shadowed man with an evil smirk. "You shouldn't be so quick to judge a person by appearance alone, my dull-witted Pete. This gentleman has a fascinating connection with the darkness, therefore I saw it imminent that we would eventually join forces. Naturally, he found the prospect most interesting, and furthermore, he possesses rather intriguing powers that may yet benefit the cause."
The lanky figure twirled a top hat in between his fingers, placing the article on his head with a wide toothy grin, visible even through the darkness. "You got that right, polyester player... I've got voodoo, hoodoo, and you-do the likes of which you ain't never seen."
Pete took a step back to get a better look at the remaining people his superior had summoned to the meeting. The first was a short plump figure wearing a dress, with messy shoulder-length hair and large eyes. The next two were the most striking; a hulking figure standing at near twenty feet tall, with what appeared to be a small, long-eared animal perched on his shoulder. Some others were present, though the bad lighting made it difficult to make out features.
Maleficent moved so that she was standing in the center of the room, shoving her minion aside without further acknowledgement. "I thank you all for coming tonight." The evil fairy thrust her arms in the air dramatically, her tattered cloak billowing outwards like the wings of a demon. "With our combined resources, we shall cover all worlds in everlasting darkness, and reshape them however we desire!"
Faint murmurs erupted from the shadowed figures as she made the announcement, the assembly talking amongst each other as Hades and Pete watched on. Being acquainted with the sorceress and her methods, her two most familiar allies were not as affected. As the wind from the endless night drifted through the open door, the candles lighting the Grand Hall were snuffed out, leaving the room in total darkness once more. Maleficent let out a chortle of laughter, knowing full well that this was only a preview for the future of all that lives.
Note to Readers: The villains in this chapter aren't the only ones involved, or at least, they won't be for long. Most Disney fans can guess who they are. If you want a preview of some others I am considered using, check out the title image.
Don't worry if you're not a fan of The World Ends with You. Next chapter marks the end of that arc, and Sora's rebirth... The big question is, how will he react when the truth comes out.
Shinra Power Company is an entity from Final Fantasy VII, and its lead scientist was a demented man named Hojo whose immortal experiments birthed Sephiroth in that game. Naturally, this incarnation of him is enthralled by the Heartless, and is actively producing advanced and powerful ones.
Please review if you liked it. Support for this story's dying, yet there's so much I would like to do with it. I LOVE fan ideas and have even incorporated some into my stories in the past. Don't be shy if you want to see something happen or have any story ideas.