Kingdom Hearts © to Disney and Square Enix!
My OCs © to Disney and Square Enix!
Hinata © to Yamichaos27!
Chapter 60: Zhuque vs Qiongqi
"Whoa…"
The inside of the temple glowed as magma seemed to run under their feet. Whether it was real or a magical illusion, Auriel didn't want to find out.
Pillars carved with shapes of flames curled up around a dais at the end of the temple.
"Whatever you do," Eldar hopped onto the stone dais, "don't break the lava floor."
"Agreed."
"Oh, and why not? It might make this a little more exciting." Stepping into the temple, Azul's cane tapped on the moving floor.
"Azul…"
"Auriel." He pulled out a piece of paper. "I've been preparing your contract. You will give your powers to me without a fight and leave."
"Yeah… no."
He laughed. "I think you will. Why don't you and I play a game and make a wager. Winner commands the loser to do one thing, and the loser must comply." Waving the paper slightly, he smirked. "Though you can probably figure out what my command will be."
"Or we could just beat you up!" Hinata's blade crackled with ice.
"You could… but where's the fun in that?"
Auriel stepped off the dais, her wings of fire lighting up on her back. "Why not. If you want to play, let's play. I'll still beat you, fair and square."
"Auri!?"
Eldar summoned his guitar. "Fine. Let's play."
Azul's grin spread. "Good. How about, we play hide and go seek."
In a flash, he vanished.
The woman, Myorin, dressed in fine robes, her belt laden with money pouches, came to him, a wicked grin on her face.
"Now, now, Huang." She laughed, looking down on the old man before her. "You look like death… I'm surprised your old body could hold such power." With a wave of her hand, she summoned a table, atop it sat a chess set.
"And this is what, witch?"
"I've heard you're smart. You stood at the little prince's side for months, and he had no idea you were a traitor. And you and that princess made some very smart moves." She summoned two chairs on either side of the table. "So, I'd like to… test you. A game. A game of skill." She waved her hand, burnt orange magic around her fingers. "Whoever wins, lives. And I'll play fairly." A strange collar appeared around her neck and waited around the other chair. "What do you say?"
Huang narrowed his eyes but walked to the chair. As he sat down, the orange collar attached to him. He felt it stick into his spine and saw her flinch as well.
She meant it.
"Well then, witch. Let's play."
"Eldar?"
"Huh!?" A second Eldar stood by the first.
"Auri…" Her brother turned to her. "I don't li-"
The other Eldar stuck a magical staff into the boy. Purple veins shot up his neck and his eyes dulled.
"ELDAR!"
"Now, let the games begin."
Casting a wind spell, the air filled with swirling dust from this old temple.
"Auri, we need t-"
"Hinata?"
The dust died down.
Auriel found herself still before the dais.
But…
The others.
Hinata and Eldar stood before her, eyes clouded over.
Azul's brainwashing power.
They looked up. "Find me."
A second Hinata appeared behind the first as the three charged at Auriel.
Cheap shots…
Leaping into the air, her wings held her aloft. "Sorry guys." Flying down, she grabbed both Hinatas, slamming them into the ground.
"Uh, uh." They both said from their identical mouths. "The game was to find the real one, not defeat us."
"Are you sure that was a good move?"
Did this witch ever shut up?
She complimented and questioned every move he made on that board.
Very frustrating.
She knew how to make her words so sincere.
To make himself doubt.
No wonder she swindled thousands out of their money with lies and honeyed words.
"I'm sure. Now, since we have time, why not tell me why you're helping the prince."
"Well," she moved another piece on the board, "I already had communion with the Perils. I knew they sought someone to help them reach their goals. I just found that person, and then my personal favorite offered me his powers. So, I accepted. Nothing more than that."
"Why work with spirits such as these?"
"Power of course. Money, riches, power. That's all that matters in this world."
"I beg to differ."
"Of course you do, all of you hero-types do. But you can spare me your drivel. I've heard it all before, and I don't care."
"Why doesn't that surprise me."
"I won't lose!" Her hands lighting up with fire, she focused. A warm energy flowed into the two Hinatas.
Both of their eyes cleared.
One real, one fake.
"Auri?"
"Hina, which one are y-"
A blast of water cascaded across her, sending her flying as her wings hissed. Steam covered her back.
That hurt.
Turning around, she saw…
"Come on!"
Two Eldars stood before her, cloudy-eyed.
Hinata knelt on the ground, clutching her head.
Azul must have tried to take her mind over again.
Wait…
She could resist.
What if…
Lighting up her wings again, she flew over the two boys, to Hinata's side.
Placing her hand on her friend's back, she focused again. The warm energy flowing into the younger girl. "Fight him."
"Of course." Standing to her feet, Hinata held her blade out, an orange glow fading from behind her eyes. "Wasn't about to let him do that again. We can take them both, together."
Together.
THAT'S IT!
"I know what to do! Can you handle them for a minute?"
The younger girl smirked. "Of course!"
She charged forward, blade out. "SHIVA!"
From her blade, a swirl of ice erupted, turning into a blue-skinned young woman. Auriel leapt into the air as the eidolon and girl kept them busy.
She watched from above, waiting.
Now!
Hinata and Shiva pushed the two boys almost back-to-back.
Dropping between them, Auriel placed a hand on the back of both of their necks. "Time to wake up!"
Both stiffened and gasped.
"Auri?" Both looked at her with the same expression.
Leaping back the girl focused.
"You lose, Azul!"
And…
"Checkmate."
Myorin stared down at the board as the man knocked over her last piece.
"I believe I win."
"I believe you do." She laughed. "Good game."
The orange collar around her neck glowed and Huang heard a snap as her body suddenly went limp in the seat.
He'd won.
His own collar disappeared as the ground began to rumble.
Darkness began to fill the room as Zhuque appeared beside him. "Get to her! Banish Qiongqi!
But the darkness swallowed Myorin.
And she disappeared.
Auriel focused, a light spreading from her form, the same light used to defeat Zeromus.
It touched the feet of Hinata, lighting up around her, and the feet of the Eldar to her left.
Grabbing his hand, she smiled. "I knew it."
"Thanks, sis."
The other Eldar's form flickered as the three pointed their weapons at him.
"You lose."
An orange beam of flame shot from the three, engulfing the young man as his form turned back to Azul.
When the flames died down, Azul lay against the wall, his form singed and burned. He coughed, looking up as his opponent approached.
"Now, for the deal."
He looked down. "Fine… you win."
"Don't fight us anymore. Just sit here. That's my command."
"That's all?"
"Yes."
The air beside her shimmered as the form of Huang appeared. "Very well done, all of you."
"We didn't' really do much." Hinata sighed.
Eldar laughed. "Yeah we did. I don't know about you, but when this guy was in my head, I just kept trusting in my little sister. I knew she'd still beat him, even if he played dirty."
"True."
The first virtue smiled at the three. "Azul, it's now time to go." He knelt down, laying a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Be at peace."
Huang's body glowed a gentle orange as a burnt orange glow covered Azul. The oranges mixed, casting more flickering flames across the temple.
Slowly, both Azul and Huang faded from view, leaving nothing behind but a piece of paper.
Azul's contract for Auriel.
The girl picked it up, glancing over it.
"What's it say?"
"Oh nothing really, just mostly about me agreeing to give up my powers to him." Rolling it up, she put it into her pocket.
"Come on. Let's go home."
Hope you enjoyed!