Chapter 2: Mansion of Madness

"With Donald and Princess Peach at their side, Sora and Mario set out once again, bound for adventure. This time, our heroes were tasked with finding the mysterious charmer, Merlee. If Merlon was right, then Merlee was the key to finding the next Pure Heart. Never one to flinch, Sora and Mario set out to find Merlee's mysterious mansion. Little did they know the evil work of the dastdardly Count Bleck would wait at every turn..." Jiminy wrote in his journal.


In what looks like a marsh full of plant life, murky water, and dusk skies, the orange door appears, as Sora, Mario, Donald, and Peach walk out the door before it disappears.

"The Pure Heart is somewhere up ahead. Yes, it must be... It could be a ways..." Tippi said.

"Well, enough standing, let's go!" Sora said and Mario nods.

Just then, Dusk Nobodies appear and surround the four.

"Oh, dear!" Peach gasped.

"Nobodies!" Donald said, taking out his staff.

"What're THEY doing here?!" Sora asked, taking out his Keyblade while Mario gets into his fighting stance.

(Battle Theme: Tension Rising)

The Dusk Nobodies slither around, as some of them attack with their tendrils, but Sora triple slashes with his Keyblade and then casts Thunder while Mario uses Spin Jump and double jump attacks, only for another Dusk to jump around and delivers a ball attack. Donald casts Water at the Dusk while Peach attacks another Dusk with her parasol, but more Dusks appear, as well as Creepers and the Dusks attack with their heads while the Creepers transform into swords and slash in the air. Mario uses Thoreau to lift a Creeper and throws it, allowing Donald to cast Blizzard, but the Dusks keep slithering around and attack with their tendril arms. Peach uses her parasol as a shield and then uses Peach Bomber while Sora delivers three slashes with his Keyblade and then enters Second Form and delivers many strong slashes followed by Ripple Drive and they defeat all the Nobodies, as they vanish into nothing.

"Well, didn't expect to see THEM here." Sora said and Mario nods.

"Just what were those things?" Peach asked.

"Oh, yeah! When we had our second adventure with Mario, we actually had a run-in with Nobodies, our other enemies." Sora said and Mario nods.

"They're controlled by Organization XIII, a group of powerful Nobodies. That could mean if the Nobodies are here..." Donald stops talking.

"Then obviously the Organization's involved too. Thing is, we handled the old Organization already, but now, there's a new one we're currently dealing with." Sora said.

"You don't suppose they're allied with Count Bleck, do you?" Tippi asked.

"Possibly. Knowing them, they're bound to ally with anyone with a dark heart. I just can't believe we haven't run into a member around here yet." Sora said.

"Well, we better watch out." Donald said.

"I must say, Sora, you have many enemies, just like Mario, but I'm certain you can handle anything." Peach said.

"Heh, thanks, Princess. Anyway, let's hurry on over to that Merlee's mansion." Sora said and Mario nods.

Unknowing to them, someone is watching the four moving through the marsh and it's a black coat, who vanishes in a dark corridor.

(Field Theme: Gloam Valley)

(Gloam Valley)

The four begin moving through the valley while fighting off Heartless, as well as Koopa Troopas and come across a valley of water, only for Peach to use her parasol to glide across to reach the other side, but more Creeper Nobodies appear and attack, only for Sora to attack with his Keyblade while Mario double jumps while Donald casts Fire while Peach unleashes hearts to attack, defeating the Nobodies and continue. As they keep moving through the marsh, the four reach the next section with many windmills, where they encounter Goombas and Shadows, which they defeat and keep going through the marsh, where they find what looks like a person wearing what looks a prisoner outfit and a chain around his leg.

"Who's this?" Donald asked.

"Um, hello." Peach said.

"HOT GIRL ALERT! We MUST be fated to meet! YES! You are MY destiny! Will you go out with me?" The prisoner asked.

"Oookay, if you can calm down for a sec, we're wondering if you know the way to Merlee's mansion." Sora said.

"Merlee's mansion?! Do NOT go there! You'll be trapped there and BAD things'll happen!" The prisoner said.

"Trapped?" Donald asked.

"Bad things...?" Sora asked.

"What are you talking about?" Peach asked.

"Ohmanohmanohmanohmanohmanohman! I DON'T wanna remember it! Just stay with me, baby!" The prisoner said.

"Umm..." Peach trails off.

"Ooookay, thanks, I guess..." Sora said.

"Let's go already!" Donald said.

The four continue moving through the marsh, but Tippi has a question.

"What did that person mean about bad things in Merlee's mansion?" Tippi asked.

"I have no idea. You don't think Heartless are involved, do you?" Sora asked.

"Possibly, but we'll find out once we're there." Donald said and Mario nods.

The four arrive at the next section of the marsh with more water for Peach to use her parasol to glide across, taking them to the other side, but as they keep going, many Shadows, Soldiers, Dusks, and Creepers appear and surround the four.

"This again!" Sora said.

"Let's get this over with!" Donald said, taking out his staff.

The Shadows sink into the ground and then attack with their claws while the Soldiers deliver spin kicks, but Sora triple slashes with his Keyblade followed by Blitz and then casts Fire while Mario uses Spin Jump and double jumps, but the Dusks slither around and attack with their tendril hands while the Creepers transform into swords and impale at the ground, but Donald casts Thunder while Peach uses Peach Bomber. The Soldiers deliver leaping attacks while the Creepers transform into flails and swing attack the four, only for Mario to use Power Bounce and jumps on the Creepers many times while Sora casts Aero, only for the Shadows to leap attack with their claws while the Dusks walk across the air and attack with their tendril arms. Peach uses her parasol for protection and then unleashes two heart like orbs while Donald casts Water, but the Shadows move across the ground while the Creepers transform into axes and deliver chopping attacks, only for Mario to use Thoreau to pick up a Creeper and throws it, allowing Sora to deliver slashes with his Keyblade and then casts Thunder at the enemies and they defeat all the enemies.

Just then, a chest appears, making Sora use his Keyblade to open it, making something appear and it's what looks like a blue bomb with wings.

"SSS-BOOOOM! Good vibes! Them vibes set off my blow-stuff-up sensors! You like explodin'? Sss-POW! I ain't sensed real good blow-stuff-up vibes in...1,500 years! Sss-POOOM! Gotta check those vibes out a little more close-like! Sss-CRAAACK!" The bomb said.

"What?" Donald asked confused.

"Just answer a couple of questions real quick. Sss-BLAAAM!" The bomb said.

"Um, oookay?" Sora said.

"You stay up wonderin' if anyone ever gives presents TO Santa Claus?" The bomb asked.

"Yeah?" Sora answered.

"For some reason, you clean your room before a test?" The bomb asked.

"Sure?" Sora answered.

"When someone says, 'Let's be friends', you think, 'Sure, whatever'?" The bomb asked.

"I guess so." Sora answered.

"You don't understand why I'm asking all these weird questions?" The bomb asked.

"You got that right." Sora answered.

"You think shopping online is a wonderful and magical experience?" The bomb asked.

"Sure." Sora answered.

"You once out on a shirt inside out, but didn't bother reversin' it before goin' out?" The bomb asked.

"Kinda." Sora answered.

"You wanna be sleepin' when you're awake, but when you're tired, you wanna wake up?" The bomb asked.

"You could say that." Sora answered.

"You're getting real tired of these questions?" The bomb asked.

"Yes!" Donald said.

"SSSS-BOOOOOOOOOOM! You got some vibes goin'! My mind's made up! Ssss-BLAPPOW! You are worthy of the power of Boomer!" Boomer said, going for Mario.

"Well, that was kinda annoying." Donald said.

"Let's just hurry on. We don't have much time." Peach said and Mario nods.

The four keep moving, as they come across blocks, which Mario uses Boomer to destroy and go for the next section of the marsh and later, they see something from afar and it's what looks like a giant mansion.

"Hey, look!" Sora said.

"That must be it!" Tippi said.

"Let's hurry!" Donald said.

As the four hurry for the mansion, a quake occurs, making them stop.

"Now what?" Peach asked, as something appears.

Confronting the four is what looks like a giant Heartless that appears to a black and green four-legged beast with fangs, small spiked tail, giant purple bulb shaped cannon on its back, around the bulb cannon are four stalks with razor sharp teeth, and the Heartless sigil on its forehead.

"Wak! A giant Heartless!" Donald said, taking out his staff.

"You gotta be kidding me!" Sora said, taking out his Keyblade while Mario gets into his fighting stance.

"In order to move on, we'll have to stop that Heartless." Tippi said.

(Boss Theme: The Encounter)

The Heartless known as Gloam Garden unleashes thorny vines and uses them to lash at the four, only for Peach to use her parasol for protection, allowing Donald to cast Fire at the giant Heartless' bulb while Mario uses Power Jump and deliveers a powerful jump attack, but Gloam Garden uses its four stalks to bite at the four, onl for Sora to slash at one of the stalks with his Keyblade and then casts Fire at the other stalk while Peach uses Peach Bomber at the third stalk. Gloam Garden uses its bulb cannon to fire out seeds into the air and drop down at the four, who dodge, but the seeds explode, as the giant Heartless' fourth stalk tries to bite, but Mario uses Boomer to explode on the stalk, causing Gloam Green to roar in pain and then unleashes more thorn vines to attack. The four dodge the thorn vines, as Donald casts Thunder while Sora aerial slashes to attack the giant Heartless' bulb with his Keyblade and then enters Second Form and delivers many powerful slashes followed by a triple somersault slash followed by Magnet Burst while Mario uses Power Bounce and jumps on the bulb many times. Gloam Garden uses his bulb cannon to fire more exploding seeds at the four, who dodge, but sends his stalks to bite at the four, only for Peach to attack one of the stalks with her parasol while Mario double jumps the second stalk, but Gloam Garden sends out more thorn vines to attack the two. Donald casts Fire at the vines and then casts Blizzard at the third stalk while Sora triple slashes at the final stalk, causing more damage, only for Gloam Garden to roar and then creates a field of poison around itself to inflict poison damage.

Sora locks onto Gloam Garden's bulb and then uses Ragnarok and unleashes many magical flares to deal damage to the bulb while Donald casts Fire at the bulb to inflict greater damage, but Gloam Garden creates two more stalks, as they fire multiple seeds to try and damage the four, only for Peach to use her parasol for protection, as Mario flips to 3-D and then uses Boomer to explode at the bulb. Gloam Garden sends out more thorn vines to lash at the four, who try to dodge, but Gloam Garden uses its bulb cannon to rain down more exploding seeds, but Mario uses Spin Jump and double jumps at the bulb while Sora casts Fire three times to inflict great damage, only for Gloam Garden to unleash another cloud of poison to deal poison damage. Sora and Donald work together and use Duck Flare and unleash a barrage of fireworks to deal damage to the bulb while Peach unleashes two heart like orbs and sends them to attack the bulb as well, but Gloam Garden sends its stalks to bite at the four while using two more stalks to fire multiple seeds. Sora slashes at the first stalk while Mario uses Boomer to strike at the second stalk, only for Gloam Garden to use its bulb cannon to rain down more exploding seeds and sends out more thorn vines while the other stalks bite at the four, but Peach attacks the third stalk with her parasol while Donald casts Blizzard at the final stalk, but Gloam Garden fires more exploding seeds to attack the four, who dodge. Peach uses Peach Bomber while Donald casts Fire, only for Gloam Garden to use its stalks to bite at the four, but Mario uses Power Jump and delivers a powerful jump attack while Sora aerial slashes at the bulb cannon followed by speed slashes and then casts Fire three times and they finish off Gloam Garden, ending the fight.

Gloam Garden roars and falls to the ground while a giant heart flies out, as the giant Heartless disappears.

"Taken care of." Sora said and Mario nods.

"And the mansion isn't far, so we should get there soon." Peach said.

"Shall we?" Tippi asked and Mario nods.

"C'mon!" Donald said, as the four continue.

The four later reach the next section of the marsh and finall come across the mansion.

(Field Theme: Merlee's Mansion Outside)

(Merlee's Mansion Entrance)

The four arrive at the entrance to Merlee's mansion.

"So, this is Merlee's mansion..." Peach said.

"Merlee should be in there somewhere." Tippi said.

Sora takes a good look at the mansion and thinks about the mansion in Twilight Town and in Sora's place is Roxas, who looks at the mansion.

"You're thinking about Roxas again, are you?" Donald asked.

"Well, yeah, why wouldn't I?" Sora asked.

"Sora, we're still working on trying to get him back." Donald said.

"Yeah, I know. I just hope we do it soon." Sora said.

"Sora, are you alright?" Tippi asked.

"Never better, Tip! C'mon, let's get into that mansion and nab at Pure Heart!" Sora said and Mario nods, as they go for the mansion, but Sora places his hand on his chest. "I WILL free you, Roxas! You can count on it!" Sora said, as he joins the three, as they go into the mansion.

Unknowing to them, someone watches them enter the mansion and they're Ansem and Xemnas.

"He still suffers the delusions of restoring a Nobody." Xemnas said.

"How truly pathetic, just as him trying to prevent a dark prophecy from coming true." Ansem said.

"The Dark Prognosticus... Such an interesting prophecy. It would not hurt for the Count to have more allies." Xemnas said.

"Ah ha ha ha ha! You two could never be more right! I think the Count would LOVE to add you to the ranks! Yes, just delightful!" A voice said and it's a shadow figure.

"Hmph, for once, there is no jest in your words." Ansem said.

"Aaaah ha ha! Jest? No, no! I am ALWAYS deadly serious!" The shadow figure said.

"So you say. Now, let us see how these heroes of light fare against the traps laid for them." Xemnas said.

(Field Theme: Merlee's Mansion Interior)

(Merlee's Mansion-Foyer)

The four are now inside the mansion's foyer and start moving, but they come across what looks like a giant dog like creature, so Mario uses his 3-D to flip, allowing them to get past the dog and go for a door and open it, taking them to a diifferent section of the mansion, where they find what looks like a little green girl with pigtails and wearing a maid outfit.

"Um, hi?" Sora said.

"Why, HELLO there, cutie! I LIKE that spiky hair of yours! Anyway, BIG welcome to Merlee's mansion! I'm Lady Merlee's handmaid. My name is Mimi, but you can call me Mimikins if you want to, Cutie Spike!" Mimi said.

"You think I'm cute?" Sora asked.

"Oh, boy..." Donald said, rolling his eyes.

"You're all here to see Lady Merlee, aren't you? Well, SUPER! Lady Merlee's on the second floor in the farthest room." Mimi said.

"Thank you." Peach said.

"Oh, but one more thing; DON'T YOU DARE GO INTO ANY OTHER ROOMS BY ACCIDENT OR ELSE!" Mimi yelled.

"Um, okay..." Sora said.

"Enjoy your visit." Mimi said, winking at Sora.

The four go for the second floor and head for the farthest door, taking them to a different room, but it's empty and they don't see Merlee anywhere, but while looking around, Donald finds what looks like a green button on the wall.

"What's this?" Donald asked.

"I don't think we should be..." Peach stops talking as Donald presses the green button, causing bars to fall on the windows and spikes appear on the ceiling.

"SPIKES?!" Sora asked shocked.

"Run!" Tippi said.

The four run across the hall, as the spikes fall from the ceiling and later, they reach the door and exit the room before the spikes can touch the ground.

"That was something!" Sora said.

"Donald, try not to touch anything around here!" Peach said.

"I'm sorry!" Donald said.

"Let's just take another look around. Merlee's gotta be here somewhere." Sora said and Mario nods.

The four explore the mansion's foyer and find another giant dog like creature chained next to a locked door, so Mario uses his 3-D to get past the creature, as Sora quickly uses his Keyblade to unlock the door, causing the creature to be free and then it goes after Mimi, who runs from the creature.

"NOOOOOO!" Mimi cried, running away, as the creature chases after her.

"Why did that...thing go after her and not us?" Sora asked.

"I dunno, but I don't wanna find out." Donald said.

"This mansion is quite odd... I feel it holds many secrets." Tippi said and Mario nods.

"You might be right, Tippi." Peach said.

"Well, let's take another look around." Sora said and they nod, as they open the door and go further into the mansion.

(Merlee's Mansion-Corridors)

The four arrive at the corridors of the mansion, still searching for Merlee, as they keep looking around, Mario trips over something, which is a vase, casuing it to fall on the floor, breaking it.

"Mario!" Peach said.

"I'm sure it was just an accident." Sora said.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" A voice screamed, as they see Mimi coming to them. "YOU IDIOTS! YOU BROKE IT! YOU BROKE MY FAVORITE VASE! I LOVED that vase more than ANYTHING and you BROKE it!" Mimi yelled.

"Look, we're sorry..." Sora said.

"Yeah? Well, guess what, sorry's not gonna fix that vase, now will it?! You WILL pay for it! That vase cost 1,000,000 Rubees!" Mimi said.

"Ru...bees?" Donald asked confused.

"You heard me, duckie! Now HAND over my Rubees OR ELSE!" Mimi yelled.

"Look, we don't have these Rubees..." Sora said.

"We only have coins." Peach said and Mario nods.

"Coins?! No one uses coins anymore, peasants! I SPIT on your coins! So, NONE of you have any Rubees on you?" Mimi asked.

"No?" Sora answered and Mario shakes his head.

"Well, in that case, you'll have to WORK it off! Until you naughty things work off your debt, I OWN YOU! ENJOY LABOR!" Mimi shouted.

"Labor?!" Donald asked shocked.

"Oh, man...!" Sora said.

"Yes, so you can earn Rubees in the generator room on the top floor. Once you have 1,000,000 Rubees, you can come pay it off in the room in the back. Now, GET TO WORK, SERVANTS!" Mimi yelled, leaving.

"I can't believe this..." Peach said.

"Now we have to work for HER?!" Donald asked.

"Ugh, 1,000,000 Rubees?! It'll take a LONG time to make that kinda bank!" Sora said.

"Well, no other way out of this. We better get started..." Tippi said.

The four begin moving through the mansion's corridors while going upstairs and they later find a chest, which Sora uses his Keyblade to open it, making something come out and it's what looks like a downward triangle with wings.

"Hey, wanna a secret, 'CUZ I DOOO! So, know the secret, pard? Do ya? Iffen you open yer peppers...and imagine real hard...that the world's gone... Why it's just about the biggest dern thrill ever! Hey now! My senses're tellin' me yer the hero! Welcome, pard! Got some bad news, though. Looks like yer lackin' some thrills. Can't give my power to anyone skinny in the thrills department Lemme rehcarge yer thrill gauge over the next ten seconds! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOONE! TWOOOOOOOOOOO! THREEEEEEEEE! FIIIIIIIVE! FOOOOOOOOOOUR! SEVENTEEEEEEEEEEN! THREE-POINT-ONE-FOOOOOOOUR! ONE MARZIIIIIIIIIIIILLION! TENNNN! Now, yer all charged up! Yepper, ol' Slim's given yer thrills back! Just remember we Pixls got loads of power, so be real careful Had a little dustup with them Ancients 2,000 years ago, but we're pards now. Now it's time fer thrillls!" Slim aid, going for Mario.

"Okay, new Pixl. Nice." Sora said and Mario nods.

The four find a door that leads to a generator room, as they see prisoner servants jumping up power blocks on a conveyer belt with sparks, so they join in with the servants to jump up power blocks while avoiding the sparks and after two hours of hitting power blocks, they earn some Rubees and they leave the generator room and find another door. The four are now in a different generator room, where they find other servants running along wheels, powering up the mansion, so the four join in on the wheel running and after three hours of running along the wheels, the four get more Rubees and leave the second generator room.

"Ugh, we can't keep working like this! We got a Pure Heart to find!" Sora said and Mario nods.

"There has to be a different way to get enough Rubees." Donald said.

The four go to a different room, where they find two servants talking to each other.

"Hey, did ya hear Mimi talkin' in her sleep?" One of the servants asked.

"Really? She sleeptalked? Know she said?" The second servant asked.

"That's the good part. I heard her whisper 41262816. Must've been her ex-boyfriend's number or somethin'." The first servant said.

"Why'd she say that?" The second servant asked.

"Probably a code for some vault upstairs or something." The first servant said.

"Did you hear that?" Donald asked.

"A vault upstairs and that number being a code?" Sora asked.

"I can't say I approve of this, but maybe we should take a look." Peach said and Mario nods.

The four head for upstairs, wher ethey come across laser walls, so Mario uses Slim to make the four slim to go through the laser walls and they find a vault.

"This must be it." Sora said, as Mario puts in 41262816, making the vault open, revealing many Rubees.

"Wow!" Donald said.

"That's a lot of Rubees." Peach said.

"Whaddya think we should do?" Sora asked, as Donald starts taking them.

"Don't you get it? We can use these to pay that stupid debt that girl put us in!" Donald said.

"But isn't that stealing?" Peach asked.

"When it comes to anything valuable, ya can't talk Donald outta this... Besides, if that's a lotta Rubees, then there shouldn't be any harm usin' them to pay Mimi back." Sora said and Mario nods.

"I guess you're right..." Peach said.

"Well, we don't have any other ideas, so I suppose we'll do what have to do." Tippi said.

"Glad we're on the same page!" Donald said, taking every Rubee.

"But we're USING them to pay that debt!" Sora said, putting his hands on his hips.

"Yeah, yeah." Donald said.

The four go downstairs and head for the far door, leading to a bank room, where they find Mimi behind a desk.

"Oh, hi there! Big welcome! So happy to have yo here at Rubee Savings and Loan!" Mimi said.

"Here's your Rubees!" Donald said, giving the Rubees.

"Well, SUPER! Lemme takes those! Thank you for paying off your Rubee..." Mimi stops talking and realizes something. "WHAAAAAAT?! How'd you earn THAT much Rubees?! That wasn't supposed to happen! You DESTROYED my curse!" Mimi yelled.

"Curse?!" Sora asked.

"I'LL GET YOU!" Mimi shouted, disappearing.

"What just happened?" Peach asked.

"It seems that little imp has put a curse on this mansion." Tippi said.

"But why? Who is she really?" Sora asked.

"I don't know, but we need to find Merlee right now." Peach said and Mario nods.

The four leave the bank room and continue moving through the mansion to find Merlee and as they keep searching, they find a door, leading to some stairs.

"This might lead somewhere." Peach said.

"In we go." Sora said and Mario nods, as they go downstairs.

The four are now in what looks like a basement of the mansion.

"The Pure Heart... It's near... I can feel its tremors much more strongly." Tippi said.

"Awesome, so we're getting close." Sora said.

"Ah! Hooray! Whoopee! Thanks for coming to look for me!" A voice said.

"Huh?" Donald asked, looking around.

"Where's that voice coming from?" Peach asked and just then, someone appears and it's an apparition of a woman wearing a red and yellow dress, sunglasses, and a white veil.

"Who are you?" Sora asked.

"Beautiful and mysterious Merlee! Mistress of the house, it's me! So glad it's you I see! So long I've waite for you! Your arrival is well past due." Merlee said.

"Where are you?" Donald asked.

"I'm afraid we can't meet like this, oh no, for something's amiss. An evil one is after me and safe and sound I cannot be. In this basement do I dwell, mazelike rooms are my cell, you will find me, I can tell... And if you do, take care... For...your eyes...may err... Trust nothing...foul...or fair..." Merlee said.

"Huh?" Sora asked, as Merlee's apparition starts fading.

"No... I cannot last... My power...is...fading...fast... The distance...is...too...vast... Are you ready...to find me? Beware...if you do, I plea..." Merlee stops talking, as her apparition fades.

"Wait!" Sora said.

"No use. She's gone." Tippi said.

"We need to find her soon." Peach said and they nod.

(Merlee's Mansion-Basement)

The four start moving through the basement to find Merlee and the whole basement is like a maze, but they keep going while dealing with Boos and Search Ghosts, as well as Dusks and go through door after door and after a while of going through the entire basement maze, they arrive at a different room and go upstairs, only to find Merlee.

"Ahh, yes, how very nice... Thanks for coming! Thank you twice! Mysterious and so lovely, mistress of the house you see... It's me, Merlee! I shine on, such is my lot, a sun to those fate to me brought... And I knew that soon I'd see you buzz on by, little bees. Hee hee hee hee hee!" Merlee said.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Merlee. We're here for the Pure Heart." Sora said and Mario nods.

"Oh, of course, I know! The Pure Heart for Mario...and Co.! I'll gladly part with the purest Pure Heart, but there is a wee fee: 10,000,000 Rubees!" Merlee said.

"No way!" Donald yelled.

"Oh, if you lack Rubees now, a smallish loan I could allow. You can work it off somehow." Merlee said.

"I don't think so." Sora said.

"Then perhaps, a free gift! Away with gloom! A Super Mega Ultra Shroom!" Merlee said.

"No." Peach said.

"ARGH! Idiots, lots of you! Turning down such a coup! None of you have a clue!" Merlee said.

"Good choice for my sake... This Merlee's a total fake... Listen not! She is a snake!" Merlee said.

"Who are you, ya impostor?!" Sora demanded.

"Mimimimimimimimimi... No point in trying to fool anyone now..."'Merlee' said, transforming into Mimi wearing a yellow dress.

(Theme: Mimi, Shapeshifter)

"You!" Donald yelled.

"Gee, lookee here! The girl you thought was a handmaid or a Merlee impostor... She's actually the faithful servant of Count Bleck, master impersonator Mimi! Golly, I was hoping to settle this peacefully, but TOO BAD! You wanna get ugly, huh? Then, let's get UGLY! TRUE MIMI, COME FORTH!" Mimi said, as she spins her head around and then six spider legs appear from her head. "Mimimimimimimimimimi!" Spider Mimi said.

"YUCK!" Tippi said.

"THAT'S her true form?!" Sora asked shocked.

"She's creepy AND ugly!" Donald said.

"Please, my friends, beware. A barrier protects her there. In fact, it's everywhere. Attacks may well be useless against such as she." Merlee said.

"We can't attack her?!" Sora asked.

"No choice, we have to run from her." Peach said and Mario nods.

"Come find the real me. I am hiding, look and see! If you can, my magic may weaken her and win the day! Hurry, hurry, don't delay!" Merlee said.

"Then, that's what we're gonna do!" Sora said.

"Let's hurry!" Donald said.

The four run from Spider Mimi, who chases after them, as they go to a different section of the basement, but Spider Mimi keeps chasing after them, as they go for another door and go to the next section of the basement, where they find Shadows and Dusks for them to defeat and keep moving and go for another door. The four continue moving through the mazelike basement to get away from Mimi and find Merlee and they find a cracked wall, which Mario uses Boomer to destroy and they go to a different room with stairs, so they climb up the stairs and find another door and open it, taking them somewhere else. The four are in a room with two bathroom doors with one having the blue male symbol and the pink female symbol and they go to the girls' bathroom.

"We should be safe here." Sora said.

"But in HERE?" Donald asked.

"We still haven't found Merlee yet. Where can she be?" Peach asked.

Mario looks around and opens a stall.

"Hee hee hee hee hee!" A voice laughed, as someone emerges from a toilet, revealing to be Merlee. "Hee hee hee hee! Found me! The real Merlee! I shine on, such is my lot, a sun to hose fate to brought." Merlee said.

"So, you're the real Merlee?" Sora asked.

"But in a place like THIS?" Donald asked.

"I'm afraid that Mimi freak was too robust and I too weak... I Pure Heart I quickly tool and hid where she would never look... But now you're here; horray! This bad tide will turn today! Soon that awful Mimi pays! You and I can now join up to teach that tiny, bratty pup a lesson: Now let's power up!" Merlee said.

"Ooooh, I don't think so!" A voice said, as Mimi appears.

"Mimi!" Merlee said, as Mimi tranforms again into Merlee. "Stop pretending to me! Everone knows you are Mimi!" Merlee said.

"What is this you talk about? You're the faker! And a lout!" The other Merlee said.

"It is me, the real Merlee!" Merlee said.

"No, I'm the true Merlee!" The other Merlee said.

"One of us has real beauty and one is fake as can be." Merlee said.

"You make me gag! I am hot; no need to brag and you're a hag!" The other Merlee said.

"Fib-maker! You are a fake faker!" Merlee yelled.

"Come off it, dear! You're a dog from eye to ear!" The other Merlee said.

"STOP!" Sora shouted, making the Merlees stop fighting.

"The only way to settle this is to find out which one is the real Merlee." Peach said.

"Sounds like a good thought. 'Cause I'm the real me (hot) and you really aren't (not)." The other Merlee said.

"How much you amuse! You're a fake and you will lose!" Merlee said.

"It's on, CON!" The Merlees said.

Just then, a game show occurs, as a talking glowing box appears.

"IIIIT's the 66th Annual... 'That's My Merlee!' show! How're you folks doing? Let's get going! You'll be asking these Merlees five questions. Listen closely, as you'll have to pick the real Merlee!" The talking box said.

"Fine!" Donald said.

"Okay... First question, what are your hobbies?" Peach asked.

"Catalogues for crystal balls, that's where my interest falls." Merlee said.

"I like watching rerun shows of 'Super Ultra Goomba Bros.'!" The other Merlee said.

"What's the first thing you wash in a bathtub?" Donald asked.

"Really?" Sora asked.

"Not that you should care, but I wash my hair." Merlee said.

"I start with tile mold, then the faucets, hot and cold." The other Merlee said.

"What's your favorite animal?" Sora asked.

"A little bear cubbie, just as cute as can be!" Merlee said.

"An adorable little demon, all sweatin' and steamin'!" The other Merlee said.

"What was your nickname?" Donald asked.

"Donald!" Sora said.

"It is not a name to boast, bit I was called the 'Bashful Ghost'." Merlee said.

"Not to go and make a fuss, but I was the 'Odd Propoise'." The other Merlee said.

"Hmm, what's your type of guy?" Peach asked.

"Hee hee...! I love them all, see... Nope! No type for me." Merlee said.

"Oh, how can I share when... The boy's right there." The other Merlee said, looking at Sora.

"Well, that's all five questions! So, which is the real Merlee?" The talking box asked.

"Her!" Sora said, pointing at the first Merlee.

"Well, let's see if you're right!" The talking box said and after a few minutes of waiting. "DING! RIGHT!" The talking box said.

"Of course, obviously! Nobody can copy me!" Merlee said.

(Boss Theme: Vs. Mimi)

"STUPID HEADS! I MIMICKED HER PERFECTLY! YOU KNOW IT! I'll congratulate you...by tearing you to little bits like stupid confetti!" Mimi said, reverting back to her form again and then transforms back into her spider form, as Merlee runs away.

"I shall cheer from over here! Rah! Rah! Whoosh-bing-bah! Hit 'er in the knee! If she has one. Does she?" Merlee cheered.

"She's a fast one, but whatever! I'll finish you first!" Mimi said.

"How can we beat her? We can't attack her!" Donald said.

"Try anything!" Sora said and Mario nods.

Mimi goes to attack the four with throwing Rubees, only for the four to dodge, but then, Merlee's cheer does something to Mimi, who still attacks, but Sora attacks with his Keyblade and does damage to the shapeshifter and Mario uses Power Bounce and jumps on Mimi many times, dealing more damage.

"But...what?! Why can you hurt me?! I'm supposed to be INVINCIBLE! Count Bleck's power was supposed to protect ME!" Mimi said.

"Rah! Rah! Whoosh-bing-bah! You can hit her, dears! For this is not normal cheer! This cheer is magic, woo! Her magic barrier is through!" Merlee cheered.

"Oh, boy!" Donald cheered.

"WHAAAAAAAAAT?! When did THIS happen?! No, I feel naked! How dare you!" Mimi yelled.

Sora aerial slashes Mimi with his Keyblade and then casts Thunder while Mario uses Spin Jump and double jumps, causing one of Mimi's spider legs to break off, but Mimi unleashes Rubees and throws them at the four, only for Peach to use her parasol for protection and then uses Peach Bomber while Donald casts Blizzard, as they break off more of Mimi's spider legs. Mimi summons spikes of Rubees from the ground, only for Mario to use Power Jump and delivers a powerful jump attack while Donald casts Fire, breaking off more of Mimi's spider legs, but Mimi climbs up the room's ceiling and drops down Rubees down at the four, but Peach uses her parasol to block off the Rubees and unleashes heart orbs to bring Mimi to the ground while Sora aerial slashes with his Keyblade followed by speed slashes and they bring down more spider legs. Mimi summons more Rubee spikes, only for Peach to attack Mimi with her parasol while Donald casts Blizzard, but Mimi climbs up the ceiling and drops down more Rubees from above, but Mario uses Thoreau to pick up a Rubee and throws it at Mimi, bringing her down, allowing Sora to aerial slash with his Keyblade and then casts Water, bringing down more of Mimi's legs and all of the legs are off, as Mimi falls to the ground.

"Take that, Mimi!" Sora said.

"Mimimimimiuuuuurgh...! B-But how could you... It's...impossible!" Mimi said, as she reverts back to her normal form. "Don't think you've beaten me for good, dummies! Next time, you won't be so lucky! Remember that, stupid heads!" Mimi said, as she disappears.

"What a pain... She's just like Doopliss, but much sadder." Donald said.

Merlee returns to the bathroom to meet with the four.

(Theme: Soft Light)

"Fine job on that Mimi, yes! The Pure Heart's safe, evil's repressed! You know, the tenants here guarded it for 1,500 years, waiting for you to draw near! Finally, that duty's done, and I'm ecstatic, for one. But wait, ere we finish up, I must tell you something, yup. So, the Light Prognosticus was read by you, yes? It was written there that I and my ancestors waited by the Pure Heart, staying spry... But something wasn;t written there and of it you must be aware. There is another prophecy: A heart of chaos can only be beaten by seven of mystery... Seven heroes unite, their hope burns forth light to shatter the walls of blight. That is how despair, it dies, such as what we prophesize here in the home of the wise." Merlee said.

"Seven...?" Tippi asked.

"Heroes...?" Peach asked.

"You don't mean..." Donald stops talking.

"Sounds a lot like the seven Guardians of Light..." Sora said.

"I am sure the four of you, Mario, Peach, Sora, and Donald, you too, are the first four of heroes true. So, then, it falls to you, to find the other three heroes too. I would guess, if I had to, the others might be known to you." Merlee said.

"So, we need to find other three heroes..." Sora said.

"Now, finally, let me be! I hereby do my sworn duty! There! From me it parts! Here, heroes! A Pure Heart!" Merlee said, revealing a yellow Pure Heart.

"Oh, boy!" Donald cheered, as Sora and Mario obtain the yellow Pure Heart.

END OF CHAPTER!

"Count Bleck's servant Mimi had laid a nasty trap for Sora, Mario, and friends... But with the help of Merlee, faithful defender of the Pure Heart, the day was won. Who were the other three heroes mentioned by Merlee? With five Pure Hearts yet to be found, Sora and Mario knew their adventure had only begun..." Jiminy wrote in his journal.


(Theme: Count Bleck's Evil Plan)

Meanwhile in Count Bleck's lair, Nastasia gives a report to Count Bleck.

"Yeah, so I just got a brief memo from Mimi? It says, 'I messed up bad!' That's the message in its entirety. Yeah..." Nastasia informed.

"Bleh heh heh heh heh heh... She failed to best the hero and that fool with the key, even with my gift of power? A Light Prognosticus hero... Descendants of the ancient tribe... Their strength grows... And the one, who holds key still remains a problem to be dealt with..." Count Bleck said.

"It seems you're having trouble with this Keyblade wielder." A voice said.

"Who speaks, asked Count Bleck?" Count Bleck asked, as dark corridors appear, revealing Ansem and Xemnas.

"We know all too well of the one, you are stuggling to deal with. The one, who holds the Keyblade, Sora." Xemnas said.

"What do you two know of this...Sora? Explain!" Count Bleck said.

"He is a foolish follower of light and we had our own encounter with him, but we can provide our assistance to help ensure the Dark Progonsticus does come true." Ansem said.

"And we have Heartless and Nobodies to provide at your service." Xemnas said.

"Hmm, you truly believe you can dispatch this interloper?" Count Bleck asked.

"Him and the hero, Mario." Xemnas said.

"Hmm, you intriuge Count Bleck." Count Bleck said.

"COUNT BLECK!" A voice called, as O'Chunks arrives. "I beg yeh, gimme the honor o' whalin' on this pack o' nambly-pamblies! I swear on me whiskers that I'll spank 'em like naughty little Cherbils, I will!" O'Chunks said.

"Oh, so, O'Chunks, yeah, you think you're all set to go? So I guess you finished up that report on your own inadequacy that I needed?" Nastasia asked.

"Eah, y'see... I just got a wee bit left. I'm workin' on me conclusion... Yeh gotta gimme a break! Me writin' takes time, lass! An' 1,000 pages be a lot!" O'Chunks said.

"O'Chunks, calm yourself. Take a minion time-out. You two, if you are certain you can destroy these two, then prove your loyalty by dispatching them." Count Bleck said.

"Of course, Count. I shall have the pleasure of dealing with them." Ansem said.

"You shall not go alone, for Count Bleck shall also send... Dimentio! Come to me, Count Bleck!" Count Bleck ordered, as Dimentio appears.

"And so I arrive, like a sudden windstorm at a kindergarten picnic!" Dimentio said.

"Bleh heh heh heh heh heh... You'd like some playtime, I imagine, Dimentio? So you shall have it. You are to work with one of these men to destroy the hero and the interloper. Do not disappoint Count Bleck, all of you." Count Bleck said.

"Your wish is my command. Besides, these fools sound like amusing challenges and I shall some fun playing with new friends." Dimentio said.

"Just try not to slow me down, harlequin." Ansem said, disappearing in his dark corridor.

"Aah ha ha ha ha! I'll be on my way. Ciao, my count!" Dimentio said, disappearing.

"We shall not disappont you, Count Bleck." Xemnas said, disappearing in his dark corridor.

"Yeah, so, O'Chunks? Can you fill me in on why you're still not writing that report?" Nastasia asked.

"A report? Oh...yeah. A'right, I'm goin', yeh great beard-tweaker!" O'Chunks said, leaving.

"Count, let me bring you up to speed on the current state of the castle... While we have numbers of Heartless roaming around at your command, I still have to root out some uncoverted rogues, but I'll report back soon..." Nastasia said, leaving.

"Heroes... Trying to save these pathetic worlds. Bleck, says Count Bleck! Bleh heh heh heh heh heh... Their efforts are in vain. No one can stop Count Bleck!" Count Bleck said, disappearing. "Just as no one can ease the tempest that rages in my suffering heart..." Count Bleck said.

(Theme: Into the Darkness)

Meanwhile in a different section, someone is unconscious on the ground and it's Luigi, who wakes up.

"Oooh, my head..." Luigi said, recovering. "Where am I? Oh, yeah! Donald, Goofy, and I tried to save Princess Peach, but we screwed it up and..." Luigi stops talking.

"You awake, Green?" A voice asked, as Luigi sees two Goombas arriving.

"Yeah, hey there, uh, bad guys. You doin' alright?" Luigi asked.

"Yeah, we're doing okay. Good to see you made it." The first Goomba said. "Figured he was done... Dude is tougher than he looks." The first Goomba said in his mind.

"Yeah... Kinda awkward... Say, have you seen the Princess, Bowser, Donald, and Goofy?" Luigi asked.

"Nope, not much. You're the only one we found lying around here. Hope they're okay." The second Goomba said. "Get a load of this moron. Who cares about his friends." The second Goomba said in his mind.

"Near as we can figure, most of the other minions got captured or something. We're probably next!" The first Goomba said. "Why's dude so calm? We're behind enemy lines!" The first Goomba said in his mind.

"Sooooo, Luigi, old buddy! What do you say maybe we get outta here? We're thinking maybe you open up a path for us and we bail." The second Goomba said.

"No, I couldn't possibly. I gotta find the Princess, Donald, and Goofy." Luigi said.

"Wow. Did NOT expect that. All those stories about Great Luigi's daring exploits... We'd heard you were the defender of the helpless! We have no one else!" The first Goomba said.

"The G-Great Luigi? Daring defender? Me? I got no choice! Luigi must spring into action! My fans need me!" Luigi said.

"You're the BEST!" The second Goomba said. "Man, that was waaaay easy! What a sucker!" The second Goomba said in his mind.

"We're right behind you!" The first Goomba said. "But the second the going gets rough, we BAIL!" The first Goomba said in his mind.

"Then follow me, brave Goombas! Here we GOOOO!" Luigi said.

Luigi begins moving and finds a dooor and opens it, taking him to a corridor of the castle and starts going downstairs and finds another door and opens it, taking him to a long hallway and Luigi goes through the very long hallway.

"Great Luigi, wait for us!" The first Goomba said, as they find a dead end. "Looks like end of the line here." The first Goomba said.

"Looks like you're right. What should we do?" Luigi asked.

"Shouldn't we look for another way out, maybe?" The second Goomba asked. "This guy's useless..." The second Goomba said in his mind. "If we stay put, somebody is definitely going to spot..." The second Goomba is cut off, as red rings appear around him. "HAIL BLECK!" The second Goomba said in a trance state.

"GARY! NO!" The first Goomba cried.

"I've been looking all over for YOU!" Nastasia said with other brainwashed minions with her.

"You!" Luigi said.

"Yeah, you're that other guy, who wasn't really a team player back at the wedding. You're gonna need a little disciplinary action, I think... Let's get started." Nastasia said.

"Man... Poor Gary... Time for me to Gommba-up!" The first Goomba said, going for Nastasia. "Hey, lady! Got room for one more on your team?" The first Goomba asked.

"Hey, what're you doing?" Luigi asked.

"What's it look like, genius? I'm joining the winning side!" The first Goomba said.

"Yeah, good call and love the enthusiasm there. Go ahead and swear your, y'know undying loyalty to the Count and you're on board." Nastasia said.

"Count me in, lady! HERE WE GO, COUNT! HERE WE GO! LOVE THAT COUNT!" The first Goomba cheered.

"You...TRAITOR!" Luigi yelled.

"Okay, guys, new agenda? Hold this fool down so I can get his priorities on track..." Nastasia said.

"Yes, ma'am!" The minions said, as they hold down Luigi.

"NO! Mario! Where are you?! HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!" Luigi cried, as Nastasia begins her brainwashing.


(Theme: Memory 2)

"You're late. Did something happen?" A female voice asked.

"Yes, my father caught me sneaking out of the castle. It wasn't easy after that." A male voice said.

"I was worried you wouldn't come." The female voice said.

"You are a strange girl... You know what I am and yet, you do not seem afraid." The male voice said.

"I don't care what you are. I just wanted to see you. Is that...wrong?" The female voice asked.

"No, not at all. I wanted to see you too." The male voice said.

"Blumiere... Do you mind if I sit next to you?" The female voice asked.

"Not at all, Timpani. Let's return to our conversation I must know more of you." Blumiere said.


Sora, Mario, Donald, and Peach return to Flipside and they see Merlon.

"Oh ho! Welcome back, my friends! How was your journey this time? Did you find Merlee and obtain the Pure Heart?" Merlon asked and Mario nods.

"Yep!" Sora said, grinning.

"It wasn't easy, but we did it." Donald said.

"Merlee also said that we would need the power of seven heroes to save the world." Tippi said.

"Oh ho! Is that so? There is more than one hero? Well, if Mario, Sora, Peach, and Donald are four such heroes, then you still need three more..." Merlon said, but then, a quake occurs, as the Void grows slighty big.

"The Void..." Sora stops talking.

"It's grown..." Peach said.

"I fear our time is growing short, friends. I shall return to the Light Prognosticus. You young ones seek the next Heart Pillar." Merlon said, leaving, but stops. "Oh, but first, allow me to tell of something that mystical book has divulged to me. One person will determine whether the Light or Dark Prognosticus predicts truly. Both books refer to him as the 'man in green', but I know not who it is. Furthermore, according to the Prognosticus, two men in black coats shall assist in bringing forth the coming darkness of destruction. I must return to my study to solve these conundrums." Merlon said, leaving.

"Man in green?" Sora asked.

"And he's with both Light and Dark?" Peach asked.

"But I know who the black coats are..." Donald said.

"Yeah..." Sora said.

The four leave the tower and make their way through town to find the next Heart Pillar and they head for the outskirts of town and go underground and they later find the next Heart Pillar, where Mario places the yellow Pure Heart into it, making another door appear and it's yellow.

"Looks like that did it." Sora said and Mario nods.

"Great! Let's go for that door and head for the next world!" Donald said.

The four head back for the tower and go for the yellow door.

"Okay, time to go!" Sora said.

"Do ya think we'll find these other three heroes in there too?" Donald asked.

"Maybe. We'll just have to see." Peach said.

"If you're all ready, let's proceed." Tippi said, as they go into the yellow door and go for the next world.


And that's Chapter 2 for Darkness of Destruction! Hope you enjoyed the second chapter and hope you'll look forward to what's gonna happen next! Let me say I'm sorry for posting this kinda late, cause this was supposed to be posted last week, but didn't do it and I felt bad, so here's the next chapter and I hope this was somehow worth the wait. I'm gonna try and keep working on the action for this story and try to do what's natural and also fun to read as well. Will Sora, Mario, Donald, and Peach find the fourth Pure Heart? Who will they encounter along the way? Will they be able to find the remaining three heroes in the next world? See ya guys in the next chapter, where we head for Chapter 3! Bye for now!