Chapter 9: The Search Begins
Riku and everyone else boarded the gummi ship again and began to make their way to Hollow Bastion. Lindsey approached Riku.
"Riku, are you ok?" She sat down by him.
"I'm fine." He said coldly and stood up.
Liz stood up and stepped in front of him. "Riku, I know you're upset that Laura's gone. We all are but don't let this get to you."
"How can I not? I'm suppose to protect her and I failed!" he yelled. Everyone fell quiet. "I failed the king and I failed her! How could I have let this happen!" He stormed out of the room and into a spare room and sat down on the bed.
Liz shook her head. "The thing he doesn't realize is that it wasn't his fault." She looked at everyone. "I heard Laura yell at Maleficent to take her in place of Riku. It was her choice to leave us. Riku wasn't enabled to do anything. She sacrificed her life for his. That's what true love is." She smiled at Sora. "You want to go talk to him?"
Sora nodded and left the room. He knocked on the door room that Riku was in. He opened it and walked in. "Riku, Lindsey told us what Laura did."
Riku didn't look at his friend. He was looking at the floor, his hands clenched into fists.
"Look Riku, it wasn't your fault. Laura wanted to save you. Why do you keep blaming yourself?" Sora asked as he walked over to Riku and sat down beside him.
"Because I couldn't help but feel there was something I could do, that's why." He muttered. He then looked at Sora. "Why would she do such a foolish thing!"
Sora shrugged. "I don't know but Lindsey said it was because she loves you. She loved you so much that she sacrificed her life for yours."
Riku thought this over. 'Does she really love me? Or is she just playing a game? I think she loves me. What Sora is saying is true. She wouldn't have sacrificed her life for mine if she didn't love me.' A small smiled crossed over Riku's face. "You're right Sora."
Sora grinned. "C'mon, let's get going. We'll find Laura before ya know it." He then up and left the room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*At Hollow Bastion*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Laura slowly awoke to find herself on a stone table. She sat up and looked around. 'What happened? Where am I?' She looked around the huge room she was in.
"I see you've woken." Came a voice from the shadows.
Laura looked around. "Who are you? Where am I?" She asked.
"You're at Hollow Bastion. I'm Maleficent. Don't you remember?" Maleficent stepped out from the shadows and smirked at Laura. "Hello my dear Princess Of Hearts."
Laura winced. She didn't like the cocky voice Maleficent was using. "What are you planning to do with me?"
"You'll see my dear. It's all in good time." She then began to exit the room.
"Wait!" Laura got up and began to run after her. "You're just going to leave me here?"
Maleficent didn't say anything but laughed. She then faded out.
Laura stopped and sighed. She saw one window but it was high above the floor. She noticed that it was night and went into the light the window gave off. "Where are you Riku?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Back to the ship*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
They began to arrive at Hollow Bastion and were getting prepared to leave the ship to the world. Sora looked at Lindsey. "Stay here and don't touch anything either. We can't risk loosing you too."
Lindsey sighed. "Fine. Ruin my fun why don't ya?" She sat down on a chair.
"I'll stay with her." Squall offered.
"No, we need all the help we can get. Kairi, you stay here." Riku said, looking over at Kairi.
"That's fine. Just be careful you guys." She said as she waved to them.
"We will. Don't touch the controls until we get back." Sora said then exited the ship followed by Riku, Squall, and Yuffie.
They entered the castle to find nothing but the fountain running. "It's quiet." Sora said. "I would've thought that something would've attacked by now."
Maleficent's voice soon filled the room. "Hello my dear fighters."
Riku stepped in front. "Let Laura go!" He yelled.
Maleficent laughed. "As I told you before Riku, I'm not going to take orders from a little brat like you." Laura suddenly was lowered from a higher platform. "You want her, come get her."
Riku began to run over to the platform but realized something. This wasn't the real Laura. He looked at the default and growled. "This is nothing but a heartless. Where is Laura?" he yelled.
"Hickory Dickory Dock. A mouse ran up the clock." Maleficent began to sing. "The Clock struck one and down he run. Hickory Dickory Dock." Her voice then faded, laughing as it did.
"Why would she recite a poem?" Sora asked.
"Easy. Hickory Dickory Dock is a poem about a clock. She's giving us hints of where to find Laura." Squall explained. "Now what world has a clock?"
"Neverland." Riku said. "Big Ben is a clock. Maybe they'll be a clue there."
Squall nodded. "Alright, Yuffie and I will check it out. You and Sora stay here and search here for her. Here." He tossed Riku a watch. "It's a wrist communicator. If either of us find anything, contact the other with this. Good luck you two." Squall and Yuffie then exited the castle, heading back to the gummi.
"C'mon Sora. Let's go." Riku then began to walk into the castle towards the library.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*In The Dungeon*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Laura still sat in what little light she had. She looked at the window. She then heard a voice. "Hello my dear."
Laura turned around to see a dark figure. "Who are you?" She asked, looking at the figure.
"My name is not important. Why are you locked in this place?" The person asked. Judging by the voice, it was a male.
"Because Maleficent put me here. Why do you ask?" She stood up and took a few steps towards him.
"I can help you escape." The man said. "But it will come with a cost of course."
"What's the cost?" She asked immediately. She wanted out of this dungeon no matter what it would take.
"We'll talk about it later. Follow me." The man then turned and began to walk away, Laura following behind him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Meanwhile *~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Riku and Sora were wondering around the castle, going in and out of rooms in search of Laura.
"This is hopeless. This place is too big." Riku said as he leaned against the wall, looking at the floor.
Sora looked over at Riku and frowned. "You give up to easily."
"Sora, we've searched this exact same place 4 times already. We've searched the library 4 times also as well as everywhere else. Where else is there to look?" Riku asked looking over at Sora.
"No where. You're right. She's not here. I wonder if Squall and Yuffie found anything." Sora looked around the room they were in. "We should contact them so we can get back to the gummi and go somewhere else."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Back To Laura*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Laura continued to follow the strange man. He suddenly stopped. "Wait here." He then began to walk ahead. Laura sighed and shivered from the cold. She looked around but she could only see walls surrounding her. 'I hope we get out of here soon.'
"C'mon." Said the man. Laura soon began to walk again and suddenly appeared outside on the castle grounds.
"But.how did you get us out of there?" She asked looking over at the man. She then noticed that he was in the shadows.
"I have my ways of finding things out." He said. "I must keep my identity a secret. I'm sorry."
Laura walked towards him. "I'm not gonna tell anyone. Who can I tell? Everyone I know is somewhere else." She then grabbed him and pulled him into the moonlight. He had silver hair and green eyes. He has a sword attached to his side. "Wait a minute." Laura said. "I think I've seen you before."
The man nodded. "You probably have at least heard of me. Does the name Sephiroth sound familiar?" He asked.
Laura nodded. "Yes, it does. You're Sephiroth? Wow, a lot different then what I pictured." She smiled at him. "Thanks." She then began to walk away but Sephiroth grabbed her wrist.
"You still owe me a favor." He said as he pulled her back.
Laura looked at him. "Oh yeah. I almost forgot. Well, what is it you wish for me to do?" She smiled at him.
"You must do me this." He then turned her around, looking down at her.
"What are you doing?" She asked, her voice becoming shaky.
He didn't answer her. "You must travel with me."
"I can't! I have to get back to Sora and Riku." She explained.
He scowled. "Who cares about them? I saved your life. They didn't."
"They were searching for me. I know it because Riku loves me and wouldn't let me be harmed." She looked at him in his eyes. "I know it."
He frowned. "Then I shall have to take you back." He then began to lead her back to the way they came.
"No! How long do I have to travel with you?" She asked, biting her lower lip.
"Just long enough." He said. "So, are you willing to or must I take you back to the dungeon you were just in?"
She thought it over in her head. She nodded. "Alright. I'll go with you."
Sephiroth grinned. "Good." He then began to lead her to his ship. She took one more look at the castle before she began to follow Sephiroth.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Meanwhile*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sora and Riku had given up. They came back to the main entrance and sighed.
"Well, she's not here. We've checked every room at least twice." Sora said. "Let's call Squall and Yuffie and tell them to come get us."
Suddenly, they heard laughing. "Fools. That's because she isn't here anymore."
Riku looked around. "Where is she then?"
"You really think I'm going to tell you?" Maleficent said. "Let me say the poem again. Hickory Dickory Dock. A mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck one and down he runs. Hickory Dickory Dock." Her voice then faded away.
"She's definitely at Big Ben now. Maleficent has said that poem twice. It's easy to analyze." Riku said. "A mouse ran up the clock means that some took her to the clock. Whenever they were caught, they ran down. That explains the clock struck one and down he runs. So someone took Laura from here to Big Ben."
Sora looked confused. "How did you just do that?"
"I just know this stuff. Let's contact Yuffie and Squall. We need to get to Neverland quickly." Riku said, walking out of the castle.
End.
((A/N: Ok, another wonderful chapter done! I promise I'll keep working on this but right now, I'm having problems with my other story since one of the chapters won't upload but I'll get it done. Until next time, cya! ~*Luna26*~ ^.^))
Riku and everyone else boarded the gummi ship again and began to make their way to Hollow Bastion. Lindsey approached Riku.
"Riku, are you ok?" She sat down by him.
"I'm fine." He said coldly and stood up.
Liz stood up and stepped in front of him. "Riku, I know you're upset that Laura's gone. We all are but don't let this get to you."
"How can I not? I'm suppose to protect her and I failed!" he yelled. Everyone fell quiet. "I failed the king and I failed her! How could I have let this happen!" He stormed out of the room and into a spare room and sat down on the bed.
Liz shook her head. "The thing he doesn't realize is that it wasn't his fault." She looked at everyone. "I heard Laura yell at Maleficent to take her in place of Riku. It was her choice to leave us. Riku wasn't enabled to do anything. She sacrificed her life for his. That's what true love is." She smiled at Sora. "You want to go talk to him?"
Sora nodded and left the room. He knocked on the door room that Riku was in. He opened it and walked in. "Riku, Lindsey told us what Laura did."
Riku didn't look at his friend. He was looking at the floor, his hands clenched into fists.
"Look Riku, it wasn't your fault. Laura wanted to save you. Why do you keep blaming yourself?" Sora asked as he walked over to Riku and sat down beside him.
"Because I couldn't help but feel there was something I could do, that's why." He muttered. He then looked at Sora. "Why would she do such a foolish thing!"
Sora shrugged. "I don't know but Lindsey said it was because she loves you. She loved you so much that she sacrificed her life for yours."
Riku thought this over. 'Does she really love me? Or is she just playing a game? I think she loves me. What Sora is saying is true. She wouldn't have sacrificed her life for mine if she didn't love me.' A small smiled crossed over Riku's face. "You're right Sora."
Sora grinned. "C'mon, let's get going. We'll find Laura before ya know it." He then up and left the room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*At Hollow Bastion*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Laura slowly awoke to find herself on a stone table. She sat up and looked around. 'What happened? Where am I?' She looked around the huge room she was in.
"I see you've woken." Came a voice from the shadows.
Laura looked around. "Who are you? Where am I?" She asked.
"You're at Hollow Bastion. I'm Maleficent. Don't you remember?" Maleficent stepped out from the shadows and smirked at Laura. "Hello my dear Princess Of Hearts."
Laura winced. She didn't like the cocky voice Maleficent was using. "What are you planning to do with me?"
"You'll see my dear. It's all in good time." She then began to exit the room.
"Wait!" Laura got up and began to run after her. "You're just going to leave me here?"
Maleficent didn't say anything but laughed. She then faded out.
Laura stopped and sighed. She saw one window but it was high above the floor. She noticed that it was night and went into the light the window gave off. "Where are you Riku?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Back to the ship*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
They began to arrive at Hollow Bastion and were getting prepared to leave the ship to the world. Sora looked at Lindsey. "Stay here and don't touch anything either. We can't risk loosing you too."
Lindsey sighed. "Fine. Ruin my fun why don't ya?" She sat down on a chair.
"I'll stay with her." Squall offered.
"No, we need all the help we can get. Kairi, you stay here." Riku said, looking over at Kairi.
"That's fine. Just be careful you guys." She said as she waved to them.
"We will. Don't touch the controls until we get back." Sora said then exited the ship followed by Riku, Squall, and Yuffie.
They entered the castle to find nothing but the fountain running. "It's quiet." Sora said. "I would've thought that something would've attacked by now."
Maleficent's voice soon filled the room. "Hello my dear fighters."
Riku stepped in front. "Let Laura go!" He yelled.
Maleficent laughed. "As I told you before Riku, I'm not going to take orders from a little brat like you." Laura suddenly was lowered from a higher platform. "You want her, come get her."
Riku began to run over to the platform but realized something. This wasn't the real Laura. He looked at the default and growled. "This is nothing but a heartless. Where is Laura?" he yelled.
"Hickory Dickory Dock. A mouse ran up the clock." Maleficent began to sing. "The Clock struck one and down he run. Hickory Dickory Dock." Her voice then faded, laughing as it did.
"Why would she recite a poem?" Sora asked.
"Easy. Hickory Dickory Dock is a poem about a clock. She's giving us hints of where to find Laura." Squall explained. "Now what world has a clock?"
"Neverland." Riku said. "Big Ben is a clock. Maybe they'll be a clue there."
Squall nodded. "Alright, Yuffie and I will check it out. You and Sora stay here and search here for her. Here." He tossed Riku a watch. "It's a wrist communicator. If either of us find anything, contact the other with this. Good luck you two." Squall and Yuffie then exited the castle, heading back to the gummi.
"C'mon Sora. Let's go." Riku then began to walk into the castle towards the library.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*In The Dungeon*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Laura still sat in what little light she had. She looked at the window. She then heard a voice. "Hello my dear."
Laura turned around to see a dark figure. "Who are you?" She asked, looking at the figure.
"My name is not important. Why are you locked in this place?" The person asked. Judging by the voice, it was a male.
"Because Maleficent put me here. Why do you ask?" She stood up and took a few steps towards him.
"I can help you escape." The man said. "But it will come with a cost of course."
"What's the cost?" She asked immediately. She wanted out of this dungeon no matter what it would take.
"We'll talk about it later. Follow me." The man then turned and began to walk away, Laura following behind him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Meanwhile *~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Riku and Sora were wondering around the castle, going in and out of rooms in search of Laura.
"This is hopeless. This place is too big." Riku said as he leaned against the wall, looking at the floor.
Sora looked over at Riku and frowned. "You give up to easily."
"Sora, we've searched this exact same place 4 times already. We've searched the library 4 times also as well as everywhere else. Where else is there to look?" Riku asked looking over at Sora.
"No where. You're right. She's not here. I wonder if Squall and Yuffie found anything." Sora looked around the room they were in. "We should contact them so we can get back to the gummi and go somewhere else."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Back To Laura*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Laura continued to follow the strange man. He suddenly stopped. "Wait here." He then began to walk ahead. Laura sighed and shivered from the cold. She looked around but she could only see walls surrounding her. 'I hope we get out of here soon.'
"C'mon." Said the man. Laura soon began to walk again and suddenly appeared outside on the castle grounds.
"But.how did you get us out of there?" She asked looking over at the man. She then noticed that he was in the shadows.
"I have my ways of finding things out." He said. "I must keep my identity a secret. I'm sorry."
Laura walked towards him. "I'm not gonna tell anyone. Who can I tell? Everyone I know is somewhere else." She then grabbed him and pulled him into the moonlight. He had silver hair and green eyes. He has a sword attached to his side. "Wait a minute." Laura said. "I think I've seen you before."
The man nodded. "You probably have at least heard of me. Does the name Sephiroth sound familiar?" He asked.
Laura nodded. "Yes, it does. You're Sephiroth? Wow, a lot different then what I pictured." She smiled at him. "Thanks." She then began to walk away but Sephiroth grabbed her wrist.
"You still owe me a favor." He said as he pulled her back.
Laura looked at him. "Oh yeah. I almost forgot. Well, what is it you wish for me to do?" She smiled at him.
"You must do me this." He then turned her around, looking down at her.
"What are you doing?" She asked, her voice becoming shaky.
He didn't answer her. "You must travel with me."
"I can't! I have to get back to Sora and Riku." She explained.
He scowled. "Who cares about them? I saved your life. They didn't."
"They were searching for me. I know it because Riku loves me and wouldn't let me be harmed." She looked at him in his eyes. "I know it."
He frowned. "Then I shall have to take you back." He then began to lead her back to the way they came.
"No! How long do I have to travel with you?" She asked, biting her lower lip.
"Just long enough." He said. "So, are you willing to or must I take you back to the dungeon you were just in?"
She thought it over in her head. She nodded. "Alright. I'll go with you."
Sephiroth grinned. "Good." He then began to lead her to his ship. She took one more look at the castle before she began to follow Sephiroth.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Meanwhile*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sora and Riku had given up. They came back to the main entrance and sighed.
"Well, she's not here. We've checked every room at least twice." Sora said. "Let's call Squall and Yuffie and tell them to come get us."
Suddenly, they heard laughing. "Fools. That's because she isn't here anymore."
Riku looked around. "Where is she then?"
"You really think I'm going to tell you?" Maleficent said. "Let me say the poem again. Hickory Dickory Dock. A mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck one and down he runs. Hickory Dickory Dock." Her voice then faded away.
"She's definitely at Big Ben now. Maleficent has said that poem twice. It's easy to analyze." Riku said. "A mouse ran up the clock means that some took her to the clock. Whenever they were caught, they ran down. That explains the clock struck one and down he runs. So someone took Laura from here to Big Ben."
Sora looked confused. "How did you just do that?"
"I just know this stuff. Let's contact Yuffie and Squall. We need to get to Neverland quickly." Riku said, walking out of the castle.
End.
((A/N: Ok, another wonderful chapter done! I promise I'll keep working on this but right now, I'm having problems with my other story since one of the chapters won't upload but I'll get it done. Until next time, cya! ~*Luna26*~ ^.^))