The Darkness Within
Chapter 14: A Hero's Weakness
"Meg, your back," Hades exclaimed before he looked around, "And you're river guardian-less. What happened?"
"He made me an offer I had to refuse," Meg said, noticing the God's temper flare.
"Meg, your orders were to get the river guardian to join-"
"I knew what my orders were, Hades," Meg spat, "And if it wasn't for that wonder boy Hercules-"
"Hercules!" Hades screamed.
"Yeah, he came trouncing in with this big bad hero act of his."
"What the heck was he doing there?"
"Beats me," Meg said as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Was there a boy with him?"
"Yeah, but he didn't do much. Then again, the 'hero' wouldn't let him."
"Hmm, I wonder," Hades said as he scratched his chine, turning his back to her. His eyes scanned across a table with a built in map until they reached a small dot, "That annoying goat man must be taking the boy to train at his island... it would explain why they dropped by... considering how close it is..."
"So... I guess Nessus is out of the picture then?" Meg asked as she sashayed over to his map and flicked the little river guardian statue away.
"Once again the all mighty God of the underworld's plan has been foiled by the hero, and his little sidekick," Auron interrupted as he walked into the room.
"Not necessarily," Hades said as he looked at a town on the map, "If the goat man is training the kid then there's a chance that he'll take him out on a little 'hero test run' later, and what better place than Thebes. Auron, I trust you'll be waiting for him there."
"I will?" Auron asked, even if he knew what Hades meant by that.
"Get going Auron! I'll tell you your plan later," Hades growled as he pointed at the door, "And as for you my little Meg, I have other planes for you." Hades turned to Meg and smiled wickedly at her.
"Uh..." Sora looked on at his new challenge with a questioning gaze, "What am I supposed to do again?"
"Geez, kid! I know you lost your memory, which I wish you would have told me about it before we got to the island, but that doesn't explain the short term memory loss you're having now," Phil sighed as he slapped his forehead, "Make it through the obstacles and rescue the damsel in distress." Sora turned to his obstacle course and caught view of his 'damsel.'
"Looks to me like she's been in distress for a while now," Sora commented a he watched one of her fake eyes swing from a string.
"You're losing points!" Phil shouted, feed up with Sora's stalling.
"Okay!" Sora shouted defensively, "I'm going, I'm going!"
"Oh, and remember hero rule number six!" Phil shouted. Sora paused before he was about to charge into the obstacle course and looked back at Phil in confusion.
"What's rule number six?"
"When rescuing a damsel, always handle with care," Phil answered, "I'll take points off if you drag her along behind." Sora sighed as he shook his head absently.
"I don't see why I need this training," Sora said as he turned to Phil, "I mean I fight just fine... or at least I think I do..."
"Listen here kid," Phil growled as he stomped up to the boy, "Do you wanna be a hero?"
"Well, yeah."
"Then you better start practicing!" Phil shouted as he reached up and poked Sora in the stomach, since he couldn't reach his chest, "Being a hero takes sacrifices and hard work. You just can't say 'I wanna be a hero,' and, boom, your a hero. It takes time kid. Now, I'm gonna ask you again; do you want to be a hero?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry, what was that?" Phil asked as he placed a hand to his ear.
"Yes!" Sora shouted as he threw a fist into the air.
"Then get in there and rescue that damsel!"
"Right!" Sora shouted before he ran into the obstacle course.
"You're gonna have to teach me how to motivate him like that," Donald said to Phil.
"Takes a lot of practice, and a lot of lazy wannabe heroes," Phil chuckled as he ran his fingers through his small beard.
"I really wish you would pick something Neron," Riku said with a heavy sigh as Neron channel surfed on their hotel room TV.
"I'm sorry but I can't find anything."
"I wonder why?" Riku spat, "You're passing by every channel in less than a second. How do you expect to find anything at the rate your going?" Just then there was a knock at their door and everyone, but Max since he was sound asleep in a reclining chair, turned to look at the door. After a few seconds, when nobody bothered to get it, Aerith stood and walked over to the door.
"Hello there," Botan greeted with a smile after Aerith answered the door. Aerith smiled back and then noticed several other people behind her.
"Oh! Hi Botan!" Aerith said, "Um... your friends I assume?"
"Yes, these are my nosey friends," Botan said as she gestured to them, "They wanted to know the other team I was supporting." Botan let out a quick giggle before she leaned in to whisper something to Aerith, "I think they're getting jealous." A short man behind her humped, knowing exactly what she had said.
"Whatever," He muttered under his breath.
"Fine! You just be that way, Hiei," Botan spat as she crossed her arms over her chest, "See if I heal you next time you get hurt."
"You're not the girl who got tossed into the sky, are you?" A teen asked as he pushed past Botan and looked her up and down with his brown eyes.
"...No, that would be Jetta."
"Aerith isn't in the tournament, she's just helping out the team like me," Botan said.
"If she's helping then why do they need you?" The boy asked.
"I'm only lending a helping hand," Botan retorted.
"Right..." the teen said as he entered the room to look around, pushing past Aerith only to get on Cloud's bad side right off the bat.
"You're supposed to be asked to come in first, Yusuke!" another teen out in the hall spat, "And it's not nice to push past ladies."
"Bit me Kuwabara," Yusuke spat.
"Sorry about him," Botan said as she apologized for Yusuke, "He's not always this way... oh what am I saying, yes, he is."
"Would you guys like to come in as well," Aerith offered, and without a word everyone walked in.
"Uh... can we help you?" Neron asked as he looked over at Yusuke. Yusuke walked up to the two sitting on the couch and examined them.
"You two look familiar," Yusuke mumbled.
"Aren't those two of the four you blabbed about the tournament to, Kurama?" Hiei asked.
"Must you keep rubbing that in," Kurama grumbled, "It was an honest mistake."
"You guys don't look like demons," Yusuke said as he looked over the two, "Then again you have an odd hair color." Riku grumbled as the boy, known as Yusuke, started to examine his hair.
"None of them are demons, Yusuke," Kurama said, causing Yusuke to stop his analysis on the two.
"Well, here I was thinking our team was special for being the only team with humans in it," Yusuke said, "Then your team comes along and wins your round, and not one of you is a demon. I think it's safe to say I don't feel as special anymore."
"No offence or anything, but I really didn't expect to see any of you again," Kurama said as he looked around at the group, "But it seems that you found a fifth team member, that's good."
"Yeah, so it would seem," Neron said.
"This Jetta girl, I assume, was the one I spoke with before the boat arrived?"
"The girl with the loud mouth, yep, that would be her," Neron stated.
"So, where is she at?" Kuwabara asked.
"Stupid, she's the one who got thrown," Yusuke spat, "I seriously doubt she'd be up and about after that fall."
"Oh..."
"Moron," Hiei muttered.
"Got something to say shorty?" Kuwabara shouted, glaring at the smaller man.
"So, not only are you stupid, but you can't hear worth a damn either?" Hiei asked, "Pathetic."
"Come on shorty! I'll fight you right here and now!"
"I'm sorry, but I like fighting people who are worth my time."
"Why you little-"
"Boys! Boys! If you want to fight take it back to your hotel room!" Botan shouted.
"Well, I've come to see what I wanted to see," Yusuke said as he started out the door, stretching his arms high in the air, "Nice meeting ya, and good luck in your next round. I think it's now time for me to get a little shut eye."
"But Yusuke, wasn't that day and a half nap good enough?" Kurama asked.
"Shut up, Kurama," Yusuke grumbled, "Like I said earlier, that Chuu's shouting and yakking woke me up. I could have easily continued sleeping for at least seven or so more hours if it wasn't for him."
"And everything else didn't wake you up?" Hiei spat, "I find that a little hard to believe."
"You know what, Hiei? You can just shut up too," Yusuke spat as he walked out.
"Maybe some beauty sleep will do him some good," Kurama said to Hiei as they both started out of the room.
"Maybe... but I seriously doubt it," Hiei said.
"Me too."
"Hey! You guys! Wait for me!" Kuwabara shouted as he ran out after them.
"Once again I'm sorry for the intrusion," Botan apologized as she bowed her head to Aerith.
"It's okay," Aerith said.
"My magic is starting to return so when Jetta gets up come and get me," Botan said, "Maybe by then I'll have enough to heal her completely."
"Okay," Aerith said, "Thank your for the help Botan, and thank Yukina for me as well."
"Will do," Botan said with a smile before she left, closing the door behind her.
"Well... that was a lively group," Neron commented.
"More like a noisy group," Riku spat before he snatched the remote out of Neron's hand, "Thanks."
"Hey! Give it back!" Neron shouted as he tried to take it from Riku.
"Lay off! It's my turn anyway!"
"Who says?"
"I do!"
"Those two have a lot of room to talk about being noisy," Cloud grumbled sarcastically, causing Aerith to smile at the two.
"I'll tell you one thing though," Aerith said as she looked over at Max, still sleeping in his chair, "I really wish I could sleep through all this noise like Max can."
"Some people are lucky that way," Cloud said with a sigh.
The next day Sora, Donald, and Goofy were flying over the ocean on Pegasus, heading for a town called Thebes. Phil had decided that after a long day of training, and cramming Sora's brain with every hero rule imaginable, Sora was ready for a real monster, not some fake one. Sora, on the other hand, didn't think it was very wise, considering he didn't remember a single rule. He didn't even think the training did anything for him. All he did was go through obstacle courses, rescue the doll, sword fight with Hercules, and battle the same tomato-spiting dragon well into the night. Not much fun if you asked him. Donald was lucky to get him up this morning, since it was at the ungodly hour of six. Why so early? Why so much training? Why so many stupid hero rules? And why did he have to ride this unsafe flying horse again? Couldn't he take a boat?
Sora mumbled incoherent words as he griped onto Pegasus's neck like his life depended on it, and in a way it did. He was a little nervous, to say the least, thinking that if he fell Donald wouldn't be strong enough to pull him back up, or he'd grab him and then slid off with him. In the case that both feel he was worried Goofy would forget to hold on to Pegasus and all three of them would fall into the ocean and would get eaten by some ocean dwelling monster. Sora's mind then began to race with pictures of big ugly things that could live in the ocean's dark depths that would love to have the three for a snake. The boy's grip on the horse tightened at the thought as he cursed his active imagination.
"Sora," Donald sighed, "If you keep that grip up you're liable to choke Pegasus!"
"Then Pegasus probably would pass out and we'd all fall into the ocean," Goofy added.
"Gah!" Sora then released his grip on the horse, but then realized he wasn't holding on anymore, so he quickly grabbed back onto Pegasus's neck, "Don't say that!"
"Well, it's probably true," Goofy mumbled.
"I wanna be in Thebes now," Sora complained, "On solid ground... where it's safe..." Pegasus gave the boy a snort as he rolled his eyes at him.
"I don't know," Donald muttered, "The way Phil talked about the place you'd think it was a disaster area."
"Anything's safer than riding this thing," Sora spat. Pegasus let out a growl at this comment before he picked up speed, "Gah! What are you doing?"
Once at the speed Pegasus wanted to be at he started to do flips, loops, and cork screws in the air. All three screamed and clutched onto the horse, and onto one another, for dear life. Pegasus slowed down to his normal speed after having his fun, glancing back at the three. He let out a happy chuckle at the sight of the three's surprised faces before he continued on. The rest of the trip was silent.
Once arriving in Thebes, Sora was more than happy to get off of Pegasus's back. The boy even had to stop himself from kissing the ground, since he was so afraid that he was never going to see it again. Everyone who was walking around on the sidewalk didn't even bother to give the odd group, who had just landed on the flying horse, a second glance, as if it were an everyday thing. As the trio looked around at the city made of stone Pegasus rose into the air and flew off.
"This place doesn't look so bad to me," Sora commented.
"Yeah, it actually looks pretty nice," Donald said.
"Not a disaster area at all," Goody added, just before an odd looking man approached the three. His hair was wild and messy and he only ware what looked like a hollow piece of a stone column that hung from his shoulders by two leather straps. Sora gasped as the man instantly grabbed onto his jacket and pulled him down to his level.
"The end is coming!" The man shouted at Sora's face, "Can't you feel it?"
"Uh..." Sora swallowed hard as the crazy man continued to stare at him with wild eyes, "No, not really..."
"It's coming!" The man shouted, "Prepare yourself for the worst! You've been warned!" With that said the man released Sora and ran off to shout at someone else about the 'end'.
"Maybe this place isn't as good as it seems," Sora muttered as he stood up strait once again, still a little baffled by the man's antics.
"Lets walk around and see if we can't find out anything thing about this place," Donald suggested.
"Good enough for me," Sora said, "But you're dealing with the next crazy person."
After walking around the town aimlessly for what seemed like hours, but was more like twenty minutes, they stumbled onto a conversation between a group of people. At first Sora wasn't interested and started to continue on, but Donald stopped him and pulled him back. The boy sighed and kicked at a rock as Donald and Goofy stuck their noses in the groups business. Sora huffed, remembering Donald telling him not to meddle while at other worlds, and if this wasn't part of meddling then what was?
"I hate living here," A tall lanky woman complained, "I know something's about to happen soon. Something always happens once this place is built back up to looking livable again."
"My guess in some monster will come stomping in to wreck the place," A man said, "It's been a while since a monster has come anyway, and it's probably about time for another one."
"I'm surprised I've lived as long as I have in this disaster of a city," An old man said, "I'm sure me and snowball can't make it much longer if there's another fire." Snowball, a cat covered in black soot with scorched hairs, meowed at the mention of its name.
"I forgot, was the fire before or after the earthquake?" A short pudgy woman asked.
"It was after the earthquake, I remember," the tall woman answer.
"But before the flood," The man added.
"It sounds like they mostly get natural disasters," Sora whispered to Donald, no matter how hard he tried to stop himself he still listened in on the conversation, "How am I supposed to stop that?"
"They're on their own if they wanna stop a natural disaster," Donald whispered back, "We're only here for monsters."
"I'll tell you what though," the tall woman said, "The worst thing so far would have to be these odd black creatures that are showing up all of the sudden."
"I agree," The old man said, "They just keep coming back with even more than before."
"I've even noticed some disappearances," the man said.
"Disappearances?" the two women asked simultaneously.
"Yeah, the owner of the pottery is gone, and a few constructors I work with aren't showing up at work any more," The man explained.
"They could have just moved away," The short woman spat.
"I wouldn't blame them," The other woman added.
"I doubt they moved." Everyone turned to looked at the trio, just now noticing them. Sora stepped forward with Donald and Goofy following along behind him, "What do these creatures look like?"
"They're little black monsters with glowing yellow eyes," the man said, "They walk with their back's hunched, and they have sharp claws."
"Yeah, I'm sure of it now," Sora sighed, "The people most likely didn't move."
"Do you know something about these things that we don't" The tall woman asked.
"Most likely," Sora said looking over at the woman, "You see, these 'monsters' as you call them have a name, and that would be a heartless. They go around and steal people's hearts because they don't have one. The reason you can't get rid of them so easily is because once they take someone's heart that person becomes a heartless as well." Sora was quite proud of himself, to say the least, that he remembered all of that. Then again Donald did pounded in every bit of knowledge he knew about the heartless into his head.
"You seem to know a lot about these... heartless," The man said as he eyed Sora warily, "Did you bring 'em here?"
"No," Sora gasped, "I came to stop them."
"How do we know you ain't lying," the old man spat as he glared at the boy.
"Because I came to stop them!"
"A little runt like you?" The man laughed, "You'll just get yourself hurt."
"No!" Sora shouted, "I can stop them!"
"Just go home kid."
"I'm serious!" Sora yelled, "Tell me where they appear most, I guarantee I can destroy every last one that is there!"
"No way."
"But I-"
"Scram kid!" The man shouted before the four continued on with their lives, forgetting the boy was ever there. Sora growled as he stomped back onto the sidewalk and turned to glare at the four.
"I'll show you! I'll defeat them all!" Sora shouted, "And I'm not a kid!" With that said he stormed off leaving Donald and Goofy to chase after him.
"Kids these days," The old man mumbled, "All wanting to try and be a hero like Hercules."
"Hercules. Now there's a man that can stop those monsters," The tall woman said.
"I wonder where he's been lately," The shorter woman asked. All three gave her a shrug of their shoulders for an answer.
"This is hopeless," Sora sighed as he sat on the corner of the sidewalk, "How am I supposed to prove myself to this town if something doesn't start attacking?"
"I'm more concerned about the heartless," Donald said, "If they are here, why haven't they attacked you yet? I mean you have the Keyblade, that should be enough to get them out in the open."
"Maybe the heartless really are afraid of me now," Sora said, "They could just be hiding until I leave so they can come out and attack."
"I doubt it," Donald mumbled.
"Well, if it isn't the hero's sidekick." Sora's head snapped up at the sound of a man's voice behind him, "So what are you doing away from the hero, kid?"
"Auron?" Sora asked as he stood as his eyes narrowed, "What do you want?"
"I've got some new orders," Auron answered, "But let's just call it a, small, side mission." Auron pushed his sunglasses further up his nose before he griped the kantana resting on his shoulder with both hands.
"You mean you're after me?" Sora gasped.
"No, I'm after feather boy," Auron spat sarcastically as he motioned toward Donald, "Of course I'm after you!"
"But... I don't understand..." Sora stuttered as he backed away from Auron and into the busy street, "Why is Hades after me now?"
"Apparently you're getting in his way," Auron said with a shrug, "I don't like doing this but it looks like I have to."
"What do you mean?" Sora asked, but he got no reply from the man before he charged at him.
Sora backed away quickly while summoning his Keyblade and blocking Auron's attack. Wagons veered out of the way while drivers cursed at the two fighters in the middle of the street, blocking their way or causing accidents to happen. People on the sidewalks stopped to watch as the two battled in the street. Donald and Goofy, getting left out of the action, pushed their way through the crowd to help Sora out in his time of need.
"I'm afraid little Sora has to do this on his own," Hades said as he waved a hand into the air, summoning up a heartless army, "That should keep those two busy enough." Meg cringed when many heartless pushed past her as she stood next to Hades in an alley.
"You've yet to tell me what I'm supposed to do," Meg spat as she turned to glare at Hades, "And as much fun as it is standing in a dark, rat infested alleyway, I would really like to get my next job started."
"I need you to keep Hercules away from the boys battle," Hades answered, getting strait to the point, "Just pull him away from the goat man and take him out on a date for the day."
"You're joking right? You know I've sworn off man handling," Meg spat as she glared at him, "I refuse to look like the desperate damsel trying to score one off the hero."
"All I'm asking you to do is keep him busy for the day."
"To bad cause I'm not!" Meg spat before she turned to walk away.
"Look, Meg!" Hades growled through clinched teeth as he grabbed hold of the woman's arm, "If you don't I'm adding two more years to your contract."
"Fine!" Meg shouted, "But I'm not going to like it!" With that said she yanked her arm away from Hades' grasp.
"Good," Hades said with a smile, "Now, Herc and his little goat man are in that building over there, watching the kid from afar. I'll send in some heartless to run them out so you can 'accidentally' run into him while some of the heartless are chasing after you. I'll leave the rest to you."
"Right," Meg growled as she started to walk off.
"Oh and Meg, one more thing!" Meg turned to look back at Hades, "If you don't mind, try and find a weakness in the hero, would ya."
"Whatever."
"That's my little minion."
"Come on Phil! Sora needs my help," Hercules said as he gazed at the battle with intense eyes.
"Not just yet, the kid has some more fight left in him," Phil said.
"But Auron is thrashing him out there!" Hercules shouted, "I'm going!"
"Herc, wait just a few more minutes!"
"Auron is after me Phil," Hercules growled as he turned to Phil, "I can't let Sora get hurt on my behalf."
"...Alright," Phil said with a sigh, "Get in there."
"Thanks Phil," Hercules said as he turned only to find the black creatures they used to fight in the coliseum swarm Sora's battle area.
The hero watched with wide eyes as the town's people fled in fear from the sea of heartless. Soon the heartless started to pour into the building Hercules and Phil were waiting in, immediately heading for the hero. Hercules quickly pulled out his sword and started slaying the creatures in large numbers with every swing of his arm.
"You have to get out of here Phil!" Hercules shouted, "Go to the roof and call for Pegasus!"
"Right," Phil said before he dashed out off the building, knowing Hercules could handle himself.
After slaying every heartless in the building he ran out side to start killing off the ones surrounding Sora, but a woman's scream stopped him. He turned just in time for Meg to run right into his chest. At first Hercules stared down at her dumbly, not believing it was her until she looked up at him with her bright brown eyes.
"Wonder boy!" She gasped, "You just keep showing up at the most convenient times."
"Are you okay Meg?"
"I'm fine," Meg answered before she gasped when a heartless started to scratch at her feet. Hercules noticed this and swatted the heartless away like it was nothing, which it was.
"Go hide where it's safe. I have to go help Sora," Hercules said as he gently pushed Meg to the side.
"Oh, the sidekick?" Meg asked, "What's he doing out there by himself?"
"He's in training."
"If he's training then you really shouldn't help."
"But he's in trouble!"
"He looks like he's doing fine to me." Hercules took another glance at Sora to find he had knocked Auron down and held his Keyblade at the man's throat.
"But-"
"Now that your lackey has things under control," Meg started as she stepped closer to Hercules, "How about we go and take a break from all of this... hero stuff."
"I don't know..."
"What? Will the little goat man go brisker if you leave to have some fun?" Hercules took another glance at Sora, seeing Donald and Goofy now had the heartless under control.
"I guess one day off wouldn't hurt."
"That's the spirit," Meg said as she took hold of Hercules's arm, "Let's go wonder boy."
Sora breathed heavily as he glared at the man with intense blue eyes, his Keyblade still at his throat. With his free hand he wiped a trickle of blood coming from the corner of his lips as he continued to glare at the man. Auron stared up at him with confusion, wondering why the boy hadn't killed him by now.
"I have a question," Sora said after his heavy breathing had died down a little, "What did you mean when you said that you didn't like doing this? Is it because you don't wish to kill?"
"...No... I don't," Auron muttered, "At least I don't like killing off a little boy who has his whole life ahead of him."
"Then why?"
"It's non of your business kid-"
"Why?" Sora asked again as he pressed the Keyblade to his neck.
"I have a contract..."
"With Hades?"
"Yes."
"What would you get if you killed me?"
"Power, domain, stuff I don't need here."
"And if you kill Hercules?"
"... That's none of your business." Sora sighed as he pulled back his Keyblade and dismissed it.
"Sora?" Donald and Goofy gasped as they watched Auron stand, his kantana in his hand.
"You're a good kid," Auron as he let the kantana rest on his shoulder. He, once again, pushed his sunglasses up and started to walk away, "But I wouldn't start thinking that you've seen the last of me."
"I'm not a kid," Sora growled at the man.
"Feh, whatever you say, kid," Auron turned to smirk at Sora's angry expression before he disappeared into an alley.
"Man, am I glad that's over," Sora said with a sigh as he dropped to the ground, "Good thing I guessed right."
"Guessed right?" Donald asked.
"Yeah. He's a good guy on the wrong side, that's all," Sora said, "I figured that if I let him go, he'd do the same for me. Good thing I was right, huh?"
"Sora, you idiot!" Donald grumbled, "You could have gotten yourself killed with assumptions like that."
"But I didn't," Sora said with a wide grin, "And that's all that matters."
"Sora!" Phil shouted as he flew down on Pegasus's back, "Herc's gone missing."
"What?" Sora asked, not believing his very own ears.
"Everyone get on, I'll take you back to the island and then go look for Herc," Phil said as everyone climbed on, even Sora.
"Wow, Meg! I had a great time," Hercules said as they walked into a garden just as the stars started to appear in the sky.
"Me too," Meg said with a smile before she remembered what Hades wanted. Her smile quickly faded as she pretended to stumble down some steps.
"Whoa!" Hercules shouted before he caught her, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I just have a weak ankle that's all."
"Here, let me help," Hercules said as he picked Meg up and carried her to a stone bench.
"So do you have any problems like this?" Meg asked as she lifted her ankle, but Hercules only gave her a confused look, "Weak ankles."
"Oh! No, no weak ankles," Hercules answered.
"No weaknesses at all?"
"Uh... no, not that I know of," Hercules said.
"Nothing?" Meg asked as she scooted closer to him, "No trick knee?"
"No, nothing," Hercules said as be backed away at the closeness, not that he didn't like it, he just wasn't used to it.
"You really are a wonder boy then, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess," Hercules said with a light laugh as he walked over to a fountain and picked up a stone. He tossed the stone, making it skip across the water until it hit a statue, succeeding in breaking off the arms. Hercules gasped with wide eyes as he backed away.
"It looks better that way," Meg commented, but all Hercules could do was give her a confused look, "No really, it does." Just then a star shot across the sky, catching the two's attention. Hercules let out a sigh as he smiled up at the sky.
"You know, when I was a boy I'd give anything to be like everybody else."
"You wanted to be petty and dishonest?" Meg asked as she walked away from him.
"Everybody's not like that."
"Yes, they are," Meg whispered as Hercules walked up to her.
"You're not like that."
"How do you know what I am like?" Meg spat.
"All I know is, you're the most amazing person with weak ankles I've ever met," Hercules said with a smile before he continued, "Meg, when I'm with you I don't feel so alone."
"Sometimes it's better to be alone," Meg said as she walked back over to the fountain.
"What do you mean?" Hercules asked as he watched her sit on the fountain's wall.
"Nobody can hurt you," Meg whispered.
"Meg, I would never hurt you," Hercules said as he sat down next to her.
"But I don't wanna hurt you... so..." Meg's sentence started to slow as Hercules leaned in towards her. Just as Hercules was about to steal a kiss from Meg a light from above caused the two to separate and cover their eyes.
"Alright Hercules!" Phil shouted from above, "You've had your fun, now let's get going!"
"Alright! Alright!" Hercules shouted before he picked a flower off of a tree and handed it to Meg. She smiled as she took the flower from the hero, and watched him slowly walk away with his gaze still upon her.
"Chop, chop hero! Lets get moving!" Phil yelled, "I'm very angry at you! This is getting you a thousand laps around the island! You hear me!"
"Who can't?" Sora grumbled as he held his ears.
"Shut it junior hero!" Phil growled, turning his anger to the boy. The horse let out a snort as he took off into the air, not wanting to see anymore of this mushy romance thing between the hero and the woman.
"Somebody must have had a fun day," Sora commented as he looked back at the still dazed hero.
"...Yeah... sure..." Hercules mumbled. Sora could only smile knowing he could take advantage of this.
"Tried to sneak a kiss too," Sora said, "Don't think I didn't see you."
"... Kiss... yeah..."
"Hercules and Megara, sitting in a tree," Sora began to sing once again, "K. I. S. S. I. N. G."
"... Yeah... kiss-" Hercules's eyes snapped open as he glared at the boy, "Sora!"
"First comes love."
"Sora!"
"Next come marriage."
"Stop it!"
"Then there's a baby in the baby carriage."
"Cut it out, Sora!" Hercules said as his face started to turn red, but from something besides anger.
Sora could only laugh at Hercules as he continued to hum the tune to himself but loud enough for Hercules to hear it. Hercules let out a heavy sigh as he let the boy continue his humming, and it wasn't like he wanted to object to the song or anything. Sora, however, noticed Hercules's loss in concern over the song and smiled.
"Finally gave in, huh?" Sora asked, "It's about time."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that you don't mind it anymore cause you want it to happen."
"What?" Hercules shouted from surprise, "I-I do not."
"You stuttered!"
"So!"
"It means you're lying."
"I am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!" Phil let out a heavy sigh at the two hoping they would stop soon. All the yelling was giving him one heck of a migraine.
Meg smiled softly as she twirled the white flower in between her fingers. Something about the hero and his ways made Meg smile, but soon her little quiet moment was ruined by Hades. Meg quickly turned to find Hades rising out of a statue he just melted, a devilish looking smile on his face.
"Hey, my little Meg!" Hades greeted, "So what's the weak link in the hero?"
"I'm through with this!" Meg spat as she glared at the God.
"What? I'm sorry I don't think I heard you right."
"Then read my lips! Forget it!" Meg hissed as she started to walk away, but Hades quickly appeared before her and grabbed her by her chine to force her to look at him.
"Meg, my little minion, aren't we forgetting one little, tiny, itsy, bitsy detail?" Hades asked before he glared at her, "I own you! You work for me! If I say sing you say, 'name that tune,' and if I say I want wonder boy's head on a platter you say-"
"Medium or well done?"
"Not was it was really look for..." Hades muttered.
"I'll work on it."
"Meg? Do you hear that sound?" Hades asked, "Why, I think it's your freedom, fluttering out the window."
"I don't care! I'm not going to help you hurt Hercules!"
"I can't believe you," Hades sighed, "You're getting all worked up over a guy!"
"He's different..." Meg muttered as she turned her back on the God.
"And you're the one who said you wouldn't enjoy yourself," Hades spat.
"Leave me alone Hades!" Meg shouted, "Besides, you couldn't beat him if you tried. Hercules has no weaknesses."
"Oh, I think he does Meg," Hades said as he took the flower from her, "I really think he does."
Author: Man I surprised myself with this chapter. I started on it the day after I put Chapter 13 up and got half of it done. Go me! The rest I just added when I got the chance. ((Sighs)) Okay, I know I said there was going to be fighting in this chapter, well... I goofed on that. I thought I was going to get to the fighting stuff but I guess I'll get to that later. ((Grins)) This chapter turned out longer than I thought it would be so I had to stop it there.
Riku: That's what they all say. ((Demon glares at Riku)) But I did noticed that you completely ripped everyone off with Sora and Auron's battle. What's the deal with that?
Author: ((Sighs)) Yes, I did, but there's a reason for that, and it will be explained later, possibly in the next chapter.
Riku: In other words, you just got lazy and didn't want to write another fight scene so now you have to think up an excuse for leaving it out.
Author: Did not! I know exactly what I did and why so don't even start with me! ((Glares at Riku)) Don't make me ask Rurouni Saiyan to nail you to the floor again, cause I'm sure she'll be more than happy to. ((Riku mumbles as he shuts up)) That's more like it.
Sora: ((Runs into the room with a pillow)) I heard someone say Rurouni Saiyan! Where is she?
Author: Cool it Sora. Take a chill pill. I'm sure Rurouni Saiyan's sorry about hitting you with the pillow.
Sora: Oh! No, I'm over it. It's just the fact that she hit Kairi, so I'm-
Author: Standing up for your crush? ((Sora blushes as he leaves the room)) That's what I thought. Anyway, here are the notes, and Riku- ((Sees Riku walking out of the room)) Good boy!
Unknown11's note: Hello new reviewer! I'm glad you loved it and I hope you love this chapter too. ((Grins))
Zanisha's note: I'm glad you liked the stealing Keyblade. I figured since he got it from Robin Hoods world and he steals, I mean borrowing, then the Keyblade should do the same. It seemed logical enough. ((Shrugs)) I'm also happy that you think I did a good job on my fighting scenes. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing I did good... and that is wasn't a complete disaster. ((Grins)) Thanks for the review!!
Rurouni Saiyan's note: I hope you're happy I put Yusuke, Kurama, and Hiei in this chapter, and I'm sorry Kuwabara was in it, but I had to. Truthfully I don't like him either. He has the most irritating voice I've ever had to listen to in my life. I was really going to just make this chapter with only Sora in it, but I've gotta keep my reviewers happy so, since I got not one but two requests to see Yusuke's group I added in that little scene just for you and Inuyasha's apprentice. Don't you feel special now. ((Grins)) Thanks for your review!
Inuyasha's apprentice's note: I'm so glad you liked my fight scenes, it makes me so happy. ((Bounces around the room)) You people are just so kind to me with the encouraging reviews... ((Sniffles)) I love you people. ((Gets watery eyes)) Like I told Rurouni Saiyan, I was just going to have this chapter being about Sora, since the last one was all about Riku and his gang, but since I got two requests to see Kurama come back into the story, which I don't blame you two one bit, ((Starts to drool)) I put that little scene in just for you two. Don't you feel special now. ((Grins)) I gotta keep my reviewers happy. Thanks for reviewing!
MagRowan's note: o.O You should have hit Riku while you had the chance, but since you'd rather do it when gets an attitude then you can just save the pillow and wait for the right moment. When you do hit him, make sure you knock him good in the head, and then several other times to make sure you get your point across. ((Grins)) I'm glad you think I did Koto's dialog well. I try really hard to getting them as close as they are in the show. I'm happy to know I succeeded on Koto... or came as close as I could. ((Grins)) As always thanks for the spelling corrections and for reviewing. Maybe someday I'll get everything right, just once. ((Laughs)) Thanks again!
Iudex Acerbus's note: Oh wow! Two new reviewers in one chapter! I feel so special. ((Grins)) Hello new reviewer! I'm sorry you don't know much about the Yu Yu Hakusho world, it does kinda help understand worlds better when you know what they are about. ((Pouts)) Maybe the other worlds will make up for this one. Anyway, thanks a bunch for reviewing me! ((Smiles))
Author: I'm so proud of you Riku. ((Pats Riku's head as he glares at her)) You're learning so fast. Here, have a cookie. ((Holds a cookie out for Riku))
Riku: I will not take your stupid cookie! ((Growls)) I'm not your house pet!
Author: But it's chocolate chip with extra chocolate chunks?
Riku: .... ((Eyes the cookie)) NO!
Author: Fine, Sora can have it to share with Kairi.
Riku: No! It's mine! ((Takes the cookie))
Sora: ((Pouts)) Sorry Kairi...
Kairi: It's okay, Sora. ((Pats Sora on the back))
Author: Once again, thank you all for reviewing, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Stay tuned to find out what happens in my next, exciting chapter.
Riku: ((Snorts)) Exciting... whatever.
Author: I'll take that cookie away just as fast as I gave it to you if you don't shut up! ((Riku glares at Demon as he walks out of the room with "his" cookie))