Conclusions: Well, here's finally the end of Adonis. People will be saying their goodbyes, and some characters we may not see again for a while.Short Chapter. Ah, well.
As for reviewers, I got some weirdo named Solan who didn't like my story just because I happened to take the keyblade from Sora. This guy has the typing and speaking skills of an Discworld troll. What puzzles me is that, even though he says the story is such a disappointment (spelled "dissapoint ment" by him), he went ahead and read 32 chapters of it anyways. Strange.
Anyways, as for other comments I feel a need to address, to the dog demon's apprentice, I say that, although it really shouldn't be any of my concern, being a straight guy, but I will say that what I had in mind for December was more or less bishi material, so yes, he is hot. And his wings are frickin' awesome. As for DS, yes, Sora will be back in the story as a working fighting character. But only towards the end. He pops up with full powers around Hollow Bastion. And boy, does he get an awesome butt-kicking fight to start off with! As for use of Adonis, feel free to use it. Only mind, if you are using my version of Adonis, probably note that after this, there is no Vins, the Clockwork Tower is more or less unused and abandoned, and people are going about getting on with trying to organize normal lives. Sort of like the epilogue for the Jing version. You don't need my permision or advice for anything if you plan on using your own version, or the Jing version of Adonis.
Anyways, RR people! Merry Christmas to all!
tick
The celebrations were city wide, and lasted well into the night. Free of Vins's rule, the people of Adonis could finally relax and revel. Lights were lit, and clocks were smashed; the symbols of the tyrant rule were scoured from the city. Everyone celebrated the fugitives as heros, and two others were held even higher, the new Lord Mousseux and the Keyblade Master.
Eventually, the time came for goodbyes.
"Well, I guess this is it" said Orchid sadly as she stood outside the city gates with Montblanc. She sighed, then looked around. "Where's Arc"
"Well, he is the ruler of Adonis now" explained Ricksen with a shrug. "I'm sorry, but I guess he'll be staying here. Got to sort things out after this whole mess."
"Yeah, I guess" sighed Orchid, her face crestfallen.
"Kupo, so Jenine's helping him right now also" guessed Montblanc.
The big man nodded. "Lot of stuff to get organized."
"So it's really goodbye to Arc" asked Orchid, though her tone was not hopeful.
Montblanc and Ricksen only nodded.
tick
"So you think you're staying, huh"
"What do you mean"
"Just what I said."
"Of course I'm staying. I have to. It's my responsibility."
"You and your responsibility. It'll get you killed, someday. Almost did, twice."
A sigh. "Maybe. But I can't do otherwise."
"You have another responsibility."
"That's to one person. This is to way more than just one person."
"If that's what you think, you're lying to yourself. If you really think about it, it's a responsibility to everyone. Not just here in Adonis. Everyone, everywhere."
Another sigh. "You...you're right."
"Of course I am. I'm always right."
He chuckled. "Yeah, I guess you are."
There was a long pause.
"Are you sure? I mean... I'm gonna have to leave again. And I might not come back this time."
"You'll come back."
"How do you know"
"Because you're going to promise it to me right now."
He smiled. "Fine."
"Say it."
"I promise to come back, okay"
"Tch...good enough, I guess."
"Look, why does it matter to you that much anyways"
"You really are dense, you know that"
"What"
"Come here."
"Why"
"Just come here."
"Fine."
There was a long pause, and he smiled, a little shocked, a little surprised, when it was over.
"Oh."
"Is that all you have to say? Figures. You're impossible, you know that? Now get going, or you'll miss your ride."
"I...I will come back."
"I already said that. And I'm always right."
tick
"Well, goodbye, Ricksen" said Orchid. They shook hands, his gaint paw engulfing her hand almost entirely.
"Farewell, kupo" said Montblanc as they turned to go. "Say goodbye to all the rest of them for us."
"I will" said the big man, nodding solemnly.
"Hey"
The two turned back at the voice.
"Hey" Melina shouted again as she ran up. She stopped, panting and out of breath as she reached the three of them. When she caught her breath, she started again. "You two bring back Dar'ck-sempai next time, okay"
"Melina..." chided Ricksen.
"No, it's okay" Orchid said to him. Then she turned to the girl. "I can't promise anything, but we'll try okay"
Melina nodded, not saying anything as tears welled up in her eyes. Then she said"And you two come back safely also, okay"
Orchid smiled, then hugged her gently. "We will. And you take good care of everyone around here too."
Melina nodded again, then sniffled as she let go and backed away. "See you around."
"See ya" replied Orchid as she turned and headed off with Montblanc.
They left, and the city gates closed behind them.
She turned, and looked on last time at the city, the ruined tower still climbing high above all the other buildings.
"Well...goodbye, Adonis. And goodbye, Arcanis."
tick
He walked down the corridors, hurrying along. He paused as there was a faint whisper of wind and movement beside him. And another sound. The whirring click of clockwork and gears. As he turned around, he just caught sight of the shadows of three figures walking off.
"But it can't be" he muttered, shaking his head. "We got all twelve of them, right"
He mentally went back over the stories he had been told the previous night. That's when he caught it.
"We didn't..." Then he paused. "But they had shadows..."
He shook his head again, trying to clear it, then gave up and hurried on.
tick
Orchid sighed as she stared out the window of the gummi ship.
"Ready to go" asked Montblanc as he finished all the pre-flight preperations.
"Not quite yet" she said. "Wait a little."
"What are we waiting for" asked the moogle.
She paused. Then sighed again. "I don't know. I was hoping for something, that, like, I dunno, like some kind of story, he'd come running up at the last minute, shouting and waving, saying that he really was coming with us." She turned from the window and looked at him, her face downcast and sad. "But I guess not."
Montblanc only sook his head sadly.
"Well...let's go."
The moogle engaged the engine, and the ship lifted off the ground. Soon, Adonis was no more than a clock-faced world on the viewscreen. In silence, they checked the map and entered in the coordinates for the next world. Orchid turned the ship around sharply, the whole thing tilting dangerously to one side as she did. Montblanc nearly fell out of his seat, and several of the things stored in other parts of the ship shifted and crashed about loudly. One of the doors even opened as something large slid out and across, slamming heavily against the other side of the hall.
"Your driving really sucks."
"Would you just shut" started Orchid, as she spun about in her chair. She stopped, open mouthed as she stared. Montblanc had the same look of disbelief on his face.
"Guy can hardly take a nap in here without getting tossed about like an earthquake" complained Arc grumpily as he stumbled down the hallway towards them. He stopped as he got to the cockpit. They were still staring at him. He stared at Orchid, the light glinting off his yellow tinted glasses flatly. "Go on, get out of the way. I'm not letting you drive."
There was a pause, then all hell broke loose.
"You jerk"
Arc smiled and stepped back as she came at him, swinging her fist, then caught her wrist on the backswing. He held easily with his right hand, the mechanisms sliding smoothly as he swung her arm about a little, grinning widely. "You didn't really think I would let you go off and have all the fun, did you"
"Damn it, Arc" shouted Orchid, kicking him in the shins. He gave a yelp of pain and danced about holding his leg, letting go of her arm. "I really thought you were gone"
Montblanc chuckled, then ducked as a can went flying through the space his head had previously occupied.
"Don't you dare laugh" Orchid yelled at the little moogle. She pouted, then frowned, and burst out at him again. She demanded"You knew, didn't you"
"I had a hunch, kupo" said Montblanc, stifling a laugh.
"Oh, come on" growled Arc teasingly as he grabbed her from behind in a headlock. "Admit it. You're just glad I'm here."
"You piss the heck out of me, you know that" she said as struggled in his grasp. "Why I would miss you, I'll never know."
He let her go, and she turned and stared at him balefully. And then she smiled.
"But you're right. I am glad you're here."
"Of course you are. Now let's get going." He sat down in the pilot's chair and started fiddling with the various mechanisms as he got them ready to go. "You people would be lost without me."
Orchid chuckled, then sat back in her seat and relaxed, glad they were all still together, as Montblanc flipped through the old Journal that Sora had given them. Arc stared back down at Adonis.
"So, you say your goodbyes" asked Orchid.
"Didn't have to" replied Arc. "I'll be back."
He brought up his left hand, his fingers absently brushing his lips.
Of course he'd come back. She wouldn't give him another kiss if he didn't.
