Kingdom Hearts: Warriors of Light
In The End-Chapter 35
The warriors slowly stepped off of the marble platform upon landing in the Magic Kingdom Courtyard. Queen Minnie and Duchess Daisy were waiting for them inside the castle. Donald and Goofy led the tired bunch to the royal library where King Mickey often studied some of Ansem's notebooks. Queen Minnie was standing patiently inside looking rather sad as the warriors entered. She knew that their struggles had been great and their numbers where now fewer.
"Please, sit and rest," Queen Minnie said pointing out some chairs along the wall. Donald and Goofy took their place next to Duchess Daisy. Kita, Ti-Day and Sora collapsed into some red, padded chairs, their weapons dropped limply at their feet. "Am I to assume the others have returned to their homes?"
"We know that Kairi did," Sora said. "I watched her going. As for the others… I don't know. We left Hercules in that strange world. Simba, Beast and Pom-Pom were still in Hallow Bastion."
"What about Riku and Ni-Ne?" Queen Minnie asked nervously.
"Lost to the darkness," Ti-Day said, his head hanging to the ground. "King Mickey was in there with them." Queen Minnie let out a small gasp as Daisy then put her arm around Minnie's shoulder.
"He spoke of such things. I'm afraid it seems they have come to pass," Queen Minnie said sadly. "I hoped it would never come to this, but there is nothing that can be done now."
"Can they get out?" Kita asked with a small bit of hope.
"Perhaps," Queen Minnie said. "The King was thinking ahead and he knew that locking himself in the realm of darkness could happen. I've no doubt he has something planned." Kita smiled. The though of their friends escaping a cruel fate of darkness was enough to lift her mood even a little. However it was still questionable as to if they would defiantly be able to escape and how long it would take.
"Don't worry your majesty. We'll keep looking for the King!" Donald said energetically. Goofy agreed.
"I'll help too!" Sora said sitting up and holding his arm in the air.
"We'll go!" Kita shouted, joining in.
"Kita, I'm afraid your world is in need of your presence," Queen Minnie said turning to Kita. "With Ansem gone, there is no one there to rule. You must go back and take his place."
"But-," Kita said feeling shut down.
"No buts I'm afraid," Queen Minnie said putting down her foot. "The King has requested it of you." Kita sat frozen for a minute and then slumped down in her seat looking depressed.
"Don't worry Kita, I'll come back with you," Ti-Day said putting his hand on her shoulder. "I am your best friend after all and I know that everything we just went through isn't going to be easy to forget."
"Thanks Ti-Day," Kita said, her head still hanging and sounding disappointed.
"Hey, we can even get back to picking on Leon just to take our mind off things," Ti-Day said sounding unusually excited. Kita cracked a tiny smile on her face that was hidden to most by her bangs.
"I know that you have been through a lot, but the King has asked me to share something with you before you leave," Queen Minnie said. She stepped away to open a chest that had been sitting behind her on the floor. She reached inside and pulled out a vintage picture frame. She carried it back to the group and handed it to Ti-Day. Kita and Sora leaned in to take a look. There in the picture was a man, a woman and a baby. They guessed that this was a picture of a family.
"Who are they?" Ti-Day asked.
"My friends… They are the Nites," Queen Minnie explained.
The group almost choked upon hearing the name. "The Nites? You mean, Ni-Ne's family?" Kita said as she looked at the picture.
Queen Minnie nodded. "Their baby is Ni-Ne. They're her parents. Her father's name is Xander Nite and her mother is Maline Nite. However both their lives ended tragically right after the war, or so we think."
"What do you mean 'so we think?" Ti-Day asked.
"We don't actually have any proof that they died in the war. Their deaths could have been caused by other means still unknown. But Xander, he knew about Kingdom Hearts and Ansem." Queen Minnie explained.
"Wow, that long before all of this happened? I still have one question though," Sora said.
"Yes Sora?" Queen Minnie asked looking at him.
"Which of her parents is heartless? We know that Ni-Ne is half heartless," Sora asked.
"It was her father," Queen Minnie explained. "He was the first human heartless, created from Kingdom Hearts. Xander amazed your father, Kita. The King had much interest in him as well. With so many missing pieces, we decided to keep it secret from everyone. This family secret is still under the Kingdom's protection, it was her mother who requested the protection."
"I have a journal that belonged to Mr. Nite. I know this will come in handy." Daisy said taking out a worn out journal and giving it to Ti-Day. "There are some entries talking about the war, Ansem, the Heartless, and Kingdom Hearts."
"Are you asking for us to start a new quest your highness?" Goofy asked.
"Yes, the king requested us to find clues about the Nite's life and death. And now you have some friends to search for too. I have a terrible feeling this is not the end." Queen Minnie said shaking her head in an unsure way.
Ti-Day looked down and softly caressed the journal. 'This is her dad's journal... Containing everything we know now at this point. Ni-Ne...' Ti-Day thought to himself. He sighed and mumbled.
"Ti-Day? Are you alright?" Donald asked.
"No... All of this, the Heartless, Ansem, the war, Ni-Ne's lost family... This is too much. I-I can't take it much more of this." Ti-Day said feeling frustrated.
Kita sighed and took Ti-Day's hand. "I know how you feel. We're all feeling this, but we can't stop now." Kita stood up and bowed, "We need to get going... I have a kingdom to take care of. Thank you for everything your highness."
"It's no problem Princess," the Queen said with a smile. Everyone stood up and bowed and headed to the door. Once outside the group gathered around in the courtyard under the night sky. It was rather dark, only the moon in sight.
"What now?" Kita said sighing and sitting down on a rock. She rested her chin in her hands as she gaze up into the starless sky. "Ni-Ne, King Mickey, Riku… They're still out there. A tear rolled down Kita's cheek. "What do you say when you feel so hopeless?"
"When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true of course," said a tiny voice. Everyone turned to Sora and looked at him strangely.
"It wasn't me, it was Jiminy Cricket!" Sora said pulling out a little cricket from his jacket who was wearing a suit and top hat. He took a bow in the palm of Sora's hand before leaping over to Kita's shoulder.
"Where I come from, wishing on a star means your dreams will come true," Jiminy Cricket explained. "No request is too extreme. If you want to find your friends, then wish on a star." Kita's glum look did not disappear from her face as she pointed to the sky to show Jiminy that there were no stars at all.
"Heavens me, where's your faith?" Jiminy said straightening his jacket. Jiminy cleared his throat and began to sing. "Ah hum. When you wish upon a star, makes no different who you are. Anything your heart desires will come to you. If your heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme. When you wish upon a star, as dreamers do. Like a bolt out of the blue, fate steps and sees you through. When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true." As he sang millions of stars began flying through the sky; falling stars, shooting stars, twinkling stars and wishing stars alike. Ti-Day tapped Sora on the shoulder and pointed to the dazzling sky. It was as though every person from every world they had come across had thrown stars up into the sky just for them. Donald and Goofy looked up amazed. Kita's face was still buried in her hands.
"Kita? How about now?" Jiminy asked. Kita slowly opened her eyes and looked up. There where now so many stars, she could make a million wishes. She smiled feeling so good inside.
"Thanks Jiminy," Kita said.
"Don't mention it," Jiminy said bouncing back to Sora's shoulder.
"You know, I don't think I can go back to Hallow Bastion now," Kita said. "Even if Queen Minnie thinks I should."
"Huh?" Ti-Day said sounding shocked. "But what about the kingdom?"
"Leon and the others can take care of it," Kita said. "Besides, someone's out there waiting for me."
"Riku?" Ti-Day asked. "I'm sure he can take care of himself. You know we both have a duty to-," He was stopped by Kita's hand over his mouth.
"I know but I have to follow my heart right now," Kita said smiling at him. "Riku's waiting. And what if my real dad is still out there? I have to know! I have to find him if he's still alive."
"Kita…" Ti-Day said with a frown feeling unsure. Kita just keep smiling innocently as she got up off the stone she was sitting on.
"Ti-Day, don't you love Ni-Ne enough to break some rules and go find her?" Kita asked trying to twist Ti-Day's thoughts. Ti-Day looked like he was in deep thought. As the image of Ni-Ne crossed his mind, a smile appeared on his face.
"I would sure love to see her again," Ti-Day said. "I'll be the prince in shining armor she always deserved! I'M COMING TO RESCUE YOU NI-NE!" he shouted ready to go.
"This quest will be fun. So, where are we to headed to again?" Sora asked
"This way!" Kita said darting down a path that went on forever through rolling hills.
"Does that go anywhere?" Donald asked looking at Goofy. The group heard barking coming from behind Kita. Within moments Pluto came running over the hill with a letter in his mouth. He ran up to Kita and handed her the letter.
"Hey, it has the King's seal on it!" Kita shouted waving her arms to beckon the group to follow. "I told you this was a good way to go!"
"Maybe she knows what she's talking about after all, h-yuck!" Goofy said running towards Pluto and Kita. Pluto ran away from the group as they all chased him together.
"Pluto! Wait up!" Sora yelled. Together the Warriors of Light disappeared into the night down a road they could only believe to follow by their hearts that wherever it went, they're friends would be at the other end.
The End
Somewhere…
A man was locked up inside a silver cell. His face was covered with a hood. His body was sitting against the wall of his prison. Another man wearing a black coat came to the cell and walked into the light of the neon glowing bars. The prisoner looked up and stood, then slowly walked toward the figure.
"Why have you trapped me here? What did I ever do to you?" The prisoner asked as he growled with such anger.
"We want something from you," stated the coated figure.
"Well, I don't know how. Now let me out," the prisoner said.
"I cannot do that. We need you here," said the man wearing the black coat.
"LET ME OUT!" the prisoner growled. He touched the neon bars with his hand and shocked himself. He screamed out in pain and jumped back away from the bars.
"Such temper. Keep doing that and we'll have to torture you. Besides, we have information about something dear to you," the coated figure said.
"Ugh... No..." He knelt down and panted. "Tell me!"
"Not that easily. We need you here and we must know how..." the coated man said.
The prisoner growled and slammed his fists to the ground. He snarled, "You and the others are not meant to exist!"
"Is that so? We do have a purpose in this life. We want to be human like yourself," said the man in the coat.
"I won't let you. I'll never tell!" the prisoner said getting angry.
"Fool… Guess I won't tell you what I know. Oh, by the way... she's dead," the coated man laughed.
The prisoner's eyes widened and he quickly looked up to the coated figure. "What? Dead? How do you know! Tell me!"