"Huh?"
"What is it?" Asked Sora piloting the ship to Hollow Bastion.
"I feel like we need to go home" replied Goofy
"Yeah. I have that feeling too" said Donald.
"Well let's go then" said Sora
"But what about the book?" Asked Andi
"We'll head back to Hollow Bastion as soon as we see that everything is safe in their world" said Sora
"But Merlin is expecting is fix that book" explained Andi.
"I think Merlin will understand if another world was in danger" replied Sora. Andi nodded.
"So off too?!"
"The Castle!" Exclaimed Donald.
"Which is?" Asked Sora laughing nervously.
"Move!" Said Donald impatiently as he pilots the Gummi ship from Sora.
Xxxxxxxx
Sora, Donald, and Goofy pilot their ship to Disney Castle and dock in the Gummi Hangar.
"Wow!" said Andi looking around.
" So this is your castle... Must be nice to be home, huh? Well..." said Sora.
Donald and Goofy look around nervously.
"Ya know, somethin' still just don't feel quite right..." suggested Goofy.
"Yeah" agreed Donald crossing his arms.
Chip hops up onto the launch control ledge and jumps at seeing Sora, Andi, Donald, and Goofy. Dale jumps up and bumps into Chip, knocking him onto the next ledge. They both jump in the air, then slide down the slanting ledge to the group.
Jumping Chip and Dale "You're back!" yells Chip.
"Move it! Let's go!" ordered Dale.
"Queen Minnie needs to see you!" squeaked Chip.
"The castle's in danger! Hurry! To the library!" ordered Dale.
Sora and the others look at each other and nodded. They walk through the exit and up the winding stairs into the courtyard looking around.
"Whoever designs this bushes to look like this. I'm impressed" said Andi going up one of the bush statues for a closer look.
As she gets closer Heartless appear. Andi jumps back and summons her keyblade. "Heartless" hissed Andi glaring.
"Heartless!? But how?" exclaimed Donald.
"Don't think they're in a explaining mood" replied Sora sarcastically summoning his keyblade as well.
Andi, Sora, Donald and Goofy fight the heartless in the courtyard as they look around for more. "Heartless haven't been able to appear around the castle before" said Goofy
"Well you guys haven't been exactly home in a while. Maybe that's why they appear now" explained Andi
"Come on we need to get to Queen Minnie!" said Donald as he runs to the door into the colonnade as the others followed him. More heartless appear and they continue to fight them until they arrive in the library. Andi and Sora shutting the door before more appeared. Andi leaning her back against the door with Sora.
"Your Majesty! Queen Minnie! We're back!" greeted Donald saluting.
"You're here!" replied Minnie happily
"Your Royal Highness, did ya happen to summon us?" asked Goofy as he gets in line with Donald and salutes too.
"Yes"
Sora and Andi walk up. Andi standing on the other side of Donald and Sora laying his hands on Goofy's shoulder and Donald's head who looks annoyed by this.
"Where's the King?" asked Sora smiling.
Andi puts her hand over her eyes in disbelief at his comment shaking her head as he takes his hand off Donald's head and looks at Minnie who just smiles at him. Donald annoyed, looks at Sora and Andi and jumps, pulling Sora's and Andi's ears into a bow.
"Excuse them. This is our friends, Sora and Andi" introduced Donald.
"And oh, Sora! The King told me all about you in his letters. He said you're a very brave young man" commented Minnie.
Sora pushes his nose and smiles proudly. Andi just rolls her eyes shaking her head with a smile on her face.
"I've also heard about you Andi, he has a lot of good things to say about you too" smiles Minnie
"He does?!" Exclaimed Andi surprised. Queen Mini nodded. Andi looked sorta embarrassed by her compliment.
"So, do you know where he is?" asked Sora.
She shakes her head and they sigh.
"Your Majesty, what are Heartless doing in your castle?" asked Donald.
"Oh my... So those are the Heartless" said Minnie turning to her right side.
"Don't worry, we'll take care of 'em!" said Sora.
Minnie turns back to them smiling. "I know I can count on you, Sora. Now, there's something I'd like all of you to come and see. Would you please escort me to the audience chamber?" asked Minnie
The four salute her. The Queen gasps, as they tilted there with confusion.
"I forgot to warn everyone else in the castle about the danger! We must be sure they're hidden somewhere safe!" exclaimed Minnie.
"Okay, we'll go tell them!" said Sora pointing at Goofy smiling.
"The whole castle!?" Exclaimed Donald.
"What's wrong with that?" asked Andi.
"It's huge" replied Donald stretching his arms out.
"We just gotta split up, Donald" explained Goofy.
"I'll make sure that everyone knows what's going on" replied Sora.
"No, Sora, you'll just get lost! And so will Andi!" replied Donald
"I would not!" said Andi crossing her arms.
"Ok then, distracted" said Donald
"Geee...thanks for the load of confidence" muttered Andi
"Okay. Then Me and Andi will stay with the Queen" agreed Sora.
Minnie giggles.
"Good"
"All righty then, see ya later!" said Goofy
Donald and Goofy leave the Library running out.
"Um, the audience chamber, right, ma'am?" asked Sora looking at Minnie.
"Yes, Sora. Let's be on our way" replied Minnie
Andi goes to the door opening it enough to see if anything was out there, "It looks clear right now Sora"
Sora nodd and they hurry to the colonnade protecting Queen Minnie and fighting heartless along the way as they reach the immense doors to the audience chamber, which are magically locked.
"Just one moment" explained Minnie.
Minnie turns to the door and holds up her hand.
"As soon as the trouble started, I made sure to seal this room"
The magical barrier breaks apart and the room is unlocked. A small door appears through the larger one.
"Now then...shall we?" asked Minnie turning towards Sora and Andi.
They enter the large audience chamber, which is completely empty, until a horde of Bolt Tower Heartless float down from the ceiling.
"Not here, too!" exclaimed Minnie putting her hands up to her mouth.
"We got 'em" replied Sora with the Kingdom Key and Andi summoning Forbidden Melody. They race across the chamber, dodging the Heartless, reaching the throne. The Heartless are relentless.
"Come on, gimme a break!" whined Sora.
Minnie hurriedly searches and stops to reach beneath the arm of the throne and presses a button. There is a loud rumbling and the throne starts to move.
"Huh?"
The throne recedes with a flash of light and the Heartless are gone. The floor contains a set of stairs to a lower room.
"Whoa..." said Sora as he looks around the empty throne room.
"What just happened?" Asked Andi in astonishment.
"The room below is called the 'Hall of the Cornerstone.' Our castle has always been safe from worlds that are evil...thanks to the Cornerstone of Light which we keep down there" explained Minnie as she walks down the stairs.
"The Cornerstone...of light?" They asked as they follow the Queen down into the Hall of the Cornerstone and sees the unbelievable mass of thorns surrounding the walls. A giant ball of swirling light stands in the middle of the room.
"This is the castle's cherished Cornerstone. But look. The thorns...They must be the work of someone very evil. I wonder what this could mean..." stopped Minnie sadly as Donald and Goofy looked around them, walking up to Sora and Andi who were standing by the Queen.
A burst of green flames appears before the Queen and an image of Maleficent appears.
"Maleficent!" yelled Donald
"Isn't that the one you said was toast?" Asked Andi looking at Sora
"No way!" muttered Sora in disbelief.
"Well, well, well. What have we here...? If it isn't the wretched Keyblade holder, and his pitiful lackeys! And the Keyblade holder's little smart mouth friend how sweet" replied Maleficent.
"What!? Now you're gonna deal with me!" Quacked Donald leaping to attack but flies right through her hitting his head on the base of the Cornerstone of light knocking him out.
"All in good time. I promise you'll be able to partake of my vengeance. But you must be patient"
"Just what are you doing here, Maleficent!?" asked Minnie
"Ah, Queen Minnie. Radiant, as always" commented Maleficent as she bows.
"I'm here on a property venture. I want this castle for my own. However, it's a bit too "bright" for what I have in mind. I suppose I'll just have to fill every room with my personal touch of darkness" as she touches the Cornerstone of Light, but it rejects her hand. Andi and Sora summon Kingdom Key and Forbidden Melody.
"You'd better stop right now if you know what's good for you!" ordered Minnie
"Ooh, how frightening. Very well. I'll stop...Just as soon as the castle belongs to me!" replied Maleficent disappearing and cackles evilly.
"What a hag" insulted Sora.
Andi nods and looks at Queen Minnie.
"Nothing like this has ever happened before. I looked through all the records in the library, but I couldn't find a single clue" explained Minnie looking down.
"Ohhh! We should go ask somebody who knows lots a stuff that ain't in any book!" suggested Goofy.
"Merlin the Wizard!" exclaimed Donald.
"Yes! That's perfect! Merlin just might know something about this mess. Let's ask his advice!" agreed Minnie
"We saw him in Hollow Bastion, right?" asked Goofy.
"Yeah. Let's go!" ordered Sora
They ran to the Gummi Ship and piloted the Gummi Ship to Hollow Bastion and enter Merlin's House.
"Anybody home?" asked Sora
"Merlin!" yells Donald.
Andi plugging her ears.
"The castle's in danger!" finishes Goofy.
Merlin appears behind them.
"What is all that racket? Ho-ho! I thought-oh, it's you! It looks like you've learned a bit since the last time I saw you" said Merlin.
Andi turned her head and jumped in fright and unplugged her ears.
"Really!?" asked Sora
Donald quacks and shakes his head fast.
"Wait a minute! Let's talk about the problem! It's Maleficent! She's back!" yells Donald.
"Where? Inside the castle!?" asked Merlin worried.
"Yep! And Heartless, too" replied Goofy.
"Oh, dear..."
"Maleficent wants to take over the whole castle..." said Donald.
As Donald is talking, Merlin transports them all to the Hall of the Cornerstone, where Minnie is waiting.
"There's Heartless in every part of the castle! The Queen is in danger! What!?" exclaimed Donald noticing he's back in Disney Castle. He crosses his arms and looking very annoyed
"Perhaps, I'd better just see for myself" replied Merlin.
Merlin walks over to Minnie and the Cornerstone of Light.
"Mm-hmm...interesting..."
"What's happening, Merlin?" asked Minnie
"This is not good. In fact, I'm afraid, it's quite serious"
He wizard clears his throat. He waves his arms and a door appears.
"What's that?" asked Sora
"My boy, that is a gateway to a special world. Someone in that world is responsible for what's going on in this castle. Of that, I'm certain"
"Oh boy!" said Donald.
"We knew we could count on you, Merlin!" said Goofy.
"Then we should go get him!" said Sora walking to open the door as he places his hand on the handles.
"Wait a moment! The perpetrators must be stopped, of course. But there's something else to do first. Somewhere in that world, there should be another door that's identical to this one. I believe our enemies are utilizing that door. As long as it remains open, the castle will be in grave danger. Listen carefully. You and Andi must find that door. And when you do-lock it with your keyblades" explained Merlin.
"Got it" replied Sora as he nods his head.
"You can count on us!" finished Donald putting his hand to his heart.
"Now, one more thing. You're heading into a very special world. While you're there, the nature of that world may tempt you to do something dark. You must resist that temptation at all costs!" warned Merlin.
"What do you mean?" asked Sora.
"You'll know soon enough. I have faith in you, my lads and lady!"
Sora opens the door after a small struggle and walks in. On the other side, the door jumps around making several honks and whistles, before spitting the four out onto the ground. Goofy shakes his head.
"Hey, look! There's the Cornerstone of Light!" exclaimed Goofy.
Sora walks over to it
"What's going on? Everything's black and white" explained Sora
Andi looked at them and saw Sora was in his old cloths the first time Andi saw him but this time they weren't so short. Donald looked like he was wearing a sailor outfit and Goofy wore a vest and his same hat as before. Andi looked down and saw she was wearing her strapless short tank top and plain baggy cargo pants, white gloves like everyone else and her shoes were also plain and big. Her hair was shorter but still in a ponytail.
"Hey, this is kinda like...um...uh..."
"Deja vu?" interrupted Goofy.
"Yeah, that's it!" replied Donald.
"Really? Have you been here before?" asked Sora.
Captain Pete walks behind Sora in the direction of the Pier, but stops when he sees the four.
"Hey you! Seen any bad guys around here?" asked Captain Pete.
Sora, Donald, Goofy and Andi all look at each other and then point to Captain Pete.
"Why I oughta... Bah! I don't have time to waste on punks like you! So, I guess I'll go easy on ya!" said Captain Pete putting his fists down, walks off to the Pier.
"Well, there's our villain" said Sora.
Andi, Donald and Goofy nod and they enter the Pier. Captain Pete is standing on the dock.
"What's with you squirts? You got some kinda bone to pick with me?" asked Captain Pete.
"More than one!" answered Sora.
"Them's fighting words!" replied Captain Pete.
They hear a boat whistle.
"Huh?"
He starts walking toward Cornerstone Hill, when Sora, Donald, Goofy and Andi block his way.
"Not so fast!" said Sora
"Yeah!" agreed Donald.
"What's that for?" asked Captain Pete
Andi and Sora summon Forbidden Melody and Kingdom Key, Andi smirks. As they take on Captain Pete they realize he's not giving a fight like he normally does as he ends up sitting on the ground.
"What's you punks' beef with me anyway? Hmm... Who are ya? You new around here?" asked Captain Pete looking at the group.
"Cut the act" replied Sora
They hear the boat whistle again.
"Whoa!" said Captain Pete
He stands up too quickly and his back cracks. He falls over again.
"Ooh, ow!"
"You know, somethin' doesn't seem quite right here. Are you sure you're Pete?" asked Goofy.
"Well, of COURSE I'm Pete. I'm the captain of the steamboat. So stop botherin' me, see?" replied Captain Pete as he waves his fist and his back cracks again.
"So hit the road! I gotta go find the little runt what stole my boat!"
"Gawrsh, maybe we made a mistake" said Goofy looking at Sora, Andi and Donald.
"I'm starting to think the same thing. He hasn't even called any Heartless" replied Sora.
"I don't know, he's still suspicious if you ask me" said Andi.
"Yeah, but look at him" answered Sora as the group turn to look at Captain Pete.
"Sorry we attacked ya like that, Capt'n Pete" apologized Goofy.
Captain Pete stands up; Andi crosses her arms and seems deep in thought about this.
"Oh yeah? Well, if you're really sorry, then go find my steamboat" ordered Captain Pete.
"Y-yes sir!" replied Sora
His back cracks again. "Ooh, my achin' back" whined Captain Pete as he falls over again and the four run up to him.
The four finally walk back to Cornerstone Hill after dealing with Captain Pete's back.
"I thought for sure Pete was the bad guy"
"Aw, that would be too easy" said Donald.
"But if it wasn't Pete then who are we looking for?" Asked Andi
"Organization Xlll?" Said Donald.
"I haven't seen any nobodies though" replied Andi
"Well we can't just stand here and talk or will never know who it is" said Sora.
"C'mon, fellas. Let's try to find that steamboat" said Goofy.
"I guess we DID say we would..." replied Sora.
"Actually your the only one who said it" said Andi crossing her arms.
"I did not-"
"Hey, we've got a door to find!" reminded Donald interrupting Sora.
"Oh, yeah!" said Sora.
"I don't see any doors" said Donald looking around.
"Huh? What's this?" asked Sora.
An odd window with a curtain floats in midair nearby. They walk over to it.
"I can't see a thing..." said Sora.
Donald pulls the drawstring on the side and opens the curtains. They see a video of four small doors around the Cornerstone of Light, with a different pair of Heartless in front of each one. The doors open and the Heartless enter, another door bouncing in the background and disappearing. Sora, Donald, Goofy and Andi are thrown out of the bouncing door, landing on the ground.
"Hey, look! There's the Cornerstone of Light!" said Goofy.
Sora walks over to it.
"What's going on? Everything's black and white" asked Sora looking around.
"Hey, this is kinda like...um...uh..."
"Deja vu?" finished Goofy
"Yeah, that's it!" agreed Donald.
"Really? Have you been here before?" asked Sora.
The video ends with a flash and the curtains shutting.
Xxxxxxxx
"What was that?" asked Sora
"Heartless goin' out..." replied Goofy.
"...and us, coming in" finished Donald.
"What does it mean?" asked Sora scratching his head.
Donald pulls the drawstring again, but nothing happens. They see the four doors the Heartless had gone through.
"Let's get rid of those Heartless!" said Sora
"Then what'll we do?" asked Goofy.
"We'll worry about that later!" replied Sora.
"But guys shouldn't we make a plan...first?" asked Andi as the boys started running to the windows, Andi sighed and followed. Sora, Donald, Goofy and Andi enter a door with a construction building symbol on it and arrive at a Building Site.
"What're they building?" asked Sora.
"Look out!" warned Goofy.
A Hammer Frame Heartless falls from a beam above behind Sora as Mickey swings down on a rope and knocks the Heartless away.
"The King!" exclaimed Donald.
Mickey waves to them from a beam up above.
"Gee, he seems kinda different somehow..." said Goofy.
They see several more Hammer Frame Heartless up above them on more beams.
"Heartless! I knew it! You really saved the day!" said Sora waving at the King.
The Heartless fall down to their platform.
"Now, let's get those Heartless!" ordered Sora.
As the jumper and the scaffolding wiggles around.
"Whoa!" Said Andi trying to keep balance as the rest of the group.
"Hey fellas...we better hurry and beat these Heartless quick. I don't know how long this scaffolding is going to hold us" said Goofy.
Andi looks at Sora with a smirk. He looks at her confused; "Bet I can get rid of more of them then you" said Andi
"You're on!" Said Sora
"Wait you guys I don't know if that's-"
Before Goofy could finish Sora and Andi were already a after the heartless. Defeating the rest of the Heartless before the scaffolding falls.
"How'd you like that?" asked Sora cocky.
"I still won" commented Andi
"No way! I definitely-"
Mickey ran over to Sora, shook his hand, waved, and ran off.
"Hey, look!" exclaimed Goofy.
Another curtain window was hanging on the corner of the scaffolding. Donald pulls the drawstring and they see Maleficent in the dark tower in Hollow Bastion talking to Pete.
"You absolute idiot! You've managed to fail at everything! And what's more...you foolishly thought you could take my place while I was away. Well, as of now, you're finished. Mark my words, there'll be no place for you when our time comes!" scalded Maleficent.
She begins to walk away.
"Useless imbecile..." muttered Maleficent as she leaves.
"But-but...but I..." stuttered Pete
Xxxxxxx
Sora, Andi, Donald, and Goofy return to Cornerstone Hill.
"What-?" questioned Sora.
"Somebody sure was angry" said Goofy.
"I don't understand" said Donald.
"Let's just try to clear out the Heartless first. This place is okay, but we've got three more spots to check" replied Sora.
"Yeah we might get more clues to what's going on in this place" said Andi.
"Huh?" Said Donald
"The curtain door they show something that already has happened" explained Andi.
"Oh so like the first one that we seen us going in isn't the only one from the past" said Sora.
"Exactly! But they seem a little jumble up so it might take some time to figure out what's going on" replied Andi
Sora shrugs his shoulders down in defeat. Andi laughs at him "What?...Too much for your head to handle?" She teased
"No!" Said Sora
"Come on fellas" said Goofy as him and Donald wait at the next curtain.
They enter a door with a symbol of someone being tied down. They step into a town called Lilliput which is slightly too small.
"What!?" exclaimed Donald looking around.
"The town's shrunk!" said Sora
"Or do ya think maybe we got bigger?" asked Goofy.
They see a tall tower with cannons sticking out of it.
"Hey! Look at the toy cannons!" said Sora excitedly.
They walk over to the tower and see Mickey jumping up and down.
"What's he saying?" asked Sora
Andi tilted her head confused as she turns around serveral Aeroplane Heartless flies into the sky.
"Look out!" She yells summoning her keyblade.
"Hey! There're Heartless!" yelled Sora.
"Maybe you can finally catch up?" Teased Sora.
"Me? Catch up? You mean keep the lead!" Said Andi as she swung her keyblade at one of the aero plane heartless.
"Keep the lead?! Whatever!" Said Sora
As they defeat the giant heartless while protecting the town. Andi and Sora's keyblades disappear.
"Man, that was weird!" commented Sora.
Mickey runs over to Sora, shakes his hand, waves, and runs away again.
"Look, Sora! Over there!" yelled Goofy.
They see yet another curtained window. Donald pulls the drawstring and they see a video of Pete.
"Aw, for cryin' out loud...she didn't have to go and say that. Okay, I mighta messed up every now and then. But I'm a lot more things than useless...Why, when I was startin' out..." said Pete to himself.
Pete looks down.
"Oh...I miss those good ol' days...What I wouldn't give to go back in time..." sniffed Pete
"What I wouldn't give..."
A white door appears behind Pete and he turns around.
"Huh?"
Pete walks closer to the door and opens it. Bright light pours out of it.
"Hey! I think that's my..."
Xxxxxxx
Sora, Andi, Donald, and Goofy return to Cornerstone Hill.
"A door?" questioned Sora.
"It looks familiar..." replied Donald.
"Yup-it's the door Merlin magic'd up!" said Goofy
"So it should come straight here, right?" asked Sora
"Sure! I think..." replied Goofy.
"But how do you conjure it to appear?" Asked Andi.
"Maybe when we get rid of the heartless it'll appear" replied Donald.
"Yeah, let's check it out!" replied Sora...
To Be Continued...
Xxxxxxxxxx
Author's Notes: I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. Starting to show Andi's and Sora's competitive side in their friendship. I'm already working on the next chapter for Wednesday! Happy Easter! Please Fave and Review!