I'm beginning to think that food is the source of all my problems ever. Grah.
Not eating anymore…
Until…
Lunch…
-Lovely Catastrophe
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Chapter Eight: Nightmares in Wonderland
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Auron was still making his way through the path that he had chosen. For the most part, he had been going the right way, having only to double back just a few times. No Imagi in sight, either.
The silence was very pleasant, though.
Good for thinking.
Not like the noise his female companions had brought along with them… Well… Actually… not like the noise Rikku brought along with them. Paine, Yuna, and Kairi were quiet for the most part.
Kairi.
He shook his head. What a headstrong one she was… Just like… Well… She was just like Yuna. In some ways, at least. Kairi had more of a fighter's spirit than Yuna did. Auron shook his head again, but this time he allowed a faint smile to appear on his lips.
Memories.
The swordsman continued on his way, pressing forward at a more brisk pace as he realized he had chosen the right path. The hedge walls on both sides of him began to recede as he neared the end, and he stepped cautiously into the castle's courtyard.
It was quiet. Too quiet.
Then he heard… humming?
"Where are you going?" A whimsical voice inquired of him, but he couldn't tell where it was coming from. Auron chose not to answer.
The voice spoke again.
"Not a very talkative one, are you…"
A broad grin appeared, hovering in midair before Auron. It was just a row of teeth, and it was slightly… creepy.
"I like to talk a lot. And grinnnnnnnn." A cat appeared around the grin. Auron noted that the thing was a rather ugly shade of purple. "What do you like to do?"
Auron started to walk around the cat. He had neither the time nor the patience to deal with such foolishness.
"I would be careful if I were you… There are some… not so nice people in the castle. And they call themselves cats…"
The Cheshire Cat disappeared, leaving his characteristic grin behind before it too faded away.
The swordsman never looked back, and he pulled his sword off his shoulder, allowing it to hang at his side at the ready. Not so nice people? Exactly who I'm looking for.
He entered the card castle…
……………………
"Rikku… I think you've gotten us more lost than we were in the first place…"
"Nonsense, Dr. P! I know exactly where we're going!"
"Stop calling me that…"
"Just a little further, and—"
THUD.
There were two shrill screams, one from Rikku, and the other from Kairi. As the blonde turned the corner of the hedge maze, she ran directly into the Princess (not looking where she was going as usual). Once they realized whom they had bumped into, they began laughing.
"Oops, sorry Kairi."
"It's alright, that's not the first time that's happened to me…"
Yuna smiled knowingly, but she kept her thoughts to herself. Paine, on the other hand, began to scowl.
"Damn. That means we've reached a dead end. Auron must have taken the right path. Gah. It's going to take us too long to go all the way back to the beginning and THEN try to get through his path without getting lost…" She growled, obviously annoyed.
"I guess… but there's not really another choice unless you want to—"
Leaves and bits of the hedge began flying as Paine started to hack away at the maze's wall with her large sword. Kairi was about to utter a complaint, seeing as whoever had created the maze might not have been so happy about it getting chopped down… but she thought better of it. Paine's sword was kinda sharp. Plus, they had no time for courtesy like that right now.
And the sword thing was working, anyways.
Before long, they could see into the castle's courtyard. Paine smirked, setting down her blade in the ground as Auron often did.
"See? Nothin' to it."
Paine wouldn't have been a very good gardener.
"Let's go, you guys. Auron's probably already inside having all the fun!" Kairi exclaimed, darting through the opening. The other girls followed after her, weapons at the ready.
……………………
"Ah yes… the legendary Auron… caught in one of our traps… that's got to be a blow to your dignity."
Eileen and Aidan had taken over the castle. It was easy, really. All they had to do was tie up the fat Queen and her minions and knock them out. It wasn't as though any of them had put up any real kind of fight.
That was when Auron had walked in. He had struggled, oh yes. He even managed to wound Aidan by slicing his arm clean to the bone. But Eileen had caught him off guard and snared him in a dream web: a powerful trap of her own design. Real people couldn't get free of it. Unless Eileen willed it so. Or if they had strong spirits.
And Auron's was strong. Just not strong enough. And now he was pinned to the wall by a translucent web, his eyes ever glaring at the twins. But he said nothing. Didn't even try to break free of the trap.
"I almost feel… sorry for you." She smirked. "Almost."
"Heh…" Auron lowered his face so that the Imagi couldn't see his expressions. "You won't be laughing when the Princess gets here…"
"Ah yes. Princess Kairi. We've heard about her. Our swarm reported back to us not too long ago. They were defeated, yes, but the Princess was so weak that it must have been a fluke." Eileen laughed.
"And where were you during that time, swordsman? You're not a very good guardian, are you…?"
There was no response.
"Ah, but I've heard this is common for you. There was another you tried to protect before, wasn't there. Oh, but that's right. She died."
The twins laughed maliciously, and Auron glared at them, as if he were trying to burn holes with his eyes. And if looks could kill, he probably would have succeeded. But… perhaps… the words hurt. A lot.
The swordsman tried to shake off the despairing feeling, when Eileen began to address him again.
"I can feel your pain… That's good. It's starting to sink in. You lost the Summoner… time to lose the Princess as well… That hurts to think about, doesn't it, Auron… And you're helpless to do anything at all! What a shame…"
No. He would not listen to her…
But she's right… I can't… escape.
The Princess isn't helpless, she will win!
No… she can't… She has no training… no experience…
You only need heart! And that she has a lot of.
I've failed…
No Auron…
I've failed again…
Aidan smirked, joining in with Eileen to taunt the swordsman. "That's right… fight the battle that everyone dreads to fight. Try and take on your despair, Auron. You'll never win… just embrace it now. We promise that Kairi will die quickly and painlessly… for the most part."
"Hey now. Talking about me behind my back? Not cool…"
……………………
Kairi and the others appeared in the doorway, and she had a confident smile on her face. The Princess strung an arrow, and aimed it at Aidan's head.
"Let him go!"
Eileen frowned.
"Ooh… such a pretty creature, Aidan. I do feel this sudden urge to smash her face in…" The female Imagi waved her hand lazily, turning her back to Kairi. "Do finish up here, brother dear. The castle is taken, so our work in this land is done. Just eliminate the girl and meet up with me afterwards."
The Imagi disappeared in a cloud of smoke, and her brother smirked viciously.
"As you wish—"
An arrow whizzed past Aidan's head, causing him to blink in sheer bemusement. Kairi had gotten tired of the small talk. She strung another arrow.
"I'm not going to ask you again."
Aidan frowned, pulling out his two long swords from the sheaths that were slung over his shoulders.
"Touchy, touchy. Isn't a Princess supposed to have patience? Well, no matter. Playtime's over with anyways."
A pink screen shielded the doorway, keeping Rikku, Paine, and Yuna out…
…And keeping Kairi in. But the Princess stood her ground, unwavering. She affixed her enemy with a courageous stare.
"Hm. Well isn't this amusing. You're stronger than I thought. I fully expected you to start crying. This could prove interesting."
He rushed Kairi, who shot an arrow in his face, causing him to roll to the side. But before she could string another, she had to jump out of the way, Aidan much too fast for her. He laughed evilly, and continued to rush her with his swords.
"You're quick, little minx, but not quick enough. All I have to do is wear you down and then it will be all over."
He's right. If I don't figure out a new plan, I'm done for. I don't even have time to get my bow ready, let alone the split second I need to get out of his way… Time to put some of what Yuna said to good use…
Kairi leapt out of the swords' reach, then concentrated to her fullest extent. She thought about nothing else except drawing the light from her body and into her hands.
Aidan was coming.
Kairi was still drawing power.
The swords were poised and ready.
She could feel it surging towards her hands.
The point was ready to impale her.
She opened her eyes.
"Firecracker!" Kairi shouted, her eyes glowing white. Her hair was flowing in all directions as she issued the command. Sparks of brilliant gold erupted onto Aidan, causing the Imagi to roar and howl with pain.
He dropped one of his swords and it went sprawling to the side. Aidan struggled to hold his balance after the attack, wobbling slightly on his left leg. He wiped a trickle of blood from his lips, glaring menacingly at the girl across from him.
"Why you…" He growled, taking his other sword in hand. "I'm going to kill you."
Kairi was frozen to the spot, too tired to move, and too paralyzed with fear to have done it even if she had the strength. The Imagi lunged at her, a loud roar erupting from his chest as he did so.
……………………
Auron was looking on helplessly.
I'm so sorry… Princess… I've failed you…
…………………….
Yuna pounded her fists on the pink wall that separated her from the battle.
"Kairi!" She screamed, all the while knowing there was nothing she could do…
……………………
"Kairi!"
Auron's head snapped up.
Yuna. If he didn't do something quickly, they would all be slaughtered. No… I won't let it happen again. What a fool I am… I refuse to fail again. I refuse…
The swordsman snapped free of the web that bound him, taking sword in hand and he rushed in front of Aidan, lifting Kairi into his arms.
But somehow…
Somehow he knew that he wouldn't get out of the way in time. He felt the cold tip of the blade plunge into his side, piercing through his lungs. Auron stumbled, but he held on to Kairi as tight as he could.
……………………
Hah. Another cliffhanger.
Because I'm somewhat discouraged by the hundreds of hits and only two reviews. C'mon, guys, I know you're reading… Right?
Bwah.
Even though, I'll keep writing no matter how many reviews I get.
Be glad I like this story.
Reviews?