Sorta sad chapter… Poor Auron.
-Lovely Catastrophe
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Chapter Nine: Auron Dies/Alice's Gift
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What? …Where am I? I'm supposed to be dead…
Kairi felt strong arms around her, and the faint scent of something alcoholic drifted around her a bit. The Princess opened her eyes and found herself being held by Auron. But something was off…
His eyes… he looks like…
She felt something warm on her arm… Kairi dared to glance…
Blood…? Oh no…
"Auron…?"
He gave her a faint smile, the first genuine one she had ever seen on his face.
"I can… rest now… Kick… kick his ass for me… won't you…?" He set Kairi on her feet, and slumped to the ground, Aidan pulling his sword from the fallen warrior's body.
The Princess took a step backwards, horrified. She had never… she hadn't ever had to watch someone die… right in front of her.
Aidan on the other hand was simply disgusted.
"Fool. What a mess… He wasn't supposed to die first. Now I have to wipe off my sword."
Kairi felt warm tears come to her eyes. He died for me. He ran in front of that blade so that I wouldn't be killed… The moisture began to trickle down her cheeks and she found herself shaking uncontrollably.
Not from sadness, butfrom rage.
She took two shaky steps forward, gripping the handle of Auron's sword. It was shoved into the ground in its resting position as it usually was. Aidan smirked at her.
"Pathetic girl… Do you really think you can wield that blade? And defeat me? You're… dreaming."
After the last word, the Imagi began to laugh evilly, and he turned his back to her, going to retrieve his other sword.
……………………
Yuna, Rikku, and Paine watched quietly from the other side of the barrier.
"She's crazy." Paine began, folding her arms against her chest. "Auron himself had trouble lifting that thing, and he was a master with it. Kairi won't even get it out of the ground…"
Rikku bit her lip, tugging on her cousin's arm.
"Do you think she's going to die, Yunie…?"
The Summoner shook her head, a confident smile on her face.
"No, Rikku. I think she's going to win."
Paine huffed, shaking her head.
"You're all crazy."
……………………
The Princess tugged fiercely at the weapon, determined to pull it out of the ground. But no matter how strong her anger was, she just couldn't free it. Kairi felt like crying again, until she felt a warm presence in her mind.
Kairi.
Auron?
Take up my sword and fight. To you I give my strength and heart. Guard both well, and use them wisely. Save these worlds from destruction, and send the nightmares back to the darkness.
But…
You have to be strong now. Take care, kid.
The warmth surged into her heart, where it burrowed directly into her being, as if it had become a part of her now. She felt renewed, and tried once more to lift the swordsman's weapon from the ground.
It slid out effortlessly, and she held it with both hands down at her side, eyes focused on Aidan.
The Imagi's ears pricked up as he felt her eyes on his back again. He picked up his other sword and turned to face her again. She could have sworn she saw surprise flash across his face for a split-second.
"Well, well—"
"Not so pathetic now, am I?" Kairi snapped, cutting him off. Fierce determination burned in her eyes and now SHE was the one to rush HIM.
Auron's colossal blade collided with both of Aidan's, and the Imagi was struggling to hold his balance. Inwardly, he was a string of profanity, and the mask of no emotion that he wore was shattered, replaced by panic.
What a blasted turn of events. I'm going to have to retreat… We will meet again, young Princess.
And with that, he disappeared, Kairi tumbling to the ground in a heap. Her first reaction was anger. She wanted so badly to…
Is this what wanting revenge feels like? It makes me kinda feel guilty… But…She began to cry, hanging on to Auron's sword for balance.
No one else will die for me. I swear it.I understand now what I have to do. I just wish… I just wish I had figured it out earlier…
As Kairi sniffled quietly, she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She knew who it was without even having to turn around. Embarrassed, she wiped her tears off with her arm, and stood to her feet. The owner of the hand slid her arms around Kairi's waist, and the Princess placed her hands over Yuna's, lacing their fingers together.
The Summoner sighed quietly, resting her chin on the taller girl's shoulder.
"It's gonna be alright, you know…"
"Yeah…"
I know.
……………………
They had found the Queen and her servants locked up in a room of the castle, bound with ropes. (The Queen had even been gagged, as Eileen grew tired of her constant shout: "OFF WITH YOUR HEADS!")
And, as Kairi untied the gag, she found she wasn't very fond of the Queen's voice either. The card people had to roll her off her behind and onto her feet, since her legs were too short for her to do that herself.
Then, without a word of thanks, she waddled down the hallway, card knights in tow.
"So much for gratitude." Paine mumbled, crossing her arms.
Kairi giggled, watching the round form of the Queen disappear around the corner. "Oh well. That's not what we're here for, anyways." But it feels like I'm forgetting something…
"Oh, you most certainly are, Miss Kairi."
"What?" The Princess blinked and looked around, causing the other three girls to stare at her as if she was crazy. I thought I heard a voice…
"You did! It was me!"A blonde-haired girl floated down from the ceiling, her descent eased by a purple umbrella. She landed gracefully on her feet, and held the umbrella at her side. The girl was wearing a blue dress with a white apron of sorts over that, and her eyes were just about as blue as her dress. She looked cartoonish, whimsical even, but Kairi felt as if she already knew her.
"Alice?"
"Oh, wonderful! You know who I am!" The girl clapped her hands excitedly. "That makes things a whole lot easier. The King was right when he said we were all connected, the seven of us."
Then it dawned on Kairi.
"You're a Princess of Heart too, aren't you? Just like me?"
"Yes, that's right. Alice of Wonderland. Or… I guess you could say, Alice IN Wonderland, because, I wasn't really born here. Oh, but that's beside the point. I have a gift for you, Miss Kairi."
Kairi blinked.
"A gift… for me?"
Alice giggled, nodding her head. "Yes, of course! You really are peculiar… Now, hold still for a moment."
Kairi began to feel that warm sensation again, like she had felt when Auron had given her his strength. Alice began to fade before her eyes, and she giggled again, smiling. Kairi fidgeted, a tad bit worried.
"Don't be frightened. I'm lending you my heart for a little while as you go on your journey. Take care of it, alright?"
With that, Alice disappeared completely from view. Kairi knew exactly where she was, though. Safe. With Auron. Thanks, Alice.
Rikku was watching with her jaw wide open. Of course, that was to be expected, since it wasn't every day people just up and disappeared. Paine shook her head, pushing the Al Bhed's mouth closed. Yuna was bouncing lightly on her heels, admiring the Princess, and not really paying much attention to anything else.
Kairi turned to them.
"You guys ready to go?"
The other three girls grinned, posing with their weapons.
"Y, R, P, ready for action!" They shouted at the same time, nodding their heads. Kairi tried not to laugh.
I think I'm gonna make it through this after all. With Rikku, and Paine… and Yuna… Alice and Auron, too. I'm not alone. And I never will be.
She grinned to herself.
This is gonna be one hell of an adventure.
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Sappy, sappy, sappy… well, basically, all chapters up till now have been the beginning of the story, really.
This one was kinda short. And maybe a little OOC. Crap.
But I'm tired.
New chapter tomorrow, maybe.
If I make it through violin lessons. XD