Chapter 14 – Minibossa Nova Baby, Part II

Sora's life drained out of him, bit by bit, screech by screech. The world around him faded out, almost in slow motion. The Ice Princess's voice—and nothing else—took its place. Nothing remained but that hideous cry. He couldn't even see Mira anymore. Nothing could break through the smothering wall of sound that filled Sora's head until his consciousness was a mere specter of its former self.

Nothing, until a warning siren went off in Sora's head.

Bwah, bwah, bwah, bwah!

Sora's head pounded harder with every bleat, but he found himself able to move ever so slightly.

Bwah, bwah!

The siren didn't stop. Sora's approach toward death, however, did. Hayden Panettiere's spell broke the instant an even more grating sound began to compete with it.

"Sora's hurt!" Donald shouted. "Quick, Goofy, get him a cure potion!"

"No," said Sora.

"Sora," Donald insisted, "you know that siren means you're almost dead. If we don't cure you, then…" Donald gulped and slashed his index finger across his throat.

"Don't do it, Donald," said Sora. "I'll be fine. Just get Mira to safety. Goofy, help me take this witch down!"

With a flick of his wrist, Sora summoned the Keyblade into his hands, and he charged. The Ice Princess ducked to her left to avoid being struck in the face Sora's weapon, but she didn't have the agility necessary to stay a step ahead of Sora. Her punishment for her sluggishness was a one-two-three combo.

Goofy met the battle from the other side, plowing into he Ice Princess with his shield. She staggered back, dazed. Sora seized the opportunity to hit her in the mouth again. This time, he heard a crack and another shriek. Then, Hayden Panettier fell silent.

"We sure shut her up, huh?" Goofy went into his basic victory dance.

"She's not dead," said Donald. "I think you just broke her teeth."

"My mom always told me not to swing heavy objects around like that," said Sora. "She knew I'd end up hurting someone. I guess she was right after all."

"Mmphrgh," was all the Ice Princess could managed for a retort.

"She won't be torturing anybody with her singing anytime soon, hyuck," said Goofy. "No siree."

"Wait," said Sora. He pointed his Keyblade at their defeated foe. "I get the feeling this isn't over yet."

"You mean it's another one of them two part fights?" Goofy assumed a combat stance again.

"I think so," said Sora.

Creeping, twisting, almost liquid shadows engulfed Hayden Panettiere. In silence, she raised her arms above her head, and the shadows swirling around her rose into a black, smoky column. That column grew in height, radius, and opaqueness until it filled most of the middle of the room. It rotated faster and faster and grew darker and darker, and then two purple tendrils crept out from the perimeter. These split at the ends and turned into what looked like shadowy hands. The main body of the column thinned out and vanished. In its place stood a monster, two stories tall, like something out of a nightmare.

"Moloch!" said Sora.

"You know him?" said Donald. "You know, I'd rather you didn't introduce us."

"I saw him in a dream," said Sora. "I saw him kill Mira."

"Sora!" said Mira. "Watch out. I've seen him before, too. Same place. He's been haunting my sleep here, and I think he's bad news."

"You think he's bad news?" Donald stomped his feet and squawked up a storm. "What else could he look like? Do you think he's here to bring flowers and candy to all the little children? He's a Heartless!"

"I am not a Heartless," Moloch said. "I am, indeed, a nightmare. An ancient god from this world, my worship long since abandoned by all but a few humans. Those familiar with this world's history may know me just as a god, but I have been many things. In recent decades, the rock music industry has been a perfect cover for me, with plenty of eager, young, delicious souls flocking to me, only to be devoured. I've found good work as a music producer, a singer, and as the personal assistant to the queen of this world. And now, I shall make you my new esteemed sacrifi—ouch!"

Sora struck the creature's foot with his Keyblade.

"S-stop that!" Moloch whimpered. "You're not supposed to attack me while I'm talking. It's a rule of chivalry."

"Is eating young girls also a rule of chivalry?" Sora asked as he continued his assault. "You're a remorseless fiend."

"I'm just trying to get by," said Moloch. "But now I see I'm going to have to take you runts seriously."

"Uh huh," Sora said. He punctuated his reply with a combo finisher. The force of the Keyblade on Moloch's foot knocked the creature off balance.
"Tiiiiiimber!" said Donald.

Moloch landed on his back, and Sora, Donald, and Goofy immediately went to work on his head. Mira stood back and admired the efficiency with which the trio could dispatch a creature so terrifying. She didn't have long to think, though. The fight ended in under a minute, and Moloch faded from the world, forever.

"No sweat," said Sora. "On to find this Yoko Ono character."

"That was amazing," Mira said, and she held her arms open, inviting a hug.

Donald obliged. "It was nothing."

Mira could only blush and stare at Sora.