Things begin to unfold in this chapter, read carefully, and R&R as always! Thanks!
Disclaimer: Umm...I don't own the first 2/3 of the chapter, but I do own everything that happens.
Chapter 7
Panic
"Yer Majesty, don't mind me askin', but why're we down here again?" Goofy asked his King.
The small mouse, right after reading the Fake note to his companions, had told them to come with him to the Hall of the Cornerstone. "Well," the King began, "I want to check a theory I have. It concerns the worlds and may help us in understanding something that's been in my heart for a while now."
"Like what, your Majesty?" Donald's confusion was almost as strong as Goofy's now.
"Hmm…I guess…I guess I want to know…what Kingdom Hearts really is."
As expected, Donald and Goofy let out a collective gasp simultaneously, and then Goofy spoke. "But yer Majesty, the door to Kingdom Hearts can't be in the castle, could it?"
"I'm afraid it may be, Goofy. In fact," the King turned to look at Donald and Goofy, "if I'm correct in what I think, you've already been through it."
The rest of the walk to the throne room was completely silent. Goofy and Donald didn't want to doubt their King, but it seemed he wasn't telling them something. Gawrsh, he says we've been through the door to Kingdom Hearts, and it's here in the castle? Goofy thought.
"We're here," whispered the King. His voice was as squeaky as it had ever been, but there was a sense of fear in it. "Now, I want you guys to promise me something, but only if you mean it. Do you promise to follow me wherever I go and do as I say for the next few minutes?"
Donald and Goofy exchanged worried looks, then turned and saluted their King. If the King's afraid, maybe we should be too! Donald thought with dread.
The King, after opening the passageway that lay beneath his throne, lead his friends down into the depths of the castle, just as they had done not too long ago, on their last visit here. "Alright, now that we're down here I know we're safe for now."
"For now, your Majesty?" Donald sounded panicked at the King's words. "Whaddya mean, 'for now?'"
The King sighed and continued proceeding down the staircase without turning. "You guys have been down here, correct? Well according to the Queen, when you were here, the Hall of the Cornerstone was filled with thorns made by Maleficent, which you stopped by going into the past with Sora. Is that right so far?"
Donald and Goofy exchanged confused and then worried looks again. "Yeah, is something down there again, yer Majesty?" Goofy asked the King. "Because Maleficent disappeared with Pete into a swarm of Heartless not too long ago. There couldn't be more thorns!"
"No Goofy, this isn't about something new down there. It's just…" The King paused; the door to the Hall of the Cornerstone lay right in front of him. Cutting off his previous thought, he turned to his companions and asked them, "Are you two ready for whatever happens in here?" Again Donald and Goofy saluted, and again the door was opened.
Kurix and Xa'kiir had explored every inch of the library in Disney Castle, and still there was no trace of the King.
"Maybe he's left the castle?" Xa'kiir asked her companion.
"No, he wouldn't leave it completely unprotected. Something's wrong here, and I don't like it." Xehanort said he would know. "What if the King's already opened the Barrier? I mean, I know Tronahex would have told him how to, but I doubt the King would actually do it. Not unless…" Kurix glanced at something he hadn't seen before. "Not unless he knew there was a reason to."
"What is it?" Xa'kiir walked to where Kurix was pointing. Lying on the King's desk was a small note on a crumpled piece of paper.
My King, this is not the Real note. I've already sent the Real one to Destiny Islands. The Emptiness should be there by now. I can only hope the Keyblade wielders are safe and that my former comrades, the Chasers, do not get to them first. I'll contact you if something new arises. Xehanort is alive.
After reading the note twice, Xa'kiir turned to the back and read the letter addressed to the Keyblade Masters.
"So their King knows everything now," said Xa'kiir with an air of depression. She quickly slumped to the floor and stared at nothing in particular. "What's the point? If their King knows about the Emptiness AND the Barrier, we can't defeat him."
"Not necessarily." Kurix flashed a quick smile and examined the note again. "I think I know who sent the note, and if so, I know how to stop this before it gets out of hand for Master."
"Really? Who wrote it?"
"I think it was Tronahex. Who else would it be? Who else knows not only about the Emptiness and the Barriers, but also calls him 'My King?' And if it was Tronahex, all we need to do is cut him off before he finds these Keyblade Masters."
"Why can't they know?"
"Don't you see, Xa'kiir? If Sora and Riku find out about the Barrier, they'll use it to stop us! They may even attempt to stop Xehanort! No, Sora and Riku can't know about the Barrier. It's the one thing that keeps us ahead of them and the King, and if the King already knows, he's surely on his way to…" Kurix stopped short with a look of panic on his face.
"What's the matter, Kurix?"
"Hurry, come with me!" Kurix grabbed Xa'kiir by the arm and sprinted out of the library as fast as he could. The King knows.
Oooh, suspense! lol Next chapter will be up soon!