Chapter 10 When Help Arrives
Things are looking grim for our hero now
He has to free himself but he doesn't know how
Meanwhile, a young girl is dragged into the mess
For what reason, I'm afraid to say, I must confess
With Mickey in a bind and his doom around the bend
It's time for help from an old friend…
Mickey struggled against his captors as one tied his hands together. He wished he had more tricks up his sleeve but he used them all in escaping the previous times he and his friends got caught. He didn't plan on being taken prisoner tonight. He didn't plan on his friends getting possessed by ghosts. He also didn't plan on getting captured and dragged back into the Asian Wonders room. Where he knew he's not going to like what Nexus had planned for him. Mickey winced as he was roughly escorted towards an artifact on the other side of the room far from all exits. As he walked, Mickey felt around in his pockets in hopes he can find something useful. He only found his key set. His eyes widen as he remembered what was on the keyring.
A Keyblade.
What he thought was a trinket had gave him an idea and he started to remember his days as a Keyblade Wielder as well as a connection with another. He wished can contact him and his friends for help but his phone is not in his pocket. He dropped it somewhere.
Mickey jumped when Nexus turned to him.
"You know. You're very lucky. You get to be home to royalty just like your girlfriend."
Mickey felt his blood boil. He really hated this guy.
"I'm sure the spells you cast wouldn't last forever." Mickey said. "They have to break sometime."
Nexus frowned. He knew the mouse was right but was not too worried. So he said.
"That's true; my incantations will break at dawns' first light. And I do need something to make all this last forever."
"What's that?" Mickey asked as he was taken to a jade platform and held there.
"The blood of a pure heart." Nexus answered. "And your dog friend just found the perfect person and is being her here as we speak. Now say good bye to your free will."
Mickey swallowed. Thing are getting worse.
"Guys, come on…ahh."
Riku winced as he felt the familiar throbbing throughout his being. He just found Sora after he disappeared due to abusing the Power of Waking to revive Kairi a few months ago and this was their first Halloween celebration together on the Destiny Islands. Riku thought Sora's choice of costumes for the party on the beach was bad but sensing there's trouble else where after their last adventure was worse. Riku was dressed like the wolf man. Torn jeans, button down shirt, fake fur to make him look like he was in mid transformation and clawed gloves. He was sure Sora was joking when he picked it out but didn't ask about it. Sora was annoying but funny in his own way. He just got a message from his friend King er Mickey Mouse, whom he hadn't talked to in a while, and was trying to get Sora and Kairi away from the candy collecting long enough to tell them what's going on to no avail. He was to try again when the throbbing sensation came back again.
"Riku, this sorcerer Nexus needs the blood of a pure heart to make his magic permanent. You must hurry!"
"I'm trying but Sora and Kairi won't listen."
"Try again and remember I'm on Earth."
The throbbing stopped. Riku gritted his teeth and went to find the two love birds he called them. He found them getting candy from Tidus's home and were about to move on when they saw him.
"Hey Riku." Sora greeted. He was dressed like a demon. "I thought you didn't want to trick or treat."
"Yeah, what made you change your mind?" Kairi asked. She was dressed like a warrior princess.
"We have to get to the Gummi Ship."
"You're that still?" Sora asked. "Joke's over, Riku."
"It's not a joke!" Riku said losing his patience. "Mickey really needs help. He said a sorcerer that's holding him captive needs the blood of a pure heart to make his curse permanent."
Kairi's and Sora's eyes widen. This was not a joke.
"What's the curse for?" Kairi asked as they headed to the Gummi ship Riku summoned recently.
"Mickey didn't tell me. But I'm sure it's bad."
"Bad as in summoning heartless?" Sora asked as he took the controls.
"Bad as in who knows." Riku said as he punched in the coordinates.
"What are you…" Sora protest.
"Mickey is located on a world called Earth." Riku explained. "We never travelled there before.
"A new world?" Kairi said. She never travelled as much as Sora or Riku did. "Sound exciting."
"Let's find out." Sora said as they left Destiny Islands behind.
While travelling through the in between, Riku took out his Gummiphone and tried contacting Mickey and the other Keyblade Wielders but with no success. Just as well, they were celebrating elsewhere. Twilight town, Halloween Town and so on. Why would Mickey celebrate the holiday on another world instead at Disney Castle? Riku typed Earth in the search engine to learn more about it. How it was mostly ocean dotted with green land called continents separate into what is called countries, states or provinces and clouds. This world is strange.
"We're here."
Riku head shot up when Sora voice got his attention. He got up from his seat and looked out the window.
There is was. The world called Earth just as pictured on his Gummiphone.
Riku stowed his phone before telling Sora where to teleport them to. Once they arrived, they looked around to see they were standing in a dimly lit room.
"Is this the right place?" Kairi asked.
Riku looked at the screen on his Gummiphone.
" Says this is where Mickey and his friends are." He answered. "But not where they're located in the mansion."
"Let's spilt up." Sora said as he summoned his Keyblade. "Meet back here in an hour."
Kairi and Riku nodded and summoned their Keyblades.
Sora went north, Kairi went west while Riku went south. Riku found nothing but rooms filled with strange statues and other items he's never seen before. Must be from the 'countries' of this world. He thought as he exit a room and walked down another hallway. They all look the same it was driving him crazy. Riku entered another room and was greeted with more statues.
"Nothing." He said in frustration. "I'll just..huh?"
Riku was about to retrace his steps when he heard something. He hid behind a statue near the door and watch as the shadows on the wall in the hall got closer to the room he was in. Riku did not expect what happened next. He saw what looked like one of Mickey's friends dressed as a pirate was dragging a girl into the room. Something was wrong.
"Goofy?" Riki whispered as he realized who it was.
Something was wrong. Goofy was never like this. Why is he dragging that girl around against her will? Riku turned his attention to the girl.
She was around his age with long reddish-brown hair done up in half-pigtails held with black flower ties. She wore a black dress with bell sleeves and dark blue trim and a diadem with a dark blue jewel in the centre, black wings, black make up and holding a staff in her hand.
Riku shook his head as he swore she had dark blue cat eyes. It's a costume he reminded himself as he got ready to jump into action. He didn't want to fight Goofy but when he saw his red eyes, he had no choice. He has to save that girl. His heart tugged a bit as she whimpered while entering the room.
"Let go of me!" She said. "What are you doing?"
"Taking you to the Master." The possessed dog answered. "Now stop struggling!"
"Let go!"
Pirate Goofy snorted in annoyance before reaching for the girl's other arm. Before he could restrain her, she quickly pulled away and freed herself. Goofy growled.
"That was a mistake."
"So was dragging me in here!"
Goofy snarled and tried to grab her again.
"No!"
Before Riku could react, the girl pulled her hand back and hit Goofy hard in the chest. Riku's eyes widen as Goofy howled in pain and a shadowy figure flew out of his body. The creature screeched and disappeared into thin air. The girl watched as Goofy collapsed to the floor.
"Ok, what just happened?"
"That's my question."
The girl turned to see a young man with silver hair dressed like a werewolf while holding what looked like…a Keyblade?"
"Um…have I seen you before?" The girl asked.
The silver haired man winced when he saw her fangs. It's a costume he remained himself.
"I'm sorry." He said. "I just don't know what I just saw."
"Me either." She said. "I know Goofy doesn't behave this way and…wha?"
She turned to see Goofy was now dressed in a court jester outfit.
"Now I don't feel good."
Riku dropped his Keyblade, which disappeared in a flash of light, to catch the girl who was about to collapse.
"Stay with me." He said as he pulled her close.
"I don't know what happened." She said about to cry.
"Listen."
Riku cupped her face with one hand and gently brought her gaze up to his.
"You didn't do anything wrong. I don't know what's going on but I'm not leaving your side understand?"
The girl nodded. Her eyes were blue and catlike but he could see fear in them. Changing the subject, Riku asked.
"Do you know where Mickey is?"
The girl fingered the orb on her staff nervously before answering.
"Mickey Mouse? He was on the first group that disappeared on the Haunted Artifact Tour."
Riku gritted his teeth in frustration. That was not what he wanted to hear. Before he could ask anymore questions, he heard footsteps in the hallway.
"Riku!"
Riku sighed when he realized who it was. Sora and Kairi entered the room Keyblades armed and ready.
"There you are." Sora said. "We got worried when you didn't show up so…who's she?"
Riku looked down at the girl in his arms. He didn't get her name.
"Call me StarGazer for now." The girl said. "At least until we're out of here."
"There's no need to be scared." Kairi said. "You're among friends."
"But I don't think it's safe yet." StarGazer said. "Goofy here can't…"
"Goofy's here?" Sora said. "Where is he?"
"What do you…?"
StarGazer turned to see the unconscious dog was gone.
"…mean? He was right there."
A loud crash echoed from the other side of the room followed by a familiar yell. The group followed the noise to find Goofy sitting on the floor rubbing his head in pain. Next to him were broken pieces of a statue.
"Oww…that hurt."
"Goofy!"
Sora ran over and hugged his injured friend.
"Are you ok? Where's Donald and Mickey?"
Goofy return the hug before saying.
"My head hurts a little and as far as the others are, I don't know."
Sora help the dog off the floor. Once he regain his balance, Goofy's attention fell onto StarGazer who looked at him nervously.
"Oh gwash! I'm so sorry!" Goofy said with regret. "I didn't…"
"Please Goofy. I know you weren't yourself." StarGazer said trying to hide her fangs. "Someone is ruining Halloween and I don't know why."
"I think I do." Goofy said.
"You do?" Kairi asked.
"When I was possessed, I heard the spirit mention this is the night."
"This is the night?" Riku repeated. "The night for what?"
"When ghosts and demons from the beyond walk the Earth." Goofy answered. "But not all of them can come here and stay on their own. So…"
"They need hosts in order to cross over and remain." StarGazer finished.
Everyone turn to her.
"I read."
"Ok,ahhh…"
"Riku!"
The silver haired Keyblade master leaned against the wall as he felt the familiar throbbing sensation spread throughout his body again.
"Riku."
"Yes, where are you?"
"I'm in the Asian Wonders room. It's next to the Davey Jones room. Hurry!"
Riku sighed as the connection severed again.
"Riku, you ok?" Sora asked.
"I know where Mickey is." Riku said as he regained to his composure.
"He's in the Asian Wonders room."
"I know where that is." Sora said. "I passed by it a while back. Follow me."
Thank you Mr. superhero and mr awesome for the idea to use Kingdom Hearts characters. See you next time.