Blossom Hearts- Chapter 7

A whole new world… -Aladdin (a universally applicable quote for this fanfic, I think) Here's Agrabah, a little bit twisted. And no, I don't own it.

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Two figures walked through a deserted street market with sinister intentions. Maleficent looked back at her statuesque companion, her expression neutral and condescending as always. "And this world's blossom?" she inquired.

A tall spindly man sneered at the hot desert sun before replying, " My Thorns are searching for it as we speak."

"Good."

"I am certain we will find it soon," Jafar continued. "So that just leaves…"

A loud multi colored bird squawked and flew in for a landing on Jafar's shoulder. "…Iago," Jafar finished with a drawl.

"Jafar!" the bird screeched, "Prince Aladdin has disappeared like magic."

"Agrabah is full of holes for street-rats to hide in," Jafar spat. He turned back to Maleficent. "Why worry about the vexatious prince? Without him, surely this world will be ours after the blossom seal is found."

"We need all seven Princes of Bloom to open the final seal," Maleficent replied coolly. "Any fewer is useless."

"Very well," Jafar returned, admitting defeat. "If the Prince is that important, we will find him." With a wave of his hand, the evil vizier summoned several Thorns, each carrying a sharp curved blade. "Find Prince Aladdin," he ordered. The Thorns disappeared back into the black portal they had surfaced from.

Maleficent gave Jafar a mildly curious glance. "Don't steep yourself in darkness too long," she warned. "Thorns can overpower the careless ones."

Jafar laughed arrogantly, ignoring the witch's advice. "Your concern is touching," he replied indifferently, " but hardly necessary."

Behind the two conversing villains, a market stall filled with rolled up rugs housed a runaway prince. Aladdin listened to the conversation, not daring to move, keeping his dark-haired head beneath the counter. The only movement was his clenched fist, fury silently directed towards Maleficent and Jafar. In his other hand, the young prince clutched a tarnished gold lamp.

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Aerith was the first to step daintily out of the green portal when she, Sora, and Kairi arrived. She glanced around and sighed, relieved. "It seems like each path between worlds gets more and more difficult," she exclaimed.

"And you were only watching," Kairi returned, smoothing her pink skirt. "I think my hands are about to fall off."

Sora came through and almost tripped over a large clay vase. "Where are we?" he asked.

Aerith looked around the storage room, taking in the stowed merchandise. "I don't know, but it's very warm here." She cautiously opened the door and immediately squinted at the bright sun.

Her dark auburn hair shone in the sun as the flower girl stepped out into the open square. Sora and Kairi followed, keyblades handy. "I think we're in a city of some sort, Sora," Aerith said, green eyes wide. She looked down at the sand. "A desert city."

There were two archways- one leading outside the city, and another leading to the center. Kairi chose the one leading inward and pointed. "Let's go that way."

Soon they came to the deserted square that had previously been occupied by Maleficent and Jafar. Aerith turned in a slow circle as she walked, taking in the different feel of the world, when suddenly a voice rang out.

"Who's there?"

A head popped up from behind a rug stall. Kairi and Sora took out their weapons, but Aerith just walked forward, curious. "And you are?" she asked.

The figure carefully stepped over the counter, not wanting to get the cream colored pants he wore dusty. He hopped on one foot to regain balance, juggling a small lamp. "Heh heh," he laughed nervously, straightening his purple vest and small red cap. "I'm Aladdin; my father's the sultan of Agrabah." A small monkey peered out from behind his leg and punched Aladdin on the back of the knee. "And this is Abu," Aladdin said, smacking the pet lightly. The monkey stepped forward to Aerith and, bowing low, took her hand to kiss it.

"Pleased to meet you," Aerith giggled back.

"So you're a Prince, then," Kairi stated. Aladdin nodded in return.

"I don't really look the part right now," he said, pointing to the patch on his pants, "but I really am. I just sometimes dress as a commoner to escape the pressures of palace life," he added quickly, with a smile. "You see some really cool things and…really…pretty…people." His eyes glazed over for a second and Sora had to wave to get his attention.

"Pretty 'people', huh. Sounds like he's head over heels for someone."

The introductions were disturbed by a foreboding cackle. Aladdin whirled around to see Jafar, waving his staff behind him to summon several Thorns. "Jafar," he muttered.

The vizier bowed mockingly, an ever-present sneer on his face. "Ah, Prince Aladdin," he drawled. "I was just thinking about you…my, those are…'lovely' rags you're wearing."

Aerith squeezed her empty hand and when she reopened it, the Bloomstaff was there. Sora and Kairi discreetly summoned their own weapons. Jafar just laughed again and continued. "Please, Prince Aladdin, allow me to find you more suitable company than those street-rats…including your little Jasmine."

"Aladdin," Aerith hissed, "Go hide again." But the young Prince just got out a curved blade of his own, shaking his head in refusal.

"It'll be worse in the long run if they get you," Kairi said out of the corner of her mouth. Aladdin still refused to budge. Kairi sighed. "Think of Jasmine," she tried; not knowing who Jasmine was at all.

Aladdin hesitated and Sora saw this. "Go hide and then we'll all find her in a second," he said. The Prince finally agreed and whispered to Aerith where they could find him after the battle. When he was gone, Aerith turned her attention back to Jafar.

"So you are the girl who holds the Bloomstaff," Jafar mused. "It's a pleasure." And then he disappeared into a dark portal, leaving behind some Thorns for the three to fight.

Sora and Kairi slammed their keyblades together, making a bright white beam come out of the end, annihilating half of the competition. Aerith threw the Bloomstaff so that it spun in the air, knocking out two more Thorns. It returned like a boomerang, and smashed into another creature on the return. Seeing Sora surrounded, she cast a cure spell on him and ran over to help, while Kairi cast fire on another group.

Sora was becoming greatly outnumbered when from above, a blur dropped down to help, taking out some Thorns with him. Aladdin grinned. "Did you really think I'd leave you guys? Jafar's gone, so I'm helping."

He and Sora, with Aerith's help, defeated the final few Thorns and soon the square was once again empty but for them.

"Come with me," Aladdin said, motioning towards another plaza.

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"It's not much, but it's got a great view."

Aerith peered out the window to see a lovely view of the palace, with the sun shining behind it. "It's gorgeous," she said sincerely.

Sora glanced at the assorted things lying around the makeshift home, noticing several-probably stolen-perfumes. "Is this your place?" he asked Aladdin.

The Prince rubbed his neck in return. "It's actually Jasmine's, but she won't mind. It's her pet you have to watch out for- Rajah's vicious. I actually thought she'd be up here…"

Kairi noticed a rug in the corner and walked closer, reaching out a hand to touch it. To her surprise, it started moving and tugging. Kairi jumped, startled, and Aladdin laughed. "Don't worry," he reassured, "It's just a magic carpet."

"Maybe it knows where Jasmine went," Sora offered.

Aerith noticed that the carpet's corner was stuck beneath a small chest of drawers and she ran over to move the furniture off. The carpet waved a tassel at her as though in salute, making the flower girl chuckle, and then it flew through the air, weaving around Aladdin. It waved a tassel at the prince, and then flew swiftly out the window towards the desert, pausing once to motion back at them.

"I like it," Sora said after a pause.

"We should probably follow it," Kairi suggested. "Let's go outside the city now."

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Aerith swiped her forehead. Once they had left the city, it seemed like the temperature had risen. There were a couple palm trees that provided some shade, but she wouldn't be staying there long.

The magic carpet swooped low and created three little steps by folding himself. Aladdin hopped on and motioned for the other three to follow suit.

"Where will it take us?" asked Aerith.

"Probably to the Cave of Wonders." Sora hopped on and gave Kairi a lift as Aladdin pulled Aerith on. The carpet took off quickly, leaving Abu to desperately cling to a tassel behind them.

The flight went by quickly and soon the group arrived to a more reclusive part of the desert, where the dark glow of the sun made the sand look purple and mysterious. But Aerith barely had time to notice before she was jolted alert by Aladdin's cry.

"Jasmine!"

There was a diminishing speck of light brown, half buried by sand and completely surrounded by Thorns. A fierce tiger was clawing at all of them- Aerith assumed it to be the Rajah that Aladdin had mentioned.

They ran forward and attacked the creatures, swords clashing with loud metallic blows. Jasmine still kept sinking further as Sora tried to help Aladdin pull her out, with Kairi protecting them. The Thorns just kept coming and distracting the three of them, and soon the odds were very much against them.

Aladdin reached into a pocket and pulled out the tarnished lamp, rubbing it furiously as Thorns fought around him "Genie, get rid of these guys!" the young Prince yelled.

With a flurry of blue and magenta and yellow sparks, the Thorns began popping away rapidly, disappearing into the colored smoke.

"Aaaaaaand wish numbah one is OUT!" A flamboyant voice echoed throughout the deserted area.

"Who is this?" asked Sora, staring at the blue face that was staring back at him with wide and humorous eyes, poking a light blue finger into his shoulder repeatedly.

Jasmine laughed. Her dark eyes brightened and she brushed off the slightly worn, patchy brown dress she wore, shrugging a piece of black hair over her shoulder. "That's Genie."

"Legend has it," Aladdin began, "that whoever holds this lamp-"

The big blue character, polishing one of his golden wrist cuffs, groaned obnoxiously. "Please, kid, leave the intros to the professional! I am-" he grew several feet tall, "the one and only GENIE OF THE LAMP!" He poofed over beside Kairi and whispered loudly in her ear. "Rub a dub dub the lamp, and then you get three wishes." He finally ended up back beside Aladdin, clapping the young Prince on the back. "And today's winner is this lucky royal."

"Any wish?" asked Kairi.

"Well, there are a few rules, some restrictions and all that jazz, but mainly you get any three wishes! And then I make like a banana and split. So, master, what'll wish number two be?"

Aladdin rubbed his chin thoughtfully, glancing over at Jasmine. "How about making her a princess?" he offered. "Then the stupid law wouldn't matter." Jasmine flushed a little bit, flattered. Rajah, the large tiger, sauntered over and collapsed at her feet, purring slightly.

"Let's put it on hold for now," Jasmine said kindly, pausing Genie's showy preparations. "We should get back to Agrabah." She turned and smiled at Aladdin. "It's nice of you to think about that sort of wish."

Sora rolled his eyes. "If you make him go all goofy and glazed over, we won't get back." Kairi flicked his ear. "Ow!"

Aerith swooped down to their level, already ready on the magic carpet. "Let's go."

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"Ahh…fresh air feels oh so nice!" Genie exclaimed. Aerith, Kairi, Jasmine and Aladdin were on the carpet with Rajah (who Genie had shrunk to kitten size) and Abu (who stayed as far from the mini tiger as possible, scowling at Aladdin and Jasmine). Genie had taken a liking to Sora, and so the spiky brunette teen sat on his shoulders, grinning like a child.

"I guess you don't get out much," Aerith stated questioningly.

"Comes with the job," Genie replied. "PHENOMENAL COSMIC POWERS…itty bitty living space. Three wishes, and I'm back in the lamp. I get lucky if I see the light of day twice in one century…"

"What if I wished you free?" Aladdin offered.

Genie's eyes became wide and he darted forward, almost making Sora fall off. "You'd do that?" he asked eagerly. Aladdin nodded.

"It's a promise, after we get rid of Jafar."

Kairi pointed to the horizon, where the city's silhouette began to take shape. "Almost there!" she said.

"What exactly does Jafar want?" Jasmine inquired.

Aerith hesitated. "It's a long story," she said. She looked over toward Kairi to silently ask whether or not she was meddling. Kairi gave a nod of approval and began the story for her.

"You know those creatures that attacked us?" the redhead said.

"The ones summoned by Jafar?"

"Yes." Kairi adjusted her seating. "They are looking for something special that's in this world- something that represents the bloom at the center of this world's heart."

Genie's ears perked and he swooped closer. "I think I've heard something about that…goodness, it's only been two hundred years or so…" The magic being was uncharacteristically quiet.

The carpet landed outside the entrance to the city, waiting there in case they would have to return to the Cave again. The group went inside, heading towards the center of the city where, it seemed, Jafar had been waiting with a sneer. Aerith stopped short and immediately summoned her staff, Sora and Kairi following suit. The shifted so that they were more in front of Aladdin, blocking him from Jafar.

"Why are you after Aladdin, and Squall, and Hercules and whoever else?" Kairi yelled.

"That's our business, nosy infant." Jafar waved his staff towards Jasmine. "Setting your sights a little high, aren't you?" Rajah growled, but a tendril of red energy shot towards him and the poor tiger was a small kitten again. "Hahaha…valiant effort. Well, my dear," the beam of energy wrapped itself around Jasmine, "You will be bothering the Prince no longer." He pulled the girl in towards him quickly and had grasped her firmly, an arm around her throat.

Sora rushed forward, slashing his keyblade in the air furiously, his strong sense of justice taking over. "Let her go!"

Aladdin, although more angry than Sora, hung back and pulled the lamp silently from his pocket. "Genie," he whispered, "Help Jasmine, please!"

In a sudden display of blue smoke and magic, the Genie startled Jafar by surfacing right next to him and plucking Jasmine from the vizier's grasp. "One wish left, Al."

Aladdin was so caught up in his relief, he missed the stealthy beat of wings behind him, and didn't notice the claws that briefly brushed his hand.

Jafar cackled. "I'm afraid your second wish has been denied." Iago, in a cocky manner, flapped over to the vizier and dropped the lamp into Jafar's bony outstretched hand.

Jafar waited as Aladdin broke past Sora and Kairi to rush forward. Good…come a little closer…His sneer grew into a full-blown evil smile. Aerith saw this and reached an arm out. "Aladdin, it's a trap!"

Over twenty Thorns stepped out from the shadows behind Jafar and surrounded the unsuspecting Prince, ambushing him all at once and disappearing in a swell of darkness, taking Aladdin with them.

Jasmine gasped, not only because Genie had dropped her, but because Aladdin was gone.

"Why are they doing this?" she cried, burying her face into her hands.

"We'll get him back, no worries," Sora promised.

"Just go to your house and stay safe," Kairi began, "and then-"

"No, I'm coming with you," Jasmine replied stolidly. "Jafar is probably at the Cave of Wonders right now." She knelt and picked up the now-tiny Rajah. She smiled down at the tiger. "He was a gift from Aladdin, actually…" she trailed off.

Aerith grabbed her arm gently and motioned towards the desert. "Let's go," she said. "There's no way we're letting them take another."

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Jafar stood, tossing an unconscious Aladdin unceremoniously onto the ground, much to Maleficent's utter delight. Beside the witch, placed in the center of the room, was a large statue, where a massive red ruby was placed as the focus of the room. And from behind that statue peered a pair of big, round eyes. Abu.

"My first wish, Genie," Jafar spoke, eyes blazing with excitement. "Show the blossom seal to this world."

The reluctant Genie carelessly poked his finger at the ruby in the statue's hold, wherethe jewellifted up and began shining even brighter.

It wasn't long after Maleficentnoddedtoher fellow villain when Aerith entered the great open chamber. The flower girl felt the Bloomstaff practically buzzing in her hand as she clicked out the spikes, facing Jafar with a cold emerald glare. The ruby behind him went unnoticed.

"That girl again?" inquired the witch.

"She is more determined than I had originally surmised," Jafar answered. "Perhaps I could use a helping hand- that girl Tifa, for instance?"

"Are you Maleficent?" Aerith shouted. "Where are all the people you've taken?"

Without a word, Maleficent disappeared back into the portal she had come from.

"Let Aladdin go!" Jasmine ordered. Jafar just laughed in return- it was a hideous sound.

"The odds are slim," he scoffed. "You see, this annoying prince is one of seven- the Princes of Bloom. And these seven hold the key to opening the door." He regarded them arrogantly. "But I don't have to explain myself to a bunch of sniveling brats."

"Open the door?" Kairi repeated, wondering. Sora furrowed his brow.

"You fools won't live to see it," Jafar continued. He jeered at the group. "Genie, my second wish! Crush them!"

"Genie, don't!" Sora yelled.

The sky colored being shrugged sadly. "Sorry, Sora, I don't have a choice! The one with the lamps calls the shots, I'm just a genie." He charged at them. "You'd better duck now!"

Jasmine ran towards Aladdin, setting down Rajah for the moment. "Aladdin, Aladdin, please!" She shook his shoulders. "Wake up!"

"He's not going to. He's coming with us."

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Aerith charged at Jafar, swirling her staff until it connected with the vizier's own snakelike pole. Rolling to avoid the red energy attack, she landed on her back, where Genie smacked her, a horrified look on his face.

"I'm so sorry! Oh goodness- duck!"

Kairi sent a round of fire bursts at the sorcerer, making him lift off the ground and propel to the other side of the cast chamber. She turned as Jafar flew away, shooting blasts that came just behind him as he fled. While the redhead turned, she glimpsed someone familiar on the main platform, where Aladdin lay and Jasmine stood.

"Sora!" she yelled, pointing. The brunette looked up from his dodging of the Genie and saw the platform too. He took off towards Aerith.

After Kairi caught the villain on the run, Aerith slammed Jafar with an ice attack, leaving him open for a quick combination of slicing attacks, which left the vizier no other choice but to flee again, like he had done with Kairi. She felt Sora's hand turn her around towards the platform.

The flower girl gasped. "Tifa!"

Jafar was breathing heavily, hanging on his staff as though his legs would collapse beneath him. He slowly pulled the lamp from his pocket, watching as the Genie kept on bouncing back from each attack. "Genie!" he wheezed. "My final wish- to be an all powerful Genie!"

The ground shook beneath Sora and Kairi as the rock started to give way to a pit of lava beneath them. Sora grabbed the redhead, trying to avoid the fall, but the two tumbled down together, landing hard onto a stone platform, watching in horror as a blood red genie rose above them.

"Not good…"

Tifa had almost hoisted Aladdin- he was almost as heavy as Squall- onto her shoulder when Aerith ran forward.

"Well hello again," the burgundy eyed girl began coldly. "How's life with the Bloomstaff?"

"Why are you doing this, Tif?" Aerith asked. "Did you take Squall too?"

The dark haired girl didn't answer, instead motioning to the limp form of Jasmine. "Do you want to end up like her?"

Aerith narrowed her eyes, angry that her friend could have done something so wrong. "That doesn't answer my question. Where have you been? Why did you leave in Traverse Town?"

"Why have you replaced me?" Tifa asked sharply in return.

"Who could have made you think that?" Aerith grasped the wall for balance as the ground shook suddenly. She heard Jafar call out his wish and gritted her teeth.

Tifa summoned a portal of darkness behind her, much to Aerith's shock. "Tifa, come back."

"I can't."

Aerith walked forward. "You can always come back. You know that." Tifa's eyes burned with regret and she took a step toward her friend.

"Ahhh!"

Aerith turned her head sharply to see Sora and Kairi fall with the rubble out of sight. "Guys!" she cried.

You see? It's just as I said. She simply replaced you with new friends.

Tifa turned her head. "Go for the lamp," she said softly. "He's a Genie, he's gonna have one. Trap him." And she left.

Aerith whirled around in surprise, wanting to stop her friend, but didn't. And she had taken Aladdin with her. Aerith felt herself get increasingly furious until finally, in a mood that Cloud was more prone to get in, she punched the wall. "I let another one go," she muttered. "I promised Meg, and now Jasmine…"

"Aerith! We could use some help down here!"

The flower girl was snapped out of her angry state, and, after a quick cure spell on Jasmine, she jumped down into the cavern after her friends.

Jafar rose before them, carrying fire in the palms of his enormous hands- hands shackled by the same gold bands as the Genie's. Tifa had been right.

"Go for the lamp!" she yelled.

Iago squawked by, carrying in his talons the ebony lamp. Sora leapt after him, but the bird flew too high. Kairi climbed onto a higher platform, trying to whack at it with her keyblade, but Iago just kept going up. In desperation, Aerith threw her Bloomstaff at the pesky bird. She missed, and the Bloomstaff reappeared in her hand, still vibrating violently. The seal must be nearby…

Iago chuckled as he flew out of the pit that the heroes were stuck in. "Suckers…"

What the bird had not planned for was the timely attack of a monkey and a tiger. Feathers and claws flew, and before long Abu had escaped the squabble with a black eye- but also the treasured item. Hurriedly, the monkey scampered over towards the awakening Jasmine, holding out his prize and motioning to her what should be done with it. The dark eyed girl nodded with a smile and picked up the lamp, running towards the pit.

Sora gritted his teeth as he held Aerith and Kairi under an arm, trying to shield them from the heat. They were pinned down behind one of the raised platforms, sitting ducks as Jafar threw burning rock after burning rock at them. If he were any taller, the flames would singe his hair. As it was now, the three of them were sweating already. He leaned his head back against the stone, racking his brain for any sort of plan.

Jafar had used up his wishes- where was the Genie's lamp? He roved the area with deep blue eyes and saw nothing.

And Jafar's lamp? Out of reach.

He looked down at his friends (eyes lingering more on Kairi). Even if Aerith was the one that the quest would consider, ultimately, the most important, there was a small part of him that felt grateful it was he shielding them and not any other way. Sora sighed and prepared himself to do the only thing left: charge at Jafar like crazy.

He stood at the interval between Jafar's tossing of fiery boulders, motioning for the girls to follow suit when Jasmine threw something hard and black at his head.

"The lamp!" Kairi cried. Sora laughed triumphantly, and seized the lamp in his hands.

"Back to your itty bitty living space, Jafar!"

The dark genie screeched as he shrunk, ending up where he had belonged. "Vexatious Genie," Sora drawled in an impression of the vizier. "You fools won't live to see me triumph. There is a snake on my weapon..."

Aerith whistled for the magic carpet and it gladly lifted the three of them out, where Jasmine awaited with another lamp in her own hands. She rubbed it, and their blue genie leaked out, giving Sora a massive hug and slapping everyone's backs incessantly.

"I love you guys! So, Miss Jasmine, what will the first wish be?"

Aerith turned from the group for a moment, led back to the place where Tifa had left. The Bloomstaff appeared in her hand as the floating ruby shone even brighter than before, the petals unfolding around it. Aerith pointed her weapon forward and sealed the world, sighing in relief.

"I wish we were out of here," Jasmine laughed. Some stones fell from the shaky ceiling to prove her point, and in a flash of blue, the group was back at her house, Rajah back to normal.

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"So Aladdin's no longer in Agrabah…Aerith, Sora, Kairi- may I come with you all to find him?" Jasmine asked.

Aerith twisted a strand of hair that curled down the side of her face. "I wish you could, but I'm sorry," she replied. "That would be…"

"Meddling," Sora finished.

"We'll find him, promise," Kairi said.

Genie popped himself beside the young girl. "Hey, Jazzy? You've got some more wishes up your sleeve!"

Jasmine smiled sadly. "I think I'm going to pick up where Aladdin left off…Genie, I wish for your freedom!"

In a burst of light, the gold bands fell from the astonished Genie's wrists. He curled his big blue fingers happily. "Ask me to do something…ask me, ask me!" He grabbed Sora's shoulders and shook him. "Quick, wish for the Nile!"

"I wish for the Nile?"

"NO! Hahahahaha!"

Aerith grinned and walked backwards, slowly into the green teleporter. She waved happily at the newly freed Genie and the young lady. Sora and Kairi joined her, and soon the trio was off to yet another world, with one more important promise to keep.

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"Why did you only stay to speak with the girl?" Maleficent demanded.

Tifa crossed her arms, tucking away her gloved hands. She shrunk slightly under the witch's commanding gaze, but didn't lower her head, instead locking her ruby eyes onto Maleficent's. "I did my part," she replied. " I've brought you your precious princes."

Maleficent clacked her staff against the ground. "That doesn't answer my question!" she barked, startling the black raven on her shoulder. "Next time there will be consequences." She glided over and placed a hand on the stone table. "Jafar was careless, consumed by hatred- do not be like him," she said, giving Tifa a pointed look. "One must not let that flame burn too fiercely. I had warned him," she continued, "about the Thorns."

Tifa nodded, keeping up her guard. The encounter with Aerith had put her on the edge, constantly wondering who was right and who was twisting her. Aerith wasn't the type. Maleficent certainly was…but she had given her a room in this massive castle, let her roam at her leisure, only for doing small tasks in return. Aerith had snatched up two new friends and was cavorting across the universe. She hadn't taken Tifa's hand on the island.

Maleficent studied the unsure girl and placed a cold hand on her shoulder, smiling suspiciously. "My dear…whatever is the problem?"

"Are you telling me the truth?" Tifa blurted.

Maleficent chuckled. "My child, my dear, dear, child- have I not provided you with everything you need? Ah, yes…there is one more thing you probably want from me…"

"Huh?"

"We had a deal, yes?" Maleficent waved her hand, robe wafting with the movement. In the center of the table, and image of Cloud appeared, suspended in space.

"Cloud!" Tifa ran forward, reaching out a hand to pass through the hologram. Cloud's eyes were shut and he lay flat, like he was sleeping. "How…?"

Maleficent didn't answer. "Go to him; your vessel is waiting. Right, Captain?"

In the dark, a sharp hook glinted as an elegantly dressed pirate stepped out from the shadows. "Aye. But this is no pleasure cruise," he snarled.

Tifa looked back up at Captain Hook, and then at Maleficent. "Why are you doing this for me?" she asked.

"Silly girl," Maleficent said, reaching out to stroke her head, "I regard you as a daughter…"

It was like several warning signals blared all at once in Tifa's head as she pulled back, slapping Maleficent's hand away. "I doubt that," she replied harshly. For a moment, she was certain that Aerith was right, and was tempted to run away and join the group. But Cloud was with Hook, and so the girl settled for following behind the pirate, every step firm and decisive- even if she herself was not.

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It took awhile to get here, but there ya go! Review and tell me what you thought!

-Silver Miracles