DISCLAIMER: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, nor the Disney and Square Enix characters. Please support the original works.
A/N:
So I've been super busy, and the writer's block is real (and I've been distracted by ROTTMNT, which is SO good, please watch it! I want a season 3!). So, sorry for the long wait. I'm trying my best to get the next few chapters up ASAP and out before fall, when I get busy again. Don't know how quickly I will update, but here's hoping it's soon.
Chapter Twenty Five: Light Lessons 2
"Belle was right here."
Mickey saw Guilia point to a crate in the castle's throne room. All around him, refugees were resting, reading, or sleeping. Even though the room was lit by a few candles, Mickey could see the unease shining in Guilia's eyes.
"And then, she just-"
"I got this."
Alberto stepped forward. Rolling her eyes, Guilia hung back, letting the boy take Mickey's attention.
Alberto intertwined his fingers, cracking his knuckles. "I'm pretty much an expert at telling stories." He squatted on his haunches, dramatically spread his arms, and lowered his voice. "It was a regular evening in the throne room. Belle was reading the most interesting part of the story. The two brothers had finally met on the battlefield, their hearts ready to clash and forge a sacred weapon. Luca, Guilia, and I were on the edge of our seats. Then-"
Luca stepped forward, interrupting Alberto's tale. "Then there was a flash of light."
"So bright," Albero continued without missing a beat, "that no one in the entire throne could could see anything." Alberto's gusto faded. His eyes lowered to the floor. "But when the light faded..."
"Belle was gone," Guilia finished.
Next to her, Alberto and Luca exchanged a sad glance.
"She wouldn't just leave us." Alberto glanced at the King. "Would she?"
Luca placed a hand on Alberto's shoulder. "She wouldn't." He gave Mickey a hopeful look. "She's going to be okay, right?"
The king gave each of the children his most winning smile. "Of course. Thank you for the information. Every little bit helps."
The three kids bowed to Mickey, even when the king waved his hands and asked them not to. After a few more assurances, Mickey made his way out of the throne room. He tried not to dwell on how crowded the castle had become. Even though so many Disney Town citizens had offered space to house all the displaced people, it wasn't like they had infinite room. Minnie and Daisy worked around the clock to make sure the citizens and refugees had food, water, and a safe place to sleep. Yet, even with Beast's help, Mickey knew they would reach the end of their capacity soon.
The lack of resources weren't the only problem. As he walked through the room, Mickey saw hidden grimaces on the refugees' faces. He knew how they felt. The more time he spent on his journey, far from Minnie, the more he hoped that his longing for home didn't invite darkness into his heart. When he reached the colonnade, he leaned against the wall, sighed, and ran his hands over his muzzle.
"That bad, huh?"
Max appeared on Mickey's left.
"Yes. All we know is that Belle vanished after a flash of light. Luca, Alberto, and Guilia are really upset. Gosh. I hope we find her soon."
"I went to Beast's castle as you ordered." Max winced. "Beast wouldn't even come out of his room. Couldn't get a word out of him. The servants are still taking care of the refugees, and, though he didn't say it, I don't think Beast will stop letting us use his castle."
"Poor Beast," Mickey's shoulders slumped. "To lose someone he loves so much, just like that. Again."
Mickey turned his head, glancing at the library door. Minnie was inside, working late into the night. She would never admit it, but Mickey knew that she was working hard just so that he would have the freedom to go on his adventure.
"I'll go to talk to Beast. While you're here, give Minnie a hand? She won't listen if I tell her to rest, but we can at least help her work."
Max saluted. "Sure thing, Majesty."
"Thanks pal."
Max and Mickey parted ways. As he walked into Disney Town's main square, Mickey rehearsed what he was going to say to Beast.
Distant steps reached his ears.
Mickey paused. The crickets were chirping. The wind rustled the banners on the square.
Wind?
But his fur was still.
Mickey searched the roofs. The moonlight shined on a silver windmill above. The windmill was not spinning. Magic sizzled in the air. Mickey lunged, flipping backward as a hot ball of fire sailed his way. The fireball hit a lamppost behind him. Landing back on his feet, he summoned his keyblade and searched the dark shadows of the square.
"My," said a husky voice, "how vigilant you are."
Mickey looked at the gazebo. A woman sat on the railing. Her red and black hands were folded neatly in her lap, her legs were crossed, and her yellow, piercing gaze was locked on Mickey.
"You must be Aqua."
Her smile showed too many teeth. "So nice to meet the king that inherited my keyblade. Tell me. That boy, Riku, was he the one the other keyblade choose first?"
Mickey did not lower his weapon. "Why do you want to know?"
Aqua tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "All this light, and all the darkness that follows it. Let me ask you, what do think will happen to all the worlds if conditions worsen?"
Mickey glared. "I don't like guessing games. If you know something, then say it."
"And spoil the mystery?"
"Why are you here?"
"Perhaps I'm simply curious about the new keyblade masters." Her smile vanished. "Or perhaps I'm here to take something from you."
In a blink, Aqua appeared before Mickey. An ice spell swirled in her hand. A spear of frozen water rushed toward Mickey's forehead. Slicing through the blizzard spell, Mickey retaliated with triple fire spells. Aqua cartwheeled, easily dodging Mickey's magic.
As she dashed about, Mickey watched her movements, catching a pattern. Just as Aqua rolled away from another spell, Mickey flashed to her side, and slashed at her legs. He hit nothing but air. Aqua had jumped over the keyblade, landing on the gazebo roof. Mickey prepared to leap after her. She tsked at him.
"Is that how you treat guests in your kingdom, Majesty?" Aqua leaned her head back, looking up.
Mickey peered upward. There were more dark patches in the night sky.
She tapped her jaw. "Perhaps it's too soon."
"Enough mind games. Why are you here? What do you want?"
"Nothing from you. At least, not yet. But there is a boy out there that can use the darkness without letting it take him over. Maybe it's time I give him a visit."
Mickey felt a rush of fury in his heart. "Is that a threat?"
"More of a promise."
Leaping into the air, he spiraled like a drill, charging toward Aqua. His keyblade hit a wall of darkness. The force of his attack, as it clashed with the dark energy, almost sent him flying backward. Focusing, Mickey funneled more power into his keyblade. He smashed through the dark wall.
Yet he still did not hit Aqua. His attack was stopped by a reflect spell. He smashed his keyblade against the magical glass. Even though the reflect spell cracked, Aqua simply glanced at Mickey through the glass. She calmly wagged her finger.
"Careful, noble king. Anger is but one road that invites the darkness."
The reflect spell shattered. Yet, rather then vanish, the magical glass blasted outward. Mickey jumped back, bringing up his keyblade to protect himself from the sharp glass. Landing in the square below, he braced himself, searching for his enemy.
He was alone.
Aqua had vanished into the night.
And Riku was in danger.
Riku hissed as pain burned up his arm and left side. He finally skid to a stop on the floor. Taking in long, steady breaths, half to try and clear his head, and half to deal with the burns on his left side, Riku was finally able to sit up. With his mind still reeling from the sudden attack, Riku barely sensed a gentle light approaching him. A moment later, all his pain fluttered away as Luna touched his forehead and channeled healing magic into his body.
"Thanks." Riku stood.
"That was the worst one yet. Perhaps its time for a break."
Riku considered Luna's words. He had been tying to focus on positive energy in order to summon light, using the steps that Luna had given him. The first few times, he had summoned nothing. Just now, on his most recent try, Riku had casted a hot ball of fire that had exploded, point black, right in front of his face. He smiled ruefully. At least he had conjured something that time.
Across from him, in the courtyard in front of Merlin's house, Kairi stomped her feet and whined at Oswald. The rabbit ignored her, creating one light sphere after another. Like a conductor, he used his wand to juggle the shiny spheres in the air.
"Geez, this is tricky." Riku sighed. "How come Oswald got it with just a few tries?"
Luna turned toward the rabbit. "He's completely in the moment. You should see his face: so happy to just be spending time with Kairi."
"So it's all about being present?"
"In a way."
Luna held her trident horizontally before her. Riku felt the weapon glow warm with light. It hovered over Luna's palms.
"Conjuring light is different for everyone. All people have a different hook to draw out their inner light, like a goal, or an emotion. There are no real spells for light. One must trust that it is in them and let it flow freely. For Oswald, the hook is joy."
"Joy huh?" Riku raised his soul eater. "Let me try again. But, just in case, can you take a few steps back?"
With a chuckle, Luna moved away. When she was far enough, Riku tried to clear his mind. Everything around him suddenly became louder. Kairi's angry grumbling, the scent of lumber and concrete, the heat from the sun, the scratch of his clothes on his skin, the light and darkness around him.
"Focus," Riku whispered.
Kairi growled as she accidentally cast yet another healing spell. Oswald laughed, and she chased him around, demanding to know his secret. Riku couldn't help but smile at her frustration. He winced. He was getting distracted again.
Joy.
Joy.
He tried to think about all the times when his friends made him laugh, cry, were depending on him to keep them safe and out of danger, would one day not need-
Darkness sparked out of Riku's hand, coursing down into his arm. He stumbled backward, waving his arm, feeling as though nails had been hammered through his bones. A moment later, the pain lifted as Luna healed him once more. It was only after being healed that Riku closed his mouth, realizing that he had been screaming.
"Come on! Now I'm summoning darkness instead of light?"
A soft hand patted his head. Riku froze. He jumped away from Luna, turning his face so that he could rub the warmth out of his cheeks.
Kairi and Oswald ran up to him.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Riku rotated his neck. "Just hurt my pride. Wish this was as easy as using darkness."
Luna stepped in front of Riku. "Channeling darkness is not easy. It is simply that you are used to calling on emotions such as loneliness, despair, or regret. Light, connection, hope, happiness, love. Such emotions are harder to hold on to, especially when there's no one to draw from but yourself."
"Is that why I can never do a holy spell on my own? I get all those feelings from my friends." Kairi laughed. "It's just like Sora says."
"My friends are my power," Riku recited. "But how is he able to summon light on his own?"
Kairi shrugged. "Beats me. I've only done it when I'm desperate."
"Let's try another tactic to clear your mind," Luna suggested.
She instructed Riku, Kairi, and Oswald to close their eyes.
"Don't even think about light, darkness, anything. Just breathe in, hold for a second, and breathe out. Feel the air on your skin."
"When you tell me not to think, I start thinking," Kairi whined.
"It's all right to have thoughts," Luna said. "Just let the them pass, and bring yourself back into the moment."
Oswald raised his hands. "Maybe I can help."
As Riku breathed, he listened to Oswald and Kairi. The two faced each other and sat down. Holding hands, they took long, drawn out breaths. Riku felt energy surging between Oswald and Kairi. Sparks of light erupted from deep within them, and when the two forces met, a small burst of energy popped in Kairi's hands.
"Wow! Did you see that? I just summoned some light."
Oswald let go of Kairi's hand so that he could clap. "Great! How did you do it?"
"No idea. I was just thinking that it's nice to meditate together."
Riku smiled. His mind wondered to all the adventures he'd shared with his friends. Flying in Neverland, stealing the Legacy with Sora, Jim and Kairi, meeting Santa. As the memories flowed, warmth blossomed in Riku's chest. He thought about teasing Sora and Kairi when the three of them had reunited in Disney Castle. He thought about how Sora and Kairi had been making fun of Zidane in Twilight Town. He remembered how Sora and Kairi argued about what to name her powers. So many good times. How many more did he have before his two best friends...
"You almost had it."
Riku opened his eyes, blinking at Luna. "Huh?"
"I felt a flicker of light, trying to break free, but then it was stomped back down by the darkness inside you."
Riku groaned. "What am I doing wrong?"
"Do you remember the last thing you were thinking about?"
"No," he lied.
Luna held her trident close to her chest. She lifted her chin, about to say something but a new voice interrupted her.
"Excuse me."
Aerith walked into the square. She laughed when Luna bowed in greeting.
"No need to be so formal? We're friends by now, aren't we?"
"As oracle, I've always strived to show grace and decency so I'm afraid the formality is second nature. In what way should I act to help you feel more comfortable?"
Aerith shrugged. "I guess it can't be helped if it's your personality. Don't worry. No need to change anything on my account, though I sure hope Kairi isn't this regal when she takes over."
"Wait a minute," Kairi waved her hands, "I haven't decided anything yet."
Aerith turned toward Riku.
"Is she always this easy to tease?"
"Not usually, except when Sora's around. Then I can make the two of them as red as a pair of tomatoes."
Kairi charged at Riku. "That's it! I'm poking you!"
He stepped to the side, avoiding her dreaded finger. Having missed her target, Kairi stumbled. The moment she regained her balance, she was chasing Riku again.
"Get him, Kairi!" Oswald cheered.
While the kids had their fun, Luna and Aerith spoke.
"Need to stop by the castle to check in with Leon and the others. Mind heading to the marketplace and helping out if there are any construction accidents?"
"It would be my pleasure."
Aerith bowed to Luna. She then moved toward Riku. He was so focused on sidestepping Kairi's attacks that he didn't notice Aerith sneak up on him. She lightly pinched his cheek, making him freeze. While he had been still, Kairi capitalized on his surprise and poked him.
"Ouch." Rubbing his arm, Riku frowned at Aerith. "I thought you were on my side."
"I never said that." Aerith released Riku's cheek. "Some advice though. I find that having fun brings out my light. You should give it a try."
Aerith moved down the road that led to the rising falls. Luna dismissed her students for the day as she went to take over Aerith's shift at the construction sight. Even after she had left, Riku and Kairi kept trying to summon light, with few results.
"I thought you'd be blasting light left and right by now," Riku said to Kairi. "Isn't this sort of thing your cup of tea?"
Kairi blew a raspberry at him. "Just because I'm a princess of heart doesn't mean I'm an expert on light. If I knew what I was doing, do you think I would have asked you to release my heart when we were trying to save Sora?"
Riku sighed. "Guess it's back to deep breathing and finding my hook."
"Won't work," said Oswald.
Kairi and Riku faced him. "Why?"
"I think Luna and Aerith are on the wrong track. Neither of you are the thinker types."
"Really?" Riku raised an eyebrow. "Last I checked, I'm the only A student in my friend group."
Kairi shoved Riku's shoulder. "Hey! We can't all be geniuses like you."
"You're just lazy, always goofing off with Sora instead of studying."
"The point is," Oswald boomed, bringing Riku and Kairi's attention back to him, "when it comes to learning new skills, you can focus all you want. The only thing you'll summon is a headache. For you two, it's all about instinct. And the only way to act on instinct, is to fight." Oswald threw his wand up into the air, letting it flip twice before catching it behind his back. "Two versus one. Since you can use darkness, we'll attack Kairi first and see if she can summon any light when backed into a corner."
Riku's lip curled. "Not sure I'm comfortable with that."
"What?" Kairi snapped. "You think I can't take it? I've defeated ghosts, Riku. Actual. Ghosts. Bring it. And don't you even think about holding back."
"Great. First we'll-WHOA!"
Oswald jumped five feet into the air. Riku stepped back, coughing from a sudden, massive, burst of oddly tingly smoke. For a moment, he was surprised that Kairi would sneak attack like that, but then he felt the air around him shift. While Riku wasn't sure if the sudden aura of energetic light and lonely darkness was an attack, he was sure that...someone had just interrupted their practice session before it could even start.
Whoever it was, he wasn't fully solid. The shape was not that dense, like the person's body was made of smoke and magic. He had long, round, thick arms, a wide chest, no neck, and a big chin with a goatee.
"Scanning environment. Target not found."
The big guy let out a frustrated groan. Then something puffed in the air, and Riku had another moment of confusion. Either practicing with light had somehow made his senses go haywire, or the person in front of them had summoned a piece of paper that was magically floating in the air.
"Come on! This is seventh world I've looked in. He wasn't in the Casita, the Land of Dragons, Pride Rock, Kumandra, Arendelle, Seeonee Jungle, or Camelot. Where could he be?"
Riku frowned. He knew that voice. It wasn't until Kairi spoke that Riku realized, with a jolt, just who had appeared before them.
"Genie? What are you doing here?"
The not-so-solid man whirred around, his form changing again. Riku was sure he was now wearing some kind of uniform and hat. He pointed finger-guns at Kairi. She squeaked.
"All right, Agrabah PD. Put 'em up! Who are you? How do ya know me?"
Kairi put up her hands. Genie exploded into dust, disappearing and reappearing, as a much tinier version of himself, on Kairi's shoulder.
"Girl, who does your hair?" Genie pulled a lock of Kairi's hair over his head, wearing it like a make-shift wig. "It's absolutely fire!"
"Thanks." Kairi giggled. "And to answer your questions: I'm Kairi, that's Riku, and this is Oswald. And I know you through our friend Sora."
Genie gasped. He puffed into smoke again, getting bigger, and getting real close to Kairi's face.
"You know Sora? I've been looking everywhere for him! Agrabah is in a state of emergency and we need the keyblader pronto!"
"What's the problem?" Riku asked.
Genie finally gave Kairi some personal space. She let out a breathe of relief. He snapped his fingers and pointed at Riku. "Total chaos. Nothing makes sense! And we just finished fixing up the city too. Jasmine and Aladdin sent me out to get help. So please, tell me where Sora is."
"He's on an important mission for a great wizard, and we don't really know the name of the world he went to."
Genie deflated, slumping so low to the ground that Riku almost thought he was going to melt into a puddle.
"Don't be sad," said Oswald, gasping Genie's hand and trying to raise him up. "Maybe we can help."
Riku swallowed. "Wait, let's talk about this."
"I'm a princess of heart, just like Jasmine, and Riku is Sora's best friend." Kairi clicked her teeth. "We can totally handle anything that Sora could."
Genie shot back up into the air. "Really? You'd help?"
"Absolutely!" "H-hold a minute, Kairi. There's something you should-"
"Fantastic!" Genie cracked his knuckles. "Hang on to your heads, kids. We are outta here!"
"No! Wait!"
The words were barely out of Riku's mouth when he felt the world around him completely change. One minute he was standing in Hollow Bastion, then poof! They were standing in a city made of wood, clay, stone, and dust. Riku braced himself for the heat of the desert, but, rather then feel like he was covered in a thousand blankets, Riku shivered. The air was cold, positively freezing.
Riku slapped his hands on his head and let out a frustrated scream. "Genie, couldn't you have waited two seconds for me to explain why I really don't think it's a good idea for me to be here?"
Oswald leaned up to whisper in Kairi's ear. "Wow, he's really nervous. Did I miss something?"
Kairi crossed her arms. "Riku, what did you do?"
Riku cringed. He tried to come up with a delicate way to explain that he had kidnapped Jasmine while under Maleficent's influence. Lucky for him, a series of explosions deafened the group's ears before Riku could even try to defend himself. The noise came from the further into the city. Once the surprise had worn off, Riku and Kairi faced each other.
"Yeah, I'm just going to go," Riku threw his thumb over his shoulder, "this way."
"Right, and I'll go," Kairi pointed to the palace, "that way. See you around?"
"See you around. Be safe?"
"Yup. You too."
"All right then, chop chop!" Without turning around, Genie reached out and grabbed Riku's arm. "Her highness is waiting."
"Hey! Wait! You got the wrong-"
Too late. Genie flew through the air, leaving Kairi and Oswald behind. All Riku could do was dangle helplessly as they moved toward a massive structure. As he flopped about in the wind, Riku tried his best to think of how he was going to apologize to Jasmine.
Kairi put a hand over her eyes, watching as Genie flew off with Riku.
"Well, that just happened," Oswald drawled. "Should we go after them?"
Kairi crossed her arms. "Let Riku solve his own problems for once." She gestured to the town. "Now, correct me if I'm wrong, Ozzie, but a desert doesn't usually have snow, does it?"
Oswald poked a nearby white mound. His glove was covered in fresh snow crystals when he pulled his hand back. "Looks like all the extra light is messing with the climate in this world."
"Well, if Riku is checking in with Jasmine, then you and I should go check out those explosions."
The universe must have heard her words, because another explosion rattled the buildings. Kairi and Oswald dashed into the city. Adjusting their course, Oswald and Kairi followed the cloud of brown smoke until they stepped into the city's bazaar.
And that was where they saw their first sign of life. A mound of sand moved down the bazaar's main street. Then, like a volcano erupting from deep within the earth, a chain of red eyed, earth-core heartless burst out of the sand. Connected to end to end, like a chain of spiky, wrecking balls, the serpent of earth-core heartless rose up into the air, curved and then dived back down.
The entire bazaar shook as the heartless drilled back underground. The quakes caused by heartless' burrowing shook the nearby buildings, collapsing the nearby buildings.
A voice called from the sky.
"Get out of there, you two! It's dangerous!"
Looking up, Kairi spotted a flying, blue and cold carpet. A young man peered down at her on top of the fancy rug. Kairi waved.
"Hey, Aladdin! Hi Carpet! Mind helping us destroy that thing?"
Aladdin stared at Kairi.
"How do you know my name?"
"Short version, I'm Sora's friend."
"MOVE!"
Oswald jumped up and kicked Kairi's shoulder with his powerful feet. She fell to the side, shielding her face from the sudden rush of sand. Squirming, black bodies erupted from the ground where she had been standing. The heartless chain curved, heading straight for her.
A hand gripped her arm, and Kairi was then hauled on top of Carpet. Aladdin zoomed around the heartless, pushing Carpet to fly high and low to avoid getting hit. Once he plucked Oswald off the ground, Aladdin and Carpet flew up, high enough that the heartless chain could not follow.
Kairi tried not to feel sick as she looked down at Agrabah. The heartless chain kept drilling into the street. Buildings collapsed into the tunnels it had made underground.
"How long has that thing been here?" Kairi asked Aladdin.
"Appeared this morning. Had to evacuate the people to the palace for their safety."
"If it keeps drilling under the city, then everything will sink into the sand," Oswald said.
"I've been trying to get that thing to chase me out of the city, but it just won't follow."
Aladdin urged Carpet to go downward. They flew around the buildings, under the archways, tailing the mound of sand as it moved through the town. After a few minutes of watching, Kairi realized something.
"It's circling the palace."
"Why would it do that?" Aladdin asked.
"Because Jasmine is in there."
Aladdin peered at Kairi suspiciously.
"I'm a princess of heart too," Kairi explained. "I can lure it away from the city."
Carpet waved one of its corner tassels. Aladdin, Kairi, and Oswald looked in the direction it was pointing. The earth core chain charged at the palace wall. It bounced off a flash of light.
"Jasmine's power," Aladdin said in a proud voice. He glanced at Kairi. "Well, we don't have any better options."
"The only question is how do we fight it if it keeps retreating underground?"
Oswald snapped his fingers. "I got this. What we need is a big, sturdy rock."
Aladdin leaned down, patting the rug under his knees. "What do you say, Carpet? Up for a chase?"
Carpet flapped it's top half, as though it were nodding.
"Perfect," said Oswald. "Get as close to the sand mound as you can."
Kairi quickly discovered that riding Carpet was like being a roller coaster without safety restraints. Her knuckles burned from sinking her nails into Carpet's fabric. Oswald grabbed her waist, his hears flapping behind him as they dived down.
Just before they hit the ground, Aladdin pulled up and the Carpet hovered, about a foot, above the ground. Kairi jumped off. Sparing a moment to rub her stomach, she pointed her sword to the sky and chanted a healing spell.
Instantly, the sand mound moved in her direction. Just a few feet away, the earth-core chain burst out of the ground. It came down on Kairi like a cobra trying to eat a mouse whole. Kairi rolled to the side. The heartless smashed into the nearby building.
"HEY UGLY!" Kairi shouted as the earth-core slithered out of the broken house. "Want this?" Kairi pounded on her chest. "Come and get it!"
Aladdin and Oswald grabbed Kairi's arms and hauled her up onto the magic carpet. The heartless burrowed back underground. The mound chased after Carpet, the heartless burst out from under the sand, like a killer wail trying to snap a seagull out of the sky.
"I hope we can stay two steps ahead of that thing," Oswald screamed.
Aladdin rolled his eyes. "Did you hear that, Carpet? He doesn't think you can keep the heartless on the ropes."
Annoyed, Carpet did a loop de loop. Despite his earlier unease, Oswald put up his hands and whooped.
"Great! Go down near the ground and play 'keep away.' Kairi, keep taunting it."
The girl dangled her legs off Carpet's back end. She blew a raspberry at the heartless.
"Come on, slowpokes!"
Kairi reached being, and grabbed Oswald's hands. The little rabbit's magical energy, joy, and excitement raced up her arm. Though she did not conjure a holy spell, she was able to make a tiny spark of light shine in her palms.
A series of tiny, high pitched roars erupted from all the earth-cores in the chain. They lunged at Carpet with lighting fast strikes. Kairi was sure she felt spit misting in the air as Carpet swerved and flew in an erratic pattern to throw the heartless off.
"Aw, someone's getting angry."
They were farther out into the desert now, no longer able to see Agrabah's palace.
"Head to the desert ruins," Aladdin ordered.
Carpet made a hard left. A mountain of rock rose up in the distance. A the base of the massive, brown rocks, rested a forgotten, broken town.
"That's my stop!" Oswald moved toward the edge of the magic carpet. "Get the heartless to the top of the mountain."
Crossing his arms in front of his chest, Oswald leaned back and fell of Carpet. Kairi gasped, leaning over the side of the rug. She spotted Oswald, his ears whirling like the blades of a helicopter, as he slowly descended down to the ground.
"Hang on!" Aladdin warned.
Kairi dove next to Aladdin and held onto Carpet's front end so tightly that her finger joints ached. Like a rocket, they began scaling up the mountain. The rocks burst under them as the heartless smashed into the rock, burrowing inside it.
"Again?" Kairi screamed at the heartless. "Is that all you've got? Come on, show me something I haven't already seen!"
Carpet reached the summit. They flew over the flat, rocky surface. An explosion hit Carpet's underside. A rock punched Carpet's middle, bucking Kairi and Aladdin off. Flailing in the air, they watched as the heartless burst out of the rock below. Carpet righted itself, moving to catch its friends, but it was knocked off course as the earth-cores thrashed their tube like body against it.
If the heartless didn't get Kairi and Aladdin, the mountain would squash them flat, like bugs on a windshield. Kairi readied magic to defend herself, but then she spotted something black, white and blue on the summit below.
Oswald jumped up into the air, a golden sphere of light shining at the tip of his wand. Like a mad doctor sticking a needle into an unwilling patient, Oswald stomped down on the mountain, and sunk his want straight into the rock.
"QUAKE!"
Thunder roared from deep within the mountain. The rocks jerked, shaking the heartless. The earth-core chain whipped about. Oswald pulled his wand out of the earth and jumped off. Chaos ensured as the mountain shattered from within. Rocks went flying everywhere, and the entire length of the earth-core chain was exposed.
Kairi reached out, managing to grab Aladdin's arm in midair.
"Let's carve that thing into pieces."
"Now you're speaking my language!"
"Up here, long, dark, and stupid!"
The heartless stretched into a perfect straight light, turning toward Kairi. Big mistake. Using the speed of their fall, Kairi and Aladdin stuck out their swords, and sliced straight through the heartless chain.
They burst out the other side, momentarily shouting at the top of their lungs. Their screams quickly turned into wails of terror as both the rocks around them, and the ground got closer and closer.
Then, a black, white, blue, and gold blur hit Aladdin and Kairi. Kairi felt Oswald's hand on her back, and her cheek against Carpet's silky surface. Once Aladdin was back in control, Carpet flew through the falling rocks, weaving over, under, and around the brown debris until they were out into open space.
Turning, Kairi watched the mountains, and the heartless, crumble into dust. Carpet slowed, and gently glided down to the desert ruins. Once everyone had dismounted and reoriented themselves, Carpet fell flat against the ground.
Kairi got down on her knees, petting it. "You really pushed yourself, huh? Thanks for catching us."
Carpet lifted one of its tassels, giving Kairi a thumb's up.
"Take it easy for a bit, buddy," Aladdin said. He leaned forward, hands on his knees, gasping. "We could all use a little rest."
Kairi's legs shook. Too much adrenaline would do that to you. There was a clay slab sticking out of the ground. She wobbled over to it and sat down.
"Adventures are always extra crazy with you," Oswald said as he came to sit at her side. He reached into his shorts and pulled out a potion and an ether. He gave the potion to Kairi.
"Bottom's up."
The two friends clinked the glass bottles together before tipping them back and drinking. The potion helped with Kairi's exhaustion. Once she could stand without shaking, she casted a healing spell on Aladdin.
"Thanks." He gave her a once over. "You have guts. Jasmine would like you."
"The name's Kairi, by the way. Sorry, Sora couldn't come. He's on an important mission."
"Always busy, isn't he?" Aladdin sighed. "Well, I'm glad you two are here. We have a lot of problems."
Kairi shivered. Now that the fight was done, she remembered how cold it was. Looking out into the desert, she was surprised to see not just snow, but towers of ice, and wide, frozen trails, jutting out of the ground.
"No kidding. I'm guessing there are more problems then the snow and the heartless?"
Aladdin looked away, a solemn look in his eyes. "Let's fly back to Agrabah. I can explain things on the way."
Even though he had flown before, Riku still felt his stomach turn as Genie plummeted down toward the palace. They must have landed in a garden, because the scent of leaves, herbs, and fresh water met Riku's nose. When his feet touched the ground, he felt mist sprinkling on his nose from the enormous, stone fountain before him.
Riku gulped.
Sitting on the edge of the fountain, was a young woman that radiated light and an unbreakable spirit. Her aura was both soft and prickly, like a flower growing out of a cactus. Genie bounded forward, dragging Riku toward the girl.
"Your Highness, Princess Jasmine." Genie bowed. "I have journeyed from afar to bring you..." Genie swept out his arm, gesturing to Riku. Then, he did a double take. "Hey! You're not Kairi."
Riku grimaced. "Sorry about that?"
A growl. Riku tensed. A tiger prowled toward him. The beast's claws sunk into the ground as it stalked around Riku. He froze, doing his best not to even twitch.
"Easy kitty."
The tiger lowered his head, its powerful shoulder blades rumbling. It was going to pounce.
Riku nearly yelped when a voice called.
"Down, Rajah."
The tiger plopped down onto the ground, no longer aggressive, but its tail did flick in warning. Jasmine had left her place at the fountain. She patted the tiger's head as she came to stand next to him.
"How about we give him a chance to explain before you attack."
The tiger chuffed, and then moved its head toward Riku, waiting.
Genie turned his head, from Jasmine, to Riku, and back again.
"You've met?"
"In a manner of speaking. He was the one that kidnapped me a year ago."
Genie rounded on Riku. "WHAAAAAT?"
For someone that couldn't see faces, Riku was getting pretty good at sensing when people were glaring at him. He got down on his knees.
"Princess Jasmine. I never properly introduced myself. My name is Riku. I'm Sora's friend."
Jasmine's light brightened, burning so hot that Riku felt as though he were kneeling in front of a roaring fire.
"Is that so?"
Riku's fingers curled, nails digging into his palm. He wished he could back in time and slap himself for every stupid thing he did when he agreed to work with Maleficent.
"I never expected to come back here, but now that I have, I'd like to make up for what I did. It was wrong of me to abduct you and take you to Hollow Bastion. I have no excuse. If it wasn't for me, you never would have suffered under Maleficent's cruelty. I'm truly sorry."
For a few seconds, Riku waited for Jasmine to sick Rajah on him. What he hadn't expected was for Genie to snap his fingers and poof! He vanished and reappeared on Jasmine's left. Genie paced, flailing a briefcase around as he moved.
"Your honor, requesting to speak on behalf of my client here."
Jasmine sounded amused. "Very well."
Genie cleared his throat. "Listen, the kid seems real honest to me. I can understand that you have misgivings about trusting him. So don't. Trust me. I'll keep an eye on him."
Genie poofed again, this time losing his briefcase in favor of a ten gallon hat. He blew on his pointer finger, as though he were blowing into the barrel of a gun. He had a thick accent when he spoke.
"I can keep him on the straight n' narrow, partner."
Jasmine stepped in front of Riku. She reached down, grabbed his arms and pulled to his feet.
"There really is no need to bow," she said.
Riku was still too ashamed to lift his face. This would have been so much easier if Kairi or Sora were nearby. Soft fingertips reached under his chin and made him look up. Riku kept his face neutral as Jasmine took a good look at him.
"You're blind."
Riku nodded, shivering, though it wasn't because of his proximity to Jasmine. The garden was freezing. His breath misted with each exhale.
"Is it always this cold at night?" Riku asked, hoping to start some friendly conversation.
Jasmine stepped back. "It's morning, and the sun is directly overhead."
"But it's freezing."
"And this is a desert. Strange, isn't it?"
Riku opened his senses, realizing that there were patches of snow on the lawn grass.
"How long as Agrabah been like this?"
"Three days," Jasmine answered. "And it's not just the cold. The sun hasn't set in all that time."
"Are heartless a problem?"
"Yes, but only in the city. My light has been holding them back from entering the palace. The city has been evacuated and all the people have been taking refuge in the palace."
"That sounds exhausting."
Jasmine crossed her arms. "Normally, it would be."
"But?"
"Over the past few months, I've felt a steady stream of light coming into my world. Because of it, I've had more energy then I know what to do with." Jasmine paused, looking at Genie. "Don't tell Aladdin about this."
Genie pretended to zip his lip.
Sighing, Jasmine faced Riku. "You know, Sora once asked if if there was a way to open the realm of darkness without releasing heartless into the worlds. He was so desperate to find you, and he was very disappointed when I told him the risk was too high."
Riku lips formed into a half smile. "He was really worried, huh?"
"Back then," Jasmine continued, "I knew in my heart that too much darkness was dangerous. But now, I wonder if the opposite is just as true." Jasmine gestured to her surroundings. "All this light was a blessing at first, but lately, I've been having this terrible feeling. As though I may fade away into the light. It's like a haze, drawing me in. Everyday, it gets harder to resist, to not let myself reach for the peace the light offers."
Riku licked his lips and swallowed, trying to get moisture to his dry throat. "That sounds an awful lot like what happens when people are consumed by the darkness."
"YOUR HIGHNESS! THE CITIZENS!" Riku's heart flipped in his chest. In addition to the loud, grainy voice, he had also felt a flash of self-righteous darkness. For a moment, Riku was reminded of Maleficent, but the man that was running toward them didn't have the same level of power or cunning behind his words. He felt more like a bully.
The guard stopped in front of Jasmine, but growled at Riku. "Who are you, boy?"
"Riku. Sora's friend."
The guard sneered. "Another of the street rat's friends."
"Enough Razoul," Jasmine scolded. "Aladdin is not a street rat anymore. Now, what did you want to tell me?"
"The people in the palace, they're-"
One moment Razoul was talking, the next he fell to his knees and collapsed onto the ground. Riku panicked for a second before his sensitive ears picked up the sound of Razoul's steady breathing. Genie popped up on Razoul's chest. Now much smaller, the size of a pigeon, Genie pressed a stethoscope to Razoul's back.
"Well, he's alive, but out like a light. No pun intended." Genie turned into an alarm clock and began blaring out the sound that every office worker hated hearing in the morning. "Wake up, Captain, no sleeping on the job!"
Razoul didn't stir. Rajah roared at Genie, finally getting him to stop that infernal alarm. Riku nudged Razoul with his foot. No reaction, but Riku did feel a tingle of light.
He frowned. Weird. There was no darkness. Getting down on one knee, Riku breathed in deep, and focused all of his senses. The scent of summer reached his nose. It wafted off Razoul like a perfume.
"It's like," Riku searched for the right words, "like he took a bath in light, got overheated, and knocked out."
Jasmine came to stand by Riku's side. "I can feel it too. Light has completely taken him over."
"How is this possible?" Riku wondered. "Wait, wasn't he yelling something about the citizens a second ago?"
Jasmine ran into the palace. Riku, Genie, and Rajah followed her into the throne room. Once there, Riku lost his balance, and fell over on his side. If he had kept on running, he would have stomped all over the people on the ground. All over the throne room, hundreds of bodies were collapsed on the floor, out cold. The scent of flower fields, spring, the tingle of excitement and energy vibrated in the air, and yet everyone was asleep. The last time Riku felt a light this strong, was when he had combined his power with Alice's.
"What's going on? Why are they all asleep?"
Rajah sat down and yawned. Jasmine leaned over and grabbed the tiger's cheeks.
"On no, not you too!"
Rajah pulled himself from her grasp and shook his head. He rubbed Jasmine's leg, as though he were apologizing. Genie zoomed around the room, banging drums and cymbals. The noise did nothing but annoy Jasmine and Riku. Not a single citizen woke up.
"Is this what you meant by fading into the light?" Riku asked Jasmine.
She moved about the throne room, pressing her hand against a child's forehead. "It seems so." She gasped. "Aladdin is the in the city! What if he's collapsed too?"
Genie flexed his arms. "Al's in danger? Don't worry! We're on the case." He winked at Riku. "You in, kid?"
Riku snapped his fingers and pointed at Genie. "You got it." Turning toward Jasmine, he bowed. "We'll go check out the city. You have my word: if we find Aladdin, we'll bring him back."
Jasmine's light blossomed. "Thank you. And Riku, try to behave yourself."
Genie poofed himself and Riku out of the palace. Once outside, Riku rubbed his arms. He might as well investigate the freezing temperature while he was out and about. Genie bounced around in the air beside him, searching every nearby nook and cranny like a hyperactive dog taken out to the dog park for the first time.
"Hey, I know you're worried about Aladdin, but it would be a good idea to be more careful. An empty city is the perfect place for heartless. Let me scout the surroundings."
Riku explained to Genie just how his senses worked. Genie summoned a pencil and notepad. He took notes as though there was going to be a test. When Riku was finished, Genie pointed with his pencil into the city, as if to say, "lead the way."
They moved down the central road leading from the palace and into the bazaar. Riku kept his senses open for Aladdin, and for Kairi and Oswald. When he didn't feel them close by, he hoped they had been swept up by their own misadventures, and not collapsed somewhere.
Riku and Genie entered the city's bazaar. There was nothing out of the ordinary, except for a layer of frost coating the fruit that had been left in some of the stands. The air moved through the abandoned marketplace, whispering some form of warning. Riku felt his skin prickling. For a city where the sun had not set in three days, where there was so much light that it was somehow lulling people to sleep, there was an eerie hollowness in the atmosphere. So when Riku felt a distant jolt of familiar darkness, the whiplash of a new sensation nearly chocked him.
Genie flashed to his side, putting a hand on the boy's back. Riku waved him off, focusing his senses again. He felt the darkness moving. There was an alleyway leading away from the bazaar. Riku ran toward it. In the back of his mind, logic screamed that chasing this darkness was a very bad idea, but this may be his only chance to get the jump on her.
Moving through the alley, Riku put a finger to his lips, asking Genie to be quiet. He looped through the smaller streets of Agrabah's residential districts. The tall buildings and the thin roads made it easy for the cold wind to whistle through the open windows and narrow passageways. It also made it easy for the darkness to flow to Riku. He could sense her, just ahead, standing in an open square.
Riku gestured for Genie to come close. He whispered into Genie's ear. "How small can you make yourself?"
In response, Genie turned into a tiny beetle. He settled on Riku's shoulder. "Small enough for ya?"
Riku nodded. "I'm going to need a surprise attack. We're going up agaisnt someone very dangerous."
"Danger is my middle name, kid," Genie said in a high pitched, and strangely gruff, voice. "I'll follow your lead."
Feeling a little more confident, Riku moved through the alley. Darkness pressed on his chest, putting pressure on his lungs. By the time he reached the end of the alley, Riku was panting. He stepped through the archway and entered into a wide square.
There was no one there. The darkness instantly faded. In its place was rush of light so strong that Riku's pain evaporated. He felt...nice. His worries lifted off him as the light caressed his skin.
"Of course," he whispered. "If too much darkness makes you feel afraid and alone, then too much light makes you relaxed and at peace. No wonder everyone here is falling asleep."
Someone clapped.
"Very good."
Riku summoned his soul eater. Across the square, someone walked out of an open doorway.
"Darkness tethers, light releases. No more fears, no more pain. Only peace. Isn't that wonderful?"
Aqua stepped lightly over the sand. Riku tensed, waiting for her body to exude the darkness that drove him to his knees.
"It sounds too good to be true," Riku countered.
"I expected someone tainted by darkness to think that way."
Riku pointed his soul eater at her. "You don't know me," he hissed.
"Oh but I do. We have much in common."
"If too much light is so wonderful, then why do all the worlds have so many problems?"
"Why indeed."
"What do you know?"
"Oh, I know all there is to know, including where the cold weather is coming from." Riku leaned forward. "And?"
"Ah, ah, ah." Aqua wagged her finger. "That would be too easy. And if you're really the hero you think you are," her shoulders tensed, "then shouldn't you overcome your challenges head on?"
Pressure constricted on Riku's bones. He fought to stay standing, even as every part of his body screamed for him to fall flat, lie still, and wait for the pain to ease. Cold sweat broke out over his skin, his arms felt as though they weighed a thousand tons, but he refused to lower his weapon.
Aqua leisurely strode across the square. She ran her finger along the edge of Riku's blade.
"I see. So you traded your sight for the ability to use darkness. Shame that you are unable to harness more of its power."
Riku's jaw ached, his head felt as though it were about to be smashed inward. A box of darkness surrounding him, slowly closing in, ready to crush him into a cube.
A scream echoed through the alley. Riku yelped as his ears absorbed the sound. Aqua jumped back as a burst of electric energy burst from Riku's body. The boy fell onto his hands and knees, gasping as the pressure released from him. Through the pounding headache, he was barely able to sense what was going on.
Aqua flipped backward, away from a series of magical explosions. Genie flew through the square after her.
"I am a strong, independent Genie, and I refuse to be trapped in an itty-bitty living space ever again! Come on, Blueberry Lady!" Boxing gloves magically appeared on Genie's fists. "Let's dance."
Jiminy's Journal
Genie (First Appeared in Aladdin, 1992): After his best friend, Aladdin set him free on Sora's first adventure, Genie was able to go from world to world, explore, and use his phenomenal cosmic magic as he saw fit. He is energetic and supportive, gladly volunteering to go search for Sora after Aladdin and Jasmine sent him to go get help once Agrabah was in trouble. He seems to have a soft spot for Riku.
Rajah (First Appeared in Aladdin, 1992): Jasmine's pet tiger. He is ever loyal to the princess, able to pick up on her moods and act accordingly to defend her from others. Before Jasmine had met Aladdin, Rajah was her only friend.
