Vixen: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, no matter how much I wish it were different. But Tora and Yami ARE mine; so paws off if you want to keep your fingers.
I woke up, feeling like I was about to be extreamly sick. Closing my eyes until that feeling ebbed away, a dull pain on my right shoulder caught my attention. I tried to look at it, but I couldn't get a decent view. Spying a mirror in the corner of the black and dark purple room I was in, I went over and looked.
On my arm was a jet black heart with a blood red X through it; like the one I had seen on those doors and on some of the Heartless that were in Hollow Bastion. As I tried to remember where I recieved this tattoo, a voice drifted through my memory. Once you sign, you belong to us; until the time that I see fit to release you. With that voice, a memory of the previous day came back to me.
(3rd POV)
"What do I need to do to find them, Yami?" Tora asked of the black lioness.
"I really don't know, I'm sorry. They aren't anywhere near here, so I would guess that they're in a different world," the cat replied to the girl's question.
Tora paced back and forth, much like a caged feline. She wanted to see Riku again; wanted her brother to look at her with his sea-green eyes and tell her that everything was alright; that it wasn't her fault. But she knew that as long as she was in Hollow Bastion, and he was... where ever he was, that it wouldn't happen. She had to find a way to reach Sora and Riku. And even though she hadn't seen anything of the red head, she just knew that if she found Sora, somehow she would also find Kairi.
Tora snarled in frustration, sounding much like the silver tiger that she was. "We have to get to where they are. I have to find Riku!" She growled.
"Excuse me, did you say that you're looking for someone named Riku?" A soft voice asked from behind them. Both Tora and Yami spun around to meet the unexpected guest. A woman with long flowing black robes and a scepter walked up. "Because if you are, I think I might be of assistance."
Not exactly in the best of moods, Tora snappd back, "Yeah, and what's in it for you, horn-head?"
"Tsk, tsk. I would sugest keeping that temper in check; unless you wish to find yourself in a world of trouble. But dear me, were are my manners? My name is Maleficent. And you are?" She stood as if waiting for Tora to give her name; but she was in no mood to entertain this sorceress. After a moment of icy silence, she spoke again. "Come now, child; how am I to help you find Riku if you won't give your name?"
Reluctantly she yelided. "My name is Tora, and the lioness is Yami." She didn't know if she could trust Maleficent, but if she knew where Riku was and how to get there, Tora could stand to hear what she had to say.
"Excellent," Maleficent said; then continuing, she stated, "In order to reach Riku, you need to go to Traverse Town. But first, I need you to retrive something for me, and for that I need you to sign a contract."
"Why do I need to do that?" Tora questioned, still wary of this woman. Her senses told her that something was really wrong here; but as she couldn't tell what it was, she would listen to what Maleficent had to say, but she'd keep her gaurd up and her kunai ready, just in case.
"Because I need to know if you will help us. A boy has already agreed, now I wish to know if you will." She smiled as she saw the look on the silver-haired girls' face, because she knew there was no way out. Seeing the slow nod, she said, "Then come with me."
After a short ride on some elevators they reached a room with a high ceiling and a table within it. When Tora saw the table, she gasped and ran up to it, heedless of Yami's calls to come back. "Kairi!" she cried.
And indeed, the fire-headed teen was floating above the table, but as soon as Torah reached it, Kairi disappered. Extreamly angry and frustrated by now, she spun around and growled at the mage, "Where is she? What have you done to Kairi?"
"What we have done to her is none of your busniess, you ignorant fool!" An angry voice called from her left side. Looking around, she saw a man that looked like a pirate, but one of his hands had been replaced by a curved piece of steel.
"Quiet, Hook. The child is going to help us in are search for the Princesses." Maleficent told the man. Then she turned to a woman that looked almost like an octopuse. "Do you have the contract, Ursula?" She asked.
"Yes I do," she laughed wickedly; pulling out a piece of paper, she handed it to Maleficent; who turned to Tora.
"Sign your name at the bottom. Then you will be given your assignment."
Torah stared blankly at the parchment for a moment. Then she looked at Maleficent and said, "But I don't have any ink."
"Just write your name, you'll recieve your ink in a moment. Once you sign, you belong to us; until the time that I see fit to release you." She told the girl. Tora missed the sinister smile that played at the woman's lips as she bent to sign her name.
As soon as she touched the quill to the paper, Tora felt a searing pain on her upper arm. Trying to ignore it, she continued to sign her name, but with each letter that was formed in the crimson ink, the sensation of a white hot brand on her skin became more and more intense. She gasped as she finished signing her name; not only because her right shoulder felt like it was on fire, but because she discovered that the scarlet liquid wasn't ink at all. She realized that she had signed the contract in her own blood.
"After you have refreshed yourself, you are to come back here for details on your assignment," Maleficent said. Then after telling Torah where her room was, she dismissed her with a lazy wave of her hand, not seeming to notice the grimace of pain on the pale face.
By the time she made it to her room, Tora was ready to pass out. The only thing that kept her from slipping into the black void was Yami's comforting presence. But even so, once she collapsed onto the midnight blue bed, she was unable to keep her grip on conciseness anymore, and she blacked out.
(1st POV)
After my focus returned to the room infront of me, I saw Yami in the corner.She looked distinctly unhappy, so I felt the best way to aproach her would be in cat form.
I padded up to her and then sat down. She wouldn't look at me; but after a moment she spoke in a soft whisper, so I had to strain to catch what she said. "Why did you do it Tora?"
I could hear the pain in her voice, the tears barely held in check. The answer I had ready fell away when I saw how upset she was. She hadn't wanted me to do this, had tried to warn me away, but I went against her.
I couldn't face her when I gave the answer. "I had to Yami. Riku is my brother, one of my best friends; and he's also the closest to me. I have to find him. It's the only way."
We both knew that wasn't the real answer; but I didn't know what else to say. A silence held the dark room for so long that I felt that the sound had been turned off.
Once again, we were taken by surprise when a voice called out from behind us, "Hey, wern't you pipsqueaks suppose to come back once you refreshed yourselves?"
Turning around to look at the man, I was a little taken aback. He had on a black toga, like what the people in Greece wore, but at the bottom it seemed like it was made of smoke; while in place of hair he had blue flames. One thing was certain straight away: this was one person you didn't want to get mad.
"Might I ask who you are, sir?" I asked, trying to keep my tone respectful.
"Hades, Lord of the Dead. Nice to meet you," he said. Then once again, he asked, "Weren't you suppose to go and speak with Maleficent?" I just nod my head and flew out the door.
After I reached that room, I heard Maleficent saying, "You need to bring her heart back, and the only way to do it is to retrive the other Princesses of Heart for me. Understand?" I didn't hear a reply, but she must have gotten one, because she continued. "Good, now go fetch them. You will have some help soon enough, I just need to give the girl instructions on what she needs to do."
I rushed in to see who she was talking to; but by the time I reached her, all I saw was a head of silver hair disapearing into a portal. Could it be? No, it can't. It's just wishfull thinking. Yet even though I tried to tell myself it wasn't him, there was this nagging thought in the back of my mind on who that person was.
"So, you finaly came," the woman remarked in cool disdane. "It sure took you long enough."
I gave her a look that barely hid the hatred I was feeling towards her. "Yeah, well excuse me if I wasn't warned about the, sideffects, of that contract. So if you'll forgive me, what is this damn thing on my arm? It burns like fire."
"That is your brand; and it means that you work for the Counsel untill your contract is up. Now then, it's time that I tell you about your assignment; that is, unless you have more questions?"
Getting a negative reply, she continued. "We are looking for seven maidens with the purest hearts in all the land. What we need them for is none of your buisness. You shall retrive them for us, do you understand?" Maleficent finished, giving me a cold glare.
"Fine, but if you expect me to take them by use of extreme force, you can count me out!" I told her. I don't care what she thought of this statement, but I was going to stand beside it if at all possible.
"You may try, if you wish. But you will find in the end that some force may be necesary." Maleficent considered me for a moment; then, as if she had come to a conclusion, she stated, "But perhaps you would not say no to some magic. I must tell you, it is Dark Magic, and extremly powerful; so you must be carefull with how you handle it." Then as if on an after thought, she added, "But in order to harness it's full power, you will have to embrace the Darkness. Otherwise it will be just about usless for you."
I knew that magic might help if I didn't want to hurt any of the Princesses, so I agreed. She waved her scepter, and an enormous power went surging through me, and I felt stronger than I ever had. But there was a nagging scent, one that I couldn't quite place; but it seemed dark; evil.
My clothes changed. They were dark blue and purple, with that crest emblazoned upon my chest. But then my atire went back to the black jeans and navy blue tank top I had been wearing.
"Excellent, the magic has taken to you. Now then, I need you to go to a place called Wonderland..."
The sword of battle I have taken up,
On a side I never thought I'd be.
Six princesses to capture,
They hearts must come to us;
They cannot be free.
I always saw myself as good,
Always saw my heart as pure.
But now, with this new world I'm in,
New rules now apply;
The light in my heart, now I'm not so sure.
Embracing the Darkness,
I must shun the Light.
This path I have chosen,
My destiny is now set;
The side of good now must I fight.
Vixen: Okay, so kind of funky, huh? Hmm, I wonder who that person was?
Tora: Stop being so sarcastic; you know who it is. And so do they.
Vixen: Yeah; but do you?
Next time, Tora runs in to an old friend. But will she have to fight him? Only time will tell...
