Who Am I?
Disclaimer; I do not own anything from Kingdom Hearts; I'm just using it for my own twisted fun…so don't sue me.
Summary; A devastating storm has hit Destiny Islands and someone has gone missing…meanwhile, a new person is found unconscious in the palace grounds after the most fantastic show of lightening that year. What's going on?
See? I told you I was working on chappi 5…and here it is…have fun, enjoy the chapter and drop a review in the box on your way out…
Chapter Five- Storm Part III
Word had spread quickly to every world that was ruled by King Mickey and those beyond his power too. Everyone was talking about Prince Sora's situation and who the lucky girl would be. Every girl posed as he walked by, some blew kisses, some offered him free food or clothes, and some blushed and hid away before he could see...but he saw anyways.
He didn't see why they were doing this because if they knew about his situation they'd also know that his father won't let him pick a bride at random, he had to be suited to a princess from another world…which he wasn't too happy about, but if it kept his Father happy, he didn't think he'd mind. Boy was he wrong…
King Mickey had selected the 'finest Princesses from across the galaxy' and was introducing the last one to his son now.
"And this is the lovely Princess Snow White." The small Mouse announced as a petite, ebony haired girl gracefully stepped forward and curtseyed. Sora inwardly groaned. He was dressed in his Princely best (which itched like hell) and did not want to see another Princess or any girl like one, ever again, let alone marry one. Every single Princess he'd met that day all followed the stereotypical role of shy and dainty…Yuk!
Out of politeness, he held his hand out and greeted the Princess with his adorable smile. Her cheeks flushed a pinkish colour and she took his hand gingerly. He gave a quick bow, inwardly groaning, and gave a soft kiss on the back of her delicate hand before straightening up again. 'Too shy' his mind said before he looked deep into her eyes, but that was a tad difficult as she kept hiding them behind her ghostly lids.
"How do you do Princess?" he asked out of etiquette. She blushed harder and quickly looked down at her feet. 'Great another nervous one.' He thought with a wince.
"V…very well …t…thank you." she replied nervously. He let her sweaty hand go and she curtseyed again before rapidly retreating out of the throne room. The oak doors closing behind her small figure.
"And that was the last one." King Mickey said loudly turning to his son for an answer. Sora visibly slumped. Mickey saw this and sighed in defeat.
"Surely one of them took your fancy?" He asked with an exasperated tone. Sora shook his head and sat down on the bottom step of the dais that his Mother's, Father's and his own Throne were placed on. He'd been standing for hours and his muscles were on fire. The velvet like carpet felt good and soft under his hands as he placed them on either side of him to keep his balance.
"Sorry but they're all too…Dainty. I'm afraid I might break them." He replied with a frown; he was upset because Mickey seemed disappointed. Mickey sat down next to him and sighed again, adding to Sora's guilt.
"I know what you mean Sora. When I met your mother she seemed dainty and fragile but in the end she's the one who broke me…I fell for her hook, line and sinker. But don't tell her that…" he said retrospectively, but Sora wasn't falling.
"I don't know Dad; I just don't fall for that type of girl…." He said thoughtfully staring up at the vast chandelier hanging gracefully from the ceiling. He watched the light from the candles flicker and shine through the delicate crystals, adding to his theory that he was not destined to wed a Princess. Mickey also stared up at the chandelier and gazed at its wondrous colours and designs.
"So you're an expert on girls now, are you?" He asked smiling mischievously. Sora looked at him incredulously and rolled his eyes returning his gaze to the display above him.
"Dad…you know what I mean" he said. Mickey chuckled and bought his gaze back down to his son. He was growing up now. He was no longer the little boy they'd found out in the field, no longer afraid of storms or the dark. No, he was growing up and fast…too fast. And all King Mickey wanted for him was a happy life with the person he'd cherish most.
But he was so worried that Sora would pick the wrong wife, so worried about blackmail and deceit from the lords of other lands, from even the other girls. He wished Sora could be given more time, time to mature, to find he right girl, but time has a way of slipping away without you noticing.
"Dad...please let me look for a bride," Mickey's thoughts whirled, his worst fears enhanced ten fold. And, as a last desperate attempt to stay in control, he tried to reason with his son.
"How will you know that who ever you pick will be the right one Sora?" he asked looking back up at the chandelier that seemed to hold both of their attention.
"I'll know her when I find her. They say love gives you a warm feeling inside, and if that's so then I can't go wrong. I just have a feeling that everything will work out...please?" he pleaded, turning to face his father beside him, his hopeful eyes begging Mickey for approval on his request. The Kingly Mouse did the forbidden and looked deep into his son's ocean blue eyes for a minute, and then closed his own. It was the least he could do…
"Ok, but when you find that special girl, I shall have to see her and give the ultimate decision." Sora's yell of success hit him like a boulder rolling down a cliff at 40kmph, and before he knew it, Sora had disappeared with his joyful shouts echoing down the halls. Such were the ways of the over joyful Prince
The King smiled wearily. It was the least he could do yet it seemed so much more than that to his son.
Sora raced down the corridor and round the corner on the look out for his friends to tell them the good news. What he didn't expect was a tall lanky body coming the other way, and before he knew it, Sora and the lanky being were flying back the way they had came and landing on their butts.
"By the gods child are you trying to kill me?" a heavy accent cursed. Sora winced, recognising the accent as he stood up and patted down his uniform before assessing the damage.
Triq was just sitting up and holding a broken pair of glasses. Books were strewn across the landing and the council members' bag was at his feet. Sora gave a nervous smile and quickly apologised before going to grab the bag in order to help the fallen man, but Triq snatched at the bag and pulled it to him, glaring at the young prince.
"I was just gonna help." He defended as Triq's glare intensified. The man began to collect together his numerous papers and books as he replied hotly.
"It's 'going to' and you've done enough helping, now be on your way." But a new voice entered the conversation. A melodic voice with a soft touch of authority; Namine.
"Your Highness." Sora looked up at her and relaxed inside, he didn't know why but when ever she was around he felt whole, happy. She was stood at the other end of the corridor with her arms folded and a glare aimed at Triq.
"I beg your pardon Miss?" he asked genuinely confused. She took a step forward and the warm feeling returned to Sora like a dream. He smiled and closed his eyes enjoying the sensation and failed to notice Triq watching his reaction with a sly interest. Then books began to fly into a neat pile and papers stacked themselves into the folders they once inhabited. It was an awesome display of Magick, one Sora was slowly learning.
"You forgot to say 'Your Highness.'" She repeated as she stopped walking, and stood opposite Sora, with Triq now standing sandwiched between them. The Flow of Magick slowed and stopped bringing Sora back from the land of bliss with a happy smile on his face.
"Sorry 'Your Highness.'" he hissed giving a sly grin at Sora and a sarcastic bow before gathering his books and folders and pushing past the Young Prince. The two teens watched his retreating back for a few more seconds before he hurried round a corner and was gone completely.
"I don't like him." She said simply, unafraid to express her raw feelings in front of Royalty. And why should she? She was, practically, family anyway; she lived in the palace, she was always around Sora and King Mickey was more of a Father to her than her own.
"I know, me neither but he's good at his job, too good sometimes." He frowned, as he began walking the way he was headed before.
"He's up to something." Namine said decisively as she walked with him, clearly wanting to share something with Sora that was on her mind. Sora looked up questioningly, forgetting instantly why he was running in the first place. Her soft blue eyes were creased into a frown and her fists were clenched lightly; a habit of hers to show when she was thinking hard. 'She must really be bugged by Triq.' He thought as they headed for the gardens.
"How so?" he asked noticing how cute she looked when concentrating hard on something trivial. They walked out of the large oak doors that were opened for them before they even turned the corner to exit the castle. She stopped and turned to face him in the evening light. Sora stopped and faced her; his full attention was riveted on her words. The setting sun gave her a Magickal radiance, one he couldn't help but notice and feel privileged to witness.
"I did a tarot reading on him and…" She trailed off with a confused look upon her features. He frowned as she concentrated on something behind him. He slowly turned to look at what had caught her attention, but just as he did, he was hit hard by a strong force. He was squeezed so tightly he feared his insides might pop out. His breath was caught in his lungs and he saw stars in his eyes…
"Yuffie get off him, you'll kill him." A deep bored voice groaned. Must be Squall Leonhart, a mysterious swordsman from traverse town, along with his high spirited female ninja Yuffie, whom was currently a little too high spirited and stuck to him with an unknown force.
"Awww you look so adorable in that uniform!" she squealed. Sora groaned as his breath was forced out of his body. 'What is it with girls and cute things?' he wondered as he fought Yuffie's iron grip on him. Seconds later he could breathe again and he sat on the floor gasping in lungfuls of air then noticed a familiar set of boots in front of him.
"Hyuk, looks like ya had a little summit stuck to ya there Sora." It was Goofy! The tall dog was stood a good 7ft above him and was holding a squirming Yuffie in one hand.
"Thanks Goofy." He wheezed and looked around at his immediate company. There was Squall leaning against a stone statue to the left, Yuffie held in Goofy's arms to the right and Namine and Donald behind him.
"So, looks like you have work to do, Sora." the Magickal duck said obviously in high spirits. Namine frowned and looked at Sora confused, her worries completely forgotten.
"What kind of work?" she asked suspiciously. Sora gave an embarrassed laugh and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Er…heh…girl…hunting…" he said nervously. Namine's eyebrows quirked upwards and a stifled giggle emanated from Squall's direction.
"Really?" she asked, Sora gave another nervous smile.
"Yeah, dad says I gotta marry before my next birthday. So now I have to find a future wife." Sora explained, watching her as she silently withdrew into herself. He saw her soft blue eyes water slightly and he thought she was going to cry but she didn't. He gave her a strange look, showing his confusion.
Namine was heart broken. Sora was being forced to find a wife. She'd loved Sora ever since he'd rescued her from the madman who had chased her for ages. In fact it was then that he had found his talents with Magick. She didn't think it was possible, he was just a mere human but maybe living in Disney castle did something to him, maybe the Magick grew into him…
She'd lost her heart to the handsome Prince who had come to her rescue but now she was going to lose him to some bimbo. Her eyes began to water but she held the tears back bravely.
"I see," she said quietly, "well you'd better get to it. There are a thousand girls out there waiting for you to pick one of them." She smiled sadly and turned to leave. Sora watched her disappear around a corner with a deflated look upon his face. He couldn't figure out why Namine had been on the verge of tears…did he say something wrong?
"Yeah…" he sighed, feeling a sense of longing towards the girl who had tried but failed to help him retrieve his memories, and a sense of foreboding towards the massive amount of girls out there…
"Oooh! Pick me!" Yuffie's plea spoiled the moment and in seconds she'd wiggled free and was hugging Sora again. Donald turned to Squall,
"She's been eating sugar again hasn't she?" he asked as they watched Goofy attempt to pry the ninja-ette off the Young Prince.
"Yes unfortunately." Donald sighed.
"I know a way to bring the prince under our control my lord. We must act now." A black cloaked figure informed the figure hunched on the stone throne in the massive catacombs. The man he was addressing hushed the small murmurs that erupted from the shadows at this revelation.
"I know, my son. We act tonight. Prepare yourself." His voice was a deep rumble, very bass-ish. It reverberated through the black Shrine to Darkness.
"As you wish my lord." The hooded figure replied and retreated silently, grinning evilly.
"Oh and I believe you forgot these." The 'Lord' said holding a pair of newly repaired glasses in his knarled hand.
Riku slowly roused, aware of the sound of water running nearby. He groggily swiped at the sleep in his eyes and dressed in a slight stupor. After investigating the house for Kairi, he headed outside and found her staring wide eyed out to sea. He followed her gaze silently and almost stopped breathing.
Two plumes of water geysers, spiralled one another and travelled up in to the sky. He followed the two entwining towers of water up into the darkening sky where several rainbows had formed. He felt the winds pick up and he shivered despite the high degree.
"Hey wait up Tidus!" he recognised the voice as Selphie's but it sounded distant. His gaze quickly dropped to the ocean and almost died. To his utter horror he found his three other friends swimming in the sea. Tidus holding a beach ball, Selphie a little further out on a rubber ring, and lastly Wakka who'd just caught the ball Tidus threw to him.
Then Riku clicked…they weren't spirals of water they were tornadoes! He suddenly took off heading for the beach to warn them of the danger. Kairi jumped into action and followed closely, her small legs working hard to keep up with Riku's long strides. The two teens burst onto the shore yelling and screaming to their friends;
"GET OUT! IT'S DANGEROUS! COME OUT OF THE WATER!" Kairi jumped up and down waving her hands to give the sense of urgency.
It was Wakka who noticed them first. He waved at them thinking they were just doing the same but when they didn't stop he began to worry. Through the roars of the waves and winds he managed to hear three words that spurred him into action.
"GET! OUT! DANGER!" he immediately turned to find two water hurricanes orbiting one another and heading straight for the island. He yelled at Tidus to move and grabbed Selphie's rubber ring, pulling her with him to the shore. But the currents had changed and they were slowly being pulled towards the two jets of water that were slowly churning the waters around the island.
Riku yelled harder but was in vain. He knew they were trying their hardest and yelling at them wasn't helping them. He needed something fast and strong to get them out. He needed a motor boat! He quickly looked around in a frantic visual search and almost swore at the empty beach.
"Come on!" he called to Kairi who was still yelling frantically. He ran to the rickety rebuilt pier and jumped into the first motor boat he could find. He pulled on the cord twice and whooped for joy as the motor bit.
"Stay here." He said but Kairi ignored him and hopped into the boat too, and dared him to get her out
"There's no way I'm losing another friend to the ocean." She said sternly and sat down defiantly. Riku admired her determination but quickly focussed on the emergency and steered the boat to rescue his other friends. The small boat raced across the waves in record timing.
First was Tidus who was the strongest swimmer and had a small lead on the other two. Riku gunned the engine as soon as Kairi had Tidus on board and he raced to Wakka and Selphie who was now minus a Rubber ring.
Kairi grabbed Selphie as Wakka passed her up and pulled her into the boat with a thud. Then Tidus and Riku hoisted Wakka by both arms into the boat. Nothing was said as the three rescued friend's caught their breath, and the two rescuers nursed their sore throats. Riku sat back down at the engine and turned the small and very cramped boat towards the shore. He put the motor into full power and raced across the open waters.
They were safe…
…clunk…chug, chug…clunk…sputter.
All eyes were on the dead engine. Then they all turned to the two tornadoes that seemed to get closer by the second. Riku grabbed the cord and tried to bring the life back to the engine but after five pulls he finally decided that the motor was no more. He could not believe his luck.
"What do we do know?" Kairi asked in a small voice. Thunder crashed above them and fat droplets of water began to spray down on the five teens in the boat. The temperature dropped by ten degrees and they began to shiver. Riku looked towards the shore; the island was calm and unaware of the devastation that would hit.
A flash of a memory hit him as he remembered last time. A small tear rolled down his cheek as he saw Sora's face again. He and Sora'd had a fight and he was the one who'd started it. They'd been playing treasure hunt seeing who could find the most valuable item washed up on the shores.
Riku had been jealous of Sora's find; a crown pendant on a thick chain. Then the storm hit and in his mind's eye, Riku saw the tragedy and devastation all over again. The crushed houses, the dead bodies, the loss of a good friend.
"Riku! What do we do?" Selphie's panicked cry brought him back to the reality of his last possible moments. Riku reached out in his mind in a desperate attempt to help them out of the situation.
'Oars' his mind screamed out. it took him a moment to realise what his brain had told him before he burst out.
"That's it! Oars!" he yelled, the teens quickly searched the deck for oars and came up with two very dodgy looking oars. Riku grabbed one and so did Wakka. Together they powered the boat away from the rising waters but the currents were stronger now and the wind kept them from escaping too fast. Riku didn't stop powering his arms though, he kept going. His arms were on fire but at the same time chilled to the bone by the cold winds and water slashing up at him. He couldn't see, he couldn't hear, and he certainly couldn't think straight.
Snap
He stared in disbelief as the oar in his hands broke into two. One piece left in his hands and the other rapidly floating away from the boat heading for the tornadoes that seemed closer than he remembered.
Snap
His ears just picked up the sworn words that escaped Wakka's tongue. They'd lost the other oar. All heads turned rapidly to the tornadoes; panic written on all their faces.
The boat gave a sudden lurch and the next thing Riku knew was the startling cold water engulfing his body; he was under water.
He felt a sharp tug on his arm and found Kairi holding his wrist, her eyes wide with fear. A few paces away were Selphie and Tidus holding on tightly to each other, and Wakka was to his right. Riku gabbed Kairi's wrist and powered his way to Selphie and Tidus, praying Wakka would get the hint; stick together.
Wakka appeared on Kairi's other side and held tightly onto her other wrist. Riku grabbed Selphie's outstretched hand and gripped it with a deathlike grip.
If they were leaving this world for the next; they were going together and going with one hell of a fight!
The currents suddenly pulled on their bodies trying to rip them apart but they held fast. Riku looked up into the large upside down whirlpool above them. He gave a quick reassuring squeeze to the two hands he held and squeezed his eyes shut.
Go with the flow
And that's exactly what they did. They powered up to the whirlpool
There was a brief moment where there was only silence and an eerie calm before they were engulfed again by rushing waters and pulled upwards through the middle of the tornado that held them.
Kairi opened one eye and almost gasped in shock. She could see the entire island below her. Then the sickening journey began. The waters twisted and twirled, pushed and pulled, squeezed and stretched her body to the limits. Her lungs were on fire but she kept her mouth firmly shut.
The last thing she remembered was the terrifying thought of if she'd ever escape this horrible water ride alive…
