We're Back Folks!
And I'm excited to say that the big changes to KH II story line has officially begun.
"Weren't we already there?" Maverick inquired.
Sort of Mav. But those were just including moments in the films of those worlds. This is where we change how it goes in patterns of KH II's main story. Let me warn you that where things are heading for the visit to Hollow Bastion in the upcoming chapters are going to be hinted in this chapter.
Also I'm excited to finally get my pre-ordered copy of Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart. I am a huge fan of that series and it feels so good to have a PS5 version of that game! For those of you that are still looking for a PS5. Go to Youtube and find a user called Scrubing, and subscribe to his channel. He will point you in the right directions in locating one like he helped me.
Also Namine will finally be in this story starting with this chapter. It's not a long and big role, but it is an interesting one. And you'll catch onto it when you see the first part of this chapter.
Okay. Now for some comments.
olehbilenko93: Thank you! I really appreciate your support.
RustyPete12: Thank! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Yeah that part did have a certain Road Rovers vibe. To a certain degree given that Sora and the others weren't anthropomorphic. Also I agree with you. I'm not joining in the internet war that Kimba the White Lion started. And as for Springfield. I know it sounds weird to include them in this universe. But don't worry, it's not going to happen until later on. And it will serve as a a pit stop. More like a humorous break from all of the upcoming drama that's coming up soon. Plus someone who is crazy and hilarious as Aiden AKA the Maverick would find it easy to fit in to a wacky adult world like the Simpsons. but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
superkoola: I know right! That last battle wasn't easy to make but, Wow! Also don't worry we discussed why believed the moral didn't work in the PMs with you. Simba was dealing with a mess up that never existed because it wasn't his mess up. It was Scar's crime. But what that moral told me is that if it was Simba's mess up. He would've been doomed at that moment. Because the movie didn't support Simba for taking responsibility until after Scar revealed the secret. Go and check out the Disneycember review and the Nostalgia Critic review of the Lion King and see what I mean. I get that Cinima Sins had a point for Simba not telling the whole story. But he believed it was his fault and everything was going against him for it. So the moral of taking responsibility of your past mistake isn't told well in that film. But rest assured I still love the Lion King nevertheless. I just needed to add more to that moment to show that they were going to help Simba if it weren't for the Heartless blocking everyone.
SPYRO 101: Yeah! All of those are very great moments in the Lion King. As always thank you for helping me with this chapter. I got stuck a few times and never would've got through it if it wasn't for you. Thanks again pal!
Oh and one more thing. Namine is voiced by Meaghan Martin in this story instead of. Since Meaghan played her in Kingdom Hearts Chain Of Memories and most of the other games. I'm using her instead of Brittany Snow who voiced her in Kingdom Hearts II.
Alright. Now that we're all here.
LET'S GET DANGEROUS!
What's Crackin In The Sandlot?
Somewhere on the Beach of Twilight Town…..
As the night sky sparkled over the ocean. Namine sat alone in the sand. With her flip-flops off so her bare feet could feel the cold sand and the warm water that would wash up in waves. She told Axel that she needed to be alone for a while before those two could go back to where they were hiding. The Nobody girl just needed to clear her mind and reflect on herself. About everything.
Namine never expressed how much she longed to be real. How much Namine wished she wasn't limited to the burdens of being a Nobody. She wishes she could be free to choose her own path and find a new life for herself. But being a Nobody doesn't entitle her to these life choices. And being a witch as DIZ called her, Namine doesn't feel like she deserves it. She felt guilty for what she had put Sora through back in Castle Oblivion.
All she ever wanted was to have friends in her life. And she envied what Kairi had. Sure she made up for it by putting Sora's memories back together. But at what cost. Putting through what Roxas went through in Twilight Town and what happened with Xion.
Does Namine even deserve to be real?
"Namine?" She heard someone say behind her.
Namine gasped and turned. At first she was expecting maybe Axel or Riku. But the voice was too young to sound like them.
She was shocked to see it was Roxas. But he was faded looking. Almost like a phantom. It's as if he was here and not here at the same time.
"Roxas? How? I thought you had joined with Sora to restore-" Namine almost finished.
"I know. But with Sora being in contact with the Maverick opened up possibilities. Like Kairi coming back to him." Roxas explained with a smile. "And with them together. I can be here. With you."
Namine blushed and looked down while rubbing her arm. "Not completely." She meekly replied.
"It doesn't matter. I'm here now." Roxas remarked and wondered. "What are you doing out here all alone?"
Namine looked at him and turned her head.
"Because I am alone. And I deserve to be alone." Namine stated in a sad tone which surprised Roxas
"What makes you say that? You helped me understand when I forgot who I was." Roxas said with a smile.
Which she did to both him and his counterpart
"No Roxas. I used you. I'm the reason you forgot who you were and why you suffered the trauma of waking up to realize your life was a lie." Namine said while looking down at her toes in the sand.
"That's not true! It was the organization! DIZ! They were the ones responsible." Roxas protested.
"And they never would've gotten far without me!" Namine argued looking at him.
She never felt like this before. She always kept her thoughts centered on what was important. But ever since Kairi came back to Sora. Everything changed.
"Namine. It doesn't matter what you've done. Deep down that's not who you are. You know it. I know it too." Roxas said earnestly.
"Then what am I? Namine asked.
"A good friend. And a strong girl." Roxas said then he revealed the next reason he came. "But I've been having these dreams lately. While I was inside Sora's heart. And I would often see the two of us. Hanging out and doing so much together. Like eating Ice cream on the clock tower at the train station."
Namine held the need to cry. Because she knew who that really was in those memories. And it reminded her of how she also wrong Sora by replacing Kairi in his memories with herself.
"That is not me in those dreams. It's someone else." Namine protested as she turned her back on Roxas.
It was really Xion. And Roxas doesn't remember. No one does. Another thing Namine is guilty about because she's told Riku what will happen if Xion remained. And even told Xion who she was that made things difficult for her friends.
"It is you. I know it is." Roxas reached his hand out to her. "I believe my dreams are trying to tell us something. If Sora and Kairi are meant to be together. Maybe we are meant to be together as well. But….Maybe more than friends."
Namine gasped looking out as she heard that. She felt a tear roll down her cheek hearing that. All she ever wanted was to be loved. Something more than just a friend. But all her life she was called a witch. By the Organization and by DIZ.
"You know that's impossible Roxas. We don't have hearts." Namine stated looking down.
"But we're half a person. You know it as well. You said it!" Roxas reminded her as he stepped closer. "If we are a part of Sora and Kairi. Why aren't we entitled to what they have?"
"Because they're real. And they deserve each other." Namine stated and wiped her tears as she said with her voice breaking. "But I don't deserve you."
She stepped away and stood on the shore of the beach. Her feet felt the water and the sensation of the salty ocean on her baby skin of her legs. What if Roxas is right. If they don't have hearts then they shouldn't have feelings. So why does her feet feel the ocean? Why was she crying?
Could the rules be changing for them? Do they really not have hearts? Or they just don't know that they're different from the other Nobodies? Is it all because of Sora?
To counteract Namine's denial and Roxas' passion. the magic of Fantasia began to work. As Roxas began to sing.
"You know I want you~ It's not a secret I try to hide~ I know you want me~ So don't keep sayin' our hands are tied~" Roxas bean singing as his hand reached out to Namine. Who was walking slowly away from Roxas as he followed her slowly. "You claim it's not in the cards~ And fate is pullin' you miles away~ And out of reach from me~ But you're here in my mind~ So who can stop me if I decide~ That you're my destiny?~"
Namine froze and shook her head trying not to cry as she went back for her flip flops. But Roxas kept following her.
"What if we rewrite the stars?~ Say you were made to be mine!~ Nothing could keep us apart~ You'd be the one I was meant to find!~" Roxas sang as he got in front of Namine before she could pick up her flops. He stood smiling in her face and touched it as if she could feel it. But couldn't, due to him not being there fully. "It's up to you, and it's up to me~ No one can say what we get to be!~ So why don't we rewrite the stars?~ Maybe the world could be ours~...Tonight~"
Namine smiled in his face but faltered as reality was too strong for her happiness. She turned and took a few steps away as she used her illusion abilities to shift reality.
Roxas was staggered as if an explosion went off. And he was standing at the bottom of a white spiral of stairs going up. While Namine stood a quarter up the stairs within view of Roxas. In between the spiral were animated portraits of Sora's memories that were spinning around in unison like a spinning display.
And Namine began to sing as she was looking up with her back to Roxas.
"You think it's easy~ You think I don't wanna run to you~ But there are mountains~ And there are doors that we can't walk through~" Namine sings as Roxas goes up the stairs to her to take her hand. But Namine turned to face him and backed up while he was stepping up. As if they were dancing. And as his hand was hovering in her face as if he was touching her. "I know you're wondering why~ because we're able to be~ Just you and me within these walls~ But when we go outside, you're gonna wake up and see~ That it was hopeless after all~"
Namine demonstrated this by waving a portrait of Roxas's memory of him sitting on the tower with her but waking up in a void. Then when the painting came around Namine disappeared and reappear at the vert top of the stairs. Roxas looked up with his eyes wide as Namine's bare feet stood at the top of the steps, her tiptoes standing at the edge of the stairs which led to a drop in between the memories. Then she dove off with her arms out and her legs in the air. Roxas held his hand out to her looking worried as she fell and spun in the air causing the images to spread out around her.
"No one can rewrite the stars~ How can you say you'll be mine?~ Everything keeps us apart~ And I'm not the one you were meant to find~" Namine sang beautifully as she fell past Roxas into a round glass mural pool at the bottom.
Once she splashed into the water. The area shifted into an undersea environment and Roxas was shocked to find himself floating in under water as a mermaid with a light blue dolphin like tailfin. And Namine re-emerged from the seaweed and appeared in front of Roxas as a mermaid. With a yellow tailfin and a white shell bra. Then she swam off with Roxas chasing her down a water tunnel which displayed many of Sora's memories of his past events.
"It's not up to you~ It's not up to me~ When everyone tells us what we can be~ How can we rewrite the stars?~ Say that the world can be ours~ Tonight~" Namine sang as she rose up at the end doing a flip and jumping out of the water. Roxas jumped after her.
And suddenly they were both human again as Roxas was floating in space and could breathe in his normal form. As he was standing and hopping on asteroids. Chasing after Namine who was skipping away on the asteroids. Then her feet kicked off as she floated fast across space and Roxas lept after her.
"All I want is to fly with you!~ All I want is to fall with you!~" They both sang together in unison as They bounced from moon to moon. With Roxas chasing Namine like they were dancing. "So just give me all of you!~"
"It feels impossible!~" Namine sang in denial.
"It's not impossible!~" Roxas replied while singing
"Is it impossible?!~" Namine sang in hope.
"Say that it's POSSIBLE!" They both sang as Roxas caught her hand and they both began to dance with low gravity on a moon.
"How do we rewrite the stars?!~ Say you were made to be mine?!~ Nothing can keep us apart!~
'Cause you are the one I was meant to find!~" They both sang and danced as they smiled. Namine had her arms wrapped around Roxas's neck as he had his arms wrapped protectively around her. As they flew across the moon. "It's up to you!~ And it's up to me!~ No one can say what we get to be!~ And why don't we rewrite the stars?!~ Changing the world to be ours!~"
Then as they landed they were back at the beach in Twilight Town. And the sun was starting to rise. They both smiled and gazed into each other's eyes. Roxas was slowly leaning down to kiss her. But Namine held her fingers on his lips to stop him as she smiled sadly at her.
"You know I want you~ It's not a secret I try to hide~ But I can't have you~ We're bound to break and my hands are tied~" Namine sang softly and sadly as she looked at him with tears building up in her eyes. And then she walked away.
Roxas looked down sadly and back over at Namine before he faded away. Namine picked up her flip-flops and put them back on her feet as she looked back to see Roxas was gone. Then she walked away from the beach wiping her tears away as the sun rose.
Namine wanted nothing more than to be with Roxas. But they were Nobodies. And their kind are not entitled to love.
Morning back in Arendelle…..
Maverick was sitting in the nursery while wearing a red bathrobe over his armored form and wearing Sonic bedroom slippers. He was sitting in a rocking chair while holding his baby sister Mia in his arms. Mia was being quiet and staring at her big brother with beautiful eyes and wiggling her hands and blue sock clad feet.
Mia listened like she was interested as her big brother was telling her tales of things he has done as The Maverick
"And so after I personally vanquish Deathstick Bird. The multiverse was at peace. Until a metro sexual Beach Boy with an anime haircut and some Cartoon Network shoes, came in and stole the spotlight. Now I have to pick up where he left off after he took one hell of a power nap, from fighting a cosmic nutcase who used to run the place that I used to sneeze in as a toddler." Maverick joked at the last part of the story.
Or at least the part he left off on.
"Hehehehe…." Mia quietly giggled like a baby at Maverick's silly tone in his metallic voice.
"Yeah you feel me. So I ended up employing Sora to my team and I let him take over like Disney Town running the Marvel Universe. Like that will ever happen." Maverick snorted and said. "But I have to admit. Out of all the keychain swinging folks that I've met. Which were not that many. Spike made more of an impression than any of them."
Mia stared at him with her baby gums showing like any three month old would.
"Well maybe not as big as me. But who knows? Maybe big enough for a franchise that will stop for more than a decade. And will have to depend on prequels, midquels and special additions to keep it on life support until they finally get off their asses and make a part three." Maverick quipped.
Mia just continued to stare at him as if she was intrigued.
"But I digress. That's what I'm here for. To make sure all of Sora's cosmic trips don't end with him hanging off the edge of a cliff." Maverick quipped and mused down at his baby sister. "But enough about the dork in double footlongs. How's your morning been so far? Am I still number one on your list?"
Then Mia grabbed his metallic finger and held onto it with her tiny baby hand, she really loved him.
"Glad to hear it. You're a great listener. It's a shame you're gonna lose that talent when you get old enough to walk in heels." Maverick smirked down at her while he tickled her belly making her giggle.
Just then he heard some footsteps and the door opened. It was Heidi, the nanny of the children of the castle. And Gerda the head maid next to her. They came in and smiled at the caring Maverick and his baby sister in his arms as she began to gnaw on his finger with her gums.
"Pardon me Young Prince. But breakfast is ready and your mother is expecting you and your companions to be downstairs." Heidi said to Maverick.
"Nice! Ice Cube here is hungry enough to tear through my armor." Maverick joked which made them chuckle. Then he shifted back into Aiden who was wearing his princely attire while he stood up and handed Mia to Gerda.
"Come along Sweetheart, are you hungry? Yes you are." Gerda cooed to Mia and addressed to Aiden. "Oh I almost forgot. We have a guest from Disney Town here to speak with you all." Gerda announced.
"Who?" Aiden asked curiously.
Later down at the dining room…..
The Guest was from Disney Castle more specifically. It was Queen Minnie. Much to Donald's relief that it wasn't Daisy. Queen Minnie came to Arendelle by the royal pass at the space bridge down stairs and was invited in by Queen Elsa and King J'son.
The Guardians and everyone was glad to see Minnie. And while everyone was enjoying her company and breakfast. The team was giving the Queen or Disney Town a full review of what they had seen and done. Leaving out unimportant info like what Victoria and Kairi were wearing in Agrabah.
"And so far, all we know is that the Organization are following us and while Maleficent and Pete make their point clear with their attempts to kill us with Heartless and parlor tricks. We still don't know the plan or intentions that the Nobodies have." Victoria reported.
"And we still don't know where King Mickey is." Donald stated sadly.
"But that doesn't mean he isn't still out there." Sora assured him.
"Yeah. We saw him last in Twilight Town. He seemed okay." Goofy agreed.
"Oh that's good to know." Minnie said in relief while Anna patted the poor mouse Queen's back for comfort.
"Let's not forget an exact double of all my best abilities forged in the body of a savage doppelganger. AKA my Nobody." Aiden reminded them while sipping his orange juice.
"I'm pretty sure Tori covered that part multiple times." Kairi remarked.
"Well if you had an evil clone who wanted to rip your arms off, y-" Aiden almost stated.
"He already did that." Victoria deadpanned about Aiden's past injuries from his fight with Dianex.
"Well if you had an evil clone who wanted to rip your arms off again. You'd feel the same way." Aiden stated.
"HE RIPPED YOUR ARMS OFF?!" Elsa roared in anger.
Not at Aiden but at his Nobody. Elsa can't help but be a protective mother. Even if Aiden needs no one to protect him.
Aiden spoke in his own defense. "No! He only sliced one of my arms off, but I put it back on after the fight." He assured his mother as if that it sounded better.
"Oh my goodness!" Minnie was shocked to hear that.
"You do realize that saying those words aren't helping your case, right?" Victoria inquired while staring with one eyebrow at her boyfriend.
"Given the laundry list of injuries I've taken over the years. Yeah, I shouldn't even have a case." Aiden argued.
"Except name one other person in this castle that finds it normal to have an arm removed." Elsa sternfully stated.
The Guardians looked over at Olaf who was on the far end of the table. The snowman was holding his right arm in his left arm. Using it to each for the grape jelly over the table. But it was inches away as he was grunting while wiggling his wooden fingers to try and reach the jelly.
Then the Guardians looked over at Elsa as if Aiden had his point proven in silence.
"Plus Groot being able to back his limbs is a bonus point so…" Kristoff pointed out that Baby Groot used to lose his arms as an adult tree.
"Point taken." Elsa sighed in defeat.
"Getting back to The King." Victoria rolled her eyes wanting to get back on topic.
"Yes?" J'son mused.
"The other king." Victoria groaned.
"What do you think King Mickey was doing in Twilight Town?" Kairi asked the team.
Sora, Donald and Goofy pondered for a moment before they answered.
"Well. We ran into the King at the train station. When we were being overrun by Nobodies." Goofy recalled.
"Yeah! And the king took them out!" Donald beamed.
"But before we left in a hurry, he told us to get on the train that took us to Yen Sid's tower." Sora added.
"Any idea why he was there?" Kristoff asked.
"Other than that and giving us the money to get on board the train. No, not really." Sora answered.
"Okay so. What was he doing there before you all showed up?" Aiden asked.
"I think the better question is. How did Sora end up in Twilight Town if he was in a different world?" J'son said.
"You mean the End Of The World?" Anna figured.
"The what?" Minnie inquired with a giggle.
"It's what Aiden calls it." Anna held her hands up in her defense.
"That's what I call it." Aiden agreed with a snicker and explained. "It's the world you visited after you left Hollow Bastion. Remember? You went there to fight Ansem and close the Door to Darkness?"
The reason Aiden and Victoria knew that is because they were told this by Master Yen Sid. Not to mention Aiden's past visions about Sora and hearing the story from Sora himself.
"Oh, right! Yeah! I remember. After that we….Got on a road and walked for a couple of days in a strange unknown world. Until we ran into Pluto who led us to…." Sora zoned out at that moment which confused everyone at the table except for Olaf who was busy eating grape jelly with Baby Groot.
"To what?" Kairi asked curiously.
"I can't remember." Sora admitted as he was thinking.
"Me too." Goofy tried thinking.
"Me Three." Donald said as well.
"Jiminy can't remember either. All we know is after that. We woke up in some kind of chamber. In an underground lab at an old abandoned mansion in Twilight Town." Sora stated.
"The old mansion in the woods?" Aiden inquired.
"Yeah." Sora nodded.
"Huh. A couple of college students filmed a musical fan film of the Conjuring over there." Aiden remarked and cringed. "Only I don't think the house was acting."
"If you're wondering son. That's Aiden's way of saying there is some strange crap happening at that place." J'son said to Sora.
"Did you ever search the old mansion?" Minnie asked curiously.
"We did more than search. Vic and I practically ransacked that place dozens of times over the few years I've been to Twilight Town. All we found was Zilch." Aiden gestured.
"Whoever owned that place knew how to hide it's secrets. And yet you're telling us that a secret lab was in that mansion?" Victoria quirked her eyebrows at Sora, Donald and Goofy.
"It sounds weird, I know. But that's where we woke up. And all Jiminy's journal told us about that place happened after we closed the Door was just a small note." Sora stated.
"And the note said?" Victoria inquired.
"Thank Namine." Sora remembered.
"Namine?" Kairi's eyes widened. "Like when I heard Roxas's voice, that was the name he called me."
"Except you were nowhere near Twilight Town or the old mansion." Donald pointed out to Kairi.
"So he must've been referring to someone else named Namine and he must've mistaken you for her." Goofy figured.
"So besides anything regarding the old mansion. There's only one important question." Queen Elsa figured.
"Who are Roxas and Namine?" Queen Minnie agreed.
"And why weren't we thinking of any of this when Roxas was brought up in the Underworld?" Victoria asked the team.
"The what?" Elsa and J'son inquired.
"Long story." Aiden and Victoria said in unison.
"Well in our defense we were pretty distracted at the time. With Hades and Herc losing his confidence. And not to mention Aiden running into Stormur for the first time." Sora listed the many reasons why they didn't think to speak about Roxas and Namine earlier.
"Well I think now it's an important subject." Kairi said optimistically. "Plus I think it's safe to say that if you heard about Namine in Twilight Town. And if Roxas knows her. Then we know why the gateway leads us back there."
"I agree Kairi. Which is why you and your team should head to Twilight Town and see if you can find out anything about Namine and Roxas. Who knows? Maybe you'll run into them." Minnie commissioned them.
"Or Mickey." Elsa understood. Which the Guardians nodded in agreement.
With the trail thin on where to go next. It's the only thing the team has to go on. The gateway Sora opened back in the Pride Lands led to Twilight Town for a reason. Roxas and Namine has to be it.
But how will Aiden react when he finds out those two are Nobodies, the same kind that killed his mother? Will he be understanding, conserving their dilemma? Or will the darkness of his past cloud his judgment towards them?
Back down in Mav Club…..
After finishing breakfast. The Guardians of the Multiverse walked down to Maverick's underground lair and went down the hall. With Sora and Aiden walking in the middle of the group. When they went past the hanger in view of Chip and Dale that were overseeing the construction of Aiden's drones, putting new tech and repairing old tech on the gummi ship.
Chip waved and asked Aiden. "Hey Aiden! Do you approve of the nitro charged fuel cells in the micro beams?!"
"Thrill me Pringle." Aiden winked.
"Uh….It's Chip." Chip rectified.
"I know. One of the best chips." Aiden quipped, making Chip and Dale laugh as the team went up to the space bridge.
"IRIS. open a path to Twilight Town." Aiden said to the lair's computer.
'Yes Maverick'. IRIS answered as the space bridge came on.
Earlier at the Usual Spot…..
It was about an hour since Namine left the train station after coming back from the beach. Now Namine was walking up Market Street to head back towards the train station. To try and find a way towards the Guardians. After her encounter with Roxas. She didn't have anywhere to go. She was either going to help them, make amends or pay for what she did. And with Aiden's hatred towards Nobodies. She was expecting the latter. And part of her was hoping for it. Because she couldn't run anymore. She lost it when she spoke with Roxas. She couldn't find peace or happiness because she felt like she didn't deserve it.
But Namine could find closure.
Then as she was going up the steep walkway. She saw the alleyway. And knew where that led. So she walked down the alley with her arms folded like she was walking in the rain looking sad. When she came up to the usual spot where Hayner and the gang liked to hangout . She peered her head in at the entrance.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Namine asked.
No answer came because it was a school day and Hayner's gang wasn't there yet. So Namine decided to wait there for them to return from school. She got inside and sat on the couch. With her arms wrapped around her knees. Despite being a Nobody, she felt nervous. Afraid for how this would end.
She sat there waiting for a while and was starting to get very sleepy. She had been walking for a while and felt the need to nod off. So Namine got up on the couch and laid her head down on the side arm of the sofa and drifted off to sleep.
Hours later after school….
"Hey there." A soft voice woke Namine up. As her eyes fluttered and she looked to see Hayner and Pence standing behind Olette who woke Namine up.
Namine looked startled as she sat up and stared at them looking worried.
"Oh! I'm so sorry." Namine squeaked out shyly. "I didn't mean to trespass. I'll just..."
Namine tried to get up only to stumble backwards into the couch.
"Easy. Hey are you okay?" Olette asked leaning forward to get a better look at Namine. "You seemed pretty out of it when we found you here."
"I'm...I'm Okay. I came here hoping to find someone named Sora." Namine answered shyly as she sat back up.
"Sora?" They all asked.
"We actually know Sora!" Pence beamed and said. "He'll more than likely show up again if you stick around."
"And if not. We know another weirdo that will help you out." Hayner grinned thinking about their friend Aiden.
"So. What's your name?" Olette asked as she sat next to Namine.
"Namine." Namine said politely as she gave a small smile.
"Nice to meet you Namine. And nice to see a smile." Olette chirped optimistically with a smile of her kown. "Where are you from?"
"Well...It's complicated." Namine said while looking down and rubbing her arm.
Much later in Sunset Torrance...
Sora and the team searched everywhere for Roxas and Namine. But first they tried the Old Mansion. But they couldn't find the entrance to the underground lab there. They tried their keyblades and other magic there. But they couldn't find it. Aiden suggest that they tear the place apart starting with the floor. But Victoria and Kairi stopped him seeing how that the place was already falling apart.
So they moved on from the old mansion and tried searching the Town. They went around different restaurants and shops asking if anyone knew Roxas or Namine. Aiden even hacked into the City database at the Twilight Town police department.
They still found no trace of Roxas or Namine. Given that Roxas kept a low profile wearing a black hood. It's impossible that anyone would know or recognize him.
So the Guardians went down to the neighborhood in Sunset Torrance. Because Aiden needed to ask the one person who likes to investigate anything strange happening in town.
"So yeah. Hayner and Aiden go way back. They met on Aiden's ninth birthday." Victoria told the team.
"Yep. Hayner, Pence and Olette were even there during Elsa and J'son's wedding." Goofy smiled.
"So you know them too? Is there anyone I've met that you don't know?" Sora asked, sounding jealous and cynical.
"I don't know Tarzan. Or Satan." Aiden shrugged.
"I am Groot." Baby Groot corrected that the monster Sora fought before Ansem, was not the devil.
"Chernobog? No wonder he doesn't get a lot of attention." Aiden snorted.
Once they came up to the right house.
"This is where Pence lives. If anyone's going to know about the weirdos of this town. It's him." Victoria stated as they went up to the front door.
"Speaking of which. Is his parents out of town?" Aiden asked Victoria.
"The last time we texted, he said so. Why?" Victoria shrugged.
Aiden smirked mischievously and turned to Sora. "Hey Spike. You wanna hear the most annoying sound in the multiverse?" He asked playfully.
"Oh God no. Please Aiden." Victoria begged and groaned as Aiden started slapping his palm on the door bell rapidly.
*DINGDONGDINGDONGDINGDONGDINGDONGDINGDONGDINGDONGDINGDONG*
"Yeah that's pretty annoying." Sora gave Aiden a strange look.
"Nope. Not that." Aiden snickered.
Then the door flung open as an old lady with hair rollers and a green gelled face mask stormed out and screamed.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING RINGING THE DOORBELL LIKE THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY EVENING NAP?!" The old lady shrieked loudly, making all of them wince.
"That." Aiden quipped while stifling a laugh.
The old lady was Pence's Aunt Charlotte. Who was house sitting for Pence's parents while they were out of town on a business trip. And she was just enjoying her nap until Aiden came over.
"Sorry Ma'am. Is Pence home?" Victoria asked with an apologetic stare to the old lady that had her nose flaring in anger.
She looked cranky.
"He's out with his friends at their Usual Spot. You'll find him there and hopefully your wise ass little boyfriend will be in hell! BEFORE I TAKE MY MEDICATION!" Old Lady Charlotte gritted her teeth glaring daggers at Aiden who was standing there looking smug.
"Thanks. You're a great singer." Aiden quipped with a wink.
"DROP DEAD!" Old Lady Charlotte bellowed before she slammed the door shut.
Which was loud enough to make Donald trip.
"Fun fact, that's how she says good night." Aiden snickered.
"You're a real crowd pleaser Aid." Victoria rolled her eyes with a grin.
"You know when I met Hayner. He seemed like he was in a bad mood at first." Sora stated as they were walking away.
"Ah he's like that every time the school year starts here. He likes school about as much as a root canal." Aiden remarked.
Down at Tram Common...
The Guardians walked their way past the trolley when they saw a short little midget kid in a long pointy hat running past them.
It was Vivi. The shortest member of Seifer's gang.
"H-help! The Sandlot! It's Seifer!" Vivi yelled in terror as he ran by.
"Is there a Harry Potter opening I missed?" Aiden inquired about Vivi's attire.
"No, that's just Vivi." Victoria deadpanned.
"Oh. He's grown a little bit." Aiden remarked.
"Come on. Let's go see what the trouble is." Sora stated and they agreed as they ran to the Sandlot.
Down at the Sandlot...
Seifer, Rai and Fuu were on the ground with their struggler weapons scattered. They were beaten and worn down as they were surrounded by several Nobody Husks.
Seifer struggled to move as Sora and the team arrived.
"We'll take it from here!" Sora held his keyblade out.
Then Kairi, Aiden, Victoria and the others came running up with their weapons drawn as they began to fight the Dusks.
Kairi swung at two of them and her spinning slash attacks took them out. Victoria jumped over Kairi and used her electric slash attacks to take out three of them. Then when she landed on one knee, Kairi ran up Victoria's back and jumped into the air to thrust her keyblade into four more.
While the girls were handling their own. Sora and Aiden were taking on a group of Berserker Nobodies. Aiden would use his strength to smash his keyblades into them. Knocking them across the Sandlot while Sora would take one of their sledgehammers and use one to slam them into the floor.
Donald and Goofy were taking on a group of Dancer Nobodies. Because they dance to dodge and counter combat attacks. Donald used his stop spells and ice spells to freeze one so Goofy would use fire spell attacks and swing his shield to take them on.
Baby Groot was running around in case circles screaming as he was trying to grab a Nobody Dusk. But they were too big and fast and he was wearing himself down.
So far there was no big Nobody creature or Stormur to feel like a big boss at the end of the fight. So since this was all that was going on. It could be this attack was to draw the attention of the Guardians.
So the Nobodies even want to kill Sora and his friends? Or are they using them?
Once the fight was over and all the enemies were taken care of. The Guardians stood back up and looked around.
"Guess that's that." Victoria wiped her hands.
"A moment of silence for the Prepubescent Zippers." Aiden bowed his head for a short second and quipped. "Nah screw em."
"Impressive." the Guardians heard someone say to the side. They turn to see an organization member, who goes by Saix, standing a few meters away, Clapping his hands at their recent battle with his hood still up, hiding his face from them.
"Oh how cute. A hooded reprobate liked our dance. Now I feel accomplished." Aiden sarcastically stated, a fake tear rolling down his cheek.
"By the way, have you seen a man named Axel?" Saix asked, catching the attention of Kairi, who's eyes widened in realization at the name of the man who tried to kidnap her, and Aiden, who remembered that encounter as well. "I expect he's here somewhere."
"Like we care." Sora said, dropping into a fighting stance, the others following suit.
"You see, Axel's no longer acting in our best interest." Saix stated.
"Sounds like you can't keep your hounds on their leashes, huh?" Victoria snarked out.
"Is he with the Organization, too?" Goofy asked.
"Yes." Saix said.
"You havin' a fight?" Donald asked.
"Not a very Organized Organization." Sora quipped.
"Don't let your guard down. Axel will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants from you. Even if it turns you into a Heartless." Saix pointed at Sora with a warning.
"Thanks for the tip, Grim Hippie. But if you can't tell. We got it covered." Aiden mocked.
"Yeah. We can take care of ourselves just fine." Sora smirked.
"Glad to hear it. Axel Aside. It will break our hearts to hear something happened to you." Saix stated.
"Hearts? You don't have any hearts!" Donald protested.
"True. We don't have hearts." Saix stated as he pulled back his hood revealing his face with the X scar between his eyes and blue long hair. "But we remember what it was like. That's what makes us special."
"Whaddya mean?" Goofy asked.
"We know very well how to injure a heart. Just ask your friend the Maverick." Saix gestured to Aiden who was glaring at him.
"Just when I was almost feeling sorry for you assholes." Aiden sneered."If you really care about all of us, why send your underdogs to kill us? Why send in Stormur?"
"Who said we cared about all of you? You've served your purpose Maverick. Now that we created Stormur. You're just a loose end. Unless. You can take him down first." Saix grinned.
"If that's a metaphor for future job application. I'd rather work as Hillary Clinton's bunion scraper than work the dicks that kill my mom." Aiden insulted.
"I hope you'll hold on to that hatred. You'll need it for later." Saix stated before looking at Sora. "As for you Sora. You just keep on fighting those Heartless."
Then as Saix opened a dark portal to leave.
"On my signal. We'll jump in and hitchhike his ride home." Aiden whispered to Sora.
He figured that each Organization member always returns to their lair after giving the Guardians a lecture.
"Got it." Sora agreed.
"Don't be reckless, Guardians. Do you want to end up like Riku?" Saix warned as he could hear their whispers.
Sora and Kairi were shocked to hear the name of their best friend mentioned like he was in a fatal accident.
"What?!" Sora gasped.
"Riku?!" Kairi gasped.
"Spike what are you doing? Focus." Aiden hissed.
Then while they were distracted Saix quickly disappeared.
"Crap!" Aiden quickly looked back at the dark portal and dashed in super speed trying to jump in. But he ran past it and slammed into a wall, cracking it with his elbow to break his run.
"Hey wait!" Sora called out to Saix as the portal vanished in thin air.
"Damn it!" Aiden exclaimed in anger as stood up and teleported back over to Sora. And he inquired in a not so thrilling tone. "Spike what the hell was that? We had an open ticket!"
"And then he mentioned Riku!" Sora yelled defensively. "He made it sound like he was-"
"It doesn't ***king matter what he said Spike! They'll say just about anything to get ahead of us! They know how to get personal!" Aiden argued.
"You think I don't know that?!" Sora shot back
"Not enough to keep it in gear!" Aiden snapped.
"Says the guy with a short fuse!" Donald argued.
"You're one to talk!" Victoria shot at him.
"Guys!" Goofy tried to stop.
"STOP IT!" Kairi shouted which got their attention. Then she spoke to ease the tension. "We've made it this far together. Let's keep it that way."
The team stopped arguing as everyone was giving a few short breathes. Baby Groot was the only one covering his ears down below them. He never liked arguments having the mind of a baby.
"Alright. But when we get another golden pass to the finish line. Don't hesitate next time. Because I won't. We owe it that much to the people who have suffered because of those empty shell." Aiden warned Sora in a serious tone.
"Right." Sora said in agreement, sounding just as serious as Aiden.
"Hey, how 'bout you get out of my Town now?" They hear Seifer speak, making them turn to see him and his gang standing there. "You've caused enough trouble."
"As usual, your people skills are sublime." Aiden quipped sarcastically.
"Have it your way!" Donald snapped back at Seifer before turning to the others. "C'mon, guys."
"Hold it!" Seifer stated firmly, making everyone face him again.
"Make up your mind!" Donald snapped, stomping his foot.
Seifer then held up a trophy to them.
"This goes to the strongest guy in Twilight Town." Seifer stated firmly, making Sora point at himself in confirmation.
Sora took a moment to process this before smiling.
"Thanks, but..." Sora started, gesturing to himself and his friends. "We don't really need it."
Instead of replying Seifer walked up to Goofy and shoved the trophy into his arms before he and his friends began walking away.
"You should feel flattered. That's Seifer's tough way of saying thank you." Victoria remarked.
"Well. At least someone is." Sora shot Aiden a snarky look.
"Put a sock in it, Spike." Aiden snorted.
"Hey guys!" They heard and turned to see Pence running up to them.
"Sweet. Just the nerd we needed to see." Aiden grinned, seeing Pence and gave him a fist bump. "How's it goin Pence?"
"Pretty good. Nice to see you too, Sora." Pence returned the fist bump and greeted Sora.
"Thanks. You too." Sora greeted him back.
"Do you know anyone named Namine?" Pence asked.
"Wh- yeah! Well...Sort of. We were looking for someone going by that name!" Sora answered, looking anxious to see her.
Donald and Goofy felt the same way.
"Then you all better come to the station." Pence insisted.
Down at the Train Station Plaza...
When the team followed Pence up to the plaza entrance of the train station. While overlooking the view of the sun setting in the silhouette of the train station's clock tower. Which is a sight that never gets old for this town.
Hayner came running up from the uphill streets with Olette in tow.
"He-ey!" Hayner came up and fisted bump Aiden. "Looks like you hired Sora and the Dynamic Toons to the team, I knew you couldn't keep in just below three forever."
"Pretty much Hays. You know I can't say 'no' to anyone who's cute enough to wear Hobbit size sneakers." Aiden quipped teasingly.
"Hey!" Sora sounded offended.
"Hi Sora." Olette greeted with a wave and shared a girl hug with Victoria. "Nice to see you again Tori. Has Aiden been behaving himself?"
"I know how to keep him in line." Victoria winked, making her giggle and Aiden rolled his eyes in the background.
"Well well. Who's your new friend?" Olette asked optimistically while noticing Kairi. Since she's their newest member.
"My name is Kairi. I live on the Destiny Islands with Sora." Kairi smiled and shook Olette's hand.
"Oooh. You're his girlfriend?" Olette's eyes lit up at the thought.
"N-No!" Sora blurted out in panic.
"Not yet." Aiden quipped.
"We're just friends!" Sora stated loudly, blushing deeply.
"Sorry to say Sora. But no one believes this town is born with a bull crap meter." Victoria said while smirking.
Donald and Goofy were quietly laughing in the background while everyone was shooting Sora and Kairi with teasing looks which made them blush for cover.
"Alright I think they've been punished enough." Aiden eased them while snickering. Before he asked Hayner. "P told us you guys know 'Namine'. Right?"
"Yeah...Well. She's this blonde girl who came by our Usual Spot. She said she was looking for you Sora." Hayner said while looking at Sora.
"Well then. Why isn't she here?" Sora asked.
Hayner and Olette looked at each other.
"That's another story." Olette nervously stated.
Earlier at the Usual Spot...
Namine was sitting at the sofa explaining how she knew Sora. And how she helped wake him up from his year long sleep. But she left out the part about her being a Nobody. And everything about Roxas
All of them listened with intrigue as Namine told them about Castle Oblivion and what the Nobodies did there. And what happened to Sora's memories. Given that Hayner, Pence and Olette have been to Arendelle and heard so much about the worlds Aiden and Victoria had seen. It wasn't hard for them to believe everything Namine was telling them.
"So I've been on my own ever since." Namine finished telling them.
"That's some story." Pence remarked.
"Yeah. It was really noble of you to help him despite everything Namine." Olette complemented her.
"Thank you." She smiled meekly.
"But I gotta ask. Why weren't you there when Sora woke up?" Hayner asked curiously.
"Oh well..." Namine couldn't think of an answer in fear that she might say too much.
"Let me guess. It's complicated?" Hayner asked with a smirk.
"Yes." Namine nodded sadly.
"Hey no sweat. If you stick around. Sora is bound to show up." Pence assured the blonde Nobody.
"Yeah, he said he'll be back." Hayner agreed.
"And who knows. Maybe Aiden will help you when he comes by." Olette smiled optimistically.
Namine had never been around friendly people like these. Except maybe Sora and his friends. To be around such a positive atmosphere is a welcoming change for her.
Too bad it was short lived immediately.
"There you are." They heard a voice that made Namine gasp.
Everyone turned to see a Dark Corridor opening, and Saix walking out, bringing a look of terror form on Namine's face.
"You were difficult to track down." Saix stated, Hayner, Pence, and Olette tensing up in anticipation of what might come next. "You were a very valuable asset to the Organization Namine. But after Castle Oblivion. We can't afford any loose ends to interfere. Including you."
Saix began walking towards her, with Hayner and Pence attempting to stop him by rushing him. But Saix just pushed them aside like they were nothing, causing them to hit the walls.
Saix stood in front of Namine and Olette, both paralysed by fear. Saix reached and grabbed Namine's hands. Then he tied her wrists with ropes of darkness and began to pull her towards the dark corridor.
Namine tried resisting. But all it did was cause her to lose her sandals from her trying to pull her bound hands from Saix's grip and kick in the air. Trying to get away.
"Let go of me!" Namine begged as she continued to kick about until the heels of her bare feet dragged against the ground. "Let go!"
The Twilight trio were helpless as they watched poor Namine and her kidnapper enter the dark corridor just before it disappeared.
And just like that. Namine was gone. Taken by Saix.
Now at the Train Station Plaza….
"And just like that she was gone." Olette said sadly.
"What did the kidnapper look like?" Kairi asked.
"Let me guess, guy in a black coat?" Victoria asked sarcastically.
"Yeah, only he had long blue hair like he was cast in a generic manga based cartoon." Pence said as he described.
The team gasped as they realized.
"Hey, that's the guy that we were just fighting!" Sora yelled.
"Son of a bitch." Aiden muttered in frustration as he crossed his arms.
"Sorry." Hayner looked down along with Pence and Olette.
"Hey, it's not your fault. Come on, cheer up!" Sora assured them. Then he sighed. "Like I can even say that…..I really blew it."
"Did she leave anything behind before she was taken?" Victoria asked them.
"Well. She lost her sandals during the struggle." Pence held out Namine's sandal.
"Huh. Good thing she doesn't have Rapunzel sense in fashion." Aiden quipped as he used his ring to scan the sandals. The second he finished he stated to the team. "The soil and street residue embedded underneath suggests she was on another world yesterday. The traces came from Hollow Bastion, for some reason."
"Then that's where we'll have to go!" Sora stressed which made Goofy trip and drop the trophy Seifer gave them.
The marbles fell off the trophy and rolled away which made Hayner grab the red one. Pence grabbed the green one and Olette grabbed the yellow one.
"That was close." Pence said in relief.
Sora grabbed the blue one while looking at it with intrigue. It made him hold it out while facing the sun which made it sparkle in the light. Even much to Kairi's fascination.
Goofy was curious as he pulled out another blue marble from the empty sack of money King Mickey gave them earlier for the train at the start of their adventure. Goofy was wondering how they even have a duplicate of the blue marble.
Hayner, Pence and Olette held their marbles out in view of the sun making them sparkle. While Donald, Aiden and Victoria were looking around and staring at them in confusion.
Sora Felt like he was another person at that moment. Because someone else in another life won a strugglers competition and won the trophy. He too did the same thing to his marble before he lost it.
That person was The Roxas.
"Spike?" Aiden tried getting his attention.
"Sora?" Donald tried to do the same thing.
"Sora, snap out of it." Kairi shook him out of his trance.
"Huh? Wha..." Sora came to himself.
"Are you okay Sora?" Goofy asked.
"Yeah you all were looking like you were saluting and star gazing at the same time. What was that about?" Victoria inquired.
"I….Have no idea." Hayner came to himself as well.
"Was it something in the air?" Pence wondered.
"I don't know." Olette replied as she glanced at the money bag Goofy was holding.
"Right…. I'm just gonna pretend that didn't happen and give you all a recap on what's important. What happened to Hollow Bastion, find out where Mickey is. Figure out Organization XIII's end goal, if not find out what their next step is. And rescue our mysterious damsel. And find out how she's connected to your summer coma." Aiden listed what to do next. "Did I leave anything out?"
"I think that just about covers it." Sora agreed.
"What can we do?" Olette asked as she and the others wanted to be helpful in the Guardians' situation.
"Remember that old mansion in the woods? You know the place where Hay's older brother filmed that God awful fan film?" Aiden asked.
"Ugh. Don't remind me." Hayner shuttered as he was reminded of that.
"As soon as you can head down there. It's possible that Namine's kidnappers were using that place as a front for something bigger." Victoria told them.
"How big?" Hayner asked with his eyes lighting up in excitement.
"Like 'they will blow you to kingdom come or lock you up forever for even hearing about it', big." Victoria stated.
"Yes!" Hayner pumped his fist in the air.
"Our kind of danger!" Pence beamed with him while Olette rolled her eyes and giggled.
"Which is why I suggest you guys head down to the Mav Club and grab some weapons before you go play Scooby Doo with that house." Aiden advised.
"Right. Black-Ops like us need the right tools." Hayner said in a deep voice while posing like a soldier holding an assault rifle.
Pence tried doing the same but ended up tripping and making Olette giggle.
"What have we done?" Victoria facepalm herself.
"IRIS ready the train back home for all of us. And make sure there's enough NyQuil on board in the vending machine." Aiden spoke to his A.I. to summon the train back home as they walked into the train station's front door.
"Wait, don't we need tickets?" Sora asked.
"No Spike. I control the train back home. As in, it's free." Aiden answered.
"Then why do I need to pay for tickets the first time I rode on board?!" Sora exclaimed.
"You asked for the express way instead of standard. That's what you get for not doing your research first." Aiden smirked teasingly as they went inside the station.
"Oh man!" Sora groaned which made Kairi giggle.
In spite of all the worlds the guardians have been to. The people they've met and the places they have seen. Every journey reaches a point where things are about to get harder than ever before. Sora was fortunate that his power are stronger
then when he first started. Because he was getting close.
And it is about to become halftime.
That's all for now folks!
I hope you all enjoyed that parody of 'Rewrite The Stars' from 'The Greatest Showman'. I mean since both Jesse McCartney and Meaghan Martin are both great singers. Just imagine how beautiful they would sound singing that song.
Also for those of you that are anxious to see her rescued. Don't hold your breath. Because I replaced Kairi's kidnapping and rescue from the Organization's lair with Namine instead. But what will happen when that time comes will be a very touching moment for her. In the end it will pay off for Namine and Roxas. But don't expect it in the next chapter.
Also if you can sense that moment of tension between Sora and Aiden. That's a hint for something to clear up in Aiden's perspective towards Nobodies. They killed his mother and he still holds resentment and hatred toward their kind. But he's not aware that Roxas and Namine are Nobodies as well.
Do you think he will take it well if he understood who they are? We'll just have to wait and see. For now I'm going to go watch Loki and see if it's worth something like that last two MCU shows were.
Thank you for reading! Be sure to leave a comment to let me know your thoughts!
And as always Disney/Square Enix fans!
FISTBUMP!