Author's Note:
IT'S A HOLIDAY MIRACLE! TheSavageMan100 is here, and after getting busy with work and stuff, for like, THREE MONTHS OR SO, I was able to come back in one piece. And again, I must apologize for keeping you waiting. Life is hard, y'know? Now that the apology's outta the way, this is the second chapter of the second Traverse Town arc, and I'm pretty sure most of you are stoked to seeing the one who's flying through the skies with wings on a rainbow fire. Some of you might've guessed it already, but I'm not gonna spoil. Begin reading the chapter to find out. Enjoy!
Third District
"Gawrsh, the number of things we gotta find just keeps growin'," Goofy said, as he scratched an itch at the back of his neck. He and the rest of the group shut the door behind them as they reentered the Third District, letting sink in the new information they had acquired from the mystical house. Goofy counted his fingers to list the recent objectives added to their quest, "We're gonna find some missin' pages, look for more Summon Gems..."
"Not a problem, really," Donald faced the others over his shoulder. "We'll just get 'em one at a time. We might run into one or two along the way."
"Sounds like a plan," Wendy said cheerily. "There's a lot of stuff to do, but I know we're not giving up."
"It sure is nice to explore new places and meet new faces for a change, but do you know what's the big kicker? A real life fairy!" Sherria beamed. "We haven't seen one in our world, but we did in a different one. Congratulations, Fairy Tail! You found the one thing your guild's named after! I'm so happy for you!" She shook the hand of every Fairy Tail wizard present in the party, each of them startled at first, but nonetheless felt a sense of pride for that accomplishment. The rest of the guild would be astonished at the existence of a fairy beyond the borders of their world, if they were present. As soon as the Sky God Slayer stopped shaking hands, a thought occurred to her. "Which brings me to this one last thing. Everybody's been talking about it these days. It's the ultimate question about fairies, the main reason why they're a mystery. Why haven't we asked the Fairy Godmother?"
"You mean the question about fairies having tails?" Alzack asked. "Does the Fairy Godmother even have one?"
"Nope, doesn't look like she has a tail," Goofy shook his head. "We didn't see it pokin' under her clothes."
"Oh, don't be ridiculous!" Donald scoffed. "Fairies with tails? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!"
"Well, maybe it is crazy," Bisca shrugged. "But it's also a burnin' mystery."
"Speaking of, Fairy Tail represents a sense of adventure for one to be able to discover more about mysteries and fate," Carla pointed out. "That is the very cornerstone of our guild. So far, the existence of fairies is brought to light in front of us, a lucky few who ventured beyond our world. But whether fairies have tails or not remains to be seen."
"I guess the name of your guild makes sense," Goofy smiled. "Fairy Tail's all about adventure and lotsa fun stuff. Nothin' like the great outdoors to strength the bond between friends! It's like goin' fishin' in the lake!" He added with a slight chuckle, "Plus, it's a pretty cute name."
"That's true," Sherria admitted with a giggle. "Fairy Tail's a cute name."
"Should we ask the Fairy Godmother?" Wendy asked. "About fairies having tails?"
"Keep dreaming, Wendy," Donald rolled his eyes. "We don't have time for this. The sooner we get to Cid, the better."
"He's right," Carla nodded. "The mystery can wait. For now, our task comes first."
"At least some people aren't as fangirly as Sherria," Donald sighed. "Last time, she went cuckoo over fighting a—"
He was interrupted when five Soldier Heartless jumped out from the shadows, prompting a surprised quack from his beak. The lesser number of Heartless was accompanied by more Soldiers, Air Soldiers, Large Bodies, Yellow Operas, and Green Requiems, storming the Third District in droves.
"Wak! Why won't they leave us alone?!" Donald yelped.
"That's an awful lot!" Wendy cried.
"We've been through worse," Alzack shrugged.
"It's a carnival of creeps out here!" Bisca remarked.
"There's too many of them!" Sherria implied.
Wendy remembered the new summon ability she gained, and materialized the Jungle King in her hand. "I guess now's a better time than any. I'm gonna use the Summon Gem!" She stared at the invisible aura pulsating within the steel, waiting to be released. "Maybe this oughta can even the odds!"
Goofy asked, "Huh? You're usin' the Summon Gem?"
Wendy nodded, "Yeah!"
Donald urged, "Alright, then! Get to it!"
Sherria beamed, "Go for it, Wendy!"
Carla encouraged, "Good luck!"
Following the Fairy Godmother's advice, Wendy shut her eyes and clenched her free hand around her heart. She poured her focus and willpower into the radiance of the Keyblade as per the first step in commencing the summoning. "Summon Gem: Earthshine!" In response to the booming purity in her voice, a divine light emanated from her hand, and the steel of the Keyblade mimicked the action. Wendy opened her eyes, grasped the Keyblade, and pointed the tip in a straight direction. As soon as the tip glowed with a majestic orb radiating the color of the Summon Gem, she raised the weapon aloft. The air festered with an azure mist, hiding the silhouette of a creature standing tall and proud, a dignified air of majesty shrouding the outline. Through the mist, the spirit of the Summon Gem was veiled in darkness, until he took a step forward, revealing his outward appearance. It was a lion with a dark red mane, yellow-orange fur, and a tail with a tuft of fur with the same color as his mane. The lion let out a mighty roar to the heavens, mirroring the actions of a king overseeing the stability of a vast kingdom.
No sooner had the lion taken shape in the Third District than he looked around in confusion, completely unaware of his new surroundings. "Wh-Where am I? The last thing I remember, I was fighting those strange creatures, and then everything went black..." He then turned to notice the horde of Heartless on the prowl, "And now I see more of them standing in front of me! What's going on here?!"
Everyone was awed at how successful Wendy's first attempt at summoning a special ally was. More importantly, what that ally looked like. Donald exclaimed, "It's a lion!"
Sherria remarked, "He looks mighty and fierce!"
Alzack agreed, "Not to mention big and vicious!"
Bisca wondered, "Does he look nice and friendly?"
The lion spotted Wendy and company on the opposite side, their presence unfamiliar to him. Where did these creatures come from? Were they enemies or allies? As a precautionary measure, he took a defensive crouch. One side was anticipating the other's movements, about to retaliate when provoked. The lion emitted a deep growl, his face demanding answers. "Who are you?"
Goofy cried out, "He can talk, too!"
Donald commented, "And here I thought Carla's the only talking cat!"
Carla muttered, "Oh, you think?"
The lion's impatience rose with his anger. "Who are you? Answer me!"
Sherria waved her hands defensively. "Whoa, take it easy, Mr. Lion. We're not looking for a fight."
The lion raised an eyebrow. "Huh? You're not?"
Wendy assured, "It's okay, we're your friends. I just brought you here with a little bit of magic, so you've got nothing to worry about. What's your name?"
Seeing that the new visitors were being friendly, the lion relaxed. "I'm Simba. Do you what's going on around here? What happened to me? And how I ended up in this place?"
Wendy answered, "I'll explain later. Right now, we gotta take care of these guys!"
Simba followed the direction of the Sky Maiden's finger. The first wave of Heartless advanced, determined to beat the living daylights out of the group with their fists and claws! In an instant, the lion's eyes narrowed with renewed vigor. "Leave this one to me!" He pounced and assaulted the enemies, tearing them asunder with his razor-sharp claws and teeth. Several tried to impede Simba's progress with magic and physical attacks, but they were easily outsmarted by the lion's unique combination of agility, ferocity, strength and speed that rivaled Sabor's, making everyone wonder who would win in a fight, had the leopard still lived. Soon afterwards, a significant number of Heartless fell victim to Simba's rage. A flock of Yellow Operas and Green Requiems charged, their magic at the ready. In response, the lion took a defiant position and let out an ear-piercing roar, the noise producing a powerful shockwave that vaporized the spellcasting Heartless.
With two waves of Heartless destroyed, Wendy and her friends were astounded by the end result; they chattered with positive comments on Simba's impressive abilities. "Whoa... Check it out! He's fast! He took 'em out with no problem! He's even faster than Sabor!"
Wendy walked over to Simba with a cheerful smile. "You're amazing, Simba! You handled them good!"
Simba chuckled at the Sky Maiden's comment. "Well, I wasn't born yesterday, you know. I can blow away anything that comes my way with just one roar."
Goofy interrupted, "Uh, fellas? More Heartless are comin'!" He motioned everyone to face another swarm on the offensive.
Wendy proposed, "Simba, we're gonna have to work together if we're gonna beat them. Are you up for this?"
Simba smirked, "Huh, I could ask the same of you, kid. Let's see if you can keep up with me."
Wendy beamed, "Alright! Let's do this!"
The rest of the group shouted resolutely, "Yeah!"
Waves of Heartless rolled into the center of the District, surrounding the heroes paired with a special comrade called forth by the Keyblade master. Authorizing full use of their weapons and magic, combined with Simba's deadly swipes and sonic roars, they held their ground against the onslaught. In a matter of minutes, the Heartless began to arrive less quickly, the last wave consisting of five Large Bodies, ten Air Soldiers, four Red Nocturnes, and four Yellow Operas. The battle royale was reaching its end. Noticing the dwindling number of enemies, a growl of determination shook Simba's voice. "Time to finish this..." He gathered his strength, the courage in his heart manifesting into an aura of golden energy wrapped around his body. Wendy and the others stopped to see the lion about to deliver what seemed to be the final blow. Soon enough, a massive roar was released, and the golden energy with it. When the noise subsided, the remaining Heartless were wiped out in the blink of an eye. Once again, the Third District was silent.
Wendy breathed, "Wow... Now I've seen everything."
Donald remarked, "Not bad, Simba. Not bad at all!"
Goofy grinned, "You sure showed 'em who's boss!"
Carla admired, "Most impressive."
Simba smiled back, "You guys are not too bad yourselves. Thanks for helping me out." He then made a serious face, "Now that they're out of the way, would anyone care to tell me exactly what's going on?"
Wendy confirmed, "Oh, right. My name is Wendy, and these are my friends." She gestured to herself and the rest of the group, then continued, "Simba, what's the last thing you saw before you came here?"
Simba recalled, "Well, the last thing I saw were these black creatures that came out of the ground."
Donald identified, "The Heartless!"
Simba raised an eyebrow, "Heartless? Is that what they're called? They're nothing out of the ordinary, that's for sure. I have to get back. My friends there—"
Wendy cut him off, "Your world's gone."
Simba's mind froze, and the world spun to a standstill. "What?"
Wendy confessed, "The Heartless you saw, they're the ones that took your world. There's nothing left of it." She looked down with a forlorn expression, "Your friends are gone, too. I'm sorry."
Simba gasped in horror upon hearing the news of the terrible tragedy. "Gone? You mean it...?" Wendy and company answered him with a collection of nods, as they felt sympathy for his loss. "No... Not again..." He shook his head in anguish, refusing to believe that everything in his life was stripped away. He could do nothing but pace back and forth in a vain attempt to outrun his insecurities. No matter how fast he moved, they continued to surge through him, but he didn't care. He just wanted to expel as much of his grief as possible. It broke Wendy's own heart to see the lion in such grief, just as she was caught up in her own a while ago. They both lost something, and they knew firsthand what loss could do to people. It was several minutes before Simba managed to stop pacing, and he was starting to calm down. Breathing heavily, he thought back to the information the group shared with him. "I can't believe it... My home, my friends, they're all gone..." He looked down in despair, "This has to be a mistake. I don't understand how this could happen."
Wendy couldn't bear to see the lion down in the dumps, and took it upon herself to appease his troubles. She approached him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, "It's okay, Simba. Everything's gonna be fine."
Simba worried, "What am I going to do now? Where do I go from here? I should've done something..."
Wendy explained, "It's a long story. You see, your heart was strong enough to survive after your world disappeared, and was sealed within a Summon Gem. The Fairy Godmother released you to help us fight the Heartless. With my Keyblade..." She raised the aforementioned weapon, "...I can summon you at anytime. We're gonna need you to help us save the worlds from the Heartless."
Simba blinked, "So you summoned me to help you fight these things? Is that what I'm here for?" Wendy nodded again. His grief was soon replaced with a glimmer of restored confidence. "Well, count me in. I'll help you take care of the monsters that took my home away from me."
Wendy added on a brighter note, "There's more. If we stop the Heartless for good, we might be able to restore your world."
Simba beamed with hope, "Really?! You can do that?"
Wendy smiled, "Of course! I'm willing to do whatever I can to help a friend in need. It's what I do best. I don't know how to bring back your world, but it's worth a shot."
Simba cried happily, "There's still hope! You definitely have my support, Wendy. If it means bringing back my world, I'll gladly fight alongside you." The Sky Maiden appreciated the lion's resolve with a nod.
At that moment, Simba's body glowed bright orange, his physical form fading like a projected image. The group's eyes widened at the display, and Sherria was the first to respond. "Hey, what's with the light show?"
Carla assumed, "I suppose that's how Wendy's Summon Magic works. A summon can only last for short periods of time."
Simba confirmed, "Looks like my time here is up." He turned to the Sky Dragon Slayer, "I'm so glad I get to meet someone like you, Wendy. Just call me if you need me."
Wendy nodded, "I will. Thanks, Simba."
Simba grinned, "Anytime." And with that, he dispersed into small dots of light representing his color, before they were absorbed back into the Keyblade's steel.
Sherria beamed, "Isn't he great, Wendy? The sonic waves from Simba's roar have the same wavelength and properties as my God's Bellow, your Dragon's Roar, or maybe both of them combined... I'd call it a Proud Roar for its incredible noise. It sure packs a punch."
Wendy smiled, "I have the Fairy Godmother to thank for giving me this power. The power to call forth a special ally who will help me in my time of need... I feel like I'm summoning Celestial Spirits like Taurus, Aquarius, and Loke... I hope Lucy sees this. She'd be so surprised!"
Alzack pointed out, "You know, Loke's actual name is Leo the Lion. He's the leader of the Zodiac."
Bisca pondered, "What are the chances of those two lions meetin' each other for the first time?"
Asuka cheered, "Big lion!"
Just then, the group found themselves ambushed by twelve Soldier Heartless. They were starting to think this wasn't the last they saw of the demons invading the Third District. Donald didn't take the reception lightly, as he whined, "Not again!" Regardless of the pressure, Wendy and her allies prepared for battle. If it was a fight the Soldiers wanted, then it was a fight they would get.
And that's when it happened. Wendy suddenly heard the sound of crackling fire formidably burning through the air. The source was a giant fireball illuminated by the colors of a rainbow rising into the sky.
"Rainbow Fire!"
Answering to the loud, triumphant voice, the fireball plummeted towards the square, the impact shrouding the Soldiers in a flurry of multicolored flames. When the flames evaporated, only a flicker of black dust remained.
"Hey! Who did that?!" Donald demanded, as he and the gang spun around for whoever incinerated the Soldiers. As they looked up, they found the person responsible making a safe landing after his attack. It was a 13-year old boy with short dark hair dressed in a sleeveless open jacket, green shorts, and a scarf. His black eyes gleamed with relief, and a sigh escaped his mouth.
"That was a close one," the boy wheezed. "Those Heartless almost got the jump on the townsfolk." He rubbed the back of his neck in agitation, "Oh, man... Why do they keep showing up to cause more trouble for everyone? When is this ever gonna end?" He added with a sigh, "Still, it's not like I have to let them loose. More people could get hurt. Nothing I can't handle, right?" He turned to Wendy and company, "Is everybody okay? I'm—" He stopped mid-sentence when he caught a glimpse of six faces from the crowd, not counting the anthropomorphic duck and dog. His face froze with absolute shock, his body shaking with a mixture of ecstasy and relief, and his vision obscured by a quantity of familiar friends.
Of course, the boy wasn't the only one surprised to see Wendy and her companions. In the midst of a myriad riddled with drama and mystery, the group recognized the newcomer. He was none other than Romeo Conbolt! Fairy Tail's resident Rainbow Fire wizard and son of the guild's fourth master had surfaced in the Third District!
"R-R-Ro-Ro..." Wendy was the first to recognize the newcomer. She stuttered when she laid eyes on someone she missed dearly since her first trip to other worlds. She was trying to hold back tears, but found it virtually impossible.
"Wendy...?" Romeo was shedding tears of his own. He couldn't deny he had rejoined with someone he traveled with, just when he thought he was lost forever. He couldn't contain his happiness at seeing a certain companion from the night at the circus. He was so glad, he was about to scream with joy.
Then the silence was broken.
"ROMEO!" Immediately, the Fairy Tail wizards welcomed Romeo's arrival with open arms and shouts of joy, delighted that they had found another Fairy Tail wizard lost within the universal spectrum.
"ROMEEEEEOOOOOO!" It seemed that Wendy screamed the loudest recognition of all. She threw herself onto Romeo in a hug that nearly knocked him off balance. "OH, ROMEO! IT'S YOU! YOU'RE BACK!"
"WENDY!" Romeo returned the hug with a tight squeeze. "YOU'RE HERE! I FOUND YOU! I FINALLY FOUND YOU!"
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" Wendy shook Romeo's hands energetically. "I'VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH!"
"ME TOO!" Romeo followed suit. "I'VE MISSED YOU TOO!"
"Is that really you, Romeo? Are you for real?" Wendy stared at the Rainbow Fire wizard with wide, soggy eyes. She grabbed a hold of his cheeks, tucked her fingers into the corners of his mouth, and pulled the corners of his lips, determined to make sure if he was real or not.
"Hey, hey! That tickles!" Romeo's teary eyes grew wide. He immediately pulled away with a playful laugh. "Of course it's me! I'm the one and only!"
"I'm not dreaming this time, right?" Wendy asked hopefully. "Can somebody pinch me?"
"I hope not," Romeo chuckled weakly. "It took me forever to find you."
It really was Romeo! The bewildered expression on Wendy's face slowly diminished, making way for a joyous smile. "It's so real..." She extended her hand and gently stroked Romeo's cheek. "It's good to have you back, Romeo."
"Same here..." Romeo sighed happily, feeling the warmth of Wendy's hand. The two wrapped themselves in another hug, unwilling to let go as the tears kept streaming and their voices choked with heartfelt sobs. Before the night of the storm, these spirited youths attended a circus troupe together for fun and entertainment, until the dark guilds' actions and the emergence of Heartless changed everything. But now, seeing them back together again... It seemed only a few worlds ago that Wendy was jubilant at reconnecting with a few friends, but most of it was expressed for Romeo, the boy who accompanied her until he was swallowed by darkness. A happy reunion between two young souls was a magnificent sight to behold.
After a few seconds, the cries gradually softened. Wendy leaned her head against Romeo's in an attempt to calm each other down, their voices still heaving with a few minor sobs. That did the trick as the Fire Rainbow wizard relaxed in the Sky Dragon Slayer's bosom, taking in her scent which smelled of flowers and the warm breeze. As soon as they released the hug, he looked at her with appreciation spread across his face, wiping away a few stray tears. "Sorry about that, Wendy. I've been alone for so long that I missed you and everyone else." He then laughed softly, "Boy, am I glad to see you."
Wendy giggled, wiping away her own tears. "Me too. Do you have any idea how worried I am for you? Where were you? You were sucked into that pool of darkness... and now you're back." Her voice was laced with a bit of emotion, "I thought I'd never see you again after that. And to see you here, alive and well, it's all just so—"
The Sky Maiden never finished her sentence. Alzack and Bisca pulled her and Romeo into a group hug, elated that the kids were brought back together. Asuka was left out of the hug, but nonetheless skipped along the street with joy. "Yay! Hooray!"
Alzack exclaimed, "Romeo! What a surprise running into you here!"
Bisca whooped, "Yee-haw! The little Conbolt's back and healthy as a calm!"
Romeo recognized, "Oh, hi, Mr. and Mrs. Connell. Never thought I'd see you here."
Alzack smiled, "How are you doing? We haven't see each other since the museum."
Bisca remarked, "I see you're lookin' lively as ever."
Romeo chuckled, "Thanks. It took forever to find you guys, but now..." He then shared a brief look with Wendy, who giggled. That caused his cheeks to blush with a slightly red color, prompting him to look away, before a joyous laugh escaped his mouth when Alzack playfully ruffled his hair.
Wendy kept her eyes fixed on the young Rainbow Fire wizard, elation still swirling inside. "Romeo..." She was broken out of her trance when Sherria and Goofy joined the group hug.
Goofy guffawed, "A-hyuck! You found one more Fairy Tail friend, Wendy! This is your lucky day!"
Donald agreed, "It sure is!"
Sherria laughed, "Yeah!"
And thus, the Third District was filled with laughter and celebration, and no one minded if anyone heard the noise. True to Goofy's words, this was indeed their lucky day.
Later...
"What a coincidence running into you, Romeo," Sherria crossed her hips. "It's almost as if a friend or two randomly shows up in a different world every time we visit it. Could today possibly get any better?"
"Well, he seems to have taken a big risk coming to this town," Carla noted. "Ironic, isn't it? That he surfaced in the exact world Wendy and I arrived in?"
"Hold on. You've been here before?" Romeo questioned, to which Wendy and company replied with nods. "You must've been way luckier than I was. Can you imagine what I've been through back then? Those black freaks with beady eyes and sharp claws..." He visualized his previous experience by widening his eyes and flashing his hands. "...they're enough to give you nightmares! They don't call 'em the Heartless for nothing."
"Wait a sec," Wendy's eyes widened. "You saw the black creatures we fought in Magnolia? After you were—"
"Yep," Romeo nodded. "But there's plenty more than just the bugs crawling on the streets. There's also bigger ones. Way bigger."
"Lucky guess," Donald remarked.
"From what I heard from the voice who helped me outta that dark place, Heartless are demons that feed on people's hearts," Romeo explained. "And believe me when I say this, they're dangerous with a capital D. They've got a real appetite for plain hearts. Hearts like ours! They want nothing more than to rip hearts out of our bodies and eat them for lunch. Who'd wanna get our hearts served on a silver platter?" He shuddered at the thought, "Not me. That'd be gross. The Heartless aren't like anything we've ever faced. No matter how many times they're beaten, they just keep coming. There's just too many. It's like Magnolia, but even worse."
"I take it you were also tangled in this web of complications we find ourselves in?" Carla asked, to which Romeo nodded. "It makes me wonder how many others were involved..."
"Well, no point in worrying about that," Sherria grinned. "All that matters is that you're okay."
"Yes, I am," Romeo nodded. "If I hadn't escaped that dark realm, I'd be stuck with nothing but shadowy demons and gloomy pathways. When I first came to this town, it's unlike any place in Fiore I've been to. I thought I'd never find anything at first, but running into you guys..." He brimmed with happiness, "I'm so relieved! One minute I'm trapped in hell, and the next, I ended up in this place!"
"Isn't hell used to describe some kinda wicked place with fire and stuff?" Sherria pondered. "If you've been to a realm of darkness, they should've put a little red; it adds more color to the gloom."
"True," Romeo shrugged. "But seeing what that dark realm looks like, it's what I'd like to picture it."
"Wow, Romeo... It sounds like you've been through a lot recently," Wendy remarked. "Back at Magnolia, when the darkness swallowed you, we just didn't know what to do."
"Me too," Romeo admitted. "I don't wanna split up with you, Carla, and Master Makarov. I wanted us to stay together."
"I should've done something to help, but I couldn't. I could do nothing... I..." Wendy trailed off, before breathing a sigh of relief. She walked over to the Rainbow Fire wizard and happily held his hands. "Oh, I'm so glad you came, Romeo. Thank you so much!"
"Y-Yeah," Romeo chuckled lightly, reciprocating the gesture. "For a second there, I thought I'd never find you. I'm glad I ran into you."
"So what happened to you, anyway?" Wendy asked. "How'd you end up in Traverse Town?"
"Care to give us a recap about what happened?" Bisca inquired.
"Tell us everything," Alzack urged.
"Okay, it goes like this," Romeo began. "At the night of the storm, we returned to Magnolia after escaping Halloween's Circus Troupe. We ran into Master Makarov..."
Romeo remembered that night well. He, Wendy, and Carla encountered Makarov Dreyar standing in front of the wrecked Fairy Tail guildhall. One of the first to recognize the threat of darkness spreading across the worlds, the guild master was least fazed by the storm about to consume Earth-land.
He asked us to get to Tenrou Island and find some door in the caves. I don't know what he was talking about, but all I could think about was to find and rally everybody else, just so we could get it over and done with. I can't stop worrying about Dad, Natsu, and the others. When suddenly...
The tendrils of darkness strapped Wendy, Romeo, Carla, and Makarov down into the depths of an unknown abyss. Romeo could see Wendy and Carla, who were growing desperate to save each other, and Makarov, who kept a proud and firm expression in spite of the danger, before his vision was obscured by a curtain of black.
It was quiet for a long time. The next thing Romeo heard was a cold howl of wind that may have matched the intensity of the dark storm. When he came to, he was standing on a road floating above a bottomless void that seemed to stretch for an eternity. An eerie atmosphere greeted the frightened Rainbow Fire wizard as he walked down the path, daring not to lead himself astray. He called out the names of his friends, hoping that somewhere in the blackness, they could hear his voice. But the echoes only bounced. No one heard him, and no one responded to him.
There I was, stuck in a dark and scary place. I didn't know why, but it had something to do with the dark portal that sucked me in. I had to figure things out for myself. The others had to be somewhere around this dump. So I did a little exploring...
The stretchy path wasn't the only landscape Romeo investigated in this mysterious realm of darkness. There was a cavern littered with oddly-shaped rock formations, as well as a twisted and decaying forest drenched in repugnant shadow.
...and trouble wasn't far behind.
These locations were not without danger, however. The Heartless infested every area in the realm, driven to attack anyone who crossed their borders. As if Shadows weren't bad enough, there were others in different forms far greater and more terrifying. Regardless, Romeo mustered all his courage- all his will- to put up a great fight, only to be easily overpowered in the end. Never in all his life had he seen the Heartless in their most terrifying prime. Besides the sheer scale of the monsters, their shapes and sizes were enough to strike fear into a person's heart before making off with their meal. Their jagged teeth and yellow beady eyes, devoid of life and brimming with hunger, reflected back his own face. Since fighting the unlimited number of Heartless wasn't plausible, as it would only push him to the brink of exhaustion, running away was the best option.
Despite the overwhelming odds, Romeo continued to move forward. Time seemed to catch up with him as he traversed the deepest parts of the dark realm. Much time had passed. His strength waned. His fears and insecurities were starting to overtake him, bit by bit. But he kept moved forward. On and on, without end.
I must've walked for a whole day or two. I had cuts and bruises. I was totally exhausted. But I wasn't gonna let anything stop me. When I reached the end of a valley, I could barely stand, but I didn't care.
In the shadows of the valley, Romeo saw a yellow dot shining through the darkness. With his remaining strength, he inched himself to take a closer look. The more he peered into the shadows, the more he came to realize that a sphere of light was illuminating his path. "What the..."
And that's when I heard a voice...
"If you want to get out of this realm of darkness, listen to my voice."
"Huh? Who's there?" Romeo jumped at the mysterious voice echoing in the darkness. "Show yourself!"
"Listen to my voice. You'll have to trust me if you want to make it out alive. Hurry! They're coming!"
"What are you talking about? Who's coming?" Romeo blinked. It was at that moment when the distant thunder of roaring and screeching sounded. He turned to see Heartless by the thousands, spreading throughout the entire valley in a matter of seconds. "Aww, man! Those creepy crawlies we fought in Magnolia are bad enough for me, but there are other things worse than that? That's crazy! Just what are they?!"
"They're called Heartless. They feed on people's hearts. If you don't want to lose your heart, you'll have to follow the light."
"The black freaks are some kind of heart-eating super-breed?" Romeo dreaded. "I don't like the sound of that!"
"Do you hear me? Follow the light, and it'll lead you to safety!"
"O-Okay! I'll do whatever you have to say! Just as long as it's someplace safe, alright?" Romeo complied hastily, as he immediately followed the sphere of light passing the rock formations. Two spirits whisked into the darkness, on their way to an uncertain location.
I'd be deadmeat if the strange light and that voice hadn't given me advice. I followed it all the way to the highest hill...
By the time Romeo rested on the hilltop, he was awaiting further instructions from the guiding light, only to find that it had disappeared. Just then, there was another symphony of horrible hissing, and he pressed his eyes against the view of the valley. Climbing the hill's fortifications were endless waves of Shadows. Even across the far distance, Romeo could recognize the glowing yellow eyes. "Okay, now what?"
"I'll use all of my magic to create a portal that will send you out of the dark realm. On the count of three, you'll be sent to a very special world."
"Make it fast!" Romeo panicked. "They're coming this way!"
"Alright! Get ready! One..."
He braced himself.
"...two..."
The Shadows nearly approached the top of the hill.
"...THREE!"
Right on cue, a massive pillar of light rained from the dark skies, striking where Romeo stood. A powerful barrier shrouded the hill, disintegrating any Heartless within its path. Some in proximity with the barrier were pushed away by the incredible force, skidding across the stony ground.
When the light vanished, there was nothing.
Everyone was silent as Romeo was close to finishing his story. "The special world I found myself in happened to be Traverse Town. That's the name of the place, right?" They nodded. "It looks fancy with all the bright lights, the shops, and the huge buildings. Obviously, I don't have any money to rent a room at the hotel, so I decided to take a nap at a bench near the fountain. Not a good idea to rest up after a long trip, but it was okay." He stretched his arms with a wide smile. "With enough energy, I got to search the whole town."
Carla asked, "You were in the Second District this whole time?"
Romeo answered, "Yeah, that's what it's called. It's in the title. I got the info from the locals."
Carla confirmed, "I see. Yours is assuredly a journey of woe and troubles..." She crossed her arms, "You were fortunate to have survived another machination orchestrated by the Alliance of Evil."
Romeo wondered, "The Alliance of Evil? What's that?"
Carla replied, "A coalition of dark guilds assembled for the purpose of invading multiple worlds and recruiting powerful warriors to fight for their cause. The mercenary guild, Sleepy Hollow, is apparently leading the charge."
Romeo interrupted, "Whoa, hold on! Sleepy Hollow? They're actually a magical guild?"
Carla nodded, "Admittedly, yes. They staged a full-scale attack on the Fairy Tail guildhall and abducted many of our guildmates. That was before we arrived at Magnolia."
Romeo gasped at the revelation. "They did WHAT?!"
Alzack mushed, "You probably haven't heard about it, huh?"
Bisca sighed, "Sorry we left you in the dark, kid."
Sherria stated, "Things happen for a reason, and we didn't mean them to."
Wendy narrowed her eyes. She had a pretty good idea on who was responsible for Fairy Tail's current predicament. "Kaze..."
Romeo was speechless. He discerned that the Alliance of Evil was plotting behind the scenes even before he, Wendy, and Carla escaped the clutches of Halloween's Circus Troupe. He never knew what happened to the Fairy Tail guild until after his recuperation in the Second District, before it was already too late. His head downturned, he felt his heart lament for the loss of his guild, before the grief slowly turned to anger. "Sleepy Hollow and the dark guilds are one and the same. They're all working together." If he had the chance, he would vent his rage on those who separated him from the only family he ever had, besides Macao. "I have them to thank for this..." He clenched his fists, shaking with raging fire. "I'll make them pay!"
Alzack stated, "The Alliance of Evil are the ones pulling the strings, sending dark guilds to do their dirty work."
Bisca added, "They're cookin' up some sort of master plan, and I reckon our friends are gonna be mixed up in all this."
Carla suggested, "We'd best be prepared for the trials ahead. We may not know what will happen next."
Tranquil fury surged within Romeo. If his fellow guildmates were indeed in danger, then he had to do something about it. As a Fairy Tail wizard like his father before him, he would risk everything to ensure the safety of his comrades, no matter the odds. He looked up with determined eyes, "Yeah... Just because Fairy Tail's in trouble doesn't mean they're gone for good. The bad guys kidnapped them, right? So they gotta be alive. They have to be. Dad, Master, Natsu..." His fists still clenched, he shook them with vigor. "I gotta do something about it!"
Wendy was pleased at the Rainbow Fire wizard's conviction matching hers. At the same time, she was reminded of one more who disappeared on the night of the storm. She glanced at Romeo with a surprised look on her face. "Master? Did you find him? Is he with you?"
Romeo shook his head, "I looked everywhere. I haven't seen him. What about you?"
The Sky Maiden hung her head in despair. She recalled Makarov's choice to stay behind and oversee Earth-land's final days before his being was engulfed by the darkness. She couldn't find it in her heart to tell of the guild master's apparent fate. Nobody else in the group said a word, especially Donald and Goofy, since they had never met many within the guild before.
Romeo could make out Wendy's face. Bit by bit, he was about to make an assumption, but he didn't want to admit it. "Is he..."
Sherria encouraged, "I wouldn't worry about it, Romeo. If he's anything like us, he probably found his own way out and ended up in a different world. Heck, he's probably looking for us now." She walked over to Romeo and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Master Makarov's gonna be fine. We will find him, just like everyone else. We'll bring the guild back together..." She tucked her fingers into the corners of the boy's lips and curled them into a wide smile. "...and it's all rainbows again. So put that frown upside-down!"
Romeo couldn't help but laugh at the Sky God Slayer's playful act. He pushed her hands away and cooked up a confident smile, just as he promised. "Thanks, I needed that. Sherria from Lamia Scale, right? You're friends with Wendy after your match at the Grand Magic Games." She nodded in response. "You're right, I don't have to worry; we're all gonna be together again soon."
Sherria cheered, "Alright! Just keep up that positive attitude, and you'll do fine!"
Goofy spoke to Donald privately, giving a remark about the Rainbow Fire wizard. "Garwsh, this Romeo kid's got the same spirit as Wendy."
Donald nodded in agreement, "Sure does. I can tell he has a lot of spunk."
While Romeo and Sherria were having a conversation, the wind carried a foul scent that crept its way into the square, which had not gone unnoticed by Wendy's uncanny sense of smell. She picked up the scent, and quickly knew something was wrong. She then spotted a Shadow Heartless emerging from the ground, its antennae wriggling wildly. It crawled behind Romeo, who didn't pay attention to the threat closing in on him.
Sherria smiled, "Just leave everything to us. Together, we'll—" She never finished her sentence. The noise behind Romeo sounded like scissors cutting a huge fabric. He turned around to face Wendy, who had just destroyed the Shadow with a horizontal slice of her Keyblade. No one expected a Heartless to ambush them out of the blue, but they had Wendy to thank for dispatching it quickly. Sherria remarked, "That was quick."
Wendy let out a soft breath and straightened, putting a hand around her hip with the other holding the Jungle King, as she turned to face Romeo. Upon seeing the shocked and confused expression on the Rainbow Fire wizard's face, she giggled. "I'm sorry. Did I miss something?"
Romeo moved a bit closer, desperate to figure out exactly what happened. He stuttered slightly as he spoke, searching for the right words. "Wendy, what did... How did... Where did you..."
Wendy arched an eyebrow. "Huh? What is it?"
Romeo pointed a finger at the key-shaped sword in her hand. "WHAT IS THAT?!"
Wendy replied, "Oh, this? It's the Keyblade. The same thing we saw at the museum. Remember?"
Alzack chuckled, "Just like old times, huh?"
Bisca agreed, "Yep."
Romeo gasped with a huge grin plastered on his face. "Keyblade...?"
Wendy cried happily, "Romeo, you wouldn't believe what happened! When the darkness tried to take me, this key-shaped weapon popped into my hand, giving me the power to destroy Heartless. Not only that, the Keyblade allows me to do lots of amazing things, such as unlocking doors, activating Command Styles..."
Romeo muttered, "All that and more?"
Wendy admitted with a blush, "Well, almost. But I'm getting the hang of it every day."
Romeo's breath was stolen. "So the Keyblade's not a fairy tale after all? It's for REAL?"
Wendy shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe it's more than that. The Keyblade chose me for a reason."
Romeo gazed at the Jungle King's outline in wide-eyed awe. "Wow... This. Is. AWESOME!" His voice rose in excitement as he began to examine the Keyblade in separate directions, giving positive remarks on its design. "Check out the fine metal! And a pretty cool keychain! What's the sharp end for? Do you use it to lock and unlock stuff? Or stabbing things?"
Wendy could barely stifle a laugh. "You sure are excited to see a Keyblade in real life, aren't you?"
Romeo responded, "I sure am! When I get excited, I just can't help myself!" The rest of the group watched in amusement as the two kids were immersed in laughter non-stop, the Sky Maiden allowing the Rainbow Fire wizard to view the Keyblade's outline for as much as he needed.
Goofy smiled widely, "That's what I like about kids. They get really excited about somethin'. A-hyuck!"
Donald agreed, "You're telling me. They're just as excitable as my nephews."
Sherria grinned, "Something tells me our adventure's gonna be a pleasant one."
Bisca whispered to Alzack, "Hey, you think she's gonna give him the—"
Alzack replied to his wife, "We never know. Let's just wait and see."
As soon as the laughter died down, Romeo stopped commenting on the Keyblade's design and detected Donald and Goofy's presence. "Huh? I haven't seen you two before. Who are you?"
Wendy realized, "Oh, I probably haven't told you about Donald and Goofy. We've been looking for you and the rest of Fairy Tail with their help. They've been with us throughout the whole adventure." She gestured towards the Disney Kingdom travelers, who nodded in agreement.
Romeo asked, "You mean the grumpy-looking duck and the donkey wearing tights?"
Donald snapped, "Hey! Who are you callin' grumpy-lookin'?"
Romeo yelped, "Whoops! I meant no offense, duck guy."
Carla assured, "Don't mind him, Romeo. He sometimes loses his temper. And for the record, Goofy is a dog, not a donkey."
Romeo confirmed, "Oh, okay. Thanks for pointing that out." He gave Donald an apologetic look, "No hard feelings, right?"
Donald grumbled something incoherently under his breath and turned away, taking a few seconds of his time to relax. He then cleared his throat, about to introduce himself. "My name is—"
Sherria cut him off, "We've visited so many places and worlds, looking for you." The duck shot an annoyed look in the Sky God Slayer's direction for being interrupted.
Romeo asked curiously, "Really? I never would've guessed." He turned to the two otherworldly visitors that played an integral role in Wendy's quest. "Donald, Goofy, thanks for looking after my friends. You're a big help."
Donald said proudly, "Just doin' our job, kid. We're a group of professionals. No one on our team's ever slipped up."
Sherria teased, "You mean the time when you and Carla got into an argument and nearly crashed the ship?"
Donald whined, "Awww, come on! We've been over this! Just drop it already!"
Sherria giggled playfully, "Sorry, Donald!"
Romeo wondered, "I take it you've been through a lot?"
Wendy nodded, "Yeah, our adventure's had a few ups and downs. All in all, we were able to pull it off."
Romeo grinned, "Sweet!"
Goofy came up from behind Wendy and put both his hands on her shoulders, shaking them gently in a proud, emphatic gesture. "Oh, and guess what? Wendy's the Keyblade master."
Romeo said awkwardly, "Uh, yeah. I know. She just told me."
Donald added grumpily, "Of course she did. Who would've thought it?"
Romeo raised an eyebrow, "What's that supposed to mean? Are you being sarcastic?"
The duck saw no reason to reply. He simply folded his arms with his eyes narrowed.
"So, this is the Keyblade..." Romeo got another closer look at the key-shaped weapon. "When you mix a sword and a key together, you get a weapon that locks and unlocks things." He then smiled widely, "And seeing it pop into Wendy's hand, she can do things a hundred times cooler. Picture this: a Sky Dragon Slayer with a Keyblade. It's the perfect combination!"
"Wendy balances her Keyblade with Sky Dragon Slayer Magic," Carla explained. "She has done a great job so far."
"Really?" Romeo beamed, looking at the Sky Maiden with a surprised look. "Cool!"
"Thanks, Romeo," Wendy giggled. "Okay, so you're coming with us, right? We're on our way to save Fairy Tail from the Alliance of Evil."
"We've got this awesome rocket that takes us to other worlds," Sherria added excitedly. "Wait 'till you see it!"
"It would be most appreciated if you join us," Carla offered. "Together, we'll find the rest of our friends."
"Why not?" Romeo smirked. "I can't just sit here and let the bad guys have their way, now, can I? Yeah, I'm going with you! I've already decided!"
"Hooray! You're coming with us!" Wendy cheered.
"Yee-haw! It's a field trip reunion!" Bisca complimented.
"Welcome to the team, Romeo!" Alzack smiled.
"Alright, let's—" Sherria began.
"Wait!" Donald's loud voice snapped the attention of the group, as they turned to see him stomp his webbed foot impatiently. "Aren't we forgetting something?"
"We gotta go see Cid first," Goofy reminded. "He asked us to stop by the house in the Third District when we're done deliverin' the book to Merlin."
"Right," Wendy agreed. "Let's go see him."
"Where do we go first?" Romeo asked eagerly. "Are we gonna see your awesome rocket?"
"Not yet," Carla stated. "We're going to look over some things before we leave."
"Can't go out on a big adventure unless you're ready," Sherria implied.
"Sounds good to me. Let's go see this Cid person," Romeo grinned.
Wendy smiled to herself as she and her friends walked up the stairs to rendezvous with Cid, who would be waiting for them at the house near the District exit. "Romeo's okay..." She glanced at the boy whom she fought alongside with during the ordeal with Lantern Viscera, and every time she stared at him, her heart was swelling with feelings of relief. "And who knows? Maybe we'll run into Natsu and everyone else in Fairy Tail, too." She was determined more than ever to reunite the guild, and ensure that people like Kaze and the Alliance of Evil would never realize their nefarious schemes.
From the shadows, somebody watched the group and its recent additions doing their tasks at hand, and it was with ill intent.
Small House
Once the group reached the house, Wendy knocked on the door. As luck would have it, Yuffie Kisaragi had answered the call. "Hey, guys. How's it going? And..." Her eyes darted to Romeo, whom she immediately perceived as one more of Wendy's missing friends who recently joined after a brief skirmish with the Heartless. "Another friend! This must be your lucky day, Wendy!"
Goofy chortled, "Exactly what I said."
Sherria agreed, "Yep!"
Yuffie extended her hand, "The name's Yuffie. I'm a friend of Wendy's."
Romeo shook it, "I'm Romeo. Glad to meet you."
Yuffie smiled at Wendy, "You found one more friend somewhere around town, haven't you?" A nod answered her, and she gave the thumbs up. "I give you another full marks for that. Keep it up."
Wendy smiled back, "I will. By the way, we didn't expect to see you here."
Yuffie explained, "This is our new meeting place. We don't always have to meet in the street, the waterway, or at the inn all the time, do we? We needed a secret base where we lay out our battle plans, and we found just the place." She gestured for everyone to come inside. "It's nice and snug in here, check it out."
As the group stepped in, the interior seemed to have been abandoned for quite a long time; whoever had last lived in it must have been in a terrible rush to leave. There were boxes stacked up against the wall, a bed with neatly draped blankets and a pillow leaning against the headrest, a tall wooden wardrobe with a small mirror hanging on one side of it, a square table with several chairs tucked underneath, and a lantern hanging from the ceiling. Awaiting the group's arrival was Leon casually leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, Aerith sitting on the edge of the bed, and Cid standing between the two.
Yuffie stated, "It's not much, but it's where we set up our main base."
Cid was the first to notice Wendy and company. He greeted with a smirk, "Took ya long enough."
Leon looked up from his spot at the wall, "How are things at your end?"
Sherria answered, "We're doing great. We ran into one more friend along the way." She gestured to Romeo, who smiled and waved.
Aerith beamed, "You found another missing friend? That's wonderful news!"
Leon commented, "This just keeps getting better and better."
Cid spoke up, "Anyway, let's get down to business, folks. You guys ever hear of Maleficent?" Wendy and her friends looked to one another for suggestions. Turning their eyes back to Cid, they shook their heads in perfect unison. "I hear she's in town."
And just like that, a sullen atmosphere fell over the small house. As if they were visibly disturbed at the mention of the horned witch who orchestrated events from behind the scenes, Leon, Yuffie, and Aerith fell in complete silence. Wendy saw through each of their worried expressions, and decided to break the ice. "Who is Maleficent?"
Cid looked at the group as though they were crazy. "A witch, girl, she's a witch!"
Romeo blinked, "A witch? She uses magic?"
Yuffie nodded, "You got it. She's a wicked sorceress of frightening power. She's not one to be messed with."
Leon clarified, "She's the reason this town is full of Heartless. Don't take her lightly."
Wendy swallowed hard, her eyes growing wide. "Maleficent..."
Yuffie reminded, "Remember the clowns we fought at the Second District? We found something from one of their wrecked ships. It's a huge container of Heartless, wrapped up in sharp thorns. We had to destroy the container before any of those pesky creatures ran loose, but the thorns? Not so much. They can't be burned down easily. It's got dark magic all over it. No doubt it's Maleficent's work."
Wendy asked skeptically, "You mean..."
Carla wondered, "She sent the Lantern Viscera guild after us?"
Aerith stood up from the bed and crossed the room to join the others. "We're certain she sent the clowns in their airships to find whoever holds the Keyblade. Surprisingly, the Heartless fought alongside them. We only got a little information from the enemies, but apparently, they're working for a group of villains from other worlds using the Heartless for their own ends, with Maleficent as their leader. They call themselves... the Alliance of Evil." She paused to hear a response from the group. "Does it ring any bells?"
Wendy and her friends were completely alarmed at what Aerith was referring to. It seemed clearly obvious that the Alliance of Evil had a leader named Maleficent, an evil witch who commanded the Heartless and was reported to have led a coalition of otherworldly villains. The more they let the information sink in, the more they came to discover the root of all the chaos happening in the worlds, including Earth-land. "W-What?" The Sky Maiden's breath caught.
Leon assumed, "You're familiar with them."
Alzack explained, "It's an alliance of dark guilds who want to take over the worlds."
Bisca added, "They're the ringleaders 'round here." She paused for a change in tone, "They kidnapped our Fairy Tail friends..."
Yuffie gasped, "They kidnapped your friends?"
Cid snorted, "Who would've thought it?"
Leon confirmed, "So, your friends aren't exactly lost after all."
Romeo's anger took advantage of him once again. He clenched his fists, boiling with a terrible desire to punch the horned witch and anyone affiliated with her in the face. "Maleficent... She's the one in charge..." A Yellow Fire suddenly erupted in his hand, along with his fury.
Wendy couldn't stand watching him like this. She embraced him and hushed in his ear to console him, not caring that everyone was watching. "It's okay, Romeo... It's okay... We'll find them. We will find them."
Soon, the fire died down, along with his rage. Those words of comfort, coupled with a warm bosom, were all that Romeo needed. Letting out a content sigh, he relaxed in the Sky Maiden's embrace. "Thanks." She released the hug and gave him a gentle smile. He smiled back.
Aerith said firmly, "Believe it or not, she's been using the Heartless for years, gathering as many followers as she could."
Leon looked down, shutting his eyes. "We lost our world, thanks to her."
Sherria gasped, "Your world is gone, too?"
Yuffie's gaze dropped to the floor. It was for the first time that Wendy and company saw her cheerful disposition shattered and replaced by a sudden twinge of anguish. "Maleficent led the Heartless... They took over our world..." Her voice was trembling with anger and distress. The young ninja clenched her fists at her sides, biting back the tears that were threatening to come out at the memory. She squeezed her eyes shut and turned away. Romeo knew how she felt; it was the same anger that drove him to pursue the villains responsible for Fairy Tail's troubles.
Leon interjected, "That was nine years ago."
Cid continued the story, "That swarm of Heartless ran us right offa our world. I got outta that mess and came here with these guys. Bein' the kind gentleman I am, I grabbed 'em by the diapers and took off in my own Gummi Ship." He added with a light-hearted chuckle, "That's funny, 'cause I feel like a babysitter for lookin' after 'em."
Sherria exclaimed, "That's just horrible! Leon and his friends are homeless because of what that witch did to them! They were lost and all alone..." Growing increasingly sympathetic for Leon and the others, she started crying, tears falling from her eyes like waterfalls. "Why? Why?! WHY?! How could someone be so cruel to children?!" Alzack, Bisca, and Goofy walked over to the saddened Sky God Slayer and consoled her with hugs and gentle pats.
Leon thought to himself, "Hmm. I was wondering when that dam was gonna burst."
Donald's eyes widened in surprise, "You have your own Gummi Ship?"
Cid nodded, "That's right. After I whisked these kids away from our home world, we stumbled upon this town. The folks 'round here are generous. So here we are..." He thrust out his hand to gesture around him, "...a bunch of castaways residin' in some town in the realm between. I had to get a job to pay for expenses and everythin'."
Carla confirmed, "You don't say..."
Donald frowned, "She's a no good, dirty, rotten witch."
Leon drew in a breath before continuing. "Our ruler was a wise man named Ansem. He dedicated his life to studying the Heartless."
Cid pointed out, "Back in the day, our world's all sunshine and rainbows. Until nine years ago, those heart-eatin' freaks were set loose. Everything's destroyed. One minute, the peace-lovin' folk were in a panic. The next, they're all gone. Disappeared, one by one."
Yuffie growled under her breath, "This is all Lyra's fault."
Wendy was curious to know who the troubled ninja was placing the blame on. "Who's Lyra?"
The moment Yuffie spouted the mention of Lyra, Leon and the gang knew they couldn't withhold the secret any longer. They alone knew the story of what happened to their world, so why couldn't Wendy? "Um, yeah, we're not really supposed to talk about the broad who destroyed our past," Cid confessed. "Just sayin' that name gives me nightmares."
"Yeah, and we made a solid promise to ourselves not to tell anyone about her," Yuffie looked over to Wendy. "Including you."
"But since you've come all this way, you deserve to know," Leon acknowledged. He moved from the wall to look at the Sky Maiden straight in the eye, his eyes gleaming with sincerity. "Lyra was Ansem's most trusted adviser and head of research." He paused to let the message sink in, "She was also Ansem's wife."
"Ansem had a wife?" Wendy gasped. She and her companions were starting to get interested on Lyra's background.
"Well, she didn't climb her way to the top of the hill sellin' cookies," Cid admitted. "She's an ambitious aristocrat who's in it for the money, but mostly for the show."
"Born into a wealthy family, Lyra was the youngest scientist to have ever achieved massive breakthroughs in the field of science and magic," Aerith narrated. "Ansem saw potential in her knowledge and expertise, and recruited her as head scientific adviser. As time went on, the two fell in love."
"They were in love?" Sherria cried passionately.
"Shhh!" Carla shushed.
"Ansem and Lyra fell in love because of their shared passion for knowledge and their desire to share it with the world," Aerith continued. "They married and gave birth to a daughter and a son. They were a loving family; with their combined knowledge and complete trust in one other, they knew they were destined for greater things." A brief pause, as her voice was now laced with sorrow. "But it was never enough for Lyra. One day, Ansem began his research on the Heartless. He studied the heart and delved into the many secrets of the worlds. His wife became fascinated by her husband's theories and wanted to publicize them. She wanted the people to know the existence of the Heartless and other worlds..." Another pause, "...but Ansem knew the risk of disrupting the world order, and refused. He cancelled the research."
"What happened then?" Wendy wondered.
"Lyra did something no one should ever do to their family," Aerith replied. "Betrayed by her husband's refusal to bring his research to light, she became obsessed with taking it over in the hopes of one day surpassing him. She amassed a gathering of followers and stormed the castle. They began their plan to overthrow Ansem, and when he tried to stop them, his apprentices turned on him." Pausing to take a shaky breath, she added sadly, "He died shortly after that..."
"No..." Wendy breathed in disbelief. "How could she murder one of her own family?"
"We'll never understand it, either..." Aerith agreed. "All we know is that she was extremely crafty about it. No one knew of Lyra's reasons for betraying her family, but one thing's for sure— she wanted to continue that forbidden research. And she did. She got away with the worst kind of betrayal, all the while getting exactly what she wanted... Lyra claimed Ansem's studies as her own, and began conducting experiments on people's hearts..."
"Even now, I still can't shake off the crazy things she did," Leon mused. "A woman toying innocent lives with science... What kind of co-ruler would do that to her own people?"
Wendy's jaw dropped as Leon's group reached the worst part of the story.
"Lyra's the most sadistic woman you'd ever see in a lifetime," Cid stated. "Hundreds of hearts turned into prototype Heartless, thousands of people dissected or ripped apart, enormous amounts of magic stolen... She clawed her way to the top until she's queen of the mountain. She had money, power, research, everythin' she ever wanted." He paused for effect, "And then, she lost it all."
"What happened to her?" Romeo asked.
"There's the last day of Lyra's research," Cid explained. "A huge explosion tore the castle apart... with her inside it. It opened a massive portal of darkness, and a swarm of Heartless came into our world! That broad's unhealthy lust for knowledge left our world exposed to Maleficent and them pesky heart-eaters. Turned the castle into a time bomb."
"Oh, my..." Wendy whispered. "So that's why your world was destroyed..."
"Lyra died, too?" Romeo wondered. "When the castle exploded?"
"She brought this on herself," Yuffie said grimly. "She's nothing more than a monster who doomed our world to darkness. If she hadn't killed Ansem, if she hadn't turned on her family, none of this would've ever happened. She paid the price for it."
"It led Lyra to her downfall," Carla rubbed her chin. "I doubt she would ever find peace from going down the wrong path."
"Don't know, don't care," Yuffie turned her head away in disgust. "We're better off without her."
"And what of Ansem's children?" Carla questioned. "Did they disappear as well?"
"We can't say," Aerith shook her head. "We never heard from Ansem's children ever since their father died."
Wendy felt her heart break, not only for the late ruler of Leon's world, but also his family. They'd been so close to having everything they ever wanted. Then in a single moment, they were torn apart forever, and all those dreams were gone. All because of the sinful actions of one, actions that shattered not just the family, but an entire world.
"So here we are, riskin' our skins fightin' Heartless and lookin' for better ways to stop 'em," Cid continued. "Ansem's report should tell us how to get rid of 'em for good."
"Where's this report?" Romeo asked.
"We don't know," Leon shrugged. "It got scattered when our world was destroyed."
"Maleficent's got a certain interest in Ansem's research," Cid stated. "I'm sure she's gotten most of the pages."
"So she picked up where Lyra left off..." Romeo folded his arms. "Two wicked witches in one basket."
"One, actually," Cid clarified. "The first bad lady's gone, and the second's takin' her spot in the basket. Maleficent's runnin' the show now, and she has no intention of stoppin' it 'til the curtain call. The question is, when?"
"I'm sorry about Ansem and your world," Wendy sympathized. "I know what happened to you wasn't fair. No one should have to go through that. And I agree with you, no one should turn on their own family like that." Her face lit up in determination, "In fact, you won't even to worry about it, because I'm gonna find a way to make it right! I don't care how dangerous it is; it's gonna take a lot more than Heartless and evil witches to slow me down! When I'm backed into a corner..." She added resolutely, "...that's when I soar as the Dragon of the Sky!"
"Spoken like a true Fairy Tail wizard, kid," Bisca smirked. "Keep it up!"
"If Wendy's gonna go for it, than I am too!" Romeo beamed. "Fairy Tail's faced our fair share of troubles. If we can defeat dark guilds and a whole army of monsters together, who knows what else we can do?"
"Indeed," Carla nodded. "Responsibility rests on our shoulders."
"You see, we're in a pickle just as much as you are, Leon," Wendy smiled. "It's never too late to make things better. We got this. You'll have to trust us." The rest of the group chattered in agreement.
"Maleficent and the Alliance of Evil..." Leon crossed his arms. "They're a tough crowd. Be careful out there."
"We'll do our best," Wendy promised.
"You know something? It's nice going on a grand adventure and all..." Romeo rubbed the back of his head. "But other worlds? Heartless? That Keyblade in your hand? It's something outta this world!" He turned to Wendy with an excited grin, "Care to give a recap of what you and the others have been doing while I'm away? You sure had a lot more luck than I did."
"Okay, where do I begin..." Wendy cleared her throat, wanting to give Romeo as much of a summarized explanation of the adventure as possible.
Third District
"You see, Mirajane? It's just as I told you." Outside the small house, Maleficent stood with Mirajane, the She-Devil of Fairy Tail thought to have been forced to submit to the horned witch's will, observing the almost pleasant looking scene through the windows. They could see Wendy, Romeo, and Sherria laughing with each other, Donald throwing some kind of fit out of annoyance or anger, and Alzack and Bisca appeasing the needs of their daughter Asuka. "I sympathize with your obligation to protect your family, but it appears some have gone astray, such as the little girl you call Wendy," the horned witch explained coolly, gesturing her staff to the windows. "She simply forgot about reuniting with your dear guild and replaced you with some new companions. Evidently, she now values them far more than she does you. The girl's loyalty has been replaced with something else. And the guild members who follow her were corrupted into being a part of her inner circle, apart from your guild. Indeed, she is turning them against you." Every word she spoke was laced with false sympathy, "I offer my sincere apologies for your loss, but you know that I speak the truth. Wendy no longer cares for you. She intends to tear your family apart from the inside."
Maleficent slowly turned her gaze to Mirajane, who stared with narrow, unblinking eyes. Her empty words of persuasion seemed to have gotten through to the young girl... Or so she believed.
"You're better off without that wretched girl. She has betrayed you and your guild," Maleficent suggested. She bent down to Mirajane's level, the corners of her lips turning up in a malicious manner. "Now, think no more of her and come with me. In return for your assistance, I'll help you find more who have strayed. The safety of your guild is in good hands."
Mirajane seemed to be falling for the evil witch's deceit, but her heart and mind said otherwise. Deep down, she was relieved that Wendy and several Fairy Tail wizards had survived.
"Wendy, I'm so glad you're safe... When the time is right, I'll help you. Just you wait..."
Small House
Cid stretched his arms over his shoulders as he turned back to Wendy and company. "So, you delivered that book?"
Wendy responded, "Uh-huh. We promised Merlin we'd find the missing pages somewhere in other worlds."
Romeo grinned, "What an adventure this is gonna turn out to be. Torn pages, lost puppies, Summon Gems..."
Cid informed, "That navigation gummi's installed and ready to go. You find another one, you bring it to me. I threw in a warp gummi for the heck of it."
Donald blinked, "A warp gummi?"
Cid chuckled, "It's an extra feature I added to your Gummi Ship. Consider this a thank-you note for deliverin' that book for me. With warp gummis, you can jump to worlds you've been to before. I installed the warp activation in your console. Just press the button, and you're there."
Sherria gasped, "A teleportation device? We can get back to other worlds in a flash?"
Cid nodded, "Yup. Don't have to waste time flyin' round the stars to revisit places, do ya?"
Donald remarked, "Wow! You're a real genius, you know that?"
Goofy smiled, "Thanks a bundle, Cid. We don't know what we'd do without ya."
Cid stretched again, working the kinks out of his neck. "Well, better get back to my real job." He then turned on his heel and headed for the door, taking his leave.
Wendy raised an eyebrow, "Your real job? Aren't you working in the Accessory Shop?"
Cid turned around and winked at the Sky Dragon Slayer. "You'll see. I'll be in the First District."
The group looked at each other and then shrugged in unison. They started to follow Cid out the door, until Aerith interrupted them. "You know, I've been thinking about the bell in the Second District."
Wendy titled her head to one side. "The one that rang a while ago?"
Yuffie explained, "The one above the gizmo shop. There's a legend about it, you know."
Romeo crossed his hips, "A legend, huh?"
Aerith implied, "But the bell tower's all boarded up. Nobody can get in there."
Cid rubbed the tip of his nose, "Heck, go check it out. Ring it three times to see if anything happens."
Sherria wondered, "Ring the bell three times? Why?"
Yuffie answered, "It's part of the legend. They say that if you ring the bell three times, something's supposed to appear."
Carla asked, "Something good? Or something terrible?"
Yuffie shrugged, "Not really sure."
Wendy determined, "Well, I guess we'll have to find out for ourselves. Let's check the Second District first. We still have time."
Aerith encouraged the group, "Good luck, everyone."
Yuffie beamed, "Hope you find the rest of your friends. You know where to find us if you need anything."
Leon advised, "Don't let your guard down."
Wendy and her friends said their farewells to Leon and the gang before exiting the small house. Cid had given instructions on how to get to the bell before he split ways with them and went to the First District. The group made their way back to the Second District...
Second District
It wasn't altogether too surprising that Wendy and company encountered hordes of Heartless along the way. The first wave was comprised of six Red Nocturnes, six Blue Rhapsodies, five Yellow Operas, and one Large Body. It seemed like the Heartless had gotten persistent as ever since the previous battles. "Well, that's just great," Donald grumbled.
Even so, Wendy and her companions were mostly unfazed by the setback, and prepared for battle. "You ready for this, Romeo?" The Sky Dragon Slayer turned to him with a confident smile, summoning the Jungle King in her hand.
"You know it," Romeo smirked, his fists pulsating with Rainbow Fire. "Let's get 'em!"
The best way for the group to defeat the first obstacle on their way to the Gizmo Shop was to split up; Wendy, Romeo, Carla, and Sherria faced the Red Nocturnes, Blue Rhapsodies, and Yellow Operas, while Alzack, Bisca, Donald, and Goofy focused on the Large Body. Wendy's group either dodged or deflected a consecutive number of elemental attacks, and seized the opportunity to take them out at their most vulnerable. During the brawl, Romeo discovered the respective effects each Rainbow Fire color had on the spellcasting Heartless: Blue Fire was effective against Red Nocturnes, Yellow Fire on Blue Rhapsodies, and Purple Fire on Yellow Operas. With that advantage, he destroyed the remaining spellcasters, one different-colored Rainbow Fire at a time. Meanwhile, Alzack and Bisca immobilized the Large Body with their Guns Magic, Donald with Blizzard, Goofy with Goofy Bash, and Sherria finished it off with Sky God's Bellow. With that, the alleyway was secured, and the group was free to proceed.
By the time Wendy and company arrived at the streets, the second wave was making its first move. An entire fleet of Red Nocturnes, Blue Rhapsodies, Yellow Operas, and Green Requiems stormed the Second District, allied with a small squadron of Large Bodies. They assaulted the entourage with a combination of body slams and spells. Wendy executed her Stun Impact ability to paralyze the Red Nocturnes in a wide area, allowing Romeo to finish them with his Blue Fire. She eliminated many Blue Rhapsodies with fast Keyblade attacks, while Romeo dealt the rest with Yellow Fire. Alzack and Bisca shot the Yellow Operas out of the sky with their magical weaponry, and Sherria decimated the Green Requiems before they could heal themselves and their fellow Heartless. The Large Bodies were the most troublesome with their absurdly large size and strength, but their speed wasn't much of a problem. Wendy slew two Large Bodies with Sonic Blade, Romeo incinerated two more with a Rainbow Fireball, Donald vanquished two with Fire and Thunder, and the last one was dispatched by Goofy's shield.
Gizmo Shop
They climbed the stairs and entered the Gizmo Shop, where the third wave of Heartless turned it into a death trap. It consisted of Air Soldiers and Shadows, fixated on beating the heroes to a bloody pulp. The first batch of Air Soldiers came rushing at them, but Wendy easily responded with various Keyblade Magic spells, followed by a string of close-range attacks. The second batch rushed from behind, but Donald assisted with Thunder, and then Goofy with Goofy Tornado. The rest of the Air Soldiers and the whole swarm of Shadows came after the group, but they fared no better and soon, hearts and black dust were flying throughout the room filled with gears and wheels. Only when they exited from the interior of the Gizmo Shop did they truly feel exhausted. They took less than a minute to rest at a wall, with Wendy and Donald restoring the group's stamina with Cure. Their strength regained, they climbed the ladder to the roof.
The rooftop was completely flat with a small set of archways near the edge, facing out towards the District. Each of the pillars that comprised the arches bore a small etching of a bell, and the bell tower stood at the front. By the time the group arrived, the last wave of Heartless was on the move- a jamboree of Red Nocturnes, Blue Rhapsodies, Yellow Operas, and Green Requiems Eventually, their elemental weaknesses led to their inevitable defeat, thanks in no small part to Wendy, Donald, and Romeo's handiwork. With no more Heartless on sight, Wendy and her friends turned their attention to the bell tower, which was completely blocked by wooden boards.
"Aerith wasn't kiddin' about the bell tower bein' boarded up," Goofy remarked.
"Looks like we gotta break the wood," Romeo confirmed.
"You got it! Guns Magic: Stinger Shot!" Bisca summoned her magical sniper rifle out of thin air and readied a shot right at the planks of wood. The bullet flew out from the barrel and made contact with the lumber, before it exploded into tiny pieces that scattered in multiple directions.
"Bullseye!" Sherria cheered.
"Lucky nothin' else is damaged," Bisca held up her rifle. "Now all we gotta do is take care of the bell."
"Cid asked us to ring it three times," Alzack pointed out. "Let's see what happens."
When the dust cleared, the group discovered a large golden bell hanging four feet above their heads, with a rope dangling from it. Wendy reached over and touched the rope gingerly, before slowly gripping it in one hand. "This is it..." she thought to herself. With a single tug, the bell rumbled in place, sending a powerful vibration that shook the frame of the bell tower. The noise stretched throughout the gizmo shop, the Second District, and then the whole town.
As the bell continued to ring melodiously, sending waves that shook the surrounding buildings slightly, something strange occurred at the square below. Orange and red flames suddenly danced on the surface of the fountain, licking the bottom edge of the tile mosaic. The image of brightly colored flowers decorated the centerpiece fixated on the wall. Just then, the mosaic shifted, spinning around in place to reveal another side of itself. The new image was a tile mural depicting an underwater scene, where several sea creatures weaved in and out of the seaweed. The block settled into its new position with a loud click, before the flames died out.
"Wow..." Donald and Goofy drew in awed breaths.
"The fountain changed when I rang the bell..." Wendy pointed out. "Is that supposed to happen?"
"I suppose anything can," Carla shrugged. "There are some mysteries we have yet to solve."
"Wendy!" Donald turned to the Sky Maiden with an eager expression. "Ring it again!"
"Maybe we'll find somethin' there!" Goofy encouraged. "C'mon!"
"Okay..." Wendy complied. She pulled down on the rope a second time, then hurried to join the others at the edge of the roof.
The carved decoration that outlined the tile mosaic around the fountain began to glimmer in a collection of neon lights. They lit up in the waves, one set after the other, like an electric pulse surging through them. At the same time, the mosaic spun around again, revealing yet another hidden side of it. The new picture was of two green leafless trees standing side by side in the midst of a blue gray forest, with two small mushrooms nestled in the roots. As soon as the mosaic clicked into place, the lights around the fountain blinked out.
"If the legend is true, then something is expected to appear," Carla confirmed.
"Let's just hope it's nothing bad," Donald crossed his fingers. The rest of the group nodded in agreement.
Wendy pulled the rope one more time before regrouping with her friends, expecting one more change in the scenery.
This time, several jets of water spurted out from within the fountain, a thin cloud of mist forming around it as the mural took on another change. It spun around to reveal another mosaic, which depicted a solitary rose blossom surrounded by butterflies of varying colors. The image was only there for a moment before the mist grew thicker. The entire mural glowed with a deep blue violet color, and a large keyhole appeared in the center of it. The water jets ceased, and the mist thinned out.
"WHOOOOAAAAA!" Everyone jumped at the sight, their jaws dropping visibly and their eyes widening in absolute awe. The fountain had revealed the Keyhole of Traverse Town!
Second District
Wendy's Vernier spell descended Romeo from the rooftop as he spoke, "I guess the bell's more than just a legend..." Wendy floated down with Carla carrying her on wings, while the rest of the entourage followed by walking down the stairs. Admittedly, they were slow to keep up with the four who left the rooftop, but at the moment, there were no more Heartless around. Romeo said, "So the Keyholes are secret portals leading to the heart of each world, and your Keyblade is the only thing that can lock them away. If the Heartless got inside, they're gonna eat the world from the inside until it dies."
Wendy nodded, "Uh-huh. Heartless are drawn to every heart, even a world's. That's why the Keyholes have to be closed."
Romeo grinned, "Wow, Wendy, it sounds like something no one in our guild's ever done before. It's like the fate of the universe rests on your shoulders, like you're a hero to other worlds."
Wendy giggled, "Now that you put it that way, I am a bit of a hero."
Back at the Small House, Wendy had given a thorough explanation about the Keyblade's abilities and the responsibilities of being its wielder, the quest she partook with friends new and old, and the dangers she faced. This was a lot to take in for Romeo, but he soon came to an understanding in regard to this web of intrigue he found himself in. If this epic adventure involved Wendy being the heroine of the story, he was willing to stick with her to the end. After all, Fairy Tail's all about adventure, so it's not much of a stretch for the younger generation to take the stage.
Carla wondered out loud, "I'm beginning to question why the bell was boarded up."
Wendy replied, "Good question. I'd like to know, too."
When they were close to approaching the fountain, Romeo asked, "Say Wendy, you fought Kaze Viriniam, the leader of Sleepy Hollow, on your way to Tenrou Island, right? How strong is she?"
Before Wendy could respond, a voice she recognized boomed through the Second District. "Enjoying your trip around town, Blueberry?" She along with Romeo and Carla turned to look between the fountain and the gizmo shop for where the voice originated.
"Kaze?!" Wendy exclaimed, the other three's eyes widening a bit at what she said.
"I suggest you enjoy looking at this town's final moments. It'll be the last thing you'll get to see before it's lights out!" The voice erupted with amused laughter, sending waves rolling over the square.
Romeo demanded, "What's going on here?!"
The answer hit him in the form of metal clashing in the skies, and the three turned to look up. From where they were standing, they could see a giant pile of purple-colored armor falling out of the sky, plopping down with a heavy thud in the space between the four and the Keyhole. Its head piece was the last to fall, dropping on top of the torso, completing the last phase of formation.
"Linda the Living Armor?!" Wendy and Romeo exclaimed in unison as the familiar hulking Heartless known as Guard Armor clanked its pieces altogether, posing a dangerous threat to the Keyblade wielder and her companions.
Romeo recognized, "The biggest star of Halloween's Circus Troupe who happened to be a Heartless following the ringmaster's orders! You know, just before he died?" He turned to Wendy, who nodded. "Who knew that our childhood circus troupe was a dark guild? You had the right idea about them after all." He turned back to the Guard Armor, "But I thought you beat her last time! How did she get back?"
Carla guessed, "They must've sent another Heartless identical to the one we fought to try and seize the Keyhole."
Romeo asked, "What are we gonna do?"
Unfazed by the appearance of the gargantuan Heartless, Wendy summoned the Jungle King. "Same thing we always do. We're gonna have to fight it."
Romeo raised his fists lit with Purple Fire. "Now you're talkin'. Let's teach this freak show that we mean business."
Carla rose with her wings, eager to assist the children. "Ready anytime!"
Donald, Goofy, Sherria, Alzack, Bisca, and Asuka appeared from the Gizmo Shop exit just in time to see Wendy, Romeo, and Carla confronting the Guard Armor. "What the...?! Hey, wait up, guys!" Sherria exclaimed, before she and the others ran for the square as fast as they could. Unfortunately, an invisible barrier barred the path before they could reach the fountain, and Donald crashed head first into it, sticking to it before sliding down onto the concrete a moment later.
"I'd say that was a nasty crash," Bisca commented.
"Hey, what's the big idea?!" Donald leapt to his webbed feet and voiced his complaint to the unseen force field. "Huh?" He then caught a glimpse of the battle about to ensue, his attention drawn to a giant Heartless that looked awfully familiar. "Not again!"
"I thought we beat this thing already!" Goofy complained.
"You fought that thing before?" Alzack raised an eyebrow.
"Wendy and Romeo are out there, too," Sherria pointed out. "They're gonna need our help."
"C'mon, fellas! We've taken down that Heartless before, and we'll take it down again!" Donald shouted, taking out his staff. Letting out a ferocious battle quack, he rushed for the fountain... "WAK!" ...only for the barrier to bounce him back. He fell to the ground and banged a fist in frustration. "Ah, phooey..."
"Why can't we get through?!" Sherria whined.
"If I had to guess, it's an enchantment," Alzack assumed. "It's probably not letting us through until the battle's over."
"No fair," Bisca pouted. "We can't just sit there and watch those kids fight on their own."
"We have no choice, Bisca," Alzack sighed, before he lightened the mood. "And don't worry, Wendy and Romeo can take care of themselves. They've been holding their own just as hard as us."
"Alright," Bisca relented. "They better stay sharp."
"Go, Wendy! Go!" Sherria cheered.
"C'mon, Wendy!" Goofy whooped.
"Yay! Wendy!" Asuka chirped.
The boss battle had begun! The Guard Armor clenched its gauntlets and whirled them around for a spin attack towards Wendy and Romeo. They clashed against the metallic claws, pushing them back in a string of deflects and counterattacks. The gauntlets sometimes managed to land a direct hit on either the Sky Maiden or the Rainbow Fire wizard, but they were relentless as they kept the pace in a furious storm of fire and metal. Less than a minute later, after jumping to dodge a double-fist attack, Wendy and Romeo leapt towards the Guard Armor, landing beneath the torso and then leaping backwards as the legs stomped wildly where they stood. The gauntlets and the legs began operating separately, attacking Wendy and Romeo on both sides. The young heroes fought back at long range with Keyblade Magic and Rainbow Fire spells, scratching away at the metal. They quickly jumped over another gauntlet spin attack, and were about to retaliate, only to stop when the legs stomped across the street. Forced to split up, Wendy repelled the gauntlets with multiple Keyblade attacks, while Romeo gave the legs a taste of his workhouse Purple Fire Fists. Once the persistent armor parts were worn down...
"Sonic Blade!" Wendy launched six supersonic thrusts that struck the gauntlets and legs simultaneously.
"Purple Net!" Romeo's Purple Fire took the form of a huge net that ensnared the armor parts all at once.
"White Missile Kick!" Carla transformed into her human form and struck the Purple Net with a double missile dropkick, sending the trapped pile of metal crashing onto the torso, before they all collapsed in a heap.
"Rainbow Fireball!" Romeo mixed the different colors of Rainbow Fire into a huge sphere of flame, and threw it against the downed Heartless.
"Sky Dragon's Roar!" Wendy added her signature tornado breath to the mix. The combination of two spells caused a powerful explosion that greatly damaged the Guard Armor, its body parts sprawled on the ground in a smoldering cloud of dust. She, Romeo, and Carla stared through the smoke, wondering if the enemy had already been defeated.
Wendy remarked, "That was easy."
Romeo narrowed his eyes, "Too easy."
Silence fell upon the Second District, the pieces of armor lying motionless across the street. Then a twitch. Immediately, the Guard Armor started to shake and rattle, before the torso, gauntlets, and legs flew back up and reformed the body. Wendy, Romeo, and Carla took defensive stances, ready to make another charge at the Heartless... and that's when things took a turn for the worse. The Guard Armor fell forward, its arms digging into the ground like it was performing some sort of handstand. Its torso and legs flipped over, and the toes of its hammer-like feet curved inwards, forming hands. The face guard of the torso's helmet popped down, revealing the glowing yellow eyes within. The Guard Armor had taken on a new yet inverted form known as the Opposite Armor!
Carla gasped, "The armor inverted itself!"
Romeo tensed, "It's not gonna give up easily, that's for sure."
Wendy affirmed, "And neither will we! Let's finish this!"
Wendy and Romeo prepared themselves for the second round of the boss battle, with Donald, Goofy, Sherria, and the Connells cheering from the sidelines. Floating in midair, the Opposite Armor lunged forward and extended both its arms and legs to attack. When he saw this, Romeo's left hand lit up with multicolored flames. "Rainbow Slash!" With a swing, the rainbow-colored flames merged into a crescent sonic slash that bounced the Opposite Armor's four-limb attack and caused it to reel back, allowing Wendy to move in. She bowled over the arms with Sky Dragon's Wing Attack, brought down the legs with Sky Dragon's Claw, and then assaulted the torso with several aerial Keyblade combos. Before she could execute another combo, however, the Opposite Armor quickly retracted its arms and legs before moving away, the Sky Maiden hitting nothing but air. She managed to land on her feet, but before she could react, the Opposite Armor performed from behind a backflip with its legs, knocking her up in the air. Carla retrieved Wendy with her wings, narrowly missing another four-limb strike. Romeo confronted the Opposite Armor with his Purple Fire Fists, damaging the arms, legs, and torso while avoiding a few leg-backflips and four-limb tackles. Wendy made a quick recovery and assisted the Rainbow Fire wizard with Jungle King in hand. It was often difficult to land a hit due to the fact that the Guard Armor's modified form had more mobility, so speed and concentration were considered the best options.
Half a minute later, the Opposite Armor sustained moderate damage. Seeking for an effective strategy to defeat its enemies, it split itself into two separate formations: the helmet vertically swirling between the arms, and the torso charging with the legs spinning around. The armor parts attacked Wendy and Romeo relentlessly; they were more resilient than the young heroes first suspected prior to the Guard Armor's transformation. They held off the assault, Wendy swatting the helmet and arms away with aerial attacks and Keyblade Magic spells, and Romeo using different Rainbow Fire colors to strike at the feet and torso. The two young wizards were quick to analyze the Opposite Armor's attack patterns from sustaining a few hits.
Another minute passed before the Opposite Armor's body reassembled. So far, it had been trying to get on Wendy and Romeo's nerves, splitting itself apart just as they were about to strike at the main body. The Heartless managed to catch them off guard with its increased mobility, but they were keeping cool in spite of its tricks, doing their best to stay active and alert. The Opposite Armor soared after Wendy and Romeo dove towards it in the air and floated back while they managed to hit the wall. They leapt off the wall and launched a combination of Keyblade blows and Purple Fire Fists, hacking away at the arms and legs. The counterattack stunned the Opposite Armor for a moment, giving Wendy and Romeo all the time they needed to attack the torso, as they just did.
Nearly reaching its limit, the Opposite Armor split itself in half again, the helmet and legs spinning rapidly with the arms and torso taking the lead. Wendy and Romeo dodged every attack in less than a minute, and soon found an opening. Wendy shot up towards the arms, striking them with a 15-hit Keyblade combo, and ending with a Sky Dragon's Crushing Fang that shattered the arms into a million pieces. Romeo attacked the legs with a 9-hit Purple Fire Fist combo, the last punch breaking the legs apart.
The Opposite Armor's appendages were gone, leaving just the torso and helmet. Out of desperation, the Heartless turned its torso sideways to give itself the appearance of a cannon, staring at them with fury laced in its glowing eyes. A ball of energy shot out from inside the torso, and it targeted Wendy and Romeo, who scooted away. The Opposite Armor proceeded to shoot a volley of energy shots, decimating the square with powerful explosions. Utilizing the full extent of their speed and agility, Wendy and Romeo eluded the countless explosive spheres on the ground, while Carla did the same in the air.
The infuriated Opposite Armor began to channel all of its magic into a ball of energy significantly larger in size and firepower than the previous ones, and fired it from the torso. "Stun Impact!" Wendy effortlessly blocked the orb with a sphere of electrical energy, sending it back. The impact engulfed the Heartless before it had a chance to get away, bathing it in a huge burst of magic. "Sonic Blade!" Wendy charged at the distracted Heartless with five supersonic thrusts, the last one creating a huge crack in the metal. "Now!"
Responding to Wendy's call, Romeo jumped in the air with a giant rainbow-colored fireball between both hands. "Rainbow Fireball!" It bee-lined straight for the Opposite Armor, and detonated upon collision.
When the dust settled, Wendy, Romeo, and Carla gathered to witness the Opposite Armor's final moments. The torso was shaking violently, the extremity of the battle taking its toll on the Heartless. The helmet soon dropped out of its orbit and fell inside the torso with a loud clanging noise. A large glowing heart floated from the depths and drifted away into the night sky, before the armor crumbled and disappeared. Wendy and Romeo cheered and gave each other a hi-five, proud and relieved that the battle was over.
Romeo breathed, "Whew, that was tight! Just like in the circus!"
Wendy beamed, "We make a pretty good team! You're really good!"
Romeo complimented, "Hey, you're pretty good yourself. Thanks for having my back, Wendy."
Wendy laughed slightly, "You're welcome, Romeo."
Carla grinned, "Well done."
As per the rules of the battle, the barrier was dispelled, and Donald, Goofy, Sherria, Alzack, Bisca, and Asuka were free to approach. They rejoined with the others at the square, relieved that they had survived and emerged victorious.
Goofy cheered, "You did it, Wendy! You saved the town!"
Sherria beamed, "That tin can didn't stand a chance!"
Donald laughed, "Hey, you should've saved some action for us!"
Alzack admired, "You two handled it as if it were your own backyard."
Bisca winked, "Nice work, kids."
Asuka chimed, "Hooray!"
Wendy smiled, "I didn't even use my Command Style to win. It would've been so easy..."
Romeo chuckled, "Yeah, I could've seen you use one of your new techniques in action. But you will the next time you run into something tougher than that pile of metal, right?"
Wendy accepted, "Sure! No problem." She stared down at the Keyblade in her hand, "I haven't used the Jungle King's Command Style yet. But maybe..."
Donald called out, "Hey, Wendy! The Keyhole's still open! You better close it!"
Immediately, the Sky Maiden walked over to the Keyhole, its brilliant blue light flashing over the tile mosaic. She drew in a deep, calming breath before raising the Keyblade and aiming it at the exposed heart of Traverse Town. Right away, the Jungle King fired a beam of light at the Keyhole, and a locking noise was heard from within. The Keyhole shimmered one last time before breaking off, disintegrating into pieces, leaving only the butterfly mural. The heart of another world was sealed away, forever beyond the reach of the Heartless. Out of the blue, an oddly-shaped gummi block and a Magic Orb with a grey illumination popped from where the Keyhole was locked.
Goofy picked up the block from the fountain's surface, examined it for a moment, and then showed the others what he recognized. "Look, fellas! It's another one of them navigation gummis!"
His companions peered at the item in his hand. They all smiled. "Hey, you're right!" Donald said, getting a closer look at the gummi block.
Sherria gave Goofy a congratulatory pat on the shoulder. "Good going, Goofy!"
Goofy rubbed the back of his head in a humble gesture. "Gawrsh, it was nothin'."
Romeo crossed his hips with a slight grin. "Huh. This is gonna be easier than I thought."
Alzack pointed out, "Which reminds me. We're supposed to show Cid a navigation gummi in case we found one."
Bisca nodded, "Sure hope he doesn't mind that we took a long time."
Donald interjected, "And check it out, another Magic Orb!" Everyone turned to the grey sphere floating in front of them. "It's got the Aero spell, which lets us summon a defensive wind barrier that halves any damage. It also deflects smaller projectiles without using a weapon. Could be useful when we're in a sticky situation." Soon, the Magic Orb popped into a stream of light and assimilated with Wendy's Keyblade and Donald's staff, thus granting them the ability to conjure Aero.
Wendy tapped her chin in deep thought. "A defensive wind barrier that can reduce damage and deflect smaller projectiles... The element of my Dragon Slayer Magic is wind, too. I wonder if I can..."
Goofy beckoned, "C'mon, fellas. Let's go talk to Cid." The rest of the group nodded and, after the captain of the Disney Kingdom's royal knights fastened the gummi block in his pocket, they were on their way to the exit.
First District
Behind the Accessory Shop, Cid turned to see Wendy and company making their arrival at the First District. He folded his arms over his chest and snorted, "There you are! Here I was, waitin' and waitin'. I was startin' to think you got lost on the way here."
Romeo admitted, "Yeah, we ran into a few bumps along the way. But it was worth it."
Wendy added, "We even found and locked the town's Keyhole."
Cid smirked, "Hey, now that was quick! I'll inform the guys back at the hangout." The store clerk huffed for a moment before turning away.
It didn't take long for the group to notice that Cid wasn't inside the Accessory Shop; they were actually standing in front of what appeared to be a shop stand, filled with crates of gummi blocks in every color, shape, and size. Donald and Goofy gasped at the variety that could be seen before them. Wendy asked, "What's with all the gummi blocks, Cid?"
Cid was caught off guard and turned to look back at the group. His arrogant grin never wavering, he put his fists on his hips. "Now you know. I'm in the gummi block business." He then drew in a breath, "Workin' on your gummi ship sure was great. Come again and I'll give you a big discount. Oh, and here." Cid reached into one of the display cases and picked up a brick-red block, which he handed to Donald with a smile. "Go ahead, take it. It's a special giveaway."
Goofy said, "By the way, we found another navigation gummi when we closed the Keyhole." He took the block from his pocket and gave it to Cid.
Cid rubbed his chin, "Another one, eh? I'll bet you want it installed to get to more interestin' worlds."
Carla nodded, "Yes, please."
Cid took the piece and examined it for a while. "Hmm..." Finally, he came to a conclusion. "Looks like this is another one of those blocks that come in sets. You gotta find the mate to this one." He then returned the gummi block to Goofy, who fastened it in his pocket again.
Donald assured, "No worries. We'll keep our eyes out for the other piece."
Cid encouraged, "Good luck out there. You need anythin', just give me a shout."
Wendy smiled, "You got it."
Romeo confirmed, "Well, there's nothing left to do here anymore. Let's get to your rocket! I can't wait to see what it looks like!"
Donald interrupted, "Hold on! We gotta restock our supplies before heading out."
Carla informed, "We must be well prepared for more dangers ahead."
Alzack shrugged, "Leaving town will just have to wait."
Bisca grinned, "Just a little longer."
Wendy pondered, "I wonder if there's anything new at the Accessory Shop?"
Sherria suggested, "Let's check it out first."
Accessory Shop
The group entered to find the counter run by a different townsperson, having taken Cid's place as the store's owner when he resigned in favor of returning to his original business in selling gummi blocks. Just when they were about to purchase the latest products with the munny they scored from previous battles, they caught sight of something crouched near the counter. It happened to be a wooden marionette in the form of a young boy. This was clearly reflected by its arms and legs, which were rectangular blocks of peach-colored wood. Clothing-wise, the marionette wore a yellow hat with a red feather tucked into it, brown shoes, white gloves, red shorts, and a tan short-sleeved shirt with a blue bow under a black vest. As the group tried to figure out the meaning behind the marionette's outline, Jiminy Cricket suddenly popped out of Wendy's pocket and landed on her shoulder, staring at the wooden puppet with wide eyes.
"Huh?" Wendy took notice. "Jiminy, what is it?"
"Well, well, as I live and breathe!" Jiminy said happily. "If it isn't Pinocchio!"
Wendy and company looked at Jiminy in surprise as he hopped down from the Sky Maiden's shoulder and landed on the floor. They glanced to each other, wondering how the cricket could possibly recognize a puppet. As for Donald and Goofy, they were fully aware of Jiminy's backstory ever since they first began their trip to other worlds. The story of a cricket who befriended a puppet brought to life by the Blue Fairy- they never expected to run into that living puppet in person, but seeing was definitely believing.
The puppet known as Pinocchio looked up to see the tuxedo-clad cricket a few inches away, and smiled. "Oh! Hi, Jiminy."
Everyone was taken aback. The marionette was actually capable of speech! Not only that, it could move of its own free will! Wendy exclaimed, "A talking puppet!"
Carla breathed, "Similar in sentience to the doorknob we encountered in Wonderland."
Sherria remarked, "It's like Cousin Sherry's Marionette Attack, but without strings. Cool!"
Romeo smiled, "Must've taken some serious magic to make objects come to life."
Carla stated, "But what's even more intriguing is Jiminy recognizing that wooden puppet. He seems to know him very well."
"What a coincidence running into you again, Pinoke," Jiminy addressed the marionette by his affectionate pet name. "What in the world are you doing down here?"
"Um..." Pinocchio thought for a moment, and then answered. "Playing hide-and-seek."
Jiminy lowered his eyes to the floor and began to pace in circles, shaking his head and making emphatic gestures with his hands. "I just don't believe it. And here I was, up all night, just worried sick about you. Why, of all the—" Before he could continue musing about the predicament Pinocchio found himself in, he looked up. "Pinocchio!" He jumped back, shocked at what he just seen. Of course, he wasn't the only one.
Pinocchio's nose had suddenly grown, lengthening straight out of his face with a small glittering of light. It was safe to say that Wendy and her friends didn't expect something like that to happen. Pinocchio stared at his nose's new length in a silly, rather confused manner.
Jiminy narrowed his eyes at the puppet. "Pinocchio! Are you telling me the truth?"
Pinocchio nodded his head. "Yes!"
His nose magically gained another two inches in length.
Jiminy glanced to the side, noticing a small box lying on the floor beside Pinocchio. He pointed at it sternly, "Then tell me, what is this?"
Pinocchio responded, "It was a present."
His nose instantly doubled in length. Small branches and leaves had grown on its tip.
Jiminy hopped onto Pinocchio's feet, driven by the urge to give him a lecture. "No fibbing, now! You know you're not supposed to tell lies. A lie only grows and grows, 'til you get caught!" He then tapped the tip of his umbrella on the puppet's elongated nose. "Plain as the nose on your face!"
Wendy questioned, "Your nose grows if you tell a lie?"
Romeo wondered, "Where have we heard that before?"
Sherria shrugged, "I dunno."
Pinocchio titled his head to one side, confused. "But if you want something, why wait? Why not just take it?"
Jiminy looked as though he had never been more shocked in his life. "Oh, my! Who told you that? You need some advice from your conscience!"
Sherria raised an eyebrow, "How can a cricket be a conscience?"
Carla explained, "It's more of a companion, a personal guide knowing right from wrong."
Wendy stated, "Jiminy's so worried about Pinocchio. It's like he wants to stick with him, just like Carla wants to stick with me."
Carla agreed, "Yes, I suppose so. But I am your guardian, after all."
Wendy giggled, "You worry too much."
Carla sighed, "I have every reason to."
Pinocchio nodded in agreement with Jiminy's statement. "That's right! You're my conscience, Jiminy! I'll never tell lies as long as you're around."
And just like that, magic surrounded the puppet's nose, and it shrunk back to its original size. Both cricket and puppet smiled at this; Pinocchio tapped the tip of his nose with one finger as thought to make sure it was back to normal.
"You need to be good so you can become a real boy," Jiminy advised, hopping down from Pinocchio's foot. "You promised Geppetto you would be, right?"
"Oh!" A thought occurred to Pinocchio. "Do you know where Father is?"
"He's not with you?" Jiminy was surprised.
"Jiminy, let's go find Father!" Pinocchio rose to his feet, looking very worried.
"Now, hold on!" Jiminy interrupted. "There are all sorts of dangers and temptations out there! I'll go find Geppetto, so you just wait here." He then gestured to Wendy and company, "These fellows here will be helping me."
Everyone was at a loss for words. Wendy blinked in surprise. "We will?"
Jiminy hopped back up onto the Sky Dragon Slayer's shoulder and sat down. "Well, shall we go, Wendy?"
Romeo rubbed the back of his head in confusion. "Um, you could've asked us first."
Pinocchio prayed to himself, "I'll be here waiting for Father to come back..."
Jiminy admitted with a light-hearted chuckle, "Oh, I probably haven't told you about Pinocchio. He's a puppet made by a wood-carver named Geppetto, brought to life by the Blue Fairy. She appointed me as Pinocchio's official conscience. It's my job to teach him right from wrong and to be his guide. And if he can prove himself brave, truthful, and unselfish, he can become a real boy."
Carla clarified, "In other words, the Blue Fairy tested him to see if he is worthy of becoming a real boy."
Wendy remarked, "It's like you're meant to keep him company, just as Carla did for me. Donald and Goofy, too."
Romeo commented, "Sounds pretty tough."
Jiminy agreed, "Sure does. But all in all, I enjoy my job."
Carla smiled, "Glad to hear it."
Donald turned and addressed everybody, "Okay, we're back on track. Let's buy some supplies. Can't go out empty-handed."
Sherria said eagerly, "The Item Shop's next to this one, right? It's where we'll see Donald's nephews! I can't wait to meet them!"
Romeo exclaimed shockingly, "Nephews?! Donald, you never told me you're an uncle!"
Donald groaned, "It's kind of a long story..."
With all things considered, Wendy and her companions helped themselves to the Accessory Shop's hospitality, unaware that someone had kept an eye on them from a farther distance.
ELSEWHERE...
"...and somehow, it always ends like this." Kaze Viriniam watched the events recorded into a crystal ball at the center of a table, impressed by the success of the young heroes, but mostly the girl she had a craving fascination with. She leaned on a chair with her legs resting on the table's edge, bending the support beams in the process. She was relaxing in a library, filled with countless shelves of books that covered the walls in several inches. "Blueberry defeated the Opposite Armor and locked away the Keyhole of a world between light and dark... And who would've imagined she'd find a new ally in Macao's little boy?" She couldn't help but laugh to herself, "This is gonna make things a whole lot interesting." She turned, speaking to someone in a corner, "Is the Tamer Coat dark guild ready to take the stage, Abigail?"
"As ready as we'll ever be. It will be the greatest show in the universe." Answering Kaze's call was a muscular man with an orange beard covering his entire chin, dressed in a dark purple armored suit with spikes around the gauntlets and poleyns, horns encircling the gorget, a striped cape at the back, and a large golden chestplate adorned with the crest of a lion and a snake intertwined. His right hand gripped the handle of a fashioned whip, with the black rope wrapped around his arm. "Come, my duo of deadly beasts!" With a thrust, the tail of the whip unfastened from Abigail's arm, and when it hit the ground with a deafening crack, foul voices cried out from the other side of the library, throwing all manner of insults and curses. A man and a woman, screaming in a mixture of anguish and hate. Abigail began to chuckle at their suffering. "We have pigs to squeal at Olympus Coliseum."
From the darkness, Kaze could see the rattling of metal mingling with the hideous cries. Two beasts were in their cages, banging and breaking at the iron bars, their voices demanding freedom. And then, a squadron of dark wizards dragged the cages away into the shadows, with Abigail following them.
"Huh, you weren't kidding about what you said. Fairy Tail wizards aren't pushovers," Kaze commented. She was talking to someone else in particular, aside from the accomplice who disappeared from the library. Shifting her attention to her "other guest," she turned around with the seat in front, her legs departing from the table to plant her feet onto the floor. Crossing her arms around the top rail, she gave a playful smirk. "Your son really is a flame that shines like a rainbow. Now I know why she's so fond of him..."
She was talking to Macao Conbolt, who was tied to a chair opposite of the table. His eyes burned darkly towards the young guild master of Sleepy Hollow, shaking with silent rage. With a smug attitude like that, she was practically asking for a punch in the face for the misfortune she wrought upon his guild, including his son.
Kaze had no qualms making one of them her personal plaything.
Author's Note:
The second Traverse Town arc is finally finished! Best of all, Wendy has reunited with Romeo, and his reasons for appearing in other worlds is revealed! Again, I am REALLY sorry about the long wait for this chapter. It's no excuse, but I kept getting slapped in the face, particularly by work and Wi-Fi troubleshooting. I would've had this up sooner, but you know, life is hard... I hope the end of this arc makes up somewhat for the long wait. Hopefully, I have fewer things heavy on my mind for the next one.
Now then, before we get started with the Agrabah Arc, the next chapter's gonna focus on the Phil Cup in Olympus Coliseum, where Wendy and her friends face off against Tamer Coat, one of the dark guilds working for the Alliance of Evil. To add more spice to the story, two Fairy Tail wizards will participate. Who, you ask? Wait and see!
This is TheSavageMan100, and I'll see you next time. I'm off to recharge myself after three whole months of work. Peace!
