He had left through the gates of Olympus Coliseum, leaving only a flurry of pyreflies filling it in his wake as he passed into the wading darkness of the Underworld. Yet the essence of his soul followed him when he passed through the door and his form took shape again. Traveling through, another door revealed itself to him opening on the other side and he passed through it.
It was one claim that brought him to the Underworld. Yet what made this door appear? And what brought him here now? To this new world.
Auron stood as still as a statue, not fazed by anything around him, but his mind still had questions. Whatever power had brought him here was gone, leaving him in the weary wet world he found himself in.
A storm raged around him. Wind and rain mixed together shelling him constantly. He looked down to his feet to see them planted on the wooden planks he would call the ground. Though it was far from level, leaning to one side and his left foot was halfway in the water. Turning his head to look left, Auron saw the rest of what he stood on took a steep dive down into the dark murky water. Turning his head right, he saw whatever remains there was were still protruding upwards on the jagged rocks. In the faintest of lights, he could now tell it was a ship wrecked against the rocks.
With nowhere to go, he moved right and climbed up. Auron moved among the wreckage of the ship, finding that it evened out the higher he went and the sharp rocks it crashed upon kept this part in place as the rest was dragged down into the water. Though for how much longer he couldn't say for it seemed to do no good for whoever sailed on this ship. There were no signs of life anywhere save for him and he was not here when it crashed. There was hardly any light beyond what he could see before him. Around the ship, he could hear the waves and wind lashing about, but he could not see it. The shipwreck was otherwise surrounded by an endless black abyss.
Moving farther towards what remained of the bow, he found himself only partially sheltered by the rain under a broken over mast and remnants of the sail that still hung, flapping from it. Silently accepting his prospects, he stood beneath the flailing tarp. Tattered and writhing about it still did its job as he silently stood beside it. One arm tucked into his coat, he bowed his head now and waited.
The storm died down suddenly, and he listened for what came after. The waves still cracked against the wreckage, though less fiercely than before. The wind still no longer blew or thrashed and the sail he stood behind merely hung there now. But the never ending rain had finally ended, only for another sound took its place.
The sound of something scrapping hard against the wooden floor.
Rotating his head, he followed the sound as it dragged across the deck. Traveling along the wooden planks yet was blocked out by the upheaval of the deck or the fallen mast where the sail still flapped. It was coming across the bow, though he was certain there was no way for it to do so. Perhaps just as expectantly would be if he came from behind him out of the water.
The small traces of moonlight peaked out through the sky. Shining down to cast the shadow of a hunched over, lurching figure onto the sail Auron hid behind.
Auron eyed it suspiciously, but moved forward towards it. One hand tensed tucked away in his coat while the other was brought up to grip the sail. Drenched and dripping as it writhed in his fingers. He had noticed now the shadow was still, and the sound of its movement had stopped.
Then in one quick motion he turned the sail back only to come face to face with another man. Though he looked unlike any he had ever seen.
Though he had come from in front of him, he might as well have risen from the water behind with the rest of the ship. He looked like he had been plunged and held below the sea, as if he lived there. Crustaceans covered his body and seaweed hung from his head like hair though he noticeably still had some beneath his dark bandanna. Most noticeable a starfish was planted on the left side of his face around his eye. His clothes were dark, yet his skin was pale and clammy. He regarded Auron with a deadpan stare. With one eye closed Auron returned with one of his own. The stare between the two continued as Auron lowered his hand back to his side. Eventually, the man spoke breaking the silence he brought with him.
"You're the only one left?" he asked in a low, rough voice.
"I'm the only one at all." Auron answered.
"Ah." the let out gruffly and then trudged off past him. "What is it your waiting for?" he called back to him as he lumbered forward. Auron bladed his body and turned to watch him. He walked as if he had a limp, leaning to one side though there was no deformity. In the leg that is, for everything else remained aquatic save his human disposition beneath it. "Rescue?" he both answered and asked to Auron who was now behind him, before he sat himself down leaning on the bulwark or whatever remained if it "There'll be none of that. Not by here."
"Then why is it you've come?" Auron asked as he watched him take his place. He quickly deferred, he was not on this ship when it crashed. Yet where did he come from and why was he here? A question Auron still had about himself.
The man dropped his head "Rescue." he answered simply in a dry voice. Though it sounded like it was different than before, though he used the same word. As if it had a different meaning now that he had said it. The man paused after that reflecting on what he said, but eventually continued on "By way of the captain." he told blandly "To see if anyone was alive. If anyone was here. If anyone wanted to escape their fate."
"Hm". Aaron let out slightly amused. He couldn't help it. Given all he's been through. From his travels as a Guardian from the Underworld to here.
"Sounds like quite the Guardian." Auron commented.
"Ah?" the man let out turning up to him. Auron then asked his own line of questions.
"And who're you? To come in his stead. Are you on a pilgrimage?" he asked in a voice just as dry. The sea soaked man took in a breath, pausing as if he had to think of the answer. Almost like he had forgotten it.
"Bill." he answered in a lowly voice "Call me Bootstrap. Everyone does."
"Auron." his muffled voice said behind the collar. Silence returned to the two before Auron ended it with another question "So what does this captain offer?"
"Salvation. A prolongment of death." Bootstrap said as if he was dead already. On having died already Auron felt that in him. A seeping sense of something lost and left behind.
"For such a fate what made you take it?" Auron asked.
The man went stiff and thought long and hard, remembering the last moments of the life he left behind. Who he left behind.
"Freedom. From an endless death." he told.
"Was it worth it?" he asked "Did you leave anyone else behind?"
Bootstrap froze now, bowing his head so his hair hid his face. But Auron could still hear his voice and the longing in it "My son." He said in a low voice. The dread in Bootstrap grew yet it only hardened Auron's point.
"Hm." he smirked, unable to help it though Bootstrap couldn't see it from behind his high collar "You remind me of someone."
"Eh?" Bootstrap let out.
"Tell me," he began breaking Bootstraps dour look "anyone you ever met named Jecht?" he asked in dry amusement thinking of his long lost friend and the son he protected.
"Hm?" Bootstrap let out now trying to think of the name "He one of them new ones?" he asked, but his question puzzled Auron.
"New ones?" he repeated.
"Found floating off a broken raft out at sea." Bootstrap told as he pointed out into the black abyss surrounding them "Young lad, orange hair, fancies himself a professional player for some game with a ball. Came from an island, but not any from this world. The captain knew that much already. But it didn't matter, not when he was offered to us. To repay someone else's dept."
The scenario Bootstrap described was intricate, but description of the boy sounded faintly familiar to Auron. But how did he get himself here? Perhaps this is why Auron was brought here; his heart leading the way. In such a wide world as this one alone, what are the chances he would bump into someone he knew?
But it was a chance he would take.
"Take me there." Auron told. Bootstrap turned back up to look at him, his gaze hardening onto him, but in his eyes showed a sense of confusion about it.
"You accept?" he asked, unsure of his motives.
"I want to see for myself." Auron told pointedly.
"Hm." Bootstrap gargled to himself. He heard what he said, but may have been apprehensive of it. But whatever his thoughts were, he relented with a tired "Very well."
As soon as he said that Auron saw something off in the distance. Peering past behind Bootstrap and through the darkness, Auron though he saw a large toothy grin bite through the unrelenting blackness of the stormy open sea. Bootstrap Bill pushed himself off of the bulwark and stood by Auron's side. Both waiting for this great beast to approach them.
The teeth drifted closer to them, allowing him to see the mouth that held them there. It was so large that even he could rest inside of there. He did not show any sign of shock, but Bootstrap's face showed a kind of knowing. The protruding teeth were followed by a hulking mass, revealing it not to be a creature of the deep, but one that sailed on it. A rotting look to the hull of the ship as it came up alongside them as they gazed up beneath it.
"That's her." Bootstrap stated causing Auron to turn back to him "The Flying Dutchman."
Auron looked back to ship "Let's get aboard." he said without hesitation.
Aboard the Flying Dutchman, the crew surrounded a small table where two people sat. While they played their game resigned to the floor, their Captain would play on the table. And he would play with whatever poor soul dared to challenge him. Which just so happened to be the newest pickup they had.
Wakka tried to remember everything that lead him to this. After the others had left, Tidus, Selphie and himself, they all decided they wanted to see new worlds too. So they did exactly what the other three had done. They built a raft christening it 'The Fahrenheit'. It was strong and sturdy and got them out to open water.
But it didn't last long from there.
When the storm hit everything went black and when he woke up he found himself in a new world alright, but on one that was the polar opposite of Destiny Islands. A backwater, filthy run down port called Tortuga.
A run in with a local captain had him shanghaied into service for another pirate captain. Though this one was far worse than Jack Sparrow-who Wakka insisted he never heard of before much to Jack's chagrin.
But that didn't matter now. He had gotten himself into this, and he would get himself out. Then he would find Tidus and Selphie no matter what world they were on. But most importantly when this was all done, he would reunite with someone else. Someone he left behind at Destiny Islands. Someone he said he'd come back to.
But first he had to be free. From the way he heard of it, there was only one way to be. The crew of this ship liked to play a game. One thing was for sure it wasn't Blitzball. And the price to play against the captain was high. Very high. Wakka had no choice but to bet his own heart against him. It brought him to the table and now Wakka had no choice, but to win.
In unison the two slammed their cups lid down onto the table. The contents in the shifted and rattled on the inside before they stilled.
Wakka peaked under his cup to see five white faces with black dots on them. A different value on each could be made with the initial roll, yet four of his matched and one did not. Closing the cup, he spoke his first bid.
"Two threes." he said beginning the game. His colors still bright, against the muted shade of the ship. From the look of all of them and the ship herself, they might as well have been playing this at the bottom of the ocean. But he's even played some Blitzball down there so he was sure he'd manage it even if they were. Oh, how he would tell the others of his adventure once he found them. They may not even believe him, but Wakka didn't doubt they had adventures of their own.
He gazed across at the figure at the other end of the table. The tentacle that was his finger twisted towards the scabbard of his sword. A pipe that smoke rose out of lingered before his face, but was held there by the long strand of his beard, though it was not hair but a tentacle like his finger. He took the pipe from his mouth, not to make a bet, but to comment on Wakka.
"Your a desperate man." Davy Jones said as his green squid face squirmed and smoke left his mouth "What is the cause?" he asked curiously as his face twisted and his eyes moved around before settling back on him. Once they did, his face went dark as it curled up into a sneer and he let out a evil chortle to go with it. For he felt he came to a conclusion "It can only be a woman." he surmised as he stuck his pipe back in his mouth.
Wakka was stone faced trying to hide his feelings well. But the captain was right.
Yes, he did want to find Tidus and Selphie. To have great adventures and return home. But there was someone else too. Someone he left behind and wanted to see again. And he thought of her name.
Lulu.
But he couldn't give anything away right or wrong. He had to keep his head in the game.
"You gonna talk or bet man?" He asked brashly.
"In a rush boy?" Davy Jones spat, anger rising in him from Wakka's disrespect "You're only to end up on this ship. When this is done, you won't have a heart to give her."
"It's already hers." Wakka said confirming what the captain wouldn't let go of. Davy Jones face rippled when he said that. To placate his growing rage, he sucked on his pipe.
"Then you'll see yer better off without either. And I'll have saved you the heartache." he said menacingly before smirking. Taking his mouth off his pipe he exhumed smoke and spared a glance beneath his cup before brining his head back up "Three three's." he said sharply. The amount was increased, the only way to go.
Allowing the captain the last words and not wanting to get caught up in it, Wakka glanced under his cup briefly "Four threes." he said. Davy seemed taken back by his bet. He peered under his cup briefly before placing his.
"Five threes." he bellowed to him, having bet half the dice on the table were threes.
Wakka glanced under his cup seeing the dice placed under there. He stalled in his choice of words. Seeing only one three surrounded by four dice showing six. He gazed up looking to read Davy Jones smug face. He could call him a liar or he could raise the bid. But to guess there were six threes on the table? Only if all of Jones dice were threes, would that be true. If not that he had only one other option or call him a liar. He opened his mouth to do one. Yet another voice called out before he could.
"Captain!" the hoarse voice of Bootstrap Bill beckoned.
Under his barnacle covered hat, Davy Jones perked his head up and turned back, his tentacle beard writhing over his shoulder as he turned. Wakka looked past him and around them all the crew members once watching the game now mimicked the captain, turning to see Bootstrap Bill return to them. But he was not alone.
"Mr. Turner." Davy Jones spoke much calmer, now speaking over his shoulder, though his greeting was clearly that to someone inferior to him. He took a brief puff of his pipe before locking eyes with the red robed swordsman who kept his face hidden behind a high collar and an arm tucked away into his robe "And who be this?" he puffed and let out a 'pop' with his lips. But Wakka watching from the other end of the table recognized one of the two who returned. Just as Davy knew Bootstrap, Wakka knew who he returned with. But even he couldn't believe it.
"It can't be?!" he exclaimed.
Davy twirled his head back to Wakka his tentacle beard flailing as he did. Snorting, he turned back to Bootstraps accomplice and then to Wakka.
"You know this man?" He pointed back with his pipe.
"He's a guardian! He's-"
"Here." Auron cut in, stepping forward passed Bootstrap "For you." he said looking to Wakka who was stunned to speechlessness. It was then that Davy Jones spoke.
"Are ye now?" Davy asked partly amused "Yer timing is poor then. For yer lad has become a member of my crew." he let out a low rumble that grew into a laugh. Everyone else followed suite save Bootstrap who stood at the edge of the group.
But a voice cut through them like a sword through the heart.
"The games not done." Wakka said confidently snuffing out all laughter "Not yet." Davy set his eyes on him dangerously, for now it was Wakka who was right "And it's my bet." he looked to Auron with a smile before looking at his dice again. And he made his bet. "Five sixes." he said.
Whatever rage was in Davy's face returned to gleeful but evil laughter.
"Liar!" he spat. With the word said there was nothing to do, but prove it and the two lifted their cups to reveal the faces of the die.
There five threes just as Davy Jones had said. Four of them under his cup and one under Wakka's. Yet that was not the bet in question. Wakka has raised the bet. There was one six under his cup, but four under Davy's.
He was no liar.
The crowds enthusiasm was snuffed out like a fire under water. Whispers and mutterings of 'Five Sixes' broke out amongst them. Auron's grin was hidden beneath his collar and though Wakka showed confidence, he was relieved he was right. He turned passed Davy Jones to Auron who nodded to him. Grinning he nodded back.
A small knocking came from the other side of the table and he saw Davy Jones tapping his pipe against his hard crab like arm.
"Well done Master Wakka." He said that and nothing more. Congratulating him, he stood up from his seat. They both knew what he was playing for, and he had it.
"So that it then, man?" Wakka asked, goading the captain into saying it.
Disapproval was in Davy Jones face and voice when he spoke the words. "Yer free." He said near silently when facing him, but had he nothing else to say after that. Not wasting anymore time on him, he thrashed around to face Auron, his coat and tentacles moving about as he did. His peg leg stabbed into the deck as he came towards him. "And you?" He leered in close "What is yer purpose here?"
"I told you already." Auron paused "Him." he said with extra emphasis in his voice. Though he spoke of Wakka, but his eyes settled in on the captain.
Davy snorted chortled at that sensing something about the man before him "I can tell, ye have already passed." he told slyly looking him up and down. So just like Hades, it seems Davy Jones has ways of knowing who has died whether from his world or not. Just like Hades can call them from the Underworld, he can also keep them contained within the Locker "But to be here now," he said observantly "tell me." Davy growled leaning in "Do you fear death so much?" he spoke softly to him as if it was a conversation for just the two of them to have and hear "To leave one world for the next? I can offer you an escape."
He couldn't see it, but Auron grinned behind his collar. For he knew the perfect answer to his question.
"This is my story. And your not part of it."
Sherwood Forest
The fauna of the woods matched the shade of his tunic, making him near unnoticeable as he moved through it. Passing through the trees and bushes the rustle of the leaves could be mistaken for the wind passing through them.
But it was much more than that.
The sharp red feather poking up in the tree leaves could be mistaken for a robin perched in its nest. But the confident, mischievous chuckle and the matching shade of his fur couldn't be anything else. Clearing the leaves so his eyes could peer through, he gazed down at the sight below.
A caravan of all gold. The brightest baggage train he'd ever let eyes on.
A loud procession of hippos beating drums, rhinos clanking in their armor as they marched and elephants trumpeting their trunks. Yet in their hands were not drums like the hippos or axes like the Rhinos. Instead, the elephants hands pulled something behind them; a carriage being pulled along the road. Rolling along on golden hubcaps sat a golden frame. Royal purple curtains lined its walls, but it was exactly what Robin Hood was on the watch for.
"Ah!" he exclaimed in a low hush voice when he laid eyes the carriage. And with the curtain wide open he saw who it was inside.
Inside the golden carriage sat the Prince himself, giddily running his hands through a golden pot filled with golden coins. He dunked his hands in and the coins jingled and swerved around them. He ran his hands through them as if he was washing them. Coiled up on the other side watching his delight was the Princes advisor, Sir Hiss. Robin kept his eyes on the road as his intended and seemingly unknowing targets were being brought along it. It was that very gold that sat between them that Robin was here for. Freshly taken from those who could pay for nothing more than the taxes he charged. Well, Robin would make sure they could pay for whatever they needed. Once they were reimbursed, that is.
Robin noticed as well, that for all the bright gold he saw there was a dark presence surrounding it. It was more than just the shadow cast by all of them. Darkness rose off of Prince John as he caressed his prize, but an even darker one rose from the pot as if it was smoke from a fire. Robin knew that was the source of it all. Greed was as much a source of darkness as anything else. And Heartless were appearing more and more frequently around Sherwood Forest and Nottingham itself. The Princes greed no doubt bringing out more and more of them, attracting them to his greed just as the gold attracted him. But once that gold was back in the proper hands, Robin knew the Heartless presence on his home would diminish.
"Got it all Rob?" a deeper voice asked from below. Taking his eyes off of the road, Robin Hood looked down to see little John's head poking up between his legs as his feet were planted on his shoulders.
"All that and more Little John." he replied as he looked up and out again. Though when he looked ahead this time, the Princes open carriage had passed out of his sight, down the road and passed the very tree they hid behind. Yet there was another carriage following closely behind him. It seems the Prince was not alone in this royal progress.
Robin's eyes widened, his jaw dropped and his voice was sucked out of him as he saw who rode in it. A plump hen heckling away, yet beside her was the most enchanting figure Robin had ever known. If darkness oozed out from Prince John's carriage than light, brighter than that from any golden coin or carriage radiated off of this one. Still in the trees, he watched on entranced with his breath was taken away. His eyes following them as they rode down the road trailing behind the Prince, carrying on in their pleasant conversation. But the procession was noticeably lighter than the front, with fewer guards around them. In fact there were none at all. He thought it natural since they were around the Prince, but there was another reason as well. But he was so focused on his beloved Maid Marion that he didn't see the lone figure that was about to come into view trailing behind her carriage on the road.
"Hey," Little John shuffled his shoulders rocking Robin and his vision through the tree leaves, but he effectively got his attention "everything alright up there Rob?"
"Wha-yes," Robin cleared his throat "yes-Yes of course." he stammered and only sounded convincing after a few more times saying it. Once he was, he looked back to the road to watch Maid Marion proceed further down it. The figure he would have seen had moved to the other side of their carriage, effectively out of Robin's sight. But he didn't worry about what he didn't know. He gave himself a few more silent moments to look at her, before she disappeared behind the same tree Prince John had. With her gone Robin let out a tired breath and readied himself for what he came here for "Alright," he said as he eased himself down "Let's get going." he said climbing down off little John's shoulders. The moment he was, he hopped through the forest cutting into the trees to race to the front of the royal caravan. Once Little John turned around, he followed right behind him.
Inside the royal carriage, the clicking of the gold before him matched the rolling of the wheels on the ground. The gold flowed like water through his hands. His reflection shined in each gleaming piece. His boastful laughter echoing through the carriage.
"Taxes!" Prince John cried out to the clinking of the coins falling back into the pot "Beautiful taxes!" he squealed in delight as he brought them back out again.
"A marvelous collection sire." Sir Hiss complimented him, coiled up on the other side of the pot "One that's ever growing."
"Yes! Yes!" Prince John agreed, short of breath from all his laughter as the gold fell back into the pot. "Let's just see Robin Hood try to take it this time." he boasted confidently shaking a fist.
Sir Hisses snout curled up at the sudden mention of the long thorn in the princes side. It seemed every opportunity to find him failed so far. The Sheriff, the archery tournament. But now? It seemed the Prince was up to something he did not even share with his advisor. So what did he have planned now?
"You don't really expect to come across" Hiss dragged out the 'S' "him do you, sssire?"
"Him?" Prince John snarled, but then his face eased back into a sly calmness "My dear Sir Hiss," he rolled a lone coin through his fingers "I'm looking forward to it." he said confidently as he then flicked the coin in the air, spiraling around as it reached the peak of his slumping crown before it came back down and then he snatched it up in his hand. He had a surprise in store for old Robin Hood this time. His eyes taken off his gold as he peaked back towards Maid Marians carriage. He couldn't see it through the curtains, but he knew she was still there riding with him. Her and the large lumbering figure that followed beside it.
All of a sudden his carriage came to an abrupt stop. Sir Hiss was flung from his seat flailing about in the air. The golden pot was thrown over and the golden coins within it scattered everywhere. Worse of all King Richards crown was thrown from Prince John's head as he fell forward.
All went still after that sudden jolt, but noticeably the carriage did not move any farther. Sir Hiss shook all over at the prospect, starting from his head and rippling down to his tail. Using his tail, he put his hat back onto his head. He then turned his head up to see that despite shaking himself, strangely though, he saw Prince John did not.
Though he had fallen over and was disheveled, but he composed himself regally. Prince John calmly sat himself back up, repositioned the crown on his head, flattening his ears to do so. Once it was settled back on his head, he pulled on his coat to place it back over his shoulders and wiped off his sleeves one at a time. Once he was repurposed, he heard the sound of metal clashing with metal on the outside of the carriage.
"Oo-De-Lally." he said darkly, flashing a toothy grin as he turned his head outside.
Poking his head outside to look, he saw many of his procession; the band players and carriage drivers had scattered leaving their drums behind as they scattered into the woods. Several Rhinos lay beaten in the ground with their weapons not far from them.
And the reason for this now pointed a sword at Prince John himself.
John shrieked when he saw the two blades so close to him and then let out a huff once he saw who wielded them "Robin Hood." he glared menacingly down at the fox.
"Prince John." Robin bowed while keeping his sword raised at him, mocking the formality when addressing royalty. Little John beside him merely waved his hat before setting it back on his head as of it was a crown itself as his other still held the sword. "We thank you for your contributions today." Robin Hood said graciously rising up again "And all the days do far." he chuckled at the princes of expense.
Sir Hiss saw some of that restraint coming undone as Prince John clenched his fists and flailed them about. They were bold enough when they first encountered them, dressing up as fortune tellers to steal his gold right out from under him and the rubies off his fingers. Even the deception at the archery tournament had served them well initially. Yet now they were confident enough to come not only armed, but dressed as they normally would to do it. There was no deception from them this time. But it was just what the prince had wanted. Now was the time to see what his plan was, but it remains to be seen if it would actually work.
"Robin!" a serene voice then cried out. Robin's attention was taken from the Prince and his retort to see who called for him. And he saw standing in the carriage behind this one, a lovely young vixen rise from her seat gazing straight at him.
"Maid Marian." he whispered to himself, the voice being taken away from him again once he saw her. A devilish smirk came across Princes John's face as he saw the display. The anger faded away as he settled himself back down twirling the hair on his chin with his ruby laden finger.
"We'll now," Little John let out "what's say I take a look and see what donations the lovely ladies' want to give the poor." He said as he retracted his sword from Prince John and walked off towards the other carriage. Robin kept his eyes on Maid Marian and was ready to follow his lumbering friend himself.
But out of the corner of his eye, he saw Prince John's robe sway and turned back to him attentively.
"You might wanna stay inside for this one your majesty." Robin advised bringing the sword just a little closer to him as his attention was back on him "That way no one would see you suck on your thumb." he couldn't contain a chuckle. Likewise, Prince John could not contain his anger.
"How dare you rabble!" he fumed through a clenched jaw "You will be very soon regretting every cent you've taken."
"You've done a better job at keeping tally of them for me." Robin grinned, for every cent he took back was one already taken from the poor. Prince John grumbled in his seat as Robin chuckled. But their expressions soon switched places.
A small commotion was heard from between the two carriages. One voice was obviously Little John's trying to put someone at ease. The other voice, a low guttural growl was heard in reply. There were no more guards around, so it could not be them and the hippos and elephants had fled right at the start. So who could it be? Robin turned his head, yet could not see what was going on from where he stood. He did however, see the concerned faces of Maid Marian and Lady Cluck looking not to him, but the space between their carriage and Prince Johns.
"HEAYO!" a loud voice then cried out echoing from above them. Robin snapped his head to look between the carriages, but then looked up in the air as a shadow passed overhead. Prince John merely crossed his arms with a smug satisfaction on his face. Sir Hiss watched with intrigue beside him.
Looking up, Robin saw Little John launched through the air, spiraling through it as he passed over the carriage. Robins eyes widened in shock, speechless of the sight of his friend being flung so hard and so high before finally falling down, landing hard on the ground in front of Prince John's carriage with a heavy thud and not moving from it.
"Little John! No!" Robin cried as Prince John watched on content, knowing whatever it was had come the other way from the direction of Maid Marian. Robin Hood turned to face it. The Sheriff and his whole posse couldn't even lift Little John off of the ground, yet now he had been hurled off of it and soared through the air. He wanted to help Little John, but could not do it yet with a dangerous new enemy behind him.
A sudden figure leapt up into the air from between the two carriages. A roar rang out as it did. It jumped as high as Little John had been thrown and landed hard on all fours in front of Robin and beside the carriage giving Prince John a perfect front row seat to what was about to transpire. Robin readied his sword pointing it at the new distinctly blue foe.
He had thought it to be a Heartless at first given Prince John's constant greed. Yet it was closer to Maid Marian and was trying to be reasoned with by Little John so it could not be one. Looking at it now Robin could see that.
Trembling violently as it hunkered down on the ground, its sharp claws dug into the ground before turning into fists to punch it. Growling the figure reared itself upright revealing a muscular blue torso, a lions face, with a white mane of hair around it tied in braids and a ponytail. It wore little armor, but still had wrist and shoulder guards. Yet most distinguished was the protruding broken horn poking out from his forehead. Yet it did not hide, but enhance his fierceness. And if defeating and hurling Little John was any indication, he was clearly strong.
Setting his eyes on Robin before him, it let out a mighty roar at Robin. Loud and deafening and all focused on him, Sir Hiss coiled himself using his body to cover his ears as Prince John crossed his arms, watching on amused. Robin knew what would come next. He braced himself for an attack. Yet the first thing he heard was a voice from behind. A soft stressed reply to the threatening roar.
"Kimahri, No!" Marian cried out.
"Kimahri?!" Robin repeated.
"Yes." Prince John chuckled beside him from his seat ready to answer him "Your lady loves new bodyguard. Her guardian." he introduced him as Kimahri and Robin continued to grill each other down "I knew if she came along with me and you ambushed us, no matter what happened he would defend her." he paused uncrossing his arms to bring one up to his chest "And by extension me." he now laughed at Robin. "You'll see he's quite formidable already."
"I see..." Robin looked back to Little John who groaned on the ground, holding his head in pain as he lay there. Robin then glared back at the blue lion.
"Marian needs Kimahri. Kimahri protect Marian." he spoke as if reciting a dogma, but kept staring down Robin.
"I need no protection." Marian pleaded to him.
But Kimahri wasn't convinced and neither was Robin. He lined up against him. His sword flashed showing him in its reflection. Kimahri reached behind his back to produce a long spear and once it was firmly in his hands thrust it forward at him.
Marian looked in with dread as Lady Cluck tried to console her. Prince John, however, was elated to see his plan fond to fruition as spear and sword, guardian and outlaw clashed before him. His plan was working beautifully. Now all he had to do was watch it unfold.
"Let's make it quite the show, boys." Prince John declared as he clapped and settled down in his seat. His plan was working beautifully.
Character Appearances: Auron and Wakka(FFX) Davy Jones, Bootstrap Bill(Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Mans Chest)
Robin Hood, Little John, Maid Marian, Prince John, Sir Hiss(Robin Hood) and Kimahri(FFX)
