It wasn't often they all got together but after being informed of what Maleficent had seen for one of the few times they all were willing to take some time out of their lives to come together and discuss what should be done about this new thorn in their sides. Through the witch's magic they got to see the events at Traverse Town and while the outcome was not a desired one none were truly afraid too caught up in their own arrogance to see the real threat that could be built, instead they saw either an opportunity or bug. "Perhaps this worm could be of use to us." Jafar the Sultan's Royal Advisor spoke seeing this Keybearer as another tool like everyone he had encountered throughout his long life.
Maleficent rubbed her chin in consideration immediately understanding the man's point. "Perhaps, no doubt she will go after the Keyholes on the Worlds she encounters. With our progress on the Princesses going rather slow this could be a sufficient way to drown more in darkness. Yet I have dealt with my fair share of these pests before, it could become troublesome if allowed to improve." Yes, she certainly remembered her time with those three nearly a decade ago, of course now they were a mere footnote in history that would never bother her again.
At that Ursula spoke up deciding to just propose the simple solution. "Well then let's just turn her into a heartless and get a powerful servant. Could even sick her on those scrapes in Traverse Town ahahaha!" She cackled delighting in the irony that their supposed savior would come back to slaughter them like ants.
Hades who had his own plans in mind decided to propose what he saw as a more efficient idea then any of them getting involved. "So, where's this little schlemiel headed, cause I'm thinkin we just pawn dealing with her off to some schmoes who we can use."
Oogie Boogie who had his time taken away by this distraction was already on-board his fellow villain's idea. "Yea, why should we be doin the dirty work when it's not even worth our time?" His voice filled with slight irritation.
At the suggestion the witch used her magic bringing forth a crystal ball which would show the path the four misfits were headed on and now had a clue at where they would land first. "We might just be in luck; it seems the one they'll first come across possesses a great amount of darkness that could be of use." Soon it had been decided they would simply use another pawn for this nuisance and focus on their current objective. With them soon leaving Maleficent went to go check on her new charge that had recently approached her Castle, a boy named Riku who from the offset demonstrated much potential that if cultivated could be put to fine use. Entering in his room the woman greeted the boy who sat on his bed with an air of false sincerity. "How are you liking your new dwelling Riku?" He questioned.
Receiving a shrug, the boy neutrally replied, "It's ok, better than anything else I could have gotten here." Choosing to be cordial but obviously distrustful of the witch and that was simply what he allowed to be shown. In truth from what Ansem had informed him she would no doubt try to manipulate him and his feelings to become her willing pawn, but oh no the boy swore to not be so easily fooled. In fact, the only pawn was her as his plan was to get the vile villain to teach him anything useful she knew and then he would dispose of her along with her cronies. After that then he would find Sora and Kairi then they could truly live their dream. "But I know this isn't free, you don't seem like the type to do anything out of the goodness of your heart. So, what is it that you want from me?"
At that Maleficent chuckled having expected this sort of reception, it was a shame he couldn't be a few years younger or else making him trustful of her would be child's play, yet this would only be a minor bump in the road for her. "I shall demand nothing out of you young man, I only request you not interfere with my goals and you may stay here without any debt to repay." She answered and gave a slight pause for it to sink in before she continued. "The only time I would request your services is if you desired to learn from me."
There it was, just what the silver-haired teen expected to hear at some point. "Learn, what could you possibly have to teach me?" He questioned with fake skepticism.
At that she gained a smirk and summoned her magic purple lightning momentarily wrapping around her, "My dear boy, there is much you can gain under my tutelage. Although I suspect you are more of a physical fighter, I can still teach you how to use basic Elemental their Dark Variations, and as for growing stronger I know much that will accelerate your development. If you simply grab my hand I can demonstrate." She offered now bringing it out for him to take. Hesitating for a few moments eventually he grabbed hold and the next thing he knew it felt like his own being was being sucked out and for a moment he felt drained, but then he noticed in his hand now a strange blade had appeared both red and black with an eye at the center. "A weapon born of your own power, the stronger you become the greater it shall be."
Looking at it with awe he examined the weapon utterly delighted in the object and for a moment he tried to think up a name until the perfect one came to mind. "Soul Eater." And with that his training began.
In a dark and desolate World, a little girl shook as the cold cruelly pelted her body trying her best to gather any warmth she could. Suddenly she felt a set of hands wrap around her body pulling her up into a tight embrace the soft feeling of a coat soothing her tired body. Looking up the small child saw was a strange fox mask starring down at her with a sad but gentle smile as a woman wearing a fancy pink hood. "Little one why are you out here in the cold cold rain?" This kind soul questioned her tone that of an angel.
The child sniffling as tears and even a bit of snot running down her face struggled to get out her words. "I-I am a-all alone." She cried wrapping her tiny hands around this stranger who had shown her more warmth than anyone else she had encountered in her life.
At that she felt a warm hand gently pet her back trying to sooth the heartbroken girl and soon she found herself being carried as the mysterious savior walked. "You aren't anymore, come I'll take you to a new home it's called Daybreak Town. There are many children who reside in that town that like you had no place to go, I'm sure you'll never be alone again." Her words so sweet and genuine it made the young mass in her arms begin to dry her tears. Noticing this the stranger smiled glad to see her new charge was beginning to improve. "That's better, now how about you tell me your name, mine is Ava."
For a few moments the child remained silent thinking of what to say until she let a small smile hang around her face for the first time perhaps in her entire life feeling a sense of innocent happiness. "I'm Elrena." She finally answered and at that the two stepped through a strange portal powered by the warmth of the light.
Opening her eyes Larxene rubbed her head waking up as she had decided to take a nap since the trip to their next destination would take a while and she didn't get a full sleep last night unlike the rest. (What was that? Must have been more tired than I thought if I'm having weird dreams like that.)" The Savage Key groaned sitting up in her seat as she was currently in the rest area of the ship which of course was small but could fit about three people without being cramped. Figuring she was done with sleep the girl headed to the cockpit where the rest were with Kairi just as she had when first boarding looking out in space with such wonder. The nobody had to admit it was a neat sight compared to the usual visibility of darkness when going through a corridor, for a moment she was almost reminded of her somebodies home world Perdere Town often times starring up at the stars wondering what they held. "Anything I miss while napping away?"
Turning her eyes away from the fascination of space Kairi shook her head. "Not really, we had to avoid a few large meteors but with Launchpad on the job it's been smooth sailing, or I guess you could say flying." The redhead chuckled and even the blond joined in with a bit of a hollow chuckle as wordplay or puns were by far her favorite form of humor and even lacking the ability to feel knew she would have found that funny.
Meanwhile Scrooge who had just finished counting his money for the fifth time today eyed his flyboy with an impatient stare. "Oi Launchpad, we've been flyin for hours now, how long until we find a World to investigate cause I don't remember trips taking this long." He questioned with a suspicious tone.
At that the big duck rubbed the back of his head nervously and for a moment Larxene had a bad feeling about whatever was about to be said would not elevate her mood. "Well uh you see Mister McDee I'm not exactly as experienced going this way, not many maps if any on World Travel so this is more trial and error." He chuckled earning a groan from the senior duck.
At that Kairi in an attempt to lighten the mood replied lightheartedly. "Well that's why they call it an adventure. No idea where we're going it's just what you'd expect from traversing the strange depths of space."
That earned an optimistic smile from Launchpad who gained a brief bit of false bravado. "The young lady is right, we're on an adventure and I'm sure we'll find our first stop in no time!" He assured as they continued on.
Not long after as if fate was on their side the group seemed to find a World which looked a bit odd with a closer viewing. "Looks like a bunch of land masses fused together." Larxene noted scratching her head in a bit of puzzlement before shrugging. "So, do we even know where to land, cause I'm not searching this entire planet for a possible trace of Maleficent's influence." The Savage Key impatiently stated, but that's when Scrooge pressed a button on his own Console and suddenly a TV popped up for all of them to look at.
With another press he was now skimming through channels. "Couldn't agree more lass time is money after all so I had this interesting device installed. Here when close enough the Gummi's Wireless Sensors can scan for satellite broadcasts and show us the many television stations across the World. We'll simply check the news channels and if nothin catches our fancy then move on."
At that Kairi felt bummed at the prospect of skipping a World, she wanted to check out every one they came across and just looking for threats took away any fun they could have, and more importantly meant they could end up missing any of her friends that might have wound up on a random place. After a short search it seemed they came upon a news channel with Breaking News all around it and so they stopped there. "This just in, a strange group of black creatures have broken in the local Middleton Museum." At that it turned to on-camera footage where they saw heartless rampaging destroying anything in their path as Security and what looked to be some law enforcement tried and failed to combat them, their weapons utterly useless against creatures made of darkness. "As to why we have no idea but we will keep you all reported on this incident."
Turning off the channel Scrooge turned towards Larxene. "Well lass, it seems we have a job to do. Launchpad get us down there this instant." He ordered and with a wave the buff duck piloted them down on the World using his GPS to help find where it was at. Getting ready as the ship landed, they were surprisingly joined by the old codger himself who looked ready for battle much to their confusion. "Don't think just cause I ain't in the prime of my youth that I can't handle a few bampots."
Having no idea what that last word even meant the two just shrugged and as the bay door opened the three ran out now at the entrance of the Museum. Seeing a bunch of knocked out Police Officers the Savage Key also noticed a wallet or two having fallen out of their pockets, with a grin she went to alleviate them of their cash when she heard Kairi's voice. "No stealing." It was a tone she had often used when mostly Sora and rarely Riku were ready to get themselves into some type of trouble. At least one of them had to be the voice of reason and it seemed to be just as useful with this new friend whose morals were less than ideal.
With a grumble the Keyblade Wielder slightly pouted as she was forced to skip such easy money as the three entered finding the place being ransacked by both Shadow Heartless and now a new type neither had seen before. It was a monkey heartless with black fur and a long tail as they ran around with surprising quickness and a couple even hanging from hooks on the walls. Summoning her Keyblade Larxene got to work deciding to take on the simians first since she was the most agile while Kairi dealt with the Shadows on the ground using her magic using fireballs to blast them away. With a decent leap the blond swung knocking one off of where it hung making the primate bounce off and hit the ground. Slamming its hands on the floor and serving as some sort of signal to the others they immediately swarmed the girl who attempted to fend them off. Swinging Dark Desolation, she managed to strike a few but they were relentless forcing her to summon some Thunder Magic which did destroy one or two but the rest just kept attacking relentlessly. "Stupid apes get off of me!" She shouted as a couple managed to grab her forcing her to push them away.
Thankfully as it seemed by sheer numbers, they may gain the advantage a few were hit by in the head by what looked to be metal golf balls knocking them across the room. "Fore!" Scrooge shouted as he used his cane in a similar vain to a club hitting more directly at the heartless and giving Larxene a chance to both breathe but also whittle their numbers down.
Soon the three managed to take most of the heartless out as they began to flee to another room, using this moment to catch their breath the blond turned towards the anthropomorphic duck. "Nice shot Scrooge." Acknowledging his help fending those heartless off.
Swinging his cane around in a fancy motion the old duck smiled. "I can do more than that lass." He boasted as they continued on making their way through the Museum until after following the simians to a specific room saw someone holding a map in his hand he had stolen from an exhibit.
Not having noticed the three yet the man spoke to himself with a self-satisfied tone. "Yes, with this map I shall gain a power beyond that ever seen before. The monkey shall rise once again!" He began to hoot in triumph before finally turning to see the three. Upon close inspection they all noticed he looked... Odd. He resembled a man but also a monkey possessing a lot of black body hair that resembled fur along his knuckles and feet which were bare as he wore no footwear. "Now who might you be?" He then took note of Larxene's weapon and a sort of revelation came to the ape-man. "Ah yes Maleficent informed me you all might arrive to thwart my objectives. Still two teenagers and an inferior specimen are no match for my mystical monkey power." His voice oddly dignified for a man that looked like an animal.
At hearing that the three wondered just how far the witch's influence was that she had multiple real intelligent individuals allied with her, it was clear to them she didn't just have the heartless bankrolling her plans. "Well since you know about us freak show maybe you can enlighten us on who you are." Larxene taunted.
But before the man could speak again another voice spoke up. "Monkeyfist?" And everyone looked up to see a girl with orange hair jump down from a now opened window along with a blond boy who upon landing tripped up slightly. "I thought you were turned to stone forever."
At that the man scoffed, obviously that brought up a memory he would sooner forget. "I was, but it seems fate offered me another chance. Not even petrification could withstand the magic of a Supersoft, once it was given to me by a generous benefactor, I had regained the use of my body. Now not even you Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable will stop my new ambition and this map is the first step towards a monkey power not even I had known. An otherworldly strength only reserved for a true master in the ways of the monkey, The Power Primate." He bragged and then summoned another horde of monkey heartless. "Go my Wild Monkey's destroy them!" The man shouted and thus all five now prepared for another battle.
AN: And now we have entered our first world of this adventure, you know it took me a while to think what a great first choice would be. I wanted something that was near and dear to me and that I hoped wouldn't be too obscure, then I remembered this excellent show and after that everything else was elementary. And yes I also am diving a bit into the mobile game, at least when it came to establishing a bit of Larxene's current character, as for Riku one thing I disliked about KH1 was how he became so easily manipulated by Maleficent and turned against his friends. Yes here Ansem is still playing him but not as obvious and as you can probably guess won't be so quick to turn against his life-long pals.