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OCs © to me!

Chapter 5: Land of Dragons- Blackmail

Patria yawned. The nightmares of the night seemed lessened for the first time in months. While she felt amazing and very refreshed, something didn't seem right. If he was leaving her alone, then he must be planning something.

She changed quickly, giving her hair a quick brush to the side before stepping out into the main room of the house. Everyone else sat there. She quickly noticed the strange air in the room, especially when everyone turned on her, their eyes glowing with anger.

"What did I do now to deserve the death-glares?"

Sora stood up, storming over to his daughter. "Where is it?"

"Where's what!?"

"The gold that those traders found missing this morning from the tent near where you were hiding."

Patria raised an eyebrow. "Uh, I never touched anything of theirs. I sat behind that bush and that's all. Where's Mushu, he can vouch for me!"

"He's asleep." Sora huffed. "We just had a visitor from the traders on behalf of the visiting princes: Rajesh and Rakesh. They say that you should return the stolen goods or they will declare war on this land."

"I didn't steal anything!"

"What's going on?" Mushu slithered into the room.

Mulan looked down at the guardian. "Mushu, the traders said that Patria stole something from them. She denies it. Did she steal something?"

"Uh, she never moved from behind that bush." The dragon puffed.

Shang looked over at Sora's daughter. "Then, why blame you?"

"I bet it's that Cander guy!" Max piped up.

"Yeah!" Hikari nodded. "He hates us and would love to get us in trouble."

Kairi held up her hand to silence the room. "Even if Patria didn't steal anything, the two princes think that she did, and until we find the real culprit, their threat still stands."

"Well then," Patria shoved some food into her pockets, "I'm going to find Cander and the crud he stole. Who's with me?"

"I'll go…" Kairi laid her hand on Patria's shoulder. "Come on." The two redheads quickly left the room.

Min followed them out, waiting at the door for a moment before turning back. "Bàba, Māma. The advisor of those princes is back."

"Bring him in."

The girl walked back into the room followed by a woman in a robe. "Ah, General Li. A pleasure to see you once more."

"What do you want, Jaya?"

"I saw the girl who stole our gold leaving. I wonder where she is off to?"

"Jaya," Sora stepped up beside Shang. "My daughter claims that she is framed. We also have a witness saying that she didn't steal anything, so my wife and daughter are trying to find the real culprit."

The woman looked around the room, lips pursed in a stern expression. "I see. Well, my princes wish to give you an offer if this search for a… different thief falls through. Rather than sending this land and mine into war, the princes would be willing to overlook this blatant show of disrespect if you give them your daughters to be their wives."

"WHAT!?"

"Absolutely not!" Mulan stepped in front of Min and Shu.

"It's either that or we go to war."

Max jumped up. "You were so quick to blame one of us. Why not look at the stranger you let into your own home?"

"You mean Cander?" Jaya raised an eyebrow. "You are all obsessed with him aren't you?"

Taking a deep breath, Sora glared at her. "Well, he is part of a group that captured my son. He knows where my son is, and if there is anyone who would want to frame us, it's him. How do you even know you can trust him?"

"That is our business. Now, I must report back to my princes. I will return this evening to see if this other thief has been caught, or if you agreed to our terms." Turning on her heel, the woman strode out, head high and confident that she would have what she asked for.

P.J. rubbed the back of his head, looking over at Hikari. "What do we do now…?"

"We wait on Kairi and Patria."

"Patria, we're all worried about Pith."

The younger redhead rolled her eyes. "I get that, but I am willing to pull out all the stops to find him again, are you?"

"Patria," Kairi grabbed her daughter's arm, making the girl look at her.

"What!?"

The Princess of Heart stared into the angry eyes of her child before pulling Patria into a hug. "I know you're scared… You're angry, you're hurt. Please, don't shut us out. Let us help you. You're not alone, and you don't have to face all this evil by yourself."

"Mom…" Patria felt an itching sensation in the corners of her eyes as fresh tears threatened to spill over.

"Leave. Now." The dark voice in Patria's mind commanded, sounding angry. "Go, or I will use your darkness to kill your mother."

"Thanks, Mom…" at the threat, the girl pulled back. "Look, let's split up. We can search for Cander easier that way." Without waiting for any sort of reply, she turned, hurriedly leaving her mother behind. "What the heck!?" She hissed at the voice. It didn't answer. "What!? You threatened to kill my mom, and now you have nothing to say."

"Foolish people! Greed and power always so tantalizing."

After a moment, the girl laughed. "Did your plan not work how you wanted it to? Good. Now, I'm going to find Cander." She strode away. Suddenly, dark wisps curled up her legs freezing her in place.

"How dare you mock me!?"

"Patria!" Kairi came running, grabbing her daughter's arm. A flash of light drove the wisps from the girl's legs. "Are you alright? What happened?"

Patria let out a quiet sigh of relief. "I'm fine. I was just walking and then this darkness grabbed me. I bet it's Cander's doing." A grateful smile came to her lips, covering up the lie she just told.

"I don't think we should split up, sweetheart." Kairi smiled. "Let's stay together."

"Alright, Mom." Patria sighed.

The woman nodded. "Let's see if this can help." She pulled out the tracker from Yensid.

Patria stared at the tiny object, mouth open. "Oh, I'm an idiot." she swiped the object away. "Let's go…"

Pith rolled onto his side, looking over at Angel. "Thank you again… sorry about your dress."

"It's no trouble. I had to help you." The girl looked down at her white dress, now stained with blood. "Looks like both of us need a change of clothes."

"That's why I'm here."

A Tech Elf with teal skin and platinum blonde hair, wearing a kimono, stood by the cell door with two parcels. Pith smiled slightly. "Lyla…"

The elf tossed the parcels through the bars. "Sorry, for breaking into your home, Pith, but there's a change of clothes. Just wait until Angel's not looking."

"Of course."

The elf nodded and left. Angel grabbed the smaller parcel. "I-I'll go to the back corner." Pith closed his eyes as the girl changed, coming back to his side moments later. "You can look now."

"Alright." He looked into her red and golden eyes. "I guess I'll have to wait until I can really move again."

"Guess so."

The girl sat on the ground, curling up on herself. Soon, her breath quieted, as she'd fallen asleep. Slowly, two wings came from her back, wrapping around the girl like her own personal blanket.

Pith closed his eyes pulling himself away from his puddle of blood; the dried, crusty substance flaking off as he slowly moved, trying not to pull out the stitches in his back. When he closed his eyes, he saw his home, the bright islands. He could see his family smiling at him, even his sister.

He could almost hear them talking. Saying how they would find him no matter what it took. With these thoughts in his mind, Pith smiled. He had nothing to do now but sleep, and so he did just that.

"Shang, what are you going to do?"

Mulan and Shang looked at one another. "I don't know…"

"We do what they asked," Shu stood up. "Māma, it will take time for them to set up the wedding, or take to their land. If we agree to their terms if Mrs. Kairi and Patria can't find the other guy, we can buy them time."

Min nodded. "We'll do what we have to!"

"Uh, not happening!" Mushu huffed.

"We can buy time!"

Mulan wrapped her arms around the two girls. "We don't want anything to happen to you. But…"

"Mulan, you can't be thinking…"

"I am, Shang." She sighed. "The girls are right. We can buy time. If we say we agree, you and I can insist that we talk with the princes about the wedding and that can give them even more time."

Max grinned. "And we can help search for Cander."

"Yeah," Hikari summoned her Keyblade.

Shang looked from his friends to his family. "I hate to admit it, but I guess that's the best plan we have right now. Let's just hope Kairi and Patria find Cander first."

Patria walked alongside her mother. Suddenly she stopped at the sound of voices in her head. One voice she knew as her assailant, but the other…

"Braig…?"

"What is it, sweetie?"

"Nothing." She sat down. "Give me a sec to rest. I've got a headache." She placed a hand on her head and closed her eyes.

She heard the two voices conversing quietly. But why? As she listened, the voices became clearer

"We will have to act…" Her regular assailant's voice spoke, his voice laced with anger.

Braig's voice came next. "Hey, Cander did what you asked. You wanted to start a war, and he set it up perfectly. Those stupid princes screwed it up!"

"Greedy men… sometimes they are useful, but sometimes they mess up plans. If they had merely declared war instead of asking for the marriage to the two girls we wouldn't be having this conversation!"

Patria grinned. So, he'd tried to start a war, but the princes decided to do something different. Suddenly her eyes widened as realization set in. Her mental attacker set Braig on this warpath. He probably orchestrated Pith's kidnapping too! They were working together!

Why could she hear them? She hadn't been able to before. Unless… Unless Braig was nearby.

"Mom, give me the shard, please." Kairi handed it to Patria, and the shard immediately began blinking. "I had a feeling that he was nearby."

Her mother raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't it go off before?"

"Don't question good things! Let's just go!" She jumped up, running after the blinking object. Her mother followed behind as they hurried out of town and into a grove of trees.

Patria's heart beat faster and faster as the voices in her mind became clearer. She attempted to keep her own thoughts separate and nonexistent in order to keep her presence quiet.

"I know you're coming…"

She didn't answer him but kept running. As they came into a clearing, Braig stood with his back to them. Kairi gasped. "Braig!?"

"Well, Princess!" He turned, single eye glinting with a sadistic joy. "Looks like you and Little Red managed to find me." He noticed the tracker. "Old Yensid give you that?"

"Where's my son!" Kairi summoned her Keyblade, fist clenching around the weapon.

Braig's eye turned black, and a deep voice spoke. "He's alive for now."

"You… you're the one who…"

"Used Xehanort, brought him back to life, and gave him the means to capture you the other guardians? Yes, that was me."

His voice faded and Braig's came back. "Now, we have work to do, so have fun with these friends of his." The man warped away. In his place appeared a group of Heartless, neither of the women had seen before.

They seemed humanoid in nature. While resembling pureblood's they also wore pants, hats, and gloves. Long wings stretched out behind them. The lead Heartless raised a clawed hand. "Kill them, Darklings(1)!"

"Never seen a Heartless talk before." Patria summoned Fencing Fury and moved to skewer one of the Darklings on the end of it.

Kairi slashed at one. "I have… Ansem, Xehanort's Heartless. But these are not him, but they do seem almost, human in a strange way."

One of the Heartless snickered. "You are like us. We once wielded keys, but now the darkness holds us."

"... These were Keyblade wielders."

Sora stood with the others, looking over the camp. "Uncle Sora," Hikari asked, "why are we here? We still have time before the agreement."

"I know, but I just have a bad feeling." He narrowed his eyes at a grove of trees that shook slightly though there was no wind.

Out from the bushes burst Heartless, Darklings, which charged into the camp, slaughtering at will. "Heartless!"

"Hikari, you three get down there and take them out!" The Disney Town residents nodded and ran down, weapons at the ready. Sora turned to the trees and ran in.

Hikari sliced a Darkling apart. "Max! Find the princes and protect them!"

"Got it, Kari!" He dropped his shield/skateboard and rode it towards the center of camp, slamming into Heartless as he went.

"Peej, make a wall to keep them back!"

The cat hefted up his hammer. "On it!" The hammer began to glow as he slammed it into the ground. Rocks jutted up around the camp, cutting off the approaching Heartless, which began to climb the rocks as fast as they could.

"This doesn't make sense," P.J. looked at his friend. "If Cander was working with these guys, why is he trying to kill them now?"

Hikari blew some Heartless off the rocks with a blast of Fire magic. "Don't know…"

Sora peaked through the bushes and saw the young wizard standing in a place where he could watch the carnage of the camp. The older man moved to attack, but the boy spoke. "You're getting careless in your old age. Firestorm!" He turned, a wave of fire shooting from his wand.

Sora dove out of the way, casting Shieldza. "So, you're the wizard, Cander?"

"And you're the Hero of Light." The boy smirked. "I'm not that impressed."

"Neither am I!"

Sora charged, the boy moving out of the way quickly. Cander pointed his wand at the ground beneath the feet of his assailant. "Orbis!"

The ground opened up and the older man quickly used Aero to launching himself up as the ground moved to swallow him whole. "Where's my son!?"

"Not telling!"

"Why attack the camp? I thought you were on their side!"

"I was," the wizard scowled, "but they screwed it up when they asked for the wedding. We wanted war, and they offered an out, so now they die."

"Not happening!" Sora Slipped in, slamming the boy against a tree, knocking his wand away. "Now, where is my son?"

"I'd tell you… but then you would be unable to help the Disney Town princess and her friends when the Heartless kill them. There are too many Heartless for them to handle."

Sora's eyes narrowed. Before the boy could say anything, the man slammed the Keyblade handle into his head, knocking the boy unconscious. The man saw a glint of gold in his pocket. When he pulled it out, it was the gold stolen from the princes; Sora shoved it in his pocket and turned to go.

He ran down to where the Heartless surrounded the camp. Gripped his Keyblade tightly. While it appeared as Kingdom Key, a light flashed and it melted away to reveal Key to the Kingdom(2). He leapt over the rock barrier, holding up the weapon as it glowed brightly. "Kari! You and the others get behind me!" The kids ran behind, and Sora reached for another sword, a katana, hanging from his waist which began glowing with an orange-brown light. With the two swords in hand, he brought them together, their glows mixing. "Oukoku, Kaname… give me strength.(3)" He stabbed both swords into the ground. "FURY OF MORNING LIGHT!"

A shockwave of light shot out in every direction, evaporating the Heartless immediately. Sora stood up, wobbling before he fell down, the swords clattering to his side.

"Uncle Sora!"

"Mr. Kumo!"

The three ran to his side, though Max seemed more excited than nervous for his wellbeing. "That was awesome!"

"Yeah… but I'm going to need some painkillers and a very long nap."

"The princes apologize for their actions, and for blaming your guest for the theft."

"We accept the apology, Jaya." Shang and Mulan bowed. "We hope that your people have a safe journey home."

The woman did not answer, but turned and strutted away. The moment she left Mushu let out a burst of fire. "Whooo! Shu and Min aren't going anywhere!"

"Sora, thank you." Mulan hugged her old friend. "You have helped us once again. All of you, thank you for the help."

"It was no trouble Mulan, but I just wish we'd captured Cander."

Patria crossed her arms. "What the heck happened to him?"

"I left him unconscious, and he was gone when I came back." Her dad shrugged.

"We'll catch him or one of his friends eventually. I know it!"

"Yeah."

Angel's wings unwrapped, folding back into her skin. She didn't even order them to protect her; they'd done this since she was a child, being the only protection she had against her mother and brother.

She yawned and looked around. Pith lay still, but breathing softly and evenly.

The girl got up and laid out his clean clothes, neatly folded, beside him. She grabbed his bloody shirt, which lay beside him, and folded it nicely before laying it against the cell bars. She then did the same with her bloody dress.

As she worked, her stomach gurgled and snarled. She hadn't eaten but gave Pith all the food she had as well as water. He needed it more than she did, and she was half Venefilba, so she didn't need as much food and water as often, but she would eventually die without it.

Maybe she wanted that.

To be free of all the pain of her life.

But then, Pith would be here in this hell all alone. As much as she disliked her own life here, she refused to leave him alone. For the first time in her life, she had someone to protect, and she would take care of them.

Patria laid in bed, grinning at the silence from her assailant. She had an advantage, and he knew it, but she didn't care. It was an advantage she would use whenever she could.

He was working with Braig and if she was nearby, she could hear their conversation. Perhaps having this loser in her head would work to their advantage. All Patria had to do was wait and listen for when he slipped up and told her something she wanted to know.

And she was a patient person…

Please Review!

Footnotes:

(1) Darklings are the Heartless from KHUX that are supposed to be Keyblade wielders who fell to the darkness.

(2) This Keyblade originally belonged to Oukoku Gatsu.

(3) This is kinda a D-link thing he can do now.

VA:

Lyla- Trina Nishimura (Lan Fan, Rinka Hayami, Miskasa Ackerman, Ran-Mao)

Pure Joy

Now that the two new KH3 trailers came out recently, and there was so much excitement. I myself freaked out, giving myself a headache as I held in my screams so as to not wake the others in my dorm. As joyful as the trailers made me and so many of you, there is an even greater joy to be found in God.

Romans 15:13 says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

There are many verses on joy in the Bible and I encourage you to go look more of them up. A verse of joy every day will show you the joy that comes from God that you can have!