Chapter 5: Atlantica

(Sorry it's so short, but let's be honest. Atlantica is a gimmick level every time anyways.)

James glared at Donald, "Would you care to explain why I am suddenly half fish?" He barks, gesturing to the violet tail that replaced his legs.

Donald, who was currently a squid from the waist down, shook his head, "It's the magic I use to make sure we keep the World Order! It changes our appearance to be certain that we blend in!"

Goofy, now a sea turtle, smiles, "A-hyuck! I kinda like it."

Sora nods, who has a blue tail similar to James' "Yeah. It's pretty cool."

Just then, they saw a red-headed mermaid swimming at a rapid pace with a yellow flounder and small red crab following behind. The mermaid looks back, "Come on, Sebastian!" She complains.

The crab looks ahead in response, "Ariel, wait! Slow down! Don't leave me behind!" He calls out, but the request falls on deaf ears as she hurries towards the group. When Sebastian the crab sees Donald, he shrieks in fear and immediately swims behind Ariel.

The woman chuckles, "Relax, Sebastian. They don't look like one of them." She looks over to the yellow fish beside her, "Right, Flounder?"

The fish eyes the four of them cautiously, "I don't know. There's something weird about them." Sora chuckles nervously in response.

James rolls his eyes and approaches, "We're from the whole other side of the ocean. You mentioned that we don't look like 'them.' Are you referring to some kind of monsters?"

Ariel nods back, "Yes. They just showed up one day and have been attacking everyone."

James closes his eyes, "I see. Well, we're familiar with these monsters, and are skilled fighters." He then swims over to Sora, "Unfortunately, my boy here never quite mastered his swimming skills, despite my best efforts. In exchange for my assistance in clearing out the monsters, could you help him?"

Ariel hums, "Oh, I see. In that case… Sebastian can show you how we swim around here."

Sebastian spins his head around, "Ariel, King Triton will not like this!" He exclaims.

Ariel merely rolls her eyes, "Oh, don't worry." Before swimming off.

James watched her carefully in how she moves, "Got it." He mumbles to himself before turning to Sora, "I'm gonna go on ahead and take care of those things. Join up with me when you can." He then swims off, "Identic memory never fails to surprise me with its usefulness."

A few hours later, and James hadn't bothered counting the number of Heartless he had to cut down, "This is bad." He says to himself, "It's worse than when we were at Agrabah. If we don't stop whatever's happening, then no World is safe."

He decided to double back and rendezvous with Sora, just in time to see him cut down a small group of Heartless. He smirks, "Guess I missed the fun, eh?"

Sora chuckles and holds Kingdom Key proudly as Ariel swims back, "Wow! Nice job." She says as Flounder and Sebastian come out of hiding, "Those creatures chased us here."

Sebastian had fear in his eyes as he makes a realization, "Oh, no! Those monsters might be heading for the palace, too!"

James clenches his fist, "If that's true, then we need to beat them there! Can you lead the way?"

Ariel nods, "It's just over this way."

As they swim at full speed, James thinks to himself, "I don't sense any foreign Darkness that isn't the Heartless. Guess they don't suspect this girl for the final Princess of Heart. As long as they don't suspect Kairi, she and Sora will be safe."

They arrive at the city and find it completely overrun with Heartless, "Go on to the castle! I'll stay here and clear out the city!" He says as he dives towards the nearest Heartless. It takes a long time, but soon enough, the Heartless shave all been wiped out.

James floats towards the sea-bed to rest as he pants, "I've never seen the Heartless come in so many numbers before… Is the Darkness finally winning? Are we at the end of our rope?" He thinks hesitantly.

Just then, another voice penetrates his mind, "You don't really think that. I know you don't."

James' Heart

James finds himself standing on the same stain glass floor as last time he heard Master Ava. He looked to the floor and saw that the Vulpes Keyblade still sat where it was left ten years ago.

Ava's form appeared before him, "The Darkness has been growing stronger without the presence of Keyblade Wielders to ebb the flow."

James shakes his head, "That doesn't explain it. There's no way that's the only reason that the Heartless are multiplying in both numbers and strength at such an insane rate."

Ava looks downwards, "Yes. Someone is tipping the scale… Who and for what purpose, I cannot say, but they hold a Darkness greater than any you have ever faced before, James."

The young Master sighs, "I know what you're about to say, Master Ava, and no. I won't take up your mantle. I'm not worthy of it." He says with pain in his eyes, "I've allowed far too many to be lost."

Ava smiles as she approaches, taking his hand in both of hers, "You are worthy, James, though you refuse to admit it. You fear the Darkness and what it has done. This is natural. In time, you will overcome this fear. I have faith in you, as I always have." She then fades into particles of light as the whole space turns to light.

Atlantica

James' eyes snap open to Goofy nudging him. He looks to see Sora and Donald hovering over him. He gets his tail under him and collects his bearings, "Where's Ariel?" He asks.

Sora then appears downhearted, and explains how King Triton, basically, told him he was causing nothing but trouble no matter what his intentions.

James exhaled through his nose, "Can't say I all together disagree." He says, "Not about you, Sora, but about the Keyblade. It's just a beacon for Darkness to find and follow. I urge you to abandon it after we save your friends." Sora says nothing, so James continues, "Let's go back to the Palace. I'll speak with Triton about the Keyhole. If he'll be willing to show us where it is, then let's pack up and leave as soon as you close it."

Sora raises his head, "But, what about Ariel?" He asks.

James puts a hand on his shoulder, "Ya can't help everyone, half-pint. That's just a cold truth." Sora nods and the group makes their way to the Palace.

They arrive to see a large squid woman with a large trident in her hands staring at a weak King Triton and scared Ariel. James summons Starlight, "Well, I should have guessed this kind of thing would happen. Who are you? What are you doing here?"

The woman turns to them, "Why, we have company. I'm afraid you're a little late, handsome!" She says with a wicked chuckle before vanishing in a cloud of ink.

Ariel turns to her father, "Daddy…" She whispers.

He looks back at her, "The trident… We must get it back." He says.

Sora looks to Donald, "Come on, let's go!"

James nods, "Agreed."

The four move to leave but Ariel cuts them off, "Wait, I'm going with you!" She insists, "My father is hurt and it's all my fault. I have to stop Ursula!" So, the group took Ariel with them as they hurried towards Ursula's Grotto.

They arrive at the Grotto and Donald immediately pulls out his wand, "Come out! You can't run!" He yells.

Sebastian appears out from behind Donald, "Your time has come!" He declares.

Ursula glares at the two and calls on her eels.

James narrows his eyes, "Goofy, Ariel, you two handle the eels. Keep them distracted. Donald, use your magic to disturb that thing." He points to the cauldron at the sea bed, "It should keep her weak. Sora and I will fight her directly." Everyone nods and moves in for battle.

The fight ends with incredible ease. For all of Ursula's bravado, she does not have a knack for battle. Donald's magic was able to severely damage Ursula's cauldron, eliminating her biggest advantage. Ariel would distract the eels so Goofy could slam into them, rendering them unconscious. And Sora and James were able to easily overpower Ursula in physical combat.

"You'll pay for this!" Ursula declares as she retreats. The group goes further in to collect the trident.

They hurried after Ursula and found her wielding the trident, "You pathetic fools! I rule the seas now!" Summoning the powers of the trident, Ursula made herself massive in size, "The sea and all its spoils bow to my power!"

Her rant continued for several more minutes when James raised Starlight aloft, "Aquaria Thundaza!" A massive lightning bolt drops from the sky through the ocean and strikes Ursula at full blast, forcing her body to drop the trident, which Ariel quickly retrieved. "Sorry, but I'm just so sick of listening to you, that I couldn't take it." He says. Ursula screamed in pain as her body became enveloped in a black cloud and vanished without a trace.

James and the rest of them quickly returned back to the palace. In gratitude of saving the seas from Ursula, Triton agreed to show them the Keyhole, and escorted them to Ariel's personal grotto. When they arrived, the trident began to glow and revealed the Keyhole to be inside the Grotto. Sora raised Kingdom Key and locked the door to the World's core.

James and the others shared their farewells with Ariel before heading off to the next step in their adventure.

(A/N: That's it for this chapter! I know, I know! It's a weak ass ending, but frankly? I didn't care for this chapter. Like I said, Atlantica is very gimmicky with its swimming mechanics, so it makes choreography very difficult. I'm also dreading the next chapter because I hate the next World on the list. But, none the less, I shall have it to you regardless. R&R!)