Kingdom Hearts III: Final Mix
Disclaimer: I do not own the story or characters featured in this story. They are the sole creation of the Walt Disney Co., Square Enix, Pixar, Tetsuya Nomura and Marvel Comics. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy.
Another disclaimer: Due to circumstances beyond my control, I will no longer be referring to Rapunzel's world by its official name. Apologies to all of my readers.
Chapter 33: Flower Power
Meanwhile, back in Rapunzel's world, the group was marching onward through the woods when they came to an abrupt stop by a clearing where a giant mound of dandelion fluff stood erect in its center.
"Look at that, and how fluffy it is!" Rapunzel pointed out cheerfully as she walked over towards it and carefully observed the growth. She reached out her hand to feel the floof of the plant, only for it to sprout out seeds from itself that turned into Heartless, startling the poor girl.
"Heartless! Somehow, I'm not surprised!" Donald remarked as the trio leapt into battle position.
"Take cover, Rapunzel! We'll handle them!" Sora suggested as Rapunzel fell back and hung onto Flynn, who was ready to level with Rapunzel.
"I hate to say it, blondie, but I'm gonna have to cut you out of the deal. Let's just take you back home right now."
"No!" Rapunzel rebuked. "I am seeing those lanterns, and those things won't stand in my way." Rapunzel proceeded to return back towards Sora's side, ready to fight.
"Oh, come on!" Flynn sulked, reluctantly joining in to fight. "What is it going to take to get back that satchel?"
"Well, I'm not going to stop you," Sora told Rapunzel as the battle started, and he started using magic on the flowery foes. "Just be careful!"
"Don't worry, I will!" Rapunzel answered as she smacked around the Heartless with her hair and knocked them down as she swung from branch to branch. Flynn, however, was having a more interesting approach in dealing with the enemies as he knocked them down with rolling barrels and a frying pan.
"I have got to get me one of these!" Flynn mused out loud of his pan while fighting. Eventually, the group had beaten back the Heartless, leaving Rapunzel a little emotionally shaken.
"Mother always told me the outside world was full of ruffians and thugs... but I never expected those kind of things," she pondered out loud.
"Well, looks like we might need to take a new path," Flynn suggested. "And I know just the place..."
Sometime later, as Rapunzel and Flynn entered a nearby tavern called the Snuggly Duckling, Sora and the others were waiting outside when they took notice of a new kind of Nobody floating about in the distance. Convinced it could be a threat, the team followed it to a clearing and took it out.
"That could've been bad," Donald pointed out.
"Okay," Sora remarked. "I know that you 'has-beens' are out there! Show yourself!"
"A 'has-been'?" a sultry voice replied as a man with long pink hair stepped out from the shadows of a Dark Corridor. "You have some nerve, boy."
"Whatever," Sora answered back. "If you think Nobodies will stop us this time, the Organization's just using old ideas. Are you in the 'real' one too, or something?"
"There is so much that you don't know, Sora. And yes, I am. You may call me Marluxia. It has been a long time since we last met."
"Last met...?" Sora asked in confusion, turning back towards Donald and Goofy. "You know him?" Donald and Goofy shook their heads no.
"A shame you don't remember me, because I remember you well enough. Now, if you would permit me, I've come to ask a favor of you," Marluxia requested.
"You've gotta be kidding me! Why should we do you any favors?!" Sora shouted.
"Well, you may have realized that the maiden, Rapunzel, is the very light of this world. Do well to see she is protected from dark horrors. After all, our ultimate goal is not simply clash with the light. What we truly seek... is balance."
"Likely story!" Donald humphed.
"Regardless, use that Keyblade to protect her. You'll soon find she will be a very important factor in the end..." Marluxia concluded as he vanished back into the darkness, leaving a confused Sora to go back to the tavern to see how Rapunzel and Flynn were, as they overheard castle guards inside the tavern discover a secret underground passageway. The heroes then proceeded to trail after so they could catch up with their friends, unaware Mother Gothel was watching from behind the trees, stopping to confront a patron that drunkenly stumbled out the door.
"Oh, somebody get me a glass," the short man remarked upon seeing Gothel "because I just found me a tall drink of water."
"Stop it, you big lug," Gothel laughed, feigning flattery, before pulling a knife on the man. "Now where does that tunnel lead out?" she asked threateningly.
"...Knife!" were the only words he could answer with as he flinched in fear.
And that finishes this new chapter. Sorry it took so long, but I've been busy lately. Also, even though the timing may be unfortunate, given the interface switch to Eclipse happening shortly this month, I am uploading past chapters of this story onto my DeviantArt page (look for it under the username TSurg3). I hope you enjoyed this little update and please remember to leave a review to let me know what you think about the story! See you next time, and may your heart be your guiding key.