This chapter has a bit of a history. The original plan was to feature one of the series in it as a proper world, but I couldn't really fit it in addition to the other worlds we'll be visiting before the end. Traverse Town presented an opportunity to include it alongside a series that I had planned on putting here anyway, and they work well together.
You could probably call this chapter filler since it won't have impact on the overall plot, but I expect I'll be continuing it eventually in Imaginary Numbers.
Chapter 40: Make Magic
On a cozy little street corner in Traverse Town's First District sat a diner. It didn't get the most visitors, but those that did always found that they came back for more. It was cheap, and even then if you couldn't afford it the kindhearted owner and chef would give meals out for free. In a town with a moody as gloomy as this one, it was always nice to have a home-cooked meal made by a man who loves his job.
See him walkin' down the street
With a merry gleam in his eye
He's loved by everyone in this town
To look at him now you'd never know
He was once the kind of guy
Who tried to bring an empire down…
The radio in the corner played an upbeat song at low volume. From the kitchen came a clanking of pans and the whistle of steam as Kronk, the diner's chef and for whom the place was named, cooked up his customers' dinners. They were the only sounds, however, aside from the occasional clinking of silverware. There was very little conversation at Kronk's this evening.
In the corner of the building, seated in a booth next to the window with a view of the near-starless sky, was a girl. Her red hair was cut short, and by all appearances she was a normal, everyday teenage girl…except for one thing: she was all alone. The others at their tables watched her sadly but said nothing; surely someone like her should have a group of friends, but they all knew what must have happened to them.
The girl reached into her pocket and pulled out a shining pink gemstone, held up by a thin chain that she twined around her fingers. The sight of the glowing pendant threatened to bring tears to her eyes as it brought up memories of four others—who weren't there anymore. They had failed not only their own world, but another one as well. And she was all that was left, having woken up in this strange dark town a few weeks prior.
Across the restaurant, a bell rang to signify the door opening. Someone else had come in, likely either wandering and desperate or having heard about it from the crowds. The girl paid no attention to it, her focus caught as she slowly rolled the gem in her hands. She didn't hear the approaching footsteps, didn't look up as the newcomer completely skipped the counter at the front and made his way to her little corner of the diner.
"My, my. You have a quality taste in jewelry."
"Huh?" The redhead looked up in slight surprise, a deep voice pulling her attention away from the stone. The man standing before her had long brown hair tied into a ponytail, with a goatee to match. He was dressed in dark colors, with an open coat over his button-up shirt and his hands in his pockets. As the girl narrowed her eyes at him, his gaze which had been locked on the pendant in her hands moved. They saw each other eye to eye.
"That's the Heart of Kandrakar, isn't it?" The strange man's voice was suave, and he gave off a charismatic air. But more importantly, how in the world—er, all the worlds, she'd have to get used to that—did he know about the Heart? It was supposed to be a secret even to her world, let alone to all the others out there. "Then I guess you must be one of the Guardians of the Veil."
She couldn't hold back a gasp and immediately pulled her arms back, holding the Heart close to her chest. "How do you know all that? How do you even know what those are?"
The man smiled almost apologetically. "Forgive my rudeness. I'm just very excited by magical artifacts, you see." He slid into the seat across the table from her and smiled again. She felt some ease, but still… "My name is David Xanatos. And you?"
The name was familiar to her. During her wanderings through the town she had heard the rumors; it'd be hard not to. A man named Xanatos was going around asking anyone capable of magic to help him take care of some problem. Apparently a while back he had even gone as far as approaching one of those people in the black hoods. She eyed the man before her warily; this was him, and he wanted her?
When Mr. Xanatos sensed her unease, he chuckled. "Well I can't very well just keep calling you 'Guardian', can I?"
Well… He really didn't seem so bad, and he had a point there. Maybe she really would be able to help him out, if that's what he wanted. Just a name wouldn't hurt, anyway.
"I'm Will," she said slowly. Xanatos held out his hand and she took it in hers. "Will Vandom. And…yeah, you got me. I'm a Guardian and this is the Heart of Kandrakar."
"Marvelous, it looks just like my old book described. May I?"
Will shook her head and pulled her hand back. "Sorry, it stays with me."
"Fair enough," Xanatos replied. "That's not what I wanted to talk to you about anyway." Will narrowed her eyes. He had purposefully looked for her, it wasn't just a coincidence they met here?
"What exactly are you after?"
"Perceptive. Alright, I'll get right to the point." Xanatos crossed his arms in front of him, resting them on the table. He leaned forward slightly. "Tell me, Miss Vandom, do you miss home?"
What kind of question was that? Ask anyone in Traverse Town that and they'd all give you the same answer. "Of course I do. I'm the only one who survived after those black monsters appeared. All my friends…"
A sympathetic look crossed Xanatos's face, and a moment later he shut his eyes and shook his head. "What if I told you that you weren't?"
"What?" Will looked up at him quickly, her heart skipping a beat.
"You see, Miss Vandom, I make it my business to know everything going on around me, whether that be in my world or here in Traverse Town." Xanatos held his hands out, almost imploringly, but when Will said nothing he folded his arms again and continued. "And so because of that, I happen to know that a monster is in this town. A monster from that world you protected… What did you call it, Meridian?"
"A monster?!" That caught Will's attention, and her focus was now entirely on Xanatos. She slammed her hands on the table, her defensive posture broken in the face of this news. "But the people here…!"
"That's right, it might just threaten the people. And so, the Good Samaritan that I am, I just had to find someone to stop it." Xanatos's eyes fell on the Heart of Kandrakar, now hanging from her neck. "What luck that I found the person who knows Meridian best of anyone on this world."
"Quick, Mr. Xanatos, where can I find this monster?"
Xanatos sighed. "I'm afraid I can't help you there. Not even my contacts and informants have been able to pinpoint a location. Well…nothing specific. It was last seen in the Second District, I know that much."
Will's shoulders dropped. That was not a lot to go on.
"Oh, don't despair. It should be easy to find; even among all the colorful characters here in Traverse Town, I hear that this creature stands out."
"What does it look like?"
"It's not easy to mistake for anything else." Xanatos stood up and smiled down at her, then turned toward the window. The Second District's bell tower was visible above the rooftops, and the music continued to play from the corner of the diner.
He spoke without turning to face Will. "It's a large, talking gargoyle."
x-x-x
A week had passed since the failure at Hollow Bastion, and the time had been spent with much of their group scattered around Traverse Town as they all handled things their own way. But gone were the days of the sleepy little Traverse Town that Goofy remembered, as the sky grew darker every night and the stars blinked out before their eyes. The population grew every morning, and rumor had it that the world had to create two additional districts to hold all the refugees.
Even Goofy, as slow and easygoing as he was, was beginning to grow impatient. Or perhaps concerned was the better word, though that would imply that he wasn't concerned to begin with. Maybe anxious? Gawrsh, but that sounded kind of rude…
Well, whatever the right word was, Goofy wanted to get out there. He wanted to find and stop the Heartless, Xehanort, and even Maleficent. He'd find a way to restore the worlds one more time, and he wouldn't rest until everybody was safe in their beds again.
The problem, of course, was that while everyone agreed with him no one was ready yet.
Goofy felt for them, even if he was itching to go. Cloud was still bedridden, and according to Baymax he probably wouldn't be getting up any time soon. Sora still hadn't quite gotten over Kairi; honestly, he seemed to be gloomier than he had after Baymax's first visit. Though at least he wasn't practically catatonic like he had been when they first arrived here. Xion had spent every day playing with Lilo and Stitch. Goofy had hardly seen her, not since Nani had invited him and Donald over for dinner five nights ago. Sora had been invited too, but he had an appointment with Baymax.
So Goofy made do with what he could to keep his mind off things. He helped Cid and Scrooge around their shops, he helped Merlin clean his old house after he had moved back into it, and he even found himself helping out passerby on the street. And at the moment he sat in the waterway beneath Merlin's house, the one accessed through the alley behind the hotel. Donald was there as well, focusing intently with the occasional mutterings under his breath as he once again attempted to open the Lanes Between.
"Okay Don, it says now to 'channel your magic power into the spell focus'." In his hands Goofy held instructions written by Master Yen Sid, delivered to them a few days ago during a short visit. The Master didn't stay long, just enough to check up on everyone. He was back at his tower now, and he had looked very troubled when he left. "Gawrsh, uh…do ya know how to do that?"
"I've…got it…Goofy..." Donald replied in a strained voice. Before him the undulating blue and white mass began to grow, shifting from a sphere into an elliptical shape. Goofy looked up from Yen Sid's notes and watched the spellwork with bated breath. The magic grew as it reshaped itself, and within the swirling light and colors Goofy could begin to see stars appearing.
Sweat formed on Donald's creased brow, and his mutterings grew silent. All of his focus was on the budding doorway into the Lanes. He was a good wizard, he knew; he didn't get to be court wizard for being the King's friend. …Okay, he didn't just get to be court wizard for being the King's friend. But the problem was Donald was used to quick, one-cast spells. Channeling was not his forte. And so, to perfect this spell and give their allies a great new boost with the Lanes Between, he needed silence. He needed to focus. He needed to—
The portal exploded.
The magical backlash flung Donald back, knocking him off the green stones and into the cool water. Goofy flinched back, holding Yen Sid's writings in front of him as he winced. A few moments after the splash, he slowly looked around the sides of the pages and glanced at the rippling water.
"…Don?" Climbing up to his feet, Goofy tiptoed over to the edge of the stone floor and looked down. "Donald, you in there?"
He was. Donald sat on the bottom of the pool, his arms crossed and eyes shut as he seethed quietly. Out of character for him, to be sure, but Goofy supposed that showed how seriously he was taking it.
"C'mon, Donald. Let's try again," Goofy said once the duck finally decided to surface.
"I dunno, Goofy." Donald climbed out of the water as he spoke. He walked a few feet inland and removed his hat, wringing it dry. "I've been doing this every day for weeks and it isn't working."
"But if ya follow Master Yen Sid's instructions—"
"I have been!" Donald snapped. He shoved his hat back on his head and stomped over to the entrance to Merlin's house. "I wanted to help out our friends! Faster than Gummi ships, safer than corridors, more reliable than Star Shards, and they don't need Keyblades like Gates. It woulda been great…"
Goofy looked to the scorched spot where the spell had exploded, then back to Donald. He rolled up Yen Sid's notes and placed them under his hat before speaking. "Are ya goin' to ask Merlin for advice?"
Donald stopped and let out a deep sigh. He rested his head against the wall, staring down at his feet. "Maybe we'll try again tomorrow, Goofy. Today I'm just gonna—"
ba-BOOM
An explosion shook the waterway. Donald let out a loud "Wak!" and jumped straight up in surprise, while Goofy stumbled back and fell on his rear. The stone ceiling above them shuddered, dust and pebbles falling on their heads and into the rippling water. A moment later, it stopped like it had never even been.
"What was that?!"
"It sounded like it came from the alley!"
"S-Should we go get help?" Donald's eyes flickered to the entrance to Merlin's house. "Sora maybe?"
Goofy shook his head and raised his shield. "We got this, Donald! I'm goin' in!" Before Donald could stop him, Goofy dove into the water and began swimming toward the exit. A delayed splash behind him confirmed Donald followed, even if he had some hesitation. But Goofy didn't look back to see him; his eyes were focused on the door leading to the Second District's back alley. There were flashes of bright blue, and the sounds of lightning and struggling. Somebody was fighting out there, but who? And why?
As Donald and Goofy emerged into the alley, lit only by the lamps on the hotel's balconies, they came to a halt in the shallow water. It was a battle, indeed—between two strangers. The first was by all appearances a normal teenage girl save for the light green wings coming out of her back. A fairy, then, but not tiny like Tinker Bell. She wore pink and green, and her red hair was cut short. A shining pink gem hung around her neck.
The fairy girl's hands crackled with blue energy as she hovered just out of reach of her foe. She'd fling electrified balls or shoot streams of lightning at him, but he managed to avoid most. As they hit the walls or spare crates and barrels lying around, there would be a sudden explosion. A particularly large blast from her must have been what had shook the waterway.
Her opponent was physically much larger, and Goofy recognized him vaguely. He had seen him before, though never up close; this one stalked the rooftops of Traverse Town. This was a gargoyle, and not just a stone statue either. Though definitely male, that's where any human features ended. His skin was a grayish blue, his toes and fingers clawed, and he wore very little clothing save the cloth around his waist. The most striking image of this one was his large, bat-like wings.
And they didn't appear to be just for show. As the fairy girl sent another bolt of lightning at him, the gargoyle dodged it and dug his clawed hands and feet into the wall on the opposing side from the hotel. He scaled it with remarkable swiftness and then leaped off, opening his wings—not to fly, but to glide. The fairy gasped and tried to pull back, but she had too little time to react. The gargoyle tackled her and they crashed onto one of the hotel's balconies, out of sight.
"Come on, Goofy!" Donald cried. He sprinted down the alley, Goofy close behind him. "We gotta stop them!"
Goofy looked up at the balcony, where bolts of lightning flew off in every direction. They must have been struggling. "Should we get involved? Maybe one o' them's a bad guy!"
"And maybe not!" Donald replied. As he prepared to turn the corner into the main streets, however, a blur of pink and green crashed into a pile of crates beside him. Donald jumped back with a yelp from the dazed girl. The gargoyle leaped down after her, having apparently tossed her to the ground.
Lightning crackled from her fingers and she thrust her hand into the gargoyle's chest. He was knocked back, flying between a shocked Donald and Goofy and landing in the shallow water they had come from. While he climbed up to his feet the girl took off, flying up and over the buildings. Growling under his breath, the gargoyle quickly scaled the nearby wall and unfurled his wings, gliding after her.
"Wait! Wait up!" Donald took off down the alleyway, and a moment later Goofy made the decision to follow. The gargoyle's figure was silhouetted against the full moon up above, giving them a point of reference as they tracked the two combatants. Through the twisting alleys and of Traverse Town they traveled, until they found themselves in the First District, below Cid's shop.
"Now what?" Goofy asked. "Did we lose 'em?"
"Keep looking! It's more crowded now, so they could be a real threat to someone!" Donald moved over to a crate against the low wall and climbed up it, making his way onto the upper streets of the district. Humming in thought, Goofy followed him over.
"Hold on, buddy, I gotcha." Goofy gripped Donald by his arms and hoisted him up, before planting his hands on the ledge and struggling to get up there himself. His feet flailed and his arms strained, but he was almost—
A thump from beside them caught their attention and made Goofy fall. The gargoyle had landed atop the nearby synthesis shop, his clawed feet digging into the corner where roof and wall met. As the Moogle shopkeeper opened the door to find the source of the noise, the gargoyle narrowed his eyes up at the sky. For the briefest of moments a slim, pink and green figure was illuminated by the moon as she flew into the Second District. Leaping off of the shop, he glided over to the wall separating the districts and began to climb it.
"Please just listen to us!" Donald cried, and then as he ran after the gargoyle he called to Goofy without looking back. "Hurry up, Goofy!"
"Gawrsh Donald, I don't think words are gonna get 'em to stop!" Goofy replied over the pounding of their feet on the pavement.
"Then we're just gonna have to make them stop, before they hurt somebody!"
The doors to the Second District flung open just in time to for Donald and Goofy to see the gargoyle once again attempt to tackle the fairy girl to the ground. She dodged, still in flight, and sent a stream of blue lightning at him that sent his convulsing body into the middle of the plaza.
The bell tower rang out, signaling midnight. At this time the Second District had cleared out somewhat, in contrast to the crowded First, but there were still some bystanders. Onlookers watched in varying degrees of confusion, fear, and interest as the fairy hovered a few yards above the ground and the gargoyle climbed back onto his feet.
The gargoyle spoke for the first time. "Who are you, girl? You're not one of Oberon's." His voice was deep and rumbling, but held wisdom and age behind it.
The fairy raised an eyebrow. "You mean the guy from the crummy play I read in English class?"
The gargoyle extended his wings dramatically and reached his arms above his head, perhaps as an attempt to scare the girl off. When she didn't flinch, he lowered his arms and folded his wings inward, keeping them ready but not immediately primed for combat.
"You are preparing to flee again," he stated. The girl started in surprise, a light gasp escaping her as she backed up ever so slightly. "Why? You have magic and flight, which I do not. By all appearances you should be the one winning this battle. Not to mention you were the one who attacked me in the first place." Goofy frowned and glanced at the girl. She had started the fight? She certainly didn't seem the type. "So why flee?"
The girl wavered slightly in the air, lowering slowly and touching the ground. "Why don't you tell me where that portal of yours is?"
"Portal? I don't understand." The gargoyle repeated, confused. His tone did not go unnoticed, but before the girl could question him further a third party joined the battle. From atop the roof of a nearby store, a figure leaped down and brought his fist toward the two fighters. They leaped back in time to avoid the powerful punch, but before they could recover from that motion the newcomer had dashed toward the girl and swung an open hand toward the gem around her neck.
"Hey!" The girl flew up just in time and landed on a lamp post. He silently stalked after her, moving into the light of the lamp and revealing his appearance. He was extremely tall, and muscular as well. His green clothing contrasted against his pale blue skin and long red dreadlocks.
"Who are you?" the gargoyle demanded, once again moving into a combat stance. The newcomer looked back at him for a moment before turning to the lamp post once more and gripping it tightly. With nothing but a grunt he tore the post right out of the ground, causing the girl to tumble off and land on the ground. Spinning around, the blue-skinned man threw the lamp post at the gargoyle, who dodged just in time as the glass shattered and the metal crunched against the wall.
"And what do you want with the Heart of Kandrakar?" the girl asked, adding on to the gargoyle's demand.
The fighter said nothing but charged again at the girl, swinging his mighty hand once again to grab the gem around her neck—the so-called Heart of Kandrakar. He was interrupted by the gargoyle, defending it with his thick stony, skin, but that only earned a glare from the fairy who tossed lightning bolts at the both of them and took off into the air with electricity crackling in her hands.
Combat broke out in Traverse Town once again, and now Donald wasn't having any of it. At Goofy's side he jumped into the mess of blue lightning, swiping claws, and flying punches. Raising his staff and letting out a cry, he brought down yellow Thundaga bolts that both mingled with and canceled out the girl's own at various locations across the plaza.
"W-Wait for me, Donald!" Goofy cried, holding his shield and jumping down as well. He tossed the shield out toward the blue man, who stumbled back in time to be hit by the gargoyle's swinging tail.
The Second District was chaos as a four-way fight ensued. Goofy often couldn't tell who was helping who, but he did notice how the red-haired, blue-skinned fighter was always targeting the fairy girl and her gem. He only battled with others who got directly in his way, which tended to be the gargoyle. In fact, his single-minded focus on that pendant was clearly making the gargoyle suspicious—and Goofy as well. Whoever this person was, that was the only reason he was here.
The girl had caught on, too. She took off and hovered several yards above, out of reach of anyone. Her attacker began moving to the walls, perhaps to use them to get to higher ground, but a quick Blizzara spell from Donald froze his feet onto the pavement. As he struggled to break free of the ice, Goofy charged at him and slammed his shield into the man's blue face—not without some jumping, as he was remarkably tall. The man staggered and fell back, the ice at his feet shattering. He swung his now free leg out to trip up Goofy, but Goofy jumped out of the way as a fireball from Donald soared into the man's chest.
"Rgh…" The man spoke for the first time as he patted out the flames on his clothing. "Xanatos didn't tell me about you two getting involved. I know when I'm outmatched. Another time!"
Sprinting to the nearest lamp post, the man tore it out of the ground and used it to vault onto the higher streets of the district. Goofy gave chase, but wasn't fast enough; the man promptly leaped from wall to wall between buildings and vanished in the direction of the bell tower.
"Xanatos?" Goofy turned around as the fairy girl spoke, lowering slowly to the ground. "He…did say Xanatos, right?"
The gargoyle growled, but made no motion. "You know David Xanatos?"
"I only met him earlier tonight," she explained with some hesitation. "He told me a monster from Meridian was a threat to the town… I guess it was a lie?"
The gargoyle bristled. "I do not know what this 'Meridian' is, but it sounds like Xanatos used you. Do not feel bad; everyone gets played by him sooner or later." The ends of his wings wrapped around his neck, forming a cape of sorts. "I am called Goliath. And you?"
The girl took Goliath's hand in hers. "Will. Will Vandom." She paused and turned to Donald and Goofy, who stood on the sidelines. "And how about you two? Thanks for jumping in to help out."
Donald opened his beak to speak, but Goofy could tell he was about to shout at them for fighting. Quickly putting a hand on his companion's shoulder, Goofy took the initiative first. "Aw, you don't need to thank us! We were glad to help. My name is Goofy, and this here's my pal Donald!"
"Donald and Goofy, got it." Will smiled.
Goliath nodded. "Indeed, it is nice to meet you. I believe I have seen the two of you on the streets before. You have quite a large group of friends here, do you not?"
"Yup! There's a whole bunch of us stayin' at the hotel!"
"Mm…" Goliath turned to Will. "Well, Will, I believe I have things figured out. Xanatos must have wanted your necklace for something, and hired that strange red-haired man to retrieve it. I imagine that the main reason he sent you after me was as a distraction, both so you would have two foes to face while defending that stone of yours, and so that I would not catch on to his schemes."
"Yeesh, what a jerk." Will deadpanned." Well, he failed on both accounts."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that. A man like Xanatos has many backup plans."
Frowning, Will slid the chain off her neck and held the shining pink gem in front of her for them all to see. "Well I can see why he'd want it, especially in a world like this. This is the Heart of Kandrakar. It can open and close portals to other worlds." Donald's head perked up at that, but Will didn't seem to notice. She looked to Goliath. "That's why I was running away. See, back home me and my friends would kick out monsters from another world called Meridian, then I'd use the Heart close the portal they used to get to our world. When I ran away I was looking for the portal I thought you had used to get here."
"I see… Well, it is a good thing that Xanatos did not get his hands on something capable of traveling between worlds. Though I am sure he will try again."
"Then we gotta stop him!" Donald exclaimed. "We gotta find out where this Xanatos guy is and keep Will's necklace safe! There's already too many people causing trouble out in the worlds."
Goliath frowned. "You speak wisely, but I am afraid my clan is spread thin throughout the city at the moment. It is only me."
Goofy laughed. "Gawrsh Goliath, no it isn't!"
Goliath eyed him warily, and Will grinned as she slid the Heart back around her neck.
x-x-x
Some time later, among the small homes and apartment complexes in the back streets of the Second District, the odd group of four made their way down the road. In the last while they had spoken to a few different people in a few different areas, approaching anyone on the street and asking if they had seen anything suspicious. Will had done most of the talking, since even with her wings she looked the most 'normal' of the group. In a world of scared refugees they had to take every precaution. Still, so far there hadn't been any leads.
Goliath lingered in the back, glancing around them almost constantly. With a frown on his face, Goofy slowed down so he was walking side by side with the gargoyle.
"You okay, Goliath?"
Goliath seemed pulled out of whatever funk he was in by Goofy's voice. "Yes, I am fine. I am just…uncomfortable walking around in the open. Usually my clan and I stick to the skies. That is how it was done back home, as well."
Goliath glanced aside, and Goofy followed his line of sight. A mother pulled her child back as they approached. His frown deepened. "Goliath, don't let it get to ya."
"It's only natural, Goofy. That is why we hid from human eyes. And especially here, I do not want to be mistaken for a Heartless."
"Do ya think you could learn more about where Xanatos is hidin' from the air, then?"
But despite Goofy's expectation, Goliath shook his head. "Investigation is much simpler when you can directly ask people, instead of relying on overhearing conversations by chance. But perhaps an aerial view would prove better for locating him."
"Yup, and it sure is fun to see things from above too! Though Donald's kinda scared of it."
Goliath glanced at him warily. "You two can fly?"
"Aw, not usually! But a couple of our pals have been able to help us fly for short times. They're back on their worlds, though, so we can't do it here."
"I see…" The conversation fell by the wayside as they continued on, Goliath seemingly lost in his thoughts.
"Wow, Stiltzkin! You're back in Traverse Town, kupo?"
"The World That Never Was doesn't see a lot of customers anymore, Mog. Besides, I heard that the Flaming Amarant is in town too."
The group stopped as they approached two Moogles speaking to one another, and Donald looked back at Goliath with a grin. "What was that about overhearing?"
The Moogle named Stiltzkin was dressed in a familiar black leather coat, although it was unzipped and hung loosely on his body. A yellow scarf was wrapped around his head and would probably have been covered up by the hood had it been up, while on his back was a heavy pack of items and synthesis materials. The other Moogle, Mog, was dressed normally for a Moogle (which is to say, not at all), but his fur was purple and striped instead of white.
"The Flaming Amarant, kupo? Shouldn't we tell somebody about a dangerous bounty hunter? Kupopo…"
Will's eyes lit up at that, and she glanced at Goliath who nodded. Goofy frowned; a bounty hunter? That matched up with what the attacker had said, if it really was this 'Amarant' person. He had mentioned not being paid enough, so…
"Excuse me!" Will walked up to Stiltzkin and Mog, grinning. "Could you tell me where this Amarant guy is now? Is he a really tall man with blue skin and red hair?"
The two Moogles looked at each other and then back at Will. "Will you make sure he doesn't hurt anyone?" Stiltzkin asked. That he didn't attempt to correct her about the description would seem to be a confirmation. It was Amarant who had fought them after all.
Donald huffed and crossed his arms. "Of course! We're heroes!"
Goofy couldn't help but laugh. "Junior heroes, Donald! Remember?"
"Aww, shut up! We haven't seen Phil in a long time!"
Ignoring their banter, Goofy marched up beside Will and looked at the two little Moogles with curiosity. The little creatures did visibly cower at his appearance, but he made sure not to make any frightening moves.
"This Amarant person may be working for an acquaintance of mine," he explained in as quiet a voice as he could manage. "Please, if you lead us to him, we will make sure this town is kept safe."
The two Moogles glanced at each other again. "Amarant isn't really dangerous, kupo. But if someone's paying him, kupopo, then he does his job."
Goliath frowned. "His employer wants to steal something belonging to Will here, and it could definitely lead to suffering on more worlds than one if he does so."
"…Okay then." Stiltzkin pointed down a road leading towards the main plaza. "The Gizmo Shop. Last I heard the Flaming Amarant was spotted there, talking to a man on the roof."
"You mean the bell tower?" Goliath smiled softly and looked back at Goofy. "It appears we will be getting that aerial view after all."
x-x-x
"I don't know about this…"
"Come on, Donald! Just pretend it's Flowmotion!"
They stood once more in the central area of the Second District, but no longer on the ground. Atop the roof of one of the taller buildings Goliath, Goofy, and Donald were within viewing distance of the bell tower—the Gizmo Shop's roof. Although they could see the flat area beneath the bell from here and could see a figure atop it, they could not clearly make out his appearance.
"We do not have time to argue," Goliath said as he pointed to an approaching pink and green figure in the sky. Will was returning from a loop around the Gizmo Shop.
"It's him," she said with a nod as she hovered in the air just beside the roof they stood on. "The man who attacked us is there, so it must have been this Amarant guy after all."
"The Moogles were right. Very well then. Are we all ready?"
"I don't—whoa!" Against Donald's protests, he was scooped up in Will's arms and lifted into the air. Beside Goofy, Goliath unfurled his wings and then gripped the knight tight. Pushing off against the roof, he began a glide down to the Gizmo Shop. Will followed behind, Donald struggling and shouting in her arms the whole time.
The group landed on the roof with little ceremony, but it worked. Amarant stood beneath the bell, his arms crossed. Immediately Will and Donald began channeling spells, Goofy raised his shield, and Goliath flexed his talons…but Amarant shook his head.
"Hold your fire." He raised an arm disalarmingly. Goofy raised an eyebrow and beside him Goliath grunted. Nobody lowered their guard completely, but they did relax somewhat. "As I said earlier I have no intention of fighting more than Xanatos promised. I am just here to collect my pay, and then I shall leave you be."
"That's fair enough, Amarant." Goliath gasped and spun around. Behind the group, coming up from the ladder on the side of the building, was a man that Goofy did not recognize. But judging from Goliath's reaction, he could only assume this was Xanatos. "And I suppose you did technically get the Heart of Kandrakar here. I believe half of what was promised is acceptable."
Xanatos tossed a pouch of munny to Amarant, who took it without a word. He growled as he pocketed it. "I don't know what you're thinking with that thing, Xanatos, but I do not envy you getting involved with the Keybearer's friends."
With that, Amarant leaped off the building. Donald almost followed him, but Goofy put a hand on his shoulder and kept him there. He seemed to truly be done; their fight was with Xanatos.
Will stepped forward with lightning crackling in her hands. "Why did you lie to me about Goliath being form Meridian?" she demanded. "Why do you want the Heart of Kandrakar?"
Xanatos shook his head and sighed. He held up a gun and aimed it at them, but made no move to fire. Presumably it was just a security precaution. "I knew you wouldn't be able to actually stop Goliath. That was just a distraction, to keep your attention off of the jewel and Goliath's off of me."
"I knew it…" Goliath rumbled.
"As for the Heart, I read about it in an old book of mine called the Grimorum Arcanorum. It can open portals to other worlds…what a wonder! Of course I wanted it, why wouldn't I? But I'm afraid Amarant was right. I didn't count on friends of the Keybearer himself getting involved." He eyed Donald and Goofy warily before turning his attention back to Will and Goliath.
"But why do you want it?" Goofy asked. "You know your world's in the darkness!"
Xanatos chuckled and shook his head. "It isn't to go home. It's so I can find a way, somewhere out there in the world, to control the Heartless."
"What!" Donald cried, jumping back. "That's stupid! No one can control them without falling into darkness!"
Goofy shook his head. "Donald's right! We've fought way too many people who fell to the Heartless over our adventures, and there's no way we're gonna let you throw your life away!"
"Of course I know that. I'm not stupid, Mister Goof." Xanatos shrugged and raised his gun just slightly. This news had pushed them closer to attacking him, and he could tell. "I have no intention of dominating them directly. I am sure, however, that somewhere out there is the key to controlling the Heartless without getting my hands dirty."
"There's no such thing!" Donald shouted back. He held up his staff and the head ignited with burning flames. "Don't make us stop you the hard way."
But Xanatos held up his hand. "No need. I know when I'm beaten." He lowered his gun slowly and returned it to its holster. "I have no chance of beating the four of you in a fight. So if you'll excuse me, I'll retire for the day." He began to walk backwards, towards the edge of the roof.
"Wait, Xanatos!" Goliath called as the man stepped back. But he didn't heed Goliath's warning and fell backwards over the edge, plummeting down…
…Only to rise up again a moment later, held by a robotic gargoyle that lifted into the sky. "Until we meet again, then!"
The robotic gargoyle's engines faded into the night as it took Xanatos far away, to wherever it was he was staying. Goliath's shoulders drooped, but he shook his head and stood tall, once again wrapping his wings around him like a cape.
"That was…anticlimactic," Will deadpanned. "So I guess I should keep an eye out, then?"
"For Xanatos, yes. But I believe your Heart is safe, Will." Goliath turned to face her. "Xanatos is a pragmatic man, and he knows better than to try the same thing twice. Especially not now that you know not to trust him."
"Gotcha. Well… It was nice meeting you, Goliath. You too, Donald, Goofy."
Goofy chuckled. "Yup! Maybe next time we'll introduce ya to our friends!"
Goliath nodded. "I look forward to it. And my clan would certainly be pleased to meet you all. In fact…" He held a hand out to Will. The girl raised an eyebrow and Goliath continued. "In this strange new world, we need as many allies as we can get. Will Vandom, until we return to the worlds we came from this is our home. Will you aid me and my brothers in protecting Traverse Town?
Will stared down at Goliath's hand in silence, then slid off the Heart of Kandrakar and stared at the glowing pink gem. Taking in a deep breath, she nodded and took his hand in her own. "I sure will, Goliath."