Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait I had so many assignments over Christmas and well this chapter contains Atlantica. If you read the last storry you will know that I HATE Atlantica. Oh well, at least it's over and done with haha.
Anyway, I'm still keeping up with Kingdom Hearts 3 news and have made some plans for Charlie in the future ;) Anyway, enjoy!
POLL: Who Do You Think Charlie Should End Up With?
Sora: 13
Ryan: 2
The Author should Decide!: 1
Neither: 0
Damn! you guys like Sorlie! keep voting if you don't want Sorlie to happen! Question: In the future, would you like me to write a filler story between Kingdom Hearts 2 and Dream Drop Distance? Would you like to see what happens to Charlie in this filler?
A Quest to Find Missing Friends
The group of heroes made it to the Seventh Floor. Sora stormed ahead while the others were struggling to keep up. Donald called out to him and told him not to run as fast. But Sora said to the group that there's no time since Naminé is in trouble. Charlie couldn't help but wonder if she was kidnapped would Sora be desperate to save her, too?
"Phew, Sora sure does seem like he's upset." Goofy stated.
"You'd be too. He just remembered a friend but found out she's in trouble!" Donald reasoned.
Sora turned to Charlie, Donald and Goofy and motioned for them to hurry. Charlie couldn't help but feel a little jealous of Sora. He was able to remember Naminé, yet she couldn't remember that girl in the black dress. But worst of all, Charlie wished that someone would risk everything to find her for a change.
"Sora…" Charlie muttered.
The Disney characters completely ignored Charlie and Goofy agreed with Donald. Goofy reasoned that if the King was in danger, they would be upset, too. For a second there, Charlie had almost forgotten about Ryan! Charlie was shocked to realise she could have forgotten her best friend!
Speaking of which, there was something different. She hadn't been thinking about Ryan for a while and Charlie didn't know why. He used to be everything she thought about. But now, her mind was constantly on the girl in the black dress, Naminé and Sora. Why? What was happening to her? Why are her feelings changing? How could her feelings change? Suddenly she felt someone grab her wrist. She looked up to see Sora.
"Come on!" He started to drag her to the door.
"I think I know why my feelings are changing…." Charlie thought.
Sora held up the card to the next world. When the door opened, Sora continued to drag Charlie with him. When they entered, the group found themselves somewhere they didn't think was possible. Sora was so surprised, he even let go of Charlie's hand.
"Gawrsh! This looks like the bottom of the sea." Goofy finally pointed it out.
"It sure does. So how come we can breathe?" Sora asked.
"It's not possible…" Charlie muttered in awe.
"Hmm… Beats me! Maybe someone cast a spell on us?" Goofy asked.
That must be it. But if it wasn't Charlie or Donald then who? Sora stated it felt like they were breathing air but Donald corrected him as he saw someone swimming towards them. It was a mermaid! She had beautiful red hair and a green tail but as she swam closer, Charlie noticed that she was hiding something behind her. It was gold from what Charlie could tell.
"If anyone asks, you didn't see me!" The mermaid said.
"What?" Donald asked.
"Sorry, I don't have time to explain. Just promise you won't tell!"
She swims away in a hurry. Everyone was suspicious and Sora pointed out that the mermaid was hiding something. Charlie was glad she wasn't the only one to notice this although Donald wasn't sure what it was anyway.
Sora and Charlie were given the Key of Beginnings card and headed off in the same direction the mermaid headed in. Charlie started thinking. They were going after someone because they are hiding something. Yet, she was hiding something herself. How would Sora react? Would he hate her for feeling like this? Would he be happy? She just didn't know.
"You okay?" Sora asked.
"Y-yes! I was daydreaming, I guess." She smiled sheepishly.
Sora was suspicious. He had been watching Charlie for a while and noticed that she wasn't always focused. Was there something on her mind? In all honesty, Sora had been focusing rather on himself a lot more lately. Maybe he should ask her?
"So where did the mermaid go?" She asked.
That was a good question. Sora was too busy trying to figure Charlie out that he forgot where the mermaid had went. They both stopped and looked around. She could be anywhere by now. All they could see are doors.
"Uh…"
"Let's go to that door" Charlie suggested.
She pointed to the door on the right and Sora agreed. Sora held up the card and it turned out to be the right door. They entered the Key of Beginnings room which was actually the throne room to a palace. In front of the throne was a small crab who seemed to be in distress.
"Oh woe is me…" The crab wined.
"Is something wrong?" Sora asked.
"Someone stole the king's magic trident. Atlantica is defenceless! And to top it off, Princess Ariel has disappeared! King Triton's worried sick. He won't leave his chambers." The crab explained.
"Ariel? She disappeared?" Sora asked.
"Ariel's friend Flounder would know where she is, but now he's gone, too" The crab added and Charlie turned to the boys.
"Do you think that mermaid we saw was Ariel?" She asked and the boys nodded.
"Wait a sec… Didn't we just see Ariel?" Sora asked.
Goofy confirmed it but explained that Ariel wasn't happy to see them. He then recalled that she was carrying something behind her at the time. The group concluded that it must have been the trident and that Ariel stole it in the first place. Jiminy joined in the discussion and theorised that there must be an explanation behind all of this. Meanwhile the crab started talking to himself.
"Ariel! Where did you swim off to this time? If anything happens to you…. The king will think it's all my fault! He told me to keep an eye on her, and now this! What if she ran away because of something I said?! King Triton will banish me forever!"
"He'll pop his shell if we tell him Ariel took the trident." Sora whispered to his friends.
"Guess we'll have to get to the bottom of this ourselves!" Goofy claimed.
"Sounds like a mystery to solve!" Charlie winked.
The Keyblade wielders received the Key of Guidance card. The group left and started to head back the way they came. Sora remembered another door that had a crown on it. There was something that seemed off. The crab they met before didn't seem fazed about the fact the heroes had legs. Was it part of the spell? Charlie could only assume.
Along the way, Sora and Charlie encountered new types of Heartless. They were fish related which was obvious since they are underwater. Charlie even managed to learn a new Sleight. Lux Ray. It was powerful but the move took too long to charge up. The two continued their trek.
The group of heroes finally managed to find Ariel. She was in a grotto full of human objects. It was assumed that the grotto belonged Ariel. Speaking of which, Ariel's expression was full of sadness as she clutched the trident in front of her.
"This is all my fault. I wish I'd never taken Daddy's trident. I should've known things would turn out this way." Ariel said to herself.
"She did take it!" Donald exclaimed.
"Pipe down! Somebody's comin'!" Goofy told him.
The four heroes crept behind a corner.
"No need to worry, child. You did the right thing."
Out of the corner of the grotto was an octopus-like lady in black ink. The lady tried to comfort her by saying that Ariel would do anything to help her little friend. According to this lady, Ariel's friend Flounder had been swept away into the human world. The lady told Ariel that if she didn't hurry, something terrible would happen to Flounder.
"No!" Ariel cried out.
"Besides, you're not giving me trident, dear - just letting me borrow it for a bit. You can save Flounder! Lend me the trident, and I'll help you!" The lady reasoned.
Something wasn't right and the heroes all knew that. Charlie couldn't tell if it was they way she moved, the way she talked or the suspicious smile that occasionally appeared on her face. She wanted to stop this. She clenched her fists but felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked back to see Sora shaking his head at her. Charlie relaxed and continued to watch.
"But Daddy needs the trident to defend Atlantica. I need time to think." Ariel responded.
"Well, it's all the same to me. Just remember, your little friend is dodging fishhooks while you twiddle your fins. Well, you can come see me once you've made up your mind." The lady then disappears in black smoke.
"What am I going to do?" Ariel asked.
Sora and the gang decided that they've heard enough and walked up to Ariel. Sora told the mermaid to not trust the lady. Charlie agreed but Ariel asked the gang how long they had been listening, just in case the heroes only heard half of the story. Sora told the mermaid they heard enough to know what was happening.
"It doesn't matter. Sora's right! Don't trust that sea witch! She's up to no good. You can see it in her face!" Donald added.
"This screams a trap, Ariel." Charlie spoke up.
"Then we all agree! The problem is, I don't have any idea where Flounder is. And she's the only one who could help." Ariel's eyes saddened.
Sora asked about himself and the other heroes. He suggested that they all could talk to the lady together. He added that Ariel shouldn't take the burden alone. Sora was right. After everything, Charlie probably wouldn't be where she is now without Sora, Donald and Goofy. She would've been lost and alone.
"Really? You'll come with me?" Ariel asked.
"You bet! I know how it feels to have friends in trouble. Let's get going!" Sora received the Key to Truth card.
They began to leave but Charlie hesitated. She scolded herself for forgetting. There are more important people to Sora than herself. She mentally chuckled at her stupidity for thinking otherwise. Charlie knew that what she was feeling for Sora isn't something she can quite define yet. Maybe, maybe she should just let it go and focus on Ryan?
"Yeah, that's what I should do." She smiled weakly.
"Come on, Charlie!" Sora called.
Charlie ran to catch up to the others. She smiled sheepishly but Sora watched her closely. He's noticed that she's been a bit distant to him lately. He shook his head, one problem at a time. First, he needed to help Ariel. He would have to sort Charlie out later.
Along the way, Sora and Charlie encountered many Heartless. Most often than not, were fish-like. It made sense for the world the heroes were currently in. Although, there were some Search Ghosts as well. Both Sora and Charlie were getting stronger and learnt new abilities and spells. Charlie had learnt a new spell called Prism Blitz using her Light cards.
"Nice! I wonder how strong it is!" She smiled.
Sora couldn't help but smile with her. When they first met, she had a hard exterior, a guard that she wouldn't let down for anyone but Ryan. But now, she had warmed up to him and he can see a different side to her. In a way, she was naïve which warmed him up inside and he didn't know why.
"Sora? Are you okay? You look flushed." Charlie asked.
"What?"
"Your face is red." She looked worried.
Sora placed his hands against his cheeks and indeed he felt warm. However, he didn't feel sick. It was unusual. He just shrugged it off and told Charlie that he was fine. The two teens continue their trek through the many rooms. They find the right door and prepare themselves before going in.
The group finds sea witch's lair, now known as Ursula according to Ariel, Ursula slithers out of a shell, housed at the end of the room. The sea witch makes her way to the ground to join the gang. She smiles, acting innocently.
"My, so many guests! Have you made up your mind, my dear?" Ursula asks.
"I'll do anything for Flounder. But I need proof I can trust you. You said we could save Flounder if I gave you the trident. Well, prove it!" Ariel demanded.
"But of course! See?"
Ursula waved her hand and suddenly Flounder appears in a shroud of darkness. The little fish called out to Ariel. Donald claimed he was right to not trust Ursula, Charlie glared at the sea witch along with the rest of the crew.
"There you have it. If you want your precious Flounder back, give me the trident!" Ursula demanded.
Ariel was silent. Her friend was taken and held by Ursula! The mermaid wasn't in any position to make demands anymore. The gang couldn't do anything while the sea witch held Flounder as hostage. Ariel sighed in defeat. The trident began to glow as it hovered over to Ursula. Ursula snatched the trident.
"Ha ha! Mine at last! Now I'm ruler of all the seas!" Ursula gloated.
"Let Flounder go!" Ariela demanded.
"But of course! I'm feeling generous." The sea witch smiled and the little fish returned to Ariel's side.
"Which reminds me… You always wanted to see other worlds, didn't you? Well, dear, I know just the world to send you to! Unfortunately, this will be a one-way trip!"
The trident in Ursula's hand began to glow. She held it up and electricity exploded from it. Suddenly Sora and Charlie were transported to a different platform. There was nothing to be seen except the black smoke from below. Suddenly, four tentacles sprouted from the smoke below and slammed against the platform. Sora and Charlie summoned their Keyblades. Ursula rose up from the smoke but she was different. She became a giant and was wearing a golden crown. King Triton's crown.
"The sea and all its denizens shall grovel before me!" Ursula claimed.
The two teens started against Ursula's tentacles. Sora performed Strike Raid while Charlie used her Lux Ray Sleight. Two tentacles down, two to go. The teens theorised that her tentacles must have been sensitive as they didn't sustain many attacks. An Ariel card appeared and Charlie quickly picked it up. She used it instantly and summoned Ariel. Ariel torpedo spun against a tentacle before fin slapping against it. Great, three down. Charlie and Sora both worked together with physical attacks to finish off the last tentacle.
With all tentacles down, Ursula moved closer to the platform. Sora unfortunately had to jump to attack her face. While Charlie used more of her magic attacks like Firaga. Sora only managed to deal with five set of combos before Ursula moved back again and her tentacles reappeared. This was going to be bothersome.
While attempting to deal with the tentacles, Ursula kept sliding around the platform, making Sora's and Charlie's attacks miss. Physical attacks weren't the answer in this case. Charlie was getting frustrated and started spamming magical attacks. Luckily for her, she managed to take out two tentacles.
"Nice one, Charlie!"
She smiled as she was breathing heavily. After using so many magic attacks, she needed to restock cards. She fished through her deck and managed two ethers. She stacked and used them to bring back her cards. Sora continued with the physical attacks until finally all the tentacles disappeared again.
When Ursula returned to the platform, it was Sora's turn to use magic. Charlie decided to try the physical attacks but found it difficult since she was smaller than Sora. Even so, Sora managed to do some decent damage as well. However, Ursula had other plans. She started blowing giant bubbles and they were heading for the teens!
"Sora, get behind me!" Charlie ordered.
"What?" He asked.
"Do it, now!"
He obeyed and Charlie stacked her Light cards together performing the spell Protect. A huge bubble-like shield engulfed the teens, protecting themselves from the bubble attack. The shield soon wore off and vanished afterwards.
But Ursula wasn't going to give up! The tentacles returned and they continued to slam against the heroes. Sora managed to Card Break her and a green Mickey Card appeared and Sora immediately grabbed it. He used it, causing a small tornado whirl round Ursula's face, causing her to fall unconscious over the platform.
This was perfect timing! Sora and Charlie repeatedly performed physical combos one after another. However, that perfect timing was short-lived when Ursula regained consciousness.
Yet again, the same thing happened. Tentacle returned. This was getting old to Charlie. A Goofy card appeared and Charlie picked it up. She stacked her cards with it carefully and Goofy appeared performing a Goofy Tornado; dealing heavy damage. The process was the same, take out the tentacles and attack Ursula's face. Occasionally, the teens managed to gain a Mickey card. After a while, Ursula was finally defeated.
Ursula was gone and the trident was now returned in Ariel's grasp. Everyone regrouped together. Charlie was just glad now that Ursula was gone. However, the little fish, Flounder felt so guilty and asked Ariel not to be mad at him for Ursula had tricked him.
"Flounder, as long as you're safe, nothing else matters. Now all we have to do is return the trident and everything will be okay," Ariel assured him.
"But what if the king finds out you're the one who took it in the first place?" Sora asked.
"I'll be grounded forever…" The mermaid said sadly.
Suddenly an echoed voice was heard in the distance calling out for Ariel. By the sound of it, everyone concluded that it belonged to Sebastian, the crab. Ariel was surprised to find that the little crab came all this way to find her. Goofy pointed out that when he finds her, Ariel will be in big trouble.
"Hey, I know! Why don't you say the sea witch stole the trident? And you got it back all by yourself! Then there's no way you'll get in trouble!" Sora suggested.
"I just had the same idea! But…I can't do that. I don't want to get in trouble, but I can't lie. Not about this. I know I haven't made the best decisions lately. It was a mistake to take the trident. But I made that mistake to help you, Flounder. I'm proud of that. Blaming someone else would mean giving those feelings up. So, I'm going to tell the truth." Ariel explained.
"You did it for a good cause, Ariel." Charlie smiled.
"She's right, Sora! Honesty is the best policy." Jiminy added.
"Hey, I was just kidding! Great, now I'm the one in hot water!"
The gang leave Ariel and Flounder to themselves as they leave the area. There was only one thing left on Sora's mind. Charlie. The girl in mention was already marching off ahead of him. Sora called Charlie back and the girl complied. Sora scratched his head. What was he going to say? How was he going to say it? Why didn't he think this through?!
"What's up, Sora?"
"Uh… Are you okay? You've been distant with me lately."
"Oh, don't worry! I was just figuring things out. I'm fine!" Charlie feigned a smile.
She was lying through her teeth and the worst part was that Sora actually believed her. He shrugged it off and started to leave Atlantica. Charlie's heart ached and she couldn't even find a reason for it. Was it because she lied to him? Or was it because Sora will never have feelings for her in return? She doesn't know.
Sora and Charlie re-enter the Seventh Floor of Castle Oblivion. They search the area before gasping when they see two figures heading towards them. One had silver hair, donned a yellow top and blue pants. It took a second but Sora recognised him as Riku. The other, was a girl. She has long, brown hair tied up in a ponytail, she's wearing a black skater dress with a pink belt, she wore black converse shoes and finally, she had striking emerald eyes. Charlie knew this girl. But what was her name?
"Charlie, you're such a weirdo!"
"Get over yourself!"
"Stop playing childish games, Charlie!"
"Kelly!" Charlie finally remembered.
Kelly and Charlie had hated each other before Charlie wielded the Keyblade. Kelly would always yell at her, call her names and push her down. Kelly always thought she was better than Charlie. She was more popular, had the best grades in school and even had everything she wanted. To most, she was perfect. Charlie ignored Sora and Riku and decided to speak to Kelly.
"Kelly, how did you get here?" She asked.
"Surprise to see me?"
"Well… yeah. How did you leave Earth?"
"That's none of your concern! Right now, I'm helping Riku take care of Naminé," Kelly replied.
Naminé, Naminé, Naminé! Charlie is sick of this girl! Why is it always about her! Why is she so special? First Sora, now Riku and Kelly? Why does everyone care for that girl? And never her?
"Do I sense a bit of jealousy, Charlie?" Kelly smirked.
"What are you talking about?"
"I can tell how you feel for Sora"
Charlie looked on over to the spikey-haired boy. Charlie's gaze softened and fell to the floor. No matter how hard she tries, Charlie just couldn't forget her feelings for him. Suddenly, Riku had been enveloped in darkness, a second later he appeared to have his dark suit on again. Uh oh. Riku then went to attack Sora! Charlie summoned her Keyblade to help but something interfered. Or, someone. Charlie's weapon interlocked with someone else's. She turned to se it was Kelly! Kelly's weapon was a Keyblade. But not just any Keyblade, it was just like Charlie's! An exact copy!
"You're not helping your boyfriend this time, Charlie!" Kelly smirked.
"Your…. Keyblade…." Charlie muttered.
"Oh, look at that. Something else that you copied. First my shoes, now my Keyblade!"
"I never copied you! I've always had this Keyblade! I've helped many people with it!" Charlie argued.
"Well I'm sick of it! It's time to end this façade of yours!"
Charlie was transported to the arena. She was by herself this time. Sora had his own fight. Kelly stood in front of her. Her Keyblade G in her hand. Charlie didn't need Sora! She can handle Kelly by herself!
Charlie started with a Firaga spell. It did some decent damage. Kelly recovered and headed straight to her! However, Kelly quickly dashed to the side and then dashed and slashed at Charlie. Charlie winced.
Charlie retaliated with a Firaga spell before jumping in with physical attacks. Charlie noticed that Kelly's moves were erratic. If she had the Keyblade for as long as Charlie has, surely Kelly would have more abilities and her moves would be smoother? Something was off and Charlie knew it.
Kelly was beginning to become frustrated. She slashed erratically from side to side while Charlie continued to Dodge Cartwheel out of the way. It was time to test out her new sleight. Charlie stacked two Light cards and a Thunder card. She pointed her Keyblade up and a prism of light boxed herself and Kelly in. The prism disappeared as Kelly was attacked with blasts of light!
Charlie was pleased that her new Sleight did a lot of damage. Kelly was really weak now. She was panting and her movements were slow. To finish it, Charlie performed Slash and Dash. Kelly was defeated. Charlie returned to the Seventh Floor beside Sora. Charlie turned to see Riku and Kelly in front of them. They were both panting heavily.
They both ran off.
"Riku, please wait!" Sora called.
"Kelly!"
Sora was about to run after his best friend but stopped. Charlie wasn't saying a word. She just stood there, staring at the ground beneath her. Sora really wanted to chase after Riku but seeing Charlie like this, she comes first.
"Charlie?" Goofy asked.
You would think Charlie would be ecstatic that she finally beaten her rival. But it didn't feel that way. How could there be two Keyblade G's? How did Kelly even get here? None of this makes sense….
"Who was that girl?" Sora asked.
"Kelly? She was a girl that went to my school with me. She was really nasty to people, especially me. Funny thing is, we used to be close friends. But I don't understand how she got here." Charlie explained.
"What do you mean? You're here too, right?" Sora tilted his head in confusion.
"Oh right. I never told you. You know how I told you that where I'm from your journey is a videogame, right? Well Ryan and I were playing it and next thing I know, I was in Traverse Town. Kelly wasn't with us. So how did she get here?" She explained.
"Hmm…" Donald contemplated.
"We can find out if we catch up to them, Come on!" Sora rushed off.
So, what do you guys think? The mysterious figure was a bully called Kelly! Why do you think she has the Keyblade G? What is her purpose? You'll find out :)