Disclaimer: not mine.
So in KH3 they tend to pair the worlds and you can pick which one to do first, I have them being done in one order in this chapter, you may play them in the opposite one. I tend to do it this way around cause I find it easier.
Chapter 18
Merlin flipped through a book and put it aside, reaching for another, looking for anything that may have the answers young Harry needed. He knew the story of the Three Brothers, who from Earth hadn't? it was an Earth legend though so why had one changed form into a Keychain, influenced by a second? Only the third had remained unchanged as far as the teen could tell. Harry didn't dare use it without some idea what it might do, or on a barren world where no one would be at risk at least. That he'd felt a shift in his magic since all three Hallows had come into his possession…the legend wasn't actually true, was it? And what did Master of Death mean anyway? Hades' boss?
It was a good thing Lea and Kairi didn't need his supervision to train together.
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Riku grimaced as Ienzo explained what had happened. If he hadn't taken Kairi to Sora…no, Mickey and Merlin had been around, surely if his disappearance could have been prevented then they could have stopped it.
"Even would know about the replicas from his time as Vexen in the Organization. He was recompleted like the rest of us, but he didn't regain consciousness. After Lea left, he must have woken and taken his leave. Aeleus here and Dilan went out and turned the whole town upside down to try and find him. But no Even," Ienzo confirmed even as Aeleus shook his head.
"That's not good," Mickey sighed.
"What about his research?" Riku asked, they needed a way to get Roxas and Ventus out of Sora after all…plus the mysterious third Heart who it felt like he should know, but he didn't, did he?
"Unfortunately, his work on the replicas was incomplete. There may still be documents around, but all of them from well before he made any significant progress." He motioned to the computer.
"Do you have any idea where he might go?" Mickey asked, if they had a lead then they could go and find him.
"There's no place that he could go now that he's human. He has no means of leaving this world," denied.
"The dark corridors…"
"Are beyond his faculties and mine now."
So what did that say about him that he could use them again? Riku realised something he really didn't want to. "But not everyone's. What if Even was taken?"
"Of course! The Organization could also use the replicas!"
"To fill out their ranks," Riku grimaced even as Ienzo and Aeleus exchanged glances.
"We'd better go tell Master Yen Sid. And Sora, and the others, too!" Mickey told him and Riku nodded.
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Harry grinned as he swam through the crystal water, it was amazing! And mermaids here were definitely a lot better looking than the ones at home! The King was a bit wary of him, according to Sebastian he wasn't the first Keyblade wielder to visit them, but there was an increase in Heartless activity so he had promised to deal with it and keep his distance from the palace. Fighting under water was an experience but he eventually got the hang of it, even if he had probably looked ridiculous at first as he flailed around.
It wasn't like he'd ever had a tail before! He glanced down at the sleek green/black tail with translucent fins. His tail was long and slender but still powerful, moving him at considerable speed through the ocean.
"Harry!"
He turned and waved as Flounder swam towards him, Sebastian clinging to his tail with a claw. "Hey, is something wrong?"
"It's horrible! Those monsters are attacking Ariel's boat!"
"Ariel?" He asked even as he followed them.
"King Trident's youngest daughter. She fell in love with a human and so the King gave her legs," Sebastian answered. "She's on a boat with her husband and new baby!"
Harry swore and swam faster, he would not let the Heartless take them!
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"Humanity is a precious gift. And yet you desire to return to the Organization?" Saïx asked the other black coated figure standing on another rock spire.
"Oh, yes...of course. One eradication at Axel's hands was enough to learn where NOT to place my trust," was the sarcastic answer.
"He gave you a second lease on life."
"He ripped me away from the one thing I care about. I don't require humanity," the sneer was obvious in his voice. "Give me my research. I must see it to fruition, no matter the cost."
"The replicas," Saïx suggested.
"Yes." Vexen laughed. "Soon they will replace, not just replicate. Given a heart, they can become just as real as any human."
"What excellent tidings. I would hate to think we invited you back into our ranks only for you to fail to deliver our final vessel..." and perhaps with them, he could seek redemption, even if he could not disobey Xehanort.
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Harry surfaced and smiled at seeing the Prince holding his wife and baby close. It had been a far closer call than he had liked, but they were safe now, and the King was coming to meet his granddaughter, so it was time for him to go.
"Wait!"
He turned back to the boat to see the Princess with a hand raised towards him.
"Oh, I thought you were someone else," she admitted.
"Sora?" he offered, and she nodded. "I know about him, but we've never met. I'm, glad you're all okay."
"Thank you for your help," the Prince nodded to him.
Harry waved and then dove, swimming away. It was time to move on, the Heartless here seemed to be gone, for now at least.
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"Hey, hold up!" Sora called to the woman walking ahead of them.
She gasped, turning around quickly, fear emblazoned on her face. "Why are you here? Where did you come from?"
"Hi. I'm Sora, and I," he looked over at Donald, who gave him a forbidding look, right, no telling her the truth. "Uh...I'm from...let's just say someplace...a little warmer."
"I'm Donald," Donald said, cutting in.
"And I'm Goofy."
"Are you visiting Arendelle? For the coronation?" She asked.
Coronation? "Huh? Um... uh..." He looked to Donald and Goofy for an answer and they both nodded. "You got us!" He grinned at her. "So, what's your name?"
"Elsa... Queen Elsa of Arendelle."
Sora started, okay he had not been expecting that! Why was she on the mountain if there was a coronation in the city? "What? The queen?!"
"You shouldn't be out here. Please go back to the town." She turned away from them and began walking.
"Why? Your Majesty, you look like you could use a friend. Don't you want to talk?" he asked, worried about why she'd be heading up a mountain alone.
"Please leave. I need to be alone. I don't want to hurt anyone," she finished the last in a whisper, but he still heard her.
"Oh... Is it that bad? You must've been through a lot," he bit back a grimace at how lame that came out.
"We know what that's like, don't we?" Donald nodded.
"Sure, adventuring's fun, but it definitely has its ups and downs. When the going gets tough, us friends have to stick together!" Goofy agreed.
"Exactly! Although, Donald, you DO lose your temper a lot, so...I can relate to wanting some alone time," Sora shrugged.
"What? I don't do that!" Donald crossed his arms, wand in hand.
"Enough!" She yelled in frustrations, whirling around, her hand glowing as a multitude of ice spikes emerged from the ground between them. Terror returned to her face as they all stared at the ice.
"Elsa... Did you..." Sora stared at the ice…was she a Keyblade wielder to? He'd never seen anyone else use ice like that, not even Donald's spell worked like that.
Heartless appeared behind her and she gasped in alarm.
"The Heartless!" Goofy summoned his shield.
She backed away from them as Sora rushed forward, Keyblade in hand. He grinned at her, hoping to make her no scared of them. "Don't worry. We got 'em. Take cover!" he told her, relieved when she ran back to safety, leaving them to take on the horde of snow-faring Heartless.
As Sora delt the final blow to the Rock Troll, Queen Elsa approached them. "Elsa, are you okay?" he asked in concern, he didn't think any of them had gotten passed them, but Heartless could be sneaky.
"I...I'm sorry I was so upset. Thank you for your help," she answered. Suddenly she gasped, lifting up her hands. "Look out!" She shot a beam of ice at the Heartless, taking it out.
"That's amazing. You can control ice," he laughed happily. He was best with air magic, fire being second. He found ice the hardest of them.
She held her one bare hand with her blue-gloved hand. "Control it? No, all I ever do...is hurt people," she looked away, ashamed.
"It's okay. Those were just the Heartless," Goofy tried to comfort her, but Sora got the feeling she didn't mean right then.
"You said that word before. What are they?"
"Monsters that are after people's hearts. Wherever they go, there's trouble," he tried to give a simple explanation without mentioning different Worlds, not wanting to annoy Donald.
"They're after people's hearts?"
"Yes, they're dangerous! You should head home before it gets any worse."
She shook her head. "This is my home now. I can't go back." She looked down at her hand. "I don't want to hurt anyone."
"What?" had she really hurt someone? Even if she had, he didn't think it was on purpose.
"Arendelle is safer with me staying up here," she told them before starting to walk away again.
"Not safer for you!" He called after her, but she kept going. He tried to follow her but a large ice wall appeared to block him.
Elsa looked back at the wall and then broke into a run. "Please, go away!"
Sora placed his hands against the wall of ice. "Elsa..." he could break through it with some effort, ice tended to melt under fire after all, but would that be fast enough to help her? Who knew how many Heartless were on the mountain?
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Harry stumbled, staggering around on four legs. He…was a cat…no, not just any cat, a lion! Not a cub but from the feel of things not a full adult anyway. Which made sense since he'd just turned eighteen. This was…kind of better than being an Animagus, not that he'd finished that particular bit of magic yet himself. He stared at himself in the water of a nearby pond, seeing the pitch black wild mane and familiar green/blue eyes, thankfully his scar was basically invisible. He was lean but not skinny and he could feel the power in the lions' body. He heard a cry of distress and managed to run, finding the instincts taking over so he didn't fall. He saw another lion surrounded by Heartless and hesitated, how was he meant to use his Keyblade without hands let alone opposable thumbs?
Apparently….in his mouth, there was no way that was hygienic.
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She stared as the lion attacked the creatures with something in his mouth. Why not use teeth and claws? Then again it hadn't done her any good had it? She didn't know him either… the creatures were soon gone and he turned to her, head tilted curiously to one side. He was not a member of their Pride! Her Father was not going to be happy with her.
"Are you alright?" he asked, moving slowly closer.
"Who are you?" She demanded, standing her ground. "What are you doing in the Pride lands?"
"My name's Harry and I…hunt those monsters to keep them from hurting others," he answered. Harry, that was a funny name.
"My name's Kiara, my Father is the King of Pride Rock. If you want to hunt on our lands then you better ask his permission," she warned.
"Okay, where's Pride Rock?"
She just stared at him and then over at the rather obvious rock formation.
"Right," he shrugged, looking a bit sheepish.
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Larxene appeared before them, somehow managing to look upset and pleased at the same time. "So, love has filled BOTH their hearts with light," she sneered even as they took up defensive positions.
"Larxene!" Sora yelled to get her to focus on them and not the sisters. He was worn out from the previous fight but he would not let her hurt them!
"Two in one world... Definitely didn't see THAT coming."
"First Marluxia, now you. What is this all about?!" he snarled, feeling the tug that meant Rage form was ready and willing to make an appearance, but he didn't want the Organisation knowing about that!
"Oh, I see, so you bumped into Marluxia," she huffed in annoyance. "Then why am I explaining this again? I told you before: The New Seven Hearts. If you mess up and don't find your seven guardians of light, we're gonna need another group to fall back on."
"Leave innocent people out of it!"
"Ohh, look at this tough guy," she taunted him as if…as if she knew him? He didn't know her though, had never met…oh, Castle Oblivion? "Such a big boy now. Well, maybe you should do your job, and find the other guardians of light," she pointed out as if they weren't trying to do that already.
"Please, like you've found your thirteen. The King said you're one seeker of darkness short," he shot back, not letting her see how uneasy the whole thing made him. It felt like they were doing exactly what the bad guy wanted and that never ended well in books.
"Oh no, we're set," she smirked.
"Huh?" he couldn't help his eyes going wide even as she giggled.
Larxene grinned, waving cheekily, before vanishing along with the dark dome.
They had all thirteen? Then if they couldn't find their seven, they'd go after Elsa and Anna. He looked over at the sisters, relieved to see Anna was no longer an ice statue. Sora frowned, despite the happy reunion.
"It'll be okay. They're strong," Goofy spoke up, seeing his expression.
"And now, it's our turn!" Donald told him.
Sora looked back at them and nodded. "You're right. They have each other."
He turned back to the sisters as he heard something, seeing Elsa spread her arms downward and the ice from the fjord spread out in a snowflake shape around her, magically taking off into the air. Kristoff marvelled at the sight as Sven tried to catch a floating snowflake on his tongue. The magic spread beneath Sora, Donald and Goofy who jumped for joy.
"Yes!" he cheered, feeling the air beginning to warm slightly.
As the lake thawed, a ship beneath the ice rose to the surface under their feet. The frozen magic flew throughout the town, breaking through the snow on the rooftops and the water in the fountains. As Elsa raised her arms, the floating ice coalesced into a giant snowflake in the air, and she blasted it apart with a wave. Everyone was overjoyed to see the sun, and Anna placed her hand on Elsa's shoulder.
They'd done it! True love had won again…which meant they had a shot too. They would beat the Organisation!
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Yen Sid stared out his window at the stars. Something…something had changed, but what? He stroked his beard even as he listened to the stars, and then his eyes widened, was it possible? A new wielder now travelled the Worlds. But for Light or Darkness? He would need to call the others and have them return, then they would need to find this new person. If they were for the Light, then perhaps they had a new Guardian, in case they failed to retrieve one of Eraqus' students.
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"Tell me, will you stay here?" Ansem asked the young woman seated beside him on the beach.
"I can't shake the feeling that these waters touch another shore I've visited," Aqua told him, and he nodded.
"The Destiny Islands."
"You've heard of them?" she asked in surprise.
"Yes. They are quite lovely…a far cry from this wasteland," he chuckled even as she crossed her arms over her legs, staring out at the light far over the water. He pitied her, she did not deserve to be trapped as he was.
"I'm staying. Someone will come for me."
"These waters are the in-between of dark and light, its shores the margins of day and night. They brought you and I together, so why not also you and another?" he agreed.
"Yes," she nodded.
He wondered if Sora and Riku had made their way to the very same beach after they had defeated Xemnas so many months before. At least it seemed the boys had made it out safely. He regretted the way he had used Riku, had not done more to help him when he struggled against the Heartless locked within his Heart. And then the mess with Roxas…he had much to atone for, a hurried word before his device exploded was not enough.
They sat quietly for some time before he noticed her tense, glancing around. She turned back, looking into the Darkness. "Who's there?"
He turned as well only to see a familiar figure, fearing for a moment that young Riku had never actually escaped but…no, there was nothing of the young man in the one before them. Either Riku had been destroyed or somehow this other 'Ansem' had returned without using him. "You..." he growled angrily as they both stood, ready for conflict, not that he would be of any help.
"Master...I must have a word with you."
He doffed his hood, glaring at the Heartless of his old student through orange eyes. "'Master'? So now you mock me."
"Do you recall those experiments of the heart you bade me cease? Among the test subjects was a girl. She had lost her memory, just as I had. But...you can reconstruct memories. You did with Sora. I believe you have seen the girl's memories," it spoke as it walked closer.
"What is your question?" he demanded.
"Where did you put the girl?"
"What girl?" he asked in return.
"Very well. If you won't tell me here..."
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Aqua saw the stranger reach for Ansem the Wise and moved, knocking his hand away as she got between them. "I think you should go," she warned even as he looked her over.
"A lost guardian of light?" he scoffed. "You wait here...for the King and his fool."
He crossed his arms with a smile, and the earth shook as a black creature with glowing yellow eyes emerged from the ground behind him. The Dark Figure reached back with its muscular arms and punched Aqua away.
She landed on her feet on the sand, she'd felt that hit. But also…something else, something almost…familiar? She shook it off and slid into a defensive stance, ready to fight.
"Where's your Keyblade?" he asked.
"Don't need it!" She snapped. She ran forward with a leaping kick to the Dark Figure's bandaged face, jumping off its arm. Aqua gasped as it grabbed her by the leg before she could get away. It lifted her up to look her in the eyes as she struggled.
Ansem the Wise ran up, waving his arms. "No more! I'll go."
The other man chuckled evilly. "You are wise."
No! She would not fail again to protect someone! Aqua broke free, spinning downward to land a kick on the man, but he blocked with his arm. She leapt off the arm and landed back near the water.
"Poor thing. I mustn't leave you with nothing," he mocked her, and she grit her teeth.
Energy began to swirl between the Dark Figure's hands as a massive orb of darkness emerged. At the apex, the orb burst from the Figure's chest, striking Aqua at high speed, sending her screaming into the murky waters.
Ansem the Wise rushed to the water and fell to his knees helplessly.
Aqua sank deep into the water, darkness spreading over her heart, stunned from the blow, unable to try and swim up. "What...is this feeling?"
The darkness enveloped her body as she drifted deeper into the abyss.
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Vanitas smirked as he walked through the currently empty factory, all that lovely energy! It was perfect. He would easily regain all of his lost strength and then he would track down that odd sensation he'd been feeling. It couldn't be Ventus, Master Xehanort was positive his Heart slept within that Sora brat. But what else could cause that sensation?
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Simba watched the younger lion as his daughter showed him around. He was like Sora and that made him a little more relaxed about trusting him. He did wonder if his presence meant Sora no longer travelled or if more than one Keyblade wielder was around at the same time. Sora had promised to try and return to meet Kiara after all and they had not seen him. He hoped the boy was okay, he had done so much for Simba, from freeing him into a summon form to then helping him take back his home….surely he was fine.
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"It says, "We Scare Because We Care"?" Sora read the sign out loud.
"That's odd," Donald frowned, that didn't seem like it would mean anything good.
"Doesn't sound very caring," Goofy agreed.
"If they look like us, then they could be trouble. I think we'd better investigate."
They entered the factory doors finding a large lobby, where they saw two strange creatures. One very large and fuzzy and the other small and green. The larger one was holding a young toddler, causing the trio alarm.
"Oh no!" Goofy muttered.
"Weeee!" The girl poked out from over the monsters arms. She was wearing an oversized pink shirt and had tiny pigtails, normal human kid things, right? Donald thought they were anyway. "Boo!"
The big monster turned around and saw them, the little girl squirming in his fluffy claws. "Hmm? I wonder who those guys are."
The little green monster looked up at the big one through his single giant eyeball. "What?! Careful, Sulley. If they see the K-I-D..."
"It's fine. We got nothing to hide," the big one shrugged.
"But you're the CEO! You set the example."
Something weird was definitely going on, but what?
The one called Sulley caved and set the girl on the floor as the green thing ran over to them, waving his little arms. "Guys! Guys, it's not what it looks like. Okay, listen. That kid over there just popped out of nowhere!" He slammed his fist into his hand and the trio gave him disapproving looks. "We gotta call the CDA. Uh... It's a...uh... Oh yeah, a Code 835!"
Sora pointed his Keyblade at him causing him to clam up. "Are you trying to scare that little girl?" he demanded.
"Yes! I mean, no no no!" the green one waved his arms frantically. "We're done with scare power. Nobody's gettin' scared."
"Mike, take it easy."
"You should too, Sora. Ya see? She's happy!" Goofy spoke up and Donald had to admit, he seemed to be right. It could still be a trick or something though.
The girl bounced in front of Sulley, who petted her on the head, making her giggle. Kid wasn't afraid of them at all…so maybe they weren't the bad guys here?
"Oh, "Sora chuckled sheepishly as he dismissed the Keyblade. He walked up to the girl and crouched down. "Hello. My name is Sora."
Donald watched before putting his wand away, no way he'd risk a spell so close to a kid anyway.
"Boo," she trotted fearlessly over to Sora.
"Oh, is that your name? Nice to meet you, Boo."
She screamed excitedly and Sora laughed.
"Hold on! You guys really aren't afraid of humans?" Mike demanded.
"Mike Wazowski," she pointed and Donald jumped in surprise, staring at her with his
cyclops eye as he realised she was pointing at him.
"Come on, Boo! I'M Mike Wazowski."
"Mike Wazowski." She continued pointing at Donald, waving her arm up and down.
Sulley laughed at them all. "Well, you can see the resemblance. That googly bear eye."
"What's going on? I'm Donald Duck!" he stomped his foot and crossed his arms. He was not the Mike thing!
"Mike Wasowski!" she laughed and Donald ran, the kid chasing him, hearing Sora and Goofy laugh.
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"A-hyuck! I'm Goofy."
"Well, my name's Sulley. And this is—"
"Oh, we know. Mike Wazowski, right?" Sora grinned.
Boo jumped out from behind Sora as they laughed, but soon hid behind Sulley nervously.
"What's the matter, Boo?" he asked in concern.
Behind Donald, a group of blue pointy creatures with red eyes appeared. Sora grimaced and they moved between the two groups, feeling the welcomed weight of the Keyblade settle into his grip.
"Heartless!" Donald and Goofy cried, but Sora wasn't so sure.
The emblem was wrong and there was something…he felt a presence stir within his Heart…Ventus? There was nothing else though and he focused on the fight.
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Harry stretched and looked around, nothing as far as he could see and his magic had come back negative on life signs so he was good to go. The only one he could accidently blow up or worse was himself. Fun. He summoned his Keyblade and then withdrew the Hallow Keychain, staring at it. He'd picked up a few others on the Worlds he'd been too, had been swapping between them, but hadn't dared use this one. Merlin hadn't found anything in his research to help either. There was nothing for it. He removed the Circle of Life, watching the blade revert to Lost Memory, and then clipped on the Hallows, bracing for anything.
TBC…
Figured I'd give Harry some Disney fun before he ends up swept away by the fight between the Organisation and Guardians.
