A Serendipitous Key of Hope
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, Disney, Naruto, or other Shonen Jump characters, themes or such and such.
- Omake -
"Daisy!" Donald rushes over to the almost identical duck woman.
"Who's that?" Naruto asks Goofy.
"Daisy. She's Donald's very special sweetheart," says Goofy.
"Eh? Donald's married? And Minnie's-"
"The King's wife!"
"Eh?! But they look so much alike!" Naruto looks between the arguing couple and then Minnie. His eyes turn over to Goofy. "Are you married too?"
"Nope. But I do have a son."
"HAH?!" This surprises him the most. "YOU'RE A FATHER?!"
The XVII Keyhole: Acceptance and Love
Naruto and the others reach the castle doors. Anna looks back at the group being the first up, saying, "I'll go in first. Considering what happened the last time I introduced her to someone, I feel it'd be better if I went in first, alone. Just give me a minute."
"Suit yourself," Kristoff says, as she approaches the door preparing to knock.
After working up the courage to knock, the doors open to her surprise. She then steps in, as Olaf counts. Naruto holds a finger to his pursing lips to Goofy, sliding in using the ninja training his body can still use. He manages to slip in, being careful not to slip on the ice and hiding behind a pillar, just as Anna calls out for Elsa.
"Anna?" The queen comes out from the upper level of the ice palace. She's a slender skinned beautiful woman: with platinum blond hair like Ino but in a French braid with rosy cheeks and blue eyes colored under purple eyeliner, dressed beautifully in a crystal blue, off the shoulder dress with a slit knee high on the right, translucent, powder blue sleeves, high heels, and a transparent cape capable of sweeping the floor.
"Whoa, Elsa... You look, amazing," Anna says looking up at her older sister. Naruto is awestruck as well by her beauty. "This is a nice look." She can tell she feels happier too, as if a weight's been lifted off her shoulder.
"Yeah, thanks. I never let go before so I never knew what I was capable of," she says, happy at praise finally for her abilities.
Anna slowly steps onto the crystal staircase. "Elsa, I'm sorry for what happened earlier. I-"
"No need to apologize. You should probably go." Naruto observes her in hiding. He can tell she's afraid, maybe her powers considering she wants her gone. She adds: "You belong down there with the others."
"So do you."
"No I don't. I belong here, away from everyone, where I can be myself and you and everyone else can be safe."
"Yeah, about that. You kinda-"
"60!" Olaf comes twiddling in. "Hi I'm Olaf, and I like warm hugs!"
"Olaf?" He hears her voice of surprise, as if she doesn't even know she made him. "You're alive?"
"I think so."
Anna bends her knees down beside the friendly snowman. "Just like when we were kids. Elsa, we were so close back then; we can still be that way."
Elsa freezes, fear locked onto her face. She steps away, retreating up the stairs. "No, we can't. Goodbye Anna."
"Wait, Elsa!" Anna chases her sister up the steps that could reach heaven.
Naruto watches them go, with Kristoff and Goofy coming in finally. "Anna! Naruto! Olaf!"
"Goofy, Anna and Elsa went upstairs." They head upstairs after them. As they do, Naruto begins to notice all the ice around them turning red. "They could be connected to her emotions."
Eventually, stomping footsteps can be heard coming down the 'fragile' staircase. A giant snowman carries Anna, Goofy and Kristoff off out the building. As it leaves, he looks up to see Elsa coming down the stairs. Some ice cracking can be heard throughout the palace. 'Well, now or never.'
"I'm sorry Anna. I'll try to save everyone." The queen stares down at her hands.
"Hello!" Elsa turns suddenly when she sees Naruto step out of hiding. "Hi. Elsa right?"
"Who are you?" She gets on guard, understanding he must have came with Anna. "Get out, now."
"Look, before you go and do something-" Naruto steps forward as he talks, but before he could continue he accidentally slips on his feet. Busting his head open, he wails in pain. "So, you don't know how to melt your ice?"
"No. No I don't. Please, just leave before you get hurt." Elsa raises her hand, about ready to conjure another ice giant.
Slipping again, Naruto uses the Keyblade to stand up. The action surprises Elsa, who asks, "What was that?"
"I can use magic too." He holds his other hand to her, using Fira to form flames. He flicks it out and uses Blizzard to form a snowflake of ice. "See? You're not alone."
Elsa feels a little better with the knowledge he has the ability to use magic too, but at the same time feels afraid. "Who are you?"
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki, a Keybearer. I'm here to help you and your kingdom. Goofy is with Anna right now and Donald is keeping Arendelle warm while I'm here."
"Goofy? You mean that dog guy?"
"Exactly. So I would just like to talk." Elsa looks along her palace, before making chairs for the two of them to sit on. Unlike the rest of the room these strangely look poorly made.
"You can't control your powers, and that's why you don't want to be around anyone?" Elsa sighs looking away. "Not it?"
She remains silent, her eyes still facing from him. "Elsa, you gotta tell me what's wrong. I'm not the smartest guy in the world, but ever since I had training with Yensei I started learning to understand people's feelings. Lately, it's almost like I can sense when someone's upset. But, I need you to tell me what's going on."
Elsa glances a little over to him. Her eyes close. "We were kids." She falters. "She wanted to play in the snow. We were just having fun. But then, she kept jumping."
"Huh?"
"I couldn't keep up, and by accident she got hit." Her voice begins to break. "My parents took us to see Pabbie the Troll King. He erased her memories of me having magic, and warned me to keep my emotions in check to control them."
"Oh, so she doesn't remember all that... Something in your story didn't match up. Is that why when she found out you couldn't control yourself, or was it the news of that proposal?"
"Naruto right?" She completely avoids the question. "Can you go look after my sister? I need to do something about my powers."
"That's why I'm here, to try and help you with your power." He stands up coming before her, holding a hand out to the ice queen.
"No, I'll do it myself. If I conceal and don't feel, I'll be fine."
"But isn't that just a temporary fix? You've been doing it your whole life, and you can't fully hold them down; that's why that happened right? You're wasting your time."
"Be quiet!" Elsa now stands, her eyes filling with tears. The ice around them turns an amber color. "If I could I would! If it was as easy for me to control my powers the way you can I'd do it. But I'm not so lucky." She raises her hand creating a wall of ice between them. "I was kidding myself. I thought you would understand, but I was wrong. You wouldn't know what it's like to have a power you have no control over that everyone fears you for."
Naruto's eyes focus on her as she says that, his thoughts going backwards in time to when he was a child crying. He clenches his fists; he could easily leave and let her struggle. Knowing this, he says: "I'm not leaving until I can help you."
"Yes you are." An explosion blows apart the palace doors. The two look to the side to see the new arrivals; to Naruto's horror they are Akatsuki.
"Oh would you look at this? Our little Jinchuuriki trying to get a little royal booty!" says one of them, the guy wielding a scythe. "Huh? No censor? Alright, I can say booty!"
"Who are they?" Elsa asks out of fear. Deidara sends a flurry of clay birds at them.
Naruto jumps over the wall and pushes her to the side. The explosion shatters the wall and sends both of them flying. Elsa is knocked to the side away from the action while the blond pushes himself up, asking, "Why are you bothering me?"
"Let's just say we're bringing you in. See if you have the Kyubi sealed inside of you or not; either way, you won't get in our way anymore!" The scythe man raises his weapon and points it at him.
Blue eyes squint in annoyance. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Wait, really? You're a Jinchuuriki with the nine-tailed fox sealed inside of you, and it has been since you were-" The big guy slaps him in the back of the head. "What the heck?!"
"He knew what you were talking about; he was being coy." Elsa looks back to Naruto, wondering exactly what that meant. Is there more than she thought?
"Hidan, Kakuzu, how about showing him how strong you guys are?"
"Don't tell me what to do Deidara," says Kakuzu, holding his arm up aiming at him. Flames shoot out at Naruto, who gets consumed.
As the fire dies out melting some of the ice, it's revealed Naruto is surrounded by a barrier. "For the last time, I don't have him sealed inside of me!"
"And we're not gonna believe you unless we prove it." Hidan sneaks in at him from behind, slashing for his legs. Naruto blocks using the Keyblade and fires Blizzara from his hand in his face. "Ow! My face!" He then pulls away as Naruto kicks him far off.
Clay centipedes crawl towards Naruto, who jumps away and casts Thundara on them. They fall, allowing him to run in and slash at Deidara. Kakuzu gets in the way at the last second, a powerful blast of wind blowing him away.
Elsa continues to watch, her eyes coming to focus on Naruto after what they said about him. He's also taking a hard hit against these enemies. They've also relatively ignored her for the most part, so there's something she can do.
"Time to say goodnight!" Kakuzu takes aim at him, water charging from the strange pipe on his arm. He fires.
Elsa throws her hands out sending her ice magic; her power freezes the water in a cave around Naruto. "Naruto, are you okay?"
"Thanks Elsa!"
"Ice magic?" Deidara finally takes notice of the beautiful queen. "Hey, maybe she's that Princess of Heart who lives here!"
"Let's bring her in and find out." Kakuzu approaches her, his eyes focusing on her form.
'Oh yeah, I almost forgot about that!' Naruto draws his Keyblade and throws it Strike Raid style at Kakuzu, but Hidan knocks it aside with ease. Deidara releases several clay birds after Naruto. "Elsa!"
Naruto runs to Elsa's side, pulling her away before Kakuzu could blast her with fire. He then heads towards the exit with her in his arms. He looks down at Elsa, remembering her movement in saving him. A thought then hits him: "Elsa, I think I know how you can use your powers! When you hurt Anna, you began to hate your powers and you hid them right?"
"Yes. I actually did." Before Naruto can follow up, some of the clay birds make it to them. He covers her tightly before getting blasted by the explosions. The shockwaves rock the ice palace until it shatters, leaving both of them falling down a snowy chasm. Naruto tosses her to high land before he descended fully, and hits the snow. Both of them fall unconscious.
…
Naruto hits the ground painfully; he's returned to the Dive. The nine beasts of his platform glow brightly, causing a bright red aura to appear around him. All these negative emotions coming from it; all he can feel is hatred and anger. As his form covers over in dark red chakra, a black spot forms where his heart would be.
What is this power threatening his existence? It takes so much out of him to push it away. He can't accept something this destructive in his heart!
Then, as if a stroke of brilliance, he remembers what he was about to say to Elsa. His training with Yensei would almost go to waste should he not take his own advice.
The red energy around his body slowly seeps into his body. As it does, the black spot shrinks down like a dying tumor. The pain is gone!
"Naruto! Naruto!" Naruto wakes up to the sound of Goofy's voice shouting out in the mountains. He raises his head, buried halfway in snow at the bottom of a cliff. Using Aerora he blows himself upward, and makes quick reactions to jump, flip and catapult himself to the top.
He lands on top of the cliff and proceeds to seek out Goofy. As it isn't snowing anymore, he manages to stumble upon him just near that frozen wall where Anna tried to climb. "Goofy!"
"Naruto!" The two come together, Goofy hugging Naruto to his surprise.
"Whoa, calm down!"
"What? I'm just glad you're okay!" He makes a carefree laugh afterwards.
"You are?" He looks around. "Where are Anna, Kristoff and Olaf?"
"Oh!" Goofy breaks free and points down towards a portion of the forest not covered in snow. "Anna's hair started turning white, so Kristoff took her to see the love experts."
"Huh?" Naruto looks down in that direction. "Why did her hair turn..." It hits him; Elsa must have accidentally struck Anna, and her magic affected her. It's like that time Elsa told him about. "We have to get to Elsa; she can probably undo it if she can-"
"Also!" Through Goofy's interruption, Naruto is forced to stop. "I saw some guys taking Elsa away to Arendelle a while back!"
This brings fear in him. "Were they in black cloaks with red clouds?"
"No. They were in these other clothing." Naruto sighs in relief. "You don't mean Deidara's here is he?"
"He is." A thought then hits him. "Goofy, how did you see that? Didn't you go with Anna and the others?"
"I couldn't do that. I had to make sure you were okay, ya know?" The blond Keybearer's eyes widen. "I mean, I know I kind of left them alone and I didn't want to do that, but I didn't want to leave you alone either! You and I are friends now right?"
Touched, Naruto pats him on the back. "Thanks Goofy!" Though it's short, those words mean a lot through Naruto's lips. After hearing about that thing about the King Naruto was worried they were just using him to help find their king, but now he knows they truly trust and value him as a friend. "Now let's get to Arendelle! Donald's probably tired by now!"
…
Elsa opens her eyes slowly. She sees her location within a dungeon room and slowly panics. Looking out she sees she's in Arendelle prison, from the frozen lake outside the window. Attempting to move, she finds her escaping near impossible as her arms are chained and concealed against the wall. "No."
The door opens, and in steps a nobleman with sideburns almost stretching into mutton chops. "Hans, let me out."
"We can't. I've been given command of Arendelle while Anna is away -" he points at her, "-because you left and did this."
This shocks her. "Didn't... Didn't Anna come back?"
"No; she's still out in the mountains." Hans then hardens his expression. "Look, this can all end. All you have to do is stop this winter."
"I would if I could. Please, let me go." Her fearful look belies any bad thoughts shown on his face. He makes his exit, the worry in her eyes growing with each passing second along with the frost on her chains.
…
Kristoff, Anna, Olaf and Sven slide into Arendelle out of the frozen forest. There they send the freezing princess home, while the iceman and his reindeer return to isolation. At that moment, Naruto and Goofy also return and pass by them.
"Kristoff!" Naruto calls out, stopping for a moment to see to him.
"Naruto." Kristoff looks sadden from what he can tell, but the blond would pick up on that at another time. "Don't worry; Anna's safe. She's with her true love."
"Didn't she get hit by her magic?" asks Naruto.
"Yeah, but Grand Pabbie said that to break the spell she needs to be with her true love. She's in good hands." Kristoff then leaves with Sven, Naruto watching him even as he makes his way over to the castle.
"Are we still going after them?"
"Yeah. I wanna know if Elsa is safe first. Let's split up." The two head inside through separate ways.
Elsewhere in the palace, Anna is guided through with the assistance of her servants, until entering a room with a lit fireplace where Hans awaits. "Anna, you're okay!"
"Hans, you have to kiss me!" She weakly reaches out for him.
"Whoa, what's wrong?"
"We'll give you some time alone." The servants leave out the closed door, giving Hans and Anna time to themselves.
"What happened out there?" he asks her.
"Elsa struck me her magic," she answers, feeling her energy leaving her body.
"What? But you said she'd never hurt you!"
"Not on purpose." Hans leads her to a seat. "She froze my heart. The only thing that can save me is an act of true love."
"True love's kiss?" His lips move closer to meet with hers, an act she wishes for even if she wasn't about to freeze to death. He cuts short just before her, arc words speaking out that shatter her soul saying: "Well, too bad no one here actually loves you."
Shocked, Anna could only watch shivering as he walks over to the window. "Hans, what are you saying? Don't you?"
He pulls over the window curtain. "Remember when I said I had 12 older siblings? As the youngest there's no way in hell I would ever become king, not when they all wanted to sabotage eachother including me. That's when the darkness in my heart called out for help, and she came to me; Maleficent."
"Wh-Who?" Another strand of her hair bleaches.
"She offered me the power of darkness should I assist her in finding those Princesses of Hearts." He raises his hand, revealing a dark aura. Shadow Heartless rise up in the room, along with the eyes of something bigger. "Either I would kill my brothers and take over or I'd just marry into someone else's land, and that's where you two come in."
Anna becomes more worried, especially when the Heartless start putting out the sources of warmth in the room. "There was a good chance one of you was a Princess of Heart, and if you weren't I'd just marry one of you; Elsa was the most preferable being heir but no one was getting anywhere with her. On the other hand YOU-" he points to Anna. "-were so isolated, so desperate for love, that it's no wonder you decided to marry a man you just met! And once we got married I figured having the Heartless cart her away to darkness or even Maleficent would work, and I wouldn't have to dirty my hands.
"But then she doomed herself, and you were stupid enough to go after her." Even as Anna begs him to stop he continues to talk, and the Heartless vanish. "I've seen enough anyway; Elsa can't be a Princess, not when she did all this. And, well, even if it is you, your heart's already damaged." He bends down on one knee before her. "All that's left now is to kill Elsa and bring back summer."
"You're no match for Elsa." He laughs at her threat.
"No, you're no match for her. As if I'm afraid of some little girl who can't even control her godly powers. Really, the only threat I had was that Keyblade kid showing up, but he's probably buried deep in the mountains." Hans then stands tall, cockily chuckling before swallowing to flush his saliva. "Now enjoy your last moments of warmth slipping away from the sister, while I become the hero who saves Arendelle from destruction."
He then steps out, locking the door from his side. Anna reaches out for the door, falling pathetically. Her hair turns completely silver; it's actually pretty on her. "Help."
In the halls of said castle, Naruto rushes about looking for Elsa and Anna. "Wait. Would they put her here or in the dungeon? Dungeon!" With that logic, he seeks out Elsa first going straight for the dungeon.
At that same time, Goofy rummages through the castle until running into Olaf. "Olaf! Where ya been?"
"Oh, Goofy! Have you seen Anna or Elsa?"
"No, not really. I think someone's in here." Olaf pushes on a door. He then takes off his carrot nose and picks the lock with it. "There we go."
Olaf enters the room, and finds Anna alone on the floor in the dark. "Anna!"
"Anna!" Goofy and Olaf get to work supplying the fireplace with wood, before lighting it up. The snowman becomes entranced, never feeling or seeing fire or heat before. "Gawrsh, Olaf you shouldn't be near this."
"Goofy!" The trio look out the door to see Donald stumbling in. "What took you so long?"
"Oh, hey there Donald!" Goofy nonchalantly waves his old friend, who looks peeved.
"Don't 'hey there Donald' me! I got beat up by that guy!" Olaf carries Anna to the fire as they go about yelling. "Where's Naruto?"
"More like, what happened to Hans and that kiss?" Olaf asks.
Anna looks down, ashamed of herself. "I was wrong about him. He... He was a jerk who used me. It wasn't true love."
"But we ran all the way here..."
"Who's the snowman?" Donald finally takes note of Olaf.
"Olaf, you can't stay. You'll melt," Goofy tells him, already forgetting about Donald's question.
"Not until we can find an act of true love to save Anna!" With his declaration he stands beside his new friend. "Any ideas?"
"I don't even know what true love is." Her morbid answer worries the others.
Goofy then comes up with an idea: "Hey, maybe we can ask Kristoff!"
"Huh?" Donald and Anna turn to Goofy.
"Yeah! Love uh..." He drowns off. "Love is... Love is putting someone else's needs above your own right? Like when the King became that monster Julius and fought to save the Queen even though she was frightened of him!"
"You remember that?" This is Donald's input.
"Oh, I get it!" Olaf understands Goofy's explanation, somehow. "Like when Kristoff brought you back to Hans and left you forever, even though it kills him inside."
This realization hits Anna. "Kristoff... loves me?"
"Wow, you really don't know anything about true love do you?" Olaf pushes his drooping nose up. At that moment, the windows opens up. Being at the melting point, the snowman-also wanting some cold to stabilize with-rushes to close it. There he also sees Kristoff on Sven riding in. "Oh hey, look it's Kristoff and Sven! They're coming back this way!"
He remains oblivious to Anna's hopeful eyes as he continues: "Wow, he's really moving. Well, I guess I was wrong. I guess he doesn't love you enough to leave you behind."
Anna tries her hardest to stand. "Guys, I have to get to Kristoff!"
"Why?" Donald and Olaf ask. Anna stares at them-thankfully they're in the same general direction-until they get it. "OH!"
At this moment however, ice begins covering the entire room. Goofy helps up Anna as he, Donald and Olaf run out. The ice also puts out the fire, and the Heartless rise up in the shadows.
Meanwhile, Naruto reaches the dungeon area where a sudden burst of snow and wind hits him. "What the?" He moves faster seeing the halls frost over knowing Elsa is near. As he comes closer, he finds a dungeon room with a big gaping hole leading outside blocked off by ice.
"Elsa." He summons the Keyblade and breaks through, heading out to find the queen. Though he doesn't make it far before coming upon Akatsuki again.
"About time he showed up. Looks like you were right Kakuzu," says Hidan before drawing his scythe.
"Told ya. It's just what I said; some people are just too dumb to live."
Kei: That was pretty good I guess.
Yusei: You guess?
Kei: Yeah.
Yusei:... I miss Manabu.
Lightning: I don't.
Kenshin: Next chapter will be the conclusion of the Arendelle arc. Then we move onto... That's a secret. But anyway in the conclusion, Naruto faces Hidan, Kakuzu and Deidara one final time before acceptance and love come hand in hand saving Arendelle and everyone.