A/N: I realize that the last chapter was superbly short and I am really sorry. Dx So who is totally excited that Pirates Three is coming out? I'm thrilled. This chapter took too long to get up. x.x It's because I have no ideas for this chapter, yet I'm almost finished with chapter nineteen. xDD By the way, I realize at the end of KHII that Beast is turned back into Prince Adam, but for the purposes of easier fighting, the spell has not yet been broken. x3
Disclaimer-I only own the plot and my OC's!
The girls introduced themselves during the short walk from the Ballroom to the east wing, where they entered a large, ornate bedroom. The balcony had a perfect view, and the full moon's light spilled inside, rendering the need for other light useless. Pushed against the right wall of the room was a canopy bed, and, adjacent from it, was a wardrobe. At first, the wielders thought it was just a regular closet and were more than a little surprised when the wardrobe opened her eyes and spoke.
"Belle," began the wardrobe in an anxious voice, "I thought that you and Master were having a special night tonight?"
Belle smiled reassuringly. "We are, don't worry, Armoire, but we have some unexpected guests." The wardrobe turned around, apparently just noticing they were not alone in the room.
"Hello." Though they were, at first, unsure of how they should react to a talking wardrobe, they decided they had seen odder things in their time.
Belle introduced them. "Armoire, this is Princess Kairi, Princess Keira, and Naminé."
"Nice to meet you, Armoire," they greeted in perfect unison.
"It's nice to meet you all as well," replied Armoire, watching the three girls lay several gowns down on Belle's bed. The wonderful thing about magic was the ability to move something like a dress from one location to the next. "So, Sora must be here, hm? At any rate, I hope you ladies have fun." With a knowing smile, the wardrobe retreated back into her corner of the room.
"You can change behind there, and I'll help you with the rest." Belle gestured to a dressing screen on another side of the room and, nodding, they grabbed their dresses and moved to change.
XxX
In their time of standing and waiting, Beast was becoming remarkably bitterer. "Tonight was supposed to be a special night." He, Roxas, Sora, and Riku were standing in the West Wing, having just returned from checking the dungeons for any sign of Maleficent, her lackeys, or Heartless.
Riku glanced at the Beast. "We came to warn you anyway," he reminded, "that Maleficent might come for Belle with her army of Heartless, Nobodies, and, possibly, Organization members."
Beast nodded in reply. "It's fair enough; it's not as if you've invited yourselves to stay anyway." Sora smiled at the Beast's unspoken words: 'I wouldn't have had you stay.' "It's useful that you're here, so if that witch comes, there will be more to fight against her."
XxX
The girls had to admit to themselves that they looked quite good as they stared at their reflections in Belle's floor length mirror, all quite pleased with the dresses Flora, Fauna and Merryweather had made for them. Kairi's dress was quite fitting for her, a strapless pink ball gown with heart-shaped rhinestones flowing down the left side of the skirt. Belle tied the magenta ribbon behind her back as Kairi gazed at the magenta heart on the chest. Keira's strapless dress was certainly interesting and also fit her quite well. It was completely black with a red ribbon stretching down the chest and crossing with another red ribbon that tied around her back. Hers was a little heavier than Kairi's for it had a second layer of veil-like material over the silk skirt. Naminé's silky white evening gown was much more practical than the other two. Like the other two dresses, hers flowed outward at the hips, though not nearly as much as Kairi's. The skirt had diamoned-shaped star rhinestones running down the left and right sides. For once, she wore a necklace, a sparkly white collar.
"I'm so glad that the faeries made us extra clothing, and these dresses," remarked Kairi as she grinned at her reflection.
"They're beautiful," agreed Belle. "Now, do you three want me to do your hair for you?"
Kairi fetched her brown pouch off of the bed and pulled out a pair of pink chopsticks. "Can you put my hair into a bun with these?"
'How practical!' thought Keira as she gazed at her long hair with disdain, 'Anything to put my hair back probably would have been a good idea; I should have gotten something back at the Radiant Garden...'
Belle took the chopsticks into her hand and smiled. "I'll see what I can do."
XxX
About a half an hour later found Riku, Roxas, Sora, and Beast back in front of the ballroom doors with the only one looking appropriate for the night being Beast in his formal outfit. Roxas was just about ready to mutter something about how long it took girls to get ready when Belle descended the staircase, his jaw dropping as Naminé followed. Sora had about the same reaction at the sight of Kairi. Even Riku stared in surprise at Keira, though he had enough self-restraint to only allow his eyes to widen.
Beast moved to the front of the group, holding out his hand to Belle as she met him at the door. She gladly took his hand and they entered the ballroom first. Roxas, although he was still in some shock, quickly did the same with Naminé, then Sora with Kairi, who giggled at him. "You're such a gentleman." She grinned, if not a little teasingly, as they entered the golden ball room. Riku followed the others' actions, only his movements were much more fluid than Sora and Roxas.
He smirked in a half-mocking way and bowed to Keira before drawing up to his full height and holding out his arm. Keira laughed, rolling her eyes as she took his arm; it was almost easy to forget about the events of the past week or so as they entered the gigantic, ornate room. Beast proved to be the leading example for the rest, for, what he did, the others did. They gathered in the center of the room and, despite not having music, placed their hands in the correct positions to start dancing.
"So, do you know how to dance, or should I lead?" whispered Keira with a teasing grin.
Riku snorted. "Of course I know how to dance, I'm just no good at it."
"Sure," was all Keira said with a knowing smile as Riku moved first.
All in all, it was an enjoyable night, and Keira had more fun dancing with Riku than she had expected. Of course, that could have been due to the fact that the two of them whispered things to make the other embarrassed. Whereas Sora, Roxas, Kairi and Naminé seemed to be nervous, Riku and Keira were completely comfortable. Though, admittedly, Keira's mind continuously returned to her conversation with Kairi at Eric's castle.
Though they did not detect it, they were not the only ones in the room. Quince picked up on the feelings between Riku and Keira immediately from where he jealously watched from the top of the chandelier. Of course, he tried to convince himself that the feeling was not jealousy, but he had a difficult time convincing himself of what it was. 'Do not get emotionally attached, my dear,' Maleficent had told him, 'You are to get the three princesses and bring them to me. Do not screw this up.'
'Screw up, yeah, right.' Quince thought as he continued to glare below. "Well, I think they'll have fun with a blast from the past." He snapped his fingers and darkness fell over the room.
"What happened?" gasped Belle as she stared around the room, which was now lit by an eerie indigo light. Sora released Kairi's waist and summoned Fenrir. Oblivion and Bond of Flame appeared in Roxas' hands as he half-heartedly took his hands off of Naminé. Riku gently released Keira, called Way to Dawn, and took a few steps backward. He glared at the barely visible black figure upon the Chandelier.
"Show yourself!" ordered Riku as Quince nodded from above.
Quince smirked. "Well, he didn't specify who. As you wish, Riku," He snapped his fingers and disappeared into a portal while a distant roar sounded and took Quince's spot on the chandelier; its weight alone was enough to send it flying toward the ground. Beast grasped Belle's wrist and pulled her away, Sora pushed Kairi on the ground and covered her protectively, and Naminé summoned a portal that took her and Roxas a few feet away.
Keira, in her rush to summon Shadow Heart, looked up just as the Chandelier was a few feet from crashing. A few from crashing right on top of her.
Naminé gasped in horror and screwed her eyes shut. She held out her hands and concentrated. When they reopened, she was relieved to see that the chandelier had stopped along with everything and everyone except Keira, herself, and Roxas. Keira had closed her eyes and covered her head, so she was surprised when Roxas shouted, "Keira, move!" Naminé was having trouble freezing time for long periods due to the fact that she no longer seemed to be a Nobody. As ordered, she quickly ran out of the way just as time unfroze and the chandelier clattered to the floor with a large beast on top of it; it was faintly reminiscent of a large dog-type creature and it had long and flowing orange hair, its claws dangerously long and sharp.
"Belle, get out-" Beast needn't finish his sentence, for Belle was already closing the balcony's door behind her. Chain of Memories appeared in a flash of light as did Atlantica's Secret (A/N: Kairi's Keyblade from Ariel.)
"What is that?" asked Keira, staring at the growling creature.
"Dark Thorn," answered Roxas, "A Heartless."
"Maleficent must be running out of new ideas," mused Sora.
Roxas nodded. "Unless she summoned it to take care of us and it just decided that it liked the Ball Room best."
"Can't blame it there," decided Kairi, grinning, as she raised her weapon.
Riku shot an amused look at her and her large dress. "Kairi, there's no way that you can run in that dress; you either, Keira." Both girls frowned.
"You don't mean to send us outside too, do you?" Kairi asked, glaring slightly at her childhood friend.
Riku simply nodded. "Yep, go before this thing decides to attack." Kairi and Keira looked like they very much wanted to reject the idea, but could also accept that their dresses would make it impossible to fight.
"Fine," Both girls sighed in defeat as they picked up their dresses and ran outside to join Belle.
"Ready Naminé?" Roxas asked the other blonde. She smiled and nodded, proud to, for a change, be the one who could fight.
"Definitely."
The battle started out simple enough. The Dark Thorn ran around the Ball Room and all they had to do was run after it and slash away. However, since the beast was so fast, a lot of running was involved to catch up. Although the battle started off easily, it became very hard very quick. Dark Thorn jumped upon the chandelier once again and Riku and Naminé, who mistook this as the creature was resting, were yanked back by Sora and Roxas.
"What was that for?" demanded Riku , a light glare directed at his best friend.
Sora rolled his eyes. "It's not sitting on there just for the fun of it, watch." Dark Thorn spun the chandelier around proving that had Naminé and Riku stayed there, they probably would have been unable to fight afterwards. Riku mumbled a begrudging thank you as Sora grinned and pounded his chest.
XxX
"I'm sorry about tonight," apologized Belle from her spot beside Keira, leaning against the balcony's railing.
Kairi was standing by the doors, watching the battle with increasing concern. "It's just a good thing that we're here. I don't think Beast would do so well against that thing by himself."
Belle sighed, "You're probably right."
At the top of the castle, looking over the three girls, was a man dressed in a black cloak. His face was concealed by the black hood, but he had several lances floating around him. "Let's see if I still have it in me." The lances pointed themselves at the balcony, as a lethal (and quite visible) amount of wind engulfed them. "Go!" Almost as fast as the speed of light, the lances assailed the balcony, hitting it with such power that the cement began to crack. The lances returned to the man in black just as he disappeared into a black portal that suspiciously resembled Naminé's.
Belle, Keira, and Kairi whirled around. The lances had hit so quickly that they hadn't been sure what caused the crack in the center of the balcony. Keira's eyebrows furrowed together and then her eyes widened. "Oh, great," she muttered, a beat too late, as the half of the balcony that she and Belle were standing upon separated from Kairi's half and hurled downward, towards the dark forest below.
Kairi's nearly flung herself over the edge in attempt to reach one of them, but she was much too late.
XxX
Sora and Roxas stood below the chandelier, which had flung back to the ceiling, as Dark Thorn came into sight. "Ready?" Roxas asked; Sora nodded. Both launched up toward the chandelier and latched onto it. Then, it shot down and hooked Dark Thorn, whirling around a few times before throwing the Heartless against one of the walls. Roxas felt dizzy as he jumped off of the chandelier and wobbled.
Dark Thorn became invisible and rampaged around the room, not for the first time. This time, Naminé knew what to expect. She agilely ran toward it and jumped to slash at it with Chain of Memories. Just as Riku and Sora were prepared to unleash their final move, several lances impaled the Dark Thorn, and it disappeared completely. Roxas stopped in his tracks, whirling around to find the source of the lances standing on the second floor of the room just as Kairi ran inside.
Sora met her halfway, and she doubled over, stitches in her side. "What's wrong, Kai?"
"Sora! Belle and Keira... It was terrible! Lances shot down and sliced the balcony in half!" She replied between breaths. Sora's eyes widened and he, too, looked where Roxas was looking... but there was no one there. "They probably fell into the forest."
The Beast looked both angry and fearful, "The forest?"
XxxxxX
-Radiant Garden-
"Can't we come with you?" asked Denzel, arms folded across his chest as he frowned up at Tifa and Cloud. They, along with Marelene, were standing below the computer room in the area where Heartless had once been created.
Tifa shook her head. "There's no way; it's too dangerous out there. You two are safe here."
XxxxxX
"We better get going," suggested Roxas before turning to Naminé. "Naminé, maybe you should stay-?"
"Here?" The deep voice of a man finished. Moments after he spoke, a man dressed in a dark cloak appeared a foot or two behind Naminé.
Roxas' quickly placed himself between Naminé and the stranger as he snarled, "Xaldin!"
"Xaldin?" repeated Sora, standing in front of Kairi. Riku swore.
Xaldin let out a booming laugh as he flicked off his hood, "Riku! How nice to see you out of the darkness. And Sora, it's nice to see you again." His expression turned frighteningly angry for a second, and then softened as he stared at the 'Key of Destiny,' "Thirteen, nice to see you."
"I only wish I could say the same," replied Roxas, tightening the grip on the keyblades until his knuckles turned white.
A/N: 6.9.09: Oh, Quince, way to ruin a moment! This one was fun to edit; I had flashbacks to when I was writing this in my study hall freshman year. x3 No big edits in here, name aside.
Old note: Finally I have this chapter finished. I combined two chapters into one, so be happy. The short part with Radiant Garden was, yes, short, but necessary for the plot's sake. Yesh. Xaldin is back. Muahahah. Read and review and have a good Memorial Day, guys! See you next chapter.