Disclaimer- I do not own any of the characters from Kingdom Hearts I or II, or Final Fantasy Advent Children

Notes- Ok people... If any of you have been reading this since the beginning, you know by now that my updates are usually pretty spaced apart... weeks, months... so here I am again, back from the seemingly dead, and here you have another chapter...

Chapter 23- Deadly Deal

Sora leaned back and threw one elbow over the back of his chair. "Go on..." he said calmly.

"You want the free will to be returned to Riku and Kairi. What I want, I am about to explain. First I must ask you, who is it you love the most?"

Sora paused. She was setting him up, he knew it. She was going to try to make him choose... so he lied.

"Who do I love the most? A beautiful Arcadian girl by the name of Davina." He bluffed. Was there such a woman? He didn't know. Fleur looked at him oddly, and he gave her a tiny wink to assure her of his plan.

"I see. Davina, you say? So, in return for the free will of the boy and the wench whom I hold captive, you will sacrifice that of your love, Davina. What do you say, your friends or your lover?"

He was surprised that this was working. Hadn't Maleficent realized that he was in love with Fleur?

He hesitated, acting as if it were a hard decision to make.

"I choose..." he faked a choking gulp. "My... my friends." He let his head fall and faked a few sobs.

"Very well then. Bring me this Davina. By the time you have returned with her, your friends will be restored, waiting in captivity for you to retrieve them."

"Yes, I see. I'm glad we could come to this conclusion."

Then he stopped to think. Davina doesn't exist! How will this ever work? What can I do... He realized he hadn't a choice but to take back his friends by force. He saw an opportunity for attack now that Maleficent's guard had been put down. Still gripping the keyblade, he held it behind his back and stepped towards Maleficent, his empty hand outstretched.

"A deal isn't a deal unless there's a hand shake to seal it, agreed?"

Maleficent hesitated, but agreed.

"Agreed." She said calmly. She extended her hand and he grabbed it tightly, taking her by surprise. He yanked her arm over his shoulder and brought her to the ground. Standing over her, he put the keyblade to her throat.

"You bastard!" She breathed heavily, taken very much by surprise. Then her breathing calmed, and she laughed a light chuckle.

"It won't work." She began. "I'll just come back, just like last time."

"Wrong." Sora nearly yelled. "I've learned how to seal you away forever. While we've been in this dark, parallel universe of some sort, I've realized something. We're inside a book. Everything happening is recorded on its pages. I can leave at any time, whereas you don't have the power of the keyblade to do so. I'm not going to kill you... yet. As of now, I hold your life in my hands."

She looked at him oddly, as if begging for an explanation.

"Yes... I could leave here at any time, and lock the book up so you can never leave. If you give my friends their free will back, though, I may be kind enough to let you live in peace somewhere else. Understanding all this?"

She looked up at him. Realizing defeat, she nodded. "This hell I've created inside this book was just for your friends, for means of their suffering... I'd never stay here, not on my life." She stopped here, chuckling at the irony. "I guess I can do nothing but accept defeat gracefully."

Sora smiled at his victory.

"So where shall I be kept?" She sighed.

"Good question. I believe Lyvenn's castle is still uninhabited, correct? I shall allow you to live there, under a few conditions."

"I'm listening." She much enjoyed the idea of residing at such a fine castle as that of Lyvenn.

"First, you will reside there under maximum security, and you will be stripped of your powers so that you cannot leave. I have means by which to do this. But in return, you will be allowed whatever you wish. Restoration of the palace, servants, pets, subjects, whatever you desire. Sound reasonable?"

"Actually, yes. But how will you manage all this?"

Sora turned to Fleur. "With the death of Roselin, Fleur is able to reclaim her title of Princess, and if her parents cannot be found, Queen of the entire region, from Landen to Arcadia. Naturally, there is a fortune accompanying this, and a fraction can be sacrificed for you. So, are we agreed?"

"I believe so. When will I be moved?" She asked.

Sora tickled her throat with the keyblade. "I believe I'm asking the questions. Or rather, giving the orders. Revive Riku and Kairi immediately. Then we'll leave. Unfortunately for you, you'll have to stay here for awhile. That'll be your pay for what you've done. In a month's time, we'll return for you. By then, the castle will be ready. You'll be bound and transported there, then released to live out the remainder of your life in captivity."

"Like an animal!" She gasped.

"Fitting, I believe." He smiled. "As for now..." Sora tapped the ground with the keyblade. An energy wave sprang from its tip and wrapped around Maleficent's wrists, handcuffing her.

"These will wear off in a matter of hours." He moved away from her and took Fleur along with him. "Now, I believe you still have half of a deal to carry out... free them."

"I already have. Go! Get out of my sight! I wish not to see the face of my defeater any longer." She sobbed.

"Nice try. Later, Mallie. Have fun here while I'm gone!" Sora said, now with a new air of gladness and relief about him. "C'mon Fleur, let's go get them." He said, taking Fleur by the hand and turning towards the direction they'd come from.

Notes- Yippee for Sora!!! I'm having fun with this.