Chapter 10: The Land Behind the Wardrobe (doubleux3 . youtube . com/watch?v=Oz7PP0_0q9U)

Memo: JUST LIKE NARNIA!! :D And Destiny Islands...or as Spenser calls it: "destiny's island." :3

*~*~*

The next day, the group walked into another world they had never seen before. Wherever it was, though, it was extravagant. The castle loomed over a bridge that led into a dark forest. But they didn't even get to walk through the forest. They landed at the castle's gates and stepped inside to find it strangely empty.

"Hey, what is this place?" Sora asked. Nexus shook her head.

"I've never been here before either," she answered honestly, looking around. "It doesn't even seem slightly familiar."

"It's huge!" Donald quacked in amazement.

"And sorta gloomy, don't ya think?" Goofy added. He had a point; the entire castle foyer was dark.

"I wonder who lives here," Sora said.

As if in reply, a loud roar sounded through the castle, echoing into the ceiling.

"Hey, does anybody else recognize that?" Goofy asked. Another growl soon followed.

"Hey!" Sora cried in realization. "That's the Beast!"

"The Beast?" Nexus wondered. That's a strange nickname. Wonder how he got it...

"Maybe we should check up on him," Goofy suggested.

"Look!" Sora pointed to the ground, where the others could barely see a shadow Heartless slinking across the floor. It dove into an ajar door.

"C'mon!" Donald urged them, chasing after it.

"Be careful! We don't know what's in there!" Nexus scolded him, grabbing his tail and pulling him back from the door.

Grumbling, Donald poked his head around the door to find a small parlor that was completely devoid of Heartless.

"Where did it go?" he wondered out loud.

Suddenly Donald noticed a large, red rose sitting in the corner of the room. He had never seen anything so beautiful. Its petals were glowing with such a strange light, he couldn't help but walk toward it.

And then the Shadow popped out to greet him.

"Found it!"

But "it" soon became "them" as many more Shadows appeared. Donald looked frustrated.

"Why be worried? They're just Shadows," Nexus said with a shrug. "Want to make it a game? Let's see who can kill the most!"

"What? That's a stupid idea!" Sora shouted, frowning.

"If you don't like it, then don't play!"

Sora shot a look at Goofy, but he was already killing off Heartless, ignoring them completely. Donald, too, was trying to destroy as many as he possibly could, but Nexus was by far the swifter of the two.

"Nineteen, twenty..." she muttered to herself, loading her gun. She would be needing more ammo at this rate.

"Fourteen, fifteen, sixteen!" Donald cried with his thunder spell, quickly catching up.

Nexus' PoV

We'd been fighting Heartless for a while, and while it wasn't difficult, it was frustrating.

"Aw, c'mon!" Sora shouted when another wave popped up. "Enough already!"

"Somebody help us!" Donald shouted.

"You're just saying that 'cause you're losing!" I joked, but he continued to scowl.

Suddenly the parlor doors slammed open, and a horrendously scary-looking animal came in. I turned to Sora, but he looked happy about this. Then it hit me: this was the Beast. He was literally a Beast!

I knew he was on our side when he started wailing away at the Heartless that tried to attack him. Donald and Goofy looked relieved, and Sora--as usual--looked cheerful.

"Just in time!" he cheered, waving at the Beast as he walked by. But the Beast wasn't so kind. Instead he knocked Sora aside--right into me.

"Hey! Watch where I'm going!" I shouted at him, intending to joke, when it hit me that he had just said the same thing. Huh...had I really influenced him that much already? Maybe this journey would be fun after all.

Anyway, the Beast did the same thing to Donald and Goofy, then stopped in front of the rose I had seen earlier. Gently, he picked it up in its glass case, and, cradling it like a child, walked away without a word.

"Gee, do ya think he maybe forgot who we are?" Goofy wondered out loud as we all got up.

"With this many Heartless around, something must be up," Sora agreed.

"Maybe it's the Organization..." I added, frowning in thought. I felt like this place had been mentioned before during my stay with the thirteen.

"Why'd he have to do that?" Donald grumbled, walking out of the room.

After stopping to buy ammo and potions from a nearby moogle, the rest of us joined Donald, who was staring at the staircase before us.

"What is it?" Sora asked him, looking through the dim light.

"I just know I saw a lady at the top of those stairs..." Donald mumbled. Now I looked, too, but I couldn't make out anything through the dark.

"Well... " Goofy started. "If the Beast is here in the castle, that lady musta been Belle, right?"

"Yeah, maybe so," Sora replied. "Belle might know what's happened to the Beast, too."

"C'mon! Let's go find her!"

.........

*~*~*

After fighting dozens of Heartless, the party finally reached the end of the East Wing, where a large door indicated a bedroom. Sora leaned against the wall and put a finger to his lips.

"Shhh!" he shushed Donald, who was being nosy--as usual. Goofy, in response, clamped his hands over his mouth, and Nexus "zipped" hers shut as well.

"What am I going to do?" came a voice through the door. It was definitely a woman. Sora nodded and pointed to the door without a sound. The others nodded back.

"Okay," Donald said suddenly, backing away from the door. He sprinted toward the entrance, intending to blast it open.

"Donald!" Sora shouted in frustration as Donald burst into Belle's room.

"Hey! Who opened the door?" Donald shouted when he landed on the plush carpet.

"Oh, I'm so happy you're here!"

Sweeping Donald up into her arms, Belle squeezed the duck tightly, ignoring his protests.

"Donald! Sora! Goofy!" she cried, looking out into the hallway.

"Hiya!" Sora said, waving. Nexus peered around him to get a look at this girl. She looked...nice. Nice-y nice. Great.

"Put me down! Put me down!" Donald cried. Belle, realizing she was choking him, set him down as the other three walked in.

"Oh! I don't think we've ever met before," Belle said, looking at Nexus.

"We haven't. I'm Nexus," Nexus replied hastily.

"I'm Belle. Good to meet you."

"Same."

"Where's the Beast?" Donald asked when he finally got his senses back.

"Oh, he must be in the west wing," Belle replied, frowning. "We don't talk like we used to."

"Did something happen?" Sora asked.

"Yes. Isn't that why you're here?"

Everyone looked at Sora, who shrugged. This world was simply one of many on their list of places to go. There was no way they could've known there was conflict.

"Not exactly," Goofy answered for him. "But we can still help!" Donald and Nexus nodded in agreement.

"Since we're here and all," Sora added.

"The Beast won't talk to you?" Donald asked, refocusing the subject.

"He's been acting strange lately," Belle responded, hugging herself. "The only ones who might know why are locked up in the dungeon. I want to help them, but..."

"Wait a second," Sora interrupted, exchanging disturbed looks with Nexus. "Who locked who up?"

"The Beast locked up his servants," Belle explained.

"But why?" Donald quacked.

"That's what I don't know."

"Hmm." Sora lowered his head in thought. This sounded like their kind of job. "Where's this dungeon?"

"You can get to the undercroft from the west hall. The dungeon is down there."

"West hall. Got it."

"I like how you didn't even ask us if we thought it was a good idea," Nexus muttered quietly. Sora grinned.

"Too bad, you have to come anyway. Aren't you the one protecting me?"

"You have to protect Sora?" Belle asked. Nexus nodded. "That must be enjoyable."

Nexus noted the sarcasm in her voice and grinned.

"I make it fun."

Belle grinned back, and Nexus decided that maybe Belle wasn't so bad after all.

.........

"There should be a way into the undercroft around here..." Sora mumbled, looking around.

"Down there, look!" Nexus whispered, pointing.

"It's just a wardrobe," Sora grumbled as they walked toward it.

"Why is it not in a bedroom, then? It's hiding something."

Sora frowned in thought. Nexus had a very valid point.

Gripping the sides of the wardrobe, he began to push it aside.

"Told you!" Nexus cried.

"Here it is!" Sora gasped, shocked.

"Do you MIND!?"

To everyone's utter amazement, the wardrobe--which now had a fully animated face--moved back in front of the door and fell asleep. But Sora was determined, so he slowly moved her away so as not to wake her. When she was completely out of the way, she woke up again.

"And I was just starting to get comfortable..." the dresser grumbled. "May I help you?"

"Huh? What?" Sora stuttered, stunned. "Oh, right--Belle needs us to go to the dungeon."

"Goodness! You're here to help my friends? Well, why didn't you say so?"

Sora didn't respond; how could he without being rude?

The wardrobe went on to explain how she was once human, and so was everyone in the castle at one point, even the Beast. In fact, he was actually a prince. Supposedly a spell was cast over them, but the wardrobe refused to tell them more.

When the party figured they'd heard enough, they continued into the dungeon, only to meet a powerful Heartless. They all had faced worse, though, and the Heartless was dead and gone in no time. Soon, the four were standing in the deepest part of the dungeon, surrounded by household furniture.

"There's nobody here," Sora said, disappointed.

"Except fine decor," Nexus pointed out.

"You mean there's nobody to rescue?" Donald whined. Sora sighed in response, disappointed. Was this not the dungeon after all?

"Did someone say 'rescue'?" came a voice thick with an accent. The four whipped their heads around, but no one was there.

"Shhh! Keep quiet," shushed another. "It might be THEM."

"Oh, they look like nice kids to me," a kind woman's voice responded. Nexus sighed.

"I am definitely not a kid, yo," she shouted into the air.

"Ignore her!" Sora shouted back.

"We are nice," Goofy added, ignoring the two. "We're your friends."

"Yeah," Sora agreed, coming to a sudden realization. "Belle sent us to find you."

Suddenly the "fine decor" came to life, just like the wardrobe had earlier. A clock, a candlestick, a teapot, and a teacup hopped off the chairs and boxes and came to greet the group.

"I'm Sora," he said, gesturing to the others. "Nexus. Donald. Goofy."

Suddenly Donald dove for the clock, scaring everyone else.

"...D-don't touch!" the clock shouted in protest as Donald fiddled with him. "I-I am self-winding, sir!"

"I'm glad you're okay," Sora said to the candlestick, ignoring the duck.

"It is we who are overjoyed to see you!" it exclaimed in rapture.

"What are your names?" Nexus asked.

"I, mademoiselle, am Lumiere. That fine clock is Cogsworth, and this is Mrs. Potts and her son, Chip."

"You're really pretty!" Chip cried, hopping into Nexus' hand.

"Thank you." She grinned.

"Did somebody put a spell on you guys, too?" Goofy asked.

"Yes, that's right! You've heard! It was the enchantress," Cogsworth responded, still being tampered with.

"It seems so long ago..." Lumiere murmured. Chip hopped down and over to his mother.

"It was a cold winter's night..." Mrs. Potts began. "An old beggar woman came to the castle, and asked for shelter."

Nexus' PoV

Later, after the enchanted servants told us their story, we escaped the dungeon using the "shortcut." It really wasn't a significant difference at all...in fact, it might have even been longer. Either way, the servants were really nice. It was obvious they wanted their humanity back. I could relate.

"This is it," I said when we reached the end of the West Hall.

"Correct," Cogsworth whispered, peering in through a crack in the door. "Come, quietly! Someone is there!"

We all poked our heads through the door, listening closely. There was a man in a black coat there--definitely an Organization member. But which one could it be? It was too hefty to be Axel, that was for sure.

"It's time you dealt with Belle," the member said. I stifled a gasp. Xaldin... "She's scheming to take everything you have. This castle, your precious rose. And then--your life." He paced around the Beast, who was staring at his precious rose. "Trust no one. Feed your anger! Only anger will keep you strong."

"I've had enough of strength," the Beast retorted, though sounding a bit sad. "There's only one thing I want--"

"What? To love, and be loved in return?" You know, maybe the Beast and I had a lot in common. We both loved someone we didn't think could ever love us back. Though he certainly was better off than I. "Who could ever love a beast?"

As the Beast roared, Sora pulled me inside the room. I blinked. That happened fast.

"See? She has accomplices, and there are traitors amongst their ranks," Xaldin sneered when we entered. I growled. Calling me a traitor, yes, I understood. Calling Sora one? No, not when he didn't even know about Roxas.

Sora, however, ignored Xaldin.

"Hey, Prince!" Sora exclaimed cheerfully, approaching his beastly friend. Haha, pun.

That might've been the wrong greeting to give, because the Beast only roared loudly in our faces.

"Oh dear! Master!" Cogsworth cried, quaking. But the Beast ignored him and swiped at us, ready to fight.

"Just try knocking him into his senses," I told Sora calmly.

"Easier said than done, you know," he replied, grimacing.

*~*~*

"Cogsworth...what happened?" the Beast grunted as he finally came to his senses. It took a lot of throwing him around to do so, though, Nexus realized.

"Well, Master...ah, you see...that is..." Cogsworth stuttered, unable to phrase it nicely. "How shall I say...ah, actually...mmm..."

"You locked up all your servants in the dungeon," Nexus finally stated. There was no point in euphemism now.

"I did what?" the Beast gasped.

"Ah...you did!" Cogsworth replied. The Beast lowered his gaze to the floor, saying nothing.

"Who was that guy you were talking to?" Sora then asked, changing the subject. "The one in black?"

"Xaldin...that's his name," the Beast answered. "He came from the darkness... He...used my anger to control me. He took all my sorrow, my sadness, my pain--and turned it all into rage." He looked at his clawed hands helplessly. "There was nothing I could do... I could no longer see the truth."

Oo, he would... Nexus thought, fuming.

"Well, I'll be," Goofy suddenly said. "That must be why you threw all of your friends down there into the dungeon. You wanted to make sure that you didn't hurt 'em, right?"

"Was that it? Was it to protect them?"

"Sure. We know you're good inside."

"He's right, Master," Cogsworth agreed. "We've all seen how kind you can be. After all... Belle can see the goodness in your heart, but I'm afraid you've yet to--"

"Belle!" the Beast exclaimed, his eyes widening. He then sighed, shrinking back down. "I've mistreated her... I've mistreated her and been so selfish."

"She didn't say anything about that," Sora assured him.

"She'd never tell anyone of my cruelty... She's too good."

"You see, I'm afraid he judges himself far too harshly," Cogsworth murmured to Sora.

"Why don't you just go talk to her?" Sora suggested.

"But--"

"No excuses! C'mon, we'll go with you."

"For really real now?" Nexus muttered impatiently. She was growing tired of running all over the castle.

But it was for real, and so the group headed off to Belle's room, while Cogsworth joined up with his fellow servants. The Beast was a fair fighter, using his brute strength to knock out enemies in a single hit. But he grew tired easily; Nexus figured it to be because of his low spirits. Xaldin could've had that effect on him.

"Master!" the Wardrobe cried when the party entered the room. Belle was not there.

"Everybody's safe now," Donald told the Lady Wardrobe. She smiled, beaming.

"Wonderful! Thank you!"

"Where is Belle?" the Beast asked, wanting to get to the point.

"Why, she left in a hurry," the Wardrobe responded. "Something about going after this...man in black."

"WHAT!?" the master roared. "Why doesn't she do as she's told?"

"Now we have to go looking around even more?!" Nexus groaned, slumping over. "I'm soooo hungry!"

"Temper, temper!" the Wardrobe tsked. "Her spirit is what makes Belle so special."

"We'd better go find her!" Sora said to his friends. So they left the room and headed down the stairs to the entry way.

"I'm warning you! You'll be sorry!" shouted a familiar voice. It was muffled, though, so she must've been behind closed doors.

"Belle! Where are you?" the Beast roared.

"Beast! Help! I'm in the ballroom!" she cried.

Sora sprinted over to the large doors, flinging them open as fast as he could. Sure enough, there was Belle, running across the ballroom floor.

"Belle!" the Beast shouted, sounding relieved and still a bit concerned.

"I'm all right!" she cried, dashing behind the balcony's glass doors. Just as she locked, a huge Heartless flew down. Large chains dangled from its round body, clinking as it bounced through the air. Suddenly it sensed the others and decided it might be better to change targets.

"Uh-oh..." Nexus murmured, loading her gun.

The Heartless flew down into the floor, and the scenery changed into a poisoned, dark room fit only for creatures of darkness. The ceiling's chandelier came crashing down to the floor. Sora used the oppotunity to use the Heartless' surroundings against it.

It was easily defeated, but just as they thought the fight was over, the Heartless evolved into a larger, more formidable foe.

"It looks like a doggy!!" Nexus squealed, running after it. "Come baaaack! Come baaaack! I want to ride you, big puppy!!"

Slapping his hand to his forehead, Sora knew that Nexus was probably going to try something really reckless. And sure enough, soon she was riding on the back of the invisible-turning creature, shooting it in the head to try and slow its movements. Sora and the others caught up quickly and beat the shit out of it until it roared in defeat. The ballroom reverted back to normal instantly.

"We did it!" Sora cheered, pumping his fist in the air.

"So you think."

Everyone's head whipped around to see Xaldin standing on the ballroom's balcony, still hooded.

"Xaldin!" the Beast roared, running toward him, Sora right behind him.

"Farewell," the man said, disappearing inside a dark portal.

"What does he want here?" the Beast growled, turning to Sora.

"He must be with Organization XIII," Sora replied. "Ever heard of the Nobodies? When a strong-hearted person turns into a Heartless, a Nobody's created, too. See, the Organization...they've got control of all the Nobodies."

"That's right," Goofy said. "And they were gonna make you into a Heartless. That way, they could get that Nobody of yours and have control over it." Sora pointed at Goofy as if to say, "He's got it!" and nodded.

Nexus pouted. "There's more to them than just that," she insisted, but no one paid any attention.

"You're alright!" Belle cried, running across the ballroom, the servants following her.

"Belle!" Beast sighed in relief, meeting her halfway.

"Belle..." The Beast looked genuinely nervous, despite Belle's calm visage. "I-I'm sorry--I...wasn't myself. I hope I haven't done anything to hurt you." Belle smiled, which made the Beast mirror it. "Forgive me."

"I know you weren't yourself. You don't have to apologize. But I had hoped...that you might have changed a little bit," Belle scolded him, wagging a finger. "I wish you could start trusting me."

Folding her arms across her chest, Belle frowned at the ground. The Beast looked as though he'd been slapped.

"Oh, I am afraid time is running short," Lumiere murmured.

"What do you mean?" Sora asked, leaning toward the candlestick.

"Remember the rose?"

"From the Beast's room?" Donald asked.

"Precisely," Cogsworth replied. "You see, if the master can learn to love, and earn love in return, before the last petal falls..."

"...the spell will be broken," Lumiere finished, his voice low with excitement.

"Really? You think he's gonna make it?" Sora said, sounding doubtful.

"We think so," Mrs. Potts answered, nuzzling her son, Chip.

"Yep, I think you're right," Goofy agreed.

"I HOPE you're right..." Sora said with a grimace.

"Me too," Nexus added, nodding. "He needs all the help he can get."

Suddenly, Sora's keyblade sprung into his hand.

"Another gate!" Nexus gasped happily. She was ready to be moving on.

After the gate was opened, Belle and the Beast rejoined the group.

"What happened?" the Beast asked.

"The gate is open!" Donald cheered.

"Do you have to go?" Belle asked.

"Yeah," Sora replied.

"Now, no more arguin', okay?" Goofy teased the two. Belle glanced at Beast, who glanced back and looked away nervously.

"We'll see to it," Lumiere assured them, bowing.

"Take care, dears," Mrs. Potts said.

"You're welcome here anytime," Cogsworth added.

"If you hear anything about Riku or the King, the Heartless, the Organization--anything at all--let us know!" Sora exclaimed. Belle and the Beast nodded. "Okay, gotta go!"

The four waved goodbye before heading to the ship.

"Bye bye!" Donald said, and they turned to set for another world.

Nexus' PoV

"Huh?" Goofy said when we started the ship. It lurched and started to move, but...Sora wasn't driving!

"Hey, wait a minute..." Sora murmured, surprisingly calm. "Is the ship moving all on its own?"

"Yup! Looks like we're headed toward Hollow Bastion," Goofy exclaimed. I groaned.

"Nope, not doin' it," I declared, heading to my bunk. "You guys go--I'm taking a nap."

Before any of them could protest, I slammed the door shut and flopped onto my bed.

It wasn't that I didn't want to go to Hollow Bastion. Truthfully, I didn't want to go anywhere. I felt trapped. Time was steadily running out. I could feel myself growing weaker. It couldn't end badly.

I grabbed my notebook and colored pencils out from under my bed and got to work.