Den of Villains

Chapter 4

Riku and Aimala lost consciousness during the event. Aimala slowly wakes up and looks around to see where they are. She sees that they are on some worn out ledge in the middle of a canyon that has water all sides of the cliff. However instead of going down like normal water it seems to travel up. There is also a path of ice platforms leading to what appears to be a castle in the distance. Aimala smiles as she knows exactly where they are. Riku slowly wakes up and sees the sight as well.

"Where are we?" asked Riku.

"Home" said Aimala. "More specifically, my home, welcome to Hollow Bastion."

Riku looks around at the sight of the different world. He looks around trying to find Sora and Kairi.

"SORA! KAIRI!" yelled Riku. Aimala looks around but neither one is anywhere in sight. "They must have landed in a different world.

Riku gets a shocked and terrified look. "What?"

"Since we weren't near them, they must have landed in another world aside from this one."

"What world, where?" Riku grabs Aimala by the arms.

Aimala thinks for a minute. "If I had to guess, one of the worlds in between. That narrows it down to about 200."

"TWO HUNDRED!" Riku's grip tightens. "Why did you convince me to do something so dangerous if it meant that Sora and Kairi would be lost?! Why did I trust you?"

"Riku calm down, I can help."

"Help? Look what your help got me? Why would I accept your help?"

"Relax Riku, I'll find them even if I have to go to all 200 worlds myself and check under every rock, I'll find them, just be patient." Riku starts breathing slowly and calms himself down. He lets go of Aimala.

"Okay,"

"Now, first we'll have to talk with my mother. She'll help eliminate a couple of potential places.

"That won't be necessary" said a voice behind Aimala. She turns around and sees a somewhat elderly woman cloaked in all black with horns coming out her head, grey skin, and carried a crystal ball with a green orb at the top.

"Mother" said Aimala. The woman turns to Riku.

"Allow me to introduce myself child, I am Maleficent."

"Maleficent?" said Riku. He takes a couple steps back.

"No need to be shady of us. We may look suspicious by assure you, we have the best intentions for you."

Riku glances at Aimala who nods to Riku. Riku drops his guard. "You'll help find Sora and Kairi?" asked Riku.

"Of course, my daughter did promise to do just that right; we always fulfill our promises." Maleficent turns around. "Let's head inside the castle, Aimala, show Riku around would you?" Maleficent then disappears in a green flame.

"I don't trust your mother" said Riku.

"She takes some getting used to" said Aimala. Aimala turns around and starts walking.

"I don't trust you either" said Riku. "But I have to considering my options."

Aimala takes a side glance at Riku making sure not to face him. "Then I'll just have to earn your trust."

Riku is shocked by this response not expecting her to say that. He smirks a little and follows her as they head to the castle.

The two of them enter the castle which is huge. The main hall alone was a large place with spiral staircases on each side of the room along with a balcony area.

"Amazing" said Riku as he marvels in the structure.

"I see you've returned huh Aimala" said a voice. A young female, about 15 years old dressed in a pirate get up walks up to them. She had on a puffy shirt with a black corset, black skin tight pants and knee high high-heeled boots. She had a patch on her right eye and wore a blue bandana on her head. Her hear was brownish red going to her shoulders and had a sword strapped to her left side. Her good eye was black and she wore a long black coat stopping past her knee.

"Nice to see you, Janis" said Aimala.

Janis looks at Riku. "Who's the new guy?" she asks.

"Riku, he came with me from his previous world. I promised to help him find his friends that were lost in the Corridors between."

"And the princess?"

"No idea"

"A shame, I better get back to the captain, you know how his temper can get." Janis leaves walking thru the western doors."

"Who is that?" asked Riku.

"Janis, she hails from a place called Neverland. Oh and don't be fooled by her age, she's a lot older than she looks, I dare say she may be older than most of the others here."

"Is she a pirate?"

"Yeah, Captain Hook's quartermaster if I recall. From what I hear, she's got a real problem with some kid named Peter Pan I didn't get the full details about that."

Riku looks on and smiles. "Sora would have liked her. He's got a thing for pirates."

Aimala looks at Riku with concern then starts walking towards the east doors. "Come on" she said. Riku follows. The two of them travel down a long hallway until they get to a small door on the side. Aimala opens it. Inside was a small room, with a bookshelf full of books on the left side of the room. There was a small desk on the back wall with a lamp in the shape of a dragon's head. There was a bed on the right side of the wall that looked pretty big.

"You can go ahead and sit on the bed for now" said Aimala. Riku sits on the bed shocked with how soft it is.

"This your room?" asked Riku.

"Yeah, though I haven't really slept in that bed lately."

"This is nice."

"Thanks" Aimala goes to the book case and pulls out a book. The book is called keyblades. Aimala opens it up and starts reading.

"What are you doing?"

"Researching Keyblades, see, according to mother, there's has not been a keyblade wielder in over ten years. You are the first."

"Um…you lost me."

"That giant key you summoned, the silver key with the gold cross guard, that's a keyblade."

"I summoned that?" said Riku in confusion.

Aimala sees the confusion on Riku's face. "Considering that you don't know how you did it the first time, I doubt you can summon it again. That's why I'm looking it up."

There's suddenly a knock on the door. It opens an elderly looking man carrying a staff in the shape of a cobra walks in.

"Father" said Aimala.

The old man looks at Riku. "You must be Riku" he says. "I'm Jafar, Aimala's father."

Riku stares at Jafar then looks at Aimala. "I see."

Jafar turns to Aimala. "Aimala, your presences is needed in the meeting room."

"Okay, be right there" said Aimala. Jafar exits and closes the door.

Riku looks intensely at Aimala. "You don't really look like either of your parents" said Riku.

"That's what everyone says but it's true, they are my parents."

"But compared to them, you look more….beautiful." Aimala's finger twitches and she closes the book. She places it on the desk

"I'd better go see what Father wants before he comes back again. Will you be fine here by yourself?"

"I'll manage"

"Okay then, later" Aimala walks out the room closing the door behind her.

Riku then grabs the book from the desk. "Okay, what are you hiding?" he says.