If we were Together: A year has passed since their separation, and Riku and Sora have grown both in size and in mentality. Sora slept in her chamber regaining her memories while Riku watched over her clouded in the gray spaces between light and darkness.
Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. Reality likes to rear its ugly head and drag me away from my writing but since it's Christmas I figured it was time to give my readers a gift. Happy Holidays!
Chapter 10: The worst pirate I've ever seen
The pirates were gaining on them. Despite their miraculous escape from Isla De Muerta there was no time for celebrating. Jack had been left behind, for reasons Will had said that all pirates including Jack weren't to be trusted. They weren't in a fairy tale, and though it left an uncomfortable twist in her chest she'd gone along so they could run. But the pirate's Black Pearl gained on them fast which meant that they would have to either run or fight.
"I wonder what Jack would do." Sora said offhandedly the small group of them cluttered together trying to come up with a plan.
"I'm not sure…" Will admitted tapping his chin. "I think… he'd run for it."
"Sounds good to-" Sora's agreeance was cut short by the ship suddenly being rocked by cannon fire. Will tumbled over the edge Elizabeth crying out and looking down at the water for his form but all she saw was darkness.
"Everyone hit the deck!" Goofy advised his body on the ground hands on his head. Donald didn't hesitate to join him, but Sora's eyes caught the glint of gold… it was one of those Aztec Medallions that Jack had mentioned before. "That must be what the pirates are after..." narrowing her eyes Sora grabbed up the medallion and stuffed it in her pocket. "They'll just have to come and take it!"
She got to her feet and let her keyblade fly free. As the Black Pearl aligned with their ship she stepped a foot onto the canon sending a ball flying free. The pirate ship rocked and waned, but that didn't stop them from boarding. She kept the medallion close beating back any greedy pirate hands that tried to take it from her. Even when one was sneaking enough to slip it from her she beat them over the head until they released the medallion to her grasp again.
She went back and forth from firing off the canons and beating off the pirates that were boarding. She never stopped moving, never stopped fighting. She wouldn't lose! She refused to lose! There was only one pirate left on board, the main ship had stopped firing and was backing off.. and so all that was left was this one man. She unleashed her magic his decaying flesh catching flame and then breaking easily under the brunt of her blade.
"Hooray!" Donald shouted excitedly in celebration.
"We beat the pirates!" Sora agreed doing a little dance.
"Oh did you now, lass?" Barbossa's scratchy voice sent her blood chilling and she whirled around and her eyes widened. Elizabeth and Jack were tied up and the entire pirate crew had somehow boarded as they were busy on celebrating.
"Jack!" She stepped forward to help them, and heard the thudding steps behind… now they were surrounded, did these guys come up in droves?
"Now then," Barbossa stepped forward eying the piece of gold Sora now held in her hand. "I'll be having back that medallion."
"Not a ch-" she cut herself off seeing swords pointed at the necks of her friends and allies. She grit her teeth clutching the medallion close not sure what to do here.
"Barbossa!" Will's voice suddenly shouts and he appears at the edge a pistol in hand he had stolen from one of the men. "She goes free!"
"Go ahead, boy-shoot! We can't die."
"You can't," Will grit his teeth and pointed the gun at himself. "but I can. My name is Will Turner, my father was Bootstrap Bill Turner. His blood runs in my veins!"
The look on Barbossa's face was priceless, but Sora had to stifle some of her own shock and puzzlement. "Aye?"
"On my word, do as I say or I'll pull this trigger and be lost to Davy Jones' locker!"
The man was serious, Sora felt helpless looking between the two gentleman she fisted her hand around the medallion and shook her head. "Don't do this…" she whispered to him.
"Name your terms, Mr. Turner."
"Release Elizabeth, as well as Sora, Donald and Goofy." He waited a beat, his eyes meeting Jack, the pirate Captain looking like "what about me?"
"Anything else?" Barbossa asked.
"Leave, now." He gave no apologies to Sparrow, but his trust in pirates was small at best, and the important part was that Elizabeth and the others were safe.
"As you wish, we shall leave," Barbossa bowed then grinned and lifted his head slowly, "but the heartless stay."
Patty's obnoxious laughter caught everyone off guard. Knocking Will out the heartless spread like a disease across the deck joining the crew. Sora and the others were captured and tied up with the others into the captain's quarters of the interceptor.
"Barbossa you coward!" Elizabeth hollered with disdain.
"That is SO the last time I trust a pirate." Sora wriggled against he ropes trying to summon her keyblade but they were all too close together.
"The Powder kegs are ready captain!" A sailor called from above and had lead dropping into the pit of her stomach.
"Powder kegs? They're going to blow us up!"
"What do we do?" Donald said in a terrified voice.
"Those powder kegs are gonna blow us all to smithereens!" Goofy agreed trying to squirm but Jack stayed still and calm his head bowed forward.
"Why struggle mate? A pirate knows when to surrender." he said it so calmly it scared Sora. She eyed him with her big blues with complete disappointment and fear.
"You can't be serious!"
"Well… your average pirate anyway." He smirked over his shoulder at her his ropes coming undone and he gets to his feet. "We must see to the kegs first, I'm not about to lose this ship."
stuck between confounded and awestruck Sora just pouted as Jack undid her ropes. "I still don't trust pirates."
"Wise policy lass," he pat her head and they untied the rest and quickly went up the stairs. The kegs were smoking heavily ready to blow. Sora didn't hesitate, didn't even bother with the heartless, and quickly smacked away the kegs dousing them into the water.
Donald and Goofy split up taking out heartless with Jack in accompaniment. Elizabeth stayed safe tucked down below deck watching the events with a heavy heart and shaking hands. When it was all over she joined them atop and gave Sora a quick hug.
"Thank you, Sora… but now we've got to save Will! Those pirates will kill him for sure once they have what they want!"
"No problem," she looks to Jack who was quickly making his way to the helm. "We're all clear, Captain!"
"RIght you are…" Jack's eyes narrowed at the distant black ship that was quickly fading from view. "That's the second time I've had to watch that man sail away with my ship… but I'll be having her back soon enough."
Sora had to admit if Jack was anything he was very determined. He knew how to talk, walk, and swindle like a pirate, but the things that made him great were his obvious sense of fun and freedom, and determination. It reminded her of Riku in a small way… and had her cheeks lightly flushing.
"Something wrong lass? You're looking a bit flushed."
"Huh? Oh no it's nothing just warm from the battle." she waved her hand in front of her face and ran to the very end of the ship to watch them come into the secret port of Isla De Muerta.
~Isla De Muerta~
Jack turned to Elizabeth as they came off the interceptor. "You stay with the ship, lass."
"I'll do no such thing! Will could die in there!"
"Trust me, your dear William is fine."
"Ha," she scoffed at him. "I"m not a fool, Jack."
"Then trust me!" Sora insisted stepping forward. ELizabeth met her eager eyes and felt her honest heart. Though she didn't trust Jack, she could put her faith in Sora
"Sora," she looked to her friends as well. "Donald, Goofy, please bring will back to me safely."
Sora winked and gave a thumbs up before patting Jack on the arm and heading into the caves. It seemed Barbossa didn't take any chances this time. He booby-trapped the entire area with hidden men and heartless.
Time was precious and Sora pushed through fighting through the men with a fervor that made even Jack impressed. They fought back to back as pirates circled them in the nook, and combined their powers, her magic and his wits to lure the pirates into the moonlight where they were most vulnerable then used a grenade to finish them off. Jack liked to call it his "Bluff and Boom" attack.
As they made their way into the final nook they could hear Barbossa speaking to his men loud and proud. "Now let's be trying this again. The last of the Aztec treasure has been returned. And now the blood will be repaid to free us from this curse, forever!" He waited a beat. "This time for sure!"
They were out of time, they couldn't plan or swindle so the only thing left was to just barge right in… so she did.
"Ahoy! Treasure Mateys!" Sora unleashed her blade again running right into the room grinning ear to ear ready to rumble.
"It's not possible!" Barbossa claimed in disbelief.
"Not probable," Donald corrected. "We're alive, and we're pirates!"
"Captain Jack Sparrow,"
"Sora!"
"Donald Duck!"
"Goofy, too!"
Unamused by their introductions Barbossa waved his arms motioning his men to crowd around them. "You want to play pirate, eh? Best save your playacting for the nursery! GET THEM!"
They split up each taking down their own band of pirate. Sora made straight for Will remembering her promise to Elizabeth and took down the pirate keeping him captured. "Ha! No more play acting now!" She grinned rubbing her nose a little. Will smiled.
"Thank you, Sora."
"Don't mention it."
"Hey, where's Jack?" Goofy asked. All the other pirates had either hightailed it away or had been defeated, all but Barbossa who was currently matching blades with Jack in a fierce one on one.
"Get him, Jack!" Sora cheered jumping up and down excitedly the sight of a real swashbuckling had her inner child coming out full force. That is… until barbossa lodged his sword right into Jack's chest. Sora let out a gasp and lurched forward but was held back by Will's arm.
"Jack!"
The pirate captain stumbled back staring at the blade. He hobbled back his body stumbling into the moonlight. Sora's shocking grief turned into fits of laughter as she saw the man zombified. Jack admired himself, one hand, and then other other which held the little Aztec coin.
"When did he…" she couldn't hold it back she was grinning ear to ear still in disbelief that he'd pulled that kind of stunt off.
"Show yourself Patty!" Barbossa yelled down in the caves. "The tides have changed!"
"Oh no, not again," Sora turned around seeing the old crone cat with a stupid grin on her face.
"See, I told yah you'd be needing a woman's touch." She whistled and out from the shadows popped a chameleon shaped heartless with an oddly shaped tale. At first it didn't seem like one heartless that size could do much… but as the heartless unleashed its hidden power the open nook became riddled with darkness which meant no moonlight and no weakness on Barbossa's form.
"Shoot! Take it out!"
She gasped as Barbossa's blade sharp and fierce glide across the back of her, the garments protected her some, but she knew even their powers were limited. She wouldn't be able to hold in the pain long before blacking out if this kept up. So she went for the heartless first chasing after it's glowing yellow eyes. Jack did his best to keep Barbossa busy as she did so but even the immortal Jack couldn't keep him busy forever.
Her Blade stabbed into the heartless sending it screaching and the cave became enlightened again. With his weakness exposed Sora quickly whirled around and matched blades with Barbossa beating him back with a swift youthful force and right into Goofy and Jack's opened attacks.
When it seemed as thought the victory was won Patty quickly backed off growling at Sora with narrowed eyes. "this aint over!" She turned tail and ran, as cowards always did.
"Right, care to surrender then, Barbossa?" Jack advised.
Barbossa was overwhelmed by them, too many allies brought together, and no more heartless to come to his aid. Barbossa staggered into the dark where he was safest sneering at them all and lifting his blade to continue his fight. he wasn't about to go down when he could have the advantage.
"Well," exasperated Jack dropped his sword. "Enough of this then." Instead he pulled out his pistol aiming it for barbossa's heart. Barbossa laughed at him holding his arms out daring him to shoot. No bullet could harm him.
When the shot was made Barbossa could only laugh. He hadn't noticed Jack tossing Will his coin, or Will standing over the chest with his own. So when Will called out to him, "laugh while you can Barbossa," and dropped the coins into the chest, Barbossa was caught in the shock of the eruption of feelings pouring through him. He felt the frigid cold of death… and fell back, the caves now quiet with only the sound of dripping water to break the silence.
Battle worn and overwhelmed by the adventure our heroes slowly made their way out of the caves. As soon as they were out into open air the group of them let out sighs of relief. Will was the first to speak as he slowed his walk to a stop. "What now, Jack?"
"Whatever I want now that the pearl is mine again." Jack grinned eying his beautiful ship parked just across the water.
"That she is," caught by his gentleman upbringing Will had to admit that the man saved his life, even with ulterior motives he couldn't have saved Elizabeth or himself for that matter without him. "Thank you, Jack." He goes to stretch out his hand for a shake, the Pirate Captain ducking cover as if expecting to get hit instead.
"I didn't want you hitting me again mate." Jack admitted with some humor causing Will to chuckle. Sora too joined and she stepped forward to say her goodbyes.
"Hey Jack, good luck!" She received a quick pat making her giggle.
"And remember to be good!" Donald added.
"I'm off then!" He waved his goodbyes and turned around. He spotted Elizabeth running for him, thinking that maybe she'd come around he opened his arms to receive his goodbyes from her.
"WILL!" She shouted going right past Jack and into the arms of young William Turner. With a sigh and a shrug Jack continued his walk, oh well wasn't that just a woman for yah?
Sora smiled at Will and Elizabeth's embrace, the two "friends" staring into each others eyes with such warmth and affection. She could quietly picture herself in that position, hugging Riku when they once again meet after their long separation. "Good for them."
"Hey Sora, how come your face is all red?" Goofy asked pointing at her. Sora's eyes widened and she held her cheeks.
"What? It is not!"
"Aww I know who you're thinking about!" Donald teased making her fidget and blush even redder.
"Cut it out, you two! It's not funny!"
~The World that Never Was~
Pluto has been searching for ages now. He'd lost sight of his king, and Riku and now was trying to find Axel who he'd tailing for the past few days. Organization 13 was up to no good, and Pluto felt he needed to do his part.
He paused giving a big doggy sigh and sniff at the air… he stiffened, and His eyes lifted up catching sight of Axel whose scent he's caught out of the air. He made a straight gallop for him skidding across the wet and trailing after Axel. He tried to follow him through the darkness but the portal closed before he could enter.
Letting out a whine Pluto hung his head amditting defeat… but then a whistle caught his ears and he barked and ran for the portal behind him. Mickey greeted Pluto behind the portal with a soft chuckle and whispered low pressing a finger to his lips. "Shhh," he pet him on the head. "Keep following him boy, I've got to take a different path to Hallow Bastion. Riku will lead you through now."
Pluto nodded panting happily and his eyes went straight up for Riku whose face was once again shrouded. Mickey separated from them taking a different path while Pluto and Riku followed Axel's scent through the tunnels of darkness.
~Destiny Islands~
Kairi gave a big heavy sigh as she sat on the beach looking at the little island with a heavy heart. It'd been so long since she'd seen her friends. Sora and Riku had both disappeared from her life, and though she knew they were both alive somewhere she couldn't help but feel so distant and lonely. "Maybe waiting isn't enough."
"My thoughts exactly!" Axel's voice suddenly appeared catching Kairi off guard. She quickly got to her feet looking around and spotted the figure coming out of the darkness.
"If you have a dream, don't wait, act. One of life's little rules. Got it memorized?" Axel looked to this young girl, he could see Namine' in her just as he could see Roxas inside of Sora. It made him laugh a little.
"Who are you?" Kairi asked fearful and curious all at once.
"Axel," he pointed to himself. "I happen to be an acquaintance of Sora's." He needed this girl… he hadn't been able to find Riku, so Kairi was his best bet to luring Sora away. "Why don't we go see her?"
"Sora…" Kairi's eyes widened her hair blowing in the wind and she very nearly took a step toward him. She desperately wanted her friends, she wanted to see Sora, wanted to see her smiling face, hear her laugh.
Pluto's bark snapped her out of her dismay. The dog rushing right to her and making playful circles at her feet. Axel glared recognizing that dog right away. He called forth the dusks to circle them. Pluto growled in defense. Frightened Kairi looked around and backed up, she wasn't sure how far she could run before these guys would catch her.
A sharp whistle pierced the air and another dark hole sprouted behind them. Pluto ran for it, pausing and turning around to bark at kairi, urging her to follow him.
"Kairi please…" Axel fisted his hands. "Don't leave, I need your help. We both have something in common, we both miss someone we care about." He motioned the dusks forward. "We could be friends, if you'd just help me!"
Kairi hesitated a moment but she could feel those creatures coming forward. Narrowing her eyes she made a run for it calling back behind her. "You're not acting very friendly!"
She made a jump into the darkness. The cold caught her by surprise and she let out a shiver and rubbed her arms as the portal closed behind her and Pluto. She looked around seeing a vast void of nothingness surrounding her… but a whistle sirened again calling her forward.
She saw the shimmering light of another portal, not dark and cold but warm and inviting. She stepped toward it, pluto jumping head first, but Kairi lingered. She sensed eyes on her and slowly turned her head and gasped when she saw the cloaked man in the void. "Huh? Ri-" the light closed over her, engulfing her in the brightness.
She awoke from her daze to voices she'd never heard before, and to faces and surroundings all new to her. Yet the warmth emitting from them wasn't darkened, and she felt a sort of familiarity.
"you and that dog came out of a hole in the wall. You nearly gave us heart attacks!" Pence explained smiling down. Hayner, Pence, and Olette of Twilight Town stared down at them completely awestruck at the events.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to. I was trying to get away from this shadowy guy." Kairi got to her feet brushing herself off. "So where am I, what is this place called?"
"Huh? You mena you're not from around here?" Hayner asked.
"Well of course she's not!" Pence explained. "She must be from another world, I've never seen her round here before."
"Don't mind them," Olette held out a hand. "My Name's Olette, you'll be safe here, this is our secret spot. You're in Twilight Town"
"Thanks, Twilight Town, huh?" She looked around a bit. "Say, have any of you ever met a guy named Riku?"
Olette shook her head. "The name doesn't ring a bell, sorry. Is he your boyfriend or something?"
Kairi blushed and shook her head holding out her arms. "Oh no no he's just a friend. One of two I'm looking for." She remembered the cloaked figure and frowned a bit. Maybe she'd been imagining it.
"You said you're looking for two? Who's the other?"
"The other person I'm looking for is my best friend. Her name is Sora."
"Riku and.. Sora?" Pence's eyes widened and he looks to Hayner. "Hey could it be THAT Sora?"
"Well she did say she was looking for a guy named Riku and some King. So that must be her. We know Sora!" Hayner deduced.
"Really?" Her eyes glimmering with hope, Kairi smiled. "Do you know where she went?"
"She took a train out of town, but I'm not sure where she went after that. It's been awhile. You're better off just waiting here with us. She did promise to come back."
"Okay," Kairi smiled and clutched her hands over her heart. "I will!"
I meant to get this out sooner but i got distracted. Sorry! Hope you enjoy it nonetheless!
Chapter 11: Saving Christmas