Last time found Kairi arriving into the world of Sword Art Online, specifically the VRMMORPG world of Alfheim Online. Stricken with amnesia, she's befriended Kirito and Asuna. 'Nuff said, on with the show!
Chapter 2: The Uncertainty Principal
"Something tells me that you're no player," said Kirito, "and I'm starting to doubt that you're a faulty A.I."
At that Yui gasped in surprise and shock, "she's neither! She's…but it's impossible! It just can't be!"
"What's impossible?" Asuna asked, "Yui-chan, what's wrong with Kairi?"
"She's real," said Yui, "she's flesh and blood."
"Well, I hope I'm flesh and blood," said Kairi, "I don't feel like a ghost."
"I mean you're truly here, inside cyberspace," said Yui, "you're not just playing through a Full Dive system. Your body is actually here in New Aincrad!"
"Impossible!" exclaimed a nearby player.
"I just said it was impossible," said Yui.
"Well, I emphatically agree," said the other player, "there's no way she can actually be here, the technology doesn't exist!" The player stepped out of the crowd to reveal herself. She was about 23 with long black hair tied in a bun and secured with long pins. She wore a red and black dress and jacket that would fit right in with mid 1880's fashion with a matching red and black hat, while over her shoulder was a matching red and black purse. Her greenish blue eyes were behind horn-rimmed glasses and she carried an elaborately crafted umbrella over her shoulder.
"The Uncertainty Principal prevents a human being from truly entering cyberspace," said the girl in the red and black outfit.
"What's the uncertain principal?" another girl asked. This one was about 19 with shoulder length blond hair and blue eyes. She wore a green blouse and skirt with stockings and running shoes, while belted around her waist were several wooden stakes and leather pouches. Around her neck was a silver crucifix and belted across her back was a sword.
"That's 'Uncertainty Principal," said a third player that stepped forward, this one belonging to a man in his late 20's with short brown hair, gray eyes and wearing Roman-style armor over a brown shirt and pants with boots. Sheathed at his waist was a Roman gladius, while in one hand he carried a pila, a Roman throwing spear, while his other hand held a large, rectangular shield called a scutum.
"You're familiar with the Uncertainty Principal?" the girl in the red and black dress asked.
"Anyone who knows basic physics knows the Uncertainty Principal," said the man in roman armor.
"Well, would you mind explaining it to those who didn't take Physics 101?" the blonde girl asked.
"It basically means that the more you observe an object, the harder it is to determine its speed and location," said Asuna.
"In a nutshell, yes," said the girl in the red dress, "it especially applies to molecules and atoms. If you observe and record an atom's momentum, you'll find it more difficult to observe its position in space, and vice versa. It is this Uncertainty Principal that makes technology such as the Transporter from Star Trek impossible."
"What's Star Trek?" Albion asked.
"What!?" exclaimed Xenophon, "you don't know what Star Trek is? At least tell me that you know what Star Wars is."
"Uh…no," said Albion, while Trillian shook her head.
"How can you not know what Star Trek and Star Wars are?" Xenophon asked, "Don't you kids watch TV and movies anymore?"
"Of course we do," said Trillian, "I've just never heard of Star Trek or Star Wars."
"Me neither," said Albion.
"Kids these days," said a slightly exasperated Xenophon, "they don't know what they're missing. When I was a kid, everyone knew about Star Trek and Star Wars."
"We were talking about how Kairi's being here in the flesh is an impossibility," said the girl in the red dress, "oh, sorry. My name is Beatrice Lancaster, and this is my first time visiting Alfheim Online."
"You've from one of those steampunk games, right?" Kirito asked.
"'Victorian Noir,'" said Beatrice Lancaster, "a game that focuses on investigation and puzzle solving. I'm a private investigator, specializing in bizarre murders and thefts."
"I was never into noir," said the man in roman armor, "'Grand Warfare Online,' where one can experience ancient and medieval battles in real-time on massive scales, now there's a game. I am Felix Claudius Lucianus, Legate of the 121st Legion of Neo Rome, and this too is my first visit to ALO."
"Well, I've been visiting ALO ever since it was possible to crossover between games," said the blonde girl, "call me Mercedes, Vampire Slayer, from 'Sunnydale Online.'"
"Oh, that's the one based on the works of Joss Whedon!" said Asuna.
"Uh-huh," said Mercedes.
"That's a platforming game that utilizes hand to hand combat against vampires and other things that go bump in the night," said Xenophon, "where as my game, 'Forgotten Realms Online,' draws its inspiration from the world created by Ed Greenwood and R. A. Salvator."
"In other words, Dungeons & Dragons," said Trillian.
"That's basically turn-based strategy," said Albion.
"I'm most comfortable in games where you have the freedom to think before you make a move," said Xenophon, "D&D, Warhammer, Pokémon, "but I wanted to expand my horizons."
"That still doesn't explain how Kairi's being here in the flesh violates the Uncertainty Principal," said Kirito.
"I'm no scientist, but I know enough to say that it does," said Felix Claudius Lucianus.
"It's both simple and complicated," said Beatrice, "you see, the average human body is composed over one-hundred trillion cells, where as a single human cell is composed of an estimated one-hundred trillion atoms."
"So?" Kirito asked.
"So," said a slightly impatient Beatrice, "in order for Kairi to be here in the flesh, someone would have had to create a machine capable of converting solid matter into data. Said machine would have to be capable of identifying and scanning all those hundred-trillion atoms in each hundred-trillion cells instantaneously and convert all those atoms into data, upload that data from the computer servers on their end and into the servers that make up Alfheim Online."
"What makes it all impossible is that the technology to digitize even one atom of solid matter doesn't exist," said Yui, "let alone an entire human being."
"Well, she's here," said Kirito, "you said she was flesh and blood, Yui-chan, so it must be possible to turn a human into data."
"I know she's real, Papa!" said Yui, "but how she's here, that's what's so illogical!"
"Now wait a second!" said Kairi irately, "where I'm from, you can digitize human beings! And I use transporters all the time!"
"Oh, really?" a suspicious Beatrice, "and just what planet are you from?"
"I…I'm…" said Kairi as she struggled to remember, only to clutch at her head and cry out in pain.
"Hey, take it easy!" said Asuna as she and Yui helped Kairi sit down again, "just relax," she then looked at Kirito, "I think we should get her inside somewhere, Kirito-kun."
"I think we should contact a Game Master, Asuna," said Kirito, "an administrator, someone who knows what to do, because for one, I don't."
"Does anyone know what to do in a situation like this?" Xenophon asked, "Kairi may very well be the first human to ever be digitized and uploaded onto a computer system."
"We're in way over our heads," said Mercedes. She then blinked in surprised, "wait a second," she then looked at Kirito and Asuna, "what'd you say your names were?"
"They're Kirito and Asuna," said Albion, "wait," he then looked at Kirito and Asuna, "you…are you the Kirito and Asuna from the original Sword Art Online?"
"Black Swordsman Kirito and Asuna the Flash?" Trillion asked.
"Kirito the Beater?" Felix asked, "and Asuna, vice-commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath?"
"Uh…yeah," said Kirito in a slightly uncomfortable and nervous tone.
"OMG!" exclaimed Mercedes, whom then proceeded to let out a, ear-piercing fan girl squeal.
"I can't believe it, the legends themselves," said Felix.
"We're that famous?" Asuna asked.
"Are you kidding me?" Beatrice asked, "you're two of the most famous gamers alive!"
"Asuna, the fastest sword mistress of SAO," said Xenophon, "and not to mention the most beautiful player in the game."
"Oh, you really think so?" a slightly embarrass but flattered Asuna asked.
"I'll say you are," said Albion, "boys want to date you and girls want to be you!"
"And not just for looks," said Trillian, "I'd give my right eye to be as fast with a blade as you are!"
"While Kirito, among being another top swordsman in the game," said Xenophon, "you're The One."
"One what?" Kairi asked as she stood up again.
"Papa's the one who beat Sword Art Online," said Yui, "he saved six-thousand people."
"Six-thousand, one-hundred and forty-seven souls to be exact," said Felix, "not to mention exposed a vile conspiracy involving mind-control experiments."
"You also made it possible for new VRMMORPG's to be created by just about anyone," said Beatrice, "the only limit is man's imagination."
"Captain Kirk was wrong," said Xenophon, "the final frontier isn't outer space, it's Cyberspace."
"Huh?" a confused Trillian and Albion asked.
"God, I miss the 20th century," sighed Xenophon, at which Beatrice and Felix looked at him with suspicious eyes.
"Never mind," said Xenophon, "what does matter is that we have the sheer luck to be on a quest with Kirito and Asuna."
"Uh…I don't think this is really a quest," said Asuna, "not one that's part of the game anyway."
"Oh, but it is a quest," said Xenophon.
"And a mystery," said Beatrice as she cleaned her glasses with a silk handkerchief from her purse, "how is it that Kairi found herself in this situation?"
"And what happened to her memory?" Felix asked.
"Exactly!" said Beatrice, "I'm all but positive that if we can help Kairi recover her memories, she can tell us how she came to be digitized."
"I sincerely hope so," said Kairi, "'cause I feel that however I got here, it was against my will."
"Then whoever it was must be an unethical bastard," said Felix.
"And possibly with a Heisenberg Compensator," said Xenophon.
"A what?" Albion asked.
"A Heisenberg Compensator," said Xenophon, "it's how, in Star Trek: The Next Generation, they explain how the transporter works."
"It basically compensates for the Uncertainty Principal," said Mercedes, "of course, we're never told how the doohickey works, only that it does."
"Oh, a fellow Trekkie, huh?" Xenophon.
"My mom and dad are the Trekkies in the family," said Mercedes, "I just happened to be in the same room when they watched TNG on Blu Ray."
"Why not watch it on Netflix or Amazon Prime?" asked Albion.
"Then you miss out on all the special features," said Beatrice.
"Good point," said Albion.
"I think we should put aside how Kairi got here aside for the moment," said Asuna, "and focus on the why. Someone digitized her against her will and I want to know why."
"And where they are," said Mercedes, "so I can give them a fist to the face!" she then mimed throwing a punch.
"Maybe it has something to do with Hell House," said Albion.
"Now why would it have anything to do with Hell House?" Trillian asked.
"It may not, or it may have everything to do with it," said Albion.
"What's Hell House?" Kirito asked.
"You don't know?" Mercedes asked in a scandalized tone.
"Apparently not," said Asuna.
"But you're Kirito and Asuna!" said Mercedes, "the greatest players of SAO!"
"But this isn't SAO," said Xenophon, "it's ALO, and this isn't the same Aincrad as before."
"We've been playing back and forth between mainland Alfheim and the frontlines of New Aincrad since May," said Asuna.
"Then you don't know," said Beatrice, "And I only arrived here just today."
"It's being talked about in dozens of forums and chat rooms across the web," said Felix, "of a supposed cursed dungeon that appeared in New Aincrad on October 1st."
"We were down on Alfheim that day," said Kirito, "but a new dungeon in New Aincrad isn't really out of the ordinary."
"The old Aincrad generated new dungeons," said Asuna, "even then the game evolved to keep things fresh and challenging."
"This different," said Felix, "as I said, this dungeon is supposedly cursed."
"They say it appeared during a minor glitch that occurred on October 1st," said Beatrice, "the admins had to shut down part of Floor 6 for half an hour, and when the area was rebooted, this really creepy house appeared where there was none before."
"Naturally, with a new dungeon, there were players who wanted to explore," said Xenophon, "and that's where things get weird."
"They get downright spooky, that's what," said Mercedes, "they say that if you die in that dungeon, your character's data gets corrupted."
"You lose items, your stats are all messed up, even your avatar is warped," said Felix.
"And that's only the first few minutes after you're resurrected," said Albion, "your control responses start to lag and even fail to respond at all sometimes, which makes navigating the virtual environment and battling enemies so hard, you're almost ready to rage quit."
"And then it really gets bad," said Beatrice, "eventually you learn that your entire ALO account has been corrupted, forcing you to delete and start over with a new character. And if that's not enough, you find that your AmuSphere's hard drive has been corrupted, forcing you to buy a new one, unless you bought an extended warranty entitling you to reduced fees on repair and debugging, and even then you're probably better off with a new AmuSphere."
"All in all," said Xenophon, "the dungeon has become so notorious, it's earned the nickname 'Hell House.'"
"Wait, if there's a dungeon that has such negative effects," said Kirito, "why hasn't the GM's and admins done anything about it?"
"Oh, they've been trying," said Mercedes, "they're investigating it right now, but so far they've got nothing."
"For now they've posted that the best thing everyone should do is just stay away from Hell House," said Beatrice, "but some of the more adventurous, or should I say foolhardy, players, they've tried to beat the dungeon. Most manage to retreat with no harm done, while those who died in the dungeon were forced to give up all the progress they've made."
"It can't be that horrible a dungeon, can it?" Asuna asked.
"Those who managed to escape Hell House tell of strange and powerful monsters unlike anything ever seen in SAO or ALO," said Xenophon, "and even stranger sightings of NPC's whom look completely out of place with the game."
"That's why I thought there might be a connection between Kairi and Hell House," said Albion as he activated his menu, "the other day a friend of mine was in a party that snuck into Hell House. None of them died, they all had teleport crystals. But before they fled, one of them managed to take a few screenshots."
He then activated a window and showed Kirito and the others several images of the interior of a dilapidated house in which several players were battling vampires, werewolves and ghosts.
"These shots are of the first monster encounters," said Albion, "at first Hell House seemed just a normal, Halloween-themed dungeon with the usual assortment of things that go bump in the night, especially in a haunted house."
"I remember when haunted houses were that, in houses," said Xenophon, "then they made haunted mazes, haunted corn mazes and other ghost and monster-themed attractions, all of them done with practical effects and makeup. Now everything's done with virtual reality." He sighed, "I especially remember the haunted attractions that came with the State Fairs. Every Labor Day Weekend, my family would go to the State Fair and my sister and I would go into the haunted house. Only one time we had the guts to make it all the way through, only once."
"I'm glad you remember your childhood so well," said Felix in a slightly annoyed tone, "but that still doesn't explain how Kairi is connected to Hell House."
"Two completely different mysteries that may or may not be related," said Beatrice in a thoughtful manner, "If we were all in Victorian Noir, this case would be right up my alley."
"Just hang on," said Albion as he searched through the screenshots, "the best is yet to come."
"Wait! Go back!" said Kairi, "go back a few pics!"
"Huh? Oh," said Albion as he flipped back a few frames, "this shot?"
"It's mostly blurry," said Asuna as she and the others looked at the picture.
"My friend tried to get a picture of the strange monsters but they didn't show up well," said Albion, "so he deleted them, but I guess he missed this one. Anyway," he then flipped forward, "this is the one I wanted to show you. He got a shot of one of the NPC's, you know, the ones that look like they don't belong on ALO."
He then showed the image of a girl of about seventeen with short, dark brown hair and coal black eyes. "Now, I'm not that big on fashion, but I'd say her outfit is at least fifty years out of date."
"More like it started out in the 1950's and took slightly different tangent," said Xenophon as he and the others looked at the picture.
"She looks so afraid," said Asuna, "like she's lost and has no idea how she got here or who did it to her."
"Like Kairi," said Kirito.
"Either this is the mother of all coincidences," said Albion, "or there's something incredibly rotten in New Aincrad."
"I'll say it's rotten," said Kairi in a shaken tone as she looked at the picture, "I know her!"
"You do!?" exclaimed Asuna, Kirito and Yui at the same time.
"Her name is Chrissie Chesterton," said Kairi, "and she's my friend." She then looked at Albion, her eyes blazing with righteous fury, "and you're gonna take me to Hell House! Now!"
…Castle Oblivion…
"Magic Mirror!" said Regina as she stood in front of a full-length mirror with an ornate frame, "show me Sora and his companions!"
The former Evil Queen had secluded herself in one of the castle's many rooms and had been there since the conclave of villainy had returned from the darkness-drowned world of Twilight Town.
A mask-like face appeared in the mirror, "my queen," said the face in an ethereal whisper, "I have been searching for the Keyblade Wielders as you have commanded. They are not in The Realms of Light."
"Then search elsewhere, you idiot!" snapped Regina, "search The Realms of Darkness, search other realms, search through hell and high water! I don't care, just find them!"
"Why are you so obsessed with finding Sora?" Sephiroth asked as he stood in the doorway of the room.
"Did it ever occur to you that I wanted to be alone?" an annoyed Regina asked without turning to face the one-winged angel.
"Solitude is the last that any of us need at this time," said Sephiroth as he walked into the room, "I fear that Columbina will be our undoing, her and that twisted princess of hers."
"Which is why I want to find Sora and the other Keyblade Wielders," said Regina, "Columbina and Darklight are too powerful for their own good, I won't feel comfortable taking them out without help."
"An alliance with the Keyblade Wielders?" a startled Sephiroth asked, "I never thought you had it in you."
"I only intend to find the brats and point them in the right direction," said Regina, "soften up Columbina and her pet enough for the rest of us to finish them off."
"Ah, now it makes sense," said Sephiroth.
"Yes," said Regina, she then frowned, "assuming this yard sale reject of a mirror can do what it's told!" she then smacked the side of the magic mirror, "find them, you stupid spirit!"
"I am doing the best I can, my queen," said the spirit of the mirror.
"Well, do better!" snapped Regina, "find them or else. Remember, I've endured worse than seven years bad luck!" with that she turned around and walked out of the room, with Sephiroth following her.
They reached the common room of the castle where the other villains had gathered, "Where's Columbina and the waif?" Regina asked.
"You missed the dart throwing," said Dio Brando, "L.D. picked The Land of Dragons as the next world to visit."
"And none of you went with her?" Sephiroth asked, "what if that world had a SeeD team to assist its local heroes."
"She wanted to go without help," said Gaston as he lifted some weights, while Lady Tremaine sat reading a book, "to test her powers."
"Of course, her minder, Columbina, refused to be left behind," said Lady Tremaine. She then turned a page in her book and laughed cruelly, "ah, what an amateur, the Marquis de Sade, a gifted amateur, but an amateur nonetheless."
"He wasn't the first to write about sex, you know," said Insano.
"But he wrote about human suffering combined with sexuality," said Lady Tremaine, "there's a difference."
Just then a shimmering gray doorway appeared, from The Lord of Illusions stuck his head and upper body through. He looked around nervously, "where's Darklight?" he asked anxiously.
"Out smashing another Keyhole," said Dio Brando.
"That's a relief," said The Lord of Illusions as he walked through the shimmering doorway, which rapidly doubled in size, "it'd be a shame if she were to spoil my surprise by whacking another of my doppelgangers."
"Are you the real Leslie or a doppelganger?" Regina asked.
"Truth be told," said The Lord of Illusions, "I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to. If you were to gather a dozen of us in one room and asked which one was the real one, not even the real one could tell. We've been around so long, we've forgotten which is the original."
"Just how old are you freaks?" Gaston asked.
"Old," said The Lord of Illusions in a matter of fact tone, "and don't ask me again. Now, as to my surprise."
"You found the remaining missing powers," said Young Xehanort.
"No, my doppelgangers are still looking," said the Lord of Illusions, "this is the next best thing."
Several Large Bodies emerged from the shimmering doorway, each carrying two wooden crates.
"Just put them down," said The Lord of Illusions as more and more Large Bodies emerged from the doorway, only to put their burdens down and march back the way they came.
"What is all of this?" Lady Tremaine asked.
"I believe I know," said an astonished Young Xehanort, "but…how?"
"How what?" Gaston asked as he walked up to one of the crates and effortlessly pulled the lid off, revealing several sophisticated pieces of machinery packed in straw.
"A new Interocitor!" said Insano, "but how did you get it?"
At that The Lord of Illusions smiled with mischievous eagerness, "let's just say it fell off the back of a truck."
"It must have been one beast of a truck," said an impressed Lady Tremaine as the train of Large Bodies marched in, deposited their crates and marched out.
"How many parts did you say are in this thing?" Gaston asked as he and Sephiroth opened more crates.
"2,486," said Young Xehanort as he opened a smaller crate and found the instruction manual. He then looked at The Lord of Illusions, "but why?"
"Why not?" Leslie asked in return, "now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to looking for those missing powers."
"You're not gonna help put the new Interocitor together?" Insano asked as he found the crate with the Intensifier Disk.
"And risk getting caught by Columbina and her murder-happy princess?" The Lord of Illusions asked, "forget it! I'm crazy enough to torment Tess and the other Keyblade Wielders, but to risk losing another Doppelganger to that degenerate Lady Darklight? No thank you!"
By now the last of the crates had been unloaded, the Large Bodies exited and the doorway returned to its normal size, "enjoy the new Interocitor. And when Columbina asks where you got it, tell her it's from a friend and let her stew on it, it'll drive her nuts." With that he walked into the shimmering doorway which vanished after him.
"What a strange person," said Lady Tremaine.
"Strange but generous," said Young Xehanort, "yet his generosity no doubt will come with a price."
"He's gonna come claiming a favor at some point," said Dio Brando.
"Who cares? We've got a new Interocitor!" said Insano, "now come on, people, this machine ain't gonna assemble itself!"
"You actually expect us to contribute with manual labor?" Lady Tremaine asked.
"You'd better believe it," said Insnao, "we shall put the new Inteocitor together!" he then held up his finger triumphantly, "WITH SCIENCE!" he then laughed like the mad scientist he was.
"If you love science so much," said Gaston, "why don't you marry it?"
"You know what, I think I will!" exclaimed Insano, "everyone, I'm getting married, to SCIENCE!" he then laughed again like the maniac he was.
"Weirdo," muttered Gaston.
…Radiant Garden…
"And that's what happened, Commander," said Yvette as she, Jefferson and Dynamo sat down with Quistis in one of the rooms of the castle. Also in the room was King Mickey, Queen Minnie, Leon, Hayner, Pence and Olette.
"Twilight Town's gone," said King Mickey in a defeated tone.
"That's two worlds destroyed by that monster, Columbina!" said Leon irately, "we can't let her get away with this!"
"But how?" Pence asked, "we gave everything we had to save our world and it wasn't enough."
"I don't know," said King Mickey, "but whatever we do, we've got to do it fast, before Columbina and this Lady Darklight strikes again."
Just then Yuffie burst into the room, "they took out The Land of Dragons!"
"WHAT?!" exclaimed King Mickey, while Leon, Quistis and the others looked equally shocked.
"It's true," said a brused, slightly bleeding and heavily depressed Mulan as she limped into the room, "my world, it's gone."
"Goodness!" said Queen Minnie as she and Yuffie helped Mulan sit down, "what happened?"
"Nothing good, that's for sure," said a bruised Mushu as he perched on Mulan's shoulder, with his left forearm in a sling.
"They came out of nowhere," said Mulan in an empty tone, "that masked woman and the other woman, the one with the black Keyblade. They found the Keyhole and tried to destroy it. I fought the woman with the black Keyblade but she was too strong." She then held up her right arm, which was heavily bandaged from the elbow down, "the healers, they say the damage is too great and I may lose my hand."
"You'd be surprised what modern medicine can do," said Quistis, "but what happened next?"
"Shang wanted to go back to save the emperor," said Mulan, "but it was too late. The Keyhole was destroyed and this flood of Heartless came out. Before we knew it, they were everywhere, drowning the world in darkness. Shang, Mushu and I barely made it to a portal. The SeeD team assigned to the Land of Dragons, they stayed behind to keep the portal open."
"Team Theta-44," said Jefferson, "I knew them, they were good people."
"They were great people!" said Dynamo, "they were among the best!"
"And our best wasn't good enough, again," said Yvette.
"We're not bloody licked yet and don't you forget it, young lady!" said Jefferson.
"Oh, get with it, dad!" snapped Yvette, "that's three times SeeD tried to stop Columbina and Darklight and we failed!"
"Then we'll try again!" said Jefferson, "and again and again! That's what SeeD bloody does;we never give up until the bloody fight is over! Or would you rather go running back to your mother?"
"Don't you bring mom into this, you fat loser!" snapped Yvette.
"Stop it! Both of you!" shouted Quistis, "It's bad enough you were constantly at each other's throats during Yvette's training, but I won't have any of it here and now! One more argument, and I don't care who starts it, just one more argument and I'll have you both on laundry duty for the rest of the year! Is that understood!?"
"Yes, Commander Trepe," said both Yvette and Jefferson.
"Swell," said Quistis. She then looked at Mulan, "now, I know this is difficult, but did anyone else from your world escape?"
"I don't know," said Mulan in an anxious tone, "I wasn't thinking clearly at the time. The emperor! My friends in the army! By the ancestors! My family! I've got find them! I…!" at that she passed out in her chair.
"About time," said Mushu as he checked Mulan's pulse, then opened one eyelid to see if she really was unconscious, "those docs, they gave her something to calm down."
"She's out to lunch, alright," said Yuffie, "so, what now?"
"We get our heads and asses our of the mud and strike back! That's what!" exclaimed Dynamo, "we go all out on the offensive!"
"Against what?!" Hayner asked, "do you know where Columbina and Darklight are hiding? Does anyone know?"
"Wherever Xehanort hid Castle Oblivion," said Leon, "and we still have no leads on that."
"I'll tell you what I'm gonna do," said Quistis, "I'm gonna call SeeD H.Q. and demand reinforcements. I'll get every operative we've got if I have to, down to the rawest of recruits, whatever it takes to boost the defenses of The Realms of Light."
"You really think that's going to help?" Olette asked as a pair of servants carried the unconscious Mulan out on a stretcher.
"It's better than nothing," said Quistis, "but I'd feel much better of a few Keyblade Wielders were to stop mucking around and come home already."
"Sora, Riku, Kairi," said King Mickey as he looked out the window at the stars, just in time to see the light from The Land of Dragons go out, "where are you guys?"
The End of Chapter 2
Next chapter finds Kairi and her new friends discovering the horrors of Hell House for themselves, only to find that this dungeon is far more than they asked for. Reviews will be rewarded with cake and pie. See you then!