Part Fourteen

Prisoners of the Desert

Deling City

It all fell apart rather quickly. Baralai had been standing at the other side of the gate along with Sora, Roxas and Riku it happened. Three portals opened and the sound of a woman laughing was heard as the three Keyblade Masters fell into the portals.

They were unable to fight back against the wave of power coming from the portal but Baralai managed to resist the wave. Raising his hands the White Mage created a shield around his body to prevent the darkness from reaching him. His skills in the area of White Magic had increased since taking up residence on Destiny Island after the incident with Sokar.

When the trio vanished Baralai was left alone in the dark alley leading out of the city. His amber eyes flickered to the float behind the gate and he gulped when he saw Sora in the grasp of the Sorceress. He saw Saix, Luxord and Xigbar standing alongside her and the fight had ground to a halt.

Those Nobodies had given the Sorceress information on the Keyblade Master. Evidently this woman was indeed a force to be reckoned with. Creeping along the float Baralai glanced from side to side then began to climb up the float to the top.

He stopped when he reached the edge and he strained to listen to what was being said. He heard the Sorceress talking to Leon about throwing down his weapons and surrendering. Baralai heard the Sorceress mention something about Cloud being poisoned. The White Mage moved along the edge of the float until he heard the evil woman talking about sending the group to the Desert Prison. Amber eyes flickered between the group standing on the top of the float.

The three Nobodies opened up a portal and pushed Leon, Cloud and Seifer through. They were followed by a man who was Leon's twin and the Keyblade Masters. The Sorceress took Sora through with her and the portal fell when they all vanished.

Letting go of the float Baralai fell to the ground and stopped to catch his breath and his wits. The others had been taken prisoner. The Sorceress and her Knights had them. The mission had failed. But he didn't see Ienzo with them. Maybe he was still out there with Demyx.

"I have to find them." Baralai muttered quietly then he slipped out through the bars.

The crowd had long since departed. Baralai ran down an almost empty street until he came to the Clock Tower. If Ienzo was still up there then that gave Baralai an advantage. They could work out a rescue plan for the others once he got in touch with the slate haired man and his GF. Baralai tore into the building and ran up the first flight of stairs he found. He stopped when he came to a balcony that overlooked the city. Gripping his hair the mage raked his brains for a solution.

"Baralai!" a familiar voice called out. Looking up he saw Ienzo leaning over the top of the tower.

"What happened?" he asked the mage.

"They were all captured." Baralai answered back. "She said something about a Deseret Prison."

"Dammit...I'll be right down. Move aside." Ienzo called. He jumped off the top floor with Demyx right behind him. The GF was carrying Rinoa in his arms.

"Tell us what happened." Ienzo stated calmly. Baralai explained everything in rapid detail.

"This is really bad." Demyx cried as he let Rinoa stand on her own again. "We don't even know where the prison is!"

"There's only one prison." Rinoa said. "I know where it is."

"If you show me on a map I can teleport us there." Baralai said but Ienzo grabbed his arm.

"The last time you tried teleporting you almost got fused into a metal wall." Ienzo growled.

"We don't have another choice." Baralai replied. "The Sorceress used a portal to take them to the prison."

"I'll get a world map from a store." Rinoa suggested.

"Then let's go." Ienzo called his GF back into his mind then the trio moved out of the tower and back into the city streets.

Desert Prison

The prison was truly unique. It was triangular in shape and instead of three pillars three large screws held the structure up from the vast desert below. The prison had various levels and the top was the main control terminal that operated the building itself.

The Sorceress had taken the group to the top floor. She took Leon, Squall and Sora to one side then ordered her Knights to take the others to the cells below. The Galbadian guards that were in charge of the prison took the prisoners away. The Sorceress smiled when she turned to her three captives.

She would soon learn the truth about SeeD and their purpose. The other Gunblade user would help to provide further amusement to the Sorceress. Saix wanted to take the Keyblade Master for his own interrogation.

The Sorceress allowed this to happen while she ordered Xigbar and Luxord to extract information from the SeeD and his twin. They wouldn't escape from the prison. The desert was vast and the only transportation was on the bottom floor. So far this venture was proving to be very fruitful. Right now she had to oversee the imminent destruction of the Trabia Garden.

Riku, Roxas, Cloud, Zell, Selphie, Irvine and Quistis were tossed into a cell on the 28th floor. Cloud had been cured by the Sorceress before she took Sora, Leon and Squall away. The group were still gathering their wits and Cloud was beginning to become lucid again. Roxas helped the blond swordsman sit up while Riku gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. Sora had been taken by the Nobodies. Sora was gone and Riku was sitting in a fucking cell. They needed a plan to get out of there and rescue the others.

"Can someone fill us in? Who the hell was that guy? He looked exactly like Squall." Quistis demanded sharply.

"That's because he is Squall Leonhart." Cloud said through gritted teeth.

"But that's impossible." Selphie cried. "How can there be two of them?"

"Leon isn't from around here. None of us are." Roxas said. He was leaning against the wall now.

"What are you talking about?" Zell held his heads in his hands.

"You want the truth?" Riku narrowed his eyes. "Then here it is. We're from another dimension. We were sent here by Shiva, Ifrit and Bahamut to find and stop those three Nobodies from opening the Gateway along with the Sorceress."

"This sounds like a sci-fi movie." Zell gaped at them.

"This is totally unreal." Selphie stared wide eyes at Riku. "So there are doubles of Zell and me in your world?"

"It's completely unbelievable." Quistis rubbed her head.

"Look, you don't have to believe us but we need to prevent the Gateway from opening." Roxas cut in.

"Hold on a second." Seifer yelled then he closed his eyes and furrowed his brow in thought. "Axel says if we stop the Gateway how else are you gonna get home?"

"Summon him up." Roxas demanded.

"I can't. This prison has a barrier that prevents the use of magic and GFs." Seifer explained.

"We have to get out of here." Riku raised his hand and called the Keyblade. Way to the Dawn appeared in his grip.

"At least we can still use our Keyblades." Roxas called up Oblivion and Oathkeeper.

"So what's the plan?" Quistis asked.

"We'll find your weapons." Riku said.

"I'll come with you." Zell stood up. "I already have my weapons."

"Are you sure about this?" Cloud groaned. His body still ached from the poison.

"We'll be right back." Riku said. "The floor up has out weapons on it. Those guards took them and put them in a door marked 30."

"Be careful." Cloud said firmly. Roxas knelt down and smiled at the blond man.

"We'll get Leon and the others back." He swore quietly.

"Just don't get yourself killed." Cloud replied.

Riku, Roxas and Zell nodded then they moved towards the door. Bringing up the Keyblade Riku lunged forward and sliced through the metal at rapid speed. The door fell away into three pieces and the way was open for them.

The circular corridor was empty. Riku looked towards the staircase leading up to the next floor. He heard voices coming from the next floor. Gripping Way to the Dawn the silver haired teenager made his way to the staircase. Roxas and Zell were close behind and they got ready for a fight when they spotted three guards on the next floor.

Riku attacked the first guard. He slashed the man across the stomach before he could get a shot off. Roxas used both Keyblades to subdue the second one while Zell cracked the third man's head against the wall.

Riku made his way to the room containing their weapons while Roxas and Zell took care of the guards that emerged from another room. Riku spotted Quistis and Selphie's weapons along with the three Gunblades and Cloud's sword. Glancing out the door Riku saw Roxas finish off the last guard. Zell was already standing by the staircase that would take them back down again to the others.

"It won't be long until they figure out we're gone." Zell said quickly. "They might drop the barrier to catch us."

"Grab the weapons." Riku ordered. He and Roxas carried the weapons back through the chamber and down the stairs.

"Come on guys!" Zell called to the others in the cell.

"Where can we get out of here?" Roxas asked.

"According to the study texts we took in class there should be a garage on the bottom floor." Quistis replied.

"We should split up." Riku suggested. "Whoever is coming with me will go to get Sora and, Squall Leon."

"I'll go with you." Cloud stated firmly.

"Roxas, you should go with the group heading to the garage. They might need someone who can open doors." Riku said.

"You got it." Roxas nodded.

"I'll go with Riku." Zell looked around. He was on the lookout for any unwanted attention. "I might be able to deactivate the barrier from the control terminal."

"Selphie and I will go with Roxas to the garage." Quistis snapped her Scorpion Tail whip.

"I'm not missing out on the chance to save Puberty Boy." Seifer snorted.

"When you get to the garage stay there." Riku said.

"Be careful." Roxas frowned.

Riku nodded then he, Cloud, Zell and Seifer took off towards the staircase leading upwards. They would have to travel back up at least ten floors to reach the top levels again. Cloud led the way back up. His strength had returned and he was more than ready to inflict his own brand of pain on the Sorceress and her Knights.

He silently prayed that Leon and Sora were safe along with Squall. As they climbed the stairs Cloud cut down anyone stupid enough to get in his path. After climbing up ten levels they reached the top floor. Zell saw the directions for the control terminal while Seifer, Cloud and Riku made their way to a large metal door.

"Ahhh!!!" a scream pierced the silence.

"Tell me what does SeeD do? What is your connection with the Sorceress?" Luxord asked whoever he was torturing.

"I don't know the connection!" a voice that sounded like Leon yelled out but Cloud couldn't tell if it was Leon or Squall. It didn't matter. His blood was boiling and he was ready for a blood bath.

"Maybe the boy will know." Saix snarled and another scream rang out.

"Leave Sora alone!" Leon, or Squall, yelled but Cloud was willing to bet that it was Leon.

"I'm going to kill them." Riku snarled in rage.

"Let's go already." Seifer muttered.

"Please stop!!!" Sora screamed out.

"That's it." Riku gripped his blade and tore open the door. He was going to kill those fuckers for daring to touch Sora in the first place.

When Riku passed Seifer the scarred blond was certain that the kid's aquamarine eyes had turned orange.