Part Thirty Five

Opening Pandora's Box

Lunatic Pandora

Top Floor

Nobody had any time to react. They watched helplessly as Luxord dragged Riku through the dark portal after saying something about Adel. Sora had sprinted for the portal only to land on solid ground when the portal closed.

Seifer, Squall, Roxas and Leon charged head on into the monsters that were pouring out of the open doorway while Baralai struggled to charge his magic to perform a teleportation spell. If he was lucky he'd be able to trace Luxord's darkness. Ienzo, Cloud and Sora stood near the Ragnarok and they fought off the monsters that made it past Seifer and the others. Axel and Demyx used their elemental powers to decimate the creatures and they bought the others time to move back.

"I think I can teleport us out of here!" Baralai called.

"But isn't that dangerous for you?" Ienzo asked.

"We don't have any other options." Baralai countered.

"Then do it already!" Seifer called. "I can take a few people with me."

"There's too many of them." Sora screamed. Axel and Demyx used their main attacks, Ocean's Heart and Calamity's Flame, but after destroying the first wave more monsters arrived to replace them.

"We'll split up." Leon ordered.

"We have to find Luxord. He's taking Riku to Adel." Seifer closed his eyes and challenged his magic.

"I can follow Luxord's darkness but I need to go now." Baralai called.

"Everyone split up." Cloud yelled over the screaming.

Sora, Leon and Cloud approached Baralai who, at this point, was surrounded by eternal blue light. When the other three got close enough around him Baralai squeezed his eyes shut and followed the trail of darkness left behind by the Gambler of Fate.

As the group departed amide lights of purest blue Seifer grabbed hold of Squall's arm. Roxas and Ienzo stood near the blond Sorcerer just as Seifer teleported them away. He reached out for the largest magical energy source he could feel in this place, praying that it would take him to Adel and Riku.

Seifer grunted when his feet slammed into the ground and he heard the others land nearby. He opened his eyes and a smile touched his lips when he saw Zell and the others leaning against a thick white pillar in the centre of the chamber.

Corpses of monsters littered the chamber and Seifer noticed that there was a large ball of purple energy at the top of the pillar. Squall, Roxas and Ienzo were already back on their feet and yelling at Zell and the others from Balamb Garden.

"Woo hoo!" Selphie cheered excitedly. "You guys are ok!"

"How did you guys get here?" Irvine yelped when he spotted them.

"Thank Hyne you're safe." Rinoa hugged Seifer then Squall. "It's good to see you Seifer."

"You're really back!" Quistis laughed as she embraced him.

"Yeah, it was kinda quiet without you man." Zell grinned.

"Thanks and for the record, getting magic downloaded into your head is so not my idea of fun." Seifer shivered.

"Where's everyone else?" Quistis turned to Squall.

"Baralai teleported them after Luxord. The bastard took Riku." Squall snarled.

"Why would Luxord take Riku?" Selphie questioned.

"He said something about Adel sucking him dry." Roxas spoke up.

"That just sounds wrong." Rinoa shivered.

"We've gotta find them." Roxas stated firmly.

"We don't know where they teleported to. They could be anywhere in this place?" Squall rubbed his temples.

"I think I can help you out with that." Zell ran towards the other side of the chamber. "We came down here in an elevator. On our way down we passed this chamber a few floors up. The place was crawling with monsters and there was this big engine thing in the centre."

"How do you know Adel is there?" Ienzo questioned.

"It might not be Adel's chamber but the way those monsters were guarding the door and that engine all looked suspicions to me." Zell crossed his arms.

"It's worth a look." Seifer nodded.

"We'll stay together from now on." Squall told everyone.

Squall and Seifer followed Zell to the other side of the chamber and the little blond took them into the elevator. The lift was large enough to hold everyone and the glass panes provided a clear view of the interior of the Pandora.

The structure was gigantic and the red mist spilled all across the various walkways and platforms. The elevator continued to take the group up towards the floor that Zell described. Roxas prayed that Sora and the others were safe and that they reached Riku before Adel did what she was planning for him. By the time they reached the floor with the engine the monsters were still guarding the area.

"They could've teleported inside. Baralai said he could track Luxord." Roxas whispered.

"Let's take these out. I'm itching for a good fight." Seifer balled his fists and purple energy surrounded his hands.

"Stay close." Squall told the group as they ran out of the lift and into the fray.

Baralai felt his body slam into something hard and the breath left his body in a rush. He heard the others hit the ground just as roughly as he did. Opening his amber eyes Baralai stared around the room he landed them all in.

It was a simple round room with nothing of great significance. However there was another well lit chamber on the other side of the room and Baralai stiffened when he saw movement. He noticed that Sora, Leon and Cloud were with him but there was no sign of the others. Sora was already on his feet, the Keyblade summoned in his hands as he made his way to the chamber beyond.

"You can't just waltz in there." Leon grunted. Teleporting was out in the future.

"But they have Riku!" Sora hissed back.

"And this won't be much of a rescue if we get caught." Leon replied.

"So what do you propose we do?" Baralai asked.

"Let's check it out first." Cloud said as he approached the chamber. Leon and Sora followed behind him while Baralai cast Protect and Shell on everyone.

"I have a bad feeling about this." The white haired man muttered.

"Why did you have to say that?" Sora gasped out.

"What?" Baralai blinked innocently.

"That is like the ultimate jinx line! Do you watch movies?" Sora shrieked.

"Excuse me I forgot." Baralai rolled his eyes.

"Sorceress Adel..." a familiar drawl made all further conversation halt. "You'll enjoy feasting on this boy's life energy I'm sure." Saix said.

"What about Sora and the others? Ultimecia didn't think Almasy would survive." Luxord stated.

"That doesn't matter. Once Time Compression occurs nothing will matter. Thanks to Seifer Adel now has enough energy to awaken." Saix growled.

"Let's get this over with." Luxord said.

Sora gripped the Ultima Keyblade before charging into the chamber beyond where Saix and Luxord were talking. Leon, Cloud and Baralai were right behind the small brunet but stopped when they saw what was inside the chamber. There was a large capsule at the far end of the chamber.

Within the capsule lay the ugliest woman Sora had ever seen in his life. Even Maleficent was a beauty queen compared to this thing. Adel was a large bulky woman with flame red hair resembling Axel's. She was wearing a black skirt that covered her legs while her pasty white torso remained bare. Her eyes were black and emotionless and her lips were drawn back into a chilling smile to reveal rows of sharp yellow teeth.

Saix and Luxord stood before Adel with Riku between them. The silver haired teenager was limp as Luxord held onto him. Saix turned when he heard Sora let out an angry growl. His amber orbs narrowed to slits when he spotted the small brunet and then a malicious smile adorned his features. How sweet it would be as Sora watched his beloved Riku have the life drained out of his body by Adel. Luxord was already backing up and he vanished into a dark portal.

"Enjoy your meal." Saix yelled as he threw Riku before the capsule.

"No!" Sora screamed.

"I'll be waiting for you Keyblade Master." Saix smirked as he vanished into a portal.

Sora turned back towards Riku only to see Adel moving from within her prison cell. She reached out with one talon covered hand and smiled down at an unconscious Riku. Leon, Cloud and Baralai were ready to fight her but a harsh light blinded everyone in the chamber. Sora yelled for Riku but he only got a harsh laugh in response. When the light faded Sora faced the evil Sorceress and let out a horrible scream at what he saw.

Adel was standing to her full height, her hands splayed out from her horrid body with Riku fused into her chest. His arms were fixed across her chest so that his hands were fused into her shoulders.

His legs were bound together across her groin area and his head rolled limp from side to side. Some of Adel's flesh was now covering Riku's bare arms. The Sorceress howled as she came towards Sora and the others, her hand raised as a fireball formed in her palm.

"It is time to die boy." Her voice was raspy and ancient. She laughed again.

"Don't bet on it bitch." Sora snarled as his eyes turned as cold as ice chips. "Now give Riku back to me."

Note-Yeah so Sora's pissed and Adel is about to receive the ass kicking of her life. Sorry it took me a while to update but I've gotten into the Shadow Hearts games and I've almost completed the first game. Also after the fight with Adel I'm going to be improvising a lot of things. I have never finished FF8 so what I'll write is my knowledge from the internet and other fictions. Anyway enjoy the rest of the ride and part three will be here before you know it.