Hiya, chapter 4 here and ready to be read by all you lovely people! Oh, by the way:
1. Sora and the other main characters will be in their designs that was at the beginning of the story. However, Kairi will get a redesign for an outfit that is more suited for combat.
2. This story is not set before, during or after any of the games. This is just its own continuity.
Anyways, let's get started!
Chapter 4 : The Search for Atlas
With Pep and Kyla, after the encounter with Zander
"So Riku, do you know who that man was?" Kyla asked.
Riku dismissed his keyblade before he answered, "He's a man who's been causing trouble throughout the worlds."
"We can tell." Pep commented.
"What happened to your friend?" Riku asked.
"We don't know. First, he did something to his arm and then sent him somewhere else." Pep answered.
"Looks like I was too late." Riku repeated the words Zander said earlier.
"What did he mean by that?" Kyla asked.
"That man is after you three specifically, the reason why is what we have yet to know." Riku answered.
"He must have gone after Atlas. Please Riku, we need to go find him." Pep pleaded.
"Don't worry, we will. But first, we need to prepare you two." Riku accepted before sticking his hand out in front of himself.
A bright light appeared before forming into a portal, it was white with some grayish hue surrounding it.
"Follow me." Riku said as he walked towards it.
Pep and Kyla followed behind him into the portal, it closing itself right after they entered.
World 2: Mysterious Tower
A light portal then appeared at the entrance of a mysterious tower, the three exiting from it before it disappeared.
"What a strange tower." Kyla commented.
"True, but it's a nice place." Riku said back as he walked up the steps to the entrance.
The three entered the tower to see a spiral staircase going up, "Hope you two like walking." Riku commented as the three started their climb.
A long hitchhike up the magical stairs later
Riku entered the study with Pep and Kyla entering behind him, out of breath and trying to catch it.
"That was longer... than any hike... I have been on." Pep commented in between her breaths.
Once the two have recovered their breath, the three stood in front of the desk with a man sitting behind it. The man has a gray long beard and hair, wearing a blue pointy hat with white stars and a blue robe.
"Master Yen Sid, I have brought two of the three recruits." Riku said.
"Recruits?" Pep repeated.
"Yes. It is better for you to learn how to defend against the new foe at hand." Master Yen Sid said.
"However, since your friend Atlas is not here, you two will be training under a different master than myself." Riku said.
"Uh huh. So, what will we be doing?" Kyla asked.
"You two will be learning how to wield a keyblade with someone else while I go and find Atlas." Riku answered.
"In the meantime, you two will be going to the Land of Departure for your training." Yen Sid said.
"Wait, then we just walked a mountain of stairs just to go somewhere else?" Kyla complained.
"Well, I wouldn't say that. Master Yen Sid here will be giving you the ability to use magic, as well as three basic spells." Riku said.
"Yes. Are you ready?" Master Yen Sid asked as he raised his hand to the two.
The two nodded their heads as they faced them, a circular blue aura surrounding them as their magical abilities were unlocked. After a few secs, the aura fainted away.
"There. The three spells you have learned are Fire, Blizzard, and Thunder. However, in order to properly use them, you need the help of Master Aqua." Master Yen Sid briefly explained.
"Thank you, Master Yen Sid." Pep thanked.
"No time to waste. Let's get going." Riku said as he opened another portal and the three entered, disappearing behind them.
"Still, this darkness is different from the heartless... and even Xehanort. I can only hope we can stop it before it does any more damage." Master Yen Sid said to himself.
World 3: Land of Departure
At another world, a portal appeared with the three exiting it. Once it closed, the three set their eyes upon a castle that decreases in width when it reaches the ground, tall spires protruding from the roof. Two lengths of golden chain connect the castle to twin peaks, with them standing in the forecourt, a circular area in front of the castle.
"Welcome to your training grounds." Riku said as he and the two walked up the stairs into the castle.
"A lot bigger than I thought." Pep commented as she sees the surrounding mountains around the castle before she entered.
The three entered to go up another flight of stairs up to the throne room, which they then sees a blue haired woman come out from behind the middle throne, walking towards them.
"Riku, it's been awhile. Are these the two Master Yen Sid told me about?" The woman asked.
"Yes they are, Aqua." Riku answered to the woman, now named Aqua.
"I see. Nice to meet you two, my name is Aqua." Aqua said.
"Nice to meet you too, I'm Pepper, Pep for short." Pep said.
"Kyla." Kyla simply said.
"I was told that you will be my apprentices for the time being." Aqua recalled.
"You were told right. However, there is actually a third person. I just have to go find their friend, Atlas." Riku confirmed.
"OK. But first, we need to perform the keyblade ceremony. Riku, mind if you help out?" Aqua asked.
"Sure." Riku and Aqua then stood in front of Pep and Kyla and summoned their keyblades, Way to the Dawn and Stormfall. The two then started the ceremony:
"In your hand, take this Key. So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking, its wielder you shall one day be. And you will find me, friend—no ocean will contain you then. No more borders around, or below, or above, so long as you champion the ones you love."
The two then held their keyblade by the blade as they pointed the handle to Pep and Kyla, Pep grabbing Stormfall's handle and Kyla grabbing Way to the Dawn's handle. After a few seconds, the two then let go right before the keyblades disappeared.
"Now, hold out your hand and your heart will call out to a keyblade." Aqua instructed, which the two then proceeded to do.
After a few minutes, a sudden bright light appeared in front of them and Pep and Kyla were holding their own keyblades. Kyla's keyblade was the Pumpkinhead keyblade, but Pep's keyblade was much different.
The blade was an elegant pattern of light blue to almost white swirls, leading up to a butterfly wing-shaped axe blade that is ocean blue. The handle is white with a black hook shaped around the handle, with a chain that has a black outlined butterfly charm attached to it hanging from the handle. The keyblade is named the Coral Butterfly.
Riku then dismissed his keyblade as he spoke, "Don't wait on training with them. I'll be training Atlas, when I hopefully find him."
"OK. How's Sora and Kairi, by the way?" Aqua asked.
"They're doing fine." He answered as he then opened a portal, "I'll see you three later." He said before entering the portal, it closing behind him.
Meanwhile, with Atlas
"I know it's around here somewhere. Ah, here it is! The Snuggly Duckling. Don't worry, very quaint place, perfect for you. Don't want you scaring and giving up on this whole endeavor now do we?" Flynn said as he and Rapunzel walked on the path to the pub.
"Well, I do like ducklings." Rapunzel said.
"Yay!" Flynn said in a fake playful tone before the two went to the pub.
Atlas was following far behind them on the same path to the pub, seeing them on the way to the entrance.
Flynn then opened the door, "Garcon, your finest table please."
Rapunzel gasped as she saw the place was full of thugs and other troublemakers that were there. Rapunzel held her pan in front of her for protection as Flynn escorted her from behind through the crowd of thugs.
"You smell that? Take a deep breath through the nose." Flynn said as he then sniffed heavily in the air.
Rapunzel groaned at the smell, "What are you getting? To me, it's part-man smell and the other is really bad man smell. Don't know why, but I get the color brown. Your thoughts?"
Rapunzel then gasped and ran as her hair was sliding across the floor, except it was also going through one of the thugs' hands. "That's a lot of hair."
"She's growing it out." Flynn remarked.
Atlas entered, noticing that it wasn't what he thought and quickly walked into one of the nearby corners to hide.
Rapunzel was taking deep breaths as Flynn came over, "Hey, you don't look so good, blondie. Maybe we should get you home. Call it a day. Probably be better off, though this was a five-star joint after all. If you can't handle this place, maybe you should go back to your tower." He said as he was escorting her through the room.
They were almost to the pub door when it suddenly slammed closed, one thug has his hand on it. "Is this you?" The thug asked as he pointed at his hand that was against the door, which shows that he also has a wanted poster of Flynn under his hand.
Flynn looked and moved one of the fingers to show him having a long nose, "Aw, now they're being mean." He said to himself as another thug with a hook replacing his left hand walked up to Flynn.
"Oh ho ho, it's him all right. Greno, go find some guards!" He ordered as the thug named Greno headed out the door, "That reward is going to buy me a new hook."
Flynn was suddenly grabbed from behind as he was now held in another thug's arms, "I could use the money!"
Flynn then was grabbed again by the thug who closed the door, "What about me!? I'm broke!"
The rest of the thugs then came at the thug holding Flynn, him getting pulled around by the thugs as Rapunzel tried to make them stop by hitting them with her pan. She was then pushed back as the thug with the hook was about to punch Flynn in the face, the thug with the horned helmet holding his head in place. "Not the nose, not the nose, not the nose!"
Not wanting to just stand and watch, Atlas then got up on the counter and jumped onto the table to then punch the thug with the hook across the head with his right hand. The punch suddenly made everyone froze for a moment before the thug with the hook turned his head towards Atlas.
"Put him down! He's the escort for that lady over there to go see some lanterns tonight! Now, let him go!" Atlas demanded.
The thug with the hook then took out an axe as one of the other thugs holding Flynn hung him up on a nearby coat rack and was now just slowing walking towards Atlas as he backed up away from him towards Rapunzel. "Come on, find your humanity! Have any of you have a dream!?" She spoke up.
The thug with the hook was almost in the faces of the two when he suddenly spoke, "I had a dream once." He then threw his axe towards an accordion boy next to the fireplace without looking, just barely missing his head as he then started playing and the thug started singing:
Hook:
I'm malicious, mean and scary
My sneer can curdle dairy
And violence-wise, my hands aren't the cleanest
But despise my evil look
And my temper and my hook
I've always yearned to be a concert pianist
Can't ya see me on the stage performing Mozart?
Tickling the ivories 'til they gleam?
Yep, I'd rather be deadly
For my killer show-tune medley
Cause way down deep inside, I've got a dream!
Thugs:
He's got a dream! He's got a dream!
Hook:
See, I ain't as cruel and vicious as I seem!
Though i do like breaking femurs, you can count me with the dreamers
Like everybody else, I've got a dream!
Big:
I've got scars and lumps and bruises
Plus something here that oozes
And let's not even mention my complexion
But despite my extra toes
And my goiter and my nose
I really want to make a love connection
Can't you see me with a special little lady
Rowing in a rowboat down the stream?
Though I'm one disgusting blighter, I'm a lover, not a fighter
Cause way down deep inside, I've got a dream!
I've got a dream!
Thugs:
He's got a dream!
Big:
I've got a dream!
Thugs:
He's got a dream!
Big:
And I know one day romance will reign supreme!
Though my face leaves people screaming
There's a child behind it dreaming
Like everybody else, I've got a dream!
Thugs:
Tor would like to quit and be a florist
Gunther does interior design
Ulf is into mime, Attila's cupcakes are sublime
Bruiser knits, Killer sews, Fang does little puppet shows
Hook:
And Vladimir collects ceramic unicorns
Hook then looked at Flynn, "What about you?"
"I'm sorry, me?" Flynn questioned.
"What's your dream?" Big asked as he got Flynn off the hook and puts him on the floor.
"No, no, no. Sorry, boys. I don't sing." Flynn answered as he crossed his arms, which their response was many swords pointing straight at him. Having no choice, he sung.
Flynn:
I have dreams like you, no really
Just less touchy-feely
They mainly happen somewhere warm and sunny
On an island that I own, tanned and rested and alone
Surrounded by enormous piles of money
"How about you?" Hook asked, pointing his hook at Atlas.
Atlas was standing there, just dumbfounded at the fact that this is even happening. He then was shook out of it as he was then picked up and put on the table as Hook talked to him, "What's your dream?"
He would say that he doesn't sing, but since he doesn't want swords in the face, he thought of something to sing. "Well..."
Atlas:
I guess I also have a dream
That I would like to achieve
I want to explore, beyond these doors
I want to go beyond the limit, find adventures and free the spirit
I want freedom, yes!
I got a dream!
Rapunzel got up on the table as Atlas jumped off.
Rapunzel:
I've got a dream!
Thugs:
She's got a dream!
Rapunzel:
I've got a dream!
Thugs:
She's got a dream!
Rapunzel:
I just want to see the floating lanterns gleam!
Thugs:
Yeah!
Rapunzel:
And with each passing hour
I'm so glad I left my tower
Like all you lovely folks, I've got a dream!
Thugs:
She's got a dream!
He's got a dream!
They've got a dream!
We've got a dream!
So our differences ain't really that extreme
We're a big team
Call us brutal, sick
Hook:
Sadistic
Big:
And grotesquely optimistic
Thugs:
Cause way down deep inside we've got a dream!
Hook:
I've got a dream!
Big:
I've got a dream!
Thugs (Chorus):
I've got a dream!
I've got a dream!
I've got a dream!
Rapunzel:
I've got a dream!
Random Thug:
Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
All:
Yes way down deep inside, I've got a dream!
All of them finished as they cheered, cut off shortly after when Greno entered the pub, "I found the guards!"
Flynn quickly grabbed Rapunzel and Atlas and the three hid behind the bar under the counter as the guards behind Greno entered the pub.
"Where is he? Where is Rider?" The captain demanded.
After a short glance around, he spoke again. "Find him. Turn this place upside down if you have to!" He demanded as he slammed his left fist against the counter.
Hook then placed his hook in front of the three, shifting his eyes to a certain place in front of them. He then pulled the lever with the duck head and a secret passage opened. Hook then crouched by them, "Go. Live your dream."
"I will." Flynn agreed.
"Your dream stinks. I was talking to her." Hook corrected.
Flynn and Atlas entered as Rapunzel spoke, "Thanks for everything." She said as she then gave Hook a kiss on the cheek before entering the passage as well, the door closing behind them.
Meanwhile, with Riku
Riku exited out of a portal to then find himself in a forest with thick trees surrounding the area, "Interesting, the darkness I sensed is in a dark forest. Not really surprised."
"We meet again." Riku then turned around to then see Zander walk out from behind a tree.
Riku then summoned his keyblade, "So you lured me here, right?"
"No, this is just a coincidence." Zander sarcastically answered.
"Funny."
"I try. So, shall we get started?" Zander said as he then summoned an energy sword out of black ethereal energy.
Riku started by firing a dark firaga at him, only for it to be intercepted by another dark firaga shot by Zander. Riku then jumped over the smoke to then deliver a vertical slash at Zander, only for the attack to be blocked by the ethereal sword. Zander then pushed Riku's keyblade off his sword, making Riku jump back. He then dashed forward to deliver a stab attack, Riku deflecting it barely. He then retaliated with a strong horizontal slash, Zander ducking under it and attacked with an uppercut to Riku's chin. Riku staggered back as Zander then fired a blizzaga ball at him, Riku jumping out of the way to avoid it. The blizzaga ball hits the tree in its path, freezing almost the entire trunk on impact.
Riku stood up to then see Zander jump at him, swinging the blade down hard. Riku guarded it to brace for impact as the blade connected with the keyblade. Riku then quickly rushed at him under the blade to then fire a dark firaga up close. The attack actually connects, hitting Zander square in the stomach and sending him into a log behind him. Upon impact, the log shattered into many pieces as Zander then quickly got up by doing a backwards roll. Zander then jumped up high into the tree branches above.
Riku looked around as Zander dashed through the branches, him then jumping out from right above Riku to deliver a powerful stab. Riku looked up just in time to then quickly roll away as the blade impaled the ground. Riku was about to attack, only for Zander to fire a thundaga bolt at him. Riku sidestepped the attack, rushing in to deliver a quick slash. Zander jumped over him before Riku swung, landing behind him to retaliate with a vertical swing. Riku blocked it and retaliated, only for Zander to do the same. The two exchanged blows before they ended it in a deadlock.
"Not bad. Not bad at all." Zander commented.
"Tell me, why those three? They aren't involved in this at all." Riku said as he tried to push Zander back, but to no avail.
"What's wrong with having some apprentices under my wing to spread darkness?" Zander answered with a question.
"So, just expanding your ranks. Just you or is there more?" Riku said.
"I'm a lone wolf who wants to add to the pack." Zander simply answered as he then pushed Riku off his blade.
The energy blade then disappeared as Zander spoke, "Thanks for the exercise. I feel warmed up for our future encounters." He said as he then vanished into thin air, leaving only a fainting dark aura.
Riku's keyblade then vanished as he then started jogging through the forest, "Gotta find Atlas, and fast." He said to himself as he went further into the forest.
And there we go! Sorry for taking so long, I was busy for a couple of weeks and had to take care of it. So, Pep and Kyla has now have their new keyblades and is starting their training under Aqua. Riku has caught up as he arrives in the Tangled world. After a brief encounter with Zander, he then started his search. Will he find him in time? Or will Zander find him first? We shall see in the next chapter!
As for the keyblades, I asked Pep and Kyla if they wanted to create their own keyblades. As you can guess, Pep said yes and Kyla said no. Since Kyla said no, she decided to have the Pumpkinhead keyblade.
Anyways, until next time, I hope you enjoy this chapter and I'll see you later!
