o2 Chapter: The Alliances
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The teenager, who called himself Sora, explained everything in a tight bundle that Leon could hardly comprehend. Perhaps because he couldn't ultimately believe any of it. Heartless? World visiting? A group called Organization XIII? It sounded like a failing cartoon to him. Just when science had almost everything figured out. Not that it had the two animal humanoids in front of him explained. Physical defects? Maybe. He let out a slight, "huh," not indicating any surprise. "Sorry I don't believe you, kid." But he had seen zombies, the annihilation and disappearance of an entire city! Just... this one seemed a little too farfetched.
"Come on! You have to!" Sora shouted and clenched his fists. "What about those people?"
Leon had seen his ride, toppled over beside the truck. He remembered uttering a, "No..." in disbelief. If they had only came with him... He needed to head back. It was the only way to find out, and Ashley's life was still in danger. "I'll find them... My priority is here anyways."
"We can help!" The boy wasn't going to give in. Goofy and Donald also joined in with a unified nod. "Who knows... maybe Mickey and Riku came by here, too!"
"Plus, we ain't goin' anywhere anytime soon. Our ship still needs to be fixed, sir," Goofy pointed out.
"Name's Leon."
"Leon?" the trio chimed in together. They looked at one another... and chuckled amongst themselves. "He kinda acts a little like him, huh?" Sora started then the rest turned into joking whispers. They continued laughing a few times. The officer stared, slightly perplexed. Was there something unusual about his name? And when the Keyblade wielder noticed the man's confusion, he simply smiled. "You just reminded us of someone..." was the only answer he was given. Somewhere in Hallow Bastion, that Leon sneezed. (1)
Sora then stretched out a hand, his palm facing the earth. Donald and Goofy placed one of their hands also on top. "Come on, Leon! We can beat those guys up together, no problem!" They waited for the tower to be completed by their newfound ally, maybe even a friend. The adult gave a passing glance to the stacked fingers and palms... then cocked his handgun. He turned back to the path.
A scoff. "When did this become a backyard field trip for boyscouts? But..." Rotten wood from the crushed bridge lost their hold and fell into the highway of liquid below. There was a scattered series of splashes that Leon couldn't hear. "Looks like there's no way back. Keep close."
The Keyblade wielder took it as a positive response to them tagging along. But then he realized. He looked to his friends and whispered the question, "What about Chip and Dale?" Would it be okay to leave them behind? What if someone came and tried to hurt them?
Goofy reassured him. "Dun worry. D'ose two can handle that ship by 'emselves!" And Sora nodded uncertainly. If he said so.
Kennedy ignored the trio's mutterings and tended to a business of his own. He slid his hand through his coat and took out a hand-held radio transceiver. Its other was located elsewhere, likely back at home, and in the hands of his only availible support, a woman named Ingrid Hunnigan. He pressed a button located on its side. There was a few seconds of noisy static. When it died down, the officer brought the speaker close to his mouth. His voice was sent clearly to the other side.
"Hey, Hunnigan. It's Leon."
"What? Already calling so soon?" the woman replied. His first transmission had been at least ten minutes ago, at most.
"Heh... Unfortunately, I've found three stranded civilians... and it seems the officers from earlier are missing."
"Jeez, sounds like trouble."
"...Yeah, and the villagers threw a nice welcoming party."
"Should I send a chopper over?"
"Once I've found the subject. Though I wouldn't mind a larger transport. I'm continuing the investigation. Leon out."
Slipping the transmitter back into its holster, Leon looked to Sora and his company. He pointed to the only direction they could go. "Let's get going."
- ( Leon has been added to the party. ) -
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"Hey! Hey! Just wait till my father finds out about you!" a girl's voice sounded from behind an old rusted door, apparently a storage closet to the village's church. She continuously shouted threats that never met the kidnappers' ears. Though the racket itself caused a smaller white-haired man to rub his temples in aggrivation. His aristocratic clothes stood out compared to the villagers that surrounded him.
"What a... displeasing noise," he breathed to himself and gestured the minions to head out of the chapel. They nodded like dumb marionettes and treaded to the double doors. "Now... why did Lord Saddler allow you to roam... free?" His cold accent rolled off his tongue. He eyed a fat, more cat than dog-like creature lounging on one of the church's benches.
A human-like paw rested lazily on the top of the extended seat. Stripes decorated the front of the creature's partially red uniform. He gave a hearty, and stupid, laugh, revealing his pair of dull square-shaped teeth. Pete. "Now, don'cha get all high 'n' mighty on me! With my help, you kin take over this here world in no time!" He snapped his fingers, and the floor became infested with shadows. They writhed in distorted shapes until finally yellow-eyed beasts crawled their way out. Their antennaes flicked in the air as they gave a little dance, sliding from one way to the next. Something was attracting them, but they didn't budge from Pete's side.
The aristocrat gave a witch-like cackle. He drummed his fingers together. "I see..." Hands dropped and were placed behind him in a gentlemanly fashion, and the small man walked himself to the entrance. "But-... If you and those things provide no use, then I shall personally dispose of you." The door slammed as he left.
"Hmf! We'll see 'bout that! If it ain't for me, that Keyblade wielding brat would'a probably done away with you guys by now!" He relaxed even further on the bench. "Lucky for me those three are heading to Disney Castle 'nd not here."
Then... A voice echoed throughout the cathedral's empty seminar. "Haha... You have visitors. Got it memorized?"
"Huh?!" Pete slipped from the bench. "Who's there?" he shouted from his slumped position then looked to his parade of obsidian beasts. "Well! Go 'n find who it was! Attack!"
And the Heartless dispersed.
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(1) - In Japanese culture, it's said that everytime you sneeze, it means someone is talking about you. :X
A/N – Thanks for the reviews! Makes me real happy to know that someone is actually reading:D Hopefully, I'll get the story to pick up its pace... if I don't get too lazy, that is. :33