Disclaimer: The following series and characters belong to their respective corporations: Nintendo, Disney, and Square-Enix, including their respectful developers. The following characters of this fic: Kyle Nasher, Dirk Lionheart, Alana (Lana) Blade, Drew Devin, and Nived Werd belong to author Mace the Manakete in agreement to his written consent.

Nintendo. Disney. Square-Enix
Kingdom Hearts Chronicles: Vol.1
KINGDOM BLESSINGS

—CHAPTER 11—
Chase

Everyone gathered at the castle's courtyard for the Hyrulean tournament. The tournament was no typical fighting tournament. It was a tournament that could test the participants' skills in strength, mind, and spirit in three trials. The first trial was a knowledge trial, which is a trial for the mind. The knowledge trial was based on the subject of Hyrule Land's national geographies, histories, lands and its most known legends, including the birth of the Holy Triforce. Many participants did not do well on the knowledge trial. Perhaps it was because they did not expect the tournament to be based on mental skills in preference to strength and brutality, or they did not believe in the legends told by many scholars. However, because the upcoming two trials focus more on the skills in body and spirit, participants believed that these two trials will be combat-based, and so they tried their best to pass the knowledge trial, even though they have no chance. Almost eighty-two participants failed the knowledge trial and did not move on, including Luigi and Goofy. Dirk and Kyle passed by sheer luck and Mario and Bowser passed with little knowledge. Donald passed the trial quite easily, since he spent most of his imperial time studying magic in various worlds including Hyrule Land. Link and Vaati passed with flying colors.

The next trial, as many expected but not really, was an endurance trial, consisting of random puzzle that requires intelligence and magic, meaning it was a test of skills in both mind and spirit. During the trial, participants traveled from the castle entrance into the castle top, all while achieving a certain puzzle required to approach further. During the trial, participants will be able to collect orbs for points. The first two persons to reach the castle top or get the most orb points are declared qualified to battle each other in the final trial, which is the Battle Trial, testing strength as an addition. The winner would emerge the tournament champion and be blessed by the Holy Triforce.

Entering the Endurance Trial were Kyle, Dirk, Mario, Bowser, Donald, Link and Vaati, each with their own desire of the Holy Triforce. The trial began and the gang separated into groups: Kyle and Donald, Dirk and Link, and Mario and Bowser. Vaati was the sole person and the first one to reach the finish line after achieving many trials, including the pool of snakes and spiders which are Dirk's biggest fears, the stampede of soldiers which were Kyle's biggest challenges and even the stomping statues in which the trail rules was to shatter many living statues. The second winner after Vaati was Bowser, who succeeded by collecting over three hundred orb points.

It was now the Battle Trial, and Bowser and Vaati were to battle until the last person was standing. Unfortunately, Vaati emerged victorious after sending a Dark Shadow Ball on Bowser, knocking him off the ring.

Two hours passed by and everyone gathered once again at the Hyrule Castle Gardens, anticipating the arrival of the winner of the Hyrule Tournament. Trumpets sounded once more and the crowd gave way to Vaati. Vaati was all smiles.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Your newest Hyrule Tournament champion: Vaati." The announcer yelled and the crowd went wild.

Vaati approached Zelda to the podium in front of the entire swarm of people. Vaati chuckled, "To think things will go well, and it is really happening. I now stand in front of Princess Zelda of Hyrule, and I shall not only be blessed by her Sacred Triforce, but I will take it for myself!"

"Vaati?" Zelda asked with concern. Vaati faced Zelda once more, raises his hands up in the air, and began to speak in ancient lore. The sky darkened and everyone in the crowd began to panic. A dark ball formed up above his hands and aimed his hands toward Zelda. Zelda let out a painful scream as her body began to petrify.

"Zelda, no!" Link yelled through the roaring of the thunders. Vaati turned around and only by looking at every screaming individual, they fell on the ground and suddenly, round-shaped crystal clear light emerged from their body. Their bodies then began to desegregate. The heroes watched the event in horror.

"Blessings." The voice of Sora sounded among the heroes. Sora wasn't among them at that time, "These round balls… they're blessings. Blessings everywhere. Every one is falling in the depth of darkness."

"We have to stop him!" Kyle exclaimed, "Come on guys!"

The heroes run toward Vaati, and before their very eyes, Vaati disappeared in a black cloud of smokes, along with Zelda.

"If you want Zelda's Blessing and value your life, come on inside the Castle and I shall take you to your doom myself!" following his decree was a series of laughter. Suddenly, Wire Frames materialized in front of them. Unlike the male and female, they were different. Some Wire Frames were of the Hyrulean race and some were creatures the deformed shape of Abaddon and winged scorpions. The heroes were surrounded. Kyle summoned his Keyblade and the others pulled out their weapons, ready to fight.

Abaddons flew towards Kyle, Bowser, and Goofy. Goofy leapt and delivered a tornado uppercut. The wind surrounded him, knocking nearby Wire Frames as well. The Hyrulean all pulled out their bows and aimed for Donald. Luigi jumped in front, taking the damage for the duck. Donald, seeing his friend wounded, takes turn to protect him. He raises his staff and a thunder jolt slammed on the ground, blowing the Wire Frames far away. He then turned to face Luigi, raised his staff again and a rain of leaves descended gracefully on Luigi, putting him back on his feet. Mario and Dirk were facing back to back, shooting fireballs together. A winged scorpion flew right toward them and snatched Mario in the air, carrying it up. Dirk aimed his gun and fired a fireball, nailing the scorpion's left wing. The scorpion fell, releasing Mario. Mario broke his fall and landed in a squat. Both duo high fived each other. Bowser breathed fire around, scorching every one of his enemies. A winged scorpion came toward him at full force and tackled him hard on the back. Bowser fell on the ground. He was about to get up when Abaddons Wire Frames began ambushing him. Link jumped in between Bowser and the Wire Frames and landed a spinning slash on them. Kyle kept swinging his Keyblade, successfully nailing every creature he saw. Suddenly, another Wire Frame came into view. It was a hideous Coeurl. The newly form Wire Frame leapt on Kyle and tackled him hard on the ground. Kyle fell. The Coeurl hissed. Goofy jumped in front and dashed on the creature, sending it midair. Donald jumped, aimed his staff at the Coeurl and fired a Fire Spell on it. The Coeurl vanished and more of them began to merge. The heroes felt overpowered as many more Wire Frames surrounded them.

"They're so many of them." Donald exclaimed.

"No way, no way, no way I'm going to allow the King of Koopas to lose to the likes like you!" Bowser yelled at the Wire Frames. The Wire Frames leapt on the heroes when suddenly a strident cry came from out of nowhere, causing each one of the Wire Frames to fade. The heroes looked up and noticed a figure descending from the sky at great speed. The figure landed in front of them, revealing to be a Dragoon. His purple dragoon costume covered most of his body, only exposing his purple hair strands.

"I assume you need assistance." The dragoon began.

"Who are you?" Kyle asked.

"Call me Ricard." The dragoon said, "I'm a dragon-riding traveler. Hyrule and the other worlds are all in grave danger."

"And you think we didn't know that?" Dirk argued.

A bell chimed in front of the castle causing everyone to look up. Ricard went on, "You don't have much time. Vaati may have Zelda's Blessing, but the princess has not perished yet." He then faced Kyle, breathed in, and then exhaled.

Fire suddenly shot out of Ricard's mouth, aiming at Kyle. Everyone freaked. Kyle quickly moved his Keyblade up by his face in defense, and the fire breath landed on it, emitting a glowing red color for a short period, "What the--?" Kyle exclaimed.

"What have you done to his Keyblade?" Mario exclaimed, "You can't just come up here and spit fire around."

"Exactly." Ricard replied, "What I just did will aid Kyle. The Keyblade now has the power to unleash the mystical spell of Fire."

Kyle looked at Ricard then at the Keyblade, "Cool. Scary… but cool."

"Now hurry inside." Ricard said, "We don't have much time to waste."

"Right!" the heroes entered the castle and to their biggest surprise, they saw their entire surrounding shrouded in darkness.

"Gawrsh!" Goofy shuddered, "I'm scared…"

"What happened?" Kyle questioned the castle's surroundings, "Everything is shrouded in darkness."

Suddenly, Vaati's voice boomed around the castle, "Gah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Aren't you all persistent little twerps?"

Link stepped up and formed a fist in the air, "Show yourself, Vaati! What have you done to Zelda?"

"And you owe me a rematch!" Bowser shook his fist in the air as well, "You cheated back there!"

"So you've come to stop my little ceremony heh?" Vaati's voice replied, "Well, you're too late."

Another bell chimed, catching everyone's attentions. Vaati continued, "A mere three more chimes to the bell will bring the ceremony to its end! And with the third toll of the bell, I will become like a god and your precious Princess Zelda will be nothing more than a cold…dead…stone."

"NO!" Link yelled and started to run for the door in front of them. The heroes followed, "Link! Wait up!" Kyle yelled.

Wire Frames suddenly merged out of nowhere, blocking the heroes' road.

"More of them?" Dirk exclaimed.

"We have to save Zelda!" Link drew his sword from his sheathe and nailed a Spinning Attack on the enemies, "Out of my way!"

The rest of the gang joined in the fray as well. Kyle swung his Keyblade around, nailing every one of the Wire Frames and Dirk, Bowser, Goofy, Mario, and Luigi charged on them as their finishing blows. They crossed them and reached the door. They opened the door and up front stood a herd of Heartless blocking the road. The first bell chimed.

"Another bell!" Mario exclaimed.

"I don't think we will make it!" Goofy proclaimed.

"We will guys!" Kyle then faced Link, "Don't worry Link. Princess Zelda will not perish."

Kyle raised his Keyblade in the air and the tip of the blade twinkle a heart-shaped light.

"Sora! I summon you!" Kyle cried as he aimed the Keyblade at the heartless, posed and at a ridiculously speed of light, went 'Rising Sun' through the heartless, shaving the road clear of them. At every strike, Sora's translucent body was seen in Kyle.

Kyle stopped short at the door and turned around to see the road was free of heartless. He went on his knees, worn out. The rest of the heroes followed him. They had a shocked look on their faces.

"Kyle! Buddy! You okay?" Dirk asked.

"How did you do that?" Mario asked.

"Yeah! That was totally awesome!" Luigi said.

"This is no time to discuss this." Link gallingly said, "We have to get to Vaati before it's too late."

The heroes penetrated through the next portal and found themselves at yet another room. The second bell chimed.

"Another one!" Donald exclaimed.

"We might be too late." Goofy doubted.

"Looks like we're not. Look!" Bowser pointed at yet another door sixty feet in front of them.

"The last door." Kyle said, "Guys, whatever that is behind this door is expecting us."

"Vaati." Link clenched a fist, "If I ever find you."

Link ran for the door, followed by Kyle. The rest of the heroes followed behind. Suddenly, Donald felt a force knocking him back critically. Donald fell on Mario who fell on Luigi who fell on Dirk who fell on Goofy who fell on the ground. Link and Kyle turned back.

"Hey! What's the deal?" Mario cried.

"Something blocked the road!" Donald complained.

"Guys! Are you all right?" Link approached them when he slammed into what it looked like an invisible wall. Everyone looked surprised. The rest of the gang rose from the ground and Dirk went to examine the wall separating them.

"What the—?" Dirk said.

"It's a wall." Luigi said, "We're trapped. Well…not all of us."

"This is ridiculous." Bowser complained, "How come you all get to pass through it and we can't?"

The floor suddenly shook heavily. Everyone turned to look back and they witnessed the ground splitting in two, allowing a large tree-sized anaconda to merge. The snake's body looked ashen but hard. It was no ordinary anaconda. It was a Nobody.

Sora: Oh no, a giant Nobody anaconda just blocked our road. We must defeat it and rescue Princess Zelda before the third bell chimes or we'll be too late.

The epic continues

NeXt ChApTeR