Sorry for lateness again. :( I had to do a band trip for my school for the peach bowl after Christmas day and was there for a whole week. And to top that off my school had finals plus my computer was being evil and did not update any of the stories I was reading plus the Word document was down.
Any who I do hope people still read this and enjoy the story and I do hope you like the action I have putting in to it. PLEASE READ AND REVIEW :)
The Next Stop
Sora and Riku plus others at Radiant Garden
Everyone was setting or standing in Ansem the Wise's study. Cloud hand Sora the horn of Ixoin, the Aeon did not ask, just fallowed his friends listing to what they will tell him about the new summoner1. Sora started the powder caged "So Akemi was taken" Sora said with an empty voice. "I am sor-" Aerith started but cloud stepped in. "No, it was my fault for not being able to help Leon and stop him." Cloud said shutting up Aerith. "Wait, Leon took Akemi!" Riku said shocked.
"Yes and no. Have you guys ever encountered a woman named Rosso?" Cloud asked. "No" everyone in Sora's group said. "She had Leon under something. He was a damn puppet." Cloud said hitting the wall. "So have you guys found anything?" Sora asked looking at the group two. (Axel and Roxas)
"We got the Aeon Yojimbo. Oh and we have some of those shards from that crystal heart." Roxas said as he hand Sora the scroll that was Yojimbo. Axel gave him a funny look. "When did we get the shards?" Axel asked staring at his lover. "I went out in the middle of the night to get them incase we could find clues how to stop the Nobodies that can't die because they have this fake heart." Roxas said taking out his bag and poured the fragments on the table.
Everyone moved closer to look at the pieces. "So what do you think Merlin?" Sora asked out loud. Everyone in the study looked at Sora in a funny way except Riku. "Well, I do say. Your magic has grown young man." Merlin said behind Yuffie and Tifa, giving both girls a heart attack.
"I would say that this is a cross between some strong magic and interesting science." Merlin said picking up one of the larger pieces. "Science, OH, I remember reading something like that in Ansem's studies, and I also found some of Xenhort's old records."2 Tifa said covering from her scare. She walked over to the computer attached to a table behind her. As she pulled up the files a holographic screens appeared in front of the places were chairs were set.
Riku pulled a chair for Sora before sitting and waited till everyone else sat down. Tifa sat at the desk with the computer. "Tron, can you give me all those file that have to do with that info on a replica heart we found." Tifa said as she pulled up next to Yuffie and sat and watched the screen. "Right away ma'm."
A document title that read 'Hearts' appeared in front of everyone one. The file opened to show designs of a real heart and then a mechanical heart; to a crystal heart. "These are not the notes that Ansem the wise made. At the corners at the pages read the name Redd H." Tron said as he zoomed in the place that he mentioned.
"Redd as in Queen Redd?" Sora asked. "Yes" Tron answered. "She refers to her self as the Queen of Hearts. She was quiet intelligent and had much insight on the heart and same for the imagination." Torn said pulling up a journal document. "She was from another world which was called Wonderland." Tifa said.
"This is a different world from the Wonderland that is here. She was able to use imagination to control and manipulate reality by using her heart in what ever she thought of. Apparently only the royal family of the world could use this power." Tifa ended as Torn scrolled through the pictures of this 'other' Wonderland.
"There is a journal entry that Ansem said that he met this woman and was intrigued by her studies. There is only and entry that said. 'I finally have that witch of woman's research'. That's all that he wrote," Torn said as he opened Ansem's file. "Leon was able to connect the lines together and this info was mostly Leon's work." Tifa added as all the documents pulled away.
"So, your saying that's why Leon was taken, because he was getting to find the ways to kill her servants?" Cloud asked shocked. "That's the only conclusion we can make right now" Torn said still on the screens.
"So how do we get rid of this heart thing?" Yuffie cut in seeing Cloud go silent, 'Probably planning on his Guide to How to Kill the Bitch of the World, multiple ways included by Cloud Strife' Yuffie thought.
"From the design patterns, the best way is to cut the heart from top to bottom. If you cut it any other way the heart will go invisible and the blade will pass through." 3Tron said pulling up the blue prints indicating the flaws and weak points.
"Dose anyone know where his majesty is?" Donald asked. Everyone shock there heads no. The duo gave a sigh of frustration for losing their king again. "Cheer up guys" Mickey said walking in the door. "YOUR MAJESTY!?" Donald and Goofy shouted in surprise and shock.
"Hello Mickey." Riku said staring at his old friend. "So what do you know about all this?" Sora asked butting in before Riku could say anything else. "I know Akemi has been taken to Redd's castle and that you have only one Aeon to find before she can start her plans." Mickey said as he walked over to the table where everyone sat.
"YOU KNOW WHERE SHE IS?!" Everyone shouted at the mouse as he walked coolly to the table. "Yes, but we can't get to her just yet we have to plan this. Her castle is in some other universe from what I can tell. She is keeping Akemi in some hidden place in the castle, she dose not want her servants finding out for some reason." Mickey said as goof offered him a seat.
"And I found something odd out. Apparently Xemnas is back." Mickey said slowly letting his words hang for a moment. "What do you mean back? We killed him! Sora and I watch that bastard take his last breath!"Riku half shouting stood and glared at his friend. "Calm down Riku. I was able to see this Xemnas." Mickey said raising his voice slightly at his friend.
"He had those yellow eyes but he did not have Xenhort's face. He looked to be a member of Organization Thirteen. But his voice was the same as Xemnas'. I think that Xemnas made him self a host body as a fall back plan. Do either of you remember an Organization member with blue purple like hair, covering half of his face." Mickey said looking at Sora and Riku hard.
"Yes. Zexion, he played a trick on me thinking that I would crumble if I saw Sora at Destiny Islands. I remember he had the power to manipulate darkness and copy my abilities 4." Riku said going back to that memory as he sat down.
"So what are we waiting for?" Cid asked as he chewed on his toothpick.5 "Apparently Xemnas dose not like Redd and taking commands. Without her he would not be alive. He is planning to strike back. He may not have most of his nobodies but he has her servants and the all the Heartless on his side." Mickey told Cid.
"We need to get that last Aeon and get in the castle when the rebellion starts and work the battle in our favor." Mickey said to everyone. "But, what about the other Nobodies? Redd's servants. What will we do about them?" Tifa said to make sure everything was stable with this perfect plan. "We must have everyone's help to win this war." Mickey said to everyone in this room.
"This may be the closet thing that the darkness has ever gotten to actually completely devouring the light." Mickey said making sure that his words sunk into everyone's mind. "When do we move out?" Axel said cutting through the silence.
"One week" Mickey said. "Xemnas wants to make sure to get all the darkness he can obtain to win. And he still needs to make sure Redd dose not know. The others will fallow her orders with silence and wait. They plan to get the final Aeon and try to use it for there favor, how, I do not know and don't think Xemnas knows how to either." Mickey said ending his speech.
"How will they be able to obtain the light to control an Aeon or find a stronger darkness than Redd's?" Yuffie asked aloud. Silence only answered her.
"That woman." Tifa said realizing something. "What?" Sora asked looking at her. "Tira, she was able to absorb the energy from the Heartless and Nobodies 6, maybe she can absorb the light energy as well?" Tifa said out loud trying to make her train of thought work 7.
"Light!" Riku shouted standing up, making everyone jump. "The seven princess. Xemnas is collecting them for himself." Riku said looking at everyone. "That's way all the Worlds were being attacked. To keep us from the princess', the only one we knew had been taken was Belle."8 Riku finished looking at Sora.
"That's why Redd is hiding Akemi from Xemnas, she knows." Sora said looking at the king for a response. "That is it. The princess hearts could equal the power of Akemi's." King said closing his eyes in thought. "But they don't have Kairi" Donald said thinking of all of the princess'.
"I don't think they need Kairi to get the Aeon" Mickey said returning to his thoughts.
Redd's Domicile
Redd sat in her arm chair, looking through her glass in her observation dome. "I see you" Redd said as she watched all of her pests gather and plot. She turned to another glass to see Xemnas planning to open all seven hearts at once to try to use on the Aeon.
"Hmmm, rather stupid" Cat said from Redd's lap. "You seem to be enjoying yourself" The Cat said in his kitten masquerade. "Huh, you my little love, know me to well." She said as she stroked the Cat's head.
"Is the baby secure?" The Cat asked purring. "Akemi is in one of the hidden chambers, of course." Redd said as one of the magnifying glasses showed Akemi asleep inside of the white rose crib.
"So when do you want to send your Cut in for the kill?" The Cat asked rolling on his stomach for Redd to rub. "I think I will send them in when they plan on sleeping. Hmm?" Redd said as her glass with the group on it faded into a blur. "What is wrong?" The Cat said sitting up.
"Someone is trying to interfere with my imagination. They are not strong but they are impressive." Redd said as her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Her powers were being clouded by a smoke like vial. "Redd!" The Cat said as he jumped down and transformed. Redd closed her eyes and fell forward, falling into her loves arms.
"I am fine" She huffed out to the Cat. "Send in the first hand and send Puppetmaster in to lead." Redd said to her Cat. "Fine" he replied as he laid her on the silk bench. "Come on Puppetmaster, you have an army to lead." Cat said to Leon. The parasite called Puppetmaster 9 had taken over his body but not so much of the heart.
The man had claws and looked like he was hit with an inkblot. Covering half's of his body were black patches that formed hard and sold and small spikes appeared along his right side and arm. "Let's play hand grenade" The Puppetmaster said, some how using making his voice heard without moving the man's lips. The pair walked through the mirror next to the doorway, stepping out they entered Redd's hidden army of Card creatures.
"First Hand!" The Cat shouted to the metal army. Redd had made improvements from the original design. Now metal armies of card solider filled the room. Soldiers twice the height of an average man, limbs of steel and a brain that understood little more than how to follow orders in combat filled the hall that miles long.
The Cards looked up at the Cat, saluting him. "Deal out to Radiant Garden!" The Cat shouted. A third of the metallic soldiers folded into what looked to be ordinary playing cards, albeit larger, and staked onto each other. A dark portal opened under the deck and the enveloped the Cards, taking them to Radiant Garden. Puppetmaster opened his own portal fallowing behind the Cards.
Radiant Garden
Riku sat with everyone else thinking about what to do next. "Where is the final Aeon?" Riku asked out loud "In wonderland" Sora answered as he looked at the documents. "But, doesn't that mean that they already have that Aeon! Alice is a princess." Donald asked as he looked at the king for instructions.
"I don't know Donald" Mickey replied still deep in thought. "What is there about this Aeon?' Goofy asked Sora. "Says here that this Aeon is a sister group. Sandy, Cindy and Mandy the Aeon sisters, friends to nature that harbor all worlds, these three will go find a beautiful aroma and sleep inside of the forgotten mushroom of this other world from Radiant Garden, Wonderland, that the Queen has named. And that's it" Sora said finishing.
Riku listened silently. "Cheshire Cat will know something and probably has been hiding that mushroom form the darkness." Riku said looking at Sora. "Your right! He was the one that helped us in finding that Trickster Heartless also." Sora said looking at his husband.
Riku was about to add something when he stopped. He inhaled again, smelling that odor. He looked at Cloud. "Do you smell that?" Riku asked looking at the blond. Cloud closed his eyes and inhaled. "Yep, we have guests" Cloud said grabbing his buster blade that was leaning against the wall.
Everyone pulled out there weapons at the ready. "Your majesty, Aerith and Yuffie stay here to make sure nothing attacks from the inside out. Axel, Roxas and Cid you go to Tron and see if he needs any help. Riku, Sora, Donald, Goofy and Tifa will come with me." Cloud said in his, unknown to him, Leon way. "Yes sir!" Everyone shouted, even Cid.
Outside
An army of Card shoulders was being lead by Leon or the Puppetmaster. "MOVE OUT!" The Puppetmaster shouted, an almost roaring sound filled the air as the mechanical army moved for its victim's.
Puppetmaster flexed both of his claws, letting the darkness control this body. 'I have your body Leon' Puppetmaster said to the only part that he could not reach. 'That damn heart' he called it.
The group outside
"LEON!?" Cloud shouted when he saw the figure lead the strange robots. "What has she done?" Cloud sneered. Leon looked to be changed from a man to a half heartless. Leon hands were sharp claws and spikes, searing darkness infested his once lovely skin. He held his Gunblade in his black clawed hand.
"Cloud, you will have to fight him to bring him back." Riku said walking next to Cloud standing at the edge of the cliff looking at the army. "This is not the Leon you know, look at him he is being taken over by some possessor Heartless. I don't think it has his heart." Sora said walking next to Cloud. "Ready everybody?" Donald asked.
"Let's go get Leon back" Tifa said as the jumped down to meet the Card soldiers half way. The Card soldiers in the front of the line pulled out AD52s, automatic dealers, cable of shooting razor-sharp projectiles the size and shape of ordinary playing cards at the rate of fifty-two per second.
The cards zoomed at the group, "Donald!""Sora!" The pair shouted, jumping in front of the group. "REFLECT!" Sora and Donald shouted sending the cards at some of the shooters. Goofy then hurled his Save the King at the remaining Heartless, cutting them across the chest. The soldiers then folded into there cards and fell to the ground dead.
"Aim for there chests" Goofy shouted as he caught his shield. "Right" Cloud said dashing forward. The second lined pulled out swords and some Ad52s. Cloud cut through them like butter. The soldiers jumped over him and slashed at his back. Cloud was able to avoid most of the attacks on him.
Sora sent his Ultima flying cutting through some of the army. 'Can we come out and play' The Aeons asked as Sora cut down some more card soldiers. 'But I can't fight if I am helping you guys with the life support you need. Sora spoke back as he blocked a card that surprised him. 'You can fight with us if you release all at once, we are together so you don't have to stand on the side lines.' Bahamut said.
"Fine" Sora shouted as he let out a burst of magic orbs shattering the Cards around him.
Sora called out all the Aeons. Valefor came first falling from the sky opening his wings as he neared the ground, blowing all the surrounding cards into each other. Ifrit fallowed, the ground shock under Sora's feet, a horned best encased in fire burst and jumped in the air, catching the flying Sora and set him down near him.
Shiva, pillars of ice fell behind Sora, crushing some cards, Shiva slowly floated in to spikes of ice. The ice burst and Shiva stood ready. A tree Appeared next to Sora, Yojimbo walked out behind it fallowed by his companied, Daigoro. The skies parted once more and a roar sounded, as Bahamut flew down. A burst of lighting opened next to Sora, the horn appeared out half way, then Ixoin jumped out.
Riku cut and fired the cards that came at him with AD52s. He stopped when he saw the Aeons next to Sora, some of the card soldiers stopped as well. "Go!" Sora shouted. Valefor sent a beam of energy around Tifa, cutting the soldiers in two, fallowed by a burst as the ground exploded, finishing the left over's.
"Thanks" Tifa said as Valefor flew next to her aid, send a sonic burst out of its wings.
Ifrit
Ifrit clawed and slashed his way through the cards. Some tired to cut through the fur only to have their blades shatter or melt.
'Ifrit help Goofy' Sora said. The Aeon looked for the dog to see it, defending against and horrid of AD52s. 'Right'
Ifrit jumped high in the air. His hands glowed to holding what looked to be small meteors in each hand. He hurled them at the cards under him and sending the cards in to the sky in a pillar of fire.
As Ifrit fell to the earth he sent another orb of fire at the cards, as this orb it, the pillar was encased inside of a sphere, holding all the cards and fire captive. Ifrit then dug his claws into the ground then hurled the huge rock and earth at the sphere shattering it and watched as all the parts of the card soldiers fell.
Shiva
Shiva kicked and danced her way through the cards, freezing them as she touched them or shattered them when she kicked. A part of the soldiers charged at her, Shiva kissed her fingers and spun around, sending a wave of ice and wind at the cards, freezing them instantly. Shiva ran her hands over her body to stop above her head.
A white light bloomed at the palm of her hand. She sent the beam of light over the ice, making it grow and attack the frozen bodies as they sharpened and grew thick. When the light died Shiva raised her hand to the iced sculptures before her. She snapped her fingers and the ice and shattered the figures.
'Shiva help Cloud' Sora said to the ice queen. 'Right' Shiva said as she jumped over the cards to Cloud.
Yojimbo
Yojimbo sent his knives at the cards that tried to attack him. Daigoro head butted the cards chests or kicked them. Yojimbo unsheathed his sword and sent a wave of slashes through the cards, cutting them into pieces. Yojimbo raised his hand to his face chatting silently as Daigoro held off the cards.
'Yojimbo, I need you to get rid of as many of the cards you can' Sora said to the Aeon. 'If that is what the employer wants'. Yojimbo said
A black hole opened at Yojimbo's feet, a long sword rose from the hole in front of him. Yojimbo took the long blade and unsheathed the weapon. Running, Yojimbo dragged the blade across the ground, and slashed the cards as he reached them.
A flash of silver covered the area, passing through all of the cards in front of the Aeon. When the blade disappeared the cards torso went one way and the rest went the other way.
Bahamut
The dragon king slashed and stepped on any card that tried to attack. Four black orbs formed at Bahamut's hands and top of his wings. He pulled back his arms and sent the orbs flying at the next wave of cards coming at him. The orbs shattered the cards they passed through and reached the ground, black fire burst around the cards burning them to ashes.
'Bahamut help Donald' The Aeon heard Sora. The dragon saw the duck covered in cards, trying to kill them with his magic.
Bahamut back flipped and dug his nails into the ground, the wheel on his back spun at his speed.10 Bahamut opened his mouth wide as energy gathered, the dragon let the burst of energy fly at the on coming cards, destroying them instantly.
"Thanks" Donald said to the Aeon as it flew next to him.
Ixoin
The unicorn rammed its horn into every card that tried to attack. 'Help Yojimbo get rid of the soldiers' Sora said to the Aeon. 'All right' Ixoin said Send a huge bolt of lighting at the metal soldier in front of him.
The horse charge to Yojimbo's side, Ixoin sent a bolt of electricity at the soldiers behind Yojimbo before they could attack. Ixoin moved his head up taking the soldiers into the sky. Ixoin sent another surge of energy at the cards causing them to die and crash into their comrades below.
'Thank you' Yojimbo said to Ixoin as he sent his knives at the soldiers coming at Ixoin.
Sora and Riku
Sora hurled his Ultima at the soldiers that tied to attack Riku from behind. "The cards soldiers are slowly going down in numbers." Riku said noticing that the Aeons were doing a great job at helping there friends and each other.
"We need to make sure we get this done quickly so we can find the last Aeon." Sora said as He cut the soldiers out of his way. "Right" Riku said as he covered his wife's back.
Cloud and Shiva
"Leon" Cloud said as the last soldier, near him and Shiva, was cut down. "I am sorry but Leon is not here right know" The Puppetmaster said to Cloud. "How are you" Cloud growled out at the thing in front of him.
"Puppetmaster." was all the entity had said. "Get out of Leon" Cloud sneered again. Shiva merely waited till she would help. 'Don't do anything you will regret' Shiva said using the light in Cloud heart to reach his clouded mind. 'How can you talk to me?' Cloud asked using his heart to communicate.
'Sora is light and have given us powers that we our selves did not now we had' Shiva told the blond warrior. 'Hold him down if you can' Cloud told her. Cloud dashed at Leon blade ready, Shiva sent a burst of ice at Leon's feet trying to pin the possessed man down.
Cloud slashed at Puppetmaster, the possessor used Leon's gunblade to stop the attack but shook as the burst of energy traveled through his host. "Damn" Puppetmaster said as he sent a wave of darkness over himself, shattering the ice at his feet and pushing Cloud back.
"Fire" Puppetmaster said. The card soldiers that were circling, the trio about-face and fired there AD52s. Shiva twirled around sending a wall of thick ice around her and Cloud, the razor sharp cards impaled themselves onto the ice as the soldiers tried to destroy the shield before their decks ran out.
Shiva twirled around again this time sending large spears of ice at the soldiers. The ice spears went through every card that was attacking them. Cloud jumped out of the ring of ice and charged at Puppetmaster.
When the soldier folded, Shiva saw Cloud jump out, she shattered the ring of ice with a flick of her wrists. The shards hung in mind air like a glass wind chime. With another flick of the wrists Shiva sent the shards of ice at Puppetmaster.
The Puppetmaster summoned as small shield of shadows to stop the ice, while he tried to block Clouds swings. When the last shard of ice disappered Puppetmaster jumped back out of Cloud's reache.
Puppetmaster then shout a flam bullet at Cloud. Cloud was about to defend himself when a combustion of ice and air destroyed the bullet giving Cloud enough time to charge at Leon. Swords lock Cloud and Puppetmaster slowly came in contact with the earth.
"GET OUT OF HIM!" Cloud shouted as he shoved the Puppetmaster into the ground. "Like hell" The Puppetmaster said making Leon smirk. Puppetmaster then kicked Cloud in the stomach sending back.
Shiva ran over to the pair and duck under Cloud as she sent a wave of ice pillars at the Puppetmaster. The Puppetmaster sent 3 fire bullets at Shiva just as the pillars came in contact with his body, pricing his or rather Leon's stomach. The fire bullets were a direct hit on Shiva's account the fire weakened her body, Shiva fell to her knees.
Before she snapped her fingers, shattering the ice around the Puppetmaster and sent it into Leon's body. The ice melted into pure light once it entered Leon's body. Leon body withered and screamed form the twilight effect in him. Shiva melted into spheres of light and went back to Sora's heart to regain her strength.
Leon shook as the darkness oozed out of his wound, the spikes and claws slowly washed off him. Cloud regained his composure as he saw the ice impale Leon. The darkness at Leon's feet slowly shaped a Heartless shaped like Leon.
"Damn" The Puppetmaster said a he opened a portal and disappeared into as the last soldier died at Sora's hands.
"LEON!" Cloud shouted as he ran to help the now unconscious Leon. All the Aeons melted to light and flew to Sora's heart once more.
"Cloud" Sora said concerned as he and Riku ran next to the blonde. Everyone ran as well. Donald and Tifa healed everyone when they reached the circle around Cloud and Leon.
"Sora, go and get that Aeon and then come back here. I want to go with you to get that Puppetmaster and that bitch Rosso." Cloud said as he poured a potion onto Leon's wound and a little down his throat.
"We can't waste time" Riku said to Sora. "But" "Cloud can take care of Leon. We wasted enough time. We still have one other person to save." Riku said looking into Sora's eyes. "Fine, Donald, Goofy lets go" Sora said as they ran off.
"Tifa go and see if everyone is all right. We'll be right back" Cloud said still looking at he unconscious Leon. "Right" Tifa said running back to the bally.
Redd's Domicile
The Puppetmaster appeared in the tower once again. "Y-Your m-m-m-majesty" The Puppetmaster said starring at the viscous looking woman in front of him. "HOW DARE YOU COME BACK HERE! WITH OUT LEON'S BODY!" Redd shouted at the coring shadow.
"My Q-Queen wait" Was all the shadow said before the roses grew around him and devoured the soul.
"Rosso must go to the Wonderland here to find that Aeon." Redd said to the Cat who was watching the scene from Redd's chair. "You have to separate and send Rosso to Wonderland and you here." The Cat said as he watched the other woman walk to Redd's side.
"But of course darling. I will bring Kadaji and Yazoo with me." "While I send Tira, Lust and Sloth to finish off the others." Redd finished where Rosso began.
AN
PLEASE REVIEW. And I just realized something Cloud has the CL(oud) in his name so that means that Leon really should be uke.
1. Yuna was called the high summoner, so I would think the Aeons call Sora their summoner.
2. Xenhort, because there was his painting in Ansem's study. So he must have added his own work to the database
3. A broken heart is always cracked from top to bottom, no matter own many time I see a broken picture of a heart.
4. I don't think this is right but I found this pic ( kingdom hearts 2 final mix+
5 I kinda wish he didn't have a toothpick in KH because the only thing I can think of with a toothpick chewer is a bloody REDNECK.
6 I think it was the first or second fight that Tira used her Aiselne Drossel to eat the Heartless 'blood' and throw it at Tifa.
7 I hate it when I think so fast that my mouth can't keep up and I sound like I am babiling.
8 Chapter 5.
9 I got tired of calling the ting in Leon, the dark Leon or something.
10 I just realized I did not go into details about the Aeons. If you want to know what they look like Google FFX AEONS