The Decision
L.A.: So here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy!
Malificent hated meetings. The other members were useless. Instead of being productive, they spent the entire meeting babbling about the boy with the keyblade. Granted, he was a threat but instead of complaining, they should have been coming up with a solution.
Maleficent sighed as she gazed into her crystal ball. An image swirled into place showing the boy and his new companions. They seemed so ignorant and silly. She gave a slight laugh. They almost weren't worth the effort to destroy... almost.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the click of claws on stone from behind her. Maleficent didn't need to turn around to know who it was "Where have you been?"
"I had business elsewhere, my liege" the voice replied. The voice was young and had a slight growl to it.
Though Maleficent knew he was eluding the question, she decided to not pester him. She had more important matters to discuss. She turned around and was greeted by a pair of red eyes glowing from the darkness. Like most heartless, he did not like to leave the shadows unless he had to. "How long have you been here?"
"Long enough, I heard your conversation with the others," the voice replied.
"And what do you think of the new Keyblade master?" Maleficent asked.
"Just a little boy with a new toy" he replied.
Maleficent smiled, pleased to hear her thoughts confirmed. She slowly turned around and frowned at the crystal ball. "That maybe so but if he learns to master the keyblade, then my plans could be ruined." She paused as she watched the girl in the crystal ball. She stood off to the side looking miserable. "Do you know anything about the girl?"
"I... do not my liege" the heartless replied.
Maleficent heard the hesitancy in his voice. She whipped around and faced the heartless. "Is there something you are not telling me?"
"You know that I live to serve you my liege," the heartless replied.
Maleficent laughed. "Live to serve me? Ha. I know that if you weren't bound to our deal then you would have left a long time ago."
The heartless was silent for a few moments. "If I can take my leave, my liege. I feel a little tired and need to rest." He began to walk away.
Since when does a heartless need rest? Maleficent thought to herself.
"This wouldn't have to do with that promise you made now would it?" Maleficent called.
The heartless did not reply as he continued to walk away.
Maleficent grinned as she turned back to her crystal ball. "Yes... I do believe this has everything to do with that promise..."
Rin brought her knees to her chest as she gazed out the window. Shortly after meeting Leon and the others, they were brought to the hotel in the second district to rest.
She had a room to herself. It was blue in color and simple in design. She could hear Sora and the others in the other room discussing their plans for the next day. Rin had excused herself early saying she was sleepy. Of course this was completely, untrue but she just didn't want to talk to anyone at the moment.
"Um, hello."
Rin looked to her bedside table and saw Jiminy sitting there. So much for alone time.
"They were playing some odd game that I really didn't want to be a part of. Do you mind if I join you?"
Rin shook her head. "No, not at all."
"Excellent," Jiminy pulled out a small notebook from his pocket. "This will give me time to write in my journal."
"You're keeping a journal?" Rin asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"I'm going to chronicle our adventures," Jiminy said. "You always need a chronicler when you set out on an adventure."
"Oh," Rin said, returning her gaze to her feet.
Jiminy eyed her before saying. "Why do you not want to come with us? You don't seem like the type to turn down an offer to search for your friends."
She knew this question was coming and as she looked back at Jiminy's serious expression, she knew he wouldn't let her ignore his question.
"I'm useless," she muttered into her knees. "I can't even work a magic staff."
To her surprise, Jiminy laughed. "Oh that? That isn't something to worry about. Magic never comes easy. Why Pinocchio…" Sadness flitted across his features before he regained his composure. "…He was brought to life by the Blue Fairy; but, in order to become a real boy, he must find the solution himself."
"I don't know," Rin said. "I think Sora and others can get along fine without me."
"Magic takes patience and determination," Jiminy said. "I think you have both."
"I think you're just saying that because my shoulder is a good place for you to sit." Rin said with a grin.
Jiminy chuckled.
They were silent for a few minutes. The only sounds were the muffled conversation in the other room and the scribbling of Jiminy's pencil.
Jiminy let out a yawn as he shut his journal. "Well, I think I'll be off to bed now. We've got an early start." He hopped off the bed table and headed towards the door.
"Alright, good night," Rin said.
"Good night," Jiminy paused at the door. "And Rin?"
Rin glanced up at him. "Yeah?"
"I don't just think you're just a good look out post. I believe we were all brought together for a reason. And, I believe that you have just an important part as any of us as long as you believe in yourself."
Jiminy turned and exited the room, leaving Rin to her thoughts.
Rin opened her eyes. A bright light was shining down on her while everything else was shrouded in darkness. Another light shined down in front of her revealing Kairi bound to a chair and gagged. Her head was lolled to the side as if she were unconscious.
"Kairi!" Rin yelled as she raced forward. She fiddled with the bonds around Kairi. They felt cold and slimy in her hands. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination; but they almost felt alive. She tugged as hard as she could but they wouldn't budge.
"Hang on Kairi," Rin said as she squinted at the darkness that surrounded them. "There's got to be something here I can use." She gasped when the Heartstaff suddenly materialized in her left hand. Unsure of what to do, she touched it to Kairi's binds. The stone in the center of the staff glowed as the binds disappeared.
Pleased with her luck, Rin quickly moved to the front of Kairi and bent down to see if Kairi was alright. "Kairi?"
Kairi's eyes snapped open and she suddenly changed into Riku. Rin's eyes widened in surprise as Riku stood up. Before she could react, Riku shoved her, sending her backwards. As she fell, someone grabbed her and pulled her to their chest. She glanced up and was startled to see Sora staring out at Riku. He put his hand out in front of Rin and the Keyblade materialized in his hand.
"What's going on?" Rin asked.
"This isn't your part," Riku said, his voice lacking emotion. "You cannot help them." A sword materialized in his hands.
Sora's eyes narrowed as he pushed Rin behind him. Sora and Riku stared at each other for a second before they charged at each other.
"No!" Rin said as she reached out to them. "Don't fight."
"Why should you care?" Sora asked as the Keyblade clashed against Riku's sword with a loud clang. "You're not even going to try and help me find them."
"No," Rin said as tears streamed down her cheeks. "No… I-It's not that. I'm just useless. I'll get in the way."
She felt a hand on her shoulder and whirled around. Kairi was standing there. Her eyes sad but gentle. "That's not true. I know you can help us. You can help all of us."
Even though a part of Rin's consciousness was telling her that everything she was seeing was a dream, that same part of her was telling her that this Kairi was different from the other dream figurines. It was almost as if she were the real one.
"Kairi?" Rin said.
"Don't let Sora go alone," Kairi whispered. "He needs you."
Sora's and Riku's sword clashed again, this time louder.
Rin woke up gasping. It took her a moment before she remembered where she was. She couldn't hear anyone in the other room so she guessed that they had already headed to the first district.
"What a weird dream," Rin thought as her hand gripped her sheets. She frowned as she felt something hard and cold in her left hand. The Heartstaff lay innocently beside her as if it had been there the entire time.
"Don't let Sora go alone. He needs you."
Kairi's words echoed through her head. The more she thought about it, the more she realized how stupid she had been. What kind of friend wouldn't try everything they could to find their lost friends? Lousy one that's what. So, she didn't know how to use magic. Well, she would learn it while she tried to find the others.
"I've been such an idiot." Rin said as she sprang out of bed. Luckily she had laid out her clothes the night before and been too upset to unpack anything else. It took her five minutes to change clothes, grab her things, and head out to the first district. "Please don't let them be gone already."
As she entered the first district, she was relieved to hear a familiar voice proclaim. "This is our Gummy Ship." If Donald was still there then she had made it in time.
As she rounded the corner, she saw Sora scratching his head as he said. "Why does look like as if it were made up of a bunch of blocks?"
Glancing at the ship, Rin could see where Sora would get that idea. It was mostly red and yellow with a sharp cube-like design. From its outward appearance, it looked like it barely had room for two people.
"What?" Donald quacked. "This ship is one of the best vessels to navigate between worlds. It's not just a bunch blocks."
Goofy spotted Rin and waved. "Hiya Rin! Come to say goodbye?"
Rin shook her head and said. "Nope, I've come to tag a long on for the ride."
"Really?" Sora said with a grin.
"We don't have room," Donald said as he crossed his arms.
Goofy looked confused. "But, I thought we had plenty of room."
"Be quiet you big palooka," Donald whispered.
"I'm going," Rin said.
Donald shook his head. "No, you're not."
"Yes, she is," Sora said surprising everyone.
"What?" Donald said.
"I'm going on this adventure to find my friends," Sora said. "I know that Rin wants to find them as well. So, if you want to me to come with you then Rin has to come." He shot Rin a reassuring grin.
Rin mouthed thanks.
Donald let out a loud sigh. "Fine."
"Well, well, what have we got here," said a voice behind them. Yuffie was grinning as Leon, Aerith, and Cid approached.
"I'm going with them," Rin said.
Donald muttered something incomprehensible under his breath.
"Well here," Cid said as he tossed something to her. "You'll need this."
Rin caught it and grinned. It was the leather holder for her staff. She slipped it over her shoulder and the Heartstafffit perfectly. "How much do I owe you?"
Cid waved her off. "This one's on the house."
Yuffie grinned evily. "Aw, Cid's grown soft."
"Have not," Cid growled. "That's the only freebie she's getting."
They all quickly said their goodbyes. As they did, Rin felt a tap on her ankle. She grinned at Jiminy. "Need a lift?"
"Most certainly," Jiminy said.
She scooped him up and place him on her shoulder.
He wiggled around for a moment before settling in. "Yes, yes, just as good as I rememberd it."
"Why do I get the feeling you aren't surprised I'm here?" Rin asked.
He laughed.
L.A.: And that's the end of that chapter. You know what to do. READ and REVIEW!