Lines Between

Hope and her friends were back on the Excalibur and were having another conversation with Hope's father about the advents at Atlantica.

"I'm relieved that you were able to help Ariel," said her father. "I always felt guilty about not helping them with the capture of Morgana."

"Why didn't you?" Hope asked.

"Because while Vanitas did assist with the kidnaping of Melody sixteen years ago everything else was a world affair," said her father sadly. "As much as I want to help, I couldn't meddle in the affairs of other worlds even for a friend."

Hope could see in her father's eyes that he was sincere about not being able to help Ariel.

"Morgana seemed to be working with some," said Rex.

"Yeah, and they seemed to know about us," said Frank.

"Then I advise to be careful, our enemy knows you're on the move," said Sora. "That reminds me, I want you to come to Radiant Garden."

"Why?" Hope asked curiously.

"I have something that might ever well help you on your Quest," said Sora.

"Don't worry your Majesty, we'll be there," said Frank.

"Then I'll see you at Merlin's house," said Sora and the screen went blank.

"What do you think he wants to show us?" Hope asked.

"No idea, but if the head of the High Council has something to help us I say we take it," said Frank.

"I'd be wary; magic always comes with a price especially dark magic," said Rex.

Hope wasn't sure what he meant by that, he said the same thing at Hogwarts, but never explained his meaning.

"What do you mean by that?" Hope asked.

"I mean that you don't get something for nothing," said Rex.

The conversion just end there and she looked at Frank, she wanted to ask him what happened to his arm and eye.

"I lost them in battle," said Frank reading her mind. "I was part of a group to help a nearby village. It was a total disaster, lost my arm and eye, commanding officer dead and a member of my group kidnapped."

"I'm sorry," said Hope.

"Don't sweat it, I got off easy," said Frank.

Hope stared at him and wondered by he got off easy, but then Toodles spoked up.

"Radiant Garden, coming into view," he said.

Hope looked out the window and stared in amazement, she never got tired of seeing Radiant Garden, view of a Gummi ship. Radiant Garden was basically a huge vice city that shone like a star.

"I never get tired of seeing it," she said.

"I don't call the City of Light for nothing," said Frank.

They then headed down towards the beautiful city.

Radiant Garden: Marketplace

They landed in the marketplace, which was full of people buying all sorts of items. There was an armoury where motion was trying to sell a man a sword, a jewellery store where a woman was selling all kinds of beautiful jewels. She even saw a Moogle synthesising an item for customer.

"This place is lively," said Frank.

"That's because Radiant Garden is the central hub in the Realm of Light," said Hope. "People from other worlds stop by here before going on their way."

"I was for Travellers Town was the central hub," said Frank.

"It's the central hub in the Realm Between, in fact that's where most people end up if their lost," Rex explained.

"Before we can see my dad at Merlin's, I would have is my favourite shop," said Hope.

Before Rex and Frank could protest, she led them through the marketplace. Soon they found themselves at an ice cream shop.

"This is your favourite shop," said Frank.

"You haven't lived until you try Scrooge McDuck's Ice Cream," said Hope.

Seeing they had no choice they walked into the ice cream shop at once came across a duck in a rich velvet jacket and top hat.

"Why, if it isn't young Hope, nice to see ya again lass," said the duck.

"Start to see you Mr McDuck," said Hope smiling down at him.

"McDuck? Don't you own like a billion businesses in the multi-verse," said Frank.

"I wouldn't go as far as that laddie, but I am rich," said Mr McDuck.

"Didn't you also open the Gummi Highway, allowing easier access for people to visit other worlds? And the main investor from Gummi engineering?" said Rex.

"Aye, it's back to that system that I've got more money than I dream of," Mr McDuck chuckled.

"Not to sound rude or anything, but why you ice cream shop?" Frank asked.

"It's quite simple laddie, this is one of the first shops I owned on this world," said Mr McDuck. "And I always come to visit when I'm have business with the King and Queen." He then looked at the two boys. "Who are ya two anyway?"

"Sorry, forgot to introduce to you," said Hope. "This is Rex Raccoon and Frank Falcon, they're helping me on my Quest."

Scrooge McDuck looked at Rex and gave a sympathised look. "I knew yer father," he said. "A nice and honourable man, I'm sorry for yer loss."

"Thank you," said Rex.

"He'd be proud of his son," said Mr McDuck.

Hope stared at Rex began wondering what happened to his father, he always seems so focused and never spoke much about his past.

"Argh, what am I saying," said Mr McDuck. "Talking about death in an ice cream shop." He then pulled out three ice creams. "Here, three Sea-salt ice creams."

"Thank you, Mr McDuck," said Hope.

"Just don't tell people I gave out free ice creams, I have to keep up appearances," Mr McDuck chuckled.

They soon left Mr McDuck's ice cream shop eating their ice creams.

"I can see why you love this stuff," said Frank. "It's salty and sweet."

Hope then looked at Rex, who wasn't showing much enthusiasm. "Rex, what happened to your father?" she asked.

"I don't talk about it," he said and walked off.

"Given some time, Princess," said Frank. "He's never truly gone over what happened and he speaks very little about it."

"Can't you tell me what happened?" Hope asked.

"I could, but that's part of Rex's private life and until he is agreed to share I'm not saying anything," said Frank. "What I can tell you is that it puts some fighting for ever."

"But I've seen him fight," said Hope.

"Yeah, but you never seen them kill anyone," Frank pointed out. "Only because he can find does not mean he likes it. In fact he only fights for three for reasons."

"And what are they?"

"To defend himself, to protect those who cannot defend themselves and to protect those he loves," said Frank.

Hope just stared and looked at Rex, who was looking over the wall as if he was transfixed on the wasteland over the walls.

After finishing his ice cream Frank placed the popsicle stick in the bin. "Well, we'd better go down to old Merlin's place and find out what your father wants," he said.

Hope looks the two of them and found herself in total puzzlement. Every time she asked a question two more pop-up in its place.

Radiant Garden: Borough

The three of them walked down the stairs towards and had just turned around the corner when they heard fighting.

"That doesn't sound good," said Frank.

They rushed around the corner and saw Sora and Merlin doing battle with about two dozen Heartless consisting of Shadows, Soldiers, Armoured Knight and Surveillance Robot.

Then they noticed that leaning the Heartless was a rat in armour with two extendable blades on his wrists, he was also missing his tail as Hope could only see the stump. She then saw that both Rex and Frank stared at him in shock and anger they clearly knew him.

"Rattus," they snarled.

Rattus looked at them and smiled evilly. "It's been a long time," he said. He then noticed Hope. "And I see you're with the young Princess, no doubt to make sure she is well taken care of."

"What are you doing here Rattus," Rex snarled grasping his sheathed sword.

"Well, I heard you'd be coming here and I wanted to meet you," he said. "I want to meet the people who were involved in messing up my plans."

"So, you're the one who told Voldemort about the Prophecy and told Morgana about us," said Frank.

"Indeed, I came here to see what the fuss was about, but I wasn't expecting to meet the king himself," said Rattus looking at Sora distain. "I can never understand why people serve loyalty, after all they only care about themselves."

"Your long," said Hope summing her Keyblade.

"Am I," said Rattus raising an eyebrow. "I beg to differ, but I had no intentions of dealing with Sora himself, I'm no fool."

"That's a matter of debate," said Frank.

"Heartless, get them," he commanded.

The last resort of Rattus was him opening a Corridor of Darkness and the moment he entered it vanished.

The Heartless attacked them in force. Sora summon out his Keyblade which was the Ultima Weapon and he began slicing through two Armoured Knight in a split second. Merlin fired a powerful spell that exploded destroying the Soldiers that were charging.

Hope and her friends jumped into the battle. Hope began by using a newly learned Thunder spell, lightning rained down upon them and destroy the whole cluster of Shadows. Frank performed his Ricochet Shot, which bounced off the walls and hit the Surveillance Robot. Max performed his Shadow Slice move and sliced through three Armoured Knight before they knew what hit them.

The Radiant Garden's security system was a tremendous help it kept on blasting the Heartless from behind semi them into the air leaving them very vulnerable to an attack. Within seconds they had all destroyed the Heartless.

"This was not what I expected," said Sora as his Keyblade vanished.

"Indeed, even I did not see it coming," said Merlin.

"Dad, what just happened?" Hope asked running towards them.

"I say our villain has just shown himself," said her father.

"Rattus Rat?" said Frank. "I don't believe it."

"It does seem very unlikely," said Rex.

"You two know him," said Hope.

"There was a time we considered him a friend," said Rex. "But something changed him, something dark."

"Yeah, but he was never this well coordinated," said Frank.

"We'll ponder on this later," said Sora and looked down at Hope. "I believe I was meant to give you something that would help you on your Quest."

"Yes, what was it?" Hope asked.

"A new power," said Sora placing his hand on his daughters Keyblade.

Hope Keyblade began to glow a neck second became a pair of large pistols.

"What did you do?" she gaped looking at them.

"I just placed a Keyblade Mode on your Keyblade," her father explained. "It allows your Keyblade to transform into useful weapons, but it does take a lot of power. Master Terra uses them and I speak from personal experience that they are quite effective."

"This is amazing," said Hope as the pistols reverted back to her Keyblade.

"Be wary, dear," said Merlin. "It takes a great deal of magic to perform that feat and is not something you can do constantly."

"You'll find plans of other mods during your journey and when you do return use a Moogle Synthesising Shop to create them."

"Wow, thanks Dad," said Hope breathlessly.

"Just show that Rattus what a Princess can do," said Sora smiling.

"It's a deal," said Hope.

They then walked off to the nearest Teleport Crystal and Hope can help but look back at her father before they vanished.