Lines Between
Hope and her friends had returned to the Excalibur and to their own time. Hope still didn't understand how Rex contacted the High Council.
"So, tell me again. How did you contact the High Council?" Hope asked.
"Time travel is always possible in dreams," said Rex simply. "I simply just sleep and contacted a sleeping Keyblade Master and here we are."
"But I still don't understand—"
"Hope, you can discuss this later," said her father.
He father had made connect the moment they returned and they began explaining what had happened.
"So Luke was there," said Sora with a grim face.
"Yes," said Hope.
"Then I'm afraid I have no choice," said Sora. "He is now wanted by the Keyblade Order. Meddling in the affairs of worlds is an ounce against the World Order and the fact he meddle in time is even worse."
"Doesn't look like he can see the light," said Frank grimly.
"If he comes in willingly then the Council will show mercy," said Sora.
"We'll deal with Luke later," said Rex. "Right now I'm more concerned with what Rattus was trying to do."
"I know," said Sora. "It is now clear that he is indeed is creating an army."
"So, your saying there's going to be war," said Hope.
"Unless we can find a way to prevent is, which I highly doubt," said Sora sadly. "Listen, just keep on what you're doing you're going great Hope."
Hope smiled. "Thanks, Dad," she said.
Her father smiled once more and the screen when blank.
"You seem to be getting on with your father a lot better now," Frank noticed.
"I'm not," said Hope crossing her arms.
"If you say so," Frank shrugged.
Hope then looked at Rex, who was mediating.
"I'm sorry for everything you went through," she said.
Rex looked up and saw a smile. "You've got nothing to be sorry for," he said. "You weren't there so how can it have been your fault."
"We'll find her," said Hope.
"I hope your right," said Rex.
Then red lights began to flash and alarms were sounded.
"Sorry to break up this conversation, but we got company," said Frank.
On a monitor they saw a large number of ships heading straight towards them. There were a lot more than what they had dealt with before and more cruisers.
"It seems the given serious," said Frank.
"Well, considering the number times we have thwarted their plans," said Hope.
"Just man the guns," said Frank.
Whereas a second thought both Hope and Rex took the gun controls and began blasting at the ships and cruisers. This battle was a lot more difficult than any other they had dealt with. The Heartless ships now had shields and even with Frank's upgrades didn't really do a dent.
It felt like hours before they managed to force the Heartless ships into retreat, but the Excalibur was heavily damaged. Toodles was giving Frank an updated report on the ship and he wasn't too happy about it.
"Hull damage is sixty-three percent, shields are off-line, navigation is failing and turrets are overheated," said Toodles.
"Argh, I just had a refurbished," said Frank's annoyance.
"They are certainly gain bolder," said Rex.
"I'm going have to upgrade everything and fix everything," said Frank.
"On the plus side it seems were coming to our next world," said Hope.
They all turned their heads the monitor and saw a new world coming into view. This one was mostly was covered in swamps except for a small town on edge.
"What's this one called?" Frank asked.
"It is called Dangerous Bayou," said Toodles. "It's mostly marshland and opposite it is the city of New Orleans. This was magic is often known as voodoo."
"Voodoo? That's not a good thing," said Rex.
"Why is that?" Hope asked.
"Well, you remember me telling you that magic always comes with a price," said Rex. "Like with you since you're holding a Keyblade you have a duty and obligation, the demigods in Camp Half-Blood have magic in their veins and are on constant attack from monsters. Usually the price of magic is small, but the darker it is the more you have the payback and nothing is darker than voodoo. Well, unless they use it for good or something."
"Sounds this world has tons of problems?" said Frank.
"The biggest concentration of voodoo is for man called Doctor Facilier, who goes by the name of the Shadow Man," said Toodles. "However, according to records his actions are not endangering the inhabitants to levels where a Keyblade wielder is needed."
"So, you mean is nothing for us to do," said Hope.
"There has to be something or the Keyblade wouldn't have taken us there," said Rex.
"Well, we can't go anywhere else until we open the Gate," said Frank.
"Looks like were landing," said Hope.
Dangerous Bayou: Dense Swamp
Hope, Rex and Frank soon landed and they found themselves in a swamp. It wasn't very pleasant they had just landed in water.
"Yuk," said Hope shaking her feet. "A little warning would be nice."
"Toodles, can't control where we land," Frank reminded.
"I don't suppose you guys have any ideas on what to do?" said Hope.
"Well, we could help them," said Rex pointing.
What they saw was completely bizarre, even for them. Two frogs, an alligator, with a trumpet in his claw, and a firefly were running away from a bunch of Shadows and a couple of Neoshadows.
"Why would Heartless be chasing animals?" Frank asked.
"Because those two frogs aren't animals," said Rex. Both Hope and Frank stared at him. "A powerful curse has been placed upon them, but they were once human."
"Okay, we'll figure this out later," said Hope and summoned her Keyblade. "Right now they need our help."
At once the three of them charge straight towards the Heartless. Hope sliced through a couple of Shadows that jumped at and Frank began blasting any Heartless they came straight at him. A Neoshadow sank to the ground and try to attack Rex from behind, but he saw that coming and turned around slicing it in two.
However, when it seemed they began to get the upper hand, more and more Shadows and Neoshadows appeared. It was clear to them that they were going to get overrun any moment now.
"There's too many!" Frank yelled as he kept on blasting.
"Somebody help us!" Hope yelled.
Then out of nowhere shots of like light began hitting the Shadows and Neoshaodws until they were all destroyed. They turned and saw a massive figure in the mist with a large club in its hands.
However, when it came out of the mess it turned out to be a blind old lady in white. Bright Light Magic was exiting out of her club, which must have been a staff. She was laughing as if she completely enjoyed blasting monsters.
"Not bad for a hundred ninety-seven old blind lady," she said twirling her staff and blowing the Light Magic away. She then turned and looked at them. "Now, which one of you naughty children have been interfering with the Shadow Man?"
They just stared at her dumbfounded and then the alligator pointed out one of the frogs, who smiled nervously.
"This day gets weirder and weirder," said Hope.
"At this point nothing surprises me," said Frank.
Dangerous Bayou: Mama Odie's Hut
Soon Hope and her friends found themselves in Mama Odie's, who was the blind old lady who saved them, hut. The hut was actually an old boat that was stuck in a tree.
As they had their way the two frogs, called Tiana, or Tia, and Naveen, who was the prince of Maldonia, explained their story. Apparently Naveen was tricked into making a deal with the Shadow Man and got turned into a frog. Then Tia kissed Naveen, who he thought she was a princess, and she turned into a frog.
Then the two of them found themselves lost in the bayou where they meet Louis, a trumpet-playing alligator who longs to be human, and Ray, a Cajun firefly naively in love with the Evening Star, which he thinks is another firefly called Evangeline.
"That's one crazy story and I've heard a lot of crazy stories," said Frank.
"Rex can't you turn them back like when you did with Percy?" Hope asked.
"Percy wasn't cursed and the curse is too strong for me to break," said Rex.
"I wouldn't worry," said Cajun. "Mama Odie can fix this easy."
"And who are you three?" Naveen asked curiously.
"Oh, sorry, I'm Hope and these are my friends Rex and Frank," said Hope.
"And right now let's get you hoppers back to humans," said Frank.
"Yeah, we're so glad we found you Mama Odie," said Tia looking up at Mama Odie. "Ray and Louis haven been talking all about you. We've been traveling quite a long way and you can't imagine what we've been through. And we heard that you could—"
"Juju!" Mama Odie yelled. Suddenly a snake appeared out of nowhere. "Haha, come on over here you bad boy."
They all watched as she began to kiss the snake on the lips. Both Hope and Louis looked as if they were going to be sick. Then she used him as cane and made her way to her chair on the far side of the hut.
"Good to see you again, Ray," said Mama Odie. Hope and her friends stared at each other. They weren't sure how Mama Odie could see Ray if she was blind. "How's your grandma?"
"Oh, she's fine got into a little trouble for flashing the neighbours," said Ray chuckling.
"Oh, I like that girl's spunk," said Mama Odie as she sat down in her chair.
"Anyway, back to the reason we're here," said Hope.
"Yes, we don't want to take too much of your time, but—" said Tia.
However, Mama Odie interrupted again by holding out some sweets that were covered in fluff. "Do you want some candy?" she asked.
"Uh, no," said Tia and Naveen together.
"Well, that's too bad," she said taking one of the sweets and rubbed on her rub. "This is special candy. Would have turned you all human." She then swallowed it and at once both Tia and Naveen yelled in protest, but then she laughed. "I'm just messing with you all."
"How on earth did you know that we wanted to turn back—?" Tia asked amazed, but start when they saw that Mama Odie was snoring.
"Mama Odie?" said Naveen.
Suddenly she sprung up. "Juju!" she yelled. "Why are you telling my gumbo was burning?"
Hope, Rex, Frank and Louis looked at Ray.
"You sure this is the right blind old lady, who lives in a boat in a tree in the bayou?" Louis asked.
"Pretty sure," Ray shrugged.
"We are certainly scraping the bottom of the barrel," said Frank.
They all then approached Mama Odie, who was sterling her gumbo inside a bathtub.
"Mama Odie, if you—" said Tia, but Mama Odie stopped by shoving a bit gumbo in her mouth.
"Taste this," she said and Tia swallowed it. "Well?"
"It hard with a couple shots of Tabasco and it will be the bees knees," said Tia. "Now can we—"
"Juju!" Mama Odie yelled.
Juju then appeared at the nowhere and shot a couple of Tabasco sauce into the gumbo. Mama Odie then took a mouthful and the moment she swallowed it she jumped kicking heels.
"That's got some zing to it!" she yelled. "And guess what it needed?" She then looked at the two frogs. "Now… you figured out what you need?"
"Just like you said, Mama Odie," said Tia. "We need to be human."
"No!" Mama Odie yelled. Tia nearly found the gumbo with Naveen hasn't caught her. "You haven't got the sense when you are born with. You wannabe human, but you're blind to see what you need."
"What we want? What we need? It's all the same thing isn't it, yes?" said Naveen.
Mama Odie and had by whacking him with a stick. "It's the same thing, no!" she yelled.
"The heck does she mean?" Frank asked.
"I think what she's saying is that you have everything you need to be human, but you just haven't figured it out," said Rex.
"Nice to see some of you have got sense," said Mama Odie.
"Well, I am half blind," said Rex.
"I still don't understand why you made a deal with the Shadow Man?" said Hope rubbing ahead.
"Our dear Prince Charming here made a deal with him so that he would be free," said Tia hotly. "He got his freedom, but got turned into a frog."
"Let me guess you the spoiled Prince and you can survive without money," said Frank.
"Good guess," said Naveen.
"I doubt it would make you happy anyway," said Hope.
"Got that right," said Mama Odie. "Money ain't got no heart or soul and why you need is self-control."
"But how did you become a frog?" said Frank looking at Tia.
"I kissed him," said Tia turning slightly red. "I've always wanted to open my own restaurant. Served me right from wishing upon a star. My daddy always said to get into like you need to work hard and not wish.
"Sounds like wise man," said Rex.
"And she is her daddy's daughter, what you have been here you got in you," said Mama Odie pointing at her heart.
"I still understand how we become human," said Tia.
"You just got to dig a little deeper," said Mama Odie grabbing an oyster. She opened it inside was a Perl. "It isn't that hard."
Both Tia and Naveen looked at the parents or the reflections.
"Now, do you understand what you need?" said Mama Odie.
"Yes, I do, Mama Odie, I need to dig a little deeper and work even harder to get my restaurant," said Tia.
Everybody facepalm themselves.
"So much for enlightenment," said Rex.
"Well, if you're all set on being human there's only one way," Mama Odie sighed.
She then began to stir her gumbo and then image appeared of a well-dressed blonde sleeping in a king-size bed.
"Lottie?" said Tia stunt.
"Who?" said Hope.
"My best friend, Charlotte La Bouff, her daddy is a sugar mill owner," Tia explained.
"If that's true she's no Princess," said Frank.
"Hush up, and look at the gumbo," Mama Odie snapped.
Then someone entered into a room, just as a king with a tiara in his hand. They guess that that was her father.
"That's right," Tia gasped. "Big Daddy's is king of the Mardi Gras Festival. So, that makes Lottie a… princess."
"Does that count?" Naveen asked sounding sceptical.
"Yes, it does," said Mama Odie. "But only until midnight when morning rolls over."
"That doesn't give us much time," said Rex.
"Got that right, you've only got until the end of that parade to get that girl to kiss ya," said Mama Odie. "Once she does… Boom! You both turn human."
"What about me, Mama Odie?" Louis asked excitedly. "I wanna be human too. So I can play jazz with the big boys. I want fingers and toes and a bellybutton… not the kind that sticks out, but the kind that goes in—"
Mama Odie then grabbed his jaw. "If you dig a little deeper you'd find everything you need," she said.
Hope then noticed Frank gesturing for her and Rex to come closer. Once they were" he began to talk.
"I can just tell them that Hope's princess," said Frank. "Then we wouldn't have to go through all this palaver."
"Because were not allowed to meddle in the affairs of the world's," said Rex. Frank was to speak, but Rex caught him off. "If the curse originated off world then I would agree, but the one who cashed this curse was a native to this world."
"We can still make sure that kiss happens," said Hope.
"If Heartless were chasing after them that means they want Naveen for something," said Rex. "It could be that Rattus is working with this Shadow Man."
"Nothing says like world domination then a royal hostage," said Frank.
"We can escort them to the city, but afterwards it's all down to them," said Rex.
"Wait, you think Mama Odie was hinting at something," said Hope.
"I think I may know what she was hinting at," Rex admitted.
"We best get going all lose sight of them," said Frank who just saw the two frogs hop out of the door.
They nodded and quickly followed the two frogs and Louis and Ray follow them.
Dangerous Bayou: Showboat
Louis had told them that he knew a quick way in order to get into the city. His quick way turned out to be a showboat that was sailing over the bayou.
Hope and friends got on board easily, now I just had a hope that no one asked for their tickets. Tia, Naveen and Ray wouldn't have to worry about that since they were so small, but Louis was a little inconspicuous.
"You think it's a good idea bringing thousand pound alligator on board a showboat for people?" said Frank as he helped Louis on board.
"He was very adamant," said Rex giving Frank a hand.
Together they managed to bring Louis on board, nearly breaking their backs doing it. Sorry they saw people coming and judging from the shadows they were holding guns.
"They got guns!" Louis yelled.
Quickly they found a hiding place, except for Louis, who was far too big to hide. Fortunately, the people that were coming wacky jazzmen and by some stroke of luck they were wearing animal costumes.
They stopped and looked at Louis thinking he was dressed up like them.
"Man, that some killer diller costume," said one of them.
Louis just smiled nervously.
"Hey, gator, can you blow the horn?" another one asked.
Louis then gave a tut on his trumpet and the jazz men smiled. They then gestured for him to join them and he happily followed them.
"That was close," said Frank.
"Kingdom Hearts must be shinning down on us," said Hope with relief.
It then that she noticed that both Tia and Naveen were holding each other close. Then they realised this they quickly pulled apart and looked at each other nervously.
"We can't miss this," said Ray. "Little Louis finally playing with the big boys."
He then flew off and Tia followed, but then she noticed Naveen staying put.
"Naveen, you coming?" she asked.
"Oh, I'll catch up with you later," said Naveen.
Tia shrugged and hopped after Ray.
Hope and her friend looked at one another and understood at once as they followed Tia. Naveen loved Tia.
After an afternoon of watching Louis playing his trumpet with the jazz men. Hope and her friend, along with Ray, found Naveen looking up at Evangeline with a walnut in his hand.
"I would do whatever it takes to make all your dreams come true, because… I love you," said Naveen opening up the walnut which had a ring inside.
At once Ray got the wrong end of the stick.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, you making goo goo eyes at my girl," said Ray and rushed straight at Naveen.
"Hold on tiger," said Frank grabbing Ray.
"No, Ray I'm not in love with Evangeline… I'm in love with Tiana," Naveen explained.
At once Ray calmed down and smiled.
"I knew it, I knew it!" he yelled.
"Well, it's about time," said Frank.
"So, when are you going to pop the question?" Hope asked excitedly.
"I can't wait to tell, Cher," said Ray zooming off.
He was soon stopped by Naveen. "No, no, I must tell her… alone," he said.
"Right, you rascal" said Ray slyly.
"Of course," said Frank.
"Take all the time you want," said Hope.
"Remember that you've got a kiss on midnight," Rex reminded.
Then the four of them left him so he could talk to Tia.
Dangerous Bayou: New Orleans
It was night when he finally reached the city and everyone began to disembark. Louis was still playing his trumpet and was walking with the rest of the jazzmen into the city.
Hope, Rex and Frank found Tia on the docks with Ray. She seemed to be looking for Naveen, who seem to have mysteriously vanished.
"Hey, guys, have you seen Naveen?" Tia asked.
"Look at you, worrying at," said Ray.
"What are you talking about?" said Tia confused.
"Wait, he didn't say anything?" said Hope puzzled.
"Say what?" Tia asked curiously.
"I'm not sure we should be telling you," said Frank.
"Guys," said Tia.
"All right, it was trying to propose to you," said Rex.
"He was?" said Tia.
"Seem to have his heart set on it," said Frank.
They began making their way through the crowds as floats walked past.
"Why didn't he try to earlier?" Hope asked curiously.
"I think he was trying, but also I kept on talking out my restaurant and that might have put him off it," said Tia.
"Maybe thought it wasn't the best time," said Rex. "Maybe he wanted a propose to you once your human."
"And here I thought that all he wanted was to marry a rich girl," said Tia.
However they certainly came to a stop when they saw on top of a float Lottie, who was dressed as a princess, and standing next to her was a tall handsome man just as a prince. Standing in front of them was a priest and it looked like some sort of wedding. Hope saw the look on Tia's face and guessed at once that the man was Naveen.
"That can't be right, darling," said Ray. "How can you still be a frog?"
"Something is not right," said Rex.
That's when they noticed that Tia had disappeared.
Dangerous Bayou: Graveyard
They tracked down Tia into a graveyard and soon found her on a headstone crying.
"I know what was seen with our eyes, but—," said Ray, but can think of the words.
"Tia, you can't just give up," said Hope bending down to her.
"Yeah, he seemed had his heart set on proposing to you he will just forget you like that," said Frank.
"Just because I wished that it doesn't come true," said Tia.
Ray then looked up at Evangeline. "It's like my Evangeline always says always said to me—"
"Evangeline, is nothing but a star, Ray," Tia snapped before she could stop herself. "A big ball of hot air a million miles from here. Open your eyes, now… before you get hurt"
Tia then hopped away and the four then watch sadly.
"Don't take it personally, she's just broken up after a broken heart," said Hope to Ray who was breaking into tears.
"I know that," said Ray.
"Something is definitely wrong though," said Rex. "Because should have broken the moment Lottie pressed her lips on Naveen."
"But we saw him and clearly Tia is still a frog," said Frank.
"But the Naveen I saw had a much different aura," said Rex.
"Wait, you think it's someone impersonating him," said Hope.
"I've heard that voodoo magic is able to change people into anyone they want, but they need the blood of the one they want to change into," said Rex.
"I would explain why the Heartless wanted Naveen," said Hope suddenly.
"And the Heartless work for the Shadow Man," said Frank. "But why would he want a false prince?"
"Lottie's father is the most powerful man in the city, right?" said Rex and they all nodded. "Now if he killed her father and then he would practically run the city through his false prince. That would also mean that he would have all the people and of his thump and that would give Rattus a perfect opportunity to change them all into Heartless."
"That's one crazy plan, ya got," said Ray.
"Still, it would explain so much," said Frank.
"That means your plan to kill Big Daddy after they take their vows," Hope said terrified.
"Okay, we need to split up," said Rex. "Ray, no doubt they will keep Naveen close by and you're the only one of us that can get anywhere close."
"Got it," said Ray.
"Meanwhile, we track down this Shadow Man," said Hope.
"What if he's as false prince?" Hope asked.
"Interesting fact about voodoo, witch doctors can't do anything for themselves," said Rex. "Listen we can continue talking and let the Shadow Man succeed all we could try to stop him."
They nodded and then went their separate ways.
Dangerous Bayou: New Orleans
They soon found their way back into the city and while Ray made his way to the float Rex led them to a cathedral. Once they entered they found a tall, slim, dark skinned man with a cane in his hand staring at them.
"I take it you're the Shadow Man," said Hope.
"Indeed, but you can call me Doctor Facilier," he said bowing. "And there's no need to tell me who you are. Princess Hope and her companions."
"Where's Rattus?" Rex demanded.
"Oh, I don't work for Rattus, he's just the middleman, I'm working with the boss and I owe him quite a bit," Doctor Facilier grumbled.
"Who is this boss of yours?" Frank asked.
"Someone your daddy has met on his travels," said Doctor Facilier looking at Hope. "At the moment he's trapped in the Realm of Darkness with no body of his own, he's a shadow of his former self." He added that last part is if it was a joke. "But I've told you too much already."
"Well, it's over," said Hope.
"I'm afraid it is, in a few seconds I will have control this world and I'll finally be able to repay my debt," said Doctor Facilier smiling.
That's only the cathedral doors opened and the fake prince walked in with Naveen in his hands.
"What are you going here?" Doctor Facilier roared.
Before the fake prince could answer, Naveen popped out his throat and grabbed the charm around his neck. He then reverted back into a short, stout middle-aged man.
"What's it going? Stop him!" Doctor Facilier yelled. He tried to make his way to him, but Hope and her friends blocked his path.
"You're not going anywhere," said Hope.
Naveen, who was still in the hands of the fake prince, tossed the charm over to Ray, who grabbed it. Now the nowhere a Shadow struck Ray sending him into the wall.
Hope quickly turned and sliced through the Shadow and took the charm. Then she and her friends ran out of the cathedral with Doctor Facilier and many Shadow Heartless following close behind.
Dangerous Bayou: Graveyard
Hope, Rex and Frank were running through the graveyard, but the Shadows were getting closer. Suddenly, both Rex and Frank came to us and stopped and turned to face the Shadows.
"What you guys doing?" said Hope.
"You can't that charm fall into the Shadow Man's hands, find Tia and tell the truth," said Rex.
"We'll hold them off," said Frank.
Hope nodded and continue on running and it wasn't long until she found Tia, still crying her eyes out.
"Tia!" Hope yelled. "That wasn't Navven."
"What?" said Tia confused.
Hope then showed Tia the charm. "The Shadow Man use this charm to make someone look like Naveen," she explained. "They were playing on killing Big Daddy and we can't let the Shadow Man get his hands on this."
Then soon they saw Shadows appearing out everywhere, Hope feared the worst for Rex and Frank, but she knew that they could survive anything. Tia hopped onto a shoulder and began running away from the Shadows.
However, soon they were blocked by the shadow of Doctor Facilier and they came to a stop. Tia then jumped off Hope's shoulder and held the charm up in her hands.
"Back off or I'll break this thing into million pieces," Tia warned.
What happened next completely confuse them. Tia then turned back into human, she was now a slim attractive black woman and wearing fancy clothes. In the graveyard melted away and turned into a fancy restaurant with people dining and dancing.
Tia then saw someone playing a ukulele and she instinctively thought it was Naveen. "Naveen?" she said hopefully.
However when he turned around it was a completely different man and her heart dropped.
"Now is this a whole lot better than hopping around the bayou for the rest of your life," said a voice.
They both turned around and found Doctor Facilier sitting at the table drinking a glass of champagne.
"Shadow Man," Tia whispered.
"I've got to hand it to you, Tiara," he said getting to his feet and flicking card around. "When you dream you dream big. Just look at this place, the crown jewel of the Crescent city and all you gather to make this a reality is a handover that little old Talisman of mine."
"So you can rule the world," said Hope. She then looked at Tia. "Tia, you can't."
"Why not, her old daddy worked double sometime triple shifts never letting on how bone tired or beat down he really was," said Doctor Facilier. "Shame all that hard work didn't much anything than a busted old gumbo and a dream that never got off the back porch. But you… you can give your poor daddy everything he ever wanted." He then began whispering in her ear. "Come on, Tiana, you're almost there."
Hope saw Tia releasing the grip on the charm and Doctor Facilier grinning.
"Tia, think, would your father want you to do this?" said Hope.
Tia stopped at once to Doctor Facilier frustration. "Hope's right, my daddy never got what he wanted, but he had what he needed," she said and turned to look at Doctor Facilier. "He had love, he never lost sight of what really was important. And neither will I!"
Tia then flew the charm at the floor, but it stopped in mid-air. Doctor Facilier's shadow had caught it and gave it to the original Doctor Facilier, who began to laugh evilly.
Then the restaurant reverted back to the graveyard and Tia was turned back into a frog. Hope try to move in to help, but the Shadows grabbed her preventing her from moving.
"You all should have taken my deal," he said pinning Tia to the ground with his cane. He looked at Hope. "I can think one or two people who have an interest in you especially to your father." He then looked down at Tia. "Now you're going to spend the rest of your life been a slimy little frog."
"I've got news for you, Shadow Man, it's not slime… it's mucus," said Tia.
Then in a split second she flicked her tongue out grabbing the charm. In his surprise Doctor Facilier released Tia and she smashed the charm into smithereens on the stone floor.
"No! No!" he yelled fumbling the bloke pieces. "How am I ever going to repay my debt?"
Suddenly a dark shadow appeared out of nowhere and Doctor Facilier quivered in fear.
"Boss man," he said nervously.
"I think you owe me something, dearie," the shadow said.
"Now just hang on," said Doctor Facilier as he backed away slowly. "I've got a lot more plans. This is just a minor setback in the works." The shadow drew closer to him. "As soon as I come over another spell will be back in business. I still got that froggy prince locked away. I just need a little more time."
"You've heard more than enough time," said the shadow. "And now it's time to you to repay what you owe."
The shadow then grabbed Doctor Facilier's shadow from their perspective it seemed that he was tearing it from him and within seconds he did. Doctor Facilier collapsed the ground and then melted into darkness. The mysterious shadow vanished into thin air as did the other Shadows and Hope was free from the grip.
"That was different," said Hope getting to her feet.
Then they heard the bells coming from the cathedral and saw that they only had fifteen minutes before midnight.
"We have to find Naveen," said Tia.
Hope nodded and Tia hopped onto a shoulder and began running back to the city.
Dangerous Bayou: New Orleans
As they made their way back to the cathedral they met up with Rex and Frank. Apparently they have been overwhelmed with the forces, but they held up long enough until they defeated Doctor Facilier.
When they finally reach the cathedral they saw Naveen kneeling down before Lottie. Apparently he had just explained everything that had been going on.
"Goodness gracious, this is so much to absorb," said Lottie. "Let me see if I got this right. If I kiss you before midnight you and Tiana will turn human again. And then were gonna get ourselves married and live happily ever after? The end."
"More or less," said Naveen. "But remember you must give Tiana all the money she requires for her restaurant, because Tiana…" He then looked up at Evangeline. "Because she's my Evangeline."
Hope, Rex and Frank looked at Tia smiling.
"Anything you want sugar," said Lottie. "Now pucker up, Buttercup."
"Wait!" Tia yelled jumping off Hope's shoulder.
"Tiana?" said Naveen.
"Tiana?" Lottie gasped.
"Don't do this," said Tia as she made her way to Naveen.
"I have to do this and we are running out of time," said Naveen.
"I won't let you," said Tia.
"It's the only way to get your dream," said Naveen.
"My dream? My dream wouldn't be complete… without you in it," said Tia.
Naveen turned and looked at Tia, who just shrugged. "I love you, Naveen," she said.
"Warts and all?" Naveen asked.
Tia chuckled. "Warts and all," she said.
Lottie was crying her eyes out. "All my life I've read about true love and fairy tales and… Tia you found it," she said as she picked up Naveen. "I'll kiss him for you honey no marriage required."
Then just as they were seconds away from kissing each other the clock struck midnight. "I'm so sorry," Lottie said as she put Naveen down.
"Tiana! Naveen!" Louis' voice yelled. They turned and saw Louis running up to them and bend down to reveal in his claws was Ray, who looks badly hurt. "It's Ray, I don't think he has much time left."
"Hey, Cher," he said weakly. "How come… you all still human?"
"We're staying frogs, Ray," said Tia.
"Now who said you would be staying as frogs?" Rex asked.
"But there aren't any princesses anywhere near here," said Naveen.
"Well, that's not entirely true," said Rex as he brought Hope closer. "Allow me to introduce to you Princess Hope of Radiant Garden."
"Wait, you're a Princess," said Naveen staring at Hope.
"Yeah," she said sheepishly. "I don't like to spread it around much."
"Hang on, you mean we could you could have turned us back to human at any time," said Tia bewildered.
"And if we did with the two of you have fallen in love?" said Rex. The two frogs stared at one another then back at Rex. "That's what Mama Odie was hinting at back in the bayou. You see with from another world and as such we cannot interfere in the affairs of other worlds and that is of which cannot be broken. However, for that cannot be broken can be bent."
"It seems like… you got you're happily ever after," said Ray. "I like that very much." He then looked up at Evangeline. "And Evangeline… like that to."
He then closed his eyes and a light in his bulb began to fade. They soon all began to cry, except for Rex who was looking up into the sky.
"You know hearts like Ray are not gone forever," he said. "Sometimes the beaver presence on the world."
"What do you mean?" Hope asked.
"Just look up," said Rex.
Everyone looked up into the night sky and there they saw next to Evangeline another star. From their perspective it looks as if both stars were touching. Hope soon realised, as everyone else, that the new star was Ray.
"Now, let's turn you back to humans," said Hope.
She bent down, picked up Naveen and kissed him. Suddenly both he and Tia voted up into the air and glowed brightly. When the light faded they found the two of them were backing human form and wearing different clothing.
Naveen was wearing a green suit while Tia wore a green dress. They looked at each other and then pulled one another into a kiss.
"Thank you, for everything," said Tia.
"You did that yourselves," said Rex.
Suddenly Hope's Keyblade began to glow as did the walnut Naveen was carrying. The walnut open to reveal the ring he was going to propose Tia with and it shot had been straight into the sky creating the Gate. Hope aimed her Keyblade up at it and fired a beam of light and when it hit the Gate they heard the sound of something opening.
Like before Hope felt a surge of strength falling into her.
"You have just learned the Aero spell," said Rex.
"And it looks like we better get moving," said Frank.
"Do you have to go?" Tia asked.
"I'm afraid we must," said Hope. "Just fulfil your dreams."
"We will," said Naveen.