Kingdom Hearts: Re: chain of Days
Chapter 15,
Karma's Slave
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts.
Warning: this chapter is a bit of time loop, since Larxene, Axel and Vexen had an extended scene for Repliku.
Warning: Spoilers for Kingdom Hearts: Re: chain of memories, 358/2 Days and Birth by Sleep.
Riku entering the into the next floor of the basement. Until Riku is disturb by the site before him. "What the... What are you supposed to be?"
"Surprised?" came an all too familiar voice, it was Riku's own voice "I guess you would be."
Repliku walking from his position as the real Riku couldn't get over the likeness of this creation. "Is this the work of the castle?" Riku asked his mind, "I bet it's not every day you meet your twin. Too shocked to speak? This should come as a relief, then: I'm a replica of you that Vexen made." Spoke the clone.
Riku's face went into double take mode making sure he heard that correctly, "What do you mean a fake me?"
"I didn't mean "fake"! Just because you're real doesn't mean you're better!" snapped the other Riku, "We share the same body and the same talents. There is one easy way to tell us apart, though. Know what that is? Unlike you, I'm not afraid of anything." Repliku mocking Riku.
Riku tightened a fist, "Are you calling me a coward?"
Repliku gave a small smile, "You ARE a coward. You're afraid of the dark! The darkness inside you scares you witless."
"Look, I..." started off Riku "But I'M different. I embrace the darkness. I can make it do whatever I want. In other words, I can wipe the floor with you!" spoke Repliku, summoning his own Soul Eater.
Riku summoning his own as well, as he began to face off with this doppelganger. The fifteen year wasted no time on fighting, he attacked the fake Riku endlessly; Riku wasn't giving him a real chance to fight back. The silver haired boy leapt into the air and slammed his keyblade on the clone's head making the boy go down to the floor.
"Hey, FAKE. I thought you were gonna wipe the floor with me." mocked Riku.
Repliku looked up as he brought himself up from the floor. "Go on, laugh. I'm still new. I'll get stronger and stronger, just you wait. It won't be long before I surpass you. Next time we fight, you're finished!" spoke the doppelganger.
Riku took a fight stance, "Sorry, you missed your chance. I'm finishing you first, right here!" Riku charges while Repliku stands up and uses dark energy to push Riku away.
Repliku laughed "It's nice to have darkness on my side." walking to Riku. "How could you be scared of something so thrilling? You're missing out."
This angered Riku so much, "Shut up!" he screamed.
Repliku smiled, "So now the coward is playing tough guy. That's cute. See you next time, Real Thing. Try not to miss me." Repliku runs off.
"Come back here! I'll show you who's a coward. Punk." Riku shouted as he set off after the clone.
Sora, who was running into the Seventh Floor of Castle Oblivion. "Sora, not so fast!" Aqua calling to her student.
Sora getting closer to the next door. "We don't have time Master! They've got Naminé. We gotta rescue her!" Sora cried out desperately as he hoped Namine was alright. Aqua grabbed him to slow him down, "Sora, you shouldn't be going off like." Aqua felt like she was speaking to a five year old with a wandering problem. "I know we need to save your friend and fast but Sora you can't take this castle lightly even with or without people like Axel and Larxene in it." Aqua told him privately.
Donald and Goofy finally catch up as they enter the seventh floor. The animal duo both taking the time to stop and catch a breathe of air "Phew, Sora sure does seem like he's upset." Goofy then said to his feathered companion.
Donald shook his head, "You'd be too. He just remembered a friend but found out she's in trouble!" Goofy then nodded in agreement. "Good point. I guess if we heard that the king was in danger, we would be pretty upset about that, too."
Sora after speaking with Aqua in private motions for them to come over as Sora has the next card ready. Sora holds up the Neverland card to the door, and they enter Neverland.
The foursome is located in a wooden ship, for Aqua it didn't take a wild guess to figure out where they were. "Hook's ship...fun" the female master thought miserably. "Wait a minute; we also encountered Riku in this world. I wonder I he'll be here but then again he wasn't in traverse town or inside Monstro." Aqua thinking of her other student, she really hoped that he's alright wherever he is.
"So, where are we now?" asked Sora as he looked around.
"The floor is kinda unsteady. I can hear the ocean, too..." muttered Goofy. "I know! We must be inside a ship!" Donald cutting off Goofy.
Sora's eyes settled on his Master, "Well, we'd better find a way out. But which way do we go?"As if he was asking her. Aqua was about to say something, then a sound a tiny bell entered the room along with a floating ball of light, Aqua recognized it as Tinkerbelle. Tinkerbelle flying around the room of the ship and surprises Donald, "Wak!" the fairy setting off Donald.
Sora had gotten a better look at the lying ball of light, "Who are you?" Tinkerbelle flies around them. "Maybe she's trying to help us."Aqua suggested to the others.
"Looks like you're right!" said Goofy. They follow Tinkerbelle.
The Repliku made to Basement seven, where Zexion, Lexaeus and Vexen were, "How did it feel to fight the real Riku?" asked the dirty blonde haired man.
"He's spineless. I'll be running circles around him in no time." Replied the replica. "Before that, wouldn't you like to meet another hero?" Vexen asked Repliku, while Zexion and Lexaeus were choosing to stay out of this. Repliku quirked an eyebrow, "You mean that Sora kid. He's here in the castle, I hear. Want me to take care of him?"
Vexen smiled "Nothing's definite, but yes, it may come to that. I intend to make good use of you."
"No worries. Sora's just one more person to crush on the way to Riku." Spoke Repliku.
Riku desperately looking for that clone. "Come on out, you fake! Show yourself!"
"Fake?" spoke the voice of an older man. "Oh, I don't think that's the right word." it then said, while Ansem appears in front of Riku.
Riku glaring at the man before him, "What are you saying? He's just a copy of me he said as much himself."
"A copy, yes or maybe a model. He is an example of what you should be. He accepts the darkness... just as you once accepted me. But now, you are afraid. Perhaps YOU are the one who is being fake." Spoke Ansem as he compared Riku with this dark double.
Riku could feel his anger beginning to build up "Name one time I've been afraid of the darkness!
Ansem sneering at the boy, "In the card-worlds," Riku crossed his arms over his chest. "You grappled desperately with the darkness. Desperation is a product of fear. You fight the darkness because it frightens you."
Riku trying to control himself but it wasn't working "Oh, I get it."You think I'll stop fighting the darkness just to prove I'm not afraid of it. Nice try. But I'm gonna keep fighting!" shouted Riku as he tried for an Aerial attack on Ansem similar to the same move he used on Repliku. But Ansem had been able to deflect the attack which had sent Riku back down. But the young teenager, landed on his feet.
Ansem made that 'Tsk' sound as he clicked his tongue, "So stubborn." throwing Riku more cards. "Then continue your fight, if you must. Eventually, you will see. You cannot resist the dark."Ansem vanishes.
Riku lets out a scream of pure anger and frustration.
"Aqua, did you feel that just now?"came Eraqus's voice.
"Yes, I did. Those dark presences, I was feeling it twice before but it was so faint that I didn't even think of it"
"There was something familiar about? Yes?"
"Yeah...Xehanort and Riku, He must be harboring inside of him again. What was left of him anyway? Master Eraqus, what could have brought Riku to here?"
"Perhaps, it was the light in his heart bringing him back to you and Sora."
"I Hope so. I really do"
Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy follow Tinkerbelle to another part of the ship. The all eventually felt they were going in circles.
"Is it just me, or are all the rooms starting to look the same?" Sora spoke out loud
Goofy leaning over to Donald, "Maybe we're just going' in circles?" he whispered to his friend.
Donald shook his head, "yeah. Some help SHE was."Donald whispered back. Tinkerbelle flies around Donald angrily.
Aqua rolled her eyes at this, "think you might a ruffled her wings, Donald." Said Goofy.
"Tink, what are you doing?" entered a young sounding voice, "You weren't supposed to bring the pirates WITH you!" as Peter Pan flies down from the ceiling. Sora runs to him but Peter pulls out a dagger. "Stay back, pirates! Or this will be the last fight you pick!" said Peter.
Aqua looked at fake version of her old friend.
"What's the big idea? We're not pirates!" Donald taking the initiative to yell at Peter, like he would at his nephews. "We're only here because...Umm... Why are we here, Sora?"
"Huh? How am I supposed to know, Donald? Goofy, Master Aqua what do you think?" Sora asked.
"Gawrsh beats me." replied Goofy. Aqua rolled her eyes once more, she didn't think it was possible and thought she cared dearly for her student and friends but they somehow managed to reach a new level of annoyance with her.
Peter Pan finally getting that they weren't enemies, "Okay, okay, I understand. Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy, right? I guess if you were real pirates...you wouldn't get lost on your own ship. Plus, you're dressed funny."
Donald shaking a fist, "There you go again!"
"Wait, so if you thought we were pirates" Sora started off, "This must be a pirate ship!" he concluded. Aqua dead-panned for that quick seconded, "Sora, they usually go hand-in-hand." She said to her pupil.
Peter Pan nodded. "That's right. You're trapped inside the Jolly Roger ship of the Old codfish, Captain Hook." Peter then said.
"Well, if we're trapped, that means you are, too!" Donald pointed out very snob like.
"Me? Don't be silly. No one can capture Peter Pan! I'm just lying Low until it's time to spring my plan."
Goofy had to asked the green clothed boy. "What plan is that?"
"The pirates kidnapped my friend Wendy. She's got to be somewhere on this ship." Tink flies next to Peter. Peter Pan then explained "I didn't expect there to be so many pirates on watch, though. I sent Tink to look for a way around but all she found was you."
"I bet I know what Tink had in mind!" said Sora, "If we all make a big enough racket; we can distract the pirates!" he then added. Tink flies around Sora. "Gawrsh Sora, you must have read her mind!" Goofy said.
Aqua kept to herself mostly in this encounter. "So how 'bout it? Let's work together, at least until we get above deck."
Peter Pan shrugging his shoulders. "Well, why not? Of course, I could save Wendy myself, if I wanted to. But you guys look like you'd be stuck without me." He spoke as he began to float above the floor. Peter flies away "Don't you have ANY manners?" shouted Donald.
Peter Pan and Tinkerbelle fly into the room inside the ship where Wendy is, "There she is!" he said.
Wendy a girl in a long blue night dress. "Peter?" the girl began speaking, "Peter Pan, is it you?"
The foursome enters the room.
"Yeah, I'm here" spoke Peter Pan as Wendy went to him, "are you all right? I've come to rescue you with my four new Lost Boys! C'mon, let's get off this leaky ol' tub and do some exploring! Ha-ha! We'll never grow up!" Peter was speaking very happily.
Aqua noticed that Wendy wasn't looking as Happy as Peter was. "Listen, Peter. I've got something to tell you" began the brunette girl "I want to go home to...London" Wendy managed to say although it was clear she was upset about it.
Peter is shocked. "What are you talking about? Why would you want to do that? You'd have to turn into a grown-up. Besides, going' on adventures is a lot more fun! If you go back to London, you'll have to leave the nursery. You'll grow up and we'll never see each other again!"
Wendy turns away, "I know that, Peter. But I still want to go home."
Peter Pan was clearly taking this the wrong way. "I came to rescue you! And you don't care if you ever see me again!"
Wendy shaking her head and waving her arms, "No, you don't understand!"
"Suit yourself! And while you're at it, rescue yourself! I'm leaving." Cried out the never ageing boy as Peter took off. This actually surprised the foursome Aqua mostly because she had known first what Peter does for his lost boys and friends so this really quite a stun to her.
Hey, wait a minute!" Sora calling out to the older boy.
"There he goes." Muttered Donald.
Wendy looking down on to the floor. "Peter..." you could just feel the guilt in her voice.
Sora crossing his arms over his chest. "Not very thoughtful, is he? What do we do now?" Sora asked Aqua. She merely looked at her pupil and Aqua looked as if she was going to speak but the keyblade master merely shrugged her shoulders.
"Hey, I've got an idea!" interjected Goofy; the others looked hopeful with small smiles on their faces. "Why don't we think of something once we get up on deck?" he then said as their smiles dropped.
Donald couldn't believe what he just heard from his long time friend. "That doesn't make any sense...I think."
"You think?" Aqua muttered in her head.
"Well, there's still trouble waiting outside." Sora spoke "and Wendy, you stay here. We'll try to create a distraction." He told her.
Wendy nodding her head at the foursome. "All right. Be careful."
"Maybe if you stay here, Peter will change his mind and come back." Goofy then said to bring up Wendy's hope. Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy leave.
"I dare say I won't." Spoke Vexen.
Repliku walking into the room, "But it's just a card. What good is that?" asked the self knowing clone.
Axel giving the clone a once look over, "Another clone, geez Vexen, as if you weren't creepy enough" thought Axel. "That card contains Sora and Riku's memories of their home." Axel answering Repliku.
Larxene gesturing to the card with one usable arm. "This is your chance to get your hands on the real Riku's memories" this had gotten the clone's attention. "All you need is that card and a little help from Naminé." Spoke Larxene as she was tempting the clone into her game. "Maybe we'll get her to make you forget you're fake...Better yet, we could remake your heart so you can be just like the real Riku." She then said.
Namine, who had been in the corner of the white room; a hand over her mouth. As Larxene came over to Repliku.
Repliku choosing to interject "Hey, hold on! What do you mean, remake my heart?" he made a fist "The real Riku's a wimp who can't deal with the darkness inside him. What do I want with the heart of a loser?" yelled the Riku replica
Larxene turning to look at the older nobody. "Any objections, Vexen? Do you or don't you want to test Sora?" she teased him with the idea.
Vexen smirked. "The experiment, it must be done. Could be beneficial for number fourteen's slowly advancing abilities" now that the scientist of the organization was thinking about it.
Repliku looking at his creator, "What? Vexen, how could you!" he screamed.
"Didn't I say I intended to make good use of you? Spoke Vexen, it was clear he had no parental feelings for his creations
Larxene smiled that sadistic smile "Relax, kiddo. It won't hurt...much!"
Repliku summoning Soul Eater, "I'll show YOU hurt!" he yelled. Repliku readies to strike Larxene but she pushes him away and he goes down to the ground.
"Stupid little toy!" shouted Larxene. "What made you think you could even SCRATCH me? But look on the bright side... Naminé will erase the memory of me knocking you flat along with everything else. She'll implant the loveliest little memories you could ever hope for. So what if they're lies?" using that one arm to strike him as she summoned her elemental power, lightening.
"No... NOOO!" screamed Repliku, before the lights in his head went out.
Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy enter the deck of the ship. "Whew! We finally made it out!" Donald spoke out.
"There you are, you rascals!" Captain Hook appears.
"Not this clown" Aqua muttered under her breath.
"I'll teach you to play stow away on my ship! Friends of Peter Pan, I'll wager!" Ranted Captain Hook.
The foursome turning to one another, "Well it's hard to say" spoke Aqua "Are we his friends?" asked Donald.
"He sure didn't seem to think so." answered Goofy; Sora adding on "Yeah, the way he took off like that. He even ditched Wendy."
Hook gets angry from being casted aside. "I'm not finished talking yet! How dare you ignore me and plot behind my back! Uncivilized brats! You're in cahoots with Peter Pan, no mistake!" the pirate throwing a childish temper tantrum.
Ever since she had come back to this castle, Aqua has been feeling so many emotions all at once and not to mention it was hard for her to have a private moment of thinking; and at the moment Aqua had no problem with putting her fist into his face. Despite what it would do for her character.
"If you say so. Either way, you're gonna let us off this ship." Said Sora.
"And Wendy's coming with us." Added Goofy.
"Think again, you scallywags! Hook's one step ahead of you!" Hook threatening them. Wendy is on the edge of the plank, which shocks them.
"Wendy!" They run to the edge of the ship
"Any trouble, and Wendy takes a long walk off the plank!" he then said, "You wouldn't!" cried Donald.
"Believe me, I'd rather not. After all, I need Wendy to bait that blasted Peter Pan!"
Peter Pan choosing this moment to return and actually help out his friend. "Then I'll just have to take the bait, you old codfish!" Peter Pan and Tinkerbelle appear in front of Wendy. Wendy beamed upon the site of her friend. Peter!
Peter Pan had most of his attention on captain hook. "Here I am, Hook! Miss me?" Captain Hook doing dome form of angry gesture with his body. "Insolent BRAT! Today is the day you pay for taking my hand!"
Hook runs toward him, but Peter flies behind Wendy and holds her in his hands. He then flies out of the way, leaving Hook hanging at the edge of the plank.
"Uh-oh!" mocked Peter.
Captain Hook looked around to notice he was on the plank. "Agh? Wa-wa-wa-wa-whoa!" Hook regains his balance. He gets angry "You've made a fool of me for the last time, Pan! I'll cleave you to the brisket!"
They fight Captain Hook and defeat him
Larxene finally being able to get her greedy hands on a healing potion. She was putting that once damaged arm to use. "Why so glum, Naminé? Is something on your mind? Feeling bad about tinkering with Sora's memory? Or maybe you..."
"Knock it off, Larxene." Repliku walking into the room. "Naminé wants to forget about Sora" he then said.
Larxene gave the clone a look, "You don't say" the tone of voice was mocking.
Repliku ignoring Larxene, "Don't worry, Naminé. I'll make whatever's hurting you go away." holding out the same charm, Sora possess. "I swear it on the good luck charm you gave me. I'll be back." Repliku then heading back to the double doors and leaves.
Larxene smiled "I'll admit. It's simply amazing "It's like you completely rebuilt his heart; The good luck charm was an especially nice touch. I didn't know you could use memories to transform objects like cards into keepsakes. Just like you changed Kairi's good luck charm. It won't be long before Sora forgets her completely! And then he'll be yours to..." Larxene again was cut off as a shy voice began to speak.
Naminé sighing "He won't forget. No matter how much I change his memory, Sora will never forget Kairi. Memories of me will just make his feelings for Kairi stronger. Because... Because I'm her shadow." Spoke Namine as the blonde girl looked crest fallen.
Larxene quirked an eyebrow. "So what? There's your incentive not to screw up. Rewrite Sora's heart, and you can be somebody, not just the shadow of somebody. In Sora's heart, you can be real." Larxene said to her.
Namine sighed again as she looked down to her sketch book.
"Thanks, Peter, we owe you one." Sora showing his gratitude.
Peter Pan crossed his arms "Well, at first I thought I'd let you handle it, but it really looked like you needed help. But hey, you four did pretty good, though." Peter then bringing his attention back to Wendy. "Wendy, about London... Are you sure you won't change your mind?"
Wendy nodding her head, yes. "Peter, I'm sorry. But I really need to go home." She spoke with clear upset tone.
Peter Pan sighed "I was afraid of that... Everyone grows up and grownups always forget. First you'll forget what it feels like to be young, and then you'll forget about me."
Wendy shook her head, "How can you say such a thing, Peter? I'll never, ever forget you."
Peter Pan he shrugged his arms "Sure, that's what you think now. But when you try to remember me, the memories will be gone. You'll forget little by little, one memory at a time. Once you're grown up, there won't be a single memory left." Explained Peter Pan.
Sora interrupting the private conversation, "Don't say that. Memories even important ones; don't come back to us whenever we want them to. But that doesn't mean the memories are gone. It's more like...like they're sleeping. So when the right thing comes along and wakes the memory up, we can remember it. The memories engraved in our hearts never go away. I'm sure of it." Sora said to them comforting both Wendy and Peter.
Aqua smiled as she watched what Sora did for theses two friends.
"He's right, Peter." Wendy said, "Never, huh? It's funny. I thought everybody who left Neverland forgot all about it. But I have a feeling you guys just might be different. Okay, Sora! If you say we'll meet again, then I believe you!" Peter said with a wide smile.
Wendy smiling "Oh, Peter!" she said.
Peter Pan turned to her "Let's go, Wendy. London is waiting." She nods. Peter picks her up and starts to fly "Goodbye, Sora. I'll be waiting to see what you look like all grown up!" he then said to his new found friend.
Peter and Tinkerbelle fly away.
Tinkerbelle flies back to Sora; Sora looked puzzled. "What's the matter, Tink?" Tink creates a card of herself and gives it to Sora
"No doubt that is a gift from Peter." Said Aqua. He puts the card in his pocket.
Donald shrugged his feathers, "Maybe he's not such a thoughtless guy after all." A Moogle falls from the sky and lands on Donald's head "Ow!" "I suppose another gift from peter?" Aqua spoke to Donald. The Moogle gets up. "What's the big idea!"
Aqua, Sora and Goofy laugh. The Moogle flies away. and the foursome leaves Neverland.
As Aqua, Sora, Donald and Goofy entered the seventh exiting hall, they all catch a glimpse of Riku. Sora gasps. Aqua smiles upon the site of her other pupil, "Riku" she calls out to him; and that was when she felt it. something wasn't right about Riku. Aqua couldn't feel that trace of Xehanort.
"Could this not be Riku? But how?" she thought to herself. "perhaps a trick of the castle." She then told herself.
Sora was overcome with mixed emotions, "... Riku? What are YOU doing here?" he said.
Riku gave Sora and expression "Not happy to see me? Let me know if I'm getting in the way ya know, of something that's more important."
Now Sora really was baffled. "Huh? I didn't mean that..."
"Yeah, defiantly not the real Riku" Aqua concluded into her mind. "So what is he?"
Riku sneered "Hmph. Spare the excuses. I bet that you had all but forgotten about me."
"That's not true Riku," Aqua then said, keeping up her guard. She needed to know who this was, A shape-shifter, or an illusion, Aqua noted that he looked too corporal to be an illusion.
"Are you crazy?" Sora then said to Riku, "C'mon. Master Aqua and I came all this way looking for YOU!"
Riku crossing his arms over his chest, "But you're not anymore, right? Now it's only Naminé that you're looking for. You don't care about me. Just like you never cared at all about her feelings." Riku accused Sora and Aqua. Sora again was baffled. "Naminé's...?"
"Hmph. I knew it. Never even gave it a thought, did you?" Sora wasn't sure on how to react to this ."Just because you want to see Naminé, Sorry doesn't go both ways. Tell ya the truth, Naminé doesn't even want to look at your face." Riku said to Sora.
Aqua kept her eyes on this imposter, and she waited for an attack.
"Why not?"
"You should ask your memories that, Why?" said Riku. "Naminé disappeared from the islands. Remember that, and you'd know." Riku then added.
"Did I... Did I do something? Is it my fault? Riku..." asked Riku. Darkness envelops Riku and he dons his darkness armor.
"Why don't you all go home, and I'll care for Naminé. Anyone who goes near her" He summons his weapon, Soul Eater. "Goes through me!" Riku attacks Sora. Sora blocks it with his Keyblade. Their blades clash together.
"What's wrong with you? We're supposed to be friends!" shouted Sora as the other watched on, Aqua wanted Sora to see for himself that this wasn't the real Riku, and she knew it was going to take some time.
"Please, Sora. Since when have you ever cared about me? Naminé's not the only one who's sick of looking at you. So am I!" Riku jumps backward.
"Riku, stop it! Sora and Riku battle against one another. After the battle, Riku pants and runs away into the Eighth Floor.
"Riku!" Please wait!" Sora calling out to his best friend. Sora chases Riku into the Eighth Floor. By the time he enters the floor, Riku is gone.
Sora looking around the room. "Riku! Where are you?" Sora doesn't see him, and he puts his head down. Aqua, Donald and Goofy enter the room.
"Sora, are you okay?" Aqua asked him. Sora nodded his head. "Don't worry about me. Riku...what happened to him?
Jiminy pops out "Hmmm... Sure was strange. Almost like Ansem was back controlling Riku again."
Sora picked up his head "But we got rid of Ansem for good."
"Then I wonder what is wrong with Riku" asked Goofy.
"Hold on... The king! If he's with Riku, he might be in danger!" Donald sounding like he was having a heart attack.
"Donald, it's pretty clear that Mickey isn't here besides isn't a push over, he wouldn't let someone like Ansem-Xehanort take over Riku again." Aqua calming the duck down, "They must have gotten separated, like we almost were" she then added.
Goofy nods. They all look at Sora, who's upset over Riku. "Oh Sora," Aqua said to her pupil, "I promise you, I'll find the real Riku"
Jiminy hops down to the floor. "I know... You're thinking Riku isn't your friend... But that's just not true."
Sora slumped his head down. "Ya sure?"
"Well, I know he said some awful things to you back there... But you gotta remember; we are in Castle Oblivion. Why, folks lose their memory here a little bit at a time. Riku's probably just forgotten that the two of you were such close friends. That's all." Reasoned Jiminy.
Sora lifting his head, "So he just forgot?"
"My guess is that's so. But Sora...instead of being sad, we have to figure out a way to help Riku get his memory back. If we all work together, why, we're sure to get you through this. No need to mope."
Goofy nodded and said, "Jiminy's right. You shouldn't push your friends away" Donald nods his head.
Aqua putting a hand on his shoulder, "Yeah. Okay." Sora, still upset.
Donald and Goofy exchange looks and nod. Donald then opening his mouth. "Sora, do you remember our very first promise?"
"Huh?"
"Always smile!" Goofy and Donald spoke at the same time.
"That was the promise we made to each other the first time we met!" said Goofy. "We promised to never forget to keep smiling!" he then added.
Sora cheers up. "You're right." Sora holds up the Atlantica card to the door, and the group enters Atlantica.
Aqua noticed the aquatic surroundings, "Gawrsh! This looks like the bottom of the sea." Noted Goofy.
"It sure does. So how come we can breathe?" asked Sora.
"Ugh, Sora, look" Aqua pointing . "Hmm... Beats me! Maybe someone cast a spell on us?" "No magic. Not really, simply rule of the worlds." Aqua told him.
Sora amazed by the gills "It's just like breathing air!"
"But it's not air. See?" Donald trying to point it out to Sora. "Someone's swimming this way!" he then added.
Ariel appears and swims over to them, holding a trident. "If anyone asks, you didn't see me!" "What is she up too?" thought Aqua as she notice King Triton's weapon.
"What?" which was shared by the foursome.
Ariel stopped and looked at them "Sorry, I don't have time to explain. Just promise you won't tell!" "Hey, what's that sparkling thingy you got there?" Goofy asked the red headed mermaid.
"Oh, nothing-nothing at all! Remember, you didn't see me!" she said as she began to swim away.
"Well. Looked like she was in a hurry." Said Donald.
Sora rotating to his teacher, "She was hiding something."
"That she was, Sora and we have to make sure it isn't going into the wrong hands."
"I wonder what it was?" Donald said to Goofy.
Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy enter the throne room of King Triton, and meet Sebastian" Oh, woe is me.."
"Is something wrong?" asked Sora.
"Someone stole the king's magic trident. Atlantica is defenseless! And to top it off, Princess Ariel has disappeared! King Triton's worried sick. He won't leave his chambers."
"That's a semi relief, I can do my job in peace" Aqua mused in her mind.
"Ariel?" Sora not remembering who she was "She disappeared?"
Sebastian sighing "Ariel's friend Flounder would know where she is, but now he's gone, too."
Sora turns to Aqua, Donald, and Goofy. "Wait a sec... Didn't we just see Ariel?"
"Yep. But she didn't look real happy to see us! Hey, wasn't she carrying something when we saw her?" Goofy asked Sora.
"You don't think that was the trident?" asked Sora.
"You know, maybe it was." Aqua said to him, feigning this memory loss was getting tired to her.
"Wak? But that means Ariel stole it!"
"There must be some explanation." Aqua then said.
Sebastian is talking to himself; "Ariel! Where did you swim off to this time? If anything happens to you... The king will think it's all my fault! He told me to keep an eye on her, and now this! What if she ran away because of something I said? King Triton will banish me forever!"
Sora speaking with Aqua, "He'll pop his shell if we tell him Ariel took the trident.". "Yeah no doubt about it" Aqua muttered to him, "So we'll handle this ourselves." They leave the throne room.
Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy find Ariel and the trident in Ariel's grotto.
"There she is!" Sora said aloud,
"Shh!, she isn't alone in there" Aqua whispered as she was starting to feel a dark presence near the sea princess.
Ariel felt like hanging her head. "This is all my fault. I wish I'd never taken Daddy's trident. I should've known things would turn out this way." Ariel talking to herself, you could hear the sadness and regret in her voice.
Donald whispering to Goofy ,"She DID take it!" "Pipe down! Somebody's coming'!" Goofy replied to Donald.
"No need to worry, child. You did the right thing." Came a feminine but rough voice.
Ursula appears in a cloud of black smoke "Why, I'm sure you'd do anything in the world to help your little friend. Poor Flounder has been swept away to the human world. No place for a little fish. Why, if we don't hurry, you might not have a friend to save..."
Ariel picking up her head "No!" she cried out.
Ursula went closer to Ariel, "Besides, you're not GIVING me the trident, dear; just letting me borrow it for a bit. You can save Flounder! Lend me the trident, and I'll help you!"
"I know but Daddy needs the trident to defend Atlantica. I need time to think." Said Ariel.
"Well, it's all the same to me. Just remember, your little friend is dodging fishhooks while you twiddle your fins. Well, you can come see me once you've made up your mind." Said the half octopus woman. Ursula disappears in black smoke
Ariel putting her head in her hands, "What am I going to do?"
Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy walk up to Ariel. "Don't trust HER, that's for sure" Sora being the first to speak out, which if course spooked Ariel; the red head now gasping from surprise, "How long have you been listening?"
"Oh, long enough." Said Aqua.
"It doesn't matter. Sora's right! Don't trust that sea witch! She's up to no good. You can see it in her face!" butted in Donald.
Ariel nodded her head, "Then we all agree! The problem is, I don't have any idea where Flounder is. And she's the only one who can help." Ariel then spoke.
"Well what about us?" asked Sora. "C'mon. Let's go talk to her. You shouldn't have to do this by yourself." Aqua said to the young mermaid.
Ariel was surprised. "Really? You'll come with me?"
" You bet! I know how it feels to have friends in trouble. Let's get going!" said Sora
Aqua, Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Ariel enter Ursula's lair. Ursula comes out of the shell at the end of the room and down to the ground.
"My, so many guests! Have you made up your mind, my dear?" spoke Ursula.
"I'll do anything for Flounder. But I need proof I can trust you. You said we could save Flounder if I gave you the trident. Well, prove it!" said a determined Ariel.
"But of course! See?" spoke the sea witch. She waves her hand, and Flounder appears in a shroud of darkness.
Flounder seeing his friend "Ariel!" he cried out to her.
Donald speaking out, "I knew something was fishy!"
Aqua rolled her eyes at Donald's possibly intended pun. "There you have it. If you want your precious Flounder back, give me the trident!" said Ursula. Ariel wasn't let with much of a choice. The trident glows and levitates over to Ursula. "Ha-ha! Mine at last! Now I'm ruler of all the seas!" said a victorious Ursula.
Aqua keeping her eyes on the large sea witch. Ready to make a move.
Ariel pumped a fist, "Let Flounder go!" Ursula actually lets the little yellow and blue fish go, "But of course! I'm feeling generous." Flounder swims to Ariel.
"Which reminds me... You always wanted to see other worlds, didn't you? Well, dear, I know just the world to send you to! Unfortunately, this will be a one-way trip!" She creates a strike of lightning with the trident. Sora and Aqua is transported to a single platform. With the power of the trident, Ursula has grown gigantic)
"The sea and all its denizens shall grovel before me!"
"I don't think so" said Aqua, as she prepared to perform one of her most powerful spells and fighting styles, Diamond Dust. Aqua succeeded in making Ursula's tentacles a popsicle and she let Sora handle the rest of witch.
Sora and Aqua fight and defeat Ursula. Everyone is back in Ursula's lair
Flounder swam around Ariel "Please don't be mad, Ariel. That old' witch tricked me." Said the little fish
"Flounder, as long as you're safe, nothing else matters." Said Ariel. "Now all we have to do is return the trident and everything will be okay." She added.
"But what if the king finds out you're the one who took it in the first place?" asked Sora.
Ariel made a grimaced expression "I'll be grounded forever..."
Sebastian's voice is heard somewhere in the area "Ariel! Ariel! Where are you, girl? If you can hear me, please answer!"
Ariel groaned "It's Sebastian! He came all this way just to find me."
"Yep, and when he does, you're gonna get it!" spoke Goofy.
"Goofy, I'm pretty sure she didn't need reminding" said Aqua.
"Hey, I know! Why don't you just say the sea witch stole the trident? And you got it back all by yourself! Then there's no way you'll get in trouble!" suggested Sora.
"I just had the same idea! But...I can't do that. I don't want to get in trouble, but I can't lie. Not about this." Said Ariel. "I know I haven't made the best decisions lately. It was a mistake to take the trident. But I made that mistake because I wanted to help you, Flounder. I'm proud of that. Blaming someone else would mean giving those feelings up. So, I'm going to tell the truth." Ariel deciding to take the harder road.
"She's right, Sora! Honesty is the best way to go. In times like this one." Said Aqua.
Sora placing his hands behind his head. "Hey, I was just kidding! Great, now I'M the one in hot water!" The foursome leaves Atlantica.
End chapter.