'Twas Beauty...
... That killed the Beast. Don't come to me saying that the Beast's Castle storyline finished in the credits of KHII. It was a pathetic ending, so I thought I'd finish it properly. This poor movie only get's one chapter, seeing as it's just the end. More or less. And the quip about Sonic being a prince is from the Sonic Underground universe, so don't complain. It is canonical. *Ahem* let's get on with the show!
I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog or Kingdom Hearts, savvy? On with the story!
The Gummi Ship lands in a wood. The trees are leafless, and look like bony hands, clawing at the moon. The snow on the ground looks like powdered sugar and crunches beneath our feet as we approach the castle. The howling grows ever louder, filled with terrible sorrow and rage.
We couldn't have picked a happy world to come to, could we?
"Gawrsh, I wonder what's wrong?" asks Goofy, more to himself than anyone else.
"Whatever it is, it must be bad. He sounds like he's in a lot of pain. Are you sure it's safe to go in there?"
"Don't worry! The Beast is one of our friends! I'm sure he'll take to you quickly enough!"
"Yeah, like that's ever gonna happen..."
"What was that, feather-brain?"
"..."
We continue on in silence. The castle's gates tower above us, thin and rickety like bones. I still can't imagine anyone trying to break them down: they're so big you'd get crushed by them if they fell on you. This guy mustn't like guests. I push them open. The creak resounds through the courtyard, the only sound besides the howling.
Creepy.
We cross the courtyard. It must've been beautiful once, but now the fountains are dry and twisted; the flowerbeds empty with the onslaught of winter. It makes me wonder if the different worlds have seasons at different times, or if they're all in sync. It certainly wasn't winter on Mobius or in Twilight Town.
Our way is blocked by a pair of huge wooden doors, etched with patterns that resemble roses with exaggerated thorns. It would be pretty if it wasn't the entrance to such a scary mansion. They open with a slight creak; they must have been oiled fairly recently.
"Beast?! Are you here?!"
"We've come to help! Tell us what's wrong!"
The howling stops. He must have heard. A clatter sounds from the top of the split staircase, but it sounds like metal on marble, instead of claws. The clattering gets lower down, but I don't see the owner. They're either invisible or really short.
It turns out to be the latter.
A rather peculiar menagerie of living dinnerware charge down the stairs, quite eager to see us. Donald and Goofy aren't as surprised as I am. We all bend down to round about their height.
"Oh, thank goodness you are here!"
"What's troubling the Beast?"
"It is Belle, mon amis. She has left to find her father!"
"What happened to him?"
"Belle's father was a prisoner at the castle for a while, before Belle offered herself in his place. The Master has a mirror that can show you anything you ask for, and she used it to check on him. He's been wandering the woods for days, trying to find his way back!"
"The poor dear, all alone out there in the freezing cold."
"Belle or her father?"
"Both. And the Master was so close, too..."
I kinds just crouch there, feeling really confused. Talking flatware, a Beast in a castle, and a runaway maiden. Sounds like something from a fairytale. A tiny little teacup with a chip in the rim comes bounding over without the slightest hint of hesitation, studies me for a bit while the others converse, and then pipes up.
"You're not Sora," he states, as if that revelation was the most important thing that had been said so far. At least it gets everyone's attention.
"Oh, I'm sorry, we we're so caught up! Please, excuse us, mon bleu. Lumiere is the name."
He blows out one of his candles, being a candelabrum, and offers the extinguished candle to me. I shake it. It's weird to be shaking hands with a candle-holder.
"I'm Cogsworth," says the clock, butting Lumiere out of the way. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure's all mine?"
"Oh, dear, we have no time for this! We must check on Belle! The Master is so upset," says the teapot. I never found out her name.
"Well, why don't we go and check on her?" offers Goofy chivalrously. "She's a Princess of Heart, so we need to make sure she's OK."
"Princess of... You know what? Forget it. We'll go check on her for you. Where did she go?"
"She most likely ran back to her village after finding her father. It's a straight run south from here."
"I am good at running. Just, hang tight, OK? We'll have plenty of time to talk later."
"Be quick about it, my boy! Time is ticking, in more ways than one!"
I'm already out the door by the time he finishes his sentence, dragging Goofy and Donald with me. I wonder what he meant. Everyone seems to speak in riddles; Yen Sid included.
"How fast can you two run?" I ask, while jogging along.
"This is about as fast as we can go!" gasps Donald, who is running at full force. I pity his short legs.
"We'll never make it in time! You're gonna have to trust me with this! Take my hand!"
I hold out a hand for both of them to hold onto. Goofy takes his without hesitation, but Donald seems to need to convince himself that I'm not going to throw him off a cliff before he takes his.
One of the best things about running really fast is there's no time to scream.
You can't actually speak nor do anything. All the air just gets forced back into your lungs the moment it leaves your mouth to make a noise. I've gotten around that, having run at these speeds since I could stand on two feet, but Donald and Goofy haven't had that privilege. I suppose, in that way, it was nice and quiet.
We only run for a few minutes. I'm not going too fast, as they're not accustomed to these speeds. Their bones might warp if I push myself too hard. I run in a straight line, dodging any trees and rocks that get in my way. Tripping at these speeds would be near fatal, especially in this weather.
I start to see coils of smoke rising above the trees; a sure sign of civilisation. I slow down gently, making sure that my companions don't get jerked around too much. When we stop they immediately fall to the ground and lay gasping. I don't think they enjoyed it as much as I did.
While they recover, I peer between the trees. We have indeed reached the village. There doesn't seem to be too much in it; just a few houses and a tavern. I can hear singing and laughing coming from inside. Humans can be so undignified. I take a glance back at Donald and Goofy to make sure they haven't accidentally died. They're back on their feet, surprisingly enough. Donald looks like he's going to throw an absolute fit, but I shush him. I don't think the people in the tavern would appreciate our appearances.
"Gawrsh, do you think Belle's in there?" whispers Goofy.
"Nah. She's a woman. I think she'll be as far away from here as possible."
"She once told me that she lived in a house all on its own. That was back when we first came to Beast's castle."
"Why did she tell you that?"
"She said she was homesick."
"And talking about it helps?"
"I don't think this is the time or place for that, you two!" quacks Donald.
"Sorry. Now, we'll have to go through the village to find Belle's house, unless you want to carve your way through this dense thicket?"
"What if we're seen?"
"We'll hit them really hard over the head. Maybe we'll knock them out."
"I'm not sure about this plan."
"Got a better one?"
"Well..."
"I thought so. Let's move out."
We step out from the tree line after making sure no one is around. I'm aware that every step we take makes noise that could bring us enemies. We sneak through the deserted streets, tensely on edge.
Then Donald steps on a twig.
"Oh! Sorry!"
To my horror, amazement and confusion, a bunch of Heartless materialise in front of us. If we don't kill them, they're going to rat us out! I summon the Keyblades, slicing through the crowd. Thunder drops from the heavens, though it only strikes the Heartless. I see Donald with a staff out of one corner of my eye, and Goofy with a shield out of the other corner. Looks like we're all born-and-bred fighters.
We dispatch all the Heartless before they can make too much noise. The sounds still echo from the tavern, so they mustn't have heard us. We behead more and more Heartless on the way to Belle's house. It makes me wonder why they're all gathering here.
We eventually reach the only house on its own. It's a bit crooked and lopsided, but looks cosy, especially seeing as we're all shivering in the cold. Donald climbs the steps and rings the door bell. Him and Goofy charge in as soon as the door opens, warming themselves by the fire.
"Hmm? Who are you?"
The door is answered by the woman who must be Belle. I know her name means 'beauty' in French, and it fits her too. With long brown hair, a perfect complexion, and feminine features, she makes the prefect princess. I offer her my hand, which is weird as she's a few feet taller than me.
"I'm the new guy. Call me Sonic."
She shakes my hand and lets me in. It's a deep relief after almost freezing outside. The man who must be Belle's father is sitting on the sofa, draped in several clothes, his feet in a bucket of hot water, and looking very frightened. He's the first person I've seen all day who acted like that towards me.
"I'm Sonic. We're just here to make sure Belle is OK after she rescued you in the woods."
That doesn't ease him much.
"Father, Donald and Goofy here helped save me when I was kidnapped. Oh, I have so much to tell you! But, that will have to wait until you're better. Sonic, pass me that cloth please."
I do as I'm told. She dips the cloth in the hot water and presses it to her father's forehead. He seems somewhat soothed now that he knows we won't hurt him or his daughter.
Goofy's hat jumps around a bit on his head, though he doesn't seem to notice. I just put it down to one of those things, like summoning a shield out of nowhere. All of a sudden, it falls off his head revealing a little teacup. A very familiar little teacup.
"Hi!"
"Oh, a stowaway!"
The teacup bounces over to Belle's father's lap. He doesn't seem half as frightened of him as he was of me, which isn't a big surprise.
"Why hello there, little fella! Didn't think I'd see you again."
"Belle, why'd you go away? Don't you like us anymore?"
"Oh, Chip, of course I do. It's just-"
She's interrupted by a knock on the door. Donald, Goofy and I exchange glances.
"We'd better hide! If they see us they'll go crazy!"
"Agreed. Belle? Anywhere safe?"
"Just down these stairs. And hurry! Take Chip with you."
She hands me said talking teacup, and we descend the stairs, shutting the door behind us. We seem to be in a basement, though it looks more like a workshop. There are tools and inventions everywhere. It fondly reminds me of Tails. I can just imagine him tinkering away with Belle's father. I get an aching in my chest.
Donald looks out the window, quacks loudly, and waves us over. There's a riot outside. Maybe they did hear us after all. It seems like the entire village has gathered outside of Belle's door, sporting pitchforks, torches and a wagon. Surprisingly enough, the Heartless are also out and about, mingling in with the people without killing them. We all exchange glances, before climbing out the window and hiding in the shadows.
"My father is not crazy!"
"He was raving like a lunatic! We all heard him, didn't we?"
This only incites the crowd. The Heartless seem to feed off all the excitement, quivering slightly. It's creepy, and I can see some of the townsfolk don't look too happy around them. We must've gotten away with sneaking through town after all.
Belle's father, called 'Maurice' by some wacko in the crowd, begins to tell stories about the Beast, which only provokes the crowd. He can't see that he's making it worse. He's picked up by a couple of Heartless wearing suits of armour and thrown into the wagon. They must be sectioning him. A guy with a big chin, who is admittedly quite handsome, sidles over to Belle.
"It's a shame about your father. I might be able to clear up this misunderstanding. If... you marry me."
Belle looks repulsed. If the Beast was so torn about her leaving, then there must be something between them. She dashes inside the house and comes out with a mirror. It must be the one that Cogsworth mentioned.
"My father's not crazy and I can prove it!" She commands the mirror. "Show me the Beast!"
The mirror must do as she asks it, because the townsfolk react with a mixture of awe, panic and fright. Belle tries to explain to them that the Beast isn't as vicious or as dangerous as they all think, but his fate has already been set.
"If I didn't know better I'd think you have feelings for this monster."
"He's no monster, Gaston. You are!"
"And what about the freaks the Heartless saw going into your house?"
Oops. Maybe we didn't away with it after all.
"We had the Heartless watch for your crazy father's return, but we get something more than that! She's as crazy as the old man! Bringing monsters into her house! They'll kill our children! We're not safe until all of them, including the Beast, are mounted on my wall!"
The crowd goes wild. He's managed to convince them all that, not only are Belle and Maurice lunatics, but that we're all dangerous, which we are if you hit us first. Gaston sends a few of his lackeys inside, probably searching for us, while the Heartless restrain Belle. She's probably been in this situation before, so I don't worry too much. They men come back after making lots of noise like they're throwing things about. It's a good thing we left out the window.
"They're not inside, Gaston!"
"They must have run back to the castle to tell the Beast! I say we kill them all!"
Belle looks like she's going to start crying. She and Maurice are thrown down into the basement, while the whole village storms off to make a raid on the castle. We can't leave Belle, but we can't leave the Beast. Luckily, Chip, who was hiding in Goofy's hat again, pipes up.
"I'll stay and help Belle and her father. You go help the Beast and my Mama!"
Before any of us can protest at his brave decision he jumps down from Goofy's head and disappears back into the basement.
"Well, we can't stay here. We'll have to hold the riot off long enough to plan a counter-attack."
"We'll hold them off! We can use magic, remember?"
"Donald makes a fair point, Sonic. You go to the castle. You can get there fast enough to make a difference!"
"Are you sure, guys?"
"Positive. Just go before it's too late!"
I nod and set off at a speedy jog. Not fast enough to break the sound barrier, mind; they'd hear that and come running, spoiling Donald and Goofy's plans. I pass the mob on their way to the castle, but I'm far away enough not to be seen. All I can make out are their torches burning fiercely in the night.
I can't help but feel like this is my fault, somehow. I suppose all heroes do when something goes wrong.
I reach the castle quickly, charging in through the gates and past the front door, locking it shut behind me. My presence alerts the enchanted objects, and I ended up surrounded by what feels like every single one of them. It's like a small army, which gives me an idea!
"Don't worry guys, Belle is fine." They all look relieved. "But we've got a riot heading our way." They all look panicked. "No need to panic: we're going to hold them off." They all look confused.
"How exactly will we do this, mon bleu?"
"Well, I've got a few ideas."
Trap set, we all go into hiding, waiting for the riot to arrive. They hammer down the door with a log cut down from the forest outside, breaking through our first line of defence. We don't panic; they've just jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire! They all file inside, looking more terrified than ever. Except for the Heartless, who just add to the menacing atmosphere. When they're close enough...
"NOW!"
Panic breaks out. Drawers fly one, flinging their contents at the intruders. Mrs. Potts and the teacups pour scalding tea over everyone. Hat stands box their opponents, and chests swallow them. The Heartless make to steal the hearts of all the enchanted objects in the room, which I knew they would. Hence, stage 2 of the plan.
"Woo hoo! Heartless! Kiss this!"
If I was a Heartless at that point I would've turned and seen a blue hedgehog obnoxiously waving his butt at me, taunting me with his wily words. If I was Heartless I'd have tried to punish him for such arrogant behaviour by beheading him, or some other grisly method of incapacitation.
I'm too good for that, though!
I lead the Heartless away from the throng and annihilate them. True, they are stronger than the Heartless I destroyed in Traverse Town; these ones have been fed on negative emotions to make them stronger. Still, two Keyblades are more than a match for them.
I stick my head back in the room, now devoid of Heartless. The men are running for their lives, and I don't think they'll be back. Mission accomplished. Gaston, however, is nowhere in sight, and I don't think he's the type to run away from his prize. He must be roaming the castle, looking for my head.
I leave the celebrating servants. I can't let Gaston hurt the Beast. I stalk the empty corridors, looking for a sign of his presence. Maybe a fleeting shadow or the sound of his footsteps. I move almost silently, having dismissed the Keyblades to lighten my load. The sounds of cheering still echoes through the empty halls from the Foyer.
A roar shatters the silence.
I speed off in the direction the roar came from. I just hope I'm not too late. I end up in the West Wing; the sight of the Beast sends shivers down my spine. He's roaring in pain and anger, an arrow lodged firmly in his shoulder. Gaston jumps out of the shadows and throws the Beast out the window and onto the balcony. He laughs maniacally and follows him. He goes to shove the Beast off the balcony and onto the roof, but I stop him by jumping between the two.
"If you want the Beast, you'll have to go through me first!"
We eye each other warily. I can practically see the cogs ticking in his head. He's not the smartest of people I've ever met, Knuckles included.
"... I know you! You're one of the one's that Belle hid in her house!"
"That's me."
"Brilliant! I'll take home twice the trophies!"
The pulls his shotgun out from the straps on his back and shoots at me. My speed takes me away from his bullets, but the only direction to go in is down and onto the roof I saved the Beast from being thrown onto. Gaston and I skid down the shingles, wet with the pouring rain, and slippy too.
Our descent is stopped when we reach an archway. I stumble for my footing, my shoes not suited for running around in such wet weather. This gives Gaston enough time to grab a makeshift bludgeon from the awning and strike me over the head with it. Stars flash before my eyes. When my vision clears I'm lying down, Gaston above me, ready to strike.
"No, Gaston! Don't!"
"Come on, Sonic! You can do it!"
Belle, Donald and Goofy arrive in the nick of time. Gaston gets distracted enough to let me summon and bash him with the Kingdom Key. He rolls off and slips on the wet concrete as I pull myself up. We struggle with each other for a few moments before Gaston manages to pull himself away. He climbs up one of the turrets, trying to get to level ground where he can use his superior strength to his advantage. I follow him. This won't be over until Gaston is dealt with properly.
He tries to bludgeon me over the head again, but I block it with the Kingdom Key. This results in us both losing our balance and tumbling down onto a roof below. Looks like Gaston got his wish for level ground. We pick ourselves up, but don't advance on each other. We need to catch our breath first.
"Why are the Heartless listening to you?"
"Because I'm strong, that's why! I met them many years back, and since then they've bowed to my every whim! Of course, the villagers wouldn't approve; stuck in their old-fashioned ways. They were mine anyway!"
"The Heartless can't be controlled by anyone! They'll devour your heart!"
"I don't think so! I've used the Heartless to hunt for me, taking all the credit when they pulled in the latest kill. I might not be a good shot, but they certainly are, and what the townsfolk don't know can't hurt them, right?!"
"So, you're an imbecile and a liar!"
"You've got a smart mouth for whatever kind of creature you are. It's a pity you're covered with quills: you'd make a nice rug."
"Careful, or these quills will end up in your skin," I warn, summoning the Kingdom Key D too.
"Bring it on, freak!"
We charge at each other again. The tension in the air is thicker than ever after the exchange of harsh words. We clash again and again, neither of us gaining an advantage. He pulls out his shotgun several times and tries to shoot me. He wasn't kidding when he said he was a bad shot: the bullets miss by miles. The extra weight of the gun increases the recoil, sending him flying each time. His foot slips underneath him; the perfect opportunity to disarm him before he does any more damage.
I knock the shotgun out of his hands with the Kingdom Key, pointing the Kingdom Key D at his head. The battle is over, at least as far as he's concerned.
His face morphs from an adrenaline-fuelled grin to a state of terror. He looks like he actually expects me to be his demise. He doesn't think of me as a hero: a hero would never take his life, but spare it, so that he could grow into a better man. I crouch down to his level, and whisper:
"Get out."
The sound of doors opening permeates the air from behind me. I turn to see Donald and Goofy standing on a balcony above me, waving with triumph. Not bad for my first world. I dismiss the Keyblades, give them a wave back and start climbing the roof to get to the ledge so I can be pulled up. I need a good long bath. Not too deep mind: I don't like deep water.
I'm almost at the top when an arrow embeds itself in my shoulder.
I let out a scream of pain. It feels like my whole arm is on fire. For a second all I can think of is the pain, but then I realise I'm losing my grip. Donald and Goofy grab my hands, stopping my fall. I forgot I left Gaston still armed. I thought he'd have actually listened to me and left with his life. If he can just get up here, I'll kick him so hard his head will fly off.
It doesn't quite go like that.
He tries to climb up to meet me, unsheathing a knife. I'm almost completely defenceless here, hanging precariously off a balcony above a forty storey fall to my death. However, as he unsheathes the blade, he loses his grip. He struggles against howling winds, trying desperately to stay on the roof. He hangs for a few moments above the abyss, before tumbling down in the darkness. I don't hear him hit the bottom.
Donald and Goofy pull me up with a great deal of effort. With each tug my shoulder hurts more and more, like it's being ripped off at the socket. When I finally reach solid ground my legs try to give way beneath me, but I'm supported by the same people who saved my life.
"Thanks, guys."
Don't mention it! Not, we need to find the Beast! Who knows what state he's in?"
"Ah... To the West Wing."
Luckily Gaston and I weren't very far from said West Wing. Just a staircase below. I get half-helped half-dragged up the stairs to the chamber. Belle and the Beast are sitting on the balcony where we left him. Or should I say, the Beast is lying down. Belle is sitting. I'm glad to see that she's OK.
We stand inside the room, sheltered from the sheeting rain outside. The Beast is bleeding badly, and his breathing is laboured. I don't think any of us have the medical knowledge to help him.
"Gawrsh, can't you heal him what that there Chaos Emerald?"
"I could normally, but it's part of my clothes now, and I don't know how to access the energy from within them. I can't even... heal myself."
Speaking of people with laboured breathing.
"You came back..." whispers the Beast to Belle.
"Of course I came back. I couldn't let them... Oh, this is all my fault. If only I'd gotten here sooner!"
"Maybe... It's better... It's better this way."
"Don't talk like that! You'll be alright. We're together now. Everything's going to be fine."
"At least... I got to see you... One last time."
He stops breathing, his enormous paw falling to his side in silence. He never even got to tell Belle that he loved her. She starts weeping uncontrollably, her tears masked by the rain.
"Please, don't leave me. I love you."
The thunder gets louder. Way to spoil the moment! A single drop of light falls from the sky and lands next to Belle. She wipes her eyes and looks at the sky. More fall to join it, creating a cascade of light around the two lovers. The light seems to lift the Beast up into the sky, his cape billowing around him like a wing. The light invades every surface of his body; fur retreats and becomes hair, claws become nails, and fangs become teeth. Everything gets smaller and more delicate, until he's human again.
I certainly can't deny the existence of magic anymore.
The light grows until it covers everything in sight. I feel it warming my body, relieving the pain from the arrow. I take the moment of numbness to pull the thing out. My wound heals up before my eyes. The magic must be of the strongest healing magic. It even healed the Beast's broken form.
When the light fades, the Beast is on his feet, though calling him a Beast now doesn't do him any justice. His clothes, once fitting, now hang of his body in tatters. His hair shines like the mane it once was as the clouds part above giving way to sunlight from the heavens. The Beast who isn't a beast pats his body like it belongs to a stranger. I suppose it does, really.
"Belle. It's me!"
He takes her hand, finally being able to hold it properly. She looks surprised and afraid, but can see something in him that convinces her. He runs his hand through her hair, and she through his. They come closer and closer until...
Goofy covers my eyes.
"You're too young for this, Sonic!"
"I'm fifteen, for God's sake! Let me go!"
Belle and the Beast laugh beyond my covers eyes. Goofy removes his hands, the sunlight blinding me for a second. The weather has cleared completely. Belle and the Beast seem enraptured with each other. They kiss again. It makes my chest hurt again, though I can't say why.
And the next day a huge wedding takes place!
Donald, Goofy and I take over a few rooms for the night. When we wake up the next morning what seems like the entire aristocracy has gathered in the castle to celebrate. There is dancing, endless wine, and music that could've been played by angels. Donald, Goofy and I stay out of the way, not wanting to frighten the guests. Life can be lonely when you're from another world.
I don't actually go to the wedding. I do see the after party; Belle's wearing a flowing gold gown and a precious tiara, and the Beast, now more commonly known as 'Prince Adam', is wearing a silk suit and similar crown, without all the sparkle. The servants, returned to their human forms, wait on the event with impressive gusto.
After the initial rush calms down, I call Adam over.
"Excuse me, your highness, but I have a favour to ask."
"Oh. Sure, anything you want."
"Can I borrow your library? I need reference material."
"Is that all? You don't even need to ask, my friend."
"Thank you," I say, bowing deeply, but in a joking manner. He laughs, more light-hearted now that the curse has been lifted, and I head off to the library. I've got a lot of reading to do.
I never even find what I'm looking for!
You'd think with a library this big there'd be something here about other worlds. I want to know what might have happened to my friends after I sealed the Keyhole, but there isn't even a single mention of any other worlds existing. The folks here mustn't have known that there were other places out there before Sora arrived. I bet that shook them up.
"Sonic?"
I turn to see Belle in all her golden glory. I stand and bow to her, grinning all the time. She shakes her head, a smile on her face too.
"What can I do your for, your highness?"
"Oh, stop that! I've just come for a little peace."
She steps out onto the balcony. I follow her hesitantly; now that she's royalty the nobles wouldn't take well to an otherworldly being of the opposite gender being with 100 steps of her. She doesn't seem to mind, though.
"Shouldn't you be at the party? I thought it was rude to walk out of your own reception."
"I don't really belong in there. I'm still a commoner at heart, and even though I love Adam, I don't think they'll ever see me as anything else."
"I had that same problem."
"You're royalty?!"
"Only in certain places. No, what I mean is, I'm actually a hero on my own planet, though I was only seen as a guy from somewhere no one had even heard of before trying to make a show. It took a lot of good deeds and several world rescues to prove to them that I was more than that."
"Tell me about your world, Sonic. What was it like?"
"Don't get any ideas. We can't take too many people on the Gummi Ship with us."
"But, I've always wanted to go to other worlds! I've always to see what was out there; to feel the air of another world! Oh, what an adventure that would be!"
"I'm going on an adventure like that, and trust me princess; it hasn't done me any good."
"So, about your world. Does it have castles?"
"Not really. There is one huge one in Soleanna."
"What about oceans?"
"Too many for my liking."
"Deserts?"
"We have everything, and this world probably does too. My world is different from yours in that all the different sights are right outside of your door, really bunched up together. Here, you'd have to travel for miles to see any change."
"Why aren't you there now?"
"It's gone."
"What?"
"Gone. One day a storm came, bringing the Heartless with it. That's when I got the Keyblades. I tried to save the world by sealing the Keyhole, but I was too late. The Heartless destroyed my world. Speaking of Keyholes, have you seen this world's Keyhole? There's gotta be one around here somewhere."
"Have you checked the books? We are in library."
"Hmm... I don't know. I've just been checking for the mention of other worlds. I didn't think to check for that."
I go back into the library, feeling the daunting weight of my task falling down on me. There has to be several hundred thousand books in here. I sag. Belle laughs.
"Why don't we just check the rooms in the castle for this Keyhole instead?"
So, we do. If it was in the library, it would've responded to the presence of the Keyblade Master by now. The main hall doesn't do anything, and neither does the West Wing. When we reach Belle's room, however...
"I'm surprised you're not sharing a room with your husband. I think you have to be closer to... you know."
Belle blushes furiously. Her innocence hasn't been tainted by these terrible experiences. One the wall is a picture of a waterfall surrounded by trees and hundreds of roses. It must have some significance. I feel a strange power emanating from the painting, like it's pulling me in. I go for a closer look.
The painting suddenly chimes, filling the room with light. The light changes shape, becoming a Keyhole. I like this solution better than reading a ton of books. I summon the Kingdom Key, remembering how the Kingdom Key D didn't work on the Keyhole in my world, and point it at the Keyhole. The Keyblade gathers light that possibly outshines the light from the Keyhole, and sends a ray of light within its depths. The room is filled with a clicking sound, and the Keyhole vanishes.
"What does it mean?"
"This world is safe. It won't go down the same path as mine did."
"I'm glad. Adam and I have so much to do together."
"...?"
"Oh, stop it, you!"
We laugh together. It's the only way to get past the painful memories of the battle that was only yesterday.
"I'm afraid Donald, Goofy and I will be leaving, your highness. We have to save the other worlds, find the King and Sora, and then just see what happens."
"Oh. Sora. Why didn't he come?"
"We don't know. There must be something up if he's not here to save everyone again."
"To be honest, you did a pretty good job yourself."
"Don't say that! You've jinxed me now!"
We laugh all the way down to the main hall, where Adam is waiting for us. I'll never get used to seeing him all furless. Donald and Goofy are with him.
"We're leaving, aren't we?"
"How did you guess?"
"You have that kind of air about you."
"The Keyhole is sealed. You have nothing to worry about, your highness."
"Sonic, thank you for everything you've done. Hopefully we can get back to normal now, and we have you to thank."
"Shucks, I was just doing my job..."
He offers me his hand, which I shake. He's not as tall as he used to be, but it still puts a crick in my neck. It doesn't feel like a farewell, though. I get the feeling I'll be back.
"Don't be strangers, mon amis."
Of course, the whole household has to come and say goodbye before we came leaves. I'm patted on the back and hugged and praised several times. Donald and Goofy get similar treatment, but to a lesser extent. I guess I was the hero of the hour this time. Adam gives me a bag, with something heavy inside. I open it to find a ton of gold coins. I'm not familiar with this world's currency, but it looks expensive.
"It's just a gift. Don't worry; I have enough left over from all these riches, so I thought I'd give you something for helping us out so much."
"Gawrsh, 4000 munny?!"
"That's nothing compared to what you did for us."
"Thanks, Beast."
"You're welcome. Don't spend it all in one place."
"Look after each other, you two," says I to the happy couple.
"You too," says the happy couple to us.
And with that, we leave our first world. Not bad for my first go at things.