Hi all, it's been a while since me and my partner have posted a new chapter here. We're very sorry for that, but we're finally back, with plenty of ideas and new chapters! So let's go ahead and get started, shall we?
Disclaimer: We donot own Kingdom Hearts OR Fire Emblem, otherwise the events of this fic would be ALL too accurate and true.
".........So....how much longer till we get there?"
"I swear Serra, if you ask that ONE MORE TIME."
"But Lord Hector...."
"All she does is complain, huh?" Riku whispered to Sora. "And heal people," Sora whispered back, "but she does more damage than repair." "Don't let her hear you say that," Rhea warned. "What's the worst she can do? She already pushed me," Sora pointed out.
"You really wanna know?"
Serra appeared in front of him smiling cheerfully. "HELP!" Sora yelled out in first instinct hiding behind Kairi in an instant.
"S-sora! She's just joking!"
"Is not! She's going to smite me when you all turn your backs!"
"Well, y'know this staff isn't just for healing but don't worry, you're my friend Sora, so I'll never hurt you!" Serra said walking back to the front of the traveling group, but not without giving Sora a devious look first.
Sora gave a horrified look in exchange. "Congratulations," Kent said with sarcasm as he walked ahead of Sora.
"Riku....I'm scared."
"Oh no, you're not gonna have that she-devil stalking me," Riku said. Sora, not caring about Riku's fear then hid behind him. "I don't want to die!"
Kairi just laughed, "You guys act so paranoid. This is probably part of her scheme."
"Like you can talk, you didn't get the evil eye!"
"Don't worry! The most dangerous part of Serra is her mouth," Rhea said adding quietly, "Which never seems to shut."
"Even that can kill me!"
"If it can't kill that guy I'm sure you're fine," Riku said motioning to Erk, "but then again maybe not."
"He's so quiet..." Kairi noted. "Maybe Serra is doing a world record and is trying to get him to talk," Sora teased. "Erk's not that quiet, he just has a LOT of patience with her, which is respectable in a way," Rhea said. "It's kinda cute!" Kairi said out loud. "What's so cute about that?" Sora asked.
"How nice he is to her."
"I think he's scared of her," Riku said. Sora couldn't help but snicker at the comment. "I'll PROVE he isn't!" Kairi said boldly. "This I gotta see," Riku said.
Kairi smiled smugly as she walked fast over to the chatterbox Serra and broken box Erk. "Oh hi guys! What are you talking about?" Kairi said. She wished she could have chosen her words better but it's what came out of her mouth. "Hmmm? We were just talking about our future plans!" Serra exclaimed. "She's joking by the way," Erk said. Kairi couldn't help but smile.
"I hope she isn't. You guys look so cute together!"
"I know! We're totally the perfect couple!" Serra squealed grabbing Erk who twitched in response, which Kairi noticed. A twitch like that only Serra couldn't notice.
"And it looks like you guys care a lot for each other too."
"You betcha! Right Erk?"
"Please stop talking."
Kairi just couldn't get anything out of him! He wouldn't admit his feelings out in the open if there were any and at the same time he wasn't exactly denying it, just pushing it away. He was a big mystery, a mystery she wanted to solve.
"Oh no Riku. Kairi has that look on her face..."
"And that's my cue to walk away."
Too late. Kairi came back with the same smile on her face. "Looks like I have a personal mission!" she said.
"Aw geez Kairi, now's not to time to play around.""I'm not! I just want to know Erk's deep feelings."
"Kairi don't bother! Erk's a guy! He has no need to express his deepest emotions."
"You guys went to me for emotions all the time.""We were kids!" Sora protested.
"Exactly, we were young and stupid!" Riku added.
"And cute!" Kairi said cheerfully as a singing bird making Sora blush. "Kaiiiirrri!" he whined. "Cute" was not something he liked being called.
"Yeah, not in front of the mercenary people!" Riku groaned.
"Fine, but you're still my cute little boys!" Kairi said teasingly while pinching Riku's cheeks. "Kairi's been hanging around mom too long," Sora mused.
"Oh yeah. And knock it off!"
Kairi giggled as she stopped.
"They're almost livelier than Serra," Lyn said to the other lordlings. "Yeah, looks like our little tactician has grown a liking to them too," Hector said. "I wonder how much of a liking," she said eyeing Sora. It was no doubt since the first day he and Rhea have been getting along better.
"Hey look! This looks like a wishbone!" Sora said to Rhea referring to the stick in his hand.
"Huh, so it does..."
"Let's try it out!"
"But I don't think it works the same way with a stick..."
"Where's your sense of belief? If you think it will work it will! C'mon!"
Rhea sighed. "Ok, fine."
She took hold of the other end of the stick. "On 3! One...two....three!" with the last word that came out of Sora's mouth the stick snapped. "W-whoa! I can't believe it! I have most of the stick!" Sora said as if he won a million dollars. "That's only because when you and Riku did it you'd always end up with the short end," Kairi reminded.
"Yeah I know!" Sora said with his trademark smile. "So what did you wish for?" "More gold," Rhea said holding up her money pouch, which was almost empty. Kairi giggled, "What about you Sora?"
"Well....nothing. I want to keep this wish stick as long as I can....so incase I need it, it will be there," he said while smiling, he started walking faster enough to go ahead of the rest smiling the whole time.
"Is this Ostia?" Kairi asked Rebecca as they stopped in front of what looked like it could be Ostia. "Yeah," Rebecca said smiling. "It's....big...."Riku said. "Mmhmm, this is Lord Hector's country Ostia," Rhea said. "Home sweet home, eh Lord Hector?" Matthew said to Hector who looked very displeased.
"Bah."
"What's wrong Hector?" Lyn said in annoyed and almost threatening way.
"N-nothing," he quickly responded. "Hmmm, sounds like someone doesn't want to be back home," Eliwood teased. "So what if I don't?!?" Hector growled. Usually it was him who did all the teasing.
"You should be happy to be back home," Lyn added.
"Well I'm not."
"Is it because you're not ready to take over for your brother?" Eliwood asked.
"...."
For once Lyn didn't know what to say. She couldn't lie and say he would make a marvelous marquess because Hector was Hector, but she had no idea he was worried about all of it.
"Maybe you just need a little bit more time..."
"Yeah, maybe another year, or ten."
"C'mon Hector, if your brother Uther could rule, you can do it as well. And if you need help, you always have Oswin and us," Eliwood said assuring. "He has a point, milord," Oswin added. "....You're all a bunch of softies," Hector said. Lyn knew that saying was just a Hector way of a thanks. "Let's go inside."
Ostia was definitely an extremely large city. Compared to the past ones the group had visited, this one had more places to go, including dozens of shops with busy merchants, large buildings, and the largest building, Castle Ostia, standing mightily among it all. "Whoa..." Sora said looking up, "This is the PERFECT place to start!" "I'll say. It must have EVERYTHING. Except a McDonalds," Riku commented. "Yeah," Kairi agreed watching everyone in their own discussions about what they were going to do. "If we walk around there's SURE to be someone in need of help!" Sora added.
"Don't you think we should find the tailor first? It will take a while for them to finish the outfits. We might have to stay here a day or two," Rhea suggested. "Who cares about clothes?" Sora muttered.
"I do! C'mon Sora let's find a tailor!"
"Right, I'll need to go find Merlinus to get some money for us first though, what I have with me now just wouldn't do."
"He's probably near Eliwood," Sora guessed.
Rhea sighed. "Probably. All right I'll be back. Please don't wander too far..." she said walking in the direction the lords went. "I believe that means you Sora," Riku teased. Sora made a face. "Hmph. I'm offended, I listen to what I'm told right Kairi?" Sora said knowing Riku would just say what he felt off the bat. "Well yeah! In 2nd grade you got an award for being the best helper in class," she pointed out old memories. "Yeah! And all Riku got was an award for the most quiet in class!"
That Kairi also remembered, he was always quiet in class but when he was near her and Sora he was a natural chatterbox. "The other kids were boring and the teacher didn't know what he was doing," Riku pointed out. "Aw Riku," Kairi said sympathetically, "That's why all the other kids thought you were cool!" "You mean cold," Sora corrected.
"Ha ha, very funny, and that's why they thought YOU were a teacher's pet."
"So....Merlinus ISN'T here?" Rhea asked the lords. "I'm afraid not," Eliwood said quietly adding, "Thank goodness." "He went to his shop after I asked him 'If I gave you permission to set up shop in Ostia, WHY were you in that other town?!?!'" Hector said. "It was more like yelling than asking," Eliwood noted. "Honestly," Lyn said while sighing, "You think a little politeness wouldn't come a long way with Hector." "Politeness is for Eliwood," Hector responded. "Still!" Lyn pointed out then faced Rhea, "I'm sorry."
"Oh come on! I'm used to it! Lord Hector's Lord Hector and that's just the way it'll always be!" Lyn smiled at Rhea's reasoning.
"That's true. Why do you need Merlinus anyways?"
"Well, I was going to take the others to the tailor and well," she held up her money pouch and gently shook it.
"Oh that's right!" Lyn realized. Traveling made your head wander off sometimes. "Oh yeah, forgot they were even with us for a second," Hector said.
"Hector!"
"Well I did."
"It's not like they're as quiet as mice!" Lyn said getting back on Hector's case.
"Why does everyone always scold ME?!?"
"Because of the simple fact that you're you!" Eliwood replied. Rhea laughed.
"Rhea, I'm sure Merlinus hasn't gone far."
Rhea nodded, "OK, I'll go find him then. I'll see you guys later." "Bye little Rhea," Hector teased which earned him a twitch and a "don't call me that" glare.
"Mannnnnn! I'm tired of waiting!" Sora groaned.
"Sora, Rhea specifically said-"
"You just want new clothes!"
Dang.... he got her. "Ouch!" Riku said. He's gonna regret saying that. "Hmph!" Kairi said while turning around crossing her arms. She'd get him later. "Rhea!" Sora said as he saw her make her way back to the group, "What took you so long? So did you get the money?!"
"Sorry, Merlinus kept trying to make me buy stuff, but yes I got it."
"Alright let's find the tailor, then a person in need!"
Why he wanted to help someone out so much Rhea couldn't figure out.
After finding the tailor, the four decided to rest at the fountain near the center of the city. "So we have to wait overnight just for them to finish our stupid outfits?" Riku complained. "Riku you don't know the hard work that comes into making clothes," Kairi concluded.
"Forget that. Let's find some helpless civilian to help us be known!"
"What's with you and helping people? Let's just sit back and do nothing. Or maybe get some food," Riku said lazily. "What's with you and acting dead? We're alive, let's do something worth while!" Sora said cheerfully as he got up in front of his friends, "Heard of karma Riku? It's a good way of making up for all the mean stuff you've done before."
"Yeah whatever, it's also a way of getting on random people's nerves and perhaps have them chasing you down with pitchforks and torches."
"Or in your case fan girls."
Riku shuddered. "Don't mention them."
"You probably have some in our group Riku!" Kairi also pointed out flailing her feet a bit. This caused Riku to shudder even more. Rhea giggled, "You'd better hope Serra's not one of them!"
"....Sora, I'm scared."
"It's ok Riku! If you want, you can stay in my room and we can spend the whole night making an anti-fan girl cross!" Sora teased.
"Yeah let's do that, no way I'm letting that girl near me!"
"What does that make me and Rhea?" Kairi said annoyed. "Our best friends!" Sora admitted, "Best friends that are going to help me find a person in need!"
"Rhea! You guys!" a voice said behind Sora."Rebecca? What's wrong?" Kairi asked. "There's been a commotion around town, I think it's those 'heartless' creatures from before!""Heartless!? That means somebody needs our help! Alright!" Sora said running off. "Wait Sora! You don't even know where it is!" Kairi yelled after him but to no avail. "Dammit we haven't even had lunch yet," Riku complained as he followed Sora.
"They've even gotten as far as Ostia? Lord Hector must be really upset," Rhea said to Rebecca.
"He is. He kinda acted like Sora on impulse but more along the lines of 'Dammit I'll kill them if they hurt anybody!'" Rebecca recited.
"Oh no. We better make sure nothing bad happens!" Kairi cried.
Rhea nodded, "Let's go."
Near the entrance to the city, the rest of the group was already trying to deal with the hundreds of heartless that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. "Help is here!" Sora said running to the group with the late Riku, Rhea, Rebecca, and Kairi following. "Thank goodness," Lyn said who just finished with dealing with a heartless. "There's so many of them," Rhea said. "That doesn't matter! We'll just have to take them all down!" Riku said.
"Let's go!"
"Y-yeah..." Kairi said horrified, but nonetheless her keyblade appeared in her hand.
After what seemed like thousands of little hearts flew into the sky, it looked as if the amount of heartless there were to fight was endless. "Sora! When is this going to end!?" Kairi cried trying to reason with Sora who was trying to find a helpless civilian while fighting. "I know Kairi, just a little while longer-KAIRI!" he yelled. As she ran to him a big fat heartless jumped in front of her causing her to fall. "Oh no you don't!" Riku yelled as he slashed the heartless in the back causing it to disappear. "You ok Kairi?!?"
Kairi looked horrified and embarrassed as she got up and dusted herself off, "Fine! I'm perfect...I'm fine."
"Don't get all romantic on the battlefield!" Sora said out of jealousy.
"Sora!"
"This is very strange," Rhea said as she fended off a small armored heartless,
"With all these heartless around you'd think...she'd be here..."
"You mean me?"
"Oh it's YOU," Sora said boringly as Irene appeared out of nowhere. "Shouldn't you go off being a sidekick or something?" he said with a smug smile directed towards her.
Irene stamped her foot. "I am a sidekick to NOONE! I am merely a loyal servant of Lord-"
"WE DON'T CARE! HOW DARE YOU BRING THESE BEASTS TO MY COUNTRY!!!" Hector roared. "Merely returning the favor of KILLING my Lord Nergal!"
"Again with this lord dude," Sora said. "Hector, calm down!" Lyn said trying not to have the morph resort to more heartless.
"Yes, do calm down! This is a fight you won't win after all!" Irene chimed in.
Hector merely took his anger out on the nearby heartless.
"You're just asking for a fight now!" Sora said. He was trying to make it seem like he wasn't worried but he was. There were so many heartless- maybe not as much as the war back at Hollow Bastion, but there were so many people around. "Ooooh, I wouldn't be fighting me right now if I were you!" Irene said in a menacing way, "Otherwise those poor little souls trapped in the center of all these heartless will die!" That rang in Sora's ears. "Not if I get there first!" he said running to make his way over there. "Useless! You'll never get there!" Irene said as several heartless lunged out of the crowd at Sora.
"Don't underestimate me!" Sora yelled as he held his keyblade out to cast a spell. "Graviga!" A huge dark sphere appeared before Sora making heartless close to him get sucked and clumped onto the sphere. The rest of the group stared in awe at the sight, and the long-ranged users began shooting arrows and casting magic in that direction. "That's it!" Kairi said in resolve watching the long range users and magic casters destroy the heartless on the sphere which would last only for a while. "Riku let's help Sora cast Graviga so this battle will become a breeze!"
"Nonononoooo! I wasn't informed he uses magic toooooo!" Irene whined. "What's wrong?" Sora said while smirking, "Going to give up now?" "HA, you wish! But first I have a very nice piece of information for you and your little friends," Irene said smirking. "Information?" Sora asked almost gullibly. "Mmhmm, it even might help you get hooome," Irene said charmingly.
"Why should I believe you!?"
"Well it's your choice really. Maleficent told me this so you can either listen to what I have to say or die right here and now!"
Sora really wasn't for dying, but it was no use to put everybody in danger. "Fine! Tell me!"
Irene smirked. He completely fell for it. "Well, she tells me that in order for you guys to get home, you have to close some weird doors that opened up all over Elibe," she explained, "They appeared in places that YOU-"she pointed to the lords, "already visited, so lucky you, you don't have to travel somewhere new."
"But...last time she didn't want me to close any doors! What's different this time!?" Sora demanded.
"Well THIS TIME it'll open a portal that'll send you freaks home!"
"Freaks!?"
"And what's in it for you?" Kairi asked. "Oh nothing really," Irene said innocently. Just the fact that if you close those doors you'll be opening the Dragon's Gate for me! "I don't believe that! You're lying!" Sora said, "We're not opening any stupid doors so you can forget it!"
"Hmmm, ok so I guess you'd rather die in this world then! I mean, one of the doors is here after all...."
"Here? WHERE IS IT?!?" Hector demanded. "How am I supposed to know? Maleficent told me that stupid giant key of his would find it!" Irene snapped.
Sora looked around as more heartless came as they talked.
"Will you un-summon the heartless if we find the door?"
"I might..."
"If you don't then there's no deal!" Sora replied practically gambling. "Ooooh you pull such a hard bargain," Irene said sarcastically, "Fine then." "Your end of the bargain first!" Sora said very proud of himself that he didn't get anyone killed. Irene sighed. "I hate dealing with simpletons."
With a snap of her finger, the crowd of heartless disappeared.
"Alright. I'll keep my part of the deal but if I see any heartless-"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. No heartless." For now. And with that, she vanished.
"So then where are those civilians?" Riku asked. "I'm guessing over there," Rhea pointed out as most of the group was circled around something. Sora ran over to the group. "Hey I wanna see!"
".....Hey.....are THESE civilians? They look like...animals," Wil said. "Oh no! That evil little girl must've turned them into animals!" Serra cried.
"Animals!? DONALD!? GOOFY!?"
"Sora!?" a quacky voice yelled inside the crowd. "OH MY GOODNESS IT TAAAAAAAAAAAAAALKS!!!!! HELP ME ERK!" Serra squealed clinging to him. Riku rushed through the center of the crowd. "I don't believe it. You guys are here too!!" "Riku!" the duck known as Donald said. "W-what happened!? How did you get here?" Sora asked.
"Well, gawrsh, we're not really sure," the one known as Goofy said, "We were back at the castle then this dark swirly portal appeared outta nowhere. Next thing we know, we're in some place we've never been before!" "That's the same thing that happened to me!" Kairi then made her way to the rest, "Riku was just helping me with my boat then a portal came out of the sky."
"This has to be destiny!" Sora exclaimed.
"Ayup!" Goofy agreed. "So then...these are the ones you told me about before?" Rhea asked finally regaining the nerve to speak. "Yeah!" Sora said while smiling, "Everyone this is Donald and Goofy, and this isn't magic they're just like this." "How odd..." was all Kent could say; maybe the boy wasn't lying about being from another world at all.
Everyone else seemed a little more relieved. Serra, as impulsive as she is, dared to pick Donald up. "Say something again!" she demanded. "Let me go!!!" Donald yelled in a fiery temper tantrum. "S-serra! Put him down! Donald calm down!" Sora warned even though it seemed too late. "Ooooh, you're a feisty little thing aren't you?!" Serra squealed accidentally dropping him. "Ack!" Donald cried as he roughly hit the ground. "Heh, sorry about that Donald," Sora said apologizing for Serra.
Lucretia looked at the flowers in the gardens. They were beautiful beyond belief and at the same time she had an urge to pick one. So she did. It was a petite pink one; she wanted to give it to Irene so she could enjoy it too.
Irene finally appeared at Lucretia's location. She was exhausted, but she tried her best not to show it.
"What are you doing?" Irene demanded.
"Here," was the simple reply of Lucretia as she shoved the flower in Irene's hand.
"....What...is this?"
"A flower."
"....I can SEE that, but why are you GIVING it to me?"
"It's pretty…"
"..."
Irene stared at the flower. She was almost entranced by its simple beauty.
"What did you tell the travelers?" Lucretia asked in curiosity bringing Irene out of her train of thought. "I told them what they needed to know," she answered.
"What's that?"
"I told them how they're supposed to get home of course!"
"How do they do that?"
"Why do you care?"
"I want to know too…"
Irene sighed. "Fine. In order for them to get home, they have to travel aaaaall over Elibe and open some dumb doors Maleficent was talking about. That way, the portal to their home will open. However... I didn't tell them that doing all that would coincidently open the door to the Dragon's Gate as well." Irene smiled menacingly.
"Dragons Gate?..."
This is far away from the fantasy books Lucretia's mother would read her.
"Ok, remember that BIIIIG building we went to a while ago?"
".....No...Yes..."
"And remember that BIIIIIG door that Maleficent is usually standing in front of?"
Lucretia nodded.
"That big door is the Dragon's Gate. Biiiig, scary dragons live on the other side of it. But for some reason when I tried opening it, all those heartless and Maleficent came out!"
"So Maleficent is your mother?"
Irene let out a scream. "NO, she is not my mother! I am NOT a dragon!"
"...Okay. Then who's your mother?"
"...I don't HAVE a mother. I only have Lord Nergal...well HAD Lord Nergal...but that'll all change soon..."
"So he's like a mother to you?"
"...."
Irene suddenly had the urge strangle this child, but she resisted. "No, not like a mother to me....more like a father I suppose....he did give me life after all..."
Lucretia felt the need to question Irene even further. Even if someone gave you life...was that a good enough reason to love them? She then held Irene's free hand, "I'm hungry..."
"Not again.... what's with humans and the need for food?"
"I'll die without it..."
Irene sighed.
"Fine....we'll go find you a dog or something..."
"I want food not a pet...."
"Well how am I supposed to know?!? Humans are so strange..."
"I....am....SOOOO hungry!" Sora yelled out of the blue. "Sora! You can't just say that after telling us about the doors!" Donald scolded. "He has a point though. The only thing we ate today was fruit. FRUIT!" Riku complained. "But we need to figure out where that door is," Rhea said. "Yeah. I did promise we'd find it," Sora admitted. "The morph said your keyblade should find it," Kairi pointed out. "How about we hurry it up then, eh Keyblade Master?" Riku said crossing his arms. "I don't know what to do! Me, Goofy and Donald usually found the doors..." Sora admitted. "Well then, the most logical thing to do would be to search the whole city until we find this 'door,'" Rhea said.
"That could take away some time from waiting for the clothes," Kairi stated. "Donald and Goofy! You're going to help too right?" Sora asked. "Well of course, ahyuck!" Goofy said.
"Great! Let's divide into teams then!"
"Splitting up into groups of two would make the work go by faster!" Goofy suggested.
"Alright! Anyone who wants to be on the cool team go with me!""Sora! Look, why don't we do this logically," Kairi said, "The teams need a logical thinker, a person with a good memory and a keyblade holder. Goofy and Donald can remember a lot of things. Rhea and Riku are really smart and me and Sora have keyblades!" Kairi decided. "Fine by me," Riku said, "but can we get lunch while we're at it?" "Riku," Kairi said while was weird! Finally, Sora was able to travel with his friends and he ended up on a team with Rhea and Donald! But he decided not to complain about it- some things you just don't complain about. "This seems about right," Kairi decided. "Awww, I wanted the one with the gold," Riku complained referring to Rhea.
"I could always give you some for food..."
"Would ya?!?!"
"Not now Riku, this is more important! If stalling is seen as not holding our word, heartless can come any minute! Now which side are the teams taking?" Kairi said as Goofy held the map. "We can take the right side, and you guys take the left, and we'll meet in front of the castle by the time the sun starts to set. The others will be expecting us around that time anyway," Rhea explained. "Right!" Donald said heading right. "Let's go," Sora groaned as he followed.
"Sooo....how exactly do we find this door? Does it...appear out of nowhere or something?" Rhea asked as the trio walked around town searching for this special door. "You know, when you see a big keyhole!" Donald started. "You'd think a big keyhole would be visible to a huge, busy town like this...unless there's some secret passages or something!" Sora finished.
"I think only Lord Hector would know about that..."
"I don't want to ask that buffoon!" Sora protested.
"Fine, there probably aren't any anyway."
"I don't think any keyholes will be in shops," Sora decided. "There could be! We have to check everywhere!" Donald huffed knowing Sora's nature to deduct important things.
"We can check the castle as soon as we meet up with the others so yes, that's a good idea..."
"Alright fine. Which one should we check first?"
"Lady Rhea! Over here, over here!" a voice known as Merlinus' called from their side.
"How bout that one?" she suggested.
"Okay…" I guess. was all that Sora thought.
They walked over to the cheery merchant. "So...what's going on Merlinus?" Rhea asked. Merlinus couldn't help but stare at Donald.
"Why's this duck following you? And....why does it have clothes on?!?"
"Hey!" Donald yelled jumping up and down in anger, the stares from by passers was enough. "He's my friend," Sora explained, "He came here the same way I did."
"Did your friend turn into a duck?"
"He IS a duck."
"Huh, how very strange..."
"So what exactly did you want Merlinus?" Rhea asked before Donald could retaliate. "Ah yes! I got some new items in that I thought you might want to-" Merlinus started.
"No thanks Merlinus."
"But why not?!?"
"Let's check it out at least Rhea." Sora said.
"Oh fine..."
"Splendid! Now feast your eyes on this!!"
He held up a uniquely designed staff. "Wow look at that!" Donald stated. "That's cool! Where did you get it?" Sora dared to ask.
"I've been receiving items from collectors all over Elibe! This one came from Bern!"
"It's very nice Merlinus, but-" Rhea started.
"This also came in!"
He showed them a finely crafted shield.
"Whoa! Goofy would love that!"
"Goofy?" Merlinus asked curiously, "Another friend of yours?"
"He's a dog!" Sora replied cheerfully as Goofy was the closest thing to Fido.
"So your friends are a duck...AND a dog....???"
"Yeah. Hey Rhea, do you think we can get these? Donald and Goofy can fight too!" Sora said. "I suppose they'd be useful to have..." she said.
"I couldn't agree more! Would you like a nice new dagger with that too Rhea? This one came from-" "Just the staff and shield please."
"With pleasure!"
"Thanks Rhea!" Donald said.
"Yeah thanks!" Sora exclaimed.
Rhea smiled. "It's no problem."
"Where should we start guys?" Kairi asked as her group walked around. "At a bakery maybe?" Riku suggested.
"A keyhole at a bakery?"
Riku's stomach growled.
"I think he wants to go get some food," Goofy deducted. "Oh fine. You're such a baby!" Kairi teased. "I can't help it if my bodily organs are empty," Riku protested. "Right, right," Kairi said making a mental note that Riku got as whiny as Sora when hungry. "Here's a bakery, c'mon," she said while walking inside.
Riku frowned a little. "What's the matter Riku?" Goofy asked.
"...There's no cheesecake...."
"I'm sorry Riku but at this point there's practically no anything!" Kairi joked. But it was almost true. The time they were in didn't even have radios or TVs.
"Well gawrsh, at least they HAVE something! It's better than nothing! Ahyuck!"
"Yeah you're right...Ok Kairi, pick something."
"How about some dumplings? They look good!"
"Sounds good to me!" Goofy exclaimed. Riku nodded.
Kairi walked up to the counter, "Excuse me I'll take 3 dumplings!"
"900 gold," the baker said.
Good thing Rhea gave us some money, Riku thought as he handed the baker the gold. Kairi watched as the baker took his time giving them their dumplings.
"Oh wow it smells so nice!"
"Gawrsh, it sure does! Ahyuck!" Goofy agreed. The baker stared at Goofy. "Uh....." Kairi decided it was best to make up a story then to tell the truth in this case, "Oh don't worry about him! You see he's been cursed but he's slowly healing!"
"......If you say so then...here ya go."
Riku took the dumplings, "Thanks."
"Buh-bye now!" Goofy waved at the baker.
"Only a moron would have told the truth, right Riku? I mean..." Kairi said trying to figure out if she did the wisest thing, while walking out. "It's not like he would've understood anyway," Riku replied.
"People stare too much," Sora grumbled at his team as the time flew by. Everywhere they went there was neither keyhole nor polite people. "We're almost done Sora," Donald pointed out.
"Right, just a few more shops and-"
"RHEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
"Hello Serra."
"Oh no," Sora muttered as Serra made her way to the group.
"Having any luck finding that 'door'?" Serra asked. "No! Hopefully Riku, Kairi and Goofy founnd it," Sora complained.
"Hmmm, well that won't do! Erk! Help them find the door!"
"We are Serra. Lord Hector's orders?"
"....I don't remember that..."
"So then Lord Hector asked you guys to help us?" Rhea asked. "Yes. Most of the others are searching around town and Lord Hector himself is searching the Castle," Erk said. "What!? Sora said amazed. Even though it seemed as if Hector didn't trust them he was glad they weren't the only ones searching.
"This should be a breeze then!"
"Indeed," Rhea agreed. "But I thought we could go shopping Erky!" Serra complained.
"No. And don't call me that."
"Ah, you're so boring!" Serra then took Rhea's hand, "We can go shopping right?"
"After we finish looking for the door," Rhea responded, "this is a priority above all else."
"So dutiful...booooring!"
Sora couldn't help but to agree with Serra in his mind. "Don't worry, a few more minutes and both teams will stop the search. You can go shopping then." he encouraged. "Yaaay! See Erk? He's more fun! Jealous?"
"..."
With Serra and Erk in the party, things went by pretty fast; before anyone knew it, it was late. "I can't believe we didn't find it..." Sora said disappointed. "Don't give up yet Sora!" Serra said, "This is just the beginning!...But we're gonna go shopping now so see ya!"
Rhea sighed as Serra left dragging poor Erk along.
"I swear..."
"If this is the beginning, how come it feels like the end?" Sora asked.
"Don't worry Sora, that girl can't be THAT hasty," Donald assured. "Sora! Rhea! Donald!" a familiar feminine voice yelled after them."You guys!" Sora yelled back happily as Kairi's team ran over to them. "Please tell me you found it!" he asked desperately. "Uh...no," Riku simply replied. "But we did get dumplings!" Goofy added. Sora felt his eye slightly twitch. "Be we were definitely searchin' for it!" Goofy protested.
"What's wrong with you!? Everybody's searching hard and you guys get dumplings!?" The annoyance and hunger was taking a toll of Sora's head.
"You know how Riku gets Sora!" Kairi protested trying to calm Sora down."Oh! So now this is because Princess Riku needs food!"
"I wouldn't have had to get as much if SOMEONE didn't keep stealing fruit from me!"
"So!" Sora snapped right after, "You ATE didn't you?!"
"Not enough!"
"KNOCK IT OFF!"
The whole group stared at Rhea after she raised her voice. "It's obvious that we're.... frustrated that we couldn't find anything, so maybe we should just return to the castle and try again tomorrow." She said. "Right..." Sora muttered looking away from Riku, "Maybe the others had better luck at the castle anyway."
Which was proven wrong. "None of you found anything!?" Sora asked in disbelief. "Well a huge keyhole isn't common after all," Kent remarked. "It is possible the morph was lying to us though," Hector suggested. "Then why would they hostage everybody like this?" Kairi asked. "Maybe it's not the keyhole we're supposed to be searching for…" Sora said in a whispered tone. "Then what is it?" Goofy asked quietly. "Maybe," Sora stated out loud, "Maybe we need to find something important to this town or something!" "Well that would mean that..." Rhea started.
The whole group looked at Hector.
"What? You think I'M the keyhole? You're all crazy."
"Ah, no, I was thinking along the lines of 'what's most important in Ostia?'"
"That would be me."
"....This isn't going very well..."
"You're so full of it," Lyn stated, "Don't you think a item would make more sense?"
"...It might."
"But exactly what item would that be?" Rhea wondered. Hector looked back at his Wolf Beil. "I don't think it's your axe Hector," Eliwood said. "Yes," Lyn agreed. "C'mon! There has to be something!" Sora argued.
"I seriously don't think there's anything here," Hector started. "...But...there may be something...somewhere else..." Eliwood continued. "But the keyblades would have reacted if we were near the item," Kairi reminded. "But still some of the groups didn't have keyblades!" Donald countered. "So we have to search again?" Sora asked. "Looks like it," Riku said with a sigh, "what a drag." "Aw cheer up!" Goofy said, "Sooner or later, we're gonna find SOMETHING, ahyuck!"
"I feel kinda pressured thanks to that morph girl though..." Kairi said quietly.
"Right...she could either be telling the truth, or we're all just falling into her trap..." Riku said. "What kind of trap?" Kairi asked curiously. "Well, isn't she trying to revive this Lord Nergal person? She might be using us to accomplish her selfish little goals," Riku explained.
"We can never be certain...." Kairi admitted.
"Why don't we try asking that little girl?" Sora resolved yawning.
"But how are we supposed to find her?" Goofy asked. "She'll probably be around the morph girl, so she'll find us eventually," Rhea said. Hector let out a long, extremely loud sigh.
"At any rate, it's getting late and-" he started.
"I'm hungry!" Serra complained. "No one cares Serra," Erk quietly said. "ANYWAY, we probably should get our dinner, then rest. We leave first thing in the morning!" Hector continued. "Um, forgetting about someone Hector?" Eliwood suggested referring to Sora's group. "It's alright. We all know Hector could care less if we got ran over by horses behind his back," Sora said as if Hector only had a one track mind. "That's LORD Hector to you, boy!" Hector bellowed. "Fine," Sora said sighing, "LORD Hector!"
Rhea put her hand to her head and sighed. "At any rate, there isn't much we can really do now. It's late, and we're all tired, so why don't we just take Lord Hector's advice?" she said. "Yeah! It's dinnertime!" Serra chimed. "That sounds good to me!" Kairi said, "I'll let you have my dessert Sora."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I feel guilty about earlier."
"I don't," Riku muttered looking away.
"You can have mine too, ahyuck!"
"Really!?" Sora said eyes almost gleaming. "I have the bestest friends!" he announced leaving out Riku in his mind. "Great great, with that settled let's go eat!" Serra was rather pleasant; aside from the Elibe group asking Sora's group more odd questions. "Can we talk about another subject!?" Donald said loudly after someone asked him about being a duck. "Hey Rhea! You can show the others the staff and shield you got!" Sora inquired.
"Oh right! Almost forgot," Rhea said retrieving the mentioned items. The rest gazed in awe. "Wherever did you FIND those?" Eliwood asked.
"Ah...Merlinus had them..."
"And they're for us right!?" Donald asked in disbelief.
"Ahhh...uh huh..."
"Well gee, that's awful nice of ya Rhea! Ahyuck!" Goofy said. Rhea shook her head.
"Think nothing of it."
"That's so nice Rhea! Even by yourself you're considerate," Kairi said while smiling. "Yes, Rhea's always been like that," Lyn pointed out remembering memories. Rhea blushed a little.
"R-really! It's nothing!"
"Aw! You're blushing!" Rebecca pointed out. Rhea turned her head away.
"Are not!"
"She's so humble, not taking the compliment like normal women!" Sain pointed out to embarrass her further.
"Thank you Sain," Rhea said twitching. "And you've become very beautiful," Rebecca admitted.
She turned her head to hide her blushing again.
"H-have not..."
"I believe so," Sain inquired, "When we first met you your hair was in that boyish haircut and you spoke as if you were a trained male solider!"
"A soldier? I thought it was more like a mouse!" Hector teased. "Yeah, and the only way we could tell you were a girl was by the skirt!" Matthew added. "Thanks guys..." Rhea said sarcastically.
"It's ok Rhea. When Kairi was younger she had a boyish haircut too," Sora said trying to make her feel better. "Oh yeah, I remember that. The day she got all her hair hacked off freaked us out!" Riku added. "You guys," Kairi said as her face went as red as her hair, "I thought it was pretty..."
"Ahyuck! I'm sure they're just joking!"
"Thanks Goofy..."
"No problem ahyuck!"
"Why can't you guys be that nice?" Kairi asked as she scolded Riku and Sora. "Nice is a state of mind," Riku said quietly trying to ignore the glares he received from the redhead.
Rhea sighed in relief as the attention was drawn away from her. After her companions' comments she couldn't help but think to herself: Had she really changed that much? Sure, back then her hair was a little shorter and she could fight now, but... Beautiful? Me? Ridiculous... She took a sip from her cup as the group continued to feast.
Soon enough the group finished their meal and went off to their rooms for a good night's rest. Rhea, left with thoughts in her head, not only about the dinner conversation but the conversation about the keyhole.
It followed her right in the next morning. As she approached Sora's room she continued to talk quietly to herself. "Special doors...that only the keyblade can open...keyblade...What in the world does this all mean?" "It's confusing to you?" a voice asked from behind.
"Ah!" Rhea was so deep in thought she nearly jumped in surprise. She looked behind her. There was no one other than Kairi looking as buoyant as ever. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you! Aha..." she laughed shortly after, slightly embarrassed. "Oh! Kairi...good morning," Rhea said collecting herself again.
"I overheard you questioning yourself and thought I could help!"
"Oh yeah, I was just a little confused about what happened yesterday...what with the 'special doors' and all..."
"What's so confusing?" Kairi said trying to break down things in her head to better explain them. "Well, how are these doors 'special'?"
"They're said to be connected to the worlds. Only the keyblade can open it."
"Connected to the worlds...And these keyblades are what you, Sora and Riku have right?"
"Right!" Kairi said nodding wondering to herself whether everyone else got this.
"I think I understand now," Rhea said nodding. Connected to the worlds...
"Were you going to see Sora?"
"Oh yeah, I was going to make sure he was up. The rest are pretty much ready to go after we pick your clothes anyway."
Kairi smiled at the comment. "I'll get him! The sooner the clothes the better!" she decided out of nowhere while running to Sora's room.
Riku woke up to the sound of snoring in the bed next to his. He groaned and tried to cover his ear with his pillow but to no avail. Count on Sora to be your personal alarm clock...Riku thought. He then threw the pillow at him, "Hey!" "Ah!" Sora said flailing around in his bed until he looked at Riku.
"Huh?"
"It's time to get up, sleepyhead," Riku said yawning.
"You don't know that! I don't see a digital clock anywhere."
"I'm PRETTY sure those haven't been invented yet."
"Then I'm sleeping 'til they make one!" Sora decided while laying back down on his bed with a soft landing.
"Hey! No way you're going back to sleep if you're just gonna snore!" Riku protested. "I snore very softly" Sora protested back.
"Your snoring sounds like ten blenders!"
"Ten soft blenders," Sora corrected for the fun of it.
"More like ten soft blenders getting SMASHED TO PIECES with a hammer!"
"And then singing a heavenly ballad!"
Unwilling to continue this pointless fight, Riku threw his other pillow. "Just get up." Sora complied as soon as he heard a knock on the door. "Riku? Sora?" a familiar voice asked. "That enough of a wake up call for ya?" Riku said. "Kairi?!" Sora asked ignoring Riku. "Who else would it be?!" Riku said getting out of bed.
Before Kairi even made it to their door she already heard their little spat. "Do you guys ever grow up?" Kairi giggled behind the door. Riku slowly walked to the door and opened it just a crack.
"Yeeeees? Can I help you?"
"I'm here to deliver a message to Mr. Sky and Mr. Land."
"...Oh really? And this message is?"
"Why don't you guess?" Kairi said smugly.
Sora could have sworn he felt his vein pop out of his head. He took the nearest pillow and threw it at the back of Riku's head. "Stop flirting!" He said happily while running past Riku and Kairi and out of the room. "S-sora!" Kairi yelled after him shocked. "Ouch!" Riku cried as his head banged against the door from the impact of the pillow. He rubbed his head lazily. "That little twerp."
"Are you ok? I swear, you guys haven't changed at all!" Kairi noted while shaking her head, "You'd think at least a year would help you two grow up!" "You mean him right? I'm perfectly grown up," Riku said confidently.
"Sure, but that all goes out the window when you two are together." she confirmed. "By yourself it's like you belong in a host club, with Sora it's like you belong in a playhouse Disney club!"
Resisting the urge to comment, Riku quickly changed the subject. "Yeah, maybe you should go follow Sora before he gets himself lost. I'll meet up with you in a sec." "That's true, see you!" Kairi said happily as if she didn't say her other statement and walked away to find Sora. Despite her teasing she was truly happy to be back with her boys.
Rhea strolled along the long, regal halls of Castle Ostia. Everyone was still in the main hall, properly prepared and ready to venture out, except for a certain trio. I know he'd probably oversleep but BOTH OF THEM! Just how lazy could you be?!? she thought to herself.
"Rhea!" A familiar voice called out to her. She didn't even have to look to see who it was, she already knew by now who the voice's owner was. "Good morning sleepyhead," Rhea said calmly as Sora approached, "Did you sleep well? I see you remembered to leave the room with all your clothes on today." "That was an accident!" Sora insisted, his face getting red.
Rhea stifled back a laugh. "We all know that, Sora. It's a thing of the past now." "Then don't bring it up in the present!" he replied back practically whining; that time was too embarrassing. He was lucky enough to forget it for a while. "Fine, I apologize." She quickly changed the subject. "So where are Kairi and Riku? Everyone else is already ready and waiting for you guys."
Another annoying subject. "I don't know," he muttered, probably out flirting somewhere is what he wanted to say but that was his jealousy getting the better of him. He didn't want to be that kind of person to his two best friends, and Rhea wouldn't understand with friends like Hector and Serra.
"Ok, well you should go get breakfast then while we wait for them," Rhea suggested. Sora's mood automatically lightened up. "Do we get that chicken stuff again!?"
"Um, no that was dinner remember? There is oatmeal, fruit, rolls, and things upon that nature though."
Sora frowned, then looked shocked. "You guys have oatmeal here too?" Rhea gave him a confused look. "Why wouldn't we? It's just oats and hot water or milk. Unless you prefer gruel?"
"No...Hey do you guys have pancakes?"
"Pancakes?...No I'm afraid not.."
"Geez, I really am in the boring times."
"....I was kidding..."
Sora was silent for a moment. "You were being sarcastic?!?" He would never get Rhea's pattern of teasing, unlike Kairi's. "Of course! We may not be as 'advanced' as wherever you're from, but this isn't the Stone Age!" It isn't? Sora thought to himself. He then smiled, "I'll get pancakes then."
Before Rhea could answer him a finger tapped on Sora's shoulder. "What are you two up to?" Kairi asked, all smiles. "Oh! You're back Kairi! But then...where's Riku?" Rhea asked. "Oh! He said he'd catch up to us in a bit!" Kairi responded.
Sora groaned. That Riku. Always has to keep everyone waiting for him. Some things will never change. "Ah, there you are Riku," Rhea said as he quietly approached, "You're all here now, so you should hurry and get breakfast so we can leave."
"Kairi! Riku! They got pancakes!" Sora exclaimed as if he discovered gold. "...You're kidding, right?" Riku asked sluggishly. "No, Rhea said so!""....FINALLY, something good about this world!"Rhea crossed her arms. "Is our world just that inferior to yours?" The otherworldly trio just stared at Rhea for a moment, then went back to being loud. "And they got oatmeal too!" "Sora" Kairi started. "It's just oats and water or milk." "Like I said, this isn't the Stone Age." "It isn't?" Riku asked. Rhea rolled her eyes.
Rhea had instructed them to the area they would be having breakfast at; it didn't take them long to bask in whatever was left on the table. "Where are we supposed to be going again?" Sora asked just happy to have his friends back.
Rhea sighed. "I can't believe you forgot already!" "Yeah seriously dude, with the way Kairi was all squeals yesterday?" Riku chimed in. Kairi huffed, "You guys just don't know how important clothes are!" "Boys will be boys I guess," Rhea admitted crossing her arms.
"So we're going shopping?" Sora concluded. "Basically, then we're heading out," Rhea explained. "That's great! Maybe we'll find a way home!"
"That doesn't happen until AFTER we find all those other doors, remember?" Riku reminded. "I know! I'm just trying to make it seem easier." "Anyway, we'd better hurry and pick up your new clothes so we can go," Rhea said. The others complied following Rhea to their next destination.
Soon enough, they met up with the others who were, for the most part, waiting patiently in the main hall."Here they come! Ahyuk!" Goofy announced as they approached. "That's just like them to keep us all waiting!" Donald groaned. "Oh THERE you guys are!" Serra whined, "I was worried that maybe those heartless things had eaten you all!"
"We're not that weak," Kairi informed. "We're aware of that!" she responded playfully sticking out her tongue. "Enough!" Hector barked, "The three foreigners plus their…friends are here, can we go?" "Foreigners?" Sora muttered lowly. "Well you're not from here, now are you?"
"But if anybody's foreign it's you guys, I'm still trying to get used to the weird stares!"
"But you're in MY land, boy! That makes YOU the foreign one!"
Sora looked at Kairi and Riku for defense but they just stood there staring at the situation. "Fine then. But that doesn't make us weird!"
"Well of course being foreign doesn't make you weird- you're weird because you're weird!"
"Ok enough!" Eliwood stepped in, "Hector, you're going a little too far."
"Just having fun, geez," Hector muttered.
"I'd have more fun if we could fit in more," Kairi admitted. "The fashion here is interesting after all!" she noted looking at all of the girls' outfits. "Exactly!" Serra giggled and spun around, showing off her dress. "Your clothes are interesting, if not weird, but now you'll be as cute as the rest of us girls! Just don't be cuter than me!" she winked."She holds a valid point!" Sain chimed in, "We can add you into our army of beauties! We have our quiet beauties, Rhea, Ninian, and Florina, our scary beauty Lyn, and our fun beauties Rebecca and Serra!"
The "army of beauties" stared at Sain for making his comment. Sora crossed his arms. "Kairi's not a good fighter though- ow! What?" Sora asked as he got pinched by Kairi.
"Well neither is Rhea-OW!" Hector started before being nudged in the side. "What was that for Lyn?!?"
Lyn sighed at Hector and his slightly more polite spiky haired clone. "Enough talk, let's head out now before more slip-of-the-tongues happen," she resolved.
"Thank you," both Rhea and Riku said in unison. "Finally!" Donald exclaimed. "Yay! Let's hurry to the tailor!" Serra they approached the tailor, the rest of the group stayed behind leaving Rhea, Sora, Kairi, Riku, Donald and Goofy to enter. "Just make sure to come out quickly!" Serra insisted. This is like the mall to Kairi Sora thought to himself. Knowing that he didn't feel like coming out quickly was an option, but he kept that to himself in fear of getting he and his group stepped inside they were presented by a dainty yet cozy tailor shop. Counters adorned with colorful yarn and ribbons and threads, and glazed wooden floors to compliment the furry rugs. "Hello?" Sora asked.
A cheery attendant immediately rushed to the counter. "Hello! How can I help you?....Oh! You guys came in here yesterday! Your outfits are all ready!" "Really!?" Kairi asked as cheerful as the attendant. "Yes yes! All of you please follow me to the back!"She led the group to the back of the shop where completed outfits lay neatly folded or hung up. Several fitting rooms draped with flowing, colorful curtains were also lined within.
Kairi turned to face Sora and Riku. "Let's go all at the same time so we can amaze each other, and then save the best for last, the rest!" "Yeah, sure," Riku mumbled indifferently.
Sora, who was already attached to the clothes on his back moped slightly yet agreed. They had all gotten into their stations taking their time. Rhea, Donald and Goofy waited patiently outside the waiting rooms until someone decided to come out.
"Anybody ready?" "Kairi, that's like the 3rd time you've asked, give us some time!" "Guys are supposed to be fast when it comes to dressing unlike girls. What's the problem?" Kairi insisted. "These clothes are weird! That's what's the problem!" Riku complained.
While the trio were in their changing rooms, the attendant kept glancing over at Donald and Goofy. Donald tried his best not to notice, but easily got irritated. "Got a problem?" he asked. "Ack!" The attendant squeaked. "Donald!" Rhea said. "Oops." "Gawrsh Donald, ya didn't have to be so mean!" Goofy said. "Uh…we're sorry," Rhea uttered.
The attendant continued to stare. "…But-" "Just think of us as wearing really weird costumes!" Goofy assured. "Is that what you're doing?" The three looked at each other and said in unison, "Absolutely!"
"Cool! I got a cape!" Sora piped up, "What'd you get Riku?" "....A top that's too short..."
"Maybe it's Kairi's..." "No, I have a dress..."
"You guys can come out any time now!" Rhea called. "We're wasting time!" Donald noted. "Ok guys, ready?" Kairi asked. Sora and Riku stayed silent but she decided it was probably because they didn't like their clothes. Riku more than Sora though. "Ta-Da!" she said as all 3 of them came out.
"Wow!" Donald exclaimed. "Gawrsh!" Goofy said.
"Ooooooh, you all look great!" the shop attendant nodded in agreement. "Indeed you do." Sora couldn't agree more until he looked at Riku's outfit and couldn't help but laugh.
"Stop laughing darnit! It's better than wearing those silly short shorts!"
"What silly short shorts!?"
"Those that you're wearing! And what up with the headband? Trying to pull off the 'macho' look?" Riku said with a smirk.
Sora frowned in response. "No! Mr. Tellitubby!" "Guys cut it out!" Kairi insisted. "I think they match us all!" "Seriously!" Rhea agreed, "Now stop fighting! We still have places to go!""Yeah your right..." Sora said not satisfied. "Hmph," was Riku's sighed and turned to the attendant, "Anyway, thank you very much for this." She handed her money. "Here you are." "Oh no problem! It took all of our tailors all night for 3 outfits, but it was fun working on them! Also...what shall I do with the clothes that they came here with? Shall I dispose of them?"
"NO!" all three of them yelled in unison.
"W-we'll just hang on to them, thanks," Rhea said. "Very well!" She picked up the clothes and handed them to Riku. "Well then, I hope you all have a safe journey!" "Thanks!" Sora said while facing Rhea, "Alright lead the way!" "Very well, let's go!" Rhea said leading them back to the outside, the rest of the group were eagerly, and impatiently in some cases, waiting for them to arrive. "Ah, here they come." Lyn announced as she saw the entrance door creak open slightly. Rhea stepped out , who was eyeing a necklace in the window perked up. "Weeell?" "How do they look?" Hector asked. "Not that I care." "Someone come out already!" Serra whined, "I'm dying from the waiting!""Ladies first," Riku offered to Sora and Kairi. "Wow, very polite of you Riku!" Kairi said shocked. Sora huffed; Why was it always like this? "I'll open the door for you!" he insisted. Kairi was shocked once again. "Thank you..." She stepped out to face her new party members. "How do I look?"
Everyone gazed in awe at the regal presence of the red-head girl. "Oh my, Kairi, you look so cute!" Serra exclaimed. "Indeed! I couldn't agree more!" said Sain. Kairi couldn't help but to smile. She really did feel like a princess in her clothes, down to the petite and cute dress to the silk ribbon holding up her hair. "Sora, Riku! You guys come out too!"
"You first," Riku said. "I'm not a girl," Sora insisted, still upset. "Yeah, that's great- SHOVE!" Riku grabbed him by the shoulders and shoved him out the door.
Sora was shocked with the reality that now he was next to Kairi in plain view of the rest; there was no time to act embarrassed on his part. "Oooh Sora, don't we look nice and heroic?" Serra said with a wink. "Heroic?" "Yes," Lyn answered, "The outfit suits you."
All that was left was Riku. "C'mon Riku!" Serra tempted, "Don't make me pull you out of there myself!"He sighed. Folding his arms behind his head, he casually walked outside to face the others. Everyone became silent while staring at Riku. Ha Riku! I hope they all laugh at you! Sora thought deviously. "Well well now," Hector started. "Wow," was the only thing Serra could say, which was in its own way very surprising.
"See Riku!" Sora yelled happy. "Riku, you look amazing!" she said finally. Sora face froze at the comment. "HUH?" "It's about time he started looking like a man and not a boy." But he IS a boy! Sora protested in his mind, there's no way the blue giant would have heard him anyways.
"Heh." Riku crossed his arms and smirked, knowing that Sora was upset about the compliment.
But on the contrary Sora just glanced at Riku then Kairi. "What's wrong Sora?" Rebecca asked. "N-nothing. the clothes are comfy!" "Not only that, they look great!" Wil agreed cheerfully, "Right Florina?" Florina bashfully hid behind Lyn and nodded.
Does she ever talk? Sora couldn't help but to wonder. "Now that our guests are properly dressed, let's head out." "FINALLY!" Wil and Matthew both yelled. "Alright then," Eliwood announced, "Let's move out!"As the group began to walk, Erk noticed Serra with her face plastered to the tailor window yet again. "Serra, what on earth are you doing? We're leaving now," he said. "But Erky!" she whined, "That necklace! It's so...gorgeous!"Rhea turned around. "Serra, we're not buying it." Kairi couldn't help but to be curious. "Which necklace Serra?" "That one there! With the pretty green jewel!" she pointed.
"Serra I told you, it's called peridot, I doubt it's cheap," Rebecca reminded. "Why? How much is it?" Kairi asked. "Awww, 20,000 gold pieces! That's waaay too much!" Serra continued to , Florina, and Ninian soon walked over. "That's too bad," Ninian said quietly. "It is really pretty," Florina said more quietly."Oh great, now ALL the girls are over there," Hector groaned. "I think it's a good thing, for Sain I mean," Kent added. "Who is now over there as well," Matthew added pointed back at the window. "W-what!?" Kent turned his head to see Sain with the girls. "Sain get back over here, you're not interested in jewelry!" "Well of course not Kent!" Sain cheerfully called back to him, "I'm interested in something far more lovely. Or dare I say, somethings?""Oooh Sain, you're so silly!" Serra giggled. "What's the hold up? It's just a necklace." Hector spoke up tired of waiting. "You wouldn't understand." Rebecca explained. "There's just something about it....""I have to agree," Lyn added. Hector could only sigh as even Lyn was enchanted by such a simple necklace. Were all women this way? Sora saw the situation at hand and thought of an idea. "Hey Riku." "Yeah, what?" "I bet your fancy new look can't get us that necklace." It was definitely a challenge proposal. "I bet it couldn't either, cause I'm not doing it."
"You're no fun." Sora then faced Donald and Goofy. "If everybody is so intent on getting the thing maybe we should try to. Right?" Sora asked folding his arms behind his head
"Sounds like you've got an idea, ahyuck!" Goofy said. "No Sora!" Donald quacked. "We don't have time for a necklace. We should be hurrying to get back home!""I say listen to the duck," Riku suggested, "Someone grab the females and let's VAMOOSE!"
This averted all the female's attention from the necklace to Riku. Riku merely looked away indifferently. "Sora, you need to stop saying things like that. It's rude." "Huh??" Sora said bewildered. Lyn sighed. "Riku, if you'd just look at it for at least a second..." "Ugh, fine."Riku casually walked over to the female members of their group, plus Sain, and glanced at the necklace. "Hmmm..." "Well?" Serra said. "Do you sense it too Riku?" Kairi had to know.
He intently continued to stare at the necklace with intrigue. "...I think so." He then waved at Sora. "Hey Sora, c'mere a second!" Sora quietly walked over with Donald and Goofy. "What?" Riku pointed to the necklace. "Take a look for yourself. Feel anything?"
"....."
"...."
"..."
"Sora?" Rebecca asked worried, there was no answer though, just Sora walking into the store which alarmed everyone and probably made the cashier happy seeing how they were in front of the window for the longest time. "Sora!"
All of the girls followed him in. "Greeeeat, more time to waste! This isn't a leisure trip people!" Hector barked at them. "That's what you're making it sound like!" Eliwood said jokingly, "Why not stay here in Ostia then?" "NO!"
The girls walked over to the sales clerk while Sora stared at the necklace directly across from Riku, Donald, and Goofy being separated by the glass window. "Argh! Just what is going on?!?" Hector demanded, clearly losing his temper. "Patience, Lord Hector!" Oswin assured.
"Ugh, traveling with younger people is bothersome!"
"No kidding," Marcus muttered under his breath.
"But Milord! You're not that much older than them!" Matthew laughed.
"Hmph."Back inside the shop, the group was greeted by the same shop clerk. "Welcome!....Ah, is there anything you need?""Um well..." Rebecca started but the only reason she came in was because Sora came in, she was sure it was the same for the rest. "Sora!" Lyn yelled getting everyone's, even the clerk's, attention to he stood, holding up the golden chain that carried the beautiful, heavy peridot stone. "This is...." "Yes, that is one of our more popular items! Just got it in from Bern! But...would you mind NOT touching it?""Sora? Is something wrong?" Rhea asked. Sora only ignored the clerk as he faced Rhea. "This is…just like before, I can feel it!"
With those words the item started glowing."Woah!" Rebecca exclaimed. "You should give a 75% discount for that creepy glowing display." Kairi stated to the clerk. "Wow! Just what's going on!?!" Serra said, "That light is too bright!"
Sora just smiled as the necklace floated into the air and the world just seemed to stop for him, even for a moment. Out of thin air he took out his keyblade at pointed it to the necklace...."Um...what happened?" Rebecca asked as the necklace was once again in Sora's hand, not glowing anymore. There was no way they saw Sora's display."Oh nothing!" Kairi replied knowing exactly what happened. "We'll explain later.!" Lyn blinked, all of the sudden the necklace just seemed....like another piece of jewelry to her. How silly of me she thought to herself, All jewelry is just another piece. "I think we distracted ourselves enough..." she decided. "Wait a minute, what did you do to it?!?" the attendant demanded, "If you did something to it, you have to pay for it!"
"What are you talking about? All he did was touch it! You're the one demanding money for us because your necklace is cursed! C'mon guys, let's spend our money somewhere else." Kairi diverted. "Can we get something to eat?" Sora asked not getting the point.
"Um....what now?" Florina asked quietly. "I think we just leave," Rhea whispered back.
Kairi continued to talk to clerk down while the others slowly made their way out. "Sora, we saw that!" Donald exclaimed. "Yeah but, what does it mean...?" "I guess that means that another door has opened somewhere, ahyuck!" Goofy suggested. "Yeah, but where?" Riku asked.
Sora turned to Rhea, hoping in his mind that she had an answer. Rhea smiled. As always, someone was looking to her for answers. However, for once she actually didn't have one. She bit her lip."Well, the morph girl said that doors have opened near places where we've traveled to right? What's the closest location to Ostia of that sort?" "Well there's a wide range of places," Lyn informed, "perhaps Nabata?" "Oh please," Hector interrupted, "How do we know to trust that morph!? I am not blindly going to walk into a trap! Forget it!"
"Well then what exactly are we supposed to do?" Eliwood protested. "It might just be the best chance we have..." Rhea chimed in. "Hector you're being difficult," was the complaint Lyn gave when she saw how exactly Rhea and Eliwood felt about the situation. "Like I care, I can't be the only one who's suspicious, you guys are just being careless!"Sora rolled his eyes, another lord to lord fight. For a moment it felt like his mind went hazy, and his eyes almost rolled to the back of his head. Unable to support his feet he felt himself leaning towards the glass window. "Sora?" Donald wanted to look at Donald but his eyes wouldn't let him, his mind showed him something completely different from the scene before him, it showed him an imagine of a huge castle, it reminded him of a fortress."Sora!" Kairi demanded shaking him by his elbow, he looked so out of it, even the lordlings stopped fighting to stare. "What's up with the brat?" Hector asked. "Hey! Get a hold of yourself, Sora!" Riku said as he grabbed his shoulder to keep him from falling over."Oh no, he's dying!" Serra cried. "Serra, not right now," Erk said. "Maybe he's sick..." Rebecca pointed out. "How can he get sick? He was just fine a moment ago," Kent reminded. "Sora?" Kairi asked as she saw signs of him turning back to normal.
"That was weird...I saw something," he said rubbing his eyes. "Your own death?" Hector asked.
"Golly Sora, ya sure had us worried!" Goofy said. "What did you mean by...you 'saw something?'" Rhea asked, relieved that the spiky-haired boy was alright. "Sorry," Sora explained, "It was weird, I saw some huge castle, don't know why..." "A huge castle...was there anything around it that was of any significance?""Nothing but mountains..." "Hey, doesn't that sound like Bern?" Rebecca asked openly.
"Oh, don't tell me we have to go there again," Hector grumbled. "Why, what's wrong with Bern?" Kairi was curious. "Let's just say we've gone through a few...challenges here and there, while in Bern," Eliwood noted. "He has a point," Rhea stated, "At least we won't have to go trying to get the Fire Emblem again..." "Fire Emblem?" "The Royal family heirloom of Bern," Eliwood explained, "It was used for the Prince's coming of age ceremony.""Did he get it?" Sora asked. "No duh Sora!" Donald snapped back annoyed. "But Bern is pretty far from here," Matthew noted. "I'm thinking we're going to have to endure that," Hector said, "Right, Lady Rhea?"Knowing she was being mocked, Rhea smiled deviously. "Yes, we do in fact, Lord Hector." Kairi and Riku looked at each other as they sensed tension. "Alright, the best thing to do is to head out as soon as possible," Kent nodded in agreement. He knew he asked for a little more adventure in his life while at home, but not a complete whole new adventure at another world leaving his mom behind without any could already imagine how Kairi and Riku's parents were acting. At least King Mickey knew something probably happened to Donald and Goofy. He just had to keep trying to find these doors so that his friends could go watched as everyone started following the lordlings to the way to the entrance and said to Riku. "Another adventure..." "Looks like it...but hey-" Riku clapped him on the shoulder. "At least we're in this one together right?"
"Maybe..." Sora said carelessly walking ahead on cue making Kairi laugh.
"Least they're in high spirits," Hector grumbled. "They're going to have to be," Eliwood said, "Who knows long it'll be until they can actually get back to their world?" "Even now all of this is kind of hard to believe," Lyn admitted, "I can't help but to wonder if the rest feel the same...""But it's good to know they were all willing to help right?" Rhea chimed in.
"Huh? Who said that?" Hector teased. Lyn shook her head at Hector's childish state. "It is very kind of them.""Even YOU volunteered Hector!" Eliwood laughed, "Now THAT was a surprise!" "I just didn't want to stay in Ostia while the rest of you were off on some grand adventure without me."
"Honestly Hector, I can't tell whether Ostia would manage fine with or without you." Lyn muttered.
As the three lords plus the tactician began to laugh at this comment, Rhea looked back at rest of their party, then to Sora and his group who were busy having themselves a good laugh as smiled. Even though she had no idea how in the world they would make it back to their world, or even how long it would take, she knew they would all get back to their own world safely.Hmm, I have a lot to write in my journal today… She took the small book from her sack. Better get started on that! Dear Log...
Ok that's it for now everyone! Thanks so much for reading, and please make sure to R&R! We appreciate all feedback and please look forward to the next chapter. Later!