Disclaimer: I don't own To Love-Ru or Kingdom Hearts. All rights go to their respective owners.
Potion Mania! Long Live Kuzco!
Empire of the Sun - The Palace (Halls)
"We've gotta change you back!" Pacha exclaimed as he and Kuzco ran through the large hall and down stairs away from the pursuing guards. He randomly picked a vial from his poncho, uncorked it "Try this one!" and had Kuzco swallow its contents. There was a explosion of pink and red smoke but Kuzco...
"Uh, Pacha? A little help!" Pacha heard Kuzco's voice behind himself, turned, and his eyes widened as the vial he gave Kuzco transformed the Emperor into a very slow red and pink turtle; with the Guards quickly catching up.
"C'mon!" Pacha went back and picked him up before he continued to make a run for it with Kuzco in tow. He eventually came to a stop in front of a stairwell, just as the Guards were once again catching up to the pair. Having an idea, Pacha quickly placed Kuzco onto the large enough banister and hopped on top of the turtle, using his shell as a board to go down just as a guard narrowly missed killing the pair with his large axe.
"Ahhhhh!" Kuzco screamed as he and Pacha continued surfing down at high speeds while being chased. Unfortunately, there were even more guards waiting for them at the bottom of the stairwell, weapons at the ready to take the two out.
"Oh please be something with wings." Pacha prayed as he picked another vial and uncorked it, shoving it into Kuzco's mouth. As the pink and red smoke overwhelmed the two, they were launched into the air, the banister being used as a makeshift ramp!
"Yeah! We're flyin'!" Kuzco cheered as he flapped his new wings and soared...only for this feeling of excitement to be short-lived when he and Pacha realized that Kuzco just turned into a small red bird no bigger than Pacha's hand; with the peasant holding onto him by his small tail-feathers. "Uh-oh..."
They plummeted and comically splatted into a round statue before falling onto the path below. They both groaned from the pain for a moment before Pacha came to his senses, picked up Kuzco again, and continued running away from the incoming guards.
Empire of The Sun - The Palace (Yzma's Secret Lair)
"Perhaps a demonstration is in order!"
After Vexen declaration, he used the darkness to seemingly teleport away while the Chimera Nobody released a unsettling high-pitched roar that vibrated the entire lair! Lea, Kairi, and Yami got into battle ready positions as the beast charged at them, its claws quickly slashing at the front. Everyone quickly leaped out of its line of attack...everyone except Rito.
"Huh?" Lea noticed the boy just locked in place as the large beast continued its charge "HEY! RITO!" he tried calling out, but he didn't respond. Even as the Chimera closed in on him, fear was still keeping him frozen and zoned out...
Until he felt something wrap around his waist!
"Huh?-Whaaaa!" he yelled as Yami used her long hair to pull him away from the creatures attack, causing it to crash into a wall and for the wall of the lair to crack. Lea and Kairi; now knowing that Rito was safe, used a double Flame Salvo while it was recovering, twirling their Keyblades around like fire dancers while emitting fireballs at the Chimera Nobody. Meanwhile, Rito grunted as he was dropped to the ground by Yami's side. The boy looked up to her after a moment and smiled.
"Thanks a lot Ya-ah!" he was interrupted by the girl grabbing him by the the collar of his shirt and roughly pulling him in close.
"That is what I mean by a moment of fearful hesitation costing you everything, including your life." Yami was giving Rito a cold glower as she repeated her words from when they first got to this World "Pull. Yourself. Together."
Rito stared at Yami for a few moments before breaking eye contact in a form of shame "I'm sorry." he apologized "It's just...I never fought a monster this big or-"
Yami's frown deepened and she lightly shook him once "Don't give me excuses, Yuuki Rito...!" she then forcefully turned Rito to the ongoing battle that Lea and Kairi were in "Look at the two of them. I'm sure they're also fearful of losing their lives to this monster, but there still out there fighting; fighting to survive for another day for reasons they may have. Them getting overwhelmed and rolling over dead just because they're scared or because this creature is bigger isn't an excuse to them, so they push through their fears and fight."
"..." Rito said nothing as he watched Lea and Kairi continue fighting, using various spells and techniques to wither the beastly Nobody down.
"Is your resolve to fight to see those you care about, even if you've lost your memories of them, so easily swayed? Just because something big and scary threatens you?" She released Rito from her grip, causing him to fall to his knees. "And here I thought you were stronger than that..."
"..."
Yami closed her eyes when Rito didn't respond and started to move forward towards the fight herself "If you really don't have it in you, then stand clear of the-"
*Woosh!*
Yami was interrupted by a Keyblade; Rito's Keyblade, which was now coated in a silver light, spinning vertically right past her to the large Chimera, slamming it in its head. Lea, Kairi, and Yami all turned to Rito just as he recalled his Keyblade to his right hand.
"...You know, I told myself something similar back in Traverse Town." he spoke with a slight quiver as the front of his hair hid his eyes from everyone's view and he threw his Keyblade again, hitting the monster Nobody a second time.
"You're right Yami. Even if a monster is big and scary...I can't freeze up just because I'm afraid!" the beast roared, but Rito struck it using the same technique once more. The Keyblade once again returned to Rito's hand. His body started to glow a bright green aura with small energy shards coming out of said aura, and Rito felt a strength inside...rise to a Fever Pitch!
"Because if I do, I won't live! Not long enough to see them again!"
No later after Rito shouted, he launched himself with incredible speed, Keyblade pointed at the Chimera, knocking its head back at bit and then releasing a surge of very quick reverse blade strikes, all while floating slightly off the ground with mystical power!
Lea grinned while he watched Rito as Yami came closer to the group, unable to completely suppress her surprise at Rito's increase in combat capability "I don't know what you told him, Little Blonde. But it looks like it inspired him." He then formchanged his Keyblade into Chakrams "Let's back him up!"
Meanwhile, Rito finished his long combo by revving up with energy before attacking with a series of quick slashes followed by a strong under-slash that released trails of silver light from the ground! The monster reeled back, but countered by slamming its long whiskers into the ground, narrowly missing a dodge-rolling Rito. However, this Chimera Nobody had a few more tricks up its non-existent sleeves and an icy aura pulsed from its whiskers. The floor of the entire lair started to become chilled and encased in Ice! Yami grew her angel wings and flew up as everyone else leaped over the wave of ice, possibly avoiding becoming Ice Statues at worst.
Rito took a breath "Phew!" and tried to step forward "That was cl-ooooosseee!" but the ice on the ground made him slip and flail in place as the Monster tried extending its paws in the air to slam down on the helpless boy. But Yami had used her transformed hair to catch the claws before they slammed down on him, and Lea used his flaming Chakrams to melt the Ice Rito was flailing over into a puddle of water, making him steady again.
"Rito! Kairi!" Lea called out to the two while his Chakrams fanned out, melting the Ice around Kairi and himself last "Let's do our Firaga Burst Serve!"
'Hmm?' Yami wondered from above, eyeing the three as they got into poses.
Both Rito and Kairi nodded "Okay!/Ready!" Lea spun his flaming Chakrams around, gathering the fire building from them and his arms into a large Firaga Orb.
"One!" He shouted, knocking the Orb like a volleyball to Kairi with his Chakrams, making it grow in size.
"Two!" Kairi counted up while passing it to Rito with her Keyblade, making it even bigger.
Rito pulled his Keyblade back "And Three!" he cried out before slamming the Flame Orb into the air above increasing its size even further "Yami! Get back please!"
Yami saw the Orb coming and did what she was told, pushing the claws of the Chimera Nobody away and flying back from the Orb as it stopped in the air and-
*FWWOOMMMM!*
Released a storm of fireballs down below! The fireballs relentlessly pelted the Chimera Nobody while melting the rest of the ice on the ground, making the lair misty and wet. While it was being pelted, the creature roared once more and its Scorpion Tail curled up with its tip pointed directly at the ground, shaking as a kind of red energy started to gather before-
*BLAM!*
A energy ray blasted out from its tail, shooting and causing cracks in the ground before sweeping up toward the three Keyblade wielders; who all quickly dodged out of the way. The energy ray continued sweeping wildly upward, destroying the Firaga Orb and making Yami barrel roll around the beam as the lair itself started to rumble!
"Uh! Guys!" Rito called out to everyone, feeling the rumbling become stronger as debris started to fall. "I think this place is coming down!"
Empire of the Sun - The Palace (Canals)
"We're not getting anywhere with you picking the vials!" Kuzco complained from Pacha's hand as they were now on a bridge over large canals of water. "I'm picking the next one!"
"Fine by me!" Pacha conceded as he kept on running.
"Give me that one!" the peasant picked one that Kuzco wanted and in a much larger cloud of pink and red smoke, which soon cleared, Kuzco had transformed into a large red and pink whale, unable to move due to being on land. Pacha stared at him in shocked silence as the Emperor bluntly replied "Don't you say a word."
*Crackle*
The bridge they were on then crackled and gave way due to Kuzco's sudden Whale-Class weight! They dropped down screaming and crashed into the waters below, just as Yzma had caught up to her guards and they all quickly came down via the nearby stairs.
"Quick! Drain the Canals!" Yzma ordered them before Kuzco & Pacha re-emerged from the waters. Fortunately, Pacha managed to hold onto the three remaining potions and climbed onto Kuzco's back.
"Open up!" He told Kuzco; who followed his instruction. Pacha tossed another vial into Kuzco's large mouth and there was another explosion of pink and red smoke. The peasant landed in the water as the smoke dissipated, revealing that Kuzco had transformed back into a llama!
"Yay! I'm a llama again!" he happily splashed the water and cheered before stopping "Wait..." and examining his hooves, noting he was back to square-one. Suddenly, there was a ominous heavy *clunk!* noise and the water rapidly drained down with Kuzco and Pacha going down with it! The water came rushing down and out of the Palace's 'nose'. However, Kuzco and Pacha were able to grab onto the rim of the nostril, preventing them from falling to their dooms.
"There they go! After them!" Yzma pointed to the two as she gave the command.
"C'mon men! Nobody lives forever!" A guard shouted as they jumped down "CHARG-EYAAAAHHHGH!" but the drained slippery canal cause all the guards to lose their footing and uncontrollably slide down along with each other, comically falling out of the nostril, unable to catch on to the rim at all as Pacha and Kuzco climbed up the face of the Palace. Yzma growled at the incompetence of the guards before the old enraged woman pulled down a nearby curtain and tied it around a pillar. She then bungee-jumped down out the nostril like a booger while hanging on to the end of the curtain and ran up the face of the Palace; screaming like a mad-woman all the while. Yzma had managed to swing herself well above Kuzco and Pacha; who had managed to climb up onto the bottom ledge of the Crown of the Palace.
"Okay, only two left. It's gotta be one of these." Pacha informed and hoped, holding out the last two vials in his hands. But Yzma suddenly appeared between them; splitting her legs to kick both Kuzco and Pacha away, making the peasant to drop both vials between Kuzco and Yzma. Both saw this and made a desperate leap for the vials at the same time! The two ended up crashing into each other and spinning in mid-air-
"No!" Pacha yelled as Yzma landed on one of the vials! The potion violently exploded in a massive dark red mushroom cloud, forcing the two to turn away and shield themselves with their arms. In the thickness of this dark smoke, a sinister face with dark red eyes leered with glee while showcasing four sharp fangs as it darkly cackled. As the smoke cleared, Yzma's transformation was nothing like either of them expected-
*Meow.*
For she was now a small, white, fluffy Kitten with adorable blue eyes. Awwww...
Kuzco strolled over with a smug look on his face "I'll take that." he announced as he took the last vial off of the floor away from the glaring Kitten.
"This is the one. This'll change you back into a-" Pacha paused as they all heard noises come from within the Place before it started to rumble...violently. "...human?" he finished-
*BOOOOM!*
A large red energy beam shot through a front portion of the Palace's Crown above the three, destroying that section and forcefully creating an hole that revealed a rather horrific sight...a large monster that could only be described as a Chimera crawling out like a monstrous bug!
"Ahhhhh!/Gahhhh!/Wahhhhh!" Kuzco, Pacha, and Yzma all screamed in terror at the creature as it loomed over them and let out a high-pitched hiss, forcing Kuzco to drop the vial and Yzma to run away, but not before noticing the vial Kuzco foolishly let go of...
Kuzco and Pacha watched in fear as the Chimera scaled up the massive Crown of the Palace, as if in a rush to get away from something. Not too long later, Yami also appeared from the opening that was made, carrying Rito, Kairi, and Lea with her long golden hair wrapped around the three of them.
"That was a close call with the lair crumbling earlier. Thanks for the save." Lea thanked the girl.
"Do not thank me just yet, the battle isn't over." Yami remained calm as ever with her reply and then everyone else noticed Kuzco and Pacha below.
"Which way did it go?" Kairi asked after observing Pacha and Kuzco's fearful expressions. The two wordlessly and timidly pointed up to the top of the Crown of the palace. Yami; wasting no time, used her transformation powers to make her white angel wings bigger than usual and flew up to the top, dragging the three Keyblade wielders in tow.
"Drink the Potion!" Rito shouted as he was carried upward and out of sight.
After a while Pacha nodded "He's right Kuzco."
Kuzco lifted his right arm/leg, only to find the potion he thought was in his hoove was missing!
He gasped "Where'd it go?! Where is it?!" he began to panic, but his panic was cut short-
"Looking for this?" Yzma suddenly and teasingly asked from a few ledges above Kuzco and Pacha; showing off the potion she nabbed in her paws. However, she was now speaking with a high-pitched squeak, as she quickly noticed. "Is that my voice?" she asked, dumbfounded and trying to see if something was stuck in her throat by coughing. "Is that my voice?" But it was no use. "Oh well." She shrugged to herself before gleefully looking down at the two and holding the potion out.
"No! Don't drop it!" Kuzco pleaded with panic in his voice.
"I'm not going to drop it, you fool! I'm going to drink it, and once I turn back into my beautiful self I'm going to kill you and all of your so called new friends!" She then released a squeaky maniacal laugh and she cheekily declared "So I win!"
"Woah!"
Suddenly, a round metal door conveniently right next to Yzma was slammed open by an emerging Kronk! Squashing her into the golden wall of the Palace Crown, knocking her out cold and causing the vial to fly out of her paws, sailing over Kuzco and Pacha! The peasant gasped in horror and made a unthinking leap for the vial, catching it with his right hand before noticing he jumped off the Palace ledge!
"NOOOOO-" he screamed as he prepared for a long way down, but he then felt someone grab his left hand, preventing his fall.
That someone...was Kuzco.
Kuzco used both hooves to help the Peasant up onto the ledge and away from danger. They looked at each other and collapsed in one another's arms, laughing in relief.
"Now what were the odds of that trap door leading me out here?" Kronk asked himself as he gazed around at his surroundings, pausing when he noticed the large gaping hole in the crown of the palace. "Woah! It's a good thing no major structural beams were hit." he muttered.
Empire of The Sun - Palace Crown (Rooftop)
Yami spotted the large Chimera as soon as she rose above the Crown of the Palace. She closed in, dropping Lea and Kairi on one side while dropping Rito on the other in order to corner it. Yami thought it best if she stayed in the air to provide aerial support in case things got hairy. They still had to be careful too, because the large crown of the Palace was curved. Too many steps in the wrong direction would mean someone slipping off.
"It's surprising that the Palace Roof hasn't completely caved in yet!" Yami told the trio from the air "It would be best if we eliminated this thing before it fires that energy beam again!"
"Yeah!" Rito nodded, summoning his Keyblade "Let's do it!"
The Chimera let out a hiss as it found itself surrounded from the front and behind, using its long scorpion tail to swipe behind itself while extending its feline claws to swipe away at Rito and Yami. But the team was able to dodge its attacks no problem while Yami once again used her long hair to deflect the Chimera's claws during a twisting overhead swipe. The blonde took this moment to advance on the beast from the sky, turning her arms into long and sharp blades, going in to get rid of the tail.
However, during this moment, the Chimera put its large tail flat on the ground and the quills that were all over its body started to quickly bristle and turn black as it hissed once more. And then-
*Fwooom!*
The quills exploded outward, like a Thousand Needles of Nothingness shooting in all directions! Kairi; being right near Lea, defended both of them against the barrage via a pink barrier surrounding the two. Rito followed her lead and used his own barrier just in time to defend himself from the assault. Yami however, was in the middle of diving from the air, very close to the Chimera and too far away from everyone to make use of their barriers. So she reflexively used her already formed blades to try and block the multitude of sharp quills coming at her, but because they were so small and so many, some of these infernal quills managed to get through he guard, cutting Yami's exposed skin and creating tears in her black combat dress. Yami took note of the same strange black and white energy that was around the potion used to create this monstrosity was also laced around the quills, no doubt enhancing them in some fashion. Then, out of the corner of her right eye, Yami noticed something else that had fallen out of one of these particularly bad tears in her dress and was now soaring through the air...
Her Taiyaki Keychain! AGAIN?!
'Why can't that stay still?!' she thought to herself; frustrated that this is happening a second time. She attempted to swoop after it, but the Chimera extended its whiskers and wrapped them tightly around Yami's body, capturing and pulling her away!
"No!" she exclaimed as she witnessed it about to go off of the Palace Crown...until someone made a leap for it and caught it in mid-air!
"Don't worry Yami!" Rito assured her with a smile "I got it this time!"
"RITO!"
Both Lea and Kairi called out to the boy in a mixture of desperation and fear. For it was only when gravity started taking hold that Rito realized what he had done. He was off of the side of the Palace roof in mid-air...with a very, very long way down to the city below.
"Uh-oh." he meekly stated right before he dropped! Screaming for his dear life all the while!
"That idiot!" Yami called out, about to use her blades to get herself out from the whisker binds that had just started giving her body chills and light frost. But Lea used his blazing Chakrams to cut off the whiskers for her, freeing the girl.
"Yami! GO!" Lea told her as made a motion to where Rito had fallen down. Yami was already running towards the ledge, ignoring the remaining frost on her body and prepared her white angel wings and jumped, dive-bombing down to where she witnessed Rito fall. She started to sweat as she didn't see anything else while she continued dive-bombing, not willing to find out if even he would survive a fall from this high, praying that she wasn't too late to prevent him from possibly becoming a splatter on the floor.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Meanwhile, Rito continued screaming and flailing with his eyes and a fist squeezed shut as he fell to the ground below. However, on the ground below, two people; a palace guard and a delivery man, were having a dispute...
"For the last time; we did not order a Giant Trampoline!" The guard that was apparently unaware of the palace's situation insisted with exasperation as he pointed to the already put together utility.
"You know pal, you could've told me that before I set it up!" the delivery man retorted with just as much exasperation from near his wooden delivery cart that was full of Giant Trampolines. But unbeknownst to the two; Rito fell right into the middle of the set-up trampoline; the spring struggling against his body momentarily-
*BOING!*
And he shot right back up, returning from whence he came!
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he continued flailing with closed eyes, not realizing he was now going up instead of down. At least until he felt himself slam into something...softer than what he was expecting?
"Eh?" he opened his eyes and blinked a few times as he felt two somethings on the side of his head. He also saw that he was going up now for some strange reason. "What the-"
"I'm not going to even begin questioning how you were sent back up with such force, Yuuki Rito."
He angled his head up to the familiar cold sounding voice as they rose above the Crown of the Palace and saw that it was Yami that he crashed into. He also realized that his face was between her breasts and his free hand had somehow found its way to Yami's rear.
"That being said, I refuse to let you get away with perversion even in a moment like this...!"
"H-H-Hold on, I don't e-even-" he stammered with fear, but it was no use and too late. Yami grabbed Rito and violently spun him round and round before tossing him towards the roof of the Palace with great strength! Right where the Chimera Nobody was! Rito screamed as he saw he was going to collide with the creature...until he thought more about his current situation.
"W-W-Wait a sec...I hope this works!" he quickly put what was in his closed hand in his pocket and summoned his Keyblade "Wind!" he shouted, creating a wind barrier around his body. "And now! Fire!" he then summoned a flame at the tip of his blade before twisting himself around like a spinning top with his Keyblade and fire still out, seemingly wrapping himself in a blaze!
"Huh?" Yami watched Rito make use of her semi-blunder with curiosity as the now flaming Rito called out to Lea and Kairi-
"Guys! Take cover!" They both stopped fighting the Chimera Nobody for a moment, looked up in the direction of Rito's voice and saw him coming in hot, quite literally as the inferno around the boy increased in size! They ducked and covered as he dropped in with force like a Burning Comet!
"HAAAAHH!" Rito let out a fright-filled sounding warcry as he closed in and slammed into the Chimera Nobody's head with power!
*KABOOOOOM!*
The resulting fire explosion lit the roof ablaze, the wind from the explosion pushing past Lea and Kairi, who had still taken cover on the roof of the palace.
"Rito!" Lea called out as soon as the explosion ended and the wind returned to normal. He got up from the floor and searched around, but only saw the remains of fire dance on the palace roof, the smoke from the fires hanging in the air. "Hey?! You okay bud?!"
Kairi slowly picked herself off of the floor, also looking around as Yami landed behind her "Rito?!" the Princess of Heart also called out for the boy, But all they were met with was the crackling of fire...
Until they heard the sound of coughing. And then-
"Wind!" a delirious sounding voice shouted out.
A green gust of magical wind blew through the area, ridding the Roof of the lingering smoke and fires. They all turned their heads to the voice and found Rito with his Keyblade out, covered in soot and stumbling in a comically weak and dizzy manner with swirls in his eyes.
"Woah...Okay. That was way too intense for me..." he admitted before falling back to the floor on his rear, dismissing his Keyblade and taking the time to gather his bearings. Lea and Kairi hurriedly ran to him to check on his well-being while Yami unknowingly released a quick sigh and scowled at him.
"You idiot. That was reckless." She scolded the dizzy boy "You had us worried."
"Ahhhhh-oh! Sorry about that." he eventually snapped to and apologized from the ground, massaging his body wherever it hurt "But...weren't you the one that threw me at that big Nobody in the first place?"
"I meant to throw you back to the roof, not directly at our target." she clarified her intentions.
"...I'm sorry, I couldn't help but notice you say 'had US worried'?"
Yami paused at Lea's question, taking in the light-hearted (Well, also teasing in Lea's case) expressions on him and Kairi, causing a light pinkness to appear on the blonde's cheeks.
Lea continued with a playful grin "It sounds to me like Kuzco isn't the only one that could do with being a little more hone-."
"At any rate." Yami regained her composure, interrupting with a forceful tone that warned Lea to be quiet "Despite the recklessness of it all, you were able to adapt to the situation and turn my slight accident into an attack that appears to have defeated our target. Showcasing a surprising amount of ingenuity in the process." Yami made eye contact with Rito. "Not badly done, Yuuki Rito."
For a while, the boy sat in silent surprise until he softly smiled and raised a fist in her direction.
"Not badly done indeed!"
Vexen's voice pierced the air from behind the group, making them turn to the Scientist who was sporting a sneer "In fact, it was such a good showing from all of you; that I was able to obtain more than enough data." he gave a wave "Farewell for now..." and disappeared into a dark corridor, leaving to quartet to themselves once more. Yami glared at where Vexen was standing a few moments ago, cursing herself for forgetting about the scientist who created that Chimera Nobody in the first place and letting him use it as a distraction.
"Just who is that man anyway?" she eventually asked Lea.
Lea's expression changed to one of being deadly serious "Vexen...he's-"
Suddenly, a secret door that was built into the roof slammed open, revealing a set of stairs along with Kuzco and Pacha!
'I'm starting to sense a pattern here' she thought to herself while being unable to not scowl, annoyed at the recent constant interruptions whenever she remembered to ask about the Organization or Nobodies.
"Hey you guys are okay!" Kuzco stepped on to the roof with Pacha in tow. "So that monster was no problem-o for you?"
"Nope, extermination successful! We're all clear!" Lea gave a thumbs up to the llama-wait a moment...
"Kuzco, you're still a llama?" Rito asked with wide-eyed curiosity as he got up "What happened with the potion?"
"Oh we have it! It's just..." he hesitated before speaking further "You know, you guys helped me out so much to get the Kingdom back, and we've been through a lot together s-so...I just wanted to-you know, share the moment I become human again."
"Oh well, that's kind of you, but wasn't it hard to get up here without the Palace guards spotting you two?" wondered Kairi
"We thought we'd have to duck and dodge a lot more guards to get here, but thanks to that monster wreaking havoc to the Palace, they were too busy with the damage to notice us sneaking around." Pacha explained how they were able to get up to the roof. He then reached into his poncho and took out the potion, handing it to Kuzco.
"Well see ya guys, on the other side." With that said, Kuzco drank the potion down and there was another burst of red and pink smoke.
His llama form was gone, and Emperor Kuzco's humanity...was restored.
Empire of The Sun - (?)
"Excellent." Vexen chuckled to himself. The Scientist was now on a Plateau far away from the Palace, watching from afar. "Things may have gotten a little more chaotic than intended in the end, but with all the data I've obtained-"
"Why are you here, Vexen?" asked a deep voice from behind Vexen, a voice Vexen knew all too well...
"Ah, Lord Xemnas." Vexen calmly and obediently turned to his Superior who had his hood up, hiding his expression from view "Please allow me to explain myself. You see; as a scientist, Golden Darkness's existence as an artificial being with her talents had peaked my curiosity. So I thought it would be beneficial if I obtained data on what makes her tick, so to speak." After a moment of silence, he spoke further "We may be able to use such data as a contingency plan, should we ever find it necessary in the future."
Xemnas stayed silent for a moment before speaking further "Do so with moderation. Do not forget you have already been assigned a role for the Organization."
A large Corridor of Darkness opened up behind the previous Organization leader "We are finished here. Come."
Vexen brought an arm across his chest and gave a bow "Of course, my Superior."
(The Next Morning)
Empire of The Sun - The Palace
"Oh now you stop being so hard on yourself. All is forgiven."
Kuzco brought his hands together below him "Are you sure?" he asked with genuine concern for the old man he was talking to. You see, back in human form, Kuzco was now wearing Royal Red and Gold robes, large solid aqua green oval earrings, and had his palace crown on his head. When word that Kuzco had been alive all this time got out and after explaining what really happened, while also giving credit to the 'exterminators' who not only aided him, but also defeated the large monster that had wrecked the palace, the guards and servants went on their way to restoring the palace back to its look before Yzma briefly took over. All the while repairing the damage done to the place, both inside and out. Everyone in the Empire was pleasantly surprised at how much Kuzco had changed in the relatively short time he was gone, especially after he swore to change himself for the better. In fact, he was in the middle of an apology for his previous behavior as of this moment.
"Oh it's not the first time I've been thrown out of a window, and it won't be the last." the sweet old man made light about their previous 'incident' "What can I say? I'm a rebel!" He then got into a boxing pose and gave the Emperor a playful jab in the arm.
"Woah, I gotta use that arm later." Kuzco joked in a light-hearted manner before giving the elder a pat on the back, bidding him farewell "Okay buddy, take care."
The old man then took his leave, happily chuckling on the way out of the palace while Kuzco himself laughed quietly, commenting on the Elder's kindness. Meanwhile, Pacha, Lea, and his team were gathered near a model of Pacha's Villiage, but instead of Pacha's home being at the top of the hill, there was a model of a golden palace; the Summer Home that Kuzco wanted to build...
"It was ultimately a good thing Kuzco regained his throne, right Axel?" Kairi asked her fellow red-head, "It isn't Yzma that's ruling the Empire now, after all."
"I mean yeah, and it looks like Kuzco's changed for the better..." Lea crossed his arms, also wishing they could do something more "...but we still got no update on his plans for Pacha's home."
Kuzco overheard the conversation from the nearby doorway and frowned at the ground. He then started to walk forward; knowing what had to be done. What his heart felt was right...
"Didn't I say to be prepared to accept whatever happens, both good and bad?"
"I know-" Rito turned to Yami but stopped short. She had her arms crossed over her much like Lea. And her expression may have seemed as unreadable as ever, but it was a little more...focused? Rito got the feeling she was conflicted like everyone else...
"So, you lied to me." Kuzco spoke up as he suddenly approached, causing all of them to look at him in confusion.
"I did?" Pacha asked when he realized Kuzco was talking to him specifically.
"Yeah." Kuzco nodded. "You said when the sun hits this ridge just right; these hills sing. Well pal, we were dragged all over those hills and I did not hear any singing." He put on a mocking pout, before taking the model of his summer house off the hill "So, I'll be building my summer home on a more magical hill. Thank you."
As Kuzco held out a hand, Pacha smiled and gave him the small model of his house "Couldn't pull the wool over your eyes, huh?" he asked, playing along with the act.
"No, no, I'm sharp, I'm on it. Looks like you and your family are stuck up on that tuneless hilltop forever, pal." Kuzco replied as he put the model onto the fake hill and the two of them smiled to each other. Kuzco may have been disguising it, but with those smiles, everyone here understood what he was doing in his own 'secretive' way; an act of kindness and gratitude for the friends who helped him get his life back...
Then, all of a sudden, the model of Pacha's home started to glow a warm bright light...
"Woah/What the?" Pacha and Kuzco responded in unison as the model mystically rose into the air, high above everyone else. Lea, Kairi and Rito's Keyblades all suddenly appeared in their respective hands, despite not being consciously called by them.
"Um, what's going on?" Rito asked with confusion and curiosity, switching his gaze between Pacha's model home and their seemingly randomly appearing Keyblades.
"I've heard about this..." Kairi spoke with an air of familiarity as she came to a conclusion "from Sora's stories!"
Lea gave a toothy grin as Rito tilted his head "Just follow our lead, okay?" he told him, giving Rito a reassuring pat on his shoulder before the two red-heads grabbed their Keyblades with both hands.
The boy nodded "Okay." and played along, mimicking their poses. Kuzco, Pacha, and Yami watched as intense auras of light formed at the tips of their keyblades while the model of Pacha's home emitted a ray of light into the air that eventually hit the decorated ceiling, causing another aura of light to form into a shape of a Keyhole. Lea and Kairi raised their Keyblades to the Keyhole with Rito following their motion. The auras of lights from the Keyblades intensified and fired three beams that combined into a single great beam into the Keyhole.
*Click!*
Everyone heard the sound of a lock clicking before the Keyhole in the sky radiated a brighter light that overwhelmed everyone. Once the light faded...the keyhole was gone and the model of Pacha's home had rested back where it once was, as if none of that even happened.
"Woah. Okay." Kuzco blinked repeatedly as his eyes adjusted from all the brightness they were assaulted with. "What was with that light show?"
"We have to get going for now." Kairi announced suddenly, dismissing her Keyblade along with Lea.
"We do?" Rito asked as he followed along and dismissed his Keyblade as well.
"Wait. Before you guys leave..." Kuzco began, turning to Yami "I had the guards and servants ask around the Kingdom if anyone's seen people not from here wearing strange-looking outfits like you guys."
The blonde's eyes somewhat widened, surprised that Kuzco actually remembered their personal mission "You have?"
"Yeah but..." Kuzco cast his gaze to the ground "Unfortunately, no dice. The only ones people have seen like that are you four."
"I see..." Yami looked to the side "So they're not here then."
"And neither is Vexen from the sound of it." Lea thought out-loud "He must've took off."
Kairi gave a soft smile to the Emperor "Well, thanks for asking around anyway."
Rito bowed "Thank you very much Kuzco."
The Emperor shrugged "Eh I thought it was the least I could do, If anything, I should be thanking you guys. Especially you, Rito."
The boy blinked "Me? Really? For what?"
"For what you said back when we were face to face with Yzma." Kuzco recalled "For believing in me."
"Yeah, you really stood up for him." Lea came up next to Rito with a proud smile.
Rito remembered the moment now, and rubbed the back of his head, becoming somewhat shy again "Oh that. Well I...like to believe in the good in people when I see it."
"Well, It helped me realize something..." he made a motion with his arms to all of them "All the riches, power, and fame I have may make me the dude at the top of the nation, maybe even the hippest cat in creation." he momentarily pointed at himself with a flair that Rito recognized before The Emperor relaxed "But if I ain't got friends; nothing's worth the fuss." Kuzco extended a hand to Rito "I really owe you, pal."
The boy's eyes widened before his smile grew back on him and he extended his own hand out, shaking hands with the Emperor. "Right!"
"Also, good luck with your Amnesia. Really hoping for those memories to come back to ya."
"Thanks Kuzco. I hope they come back too." Rito replied as he released his hand. He stared at it for a bit before he found himself frowning.
"Hey, why the long face?" Kuzco asked, noticing his change in mood.
"It's just...I know we had to leave eventually. But now that the time is here I feel this...choked up sensation..." he raised his hand to his chest, up near his throat "...Like I'm sad to say goodbye." he admitted.
Kairi stepped closer to him "That's just what saying goodbye to a friend feels like." she turned to Kuzco "Is it okay if we come back to visit?"
Kuzco nodded "Of course, feel free to visit anytime."
"You can come visit the Village whenever you want, too." Pacha offered as he walked up to them.
"See, there you go. You don't have to think of it as 'Goodbye'. Now you can think of it as 'See you again'." Kairi comforted Rito by petting the top of his head, who slowly beamed at her idea.
"Yeah." he nodded "Yeah! See you guys again!"
"Hold on." Lea spoke up, wondering about something "I'm curious. What happened to Yzma and that lug-head she was with anyway?"
"Oh them. Well, I spoke to Kronk after everything went down and he decided to become the new head chef at Mudka's Meat Hut; the diner that we were at, taking Yzma with him." Kuzco explained "He also mentioned something about becoming a leader at this 'Junior Chipmunk Camp', whatever that is." he added to his explanation with uncertainty.
"I...see..." Kairi also seemed confused while Rito looked to Lea; who just shrugged "Well, it doesn't sound like they'll be causing you any trouble for now. So I guess we'll be going."
"Yup." Lea walked alongside Rito and Kairi as they started making their way out of the Palace with Yami not too far behind "Let's go."
Kuzco waved "Come back soon guys!"
"Be safe out there!" Pacha added.
"Okay! See you again!" Rito waved back as he, Kairi, and Lea disappeared from their view. However, Yami suddenly stopped walking.
"Emperor Kuzco." she spoke, calling the Emperor by name and turning to him "The warmth that you've found...don't lose sight of it."
With that said, she made her exit, disappearing in the same direction as the rest of Lea's team. For a while, Pacha and Kuzco stood in silence until the peasant broke it.
"...I get the feeling that they're more than just traveling exterminators."
"What was the first clue? That girl's transforming or that massive light show that just happened?" Kuzco jokingly asked as they both let out some laughs and sat down, knowing it wasn't really an issue. After the laughs Kuzco went silent, wondering what to do now...
"You know, I may have heard some singing on the hill next to us. In case you're interested." he heard Pacha's casual offer.
Now there's an idea...
And with that, we are done with The Emperor's New Groove World!
As usual, I will leave some authors notes here in relation to the chapter:
1) There's a moment where a song from the movie is referenced, can you spot it?
2) The Chimera Nobody fight had some inspiration from the Guard Scorpion from FFVII Remake. This was also quite a task for me to write.
3) I know Yami loosing her Taiyaki Keychain again may seem odd and quite forced, but I did it this time to set up something for the next interlude. (Which; in hindsight, I should've done when Rito & Yami met in Traverse Town.)
4) This World's Ending was actually where I was stuck at the most for quite some time, as there was a part of me that wanted to do a completely original ending featuring Yzma being controlled by the Heartless ala Clayton in KH1 before becoming a Heartless herself at the climax in the Palace, exploring and informing the nature of the Darkness/Heartless and their interactions with people with dark hearts to Yami & Rito. However, I realized that would leave Vexen here without much of a reason beyond the first meeting back at the bridge scene. Maybe there was a way to work Heartless Yzma and Vexen in at the same time while having both make an impact, I just didn't have the creative mind to really nail a meaningful one down.
Besides, I eventually figured that the NEXT Disney villain that team Rito encounters would be more fitting to explore the interaction between Darkness/The Heartless and people with dark hearts.
Next time! An interlude concerning Nobodies and first encounters!
