"I…I dunno." Sora said as Facilier's smile shrank slightly.
"You dunno? You don't believe me?" Facilier asked as Sora scratched the back of his head.
"Um, no offence but…not really." Sora said with an innocent shrug. There was something in his heart that was telling him that he was not what he seemed to be. Facilier's smile completely vanished, replaced by a frown. (Music Cue: "Friends on the Other Side" from Disney's "Princess and the Frog")
"Don't you disrespect me little man.
Don't you derogate or deride!
Facilier sang, shaking his finger at Sora before aiming his cane at the sign on the wall which read "Dr. Facilier's Voodoo Emporium"…
"You're in my world now, not your world,
and I got friends on the other side."
Facilier sang as the front door started to swing open and a group of source less voices added…
"He's got friends on the other si-de."
Facilier then put his arm back around Sora, leading him inside.
"That's an echo son, just a little something we have here in the Bayou. A little parlor trick, don't worry." Facilier said as he snapped his fingers and a light clicked on, revealing a covered table with two chairs inside an alcove surrounded by elegant curtains. Facilier then started singing…
"Sit down at my table; put your mind at ease.
If you relax it will enable me to do anything I please.
I can read your future; I can change it 'round some, too."
Sora sat down at one of the chairs as Facilier danced around and up next to Sora, singing…
"I look deep into your heart and soul…"
"You do have a soul, don't you son?" Facilier asked Sora before hopping onto the table and singing…
"Make your wildest dreams come true!
I got Voodoo, I got hoodoo, I got things I ain't even tried!
And I got friends on the other side."
Then a group of overhead voodoo masks sang in unison as Facilier pulled out a deck of tarot cards and sat down opposite Sora…
"He's got friends on the other side!"
Then Facilier started shuffling the deck as he sang…
"The cards, the cards, the cards will tell,
the past, the present, and the future as well."
He sang as he held the cards face down like a fan, holding them out to Sora before singing…
"The cards, the cards, just take three,
take a little trip into your future with me!"
Sora shrugged and took three cards. Facilier magically made the others disappear before laying out Sora's three cards face up on the table. Facilier picked up the first card which had an image of the Destiny Islands on it.
"Now you young man, are from across the sea…"
He sang as he waved his hand over it, making it change to a picture of Kairi with the image of a white heart over her chest with a crown over both her head and over the heart…
"You got a gal whose heart's of royalty…"
"I'm a royal myself on my mother's side." Facilier said with a chuckle before flipping the card upside down, changing it to an image of Sora standing triumphantly atop of what appeared to be Kingdom Hearts…
"Your hopes were high!
But now they're low,
and you've found a little honey that can go toe to toe."
Facilier sang as he flipped the card upside down again, making it look like Sora was being held down by Aqua as he tried to reach Kingdom Hearts…
"Wanted to go off on your own, huh buddy boy? Now you've been hitched, but hitching ties you down. You just wanna be free, fly from place to place, but freedom, takes dreams..." Facilier said with a grin before he turned the card around in a full circle, revealing Sora standing in his armor, standing over Xehanort's seemingly dead body as Facilier sang…
"It's the dream, it's the dream, it's the dream you need!
And when I looked into the future it's the dream that I see."
He then put the card down and picked up the second, holding it facing himself as he sang…
"You poor little man I don't want wanna waste more time.
You've been pushed around all your life!"
Facilier sang as he flipped the card around, revealing Sora with Riku, Aqua, and another, obviously older woman each standing on his back as Facilier sang…
"You've been pushed around by your mother,
and your brother and now your master.
And if you was datin'…"
Sora perked up when he heard reference to Kairi until Facilier flipped the card upside down, revealing Kairi standing on top of him.
"…you'd be pushed around by your gal.
But in your future, the you I see..."
Facilier sang as he put down the card and reached for the third, picking up and showing Sora standing triumphantly on top of Kingdom Hearts again as Facilier sang…
"...is exactly the man you always wanted to be."
Facilier then put down the card before sliding around to Sora's side, extending his hand.
"Shake my hand." Facilier said, but Sora hesitated, "Come on boy, won't you shake a poor sinner's hand?"
Sora extended his hand and was about to grab hold of it when the door burst open, revealing Aqua with her Keyblade. She immediately realized what was about to happen.
"Sora! NO!" Aqua exclaimed, eyes widened in fear, but Facilier grinned and quickly grabbed hold of Sora's hand and firmly shook it, causing a purple glow to appear around the two of them, and a large swirling green wall of energy to appear between them and Aqua.
"Yes... Are you ready?"
Facilier sang with a grin as Sora was magically bound in a chair by the arms and a chorus of Voodoo Masks sang…
"Are you ready?"
Aqua tried to break through the barrier with her Keyblade but to no avail. Then a giant demonic looking voodoo mask with two downward curved horns, an elongated face, razor sharp teeth, and glowing green eyes appeared against the back wall, opening its mouth to reveal a swirling green vortex within as Facilier sang…
"Are you ready?
Transformation Central!"
Facilier sang as the masks replied…
"Transformation Central!"
Facilier then grabbed a small voodoo talisman shaped like a small mask, and pulled its mouth open before pressing it against Sora's chest.
"Reformation Central!"
Facilier sang as the talisman started to glow, as Sora attempted to escape but to no avail as the masks replied…
"Reformation Central!"
Aqua was helpless as she watched Sora become enveloped by a glowing purple aura emanating from the talisman. Suddenly a glowing pink heart with half of a heart wedged into it burst free from the talisman's mouth. Sora's body simply slumped over in a stupor as Facilier sang…
"Transmogrification Central! Can you feel it?"
Facilier then grabbed the talisman as the pink fly on his collar cackled and magically turned into Madam Mim who picked up Sora's unconscious body. As Facilier raised the talisman to the floating hearts, he sang…
"You're changing, you're changing, you're changing alright!"
Then he turned to Aqua who snarled at him angrily as he sang with a grin…
"I hope you're satisfied.
But, if you ain't, don't blame me.
You can blame my friends on the other side!"
Facilier sang with a cackle. Mim joined him as they opened a Corridor of Darkness, Aqua still unable to reach them as the talisman quickly ensnared the hearts and pulled them into its mouth before snapping shut and the two passed through the Corridor as the masks sang…
"You got what you wanted!
But you lost what you had!"
Then the magic barrier, Voodoo masks, and Corridor of Darkness all vanished as the masks final word echoed as a whisper through the room…
"Hush."
Aqua was now alone inside the room. She dropped to her knees, her Keyblade suddenly started glowing with an increasingly brighter light as she clinched her open hand into a fist before throwing her head back in an anguished scream, her Keyblade sending out a shockwave which shook the room and knocked several things over. She slumped forward, lowering her head in grief. She then saw something sparkle out of the corner of her eye. She looked up and saw a twinkling object in the shadows. She climbed back up onto her feet and slowly approached the source of the light. She pushed over the table, and saw what it was, her mouth dropping open slightly in silence. It was Sora's armor piece that he usually wore on his shoulder.
"Sora. I should have been honest with you. I am so sorry." She whispered as she picked up the piece and held it close to her heart. Suddenly she felt a surge of energy coming from the armor piece, causing her to drop it with a yelp of surprise. She watched as the armor piece started bouncing around like mad, a glow gradually starting to appear around it before a sudden burst of light appeared, briefly blinding Aqua. When she finally opened her eyes she was stunned at what she saw.
"S-S-Sora?" Aqua asked. His armor had manifested, kneeling down on one knee with his Keyblade driven into the ground and his hands resting on the top of the hilt like Terra's Lingering Sentiment back in Disney Castle.
"Aqua…" A voice sounding like the metallic tone the Lingering Sentiment had only noticeably lighter in pitch said.
"Sora…what's happened to you?" Aqua asked as the armor stood up and grabbed the Keyblade from the ground.
"Deceived…Sorry." Sora's armor said in its metallic tones with its head lowered sadly. Aqua was stunned speechless.
"Well now this is quite a development. It seems your apprentice has become a Sentiment." Shantotto said as she walked in.
"What do you know about this Professor?" Aqua asked.
"A Sentiment, the will and memories of one, that a Keyblade they once did bear. They rise to fight in place of their fallen body and heart, so its enemies need beware." Shantotto said as Aqua scratched her head.
"But Sora lost his heart and body to those two villains. Shouldn't he have become a Heartless?" Aqua asked as Shantotto laughed heartily.
"Voodoo, a mysterious art and way, has many peculiar rules that can either make or ruin your day. Preserved his heart and body may be, but lost forever if we don't get both back quickly." Shantotto said as Aqua looked at Sora's Sentiment who remained silent, making Aqua a bit nervous.
"So it's the voodoo that keeps him from becoming a heartless. Do you know how we can reverse the spell placed on Sora?" Aqua asked as Shantotto crossed her arms.
"All knowing, I am not. But not helping would make my heart rot. Know a master of Voodoo quite well I do. She lives up in a tree, deeper into the bayou. Help you I shall or else your grade is a D. The Voodoo master's name is Mama Odie." Shantotto said as Aqua smiled with relief.
"Thank you Professor. I'm glad you're willing to help me clean up this mess that I made." Aqua said as Shantotto hopped onto the back of Sora's Sentiment, which didn't seem to mind or care as both it and Aqua set out.
…
They had traveled deep into the swampy bog of the bayou, walking through a thick fog that blinded their view. Sora's Sentiment had taken point, Shantotto still on its back, and Aqua followed up from behind.
"I really screwed up this time. Master Eraqus never screwed up as bad as I did." Aqua sighed to herself.
"A loser you are, yet so irreverent. Your beloved master was also a loser, which was plenty evident. Knew him I did, and he was quite the charmer, but he was a bungler and another loser, yet my heart grew fonder. Love him I try but before our time was through, he certainly made bigger blunders than you." Shantotto said, earning a surprised and annoyed look from Aqua.
"Don't talk about Master Eraqus like that! He was the best master that ever existed! He was better than you even!" Aqua said angrily as Shantotto gave her a challenging smirk with one hand on her hip, twisting her body around slightly to look at her.
"I dare you to try, but the outcome will only make you cry." Shantotto said challengingly. Aqua was tempted to summon her Keyblade and attack the tiny wizard immediately but she resisted. They then noticed that Sora's Sentiment had stopped in its tracks. Aqua and Shantotto noticed this and looked at the armored spirit curiously.
"What is it?" Aqua asked as Shantotto looked ahead and then laughed heartily.
"It seems our good luck has survived, for behold we have now arrived." Shantotto said, pointing upwards slightly, revealing a tall tree with an old houseboat stuck up near the top, with light emanating from inside, showing that someone was home. Shantotto hopped off the back and hurried to the base of the tree, Sora's Sentiment walking behind. Aqua walked up to the empty yet animated armor and looked down at it curiously.
"Sora…can you hear me in there?" Aqua asked. No response.
"Well, regardless if you can or not, I'm going to get you out of this mess one way or another." Aqua said as she started to walk ahead. She then felt a cold firm, hand on her shoulder. She turned around and saw Sora's Sentiment had its hand on her shoulder and was looking up at her. For a brief moment she could swear she saw a smile on its faceless helmet. Aqua smiled back in relief, before turning back to towards the tree house. Soon they had climbed up the tree, and were being greeted by a kindly and friendly voice.
"Oh I know who's there! Is that you Shanty deary? Oh I can tell it's you, 'cause you got that ragin' Cajun aura about you." The woman's voice echoed from inside. Shantotto smirked and silently motioned for the two to go inside.
"Oh did you bring guests? Oh Mama's gonna have to see what we have here." The woman asked as she stepped into the light. She was a short, dark skinned, heavyset old woman with a very wrinkly and baggy skinned chin. She wore a large white towel like turban on her head (A/N: I don't know what it's called, so don't flame for that), a large white frock, two oversized golden ring shaped earrings, a pair of dark sunglasses, and no shoes. In her hand was a gourd that was glowing with yellow energy from the larger end.
"Hmm, now what have we here?" Mama Odie asked herself as she "looked" Aqua and Sora's Sentiment over.
"Um, hello miss Odie, I'm Aqua, and this is Sora…err rather his armor, see we've got a bit of a problem and-." Aqua said but was interrupted.
"Girl, you talk too much. Now come on in and have a seat. Oh and don't call me miss, sounds so old and so formal. You just call me Mama Odie, that alright deary?" Mama Odie said as she led them into her home. It was generally a somewhat cozy home. An old bathtub sat atop a stove, with a bubbling brown liquid inside. Along a whole wall were jars upon jars of various and odd looking items. Mama Odie proceeded to hobble over to a chair at the end of the room without incident and sit down.
"Now then, let's talk about what your problem is now okay?" Mama Odie said as Aqua sat down on an empty crate while Sora's Sentiment simply stood.
Elsewhere…
Mim and Facilier were laughing with sinister glee. Sora's unconscious and spiritless body lay covered and bound on a wooden wagon as Facilier clutched the talisman in his hands.
"Oh the boss is just going to reward us handsomely for bringin' down that no good Keyblade boy. All that's left is to take care of the girl and we're on easy street." Facilier said as Mim laughed with a snort.
"Oh-ho-ho-ho yes! I love this part of the game! We're going to win this time for sure! HE-HE! We'll win! We'll win!" Mim celebrated as she danced around nearly knocking the talisman from Facilier's hands.
"Will you watch it! If this thing breaks, the spirits that made this thing will have my heart for dinner! And I'm more afraid of them than I am of Xehanort!" Facilier freaked, clutching the talisman close to him.
"Not afraid of Xehanort are we?" A voice echoed as a Corridor of Darkness opened up nearby. From it emerged Emperor Mateus, followed closely by Judge Gabranth.
"Oh well if it isn't his royal highness. Come down from your almighty throne to fraternize with us meager worms?" Facilier mocked with a smile. Mateus scowled at the witchdoctor.
"Lowly worm. You do not yet understand that you are merely a pawn to be used by Xehanort in his bid for power." Mateus said, catching the witchdoctor's attention.
"Oh? You sound like a dissatisfied customer Mateus. Why don't you pick a card and let the cards tell me why." Facilier said as Mateus snarled and glanced at Gabranth who grabbed the whole deck of cards and tossed them into the air before taking one quick swing with his double bladed sword and quick as a flash cut the whole deck in half through the center, and I don't mean cut as in dealing terms.
"I mean, you mindless pawn, that Xehanort is unfit to lead us, the true warriors of Darkness. He may possess a younger body but that body's original owner still maintains a degree of control. That will not do. If we were able to sway Maleficent to our side, then perhaps we could stand a chance of removing Xehanort from power. Power is all that keeps him in command. Prove that he is not stronger than us, and his power goes away. Well? What do you say." Mateus said as Facilier pondered.
"Ooh-ho-ho-ho (snort), I like this game! I'll play! I'll play!" Mim said excitedly.
"You've got yourself a deal, your highness." Facilier said with a smile, extending his hand but the despot glared at him, knowing better than to shake hands with the witchdoctor.
End Chapter 19.
The Song above was a slightly altered version of "Friends on the other side" from Disney's "Princess and the Frog." I included this song because A) It works with the story and B) Because Keith David (the voice of Dr. Facilier) is awesome. (Keith David is also the voice of the Arbiter in Halo, Chaos in Final Fantasy Dissidia, and Goliath from Gargoyles, to name a few.)
For the record, if I happen to offend anyone of the African-American persuasion with Facilier and Odie's portrayal in these chapters, then please accept my apologies as this was not the intention. Thank you.