(A/N: Well, I is back! Sorta long chapter... sorta...
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or Disney, since I'm too busy burning paper factories right now. XD Enjoy!)
The Hunchback Nobody of Twilight Town
Chapter 11: The Court of Miracles
The map lead them to a graveyard. They approached a central grave, with a symbol on it.
"This looks like the symbol on the map," said Axel, observing it.
"But what does it mean?" asked Roxas.
"Hmm. I'm not sure. I can make out an inscription, but it's going to take a few minutes to translate it. Now let's see-"
As he mumbled to himself, Roxas pushed the lid off the grave, revealing a staircase going down.
"...Yes, well, or we could just go down those stairs."
They ended up in a partially flooded chamber, lined with skeletons. While they walked through, Roxas asked, "Is this the Court of Miracles?" He was confused. It didn't seem at all as good as Xion made it out to be.
"Offhand, I'd say it's the Court of Ankle Deep Sewage. Must be the old catacombs."
As they proceeded, they failed to notice three of the skeletons rising behind them.
"Cheerful place," Axel said sarcastically. "Kinda makes you wish you got out more often, eh Roxas?"
"Not me. I just want to warn Xion and get back to the Clock Tower. I don't want to get in any more trouble."
"Speaking of trouble, we should have run in to some by now."
"What do you mean?"
"You know, a guard, a booby trap..." He trailed off as their torch blew out, leaving them in darkness. "...or an ambush."
Suddenly, the chamber was fully lit, and they were surrounded by skeletons. They forced them to their knees in front of a now unmasked Sora.
"Well, well, well! What have we here?" asked Sora, amused.
"Trespassers!" cried a skeleton.
"Spies!" called another.
"We are not spies!" argued Axel.
"Can't you listen-" The two were gagged, cutting Roxas off.
"Don't interrupt me! You're very clever to have found our hideaway. Unfortunately, you won't live to tell the tale!" He smirked as he played with a dagger.
They were led into a complete underground town, teeming with gypsies.
"Maybe you've heard of a terrible place, where the scoundrels of Twilight Town collect in a lair. Maybe you've heard of that mythical place called the Court of Miracles..."
"Hello, you're there!" said Sora.
"Where the lame can walk. And the blind can see."
"But the dead don't talk!" Sora sang.
"So you won't be around to reveal what you've found!"
"We have a method for spies and intruders, rather like hornets protecting their hive."
"Here in the Court of Miracles!"
"Where it's a miracle if you get out alive!"
Roxas and Axel were taken up to a platform, where nooses were placed around their necks. "Gather around, everybody!" Sora called. "There's good 'noose' tonight!"
The gypsies laughed.
"It's a double header, a couple of Xemnas' spies!"
"Boo!"
"And not just any spies! His captain of the guard," He saluted mockingly. "And his loyal, bell ringing henchman!" He bent over and acted misshapen.
"Justice is swift in the Court of Miracles! I am the lawyers and judge, all in one! We like to get the trial over with quickly, because it's the sentence that's really the fun!"
Sora was about to pull the handle to drop the floor out from underneath them. "Any last words?" The two mumbled panickly through their gags. "That's what they all say!" he said, rolling his eyes.
"Now that we've seen all the evidence-"
He was interrupted by his small puppet. "Wait! I object!"
"Overruled!" he yelled at the puppet.
"I object!" it cried out again.
"QUIET!" He smacked it.
"...Dang."
Recomposing himself, he went over to the 'guilty' parties. "We find you totally innocent... Which is the worst crime of all!" he sang sadly, patting them. Then he grinned evilly and scampered back to the handle.
"So you're going to hang!" Sora started to pull the handle, but stopped at Xion's shout.
"Stop!"
"Xion!" Axel and Roxas cried, though it was muffled.
"These men aren't spies... They're our friends!" She rushed over and removed the nooses and gags.
"Why didn't they say so!" Sora asked.
"We did say so!" they retorted.
Xion pointed at Axel. "This is the soldier that saved the miller's family," She pointed now at Roxas, "And Roxas helped me escape the Clock Tower."
Axel stepped up and shouted to the crowd. "We came to warn you! Xemnas is coming!" The crowd gasped. "He says he knows where you're hiding, and he's attacking at dawn with a thousand men!"
"Then let's waste no time! We must leave immediately!" Xion commanded. The gypsies began running everywhere, beginning to pack up.
Xion moved closer to Roxas. "You took a terrible risk coming here. It may not exactly show, but we're grateful." She pecked his cheek, and his face heated up again.
Axel cleared his throat. "Hey, I'm here too," he joked.
"Oh, ...yes! Thank you, Axel! We're very thankful that you came... How did you find this place, anyway?"
"Thank Roxas," he said, slapping the boy on the back. "Without his help, I would never have found my way here."
"Nor would I!"
The three turned around quickly to see Xemnas and his men appearing in the doorway. Soldiers surrounded the people and took the gypsies into custody.
"After twenty years of searching, the Court of Miracles is mine at last!" He gazed around the room, proud of himself. Then he turned to Roxas. "Dear Roxas, I always knew you would someday be of use to me."
"What are you talking about?" Xion snarled, held back by two guards. Another guard held a struggling Ventus.
The Judge looked at her. "Why, he led me right to you, my dear."
"You're a liar!" she spat.
"And look what else I've caught in my net," he continued, ignoring her and walking up to Axel. "Captain Axel, back from the dead." The redhead glared at him. "Another miracle, no doubt." He leaned closer to him. "I shall remedy that."
To the rest of the gypsies, he said, "There will be a little bonfire in the square tomorrow, and you're all invited to attend!" Then he turned to the guards. "Lock them up."
"No, please, Master!" Roxas cried, grabbing the hem of Xemnas' cloak and falling on his knees.
"Take him back to the Clock Tower, and make sure he stays there," he told a guard.
"Please..." Roxas whispered, tears falling down his chin. "Please..."
(A/N: Hope you liked! … I have... nothing more to say...
Sora: R+R!)