Aqua: I think I'm going to be sick.
Kyuubi: Don't you DARE puke on me!
KZD: Ok let get on with the story so that Aqua can get off of the gummi ship in one piece. Again I own nothing
Speech: "Normal"
"Normal/Human thinking."
"Kyuubi talking."
"Kyuubi thinking."
The ride on the gummi ship was a particular long one for all of its passengers. Especially for Aqua. Having never been on one, the unstable wobbly movements have given her a case of motion sickness. She was sure that the first thing she would do now that she has returned to the worlds was find her armor and keyblade so that she wouldn't have to spend another moment on this cursed ship.
Before going to Yen Sid's castle, the group quickly dropped Ansem off in Radiant Garden. The blond haired scientist said he had some business to attended to there and wanted to return to his own home world. They quickly beamed him down before making their final approach to Mysterious Tower.
On the way there Sora and Riku told Aqua about there adventures after they had receive their keyblades. From Sora saving the worlds from The Seeker of Darkness who called himself Ansem and Riku temporarily siding with darkness, to the final showdown with his nobody Xemnas. To keep her mind off her own problems she asked frequent questions about parts of there adventure to help pass the time.
The landing was rough as the ship just plopped to the ground without any warning. A loud explosion was heard and both the wings fell to the ground along with smoke seeping though the damaged engine.
"Looks like we made it in one piece guys." Sora said but was returned with a glare from two people from the ship.
"It's your fault that the ship is this damaged in the first place." Donald squeaked at him while Riku shook his head dejectedly at his friend.
Goofy opened the hatch and Aqua couldn't be happier to get off that contraption. Her legs felt wobbly from being in it for the past three hours and buckled as she slid her back to the side of the broken ship waiting for her stomach to catch up to the rest of her.
"Don't worry you get use to it after a while." The silver haired teen looked down at the keyblade master. "At least Sora wasn't driving again, then I think I've might of start fearing for our lives. Take this it will help settle you stomach, God knows it helped me." He tossed her a potion she in turned downed it quickly. Aqua felt better after a minute of rest and was ready to follow the others into the tower.
When they got inside, Aqua made a mental note on the construction on the crooked tower. There were a lot more stairs then the last time she made a visit here. She realized this because she remembered that there was no way that she carried Ven three flights of curling stair cases with the first two leading to empty rooms.
"Who is this Yen Sid you humans keep referring too." Kyuubi decided to make contact with Aqua about the resident of the castle.
"He's a powerful, wise wizard and a former keyblade master. He oversees the affairs of the worlds and warns any keybearers when there is any trouble that needs to be dealt with."
"A powerful wizard huh? Well, then maybe he can make me a new body."
"Don't get your hopes up. I'd bet he has a lot of knowledge on demons so he might not help you."
"If that's the case I'll force him to." Aqua rolled here eyes at the foxes voice and how exactly did he plan on forcing the old wizard to comply with his demands. After all he wasn't in the best condition.
After opening the final door they finally entered the retired keyblade masters office and were greeted with his back turned to them as he was gazing up at the stars, and an overgrown mouse clad in red next to him.
"Your Majesty, Master Yen Sid we've returned."
"And we brought Master Aqua back like we promised." Donald and Goofy saluted there higher ups. The mouse king let out a sigh at his loyal friends and subjects formalities while as the elderly man dressed in a blue robe and a stare printed hat gave a nod.
"We've noticed. I've already informed a few of my servants to repair your ship." The bearded man said while giving an accusing stare at the youngest in the room who sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.
"Aqua its good to see you again." Mickey walked up the blue haired women who knelt down.
"It's good to see you to your Majesty."
"Please, there are no need for formalities." He said with a smile seeing his friend alive and well before it turned into a frown. "Gosh Aqua, I'm sorry that I couldn't find you earlier but you sort of just disappeared into thin air."
"That's all right. What's done is done and nothing can change that." She said with a reassuring smile. Standing up she looked towards Yen Sid with a stern face. "What exactly seems to be trouble Master."
The old wizard took a seat at his desk with his face as serious as ever.
"I had council with the stars and it is grave news that because Sora and Riku defeated Xehanort's heartless and nobody in order is true form has returned to the worlds."
The image of silver haired Terra and the evil old master that separated her friends appeared in her head. She hoped that Yen Sid was talking about the latter of the two but she somehow she knew that deep down that wasn't the case.
"I'm also afraid to inform that all his power has returned to him at an exceptional rate and seems it has multiplied somehow. It is possible that when you two had fought his other halves that their experience fighting you two had carried over to the original body."
The two young boys cast worried glances at each other about the news. This guy just didn't now how to quite.
"So does it have to be heartless then nobody to restore a somebody or can it go the other way around." Sora asked with a nervous laugh.
"It must be in that order for a somebody to return to their original self."
"Great…" The boy stated to think about all of the heartless and nobodies he has slew over the past three years and was wondering if any other members of Organization XIII got their original bodies back, and if they did he hoped they weren't hell bent on taking over the worlds as well.
Aqua wasn't taking the news well either. This journey to save her friends already sounded harder then the last. Also there was a chance that the Xehanort that Yen Sid is talking about could very much be Terra. With in a hand gripped around the star charm in her pocket, missing Kyuubi's cries about not crushing him, she promised herself that she wouldn't fail them this time or anyone.
"If I may continue, not only has he become stronger then he once was but he has allied himself with others in pursuit of Kingdom Hearts." He waved his hand and a hologram appeared a few feet beside the group. A puff of grey smoke formed and transparent form of a ghastly looking green women in black robes and horns sprouting from her heads appeared. Riku had to suppress the urge to try and slash at the hologram.
"I believe all of you remember Maleficent. The old hag is back to her old ways and has aliened herself with Xehanort in the quest for complete control over all worlds."
"Hard to believe she's still around after she and Pete sacrificed themselves to get rid of all those heartless." The youngest mentioned.
"Yes, she is still very much alive but that witch is the least of your worriers." The hologram of Maleficent faded away and the old wizard let out a deep breath. "There is one other that you must know of. He is new to you all and his strength and power rivals and if not greater the Xehanort."
With an another puff of smoke a new figure appeared His face was unseen due to a spiral mask that covered it and only his eyes were seen. The right eye a piercing red with three tomoes in it and the left a pale violet with several rings around the pupil. He was clothed in a strange black cloak with red clouds on it.
"His name is Madara Uchiha." The moment the bearded old man mutterer the holograms name a loud piercing roar erupted in Aqua's head causing her to jump not expecting the fox to have one of his rage fits. No one seemed to have notice her jump but as the wayfinder glowed violently from the demons rage Yen Sid felt its unusual presence but withhold from asking at the moment.
"This isn't possible, the bastard should be dead!"
"Kyuubi please calm down."
"Do not tell me to calm down! Its because of this fucker that I've been receiving nothing but bull for the past hundred years."
"We're going to talk about this later but I need to listen about what's happening right now so please be quiet." She was only returned with angry snarls and roars and found it hard to tune him out as he growled the man's name with a string of curses.
"Not much is known about him other then he uses an ancient power not seen it quiet some time and that he was the one that caused the destruction of his own world. The rest of what I know is a rumor that with his eyes he wields the power of a god. If he truly seeks the power of Kingdom Hearts this could spell disaster for us all."
"He doesn't look that tough." Riku said with a small smirk.
"Do not me fooled by appearances young one, and he wasn't the only one who was able to escape the final fate of their world."
"What?" Kyuubi quite his roaring fits to listen in. The image of Madara vanished and the projection split into nine separate ones. Within nine different animal like creatures appeared all having a different number of tails. Aqua's eyes immediately darted to a crimson red fox with flaring nine tails. Even if she had met him at his possible worst she knew that was what Kyuubi truly looked like.
"A long time a go, even before the keyblades time, people would make deals with demons or seal them inside people for their power. They haven't been much of a threat since the last keyblade war, most not wanting to deal with humanity and decided settle on other worlds and live side by side with humans or stay in Hell. But these nine are a different case." The old wizard closed his eyes. This was ancient knowledge that he though he would never had to discuss.
"These nine are known as the Bijuu and are the most powerful demons in existence. Their power can be measured by the number of tails they posses, the more tails the stronger and the one with nine is the demon king. They were last recorded to be on the world that Madara destroyed but knowing their status it is a great possibly that they may have escaped."
"So what do you want us to do with these fur balls then?" From within the charm Kyuubi became livid as he distinctly remember that was one of the many nicknames a certain blond haired ninja use to call him by.
"What did that stupid brat call me?" Aqua could feel the fox's anger boiling over and became a little nervous for Riku's safety.
"I didn't hear anything." She tried to play it off.
"The little bastard is going to get when I get out of here." He said in a low dead pan voice.
"What I ask of you is if you see these nine is to warn them of Madara if they are not hostile. But if they even show even the smallest notion of aggression do not try and fight especial if you are alone. Not only will you lose but demons can become blood thirsty and will easily kill you in a seconds notice."
Sora had a confused stare at he looked at small projections.
"Are they really that dangerous? I mean after facing big heartless and nobodies there can't be anything worse then them right?"
"Yes and no young one. Like the heartless and nobodies, a demons strength varies depending on their race and ranking form a fledgling to a lord. The Bijuu in particular are considered to be natural disasters. The nine tailed one or Kyuubi can cause entire mountains to crumble and start tsunamis with a flick of one of its tails."
"And he wants us to go and try and find these things? Sound like they can handle themselves just fine." Sora though with slight fear after what he heard what kind of damage these beings could do in a blind rage. From within the wayfinder Kyuubi was quiet pleased about what Yen Sid said about him and had completely forgot about the fur ball comment.
"Be careful when looking for them, because they may not look as they appear as you see them now. Demons are notorious for taking on a human form to blend in better. The best why to tell a demon apart from another person is their eyes. They all tend to have a predator like look to them or just different from the norm." Then the projections faded way.
"Is that all we need to know Master?" Aqua spoke out. She was stating to increasingly regret the deal she made with kitsune.
"That is it for now. But I do believe you have something to ask the others."
"Right. Sora, Riku," the two younger keybearers looked at her with their full attention, "a long time I was separated from my friend. We all fell to a cruel fate. One of them lost their heart and the other…Well I'm not to sure what became of him. If you wouldn't mind could you help me search for them?" she asked
Sora flashed a bright smile and Riku gave a small one of his own. "Of course were always happy to help. By the way is one of your friends named Ventus?" Aqua was surprised when she heard that name.
"You know about Ven?"
"Actual we know where his heart is and don't worry it's safe." Aqua raised an eyebrow that asked where it could possibly be. The brunet pointed to his chest or more his own heart.
"Awhile back when we took our Mark of Mastery Exam we've found out that Ven was resting in my own heart." This time it was her turn to smile back.
"Your just full of surprises aren't you Sora, thank you for keeping Ven safe. I know where his body is after I get a few things we can go wake him up." She said before facing Yen Sid.
"Master could you track where my armor and keyblade are?"
"Let me see." From his desk he mumbled a few words while waving his hands around on circles on the table. Some smoke appeared before an image of a suite of clue armor lied on the floor and a keyblade resting on a wall.
"It would seem that your possessions are in Radiant Gardens castle."
"Thank you Master. Ready to go guys?" Everyone gave a nod before the wizard spoke out once more.
"Wait Aqua, I wish to have a conferences with you in privet." The beings in the room gave semi confused expressions but agreed to leave. Donald mentioning that they would wait in the ship for her. With the two alone Yen Sid face became more stern then usual.
"May I see your wayfinder?" Aqua gulped. She knew this wasn't going to end well. He must have noticed something when Kyuubi stated to yell. She hesitated in giving the crimson charm to the older master but did so. Looking down at I with a glare, he could feel the evil energy coursing inside it.
"Exactly how long are you going to hide the fact that you are keeping not only a demon but the devil himself with you." The cat was out of the bag or fox in this case.
"So you know of me? I didn't know I was this famous." Kyuubi's voice ripped through both of there minds with a maniacal laugh. The old wizard put the charm and spoke to it. With no one else in the room it was alright to talk out loud to the sealed beast.
"I've been around long enough to know of your savagery and have first hand seen the damage you can cause. Your aura is unmistakable." The fox let out a chuckle.
"Good to know that people still fear me like they should."
"Aqua, how did you encounter this mongrel?"
"It was during my stay in the realm of darkness. He had lost his body after the destruction of the last world he was on and was nothing more then a heart and soul slowly fading away. He followed me around wanting posses my own body in means to escape from fading into nothingness but as you can see that wasn't the case."
"Did you make a deal with him instead?"
"Yes, I made him agree to if I helped him fined a new body or host he would help me save my friends." His eyes bore into her making her fidget in her spot a little. She wondered if what she did was some sort of taboo.
"Normally I would try and exorcise the demon right here and now but given the grim circumstances at the moment Kyuubi here isn't our biggest threat and might be useful in the fights to come." Aqua let out a breath. She though that he would try and smash the charm and kill the demon.
"I suggest that you sign a blood contract with the fox. Demons can easily break a verbal ones but a blood pact is something entirely different to them. Now before you leave, take this." From under his desk Yen Sid pulled out an old book and laid it next to the charm.
It was covered in a layer of dust and had many dents and scratches on it. The cover was bonded in old lighter that looked like it fall apart in a second if not handled properly. The words on the cover were un-legible to Aqua for they were in a different language.
"This is an ancient text that can be dated back from before the keyblade war. Its special in its own right because it was made for the study of demonology. If there are any questions you need answered about them ask the book and it will open a page that will answer it."
"Thank you Master." She picked up a pocketed the red wayfinder before gently picking up the book. She turned to leave and was just at the door before the wizards voice came out again.
"Remember Aqua, just because his heart will be returned to him doesn't mean Ventus will awaken from his sleep after all the darkness in him was destroyed. With out his other half he may never be the same." Her grip on the door handle tightened as her head dropped.
"He will wake up, he has to wake up."
"Wait you forgot to ask him to make me a body!" Kyuubi's plea feel on deft ears as the door closed behind the keyblade master.
KZD: And the plot thickens (insert evil laugh here).
Kyuubi: How could you let that bastard live!
KZD: Think of it like this you can get your revenge on him now.
Kyuubi: (Smiles evilly) I like revenge.
KZD: Sure you do you're a creature of pure malice remember. As always R&R.