My apologies for the large gap, I had a hard time getting to my beta. Computer trouble. ^^; But let's keep the ball rolling…

Sora: "Hey, aren't computers supposed to make life easier? All the computers I've had any sort of contact with have been very bad to me…"

Get a YouTube account! I'm sure you'll love technology again in no time.

Sora: "Dude, a computer tried to kill me, I really don't see where you're going with this."

Neither do I.

Sora: "Whatever. DarthKingdom doesn't own the rights to Kingdom Hearts, Disney, Square Enix, Dreamworks, or anything else."

!

Chapter 116: No Sacrifices

Sora hoped that whatever it was that the others were doing, that they would wrap it up fast.

Though it had seemed impossible, the warrior team opposite them had caught up in the minutes where Nehrut had been unable to help them from the sidelines. While Sora had still been able to score a few points, Miguel and Tulio were clearly exhausted, and were half-supporting each other as they moved around the court.

The warriors were ahead now, with a score of forty to thirty-one in their favor.

Sora cast his gaze up into the stands. The crowd still looked excited, but they were clearly confused as to why he and the 'gods' were suddenly losing so badly. Tzekel-Khan looked particularly puzzled.

The ball came back to the Keybearer, and he kicked it toward the hoop, barely missing it. One of the warriors that had been standing on the other side knocked it up with his fists, sending it hard through the hoop.

It flew toward the bench where Chel now sat alone with a basket of extra balls, and struck the wall not two feet from her head. She started, and almost fell out of her seat. Her eyes fell upon something as one of the warriors shouted, "New ball!"

Sora walked over to her with Miguel and Tulio, who were both breathing heavily. She met them halfway there, carrying a fresh ball.

"How long does this go on, anyway?" Tulio gasped.

"The game is over when the shadow touches this line." She explained, pointing at the line that Sora had noticed earlier at the end of the court. His face fell when he realized that the shadow of the temple was getting very close.

"We need a miracle!" Miguel said.

"No, we need to cheat." Tulio countered.

That was when Chel donned a sly smile, and held the ball up to their faces so they could see it better. At first, Sora wasn't sure what he was looking at, it looked like any other of the dozens of balls that were in the basket. But then he noticed that its surface looked a little rough, and somehow layered...

A part of the ball opened up with the sound of a small squeak, and a pair of beady little eyes peered out at them. It was then that Sora realized that he was actually looking at an armadillo curled up into a tight ball.

Tulio took the little guy in his hands, not fully understanding where Chel was going with this.

The warriors ran toward them again, closing in on them from all sides. Without warning, the armadillo (still in ball form) leapt out of Tulio's hands, and bounced across the ground in the direction of the wall with the hoop. Sora and his small team ran after him, ensuring that the others couldn't get to him.

The armadillo suddenly bounced onto Sora's shoulder, and then up toward the hoop. Seeming to defy the laws of gravity, it practically crawled up the wall, and scrambled into the hoop, falling into Miguel's arms on the opposite side.

The crowd was silent for a moment, gaping at the apparent display of godly power. Then they burst into applause.

"YES!" Miguel, Tulio, and Sora exclaimed together.

For the next few minutes, the three continued to pass the armidillo (which Sora had since nicknamed 'Bibo' after his childhood puppy) off as a magic ball. They were all able to score points with apparently little effort, bouncing Bibo toward the hoop at angles that shouldn't have worked, and with force that should have been insufficient.

They had caught up with their opponents in no time, tying the score at forty-one apiece. When the temple's shadow was mere seconds away from the line that would signal the end of the game, their apparently flawless system fell apart.

"Who's the god?" Tulio asked enthusiastically.

"You the god!" Miguel replied.

"No, you the god!" Tulio accidentally knocked Bibo back toward the bench with his elbow, where he bounced into the basket by which Chel stood. She was dancing excitedly in place, her eyes fixed intently on the game.

When the armadillo bounced into the basket, she barely paid any attention, and reached in, pulling out the first thing she found, and throwing it to Miguel.

She realized too late that it was just a normal ball, and that the very dizzy-looking Bibo was still in the basket, trying to get his bearings back. Unfortunately, the players didn't notice.

Miguel passed the ball over to Tulio, who passed it to Sora, who spun it on his finger theatrically as he approached the hoop too fast for the other team to catch. It was only when he and his two team mates had reached the area just below it did they look over to the bench, where Chel was holding the poor, dazed Bibo up for them to see.

Their jaws fell open.

Realizing that they had only precious seconds before the shadow touched the line, ending the game at an unacceptable tie, Sora moved into action. He took the ball in his hands, and leapt onto the unprepared Miguel's shoulders. Using them as a springboard, he leapt as high as he possibly could (accidently catching the man in the forehead with his foot), aiming toward the hoop, and throwing the ball when he was as high as possible.

As he fell back to earth, he saw the ball stop just inside the ring, and stay there.

While it trembled slightly, the entire crowd and both teams held their breath, waiting to see which way it would tilt.

After ten silent, agonizing seconds, the ball blasted completely out of the opposite end from which it had come.

A horn blared somewhere, and the crowd cheered louder than ever. Sora, Miguel, and Tulio twisted around to beam at the bench. Nehrut and the rest of the crew couldn't have chosen a better time to return.

A louder, deeper horn blew, signaling the complete end of the game. The rest of their team rushed onto the court with triumphant expressions on their faces. Chel leapt directly into Tulio's arms, and he spun her around in the air, laughing wildly.

Sora embraced Kairi while the others slapped him proudly on the back. "What happened to you guys?"

"We had some Heartless/Nobody trouble." Kairi explained. "They ran off though."

"And you'll never believe who one of the Nobody leaders was." Yuffie added.

Before Sora could get any more information though, Tzekel-Khan and Chief Tannabok were approaching them. The former spoke, "My Lords, congratulations on your victory! And now you will, of course, wish to have the losing team sacrificed for your glory..."

This was a remarkably sobering comment, and the entire crowd fell silent as the losing team of warriors dropped to their knees, their heads down, and their hands folded submissively in front of them.

"Not again." Miguel muttered. His tone then abruptly changed into that of a man who'd had enough. "Look, Tzekel-Khan!"

"Miguel..." Tulio muttered.

"Forget the sacrifices!"

"Miguel..." Tulio continued.

"We don't want any sacrifices!"

Tulio was just about to reach out and grab his friend by the shoulder to try and snap some sense into him, when Sora seized his wrist.

"But all of the sacred writings say that you will devour the wicked and the unrighteous." Tzekel-Khan replied.

"Well, I don't see anyone here who fits that description."

Tzekel-Khan looked flabbergasted, and slightly offended. "Well, as Speaker of the gods, it will be my privilege to point them out." He just barely inclined his head toward the stunned-looking Tannabok.

Miguel advanced slowly toward the high priest. "The gods are speaking for themselves now! This city and these people have no need for you anymore." He roughly shoved Tzekel-Khan out of his way, and walked toward the kneeling warriors. He pulled two of them to their feet, and the rest followed suit. "There will be no sacrifices! Not now, not ever!"

The people of El Dorado cried out in joy at his proclamation, and Sora smiled. Miguel got right in Tzekel-Khan's betrayed, disbelieving face when he said, "Now get out!"

The high priest cast his gaze around, perhaps looking for somebody to defend him. All he got was cheering faces, a smug wave from Tannabok, and Sora and his group pointing him toward the exit.

He looked back at Miguel for a moment, but was only met with a glare. Then, his expression changed in a way that Sora couldn't quite understand. But he no longer looked so worried.

His voice was surprisingly soft when he said, "As the... gods command."

He left the court without incident as the warriors lifted their saviors onto their shoulders, and escorted them from the court back to their temple in style.

"Not bad for my first commandment, eh?" Miguel asked.

!

A few minutes later, Tzekel-Khan stood in the depths of his temple with one of his men. They were in a very large, circular room. In the center was a tall, flat stone that was a smaller replica of the one in front of the entrance to the city. Behind it, on the opposite end was a massive stone statue that resembled a jaguar. A thin layer of dim sunlight filtered through a small opening in the ceiling.

"Do you know why the gods demand blood?" Tzekel-Khan asked the man, gazing at the tablet.

"I don't know."

Tzekel-Khan flourished a dagger he had concealed within his clothing. Without hesitation, he slashed his palm open. He mentally pictured the bleeding cut Sora's foot had left on Miguel's forehead.

"Because gods don't bleed." He answered, approaching the tablet. He smeared his bloody palm across its surface, leaving a red stain across 'Miguel's' face. He opened his palm, and watched as greenish energy crackled around his hand, closing the wound. "It's time to take the future into my own hands. And the city will be cleansed... even if I have to do it myself."

"How?" His guard asked. Tzekel-Khan turned to him, and snatched away the tome he had been holding in his hands.

He started flipping through the pages. "There are dark magics here... hidden power, and- Ooh! My, my, my, my, my..."

He had found a page that depicted a massive animal laying waste to the temple in El Dorado's heart. He chuckled to himself, and threw the tome over his shoulder into his goon's arms. "It's not called 'the Age of the Jaguar' for nothing."

He walked out to the entrance of his temple, and gazed down toward the river, where the gods' boat was under construction. "This will be a delightful way to bid the false gods goodbye."

There was an unnatural noise behind him near the heart of the room. He twisted around. Xyran and Cossex stood there.

"Need some help?" Xyran asked flatly.

!

The next few days passed mostly without incident for Sora and his crew. They spent their days in much the same way that they had spent the first: Relaxing, and mingling with the local populace.

However, it was tainted somewhat by the threat of the Brotherhood. Now, they were also on the lookout for any sign of Heartless and Nobodies.

Still, despite their slight worry and their concentration on their surroundings, the Brotherhood hadn't made any move against them. After hearing Axel's story about Xyran, Sora had to wonder if he and Cossex were actually letting them rest, or had perhaps pulled out of the world altogether.

King Mickey seemed adamant however, that there was still a threat of Darkness lingering around El Dorado. So, they stayed.

Over the next three days, the boat that would take Miguel, Tulio, Chel, and the horse Altivo far from El Dorado and back to Spain gradually took shape. By the evening of the third day, it looked complete.

Now, Sora sat at the entrance to the temple, gazing out across the golden city with Kairi by his side. He had his hand held gently over hers, and she was leaning into his body. Most of their group was out in the city. Tulio and Chel were examining the gold in the camber in greater detail, and Miguel was walking out to the entrance.

"What are you two up to?" He asked.

"Nothin'." Kairi replied.

"Well, Altivo and I are going to check on the boat. Want to come?"

"Sure." They replied, getting to their feet.

The three walked down the steps (it wasn't nearly as daunting a task as it had once been) and met Altivo at the bottom. They greeted the horse with affectionate pats on the head, and it followed them down to the nearby section of the river where the boat was being built.

It was just as grand as Chief Tannabok had promised it would be. It was nearly one-hundred feet long, and made out of a very sturdy, light-colored wood. The ship had a golden pattern along its length, and the bow was shaped into a dragon's head, with a deep red and blue pattern.

It was definitely one of the grandest vessels Sora had yet seen, even taking into account that he had grown up around boats, and had sailed on ships like the Black Pearl. Chief Tannabok was waiting for them there, and overseeing the transfer of the gods' tribute onto the vessel.

He beamed when he saw them, and ushered them onto its deck. After mere moments, it became clear to Sora and Kairi that it would more than suit Miguel and Tulio's needs. It was spacious enough to provide more than enough room for them, and the mountains of gold they'd be transporting. It was sturdy, and very well-crafted and equipped. The only thing it seemed to be missing was weaponry, but that likely wouldn't be much of an issue.

"Well, it's um... nice." Miguel said.

"Nice?" Tannabok, Sora, and Kairi repeated in confused tones.

"Yes, nice. But um, is it really fit for the gods?"

"My Lord..." Tannabok began.

"I have been around boats, believe me." Miguel said. "And that um, pointy, tall uh... the long up and down thing..."

"The mast?" Sora prompted.

"The mast, yes, yes. Mast is good. But I mean... look at it, I mean there's not nearly enough uh... rope."

"Rope?" Tannabok asked, to be sure he had heard correctly.

"Yes rope, exactly my point! Vertical ascension requires a lot more uh, rope!"

It was only now that Sora realized that Miguel had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. He was trying in vain to find something wrong with it in an attempt to buy them more time in El Dorado. He traded a knowing smile with Kairi, who seemed to have arrived at the same conclusion.

"And look at this." Miguel continued. He was pushing repeatedly, and with increasing amounts of force against the ship's railing, trying to make it give way. He was failing horribly, as the railing was extremely sturdy. "This doesn't look at all secure!"

Sora snickered quietly when he banged his hand against the side in an attempt to make his point, and came away shaking it to rid it of pain.

"Chief, I'm sorry, but all in all, it's a complete do-over." Miguel rested his arms against the railing, and looked down into the water.

Nobody spoke for a few moments, and then Tannabok adopted a similar knowing smile to Sora and Kairi's. He walked up to Miguel's side, and leaned on the section of railing next to him. "You know, Lord Miguel, if you wish to stay, you only need to say so."

The younger man looked at him. "You mean... forever?"

"Of course."

Miguel actually seemed to consider this offer for a moment before he replied, "No I can't, I have to go back with Tulio. We're partners."

"Big plans in the other world, huh?"

"Yep. Big plans."

Tannabok smiled, and patted him on the back. "Well then, I'd better get some more rope."

"Oh, uh Chief?" Miguel said quickly as he began to walk off. "Forget about the rope. My mistake."

He, Sora, and Kairi were just leaving the ship themselves, when Tannabok replied casually, "Hey, to err is human."

The three froze in their tracks, horrified. They slowly turned around, only to be met with Chief Tannabok's knowing smile.

"You know...?" Kairi began.

"Know what, Lady Kairi?" He replied innocently.

The three of them kept this remark in mind as they left the ship, and began the walk back to the temple. Altivo met them, and trotted along beside them as they ascended the steps to the top.

Just a moment before they got back to the entrance, they could hear Tulio and Chel holding a conversation.

"Oh, like you don't want to go to Spain." Tulio was saying.

"Oh, like you don't want me to want to go to Spain." Chel replied teasingly.

"I want you to want... what you want."

"Mm-hm? Go on."

Tulio sighed. "Alright, cards on the table."

The others got to the entrance then. The two inside had their backs to them, and didn't hear their entrance into the room. "I want you to come to Spain with me and Miguel." Tulio said to Chel's back.

"Mostly me. Especially me. Only me. Forget Miguel." Tulio finished.

Chel laughed softly, and turned to face him. She walked up to him, and said, "Well, as long as that's what you want... me too."

"Okay! Deal?"

"Deal."

The two sealed their apparent new 'deal' with a heated kiss right in the middle of the room. Sora and Kairi smiled at this, but Miguel had a much, much different reaction.

He scowled silently, and leaned against the door frame with his arms folded across his chest. He glared at the embracing couple who had still not noticed their presence. "Forget Miguel? Well... forget Tulio."

Altivo had just caught up with them, and his jaw fell open on sight with the two in the room. Miguel abruptly shut it, and skulked away back down the steps. Sora and Kairi traded confused looks, and went down after him.

"Uh, Miguel?" Sora said when they caught up with him at the bottom of the steps. "I'm sure he didn't mean 'forget Miguel' as in 'forever.'"

"Yeah, he was just trying to make a point." Kairi agreed.

Miguel grimaced. "There's more to it than that. We made a pact when we got here! Chel was supposed to be off-limits."

"Are you saying you actually have feelings for her, too?"

"That's not the point." Miguel muttered. "He completely went back on his word."

He gave them no chance to reply, and stormed silently off into the city.

!

It had taken a full three days, but things were coming together.

Tzekel-Khan strode into the innermost room of his sanctum. In the very center of the massive room, a small pit had been revealed. One of his men was kneeling over it, stirring a thick, slimy, bubbling, sickly green substance inside with a long wooden stick. Several bowls were situated around him. Cossex and Xyran were sitting a short distance away.

"Well, is it ready yet?" The high priest asked, stopping by the pit.

"You mean the toxic sludge that's stinking up this whole temple?" Xyran replied with undercurrents of disgust.

Tzekel-Khan ignored him, and instead loomed over his guard. The man took a nearby bowl, and scooped up as much of the liquid as would fit inside. It emitted a green vapor when it was touched.

He raised his eyebrow in distaste, and fixed his aide with a pointed look. It took the man a moment to realize the reason for this, and he produced a small umbrella from somewhere on his person. He opened it, placed it in the substance, and handed it to Tzekel-Khan.

The high priest took it with a manic grin, and lifted it up to his face. He took a deep inhale, and shuddered. It appeared for a just an instant as though something was about to occur. When nothing did, he looked at it with a raised eyebrow.

He tossed the bowl aside, splashing its contents across the stone floor. "It seems to be missing something..." He pulled his tome seemingly out of thin air, and looked into the page he had marked beforehand, detailing the instructions for the ritual that would cleanse El Dorado.

He looked it over for a moment, until he finally realized the problem. "Ah, I see..." He put away his tome, and casually walked around to the other side of the man stirring the 'toxic sludge.'

"It needs more... body." He casually kicked the hapless man into the mixture. He fell in with barely any noise, and didn't resurface. Xyran and Cossex stared at him in disgust for just one second before everything went crazy.

There was a loud howling noise, and the liquid in the pit instantly transformed into a hissing vaporous material of mixed green, yellow, and red colors. A column of the gas shot directly into the air.

Tzekel-Khan began laughing maniacally when a tendril of the gas separated, and shot toward his chest. It disintegrated the clothing over his upper body, and threw him backwards into the tall tablet depicting the gods.

He smiled horribly as his body was marked with blue-green mosaic patterns all over. His eyes took on the same color as the patterns appeared all over the tablet, binding him to it. The patterns stretched past it, and wound their way across the room to where the massive jaguar statue stood.

The lines crept up the statue, and its eyes took on the same color as Tzekel-Khan's.

The high priest ripped his head free of the tablet. The stone jaguar came to life, and did the same thing to separate from the wall it was built into. Tzekel-Khan flexed his fingers, and his nails lengthened. The jaguar's massive claws revealed themselves.

And finally, Tzekel-Khan ripped himself free of the tablet entirely, cracking it in two, and landing on the ground on all fours. The jaguar tore the wall behind it apart, and landed in the same position directly in front of its master.

As Cossex and Xyran looked on in awe, Tzekel-Khan lifted his arm into the air, and slammed it down into the ground. "Do as I command!" The jaguar mirrored its movements exactly, shaking the temple when it brought its huge paw crashing down onto the ground.

Tzekel-Khan laughed, shoulders shaking, and the jaguar mirrored even this shaking motion, uttering a primal growl.

!

Down, kitty!

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