CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
An uneasy chill crept over me as I cruised along the voids of space. How many worlds had I been to? Counting on my fingers correctly, I reached eleven. But why did I feel so uneasy? Could it be that I was reaching the end of this journey? Would I have to face Xehanort soon? Was my time running out? Were my friends' time running out? More uneasy shivers.
A trail of shooting light shot past me, the force so strong, my Keyblade glider spun around rapidly.
"Whoa!" I cried, steadying my glider and pushing down the sudden wave of nausea. I looked forward and saw a bouncing stream of light cruising through the Lanes Between. "...Ventus?"
The light took off. I leaned forward to pick up speed and chased after the bouncing light. It raced towards a world with a large tower that reached up into space, surrounded by a sky covered in moons and stars.
The Mysterious Tower. I gasped. Yen Sid.
The light crashed down into the world. I followed closely behind and stared up at the looming tower as memories flowed in of events that would come to pass twelve years from now. I remembered that Mickey came and told Yen Sid about me after he met me as a child. Is he now beginning his ten year wait to meet me?
I cast my eyes forward and I saw the bouncing light explode against the ground. When it faded, Ventus laid on the ground.
"Ventus!" I said. I ran over and knelt at his side. Instead of gently waking him up, I resorted to the more effective method and shook him violently. "Ventus, wake up!"
Ventus jolted awake and sat upright. He clutched Mickey's Star Shard in his hand and held the side of his head with the other.
"Hallie?" he said. He groaned. "What happened?"
"Look! That feller's got the Star Shard the King borrowed!" a familiar, southern-ish voice said. My head snapped up, and I gasped at the sight of Donald and Goofy sitting on the top of the staircase. They were dressed in their uniforms worn as the Royal Magician and Captain of the Royal Knights, their positions in Disney Castle under Mickey's reign. My friends... The only person missing was Sora. My heart grew heavy. They didn't even know who I was.
"King?" Ventus said. He looked at the Star Shard. "Oh, you must be talking about Mickey. I saw him-"
Donald and Goofy pulled us to our feet and shoved us to the door.
"Hey, what's going on?! Let go!" Ventus said.
"Are we glad to see you!" Goofy said, ignoring Ventus's pleas.
"Just go with it." I said. "They're always like this."
"Okay..." Ventus said.
"Yen Sid, sir! We just got a clue as to where the King might be!" Goofy said as he and Donald stood at attention next to me and Ventus.
We looked forward at the retired Keyblade wielder, who bowed his head in deep contemplation. He raised his eyes. "Ah, Ventus."
"Huh?" Ventus said.
"Eraqus has told me much about you." Yen Sid said. "If I am not mistaken, you were ordered to return home."
"Well, sir, I..."
"No matter. Mickey has difficulty following directions, too."
I giggled at the memory of Mickey telling me he had left for more training. I guess 'training' went against Yen Sid's orders.
"Where is this clue to Mickey's whereabouts?" Yen Sid said.
"I've got it!" Donald said, and he placed Mickey's Star Shard on the desk.
"This feller Venquist- uhhh... Ventilate, uhhh... Veggie-" Goofy said.
"Just call him Ven!" Donald squawked impatiently. "Ven had it when he got here."
"Please, explain." Yen Sid said.
"Hallie and I ran into Mickey. But we got sent flying into the light. I don't know where he went." Ventus said, and Donald and Goofy groaned. "He wasn't in the same world as the one where we found that."
"As I thought... Mickey has been hurling himself from one world to the next. That explains why I could not discern his location."
"Well, I wouldn't really say it's his fault. It's mostly because that Star Shard decides he's needed somewhere else." I said.
Yen Sid stared at me, as if noticing me for the first time. His beady eyes widened at the sight of me, and he stroke his long, grey beard.
"You can now, can't you?" Donald said.
"Yes, I can." Yen Sid waved his arms, and a magical cloud swirled around on the table. An image appeared of Mickey laying on the ground with Star Seeker in his hand. He struggled to stand. Dusty gusts pelted him, and the ground was dry and cracked.
"Mickey!" Ventus cried, slamming his hands on the table. Donald and Goofy freaked out at our sides.
"The King!" they cried.
We all smushed together to try and get a closer look of the image, but it disappeared.
"What happened?! Where'd he go? Is he okay?!" Donald said.
"There is a dark and powerful force that is interfering with my magic." Yen Sid said.
Xehanort. I automatically thought, and I clenched my fist.
"Just tell us where the King is, Mr. Yen Sid, sir, and me and Donald will go right there and save him." Goofy said.
"No." I said. "You're not strong enough to face what's coming."
"And who are you to say what we can and can't do?" Donald said.
Yen Sid raised his hand. "Hallie is right. What lies ahead is a dangerous task. You two might not be adequate for it."
"But I'm the Captain of the Royal Knights!" Goofy said. A bright light appeared at his hand, and a shield appeared.
"And I'm his Royal Magician!" Donald chimed, and his magic staff appeared in his hand.
"Hallie and I will find him." Ventus said. "I recognize the place we saw."
"If you go, we'll go with you!" Donald said.
"No, Birdbrain. You need to stay here!" I said. Even twelve years before I would meet him, Donald was still a stubborn little bundle of feathers.
"I can't risk putting Mickey's friends in danger." Ventus said. Donald and Goofy sighed in defeat. "Don't worry. Hallie and I will bring him back safe."
"Very well, Ventus. We will leave it to you." Yen Sid. He held his hand up again. "But first... I need to have a word with Hallie."
I gulped as the three boys stared at me. I glanced at Ventus and nodded to him. He, Donald, and Goofy, each left the room. The door closed behind them, and I stood alone before Yen Sid. The situation felt eerily familiar, and I thought back to the first time I was summoned to stand in his presence. He stared at me and leaned forward, resting his elbows against his desk and his hands clasped together.
"You do not belong here, Hallie." he said. "Mickey told me about a young girl who lived in Radiant Garden, and yet... here she stands before me, all grown up. Would you care to explain?"
I sighed. "Gladly."
I told him about everything under the sun: me being from twelve years in the future, getting sucked into a strange portal that transported me into the past, and everything I also told Eraqus. Yen Sid mulled it all over the same way Eraqus did: stroking his beard and grumbling to himself.
"Please, Yen Sid. I need to get home. Do you have any idea how I can get back?" I said.
"I sensed something was wrong the moment you entered into the past. There is an evil brewing behind the scenes. I sense something great and tragic will take place very soon." Yen Sid.
I gulped as my heart trembled. Xehanort. The Keyblade Graveyard. Destruction. Possession. Banishment. No... it can't be happening so soon...
Yen Sid noticed. "Do you know of what's to come?"
I burst into tears. "Yes! I know what's going to happen! Terra's going to be possessed by Xehanort! Aqua will get trapped in the Realm of Darkness in an attempt to save him! And Ventus..." I blubbered. My hands flew to my heart. "Oh, dear, sweet Ventus... His heart will be destroyed, and he would've been dead long before my time if it weren't for Sora. None of this would've happened if Xehanort existed! Why couldn't I be taken back in time to his time? I would've murdered him on the spot! I would've rid us all of the horrible, horrible pain that will happen because of that crazy man!"
"Hallie..." Yen Sid said softly, with the tone of a grandfather I wish I had. "Please, calm down."
I heaved deep, weeping breaths until I finally had control of my emotions again. I dried my face with my hands and wiped the tears on my skirt.
"You mustn't let this anger get to you. I'm afraid... there is nothing you can do to stop what will happen. This is an event that destiny has set in stone. Your friends will fall victim to Xehanort's plan, no matter what you try to do."
"And how is that supposed to make me feel better?!" I huffed.
"Although you cannot stop them from falling into their fates, you are the one who can bring them out." Yen Sid stood up, and it intimidated me from not seeing him in his chair. "Only you are capable of defeating Xehanort. You are the pathway that connects everything and everyone together... even that great and terrible object sought by so many villainous men..."
"...Kingdom Hearts..." I gasped. I stared at my hands. "I'm connected to it? What do you mean?"
"That is for you to figure out, I'm afraid. And I believe the only way for you to return home is for you to finish this story."
My face paled. "Then I guess I have no choice. I'll have to stay... for the final act."
Yen Sid nodded.
"Thank you, Yen Sid." I chuckled. "I guess I'll see you later... twelve years, to be exact."
I walked to the door, and when I opened it, Ventus, Donald, and Goofy poured through and fell to the ground in a pile.
"Ventus!" I said, placing my hands on my hips. "Were you trying to eavesdrop on our conversation?!"
"Trying and failing, if that helps." Ventus said, flashing an innocent grin.
I stared at the three boys in their tangled pile of dorkiness, feeling all too familiar, and I smiled.
"Come on." I said, reaching a hand out to him. He pushed the animals off him and took my hand. "We've got a King to find."
Ventus smiled and nodded. "Right."
"Good luck, Ventus! You too, Hallie!" Donald said.
"I hope we meet each other again real soon." Goofy said.
That sentence made my heart soar with hope. "We will. I promise!" I said, my grin growing.
