Okage Hearts
Chapter 16
I don't own, in any way, shape, or form, either Okage or Kingdom Hearts. And, as promised at some point in time, this chapter arrived earlier than last month's chapter.
When Ari's band of oddities met up in the lobby, the discussion on what to do next began, yet again. The two people arguing about the matter were, of course, Rosalyn and Stan.
"I say that we should wait a bit and get better organized, so we can be ready for the next battle," Rosalyn said, glaring at the shadow looming behind Ari.
"Bah!" Stan scoffed, "Waiting will give our opponents the time to entrench themselves further in wherever they're hiding themselves. I say we strike now."
"What sort of strategic idiot would ever go without a plan?" Rosalyn asked indignantly.
"All of us, several times by this point," Stan replied, sparking another argument.
Ari, deciding that he didn't want to bother dealing with the pair since their arguments tended to drag on, turned to face Princess Marlene and, in his quiet voice, inquired, "What do you want to do, Your Highness?"
After a moment of thought, Marlene answered, "I'd say that we should go, as I think that the adventure would end up being drastically slowed if we do not continue."
"You're absolutely right, Your Highness," Rosalyn said, switching her opinion immediately, much to Ari's private amusement, "We should continue the quest."
With that settled, the group once again headed out as Ari looked into the Map O' Evil Kings to find the next Evil King they'd be forced to fight.
'Hello, again,' The Map said, 'I take it you're here for the next Evil King. This is getting a bit repetitive, isn't it? Well, it's kinda odd, really. The Big Bull Evil King isn't staying still. If anything, he's heading towards your group. Personally, I think that you should probably get into a forested area, since that'll make your job easier, since there won't be any messes to clean up. Other than that, not much is going on; regular stuff, lots of adventure, and yes, you will have to still deal with your new friends after. Now, put me away and just keep walking.'
"The Map says that we should keep walking," Ari told Princess Marlene, who relayed his statement to the rest of the rabble. At the behest of the odd piece of paper, the group once more returned to their travel.
"Slave," Stan remarked, "I believe that it's time I had James teach you a defensive spell to protect yourself with. James!"
"Yes, Sire?" the ghost said, appearing in front of the shadow and his boy.
"Teach slave the Wind defense," the man replied, "You know the one."
"Ah, yes," the ghost remarked, "Let's see... Oh! Now I remember! Just say the word 'Air.' Well, I wish I could stay but I need to get back to Natasha... I mean, fulfilling my Evil King's goals from afar."
"Very well, you may leave, James," Stan said, evidently actually believing the ghost's blatant lie. Nevertheless, Ari wasn't going to bother explaining the situation to the shadow, if only because he didn't want to have to repeat himself. He did, however, mentally file away the spell for the time being.
"I hear that you're fighting Evil Kings," a loud, deep voice remarked, coming from a grinning creature that appeared to be some sort of cross between bull and man, "Well, I, the Big Bull Evil King challenge you to combat! Meet me at the Big Tree Hole, if you're tough enough!"
With that, the bull man ran off at speeds that would leave normal people like a few of our heroes baffled. Fortunately, there was very little that could baffle Ari, as he had given up on having a comfortable normal life when he woke up with a shadow that talked. As such, he once more consulted the Map O' Evil Kings, which said, 'That was odd. Anyway, what you need to do is follow him. So, just go. He left footprints you could follow easily. Now put me back.'
Putting the Map O' Evil Kings back in his pocket of infinite wonders, he began following the footprints like it suggested, the band of misfits following him, presuming he knew the way.
When the group reached their location, they walked through for some time before the found themselves once more face to face with the Big Bull Evil King.
"So, you made it," the Evil King said, "I guess you're tough enough to fight me, but I'm tougher, so let's get started!"
With that, more of the fat Heartless appeared, which Ari once more cut his way through before meeting the Big Bull Evil King in combat.
Ari suddenly found himself being flung into the air with a powerful punch, before gravity mercifully sent him back down. As Stan healed him, he began to try to remember what it was James had said he needed to say to have the defensive spell activate. Right as The Big Bull Evil King was about to hit him again, he remembered and mumbled, "Air."
The Evil King's might punch was deflected by the wind, knocking him off balance and straight into Ari's outstretched Keyblade. Seeing an advantage, Ari began pummeling the Big Bull Evil King with his Keyblade, only using his magic to replenish the defensive wind that was surrounding him. When the Evil King finally fell, Ari stopped attacking while Stan once more grew with the return of more of his power.
"Did anyone catch where that boulder came from?" the Former Big Bull Evil King asked, gripping his forehead with one hand. When he noticed the group around him, he asked, "Who are you and where am I?"
"Let me form a hypothesis," Kisling remarked, "You recall planning on dominating the world, yet you now no longer possess that desire?"
"Yeah, that's right," the bull-man replied cheerfully, "My name's Big Bull, by the way."
"Well, you had been an Evil King until the Keyblade wielder bested you in combat while we dealt with your minions," Kisling explained, further proving Ari's theory of him not knowing his name.
"You beat me?" Big Bull asked incredulously, turning to face Ari, "You must be real tough to do that. Tell you what: I'm going to go with you guys and help you do whatever it is you're doing."
"I suppose it's always better to have some help," Rosalyn remarked, "So, Ari, where are we going next?"