Okage Hearts
Chapter 17
I still don't own Kingdom Hearts or Okage: Shadow King. While writing this chapter, I realized that Linda never received singing advice from Stan in this story, so a new nickname needed to be created. Other than that, there's not really that much to say.
As the ever-increasing team of misfits exited the Big Tree Hole, Ari once more consulted with the Map O' Evil Kings.
'Wow, three times in one day,' the Map O' Evil Kings noted on the page, 'That was fast. Well, if you're so sure that you're set for yet another battle against yet another Evil King, I won't stop you. The next Evil Kings is the... Teen Idol Evil King? Really? Huh. I'm really starting to wish I had a better job than this or, barring that, that the Evil Kings had as inventive names as the one attached to you. Hey, when all this is over, what am I going to do? Ah well, I'll worry about that later. She's... can a girl be called a King? Anyway, She's somewhere in Madril. You know the drill. Go, fight, and maybe get to head home at some point.'
"The next one's in Madril," Ari said simply, talking to the group, only for Marlene to have to repeat it so they heard.
"Then let's go!" Stan shouted as The group began their march back to Madril.
"I wonder whatever it is that's made this town a magnet for Evil Kings," Kisling remarked, "It appears that we find them there more often than not."
When the group managed to arrive at a train station, Ari was surprised to find it practically empty except for Linda, who cheerfully ran up to the group.
"Hey, chief!" the girl smiled, heading towards the group.
"Servant Ari," Marlene said frostily, "Who is she?"
"Her name is Linda, Your Highness," Ari responded in his usual tone of voice, Stan not bothering to rise from his shadow.
"Who's she, chief?" Linda asked, not tearing her eyes from Marlene.
"Please stop speaking with my servant," Marlene said, showing some anger in her tone.
"He's not your servant!" Linda shouted indignantly, "He's chief."
"Begging your pardon," Kisling said, trying to calm the situation down as best he could since Stan, Beiloune, Big Bull, and Rosalyn did nothing to intervene, "but how did you two meet?"
"It was like something out of a romance novel," Linda sighed blissfully, "I was wandering through the forest outside of the village to find inspiration for a song when I saw him lying on the ground, completely exhausted with the other half and the giant key. I took him home and nursed him back to health. It was love at first sight after that. Nothing that she'd understand. She doesn't even seem natural. How could anyone like her?"
Marlene's hard expression wavered for a moment before she hurried out of the building, Ari rushing to try to catch up with her.
She had lost him after a few yards, until he managed to stumble into just the right Inn. The Innkeeper was surprisingly understanding, most likely from the fact that Ari and company were becoming legendary for the number of rooms they would rent, and led him straight to Marlene's door. Listening carefully, he could hear the tinkling of a music box playing in the room. Preparing himself to actually speak, he knocked on the door and, in a voice almost approaching normal volume, "Marlene? Can I come in?"
Slowly, the door opened, revealing the Princess, her hair slightly messy with some tears still streaming down her face. Stepping to the side, she gestured for him to come in.
"Are you okay?" he asked, sitting next to her on the bed.
Wiping her eyes, she nodded before asking in a soft voice, "Am I truly unnatural, Servant Ari?"
"No," he responded gently in his quiet way, "You're as normal as I am."
He paused, thinking on the fact that he had a giant key for a sword and an Evil King living in his shadow before saying, "Okay, bad example, but you're not unnatural. You're just you, and no one can take that from you."
"Thank you, Ari," she said, smoothing her hair, "I forgot myself for a moment. Would you be willing to do something for me?"
"If I can do it, I will," he responded sincerely.
"Please promise me you will never change drastically," she requested, the lullaby of the music box suddenly silenced as she closed it.
"I promise I won't change drastically," he replied, surprised by her request. So many people had always told him he needed to change in some way, but here was someone who wanted him to stay as he was. It was an odd feeling to be needed, as he only ever felt it with one other person.
Before that thought could be further contemplated, Rosalyn burst into the room, parasol in hand as always, Beiloune walking behind her.
"Ari, Your Highness!" she exclaimed, "I have good news and bad news."
Yes? Marlene asked, having regained her regal grace.
"The good news is we might have figured out who the Evil King is," Rosalyn said.
"And what would the bad news be?" the Princess asked the Hero.
"Well..." Rosalyn began slowly, "The bad news is that she's your friend, Linda. She's hypnotizing the masses with her singing."
"Bah!" Stan shouted, rising from Ari's shadow, "We shall fight her all the same and reclaim my power!"
"We'll beat her in the name of Divine Justice!" Rosalyn exclaimed, unsheathing her rapier and pointing it skyward. A momentary silence filled the room, only to be broken by Stan.
"Where are the other two idiots?" Stan asked.
"They're..." Rosalyn paused, looking behind her to see an empty hallway, "Where are those two idiots? My guess would be that they're among the crowd of hypnotized people. Looks like we're on our own."