Okage Hearts
Chapter 24
I don't own Okage or Kingdom Hearts. Kingdom Hearts belongs to Square Enix and Disney, and Okage's current ownership is a mystery, since the company that originally published it went belly-up, leaving owner-less games in its wake. More tweaking to the original story, and some minor tweaks to Epros' lines from the original dialogue.
As the group once more prepared to leave Ari's home, Ari noticed something in the tall grass. Heading towards it, he felt his heart pause for a moment when he recognized the mystery item as the music box. Slowly picking it up, he placed it in his seemingly bottomless pocket. If the others had noticed this, they didn't mention it.
"Alright," Rosalyn asked, pulling him from his thoughts, "So where are we going, Ari?"
"Triste," he replied automatically, "The village where all of the Nobodies go."
"There is a village specifically populated solely by that manner of anomalous being?" Kisling asked, clearly surprised and already coming up with scientific assessments, "Is it a compulsion that draws them there?"
"Yes, and kind of," Ari replied, "The Map and I know the way there and back, and if I were to guess, that would be where Beiloune would be hiding, and that was definitely the last place where Stan and I had seen the Phantom Evil King."
"Then that's where we're starting our search," Rosalyn stated determinedly, drawing her rapier as she prepared to charge, "For the Princess!"
"You don't know the way there," Ari remarked, halting Rosalyn before she could begin her race.
"Right," she said, sheathing her blade, "I'm just preparing to go back into battle. Lead the way."
With that done, the quietest member of the group once again consulted the Map O' Evil Kings.
'You know, we both know that you know that the Phantom Evil King is in Triste and the exact way there, but I do appreciate you asking me, since there's nothing for me to do,' the Map 'Well, go on. Go fight the floating guy.'
With that, Ari put the Map O' Evil Kings away and started leading the group towards Triste.
When the band of 'deviants' arrived in the village of Triste, Ari was surprised to once again hear Julia's voice.
"Ari, is that you?" her voice asked as the music box started playing its haunting melody.
"Julia?" he asked, walking away from his companions.
"Ari, where are you?" she asked as the music box began to float in the air.
"Julia, I can't see you," he said, trying to follow the sound of the voice to Julia.
"I can't see you either," she replied, "I used to be able to see through Her eyes, but I'm not getting anything at the moment."
"Where are you?" he asked, still unable to find her.
"I don't think we'll be seeing each other for a while," she commented as the music box shut and seemed to vanish, "Goodbye, Ari."
"Julia, wait," he called out in a slightly louder tone than the one he had started using.
"There you are, man!" Big Bull shouted, getting the russet-haired boy's attention as the group approached him once again, "You alright? You just took off and I couldn't even catch up with you."
"Everything's fine," Ari replied, "I thought I heard something over here, but nothing's here at the moment."
The conversation ended, the group began searching for the Phantom Evil King. After an hour or so of searching the small village, Stan broke the silence they had been searching in.
"It seems like the Phantom Evil King just left," Stan remarked as he rose out of Ari's shadow, "Clearly, he's to afraid to face my might!"
"More likely, he's too afraid to face your big head," Rosalyn corrected as they headed out of the village, "Your ego's big enough to smother the entire world."
"Wait," Stan said ending the argument as he looked around, "I feel something. I think it's an ambush."
"A blooming fight, a lovers' spat, we must battle, I shall tell where at," the Phantom Evil King said, materializing in front of the group, "Shadow Evil King, our act is nearly done. 'Twas the Gear Tower, foretold this battle would be won. The key to the secret is at the Deep Grave Pit. To war, to wit! To our melee, run!"
"You think you can replace Stan?" Rosalyn asked, surprised by his statement.
"Fortune may smile on I and thee. That I am not him and he is not me. Mark my defeat and perhaps the Great Evil King thou shalt see," the Phantom Evil King remarked before taking note of all of their expressions, "Ah, the intentions I see in thy eyes. Thou wishes to find it and beget its demise 'fore its great evil, the Great Evil King doth exercise! I tell you this that I may learn what needst I know. My purpose beyond mere vanity or show. . . Enough! Lest such dalliance Beiloune's notice invite. Fare thee well. Fare thee well 'til the time of our fight!"
"What are you trying to. . .?" Kisling began, only for the Phantom Evil King to disappear before their eyes as suddenly as he had appeared.
"So, we need to head to the Gear Tower," Rosalyn noted, clearly not pleased with the situation.
"I don't like this, Slave," Stan remarked, "It feels like we're being led, and if that's true, then we're playing right into his hands."
"I hate to say this, but I actually agree with Stan on this," Rosalyn interjected, "But despite my misgivings on this, do we really have much of a choice to do anything but go to the Gear Tower?"
"And that's the most irritating part of it," Stan said, "He seems to be holding all the cards in this matter, despite my power most likely being greater than his."
"Yeah, but he's like, sort of cool!" Linda exclaimed, "Who was he?"
"He's not cool!" Big Bull protested, "Cool is being powerful and smashing stuff! Being floaty isn't cool!"
"That's right, Bull," Stan agreed, "I'm the coolest one here! Good call!"
"Stan, didn't we just finish talking about how massive your ego is?"
"Be silent, woman!" Stan shouted, beginning the argument anew. Ignoring them, Ari once again drew the Map O' Evil Kings, glad to have something that kept proving useful for finding what he was looking for.