Okage Hearts
Chapter 26
I don't own Okage or Kingdom Hearts. Anyone who says otherwise is either lying or mistaken.
Pulling out the Map once again, Ari attempted to find where the next Evil King was when it responded with something new.
'I genuinely can't directly locate the latest Evil King or say what its theme is, for some reason,' the Map said in what would probably have been a confused tone if the Map had a voice, 'Still, I can tell you that there's a teleporter in here that will lead you to the village that it's in.'
"The Map says that there's a teleporter nearby that will send us to the village that the next Evil King is in," Ari said, "Beiloune seems to be blocking the Map's ability to track them, so we're on our own once we get there."
"Let's go, then, Slave!" Stan commanded, rising out of Ari's shadow again, "Only one Evil King stands between me and my power!"
"More importantly," Rosalyn interjected, "He's the last Evil King before we need to fight Beiloune."
With that, the group headed off to the teleporter, readying themselves for the next battle.
Once they arrived in the village, which was identified by a sign that read Highland Village, the Evil King, Hero, Scientist, Keyblade Wielder, and Former Evil Kings all paused at the sight that greeted them. The people seemed to be going about their days, all seeming to be perfectly content with their lives.
"Slave?" Stan asked, looking around, "Are you sure that this is the place?"
"Everything looks okay to me," Linda remarked, looking around, "Nothing seems messed up."
"I have to question whether this is the proper location as well," Kisling noted, "There is no sign of trouble."
"I'm pretty sure," Ari said, pulling the map back out.
'This is the place,' the Map O' Evil Kings stated upon being opened, 'I cannot find the Evil King's exact location, but it is in this village.'
"The Map says they're here," Ari commented, "It doesn't know where, but it says that the next Evil King is here."
"Are you sure?" Big Bull asked, "I don't smell any heated combat in the air."
"Evil is present, that much I can tell," a familiar voice drawled, "A pity thou recognize not evil's smell."
"Phantom Evil King!" Rosalyn shouted, drawing her rapier.
"Prepare to die!" Stan added, not noticing that Ari wasn't moving against the odd man.
"To live or die, it simply matters not, if thou doth not listen when thou truly ought," the Phantom Evil King noted, "I wish to join forces to end Beiloune's scheme, for the end of the world is his insane dream. My ulterior goal is to learn the boy's power, as the source of that force makes the heartless god glower. It is clear that his hatred does stem from your key, yet I cannot decipher why that fact should be. The next contender for the title for Evil King's here. I cannot locate him, yet I know he is near. You are all mighty, and your powers have grown, yet I fear that to win, you should not be alone."
"So you wish to join our in our adventure," Kisling remarked, summarizing what was said.
"Alright," Stan said, "But you'll need to follow my commands, Phantom Evil King."
"My real name is Epros. I follow no one. I'll join in your quest until your quest is done," the Former Phantom Evil King stated.
"You're staying with us?" Linda asked excitedly, "Awesome! I'm Linda!"
"That name. I swear that thy name doth a bell ring. Yes, you're the Former Teen Idol Evil King," Epros stated.
"No way!" Linda protested, "Don't label me with such a dorky name! If you want to take me away from my Stan, then call me 'Linda' and give me a Cuddly and a Bubbly!"
"W-what?" Epros asked in shock, "I mean. . .Thy meaning, I fear, I simply cannot cipher. Plus you're too perky and overly hyper!"
"Well, good to see something knock him off-balance. . ." Ari muttered, getting a nod from Stan.
"Big Bull Evil King, Teen Idol Evil King, Phantom Evil King. . ." Rosalyn mused in frustration, "I'm surrounded by former Evil Kings!"
"Truly a fate worse than having one living in your shadow," Ari replied sarcastically.
"Don't we have an Evil King to fight?" Big Bull asked, clearly eager to start another battle.
"Indeed we do, my horned colleague," Kisling stated, "Perhaps we should begin our search of the village. Surely someone should have seen something."
With their new addition, the traveling group of oddities began to search the village for any sign of an Evil King. Despite their search, they weren't even able to find people who were willing to talk much.
At dusk, they came across a villager moving at a sluggish pace, who Big Bull jogged up to and asked, "What's with you?"
"I'm so depressed and I have no motivation to do anything," the guy said, "Recently,everyone in my family is like that, actually."
"You need to exercise!" Bull shouted cheerfully, "Why don't you fight with me, get some blood pumping?"
"This strange lack of bliss. Something is amiss," Epros mused, "Yet what could it be? I simply cannot see. . ."
"It does make me curious as well, my floating compatriot," Kisling commented, looking at the guy as though trying to find some sort of clue.
"It's getting close to nightfall," the weary guy stated, "You should all probably head inside. It's dangerous for anyone outside at night. That's why you aren't seeing that many people out right now."
"Maybe rest is a good idea," Linda stated, "I don't remember any of us getting any sleep since we got the band back together, and we didn't find anything important today. Why don't we check into a hotel and call it a night?"
"That's a good idea," Rosalyn said. Upon determining that they were all agreed, the group headed to the nearest hotel to rest before they began their search again.