Hey there guys! So now this is the second last chapter of New Orleans then we'll be returning to Radiant Garden and catching up with Team Destiny. Thank you so much you guys for all your support for this story and without any further ado, let's get on with the chapter!

Chapter 73: Shattered Heart

It had taken Naveen some time, but with effort he had finished turning the beads and wires into a ring small enough for a frog. By the time ge was done, the sun had set and they were almost back at the city. Naveen released a sigh as he looked up at the starry sky, right at Evangeline.

"Oh, Evangeline. Why is love so hard?" Naveen asked the star. "Why can't I simply go up to Tiana and say 'I will do anything it takes to make all your dreams come true, because I love you.'"

"Woah! Woah! Woah! Are you making goo goo eyes at my girl?!" A familiar voice shouted angrily. Naveen turned around to find Ray flying towards him at full speed with anger in his eyes. Once he reached the frog prince, Ray started punching and biting at his hand.

"No! Ray stop!" Naveen shook his head. "I am not in love with Evangeline! I am in love with Tiana!"

Immediately, Ray stopped biting Naveen's hand and his eyes started sparkling. "Oh I knew it I knew it I knew it!" Ray exclaimed excitedly as he stared flying in circles around the frog prince.

"Wow, you sure changed moods fast." a familiar voice stated from above. Naveen and Ray looked up to find Roxas, Naminé, Kyra, Dragon and Rusty standing above them. It was Roxas who had spoken. Naveen couldn't help but blush in both embracement and with thoughts of Tiana running through his mind.

"Well, congratulations, Naveen." Smiled Naminé.

Dragon nodded his head. "Yeah, ever since we've left Mama Odie's you've been looking at Tiana differently."

"It was that obvious?" Naveen blushed as his thoughts drifted back to Tiana.

"Well, if you're really planning on marrying Tiana how do you intend to support yourselves?" Challenged Kyra with a hint of overprotectiveness in her voice. "You do realize you don't get any money unless you marry Charlotte, right?"

"I will get a job! Maybe two." Naveen replied. "All I know is I can no longer marry Miss Charlotte LeBouef. Kyra, I understand you feel protective towards Tiana but I assure you my feelings are genuine. I will honestly do whatever it takes to make Tiana happy; to make her dream come true."

Naminé turned towards Kyra. "I know you and Tiana are close, Kyra but I think Naveen is serious about this."

"He really has grown since we first met." Agreed Roxas.

Kyra released a sigh as she knelt down and held out her hand, allowing Naveen to jump into her open palm. To Naveen, her hand felt strangely warm and welcoming. It was a stark contrast to the cold and distant feeling he'd felt from her just a moment ago.

"We'll go get Tiana for you; do what you need to get ready." Kyra sighed.

Naveen looked up at her with wide eyes. "You are serious?"

Kyra gave a short nod. "Yeah. Like Roxas said, you have grown a lot. I'll give you my blessing to propose but in the end, it's Tiana's decision."

"Wow, Kyra I'm impressed you're so open." Said Naminé. "Looks like Naveen isn't the only one who's changed."

Naveen immediately jumped up to Kyra's shoulder and hugged her face. "Thank you! Thank you ever so much! I promise I will treat your friend well and do whatever it takes to help her dream come true!"

"Ugh, okay okay I get it! Now get off me!" Tiana cringed as she pushed Naveen off her face.

"Oh boy oh boy!" Exclaimed Ray excitedly. "I can't wait to see Cher's eyes light up! C'mon! We gotta go get her!"

"We'll get her." Assured Dragon. "You just finish getting ready."

"Yes, I will! I will await your return!" Naveen nodded excitedly as he hopped up to the roof of the boat and began setting up a mini romantic dinner for them both.

As the group walked away to find Tiana, Roxas and Naminé smiled at one another as their hands intertwined. And at the same time, Kyra and Dragon began walking closer and closer together. Ray and Rusty watched the two seemingly unaware couples and snickered at each other.

"Ohh I'm thinkin' we got some romance in the air eh fluffy buddy?" Ray chuckled. "Think we got some sparks flyin'!" Rusty barked and nodded happily, showing he fully supported the romance that filled the air.

Rusty then took it another step further and ran straight towards the two couples, tripping both Kyra and Naminé. That caused Kyra to stumble into Dragon's arms, he face against his lean chest and both their faces beet red. Naminé almost fell to the floor of the boat, but Roxas acted quickly and scooped her up in his arms before she could hit the floor, the end result looked as though he was dipping her down and going in for a kiss. Their faces also turned red.

Rusty snickered and winked at Ray as the two couples quickly moved away from each other and apologized continuously. Ray snickered under his breath and clapped in amusement.

"That's my fluffy buddy! Oh yeah!" Ray snickered as he flew towards Rusty and rested atop his head.

~*KHIII*~

After Roxas and the others alerted Tiana that Naveen wanted to see her, she made her way to the top of the riverboat without stopping. Once she was arrived, her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of a miniature makeshift dinner table with teacups for chairs and romantic light from the boat's decorations.

Tiana released a gasp as her eyes started to water. "Oh my, in all my years no one's ever done somethin' like this for me before." She smiled. "Roxas said you wanted to see me but what's all this for?"

"Oh, you know I just thought I should do something to celebrate our last night as frogs." Naveen blushed as he pulled out a teacup chair. "It is too much, isn't it?" Naveen blushed.

Tiana shook her head as she sat down. "No, no this is lovely." She reassured him.

"Well, I hope this is not too much, either." Naveen said as he took a small tray full of minced vegetables.

"You minced!" Tiana gasped in surprise.

"I did!" Naveen exclaimed. "You have had quite an influence on me. Which is amazing because I have dated thousands of women and..." Naveen suddenly stopped as Tiana glared darkly at him. Suddenly realizing what he just said, Naveen quickly made an attempt to correct himself as he reached for the acorn-shell ring box. "No, like two, three... just other women! A-and anyway, you could not be more different! You know, you are - you are practically, one of the guys! No no no! You are not a guy! Let me begin again!"

As Naveen finally grabbed the ring box, he caused the makeshift napkin tablecloth to fall with the entire tray of minced vegetables all over the clumsy prince.

"Uh... Ha... I am not myself tonight... This is a disaster." Naveen sighed in defeat as he hid the ring box behind his back and made his way back to his feet.

Tiana released another giggle as she picked a piece of spinach off his head. "No, it's cute." She reassured.

Naveen then took a deep breath and gathered up the courage to present the ring. "Tiana ... I ..."

"There it is!" Tiana gasped excitedly as the pointed to a rundown building for sale near the water.

"Your restaurant?" Naveen asked as he sat down beside her.

"Oh, can you just picture it? All lit up like the Fourth of July!"

"Yes, jazz pouring out from every window!"

"It should be elegant too though." Tiana said. "Though, some jazz would liven up the place. You know good ukulele players."

Naveen gaped in surprise. "Really? You let me perform?"

"I'll talk to the owner..." Tiana turned away for a moment with a smile on her face. "Owner says...yes."

Naveen and Tiana brust into friendly laughter as they past by Tiana's future restaurant.

"Oh, Folks are gonna be comin' together from all walks of life just to get a taste of our food." Tiana sighed dreamily as she leaned in to Naveen's shoulder.

"Our food?" Naveen asked hopefully as he glanced towards the ring he had beneath his hand.

Tiana then pulled away from Naveen and shook her head. "Oh no, no, no. My Daddy... He always wanted open this restaurant. He died before he could see it happen." She sighed sadly but then shook her head and turned her attention back to Naveen. "But tomorrow, with your help. Our dreams are finally comin' true."

"Tomorrow?" Naveen questioned, genuinely confused.

"If I don't deliver that money first thing tomorrow, I lose this place forever." Tiana explained as she gazed at the building longingly.

Naveen took a deep breath as he opened the ring box, ready to say what was on his mind. "Tiana, I love..." But, as Tiana looked up at him, it hit him how passionate she really was. She really had been working her whole life for her dream and it was all for the memory of her father. Unlike him who never had to work a day in his life. He knew what he had to do; he knew he couldn't continue to be selfish. He truly loved Tiana and wanted to help her in any way he could, even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness.

"..The way you light up when you talk about your dream." He said instead as he closed the makeshift ring box. "A dream that it is so beautiful it makes me feel so wonderful inside. I... I promise... I will do whatever it takes to make it come true." Naveen forced a smile when he realized the riverboat was pulling into the town of New Orleans. "It looks like we're here. I... I'll go find the others." With that, Naveen picked up the ring he made and left.

As Tiana watched Naveen leave, she couldn't help but feel pain in her heart. She shook hear head and looked up at the sky, spotting Evangeline instantly. "Evangeline... I've always been so sure about what I wanted. But now... What do I do? Please tell me."

It was true, for as long as she could remember her only goal was to get that restaurant. She'd always thought once she'd accomplished that goal she'd be happy. But, ever since that selfish frog prince entered her life she'd felt differently. Especially since they'd left Mama Odie's she would feel her heart beat faster every time Naveen came near her. Was there really more than one way to achieve happiness?

Unfortunately, Tiana was so distracted that she didn't realize Naveen was being dragged off by voodoo shadow heartless. Naveen struggled with all his might but he couldn't break free as he was pulled off the riverboat and dragged all the way to town. And because of his struggling, the ring he made fell into the water.

~*KHIII*~

Nearing midnight, the riverboat arrived at the town of New Orleans. Louis and Myde had ended up joining the band the parade themselves and looked to be having a great time. The rest of the group, minus Tiana and Naveen stepped off the boat to be greeted by the sounds of loud rhythmic jazz music and a festive atmosphere. It was certainly the most lively world they'd been to on their travels. Ray was so into the music, he was dancing and flying around the group of world-travelers.

"Oh wow, this is a big difference from the bayou we ended up at when we first came here." Observed Xion.

"Yeah, it's like a completely different world." Agreed Lydia.

"Well, I gotta admit, I prefer this much more than walking around a stinky swamp." Said Oswald.

Roxas smiled as he watched Louis and Myde play in the band happily. "Well, at least Myde and Louis seem to be having fun."

"And once we find this Charlotte girl, Tiana and Naveen will turn back into humans." Said Naminé.

"Well, we better get moving and find her then." Stated Kyra. "We don't have much time until midnight."

Dragon shook his head. "Kyra, relax. You're worrying too much." He reassured as he pointed to a nearby clock tower. "

At that moment, Tiana hopped up on Kyra's shoulder with a worried look on her face.

"Has anyone seen Naveen?" She asked with concern in her voice. "I haven't seen him since he asked me to meet on the roof of the boat."

Ray released an excited snicker under his breath, Roxas and Naminé looked away innocently and Naminé released a small excited squeal. Kyra and Dragon turned away, smiled happily and blushed. Tiana and the others looked at them in confusion. Clearly, this type of behavior was unnatural for them.

"Whats up with you guys?" Asked Tiana with an eyebrow raised.

"Seriously." Said Oswald. "What's going on? Why are you guys being so secretive?"

"You guys look really excited about something." Observed Xion.

Ray released another snicker as he flew around Tiana excitedly. "Ah, don't be so modest, cher! C'mon and show us! Where the ring at?!"

"Ring?" Xion asked in confusion.

"What ring?" Tiana asked, equally confused.

Realizing Tiana really didn't know what he was talking about, Ray shut his mouth and turned his back from her. "Well, if captain say nothing I ain't gonna say nothing. Because old Ray sealed up tight as a drum you ain't got nothin' out of me, no!"

"Ray?" Tiana pryed.

"Come on, Ray. Spill it." Lydia pryed as well.

"You clearly want to talk about it, so just tell us." Said Xion.

That was enough to get Ray to immediately start spilling the beans. "Okay, captain ain't gonna marry Charlotte he gonna marry you! Soon as he get himself kissed, and you both turn human, he go find a job, get you that restaurant!" Realizing what he said, Ray quickly covered his mouth. "I said too much, didn't I?"

"You said just enough, Ray!" Tiana exclaimed happily as she pulled the tiny firefly into a nearly suffocating hug. "He was trying to propose, that's what all that fun was about!" She was nearly bursting with happiness as Ray finally escaped from her hug.

"Wait, propose?!" Xion asked. "Okay, what did I miss?"

Roxas then moved to explain. "We found Naveen earlier making a ring..."

"Making a ring?!" Lydia interrupted and gasped. "Okay who was that frog and what has he done with Naveen?"

"Okay, anyway he told us he would do whatever it takes to make Tiana happy; to make her dream come true." Naminé continued to explain.

Dragon nodded. "He even said he would get a job!"

"A job?! Naveen?!" Oswald gasped. "Now I've heard everything."

"And here I thought, all he wanted was to marry a rich girl!" Tiana sighed happily. "Come on, ya'll we gotta go find Naveen! He must have gone ahead to find Charlotte alone so I wouldn't have to watch him kiss another girl!"

With that, Tiana hopped off Kyra's shoulder and jumped into the crowd, headed straight for the parade. The others quickly followed after her but with Tiana moving so fast, it was hard to keep up.

"Tiana!" Kyra called after her friend. "Slow down! What exactly are we looking for here?!"

Tiana called back to the group over her shoulder as she kept hopping straight for the parade. "You just keep your eyes at one of of the biggest, gaudiest float with a Mardi Gras princess about to kissed herself a... a frog...?" Tiana suddenly stopped as the parade as her eyes went wide and her face suddenly fell.

"Tiana?" Roxas asked. "What's wrong? Why'd you stop?" The moment Roxas and the others caught up to her, they knew why Tiana had stopped. They saw a giant float in the shape of a wedding cake with Charlotte standing at the top with her father, a minister and a handsome, dark-skinned young man beside her. Charlotte was dressed in a poofy pink wedding dress with a silver sparkly tiara on her head, the man was dressed in regal, expensive clothes.

"Woah, who's that hunk beside the lucky princess?" Lydia swooned.

"It's Naveen..." Tiana started to cry. "...That's his human form." Immediately, Lydia regretted what she said, covered her mouth and looked down at the floor in shame.

"Oh no, Cher this don't make no sense." Ray shook his head. "Naveen wouldn't do this. And, if he's human now then how can you still be a frog? Mama Odie, she said-" The firefly was cut off by Tiana suddenly running past the group and away from the parade. As she ran past Kyra, she could see tears rapidly falling down her face.

"Tiana?!" Roxas asked, worry in his voice as Louis and Myde abandoned their post in the band and rushed over.

"What's goin' on?!" Louis questioned. "Why's Tiana runnin' away?"

Kyra shook her head as she narrowed her brow. "I have to go after her. I need to make sure she's okay." She said as she started running after Tiana, concern clearly heard in her voice.

"Kyra wait up!" Dragon exclaimed as he follwed after her. Rusty, Louis and Myde followed him, concerned about both Kyra and Tiana.

This left Roxas, Naminé, Xion, Ray, Lydia and Oswald behind looking up at Charlotte and Naveen in the parade with annoyance and disgust.

"I can't believe Naveen would do this. And after all those things he said. Was it all a lie?" Roxas asked his friends.

Naminé shook her head. "He seemed so sincere. I just can't believe he'd lie about all that."

"You're right there, blondie!" Agreed Ray. "Stay back, ya'll. I'm gonna go ask Naveen himself why he actin' like a big jerk!" With that, Ray flew off into the parade and straight towards the prince.

Ray hovered near Naveen's ear and tried to get his attention but Naveen immediately tried to swat him away as though he were nothing than an annoying fly.

"Something's off." Oswald said as he watched the scene before him. "Why's Naveen trying to swat at Ray?"

"You're right." Agreed Lydia, watching Naveen. "And with that disgusted look on his face, there's no way that's the Naveen we know! Even as a frog he never tried to hurt Ray."

"But, what could have caused him to act like that?" Roxas asked his teammates.

Xion shook her head. "I don't know why but I think we need to get awnsers from Naveen himself!"

With newfound determination to get some awnsers from Naveen, Roxas, Naminé, Xion, Oswald and Lydia stormed straight into the parade, standing in the path of the wedding cake float. At the sight of the five strangers standing in the middle of the road, the float skidded to a halt, causing a small locked box that had previously been at Naveen's feet to tumble down the float and stop at Naminé's feet.

"What in the world?!" Charlotte exclaimed in surprise as she looked down from atop the parade float. "What are ya'll doing in the middle of the road?! Who are ya'll?!"

Naveen looked extremely irritated at the sight of the group. "Yes, who are you and what are you doing interrupting my wedding?!" He spoke in a heavy British voice that didn't sound anything like Naveen's but still sounded familiar to Roxas, Xion and Lydia.

"Naveen? What's going on?" Roxas called up to "Naveen". "Why did you abandon Tiana? Didn't you say you wanted to make her happy?"

"More importantly, what's up with your voice?" Oswald asked.

"Tiana? I don't know who in the bloody world you're talking about." The imposter scoffed. "Now get out of here and let me finish my wedding."

"No! Don't listen to him! That's not me!" A familiar voice spoke from somewhere nearby. The group gasped in surprise when they spotted the locked box st Naminé's feet.

The blonde girl reached down and gently picked it up. "Naveen?" She asked as the others around her gasped in surprise. "Is that you in there?"

Sure enough as she peered into the keyhole she saw Naveen, still as a frog, trapped inside.

"Yes!" Naveen exclaimed. "Just as I left Tiana I was grapped by those monsters and taken to the Voodoo Man who turned me into a frog!" Naveen stuck his arm out of the keyhole and pointed to the impersonator. "That man was with him! He is using some kind of voodoo magic to desguise himself as me using my blood! They plan to use Miss Leboeuf to capture the city and take it over! Then they will use the heartless monsters!"

After hearing Naveen's explanation, the five heroes flared up at the impersonator while Charlotte just looked confused.

"Prince Naveen? Sugar? What in the Maris Gras are they talkin' about?" She asked, a hint of fear in her voice.

The impostor, however, released an annoyed sigh but still smirked down at the group of heroes. "It looks as though my secret's out. Pity. I must not have played my cards right this round." With that said, the impostor reached around his neck and revealed a red skull-shaped pendant filled with blood. He then removed that pendant, causing his appearance to change right before everyone's eyes.

Standing right before them now was a man with short bleach blond hair, multiple piercings in one ear and dressed in the black coat of Organization XIII. This was none other than Durol; formerly known as Luxord, number X of Organization XIII and now a dark vessel for Xehanort.

However, Lydia opened her mouth in shock and uttered a single word; "Father?"

And so next chapter will finally end New Orleans and the Disney Worlds! See you guys next chapter for the final battle with Dr. Facilier and the start of Aqua's rescue! Don't forget to leave a review! Thanks so much for reading!