Chapter 41: Neutral Spy

It was about three o'clock in the morning with the tides pressing fast but calm and only a small breeze flowing by the Flying Dutchmen. All of the crewmen were asleep except for the one poor crewmen who was struck driving the ship. Riku and Will quietly came out of the lower deck and walked along the upper deck towards while Bootstrap went towards the driver and told him that the captain had relived him from his duties.

As soon as crewmen came lower deck, he quickly check the cells. When he saw Donald and Goofy snoozing while Sora slept quietly, he walked away and when towards the cabin rooms to sleep. One of Donald's eye shot open as soon as he heard the footsteps die down. He pushed himself up and turned himself around to face Goofy. The duck started to slap his best friend's face to make him wake up. As soon as Goofy was up, which took about ½ an hour since Donald normally has to use a thunder spell to wake him up, he went towards Sora to try and wake him up again. Donald sighed worriedly as Sora didn't even move a inch, Goofy soon came over and look down at Sora.

"Gee Donald, I'm really starting to get worried about Sora." Goofy said then faced his friend, " It was like the journal said, 'We must return to free them from their torment.' What if Sora had the virus which could be causing him torment as well as Kairi and Riku?"

"Don't be ridiculous Goofy! The message in the journal has been looked at by a computer programme that the king set up and how would Sora have the virus? Brian told us that the results were clear." Donald cleared up.

"But Donald, the Endless virus is the only thing that ma-" Goofy was cut off.

"We don't have time for this Goofy!" Donald scolded, "Now pick up Sora and let's get out of here." Goofy sighed as he knew there was no way to be getting to Donald, he noted to himself that he should talk to Kairi about this since she was the only other person that knew about the secret they had kept for the king.

Goofy went over to Sora and sling him carefully over his shoulder while Donald quietly opened the cage door and checked his surroundings. When he saw that they were clear, he and Goofy quietly went above on deck with Sora on Goofy's shoulder.

When the two managed to sneak on deck, they saw Bootstrap get some sort of boat ready. Goofy saw that the boat was mainly white, it had no sails and had some kind of symbol on it that he couldn't see from where he was. Goofy thought that the boat could properly be seen from miles away if the Flying Dutchmen did come after them but decided to just keep it to himself. As Donald went over to Bootstrap with the final preps, Goofy set Sora near some boxes and kneeled down to look at him.

It hurt Goofy that he has to keep secrets from his friends, especially Sora and even his own son, Max. He remembered Sora asking Goofy why he never mentioned Max while they were saving the worlds. There were three reasons why Goofy didn't mention his son.

One: Max would always been his little boy and was worried that he would lose him like he did his mother or the fact that mentioning his son might give away his weakness and go and hurt him. If he found out that Max was dead during their journey, he would have lost his only source of light left.

Two: Sora reminded Goofy of Max when he was younger. He wasn't saying that Sora immature like a 9-year-old, he though that Sora's cheerful nature and his belief in Santa Claus just reminded him a lot like Max before he became a teenager and was properly the main reason he stuck by Sora when he and Donald had sided with Riku when he had the Keyblade.

Three: The story behind it and how Max left Disney Castle to go live and train in Little Devon had hurt him the most.

Goofy wiped some tears from his eyes before facing Sora. "I wish I could tell you Sora." He said in a whisper, "But I know that if we told you the bits that we did not tell Kairi, it would break you heart." Sora didn't response as he was still asleep.

Just then, Will and Riku came out of the captain's quarters with Will holding the key to the chest and Riku holding keys to his and Sora's cuffs as well as Donald's staff and Goofy's shield. Will went towards Donald and Bootstrap as they finished preparing the white ship while Riku kneeled down by Goofy's side and looked at his friend, "Has Sora shown any signs of waking up yet?" Riku asked Goofy.

"Not yet." Goofy said with his voice full of concern, "I hope Sora gets better." Riku nodded in agreement as he got up and handed Goofy his shield. "How can that one being make Sora sleep for so long? I didn't even see Sora at all while that being was attacking." Goofy stood up and handed Donald his staff as Riku carried Sora the same way Goofy did early.

Riku unlocked his and Sora's cuffs as he and Goofy approached Donald, Will and Bootstrap Bill. Riku then noticed the ship that Bootstrap had set up for them, "Is that a Nobody ship?" Riku asked.

"Only one that could carry all of you back to Port Royal." Bootstrap said, "It has the ability to take these angry tides that are coming soon." Donald and Goofy jumped on the Nobody ship with Sora. Riku stayed with Will as he said his goodbyes to his father. "Here. Take this too." Bootstrap handed Will an small rusty knife. Will looked at the knife while Bootstrap quickly looked at Riku, "Now get yourself to land, and stay there." Bootstrap looked back at Will, "It was always in my blood to die at sea. But it was not a fate I ever want for you."

"It's not a fate you had to choose for yourself, either." Will said to his father.

Bootstrap chuckled slightly, "I could say I did what I had to, when I left you to go pirating, but it would taste a lie to say it wasn't what I wanted." Bootstrap placed a hand on Will's shoulder, "You own me nothing, Will. Not at all."

"Come with us." Riku said to him, after Bootstrap shook his head, he added, "They'll know you helped us."

Bootstrap Bill laughed at the comment, "What more can they do to me?"

Will showed his father the knife, "I take this with a promise." Will said to him, "I'll find a way to sever Jones' hold on you. And not rest until this blade pierces his heart."

"We will not abandon you." Riku said, "We promise."

BOWBOWBOW

It was the next morning on the Black Pearl and things have not been pleasant. Brian had managed to drink half of the stock full of rum in the matter of five minutes which didn't please Jack Sparrow and told him to keep out from the lower deck. Brian was now really ratty as he woke up from his hangover and they hadn't heard the end of it. Brian had managed to insult Will, Sora and Riku within one sentence with resulted to received two slaps around the face and punch in the jaw which knocked him up.

A couple of hours later, Brian had woken up and just scrubbed the deck in silent near Max, who was steering the Black Pearl. Jack, Gibbs, Elizabeth and Kairi were talking about something while Hikari went lower deck for some reason. Max was in deep thought while steering the Black Pearl, thinking and worrying about his dad. He though was interrupted though went he heard Brian call his name.

Max looked at his friend, who was resting against the side of the ship. "You feeling alright Brian?" he asked.

"Yeah…I just that…um…there's this question that has been rotting in my head ever since I've met you." Brian said while he rubbed his tired eyes.

"What question is that then?" Max asked

Brian drunkenly approached Max and leaned against the other side of the wheel when he asked, "Are you a Cog or a Dow?"

"Do I want to know what you mean by that?" Max sighed as he looked at his friend.

"Well there was this discussion that my brothers had a couple of days before I decided to go see King Mickey and they are saying that your mom is a cow." Brian told him

Anger soon rose in Max, "My mom was not a cow!" Max yelled at him as he quickly make sure that the steering wouldn't go crazy if he left it.

"Hey! It wasn't my words." Brian defended as he started to back away, "It you heard what Daniel said to Scott, you would be losing it even m-" Max summoned his bow and changed them into his swords. Brian took his chance and started to run away from Max.

Kairi watched Max chased Brian around the ship before shrugging and paying attention to the conversation again. Elizabeth shown Kairi, Jack and Gibbs a letter written in elegant writing. Elizabeth read the letter out loud.

For price of your help, the Endless Order will full pardon with you and your bride-to-be as well as the commission of a Order privateer on behalf the Dark Master and the Endless Order.

Signed

Lieutenant Skullo

High member of the Endless Order.

"Skullo!" Gibbs cursed

"What would the Order want that would involve Skullo ruining your wedding day?" Kairi asked

"I'm not sure but I know he asked Will to receive your compass, Jack" Elizabeth replied. Jack gagged at this.

"Will was working for the Order, and never said a word." Gibbs spat out coldly, "I wonder if Will had told Sora and the others yet." Jack gagged again.

"Sora…please be alright." Kairi said quietly to herself

"Skullo wants the Compass. Only one reason for that." Gibbs said to Jack.

Jack gasped at the thought, "Of course. He wants the chest."

"Yes, he did say something about a chest." Elizabeth remembered

"If the Order controls the chest, they controls the world." Gibbs told the two ladies.

"A truly discomforting notion, love." Jack said to Elizabeth.

"And bad." Gibbs added, "Bad for every mother's son what calls himself a pirate." Gibbs looked over to where Max was supposed to be and noticed that no one was at the wheel. "I think there's a bit more speed to be coaxed from these sails." Gibbs went a took over Max's job.

Jack and Elizabeth carried on the conversation while Kairi looked what was happening with Brian and Max. Brian was hiding behind some gunpowder barrels while Max paced past the barrels multiple times with an angry face. Whatever Brian had said to Max, it must have been pretty bad. Kairi thought.

"Kairi?" Kairi turned around to see Hikari, "I need your help with something." Hikari said. Kairi and Hikari went below deck.

BOWBOWBOW

Light had always been on his side before.

Light had gave him protection from the Darkness.

Light had helped him fight for and to protect his friends.

Light had helped him find his way home.

So why was Light blinding him from control of himself?

Who was this voice that posed as his soul?

What has happened to his heart's strength?

BOWBOWBOW

Roxas searched for any sign of Sora within his mind, jumping from mural to mural to find his other or properly the cause of Sora's loss of control. Roxas arrived on the mural that he last saw Sora on, the one with Sora, Roxas and the mysterious person. Roxas walked on the mural, looking at his surroundings but found no sign of Sora. Roxas signed and jumped on the next mural up.

Roxas jumped onto the next mural and looked down at the mural, it was a mural of Sora, Kairi and Riku. Before Roxas could think of the reason for the mural, he saw a slight light above him. Roxas looked up and saw that Sora was trapped within a light caged barrier. Roxas went to jump up to free Sora when something from the edge of the mural jumped up and struck Roxas back down. Roxas shook his head and got up to see the creature.

"Wha-" Roxas was in disbelief, the creature that was in front of him was the same creature that he locked away deep within Sora with the help from the light he had gotten off of Kairi, the same creature that showed it way every now and again but could never make its way to the murals thanks to Roxas. He didn't understand how it would escape, how did Anti Sora escape.

Anti Sora twitchily stood between Roxas and Sora as he prepared for battle. Roxas summoned Two Across as he began to fight Anti Sora. Roxas was so busy fighting Anti Sora and trying to help Sora that he didn't notice another being above, watching the fight below.

BOWBOWBOW

Kairi and Hikari walked lower deck only to see a familiar face sitting on the a barrel of gunpowder. Kairi was surprised to see him, "Nikolai? How did you get on the ship?" Kairi asked

Nikolai turned to face them when he heard his name, "It's nice to see you too, Princess." Nikolai smiled, "And to answer your question, there's this new invention, it's called a portal."

Both Kairi and Hikari glared at the Endless, "Don't smart-talk, Nikolai." Hikari warned him. Nikolai chuckled as he jumped off the barrel that he was sitting on and walked towards the two. "What's the Endless Order planning?" Hikari asked

"The same thing all of the other bad guys plans revolve around." Nikolai said as he started to craft a crystal ball out of ice. "Master Xehanort."

"Xehanort is alive?" Kairi gasped, surprised to hear the name Xehanort again.

Nikolai chuckled at this, "Don't worry, Xehanort isn't back." Nikolai then looked at the two seriously. "The Endless Order are planning to start something that Master Xerhanort had failed to do twelve years ago. They're trying to misbalance the worlds so Kingdom Hearts will start to show itself. If the Order get to Kingdom Hearts and misbalance it, they will repeat the war that happened those so many years ago."

"The Keyblade war?" Kairi asked uneasily.

"Similar. The only difference is that the Order are trying to make sure that Keyblade wielders don't pop out of blue like last time." Nikolai answered.

"What or better yet, Who stopped the war twelve years ago?" Hikari asked, confused about the whole thing.

"The Keyblade Weliders that came from the Land of Departure. They had crossed paths with King Mickey." Nikolai replied

"Aqua…" Kairi muttered under her voice. Hikari didn't hear Kairi but Nikolai did.

"You know about them." Nikolai asked the Princess of Heart.

"Only that they fought against the Unbirths." Kairi quickly replied, And a slight memory of you and Mickey saving me from Unbirth back at Radiant Garden.

"What I don't get is, how the Endless evolved from the Unbirths? No offence but you guys just came out of nowhere, like a ghost or something." Hikari said to Nikolai.

"Hmm. Funny." Nikolai said sarcastically before returning to his serious tone of voice. "The story of the Endless Origin isn't from Master Xerhanort but rather from his apprentice." Nikolai waved his hand over the crystal ball to show the image of a solider with full covered armour that looked very similar to Riku's armour when he was working for Maleficent. "While Master Xerhanort looked for a new vessel for his heart, Xerhanort's apprentice carried on learning about the Unbirths and their origin, having the ability to control them. His apprentice also wanted to form with the keyblader welider called Ventus because the two were somehow connected. If the two were to merge together, the apprentice would be able to gain a keyblade like none other to recreate the keyblade war. Luckly though, Ventus managed to defeat him in cost of his own heart." As Nikolai had explained the story, the two teenage girls watched the event happen on the ice crystal ball. Kairi, as well as Naminé, noticed that Ventus looked exactly like Roxas. Hikari seemed to noticed Ven's appearance too and had asked Kairi if he was Sora's brother. Kairi shook her head as she knew that Sora was an only child. "Time in the realms had kept each heart away from the living, but the Unbirth soon returned, along with the newly formed apprentice."

When Nikolai had stopped talking, he hovered his hand over the crystal ball and return the ice into him.

After he was done, Hikari was the first to speak, "Just me guessing here but the Apprentice secretly hid all these years while turning others into Endless, creating the Order and planned his revenge on Light and Darkness, in order to create this so-called key."

Nikolai smiled at her, "You know, you should get a medal for guessing." Nikolai closed his eyes for a second before opening them up again and sighed. "I have to go, it looks like they've noticed that I wasn't on Wonderland." Nikolai turned away from the girls and was about to make a portal when Kairi quickly stopped him in his tracks.

Nikolai turned to face her and waited her last question, "Back at the pub, when Brian was thrown in the pigsky, why did you call him Haru?" Kairi asked.

"Because." Nikolai opened his blue portal, "He has been my best friend for eleven years. One day, he will see the friendship that was once there and help me escape the Order like he had promised." Without another word, Nikolai left thought the portal.

Kingdommad