Chapter 74: Already Over
The grate within the sewers slowly opens as Basil peeks out to look at the surroundings. He managed to see Fidget hopping into an empty barrel on its side which had a huge 'R' on it. Basil resumed that the 'R' meant rum but knowing Ratigan, he would want a place with the first letter of his name. "Ah-ha Devon! We found it! Ratigan's secret lair!" Basil looked to the side of him to see that Brian wasn't next to him. "Devon?" Basil looked below him.
"Yeah! I'll be there in a minute." Brian's voiced echoed through the pipe as he stood at the bottle of the pipe. He groaned with irritation, "Sora! Will you get a hold of yourself?" he said impatiently.
"I want to go back to the pub." Sora said mindlessly as he began to walk another direction. Brian quickly grabbed him before he would walk aimlessly down the pipe...again. "C'mon. I want to go back to Kairi." Sora pouted at him.
"What has Kairi got to do with The Rat Trap?" Brian questioned.
"Didn't you see me dancing with the twin Kairis?" Sora smiled cheesy before hiccupping.
Of course he's going to think they were dancing Kairis. This is Sora we are talking about. "C'mon you love-sick idiot. Snap out of it!" To help Sora come back to the real world, Brian slapped him around the back of the head. Sora winced at the sudden hit, finally knocking him out of his senses. "Let's go." Brian said as he started to climb the ladder that lead to the grate that Basil was still spying at. Sora quickly shook his head and fur from the dizziness before following Brian up the ladder.
"It's filthier than I imagined." Basil commented on the lair as he pushed the grate open so that he could step out. He held the grate open as Brian and Sora came out of the sewer pipes after. The three of them begun to sneak towards Ratigan's lair. What they didn't notice was the thousands of pairs of red eyes lurking in the shadows. As they walked on, Basil halted the two of them before looking around with suspension. "This is too easy!"
"Surprise boys!"
Within seconds, all three of them were surrounded by Bud Rose Unbirths, not giving Sora or Brian the chance to summons their weapons. Basil dropped to the ground, startled, as a large banner that reads "Welcome Basil" unfurls from the ceiling. Balloons were released and confetti flew as Lizza's Unbirth clap and cheer mockingly for the three. Sora and Brian turned towards the hideout to see Ratigan standing at the doorway, applauding. "Bravo! Bravo! A marvellous performance." Ratigan chuckled as he moved to Basil, who is glaring at his archenemy with hatred. Ratigan pulled out his pocket watch. "Though frankly, I expected you fifteen minutes earlier. Heh heh. Trouble with the chemistry set, old boy?"
Sora and Brian seem to notice Basil stiffen from the insult before recovering his posture and began to speak in a friendly tone, "Ratigan, no one can have a higher opinion of you than I have." His voice turned cold. "And I think you're a slimy contemptible sewer rat!" he said with rage.
Ratigan reminded smiling his evil grin at Basil as he closed his pocket watch and placed it in his jacket. He began to chuckle as he approached Basil, "By the way Basil, I just love your disguise." He ripped off Basil's moustache; Lizza giggled as Ratigan inspects his hat. "Really, one would hardly recognize you. The greatest" Ratigan nudged Basil as he starts to laugh. "... detective" Ratigan leaned over him as he continued to laugh. "... In all Mousedom!"
"Basil is the greatest detective!" Sora spoke up, "You're afraid that we had found you." Brian looked around them, reminding Sora that they are the total amount of thousand Unbirths as well as the Love Endless mere metres away from them.
Ratigan chuckled as he approached Sora, "So, you must be the Keyblade Master I've heard so much about." Ratigan smirked at the sight of him, "I would expect you to be taller." Ratigan turned towards Basil again.
"Ratigan, so help me... I'll see you behind bars yet!" Basil tried to hold his rage in.
Ratigan managed to get in front of Basil's face, "You fool! Isn't it clear to you?" Ratigan said as he lifted Basil up by his collar and shook him. "The superior mind has triumphed!" He could see Brian charging a fire spell in the corner of his eye. Ratigan swung Basil as he turned towards Brian and threw Basil at him. Brian, not expecting Basil to come flying at him, lost control of the spell which struck Sora in the back of his head. Sora fell to the floor as his vision saw that the Unbirth were coming closer and Lizza laughed along with the rat.
BOWBOWBOW
Nikolai could feel that someone must have told the Dark Master about the Colonel's plans as Link was the only one that wasn't staying in the middle of the room as he saw that all of the members that were a part of Devil's plans, minus Devil, by his side. The Sorrow Endless looked next to him to see that the Anger and Persistence Endless were questioning Abroc as they knew he was the reason that the meeting was called in the first place. He kind of wished that he was put on a mission now, just to be away from here.
The Endless in questioning turned their head towards the green portal that had just appeared in the corner of the throne room, hearing echoes of swordplay from it. They listened as they could hear the Colonel's voice echo through the portal, it sounded like he was taunting who ever he was fighting. The Colonel came through the portal, closing it behind him. The other members could see that who ever he was fighting, they had managed to strike him a couple of times. The Colonel ignored the naked stares that were filled with many emotions as he raised his claw in front of his chest as it glowed. The members watched as green leafs would appear around him and continued to circle him, healing his wounds in the progress.
He chuckled as he watched the portal disappear before walking over to the other members, "Sooo, why are you all here?" Devil asked.
Skullo glared at Nikolai at the corner of his eye as he began to warn him in a low tone, "You say one word why we are present and I-"
"The Dark Master called us up for treason." Nikolai smirked behind his emotionless face as he could feel Skullo tense up from the amount of anger he had in his system. Knowing Skullo though, he held his anger in as he was in front of two higher ranks and was soon to be in front of another.
However, Devil didn't have that sense of control, "What do you mean that we've been called up for Treason?" Devil questioned as he approached the Neutral with anger and disbelief flowing through him.
"It means that you are traitors."
All of the members looked up at the throne to see that the Dark Master was standing in front of his throne. "Honestly David, did you think that I wasn't known to your little plan? It all sounds like a repeating of Organisation XIII to me." He chuckled at the shock expression that was set on Devil's face; he never told him his original name. "It's also amazing how you could think of trying to hide the fact that the Keyblade Master has been infected and how you try to hide your true disposition by saying that you and your group of Endless follow stories that were told to you." The Dark Master laughed madly, making Abroc shake with fear. "Do any of your know what happened in the last Keyblade war?" He inquired.
"Thousands of Keyblade Wielders battle each other all for the sake of one key, the key to rule all." Snake answered before inching his chin, not noticing the master glaring at him. "Well, that's what I think how it's told."
"It was a rhetorical question, Major." Link pointed out with little interest in what was going on.
"You know the name that Master Xerahort called me, right?" The members nodded in agreement, muttering 'Vanitas' every now and again. "Where did you think the Unbirth originally came from?" Devil growled as the realisation of Vanitas' importance hit him hard. "If you were to go with your traitor-like plan then you and every other Endless would not only lose the ability to control of the Unbirth but destory everyone that remains with the virus, including you and Brian and the Keyblade Master." Vanitas informed the lot of them.
Devil was the first to question the Dark Master after his speech, "I just want to know one thing: How did you find out?"
Vanitas chuckled as he removed his helmet, revealing his face to all of the members, "One for a thousand." He said. Most of the Order members were speechless while Nikolai was now worried about the outcome of all of this.
BOWBOWBOW
"You don't know what a delightful dilemma it was trying to decide on the most appropriate method for your demise." Ratigan said as some Rose Buds placed Basil in the mousetrap as he was looking out into space. Sora and Brian would have helped if they weren't hanging in front of the barrel of a huge handgun, while being tied up, back to back. "Oh, I had so many ingenious ideas I didn't know which to choose. So, I decided to use them all." Brian and Sora looked at all of the weapons that were aimed at all three of them as Sora and Brian were angled so that the shot from the gun would hit Basil too. "Marvellous, isn't it? Oh ho... But here, let me show you how it works. Picture this." Fidget was gestured to the record player as Ratigan began to explain his death trap. "First, a tune that Lizza had selected especially for you. As the song plays the cord tightens and when the song ends…" Fidget pulled the recording nail, as if the song had finished, that the cord moved upwards, tied to a cork which is supporting a wine glass with a metal ball inside. "The metal ball is released…" A slide constructed of wood and pipes was aimed directly at the mousetrap trigger release. "… Rolling along its merry way until..." Ratigan was about to explain the effects of the weapons.
"We don't have time for this!" Lizza complained, "The sooner that we're at the Tower of London, the sooner you'll have control of this world." Sora raised his eyebrow at this, even if he was facing the barrel of the handgun.
"Right. Wait in the dirigible with Fidget and leave some Unbirth here just in case." Ratigan instructed the Endless.
Lizza groaned as she instructed some of her Endless to stay as she could see Fidget beginning to head for the dirigible. Her claw glowed once more, making her look up at the two that were hanging. She looked at the Endless first to see that he wasn't currently deep in thought, rather looking for a way to escape. She looked over to the Keyblade Master to see him glaring back at Ratigan, she smirked at this before heading to way she was instructed too.
"Now, you will remember to smile for the camera, won't you?" Ratigan smirked as he pointed the camera. Ratigan looked up at the hanging Sora and Brian, "Don't worry; you'll be in the picture too." Ratigan walked over to the record player and lifted the recording nail.
"You won't get away with this, Ratigan." Sora shouted at him.
"You should have stay at your Islands, Keyblade Master." Ratigan shouted back as the song began to play, "And to think that Maleficent finds you as a threat." The dirigible appeared with Fidget peddling and Lizza driving. A ladder appeared from the dirigible and next to Ratigan to where he climbed aboard and said his goodbyes to them as he disappeared through the sewer.
Brian and Sora tried to wiggle their way out of the ropes so that they could help Basil, seeing as Basil was still staring out into space. "What do you think that they would want with the Tower of London?" Sora asked as he tried to get out of the ropes.
Brian stopped struggling and looked to the side of him, trying his best to glare at Sora, "Do you even know what the Tower of London is?" Brian questioned.
You never go
Your always here
(suffocating me)
Under my skin
I cannot run away
"Errr…I did know….it sounds familiar." Sora stopped struggling as he thought about it.
Brian groaned at this, "The big clock tower in the middle of London. Big Ben. YOU WENT TO IT FOR NEVERLAND!"
Sora gasped from realisation, "The Keyhole!"
Fading slowly
The dirigible slowly began to make its way towards the Tower of London as Lizza could see the keyhole shine brightly in the distance, trying to balance the heart of the world. She quickly looked back at Ratigan, who was in a happy mood since leaving Basil to his doom. "Oh I love it! I love it! Oh I love it, I love it, I love it!"
"I get it. You love it." Lizza said with disgust, feeling the same emotion all of the time can make a person sick. "Have you got the item?" she asked.
Ratigan chuckled evilly as he walked over to a small sack and pulled out a gold crown that had rubies and sapphires around the rim of the crown. "Who knew that the crown didn't just hold royal powers?" He chuckled.
I'd give it all to you
Letting go of me
Reaching as I fall
Lizza smiled weakly at this before looking at the keyhole, "Right. All you have to do is to drain the remaining light of this world with the crown and this world would forever remain yours." She said, smirking at the pain that Ratigan had to hold back due to the intense light that was burning his hands.
I know it's already over now
Already at the first chorus of the song and the three had still unable to find a way out of their impending doom. At first, Brian and Sora tried to get Basil to snap out of his state but he only commented on 'how Ratigan had outsmarted him' and 'Ratigan would have never have fallen into an obvious trap'. It didn't end much as Sora had soon fallen into the same state as Basil, starting to believe that they were no way out of this one. "This is just great!" Brian complained, "We're minutes away from our deaths, Basil is officially depressed and…" Brian turned his head as if he was looking at Sora, "ALL YOU SEEM TO BE MUTTERING ABOUT IS PROTECTING KAIRI!"
Nothing left to lose
Loving you again
Sora seemed to snap out of his deep thoughts from Brian shouting at him. "We need to find a way out. Not arguing with each other." Sora commented before speaking the Basil. "Basil! Basil!" Sora called him.
Basil lay emotionless in the mousetrap, "We're all doomed!" He basically said.
I know it's already over, already over now!
"We can't let them win!" Sora muttered to himself, drowned in his own thoughts once again. "We can't just leave the others to deal with the Order by themselves…I still have so much to say." Brian gritted his teeth as he was beginning to get sick of Sora's content worry for the Princess of Heart.
You're all I'm reaching for
It's already over
"WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP!" Brian cracked, making Sora quiet. "I still wonder why you had said all of that to Kairi, even if you clearly don't remember because all you are thinking about is Kairi getting captured any minute." Brian gritted his teeth as he held his anger in, finally taking notice of the marks of his claw glowing with his anger. "You're always thinking that she's going to get captured. She's not as weak as you think she is." Brian referred to the moments that Kairi have had in a number of other worlds.
You're all I'm reaching for!
It's already over now.
"Don't you think I know that?" Sora snapped back, "As powerful as she may be getting; I'm still going to worry about her no matter what!"
"Maybe your content worry for her is the reason why you were lead to say all of those things." Brian argued back, swinging the two of them as they hanged. "Having too much worry in someone can lead to mistrust. Friends need to trust each other otherwise there is nothing but the shattered remains of the friendship."
I'll give it all to you
"I GET IT!" Sora yelled back, surprising Brian a bit, "Let me tell you one thing, Brian. I don't care what you think about me or what you think is going on between me and Kairi, whether it's trust or friendship. I will always be friends with her no matter what happens, I would leave my life in her hands because I wouldn't be alive without her, physical and emotionally and whatever happens I will always love her..."
I offer up my soul
It's already over, already over now!
"Even if this trap kills me..."
Give it all to you
Letting go of me
Reaching as I fall
"Or if what even is happening to me takes my heart down first..."
It's already over now
Nothing left to lose
Loving you again
"My heart will always be with her, no matter what."
I know it's already over, already over now...
For some reason that the Endless couldn't explain, he couldn't help but feel touched by the truth. True, Sora had shown had shown him that he cared about Kairi back at Basil's house but what he had said now, following the song that was playing for the remaining time of their lives had shocked him whole for many reasons. Brian was no longer mad, rather feeling depressed and panicky. He was upset because his heart reflected its own emotions on the matter, making tear fall down his cheek. He was mostly panicky though as the second to last sentence had confirmed his thoughts from the last couple of hours.
Sora had the virus
They had fifteen seconds before the song ended.
They had still to snap Basil out of his state.
Brian looked back at Basil and took a deep breath before speaking, "Bloodly hell, Basil. This world is in danger, our friends will never see us again and to top it all, we're about to be kill my every weapon set in this room and all you can do is lie there feeling sorry for yourself. Well, I know you can save us. But if you've given up then why don't we set it off now and be done with it? " Brian grunted after that, starting to believe that it's the end for them all.
Basil chuckles weakly at Brian's comment, "Set it off now." He repeated before his eyes widened, "Set it... off... now? Ye...Yeah!" He began to laugh. "Yes! We'll... We'll set the trap off now!"
Sora tried to swing the rope to face Basil, "Basil..." Sora's eyes averted at the cord as the song ended, pulling the ball out of the needle-thumb.
"Devon, how free is your hand?" Basil quickly asked.
"Can just about move it around." Brian answered, "Why? I can't summon my staff."
"Ummm guys." Sora watched the ball go down the pipes.
"When I give the signal, cast an 'Earth' Spell to release the triggering mechanism." Basil instructed. Brian was about to object to the plan, thinking that it wouldn't work when he noticed the ball began its way down the wooden path that was heading straight towards the triggering mechanism. He soon agreed to the plan as he began to create a small boulder, waiting for Basil signal.
The ball's getting closer, Brian is ready
"Now!" Brian fired the spell at the mechanism.
The spell set the trigger off, saving Basil from the metal switch by the ball that was stopped just between their heads. The vibration loosened one of the pegs, which ricochets towards the gun, causing it to misfire and hit the crossbow. Instead of being aimed at Basil, the arrow cut the rope that was hoping up Sora and Brian as well as cutting off the head of the axe. The blade of the axe fell lengthwise, slicing through the ropes and trap, effectively freeing Basil. The anvil falls seconds later, missing them by mere inches. Brian quickly casted fire on the ropes that tied them to set him and Sora free while Basil shredded his sailor costume and placed his deerstalker cap back on. "We're alive! We're alive!" Brian cheered with his arms raised high, noticing that the other weapons had destroyed Lizza's Endless.
"Basil, how did you-" Sora tried to ask him about how he managed to plan an escape but Basil quickly pulled Brian and Sora close to him with his arms around each of their shoulders.
"Smile everyone!" Basil grinned as he faced towards. Brian and Sora quickly looked in the direction that Basil was looking in and quickly pulled funny faces as the camera went off.
"Wait! Do over! I think my eyes were closed." Sora said after the picture, making Brian shake his head with humour.
"We have no time to lose! We must catch Ratigan." Brian and Sora quickly followed Basil as they started to gather supplies.
Kingdommad