The Elder Scrolls: The Quest for Kingdom Hearts
…
Chapter 7: 1001 Arabian Nights
In the city of Agrabah, the streets were practically deserted; barely anyone came out of their homes and not just because of the August heat. On any other day, the bazaars of Agrabah were packed with traders, merchants and city dwellers carrying out their business. But in these times, not today.
In the main square of the city, three figures walked down the sandy road, discussing a dark plan for a dark purpose. Maleficent the Mistress of All Evil, Father Elijah the rogue genius and former Elder of the Mojave Brotherhood of Steel, and Jafar once the royal vizier to the Sultan of Agrabah, but thanks to Maleficent and the Heartless, he had seized power and was now the sultan of Agrabah.
"And the Keyhole?" Elijah asked Jafar who replied with, "The Heartless are searching for it now. I am certain that we will find it soon enough. So, that just leaves…"
Suddenly a loud squawk interrupted them and fluttering down onto Jafar's shoulder was a red fathered parrot whose wings had blue-green tips.
"Jafar, I've looked everywhere for Jasmine! She's disappeared like magic!" the parrot squawked.
"That girl is far more trouble than she's worth!" Jafar muttered darkly.
Elijah and Maleficent then looked at the former vizier questioningly. "You said you had things under control."
"Agrabah is full of holes for rats to hide in, but why worry about the Princess?" Jafar replied. "With or without her, surely this world will be ours when we find the Keyhole," he boasted.
"We need the girl alive!" Elijah said angrily. "Or haven't you been paying attention to that particular detail?" he accused.
"We need all seven Princesses of Heart to open the Final Door. Any fewer is useless," Maleficent said calmly.
"And if Jasmine dies with this world, then so shall you!" Elijah threatened.
Jafar simply smirked at this and said, "Well, if she is that important then we shall find her." And then striding in confidently was a tall man armoured in white and black armour with an orange pauldron on his right shoulder. Jafar and Elijah seemed surprised by this sudden arrival.
"Sergeant Kreel?" Jafar asked. "This is certainly a surprise," he observed.
"Lord Kylo Ren sent me to assist you in your efforts, Jafar. And I hear you've been having trouble capturing one girl," the feared leader of SCAR Squadron of the old Empire stated. "I thought my team and I would have a real challenge, not a child's game of hide & seek."
"Patience, good Sergeant," Maleficent said calmly.
Sergeant turned his head to regard Maleficent and said to her, "I don't like my time being wasted, Lady Maleficent, especially when my team and talents can be used for something more productive."
"Worry not, Sergeant," Elijah then said. "It's but a matter of time before the Keyblade wielder and his little friends arrive on this world, they shall present you a suitable challenge."
"For your sake, Father Elijah, I hope so," Sergeant Kreel replied before pulling from a metallic handle and with the click of a button, a blade of black energy sprung from the handle with a shrill whine.
"The Darksaber!" Jafar remarked in surprise. "I've heard quite a few tales about that blade," he then said.
"Indeed, the history pertaining to that sword is quite long and bloody," Elijah agreed. "I would be most interested in studying it," he said with a hungry gleam in his eyes.
"You may have the chance, if you can defeat me in battle for it," Sergeant Kreel grunted and walking into view were similar armoured figures but with differences as well. One held a long rifle with a scope attached to it and wore a cloak over his armour. Another looked hugely muscled and stood two to three feet taller than anyone present. Another carried an assortment of knives and bladed weapons on his person. Another had an assortment of computer devices attached to his armour and the lenses of his helmet glowed bright blue. Another had a pair of twin blaster pistols and had a jetpack on his back and the last one held a flamethrower and carried an assortment of grenades and explosive devices in various pockets and pouches.
"Ah, the infamous SCAR Squadron," Jafar commented. "I've heard quite a few tales about them," he said.
"Indeed. They have quite the reputation," Maleficent said with a smile.
Sergeant Kreel then turned to his men and said, "Alright men, our orders are to capture Princess Jasmine and when the Keyblade wielder and his allies arrive, we capture them as well! Move out!"
"Yes sergeant!" the stormtroopers said as they then marched off with Sergeant Kreel following them.
As Jafar prepared to walk further down the street, Maleficent said to him, "Be careful not to steep yourself in darkness too long, Jafar. The Heartless consume the careless," she warned.
Jafar gave a chuckle and replied, "Your concern is touching, but hardly necessary."
"If you are so confident in yourself, then far be it from us to stop you," Elijah then said dryly as he and Maleficent then left Agrabah via a Corridor of Darkness.
Unbeknownst to all of them however, the very Princess they were seeking was watching them the whole time.
Jasmine couldn't believe that Jafar had somehow seized power in Agrabah in the manner he had. And neither did she understand when or how he had met those strange people, but she did understand that it was because of those people that Jafar had such power at his disposal. How else could he summon those strange monsters that had overtaken the city?
But one question was on the Princess's mind; what is they wanted with her? They already had control of Agrabah and would soon find this Keyhole (whatever that was), so what was it that required her for their plans? One of the things she had overheard was something about a "Final Door", but what did that mean? Jasmine could not say that she knew for certain.
But one thing she could do right now was to keep out of Jafar's grasp for as long as possible, and she knew just the person who could help her do it. Jasmine just hoped that that certain person was alright and that they had not gotten to him first.
If they did? Jasmine wasn't sure if she could live with herself if something had happened to him.
…
After departing Traverse Town, Sora and his allies made a stop at the Olympus Coliseum where they participated in the Phil Cup. After decimating the competition, they were announced the winners of the tournament. Afterwards they spoke with Phil and Hercules.
"I never thought you kids could do it. Not bad," the satyr said stroking his goatee.
"You're just as stubborn as ever," Hercules said with a smile. "Don't pretend you're not happy for them," he added.
Phil cleared his throat with a cough and said, "You kids have still got a long way to go. The next rounds will be starting soon, and it'll be the real thing!"
"We'll be there," Aela replied to the satyr who smirked at her and said, "Offer still stands, Red. You ever want some real training, come see me." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"Not if you were the last man in all the worlds, little bleater," Aela deadpanned. "And not even then."
"Bah! Women! Always the same!" Phil complained as he walked off.
Hercules gave a chuckle at his mentor's attempts at wooing the fiercely beautiful Aela the Huntress be rebuffed yet again and he said, "Never mind him, Aela. Just keep saying no to his offer and he'll soon get the message. Better yet, you should actually find someone to be with and then he'll really get the message."
"Who says I haven't already found someone?" Aela said as she cast a glance at Dragonborn who didn't appear to notice. Serana however noticed the glance the redheaded lycan sent Dragonborn and stood a little closer to him as if to stake her claim. Sora, Courier and Veronica started giggling to themselves as Aela and Serana glared at each other heatedly while Dragonborn just stood there, confused and uncomfortable with what was going on right now.
Soon after, the group then departed the Coliseum with Serana and Aela still glaring at each other and Dragonborn being uncomfortable with the atmosphere.
"So, where to next?" Sora asked everyone as he sat in his seat.
"Well, with the navigation gummi installed, we'll be able to travel to more worlds," Veronica said. "In fact, I think I may have found one nearby," she added as she looked at the navigation computer in surprise.
"Well, let's go check it out then," Courier said as she started up the engine of the Gummi ship. Soon, the ship began to fly through the vastness of space and Courier allowed Sora to pilot for a while if only to allow her to rest a little. Soon, Sora announced they had reached the new nearby world.
"Interesting world," Aela remarked as they looked at the new world. "I would almost say its Hammerfell in terms of appearance," she said.
"Kinda makes me think of home," Veronica said nostalgically. "I wonder if we can even restore our worlds?" she wondered.
"We'll find a way," Dragonborn said comfortingly. "For now, let's just get down there and see about finding the Keyhole to this world and any of Ansem's Notes," he added.
"Good idea," Courier agreed, and Sora then docked the ship a few miles from a large city in the desert.
…
"Definitely reminds me of Hammerfell," Aela quipped as they walked into the city of Agrabah. "But where is everyone?" she asked as she looked around.
"You don't think?" Sora asked nervously.
ED-E then buzzed and chirped to which Courier translated. "There are still people, but they're hiding," she said, and Sora sighed in relief.
"What is it they are hiding from?" Serana questioned then a red dot appeared on the vampire's head which Courier spotted and shouted, "Get down!" She then tackled Serana to the ground just as bright neon red bolt of energy sped out of nowhere.
"Sniper! Find cover!" Veronica shouted as she pulled her pistol and ducked behind a vacant market stall. Sora and the others all scrambled to find some cover just as blaster fire rained down on the street.
"Anyone see him?!" Aela yelled as she pulled out her bow and nocked an arrow to it.
Dragonborn peeked his head out from behind the wall he was hiding behind only to pull his head back quickly to avoid blaster fire.
"Somewhere up on the walls!" Dragonborn shouted for everyone to hear. Then Heartless appeared forcing the heroes to fight. The Heartless then tried to drive the heroes out into the open.
"They're trying to bring us out in the open!" Courier shouted as she fired Lucky, fanning the hammer with her off-hand, downing six Heartless at once before having to reload. Suddenly a small object landed in the sand near Courier who quickly realised what it was and yelled, "Grenade!" Throwing herself out of the way, Courier felt the wash of heat roll over her as the grenade exploded. Courier was unharmed although her trench coat was a little singed.
More grenades were tossed near the heroes, forcing them run out into the open where the sniper began firing on them. Dragonborn blocked and deflected the blaster fire with his sword and he then spotted the sniper. "Up on the balcony!" he bellowed.
"Good!" Serana hissed venomously as she came into the open and fired a massive lightning storm at the balcony the sniper was perched on. The sniper barely managed to leap off in time as the massive deluge of lightning hit the ledge in a massive discharge of energy. Veronica then fired her pistol rapidly at the fleeing sniper taking note of his armour.
"First Order… here?" Veronica wondered just as another grenade landed her feet. Acting on reflex, the ex-Scribe kicked the explosive away where upon it exploded in a shower of plasma.
Courier leapt out with both Lucky and Maria in her hands and she began firing a hailstorm of hot lead and soon the one who had been throwing explosive fled from his spot too. ED-E joined in firing laser blasts at the man who wore similar armour to a First Order trooper.
"That's right! You better run! We'll find you!" Courier shouted at the two fleeing troopers who disappeared down the path leading further into the city.
"Everyone alright?" Dragonborn asked as he looked around.
"We'll live," Sora replied. "Who were those guys? Were they First Order?" he asked.
"I think so. I didn't get a good look, but their armour does look similar yet different as well," Veronica replied. "That sniper was wearing a cloak and the other had a heap of explosives and a flamer on his back," she recounted.
"Special troops, do you think?" Dragonborn asked.
"Makes sense that the First Order would have spec-ops troopers for certain missions," Courier said as she reloaded Lucky and Maria before holstering them. "We must be doing something right for the First Order to send a couple of Spec-Op troopers to wipe us out," she remarked.
"How is that a good thing?" Sora asked in confusion.
"You don't see it?" Courier asked the Keyblade's Chosen. "All that we've done so far is set back the bad guys' plans, so much that they're sending in their best to take us out," she explained.
"Oh. I guess we are doing something right," Sora said with a smile.
"Either way, we now have a reason to search this world," Dragonborn stated. "Come, we must endeavour to learn whatever there is about this world and save it from Maleficent's Heartless and the First Order," he said.
"Right behind you, Harbinger!" Aela said quickly.
ED-E suddenly beeped in alarm. "Someone's still here!" Courier exclaimed as she pulled her Holorifle out and shouted, "Alright, whoever's there, come out with your hands up! You got ten seconds!"
"Hello? Is anyone there?" And stepping from behind a pile of wooden crates was a young woman with light brown skin, long lustrous dark hair and wearing a sky-blue outfit.
"Who are you? Why are you hiding back there?" Courier demanded harshly.
"Six! She's probably scared enough already! Lower the gun!" Veronica urged.
"Not until we know she isn't with them," Courier rebuked.
Dragonborn took a softer approach. "Pray excuse my companion, we've learnt not to trust easily," he explained. "Who are you, my lady? And why were you hiding back there?" he asked.
"My name is Jasmine," the young woman replied. "My father is, or was the Sultan of Agrabah," she said.
"Sultan? So that makes you a princess?" Sora asked and Jasmine nodded.
"Why are you hiding?" Veronica asked the Princess who began to explain.
"My father was deposed by Jafar and his allies who now controls the city with those monsters," Jasmine told them.
"Jafar?" Serana raised an eyebrow.
"You don't know? Jafar was my father's vizier, but he gained dark powers and now rules Agrabah," Jasmine said. "He and those monsters are searching for something… the 'Keyhole' I think it was called," she added.
"Did you happen to hear the name of Jafar's allies?" Courier asked as she lowered her Holorifle deciding Jasmine was not a threat currently.
"I think their names were Maleficent and Father Elijah," Jasmine replied. The last name alarmed Courier and Veronica.
"Father Elijah? Are you certain that was his name?" Courier asked Jasmine in a serious voice. "Was he an old man wearing purple robes?" she further asked.
"Yes, he was," Jasmine answered. "You know him?" she asked.
Courier huffed an angry breath before saying, "I thought he was dead!" she cursed angrily.
"You thought he was dead?" Veronica asked. "What do you mean by that?"
Courier heaved a tired sigh before speaking. "Remember a while back, I went missing for a couple of weeks?" Veronica nodded. "And have you ever heard about the Sierra Madre?" Veronica nodded almost hesitantly. "Well, that's where I ended up," Courier said. "I found this abandoned Brotherhood of Steel bunker and I got locked inside and hit with some knockout gas and I woke up in a city of the dead with a bomb collar strapped to my neck," she explained.
Courier then began to tell everyone of the horrors of the Sierra Madre; of the sinister goings of a massive casino being built that held a vault to massive riches. But what lay withing the Sierra Madre Vault was not only riches, but scientific information and data from the Big Empty that detailed the scientific horrors of the Cloud, the security holograms, the vendor machines, the Saturnite alloy, the Ghost People, all these things that could change the scope of the Wasteland should one lay their hands on it all.
Veronica was somewhat familiar with the legends about the Sierra Madre, having heard rumours and tales when on the road from traders and travellers. She hadn't wanted to believe in tales of a City of the Dead beneath a red cloud, but some part of her had always told her that there had to be some kernel of truth to those legends.
Courier then detailed the story of how Father Elijah 'recruited' her into breaking into the Sierra Madre Vault with the 'help' of some 'volunteers.' Dean Domino, a Pre-War Ghoul actor and entertainer who was in reality a thief and had been trying to break into the Vault for centuries and was an all-round scoundrel. The Nightkin with the split personality of Dog and God who was both a willing and yet unwilling servant of Elijah. And finally, Christine, a Brotherhood of Steel soldier who had been sent to assassinate Elijah for his crimes by the Circle of Steel, but ended up captured.
"Christine's alive?!" Veronica almost screamed in shock.
"She was when I last saw her," Courier said sombrely. "She stayed behind in the Sierra Madre to make sure that whatever lay within the Vault would never see the light of day," she added.
"So, when you said you thought Elijah was dead, what did you mean?" Serana asked.
Courier gave a darkly amused chuckle as she said, "I locked Elijah in the Sierra Madre Vault. He got what he wanted, but he'd never be able to use it nor escape."
"Until Maleficent found and helped him escape," Dragonborn stated the obvious.
"Yeah," Courier muttered darkly. "We run into Elijah, leave him to me. He's mine!" she said to everyone. "I'm gonna do what I should've done; two to the chest, one to the head!"
"Either way, the threat of Maleficent and her Heartless is cause for concern," Dragonborn stated firmly. "We cannot let them find the Keyhole," he said before he looked at Jasmine and asked, "How did you manage to escape?"
"Jafar almost caught me trying to escape," Jasmine replied before she smiled and said, "But he helped me."
"He? He who?" Sora asked.
"He helped me hide from Jafar, but he left to take care of something," Jasmine said. "Oh, I hope Aladdin's alright!"
Then a new voice announced itself. "Aladdin? Where might I find this street rat?" Everyone looked up to see a man wearing royal red and black robes holding a snake headed staff standing on a ledge along with a taller man wearing white armour.
"Jafar!?" Jasmine exclaimed in fear and hate.
"Princess Jasmine, allow me to find you more suitable company," Jafar offered sinisterly. "These little rats aren't fit to be in your presence," he said with a mocking glare.
"Who are you calling rats?!" Courier demanded as she aimed Maria at the snaked in human skin.
"Jasmine, run! We'll take care of this!" Sora yelled and Jasmine fled down the street. Sora summoned his Keyblade and the white armoured man spoke up.
"So, you're the one who holds the Key?" he asked in a cold imperious voice. "Makes me wonder what it sees in you," he said.
"And who are you? You with the First Order?" Courier asked as she switched her aim from Jafar to the white armoured man.
"First Order? Hmph, I was with the Empire first," the white armoured man replied. "Sergeant Kreel of SCAR Squadron!" he introduced himself before pulling a metallic handle and a glowing black blade sprung forth from it and stepping into view were similarly armoured men, two of which Sora and his friends recognised: the sniper and the grenadier.
"Take the boy with the Key alive. Terminate the rest!" Sergeant Kreel ordered.
The largest of the white armoured men hefted an RPG launcher and aimed it at the heroes who ducked for cover. Sergeant Kreel dropped down from his spot and launched himself at Sora, swinging his weapon at the Keyblade wielder. Sora noted that Kreel's weapon seemed to cut, burn and melt through almost anything it went through, and he wasn't certain that the Keyblade could withstand that, so he opted to keep out of Kreel's reach.
Dragonborn blocked knife strikes from one of the white armoured men who was armed with an assortment of knives. Dragonborn noted that the man seemed skilled with a pair of blades and seemed to be keeping him on the defensive. While Dragonborn could've used his Thu'um to end this quickly, he wanted to see just how skilled this man was with a blade and began to strike back.
Courier traded shots with the sniper, having switched Maria for Medicine Stick. The cloak the sniper wore was painted to blend in with the environment. But with ED-E's advanced sensors, she could pinpoint the sniper's position and keep him pinned. Then ED-E began to buzz and chirp in alarm.
"ED-E?" Courier asked as she looked at the Eye-Bot whose frame was beginning to fizz and spark alarmingly. Courier quickly realised that someone was remotely hacking into ED-E's systems and she soon spotted the one doing it. The trooper was pressing buttons on his wrist computer rapidly, hacking into ED-E's systems and nearly succeeded, but 45-70 calibre slug nearly hit him in the gut forcing him to take cover and cease his efforts.
Aela was avoiding punches from the hulking trooper and throwing some of her own at the man. Serana cast bolts of lightning at the trooper who flew around with a jetpack on his back. Blaster fire rained down on the ground, melting and baking the sand into glass. Serana hissed angrily, her fangs bared as she cast a stream of frost at the trooper who kept out of reach of the frost magic.
Veronica fired off shots from her pistol at the grenadier trooper who had switched to his flamethrower. The ex-Scribe hid behind a wall to avoid the scorching flames before she pulled out her satchel an EMP grenade. After hearing the flamer go silent, Veronica primed the grenade before jumping out and tossing it. The metal sphere landed near the flamer who leapt out of the way just as the grenade exploded in a shower of electro-magnetic energy. The trooper grunted in surprise as his flamer fizzed and sparked, obviously shorted by the short range EMP explosion. Veronica then leapt out with Oh Baby and swung it hard at the trooper who barely avoided the strike in time.
Sora avoided Sergeant Kreel's strikes. "Ha! This is the Key? A frightened little boy who won't stand and fight?" Kreel taunted. "And to think you're Skywalker's son!"
"What do you know about my dad?!" Sora shouted in surprise.
"More than you, it seems!" Kreel replied as he made an overhead strike at Sora who instinctively raised his Keyblade to block. A sharp high-pitched ring rang out and Sora saw that his Keyblade blocked Kreel's weapon. Smiling to himself, Sora then began to strike back at Kreel, forcing him on the defensive.
Dragonborn spun his sword in an arc, forcing the knife wielder back against the wall. The trooper grunted and tensed up as Dragonborn swung his sword at his neck. The trooper barely ducked in time and sparks flew as Dragonborn's sword cut a deep line in the sandstone wall. The trooper then dropped to one knee and thrust his knife at Dragonborn's stomach. Fortunately, the Ebony forged metal of Dragonborn's armour held up against the blade, though a faint scratch was made against the metal. Dragonborn snorted before grabbing the trooper by his armour and threw him to the side, sending the man skidding along the sandy ground.
Courier lobbed a fire bottle at her opponent, forcing the man to seek cover elsewhere before she looked over at Sora and saw the Keyblade wielder lock his weapon against Sergeant Kreel's own weapon. Sora had some skill but against Kreel's obviously superior strength and experience, Sora might not survive. Holstering Medicine Stick and pulling out Blood Nap, Courier charged over to assist Sora. Dragonborn came over to assist as well against Kreel.
Sora blocked Kreel's strikes, panting for breath. Kreel was not as winded as Sora was, if anything he seemed more elated as the battle dragged on. "C'mon! Your father put up more of a fight than you!" the Empire trooper said before raising his weapon above his head before swinging it down hard onto Sora. Another loud high-pitched clang broke the air and Sora looked to see Dragonborn standing in front of him, his own sword blocking Kreel's weapon.
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" Dragonborn asked Kreel who snorted before taking a swing at his new opponent. High-pitched rings and clangs rang out into the air as Dragonborn's sword clashed against Kreel's blade. The edges of Dragonborn's sword glowed a dull cherry red as the black energy blade of Kreel's sword struck it.
"Finally! An actual challenge!" Kreel said with excitement in his voice.
"You're not much of one," Dragonborn said dryly as he parried a strike from Kreel who growled in anger and struck harder.
Courier then came up behind Kreel aimed Maria at the man. "Surrender! Or else I'll put a bullet in you!" she threatened. Kreel snorted before spinning around and slashed his weapon at Courier.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment and Courier stood still for a moment before she fell to her knees and gave a choking gasp, clutching a deep wound on her chest.
"Courier?!" Veronica screamed in dismay.
"No… By the Nine, no!" Aela exclaimed and Serana could only stare in mute shock.
"Damn you!" Dragonborn cursed at Kreel before using his Thu'um.
"FUS RO DAH!"
Kreel was sent flying back where he collided against a wall, leaving a deep cracked impression on it before sliding down the ground, groaning in pain.
"Sergeant!" one of Kreel's men shouted.
"Courier? Courier?! Speak to me!" Veronica wailed out as she knelt by Courier. ED-E buzzed and chirped anxiously. Dragonborn acted quickly, casting a healing hands spell on Courier and he said, "Quickly! We've got to get out of here!"
"Down here! Hurry!" Sora shouted as he led the group out of the square. Dragonborn hefted Courier into his arms and carried the critically injured wastelanders away.
"Sergeant?" Kreel's men looked to their leader who stood up with a groan and said, "Let them go. We've injured one of their own. We'll track down the rest of them and finish them off." He grunted in pain. "Bastard! Elenwen wasn't joking when she said that Dragonborn was powerful. Have to think of something to even the odds," he mused.
Sora led the group to a loft where Dragonborn set Courier onto the ground and cast another healing hands on her.
"Is she gonna be okay?" Veronica asked with tears in her eyes. "She's gonna make it, right?"
"The wound is deep," Dragonborn said. "If she wasn't wearing her armour, then she would be dead for certain," he added.
Courier coughed weakly and tried to sit up but Aela held her down. "Rest now, Courier. That was quite a blow you took," the redheaded lycan told her.
"I'm… fine," Courier protested in a weak voice. "Just gimme a couple of stims and some whiskey and I'm good to go," she said as she tried to sit up again.
"No. You need to rest and heal," Dragonborn said to her sternly. "You're lucky you aren't dead," he added.
"Always been a survivor," Courier joked. "Where's that bastard?" she asked as she panted for breath, giving a pained cough as it hurt to breathe and talk.
"Don't know, don't care," Dragonborn replied.
"Who was that guy anyway?" Veronica asked.
"He said his name was Kreel," Serana replied. "And he was part of the Empire, but which Empire did he mean?" she asked in thought.
"I don't think he's part of the Tamriel Empire," Dragonborn said. "If he is, then I haven't heard of him before today," he added.
Sora was looking around the loft and he soon spotted something moving in the corner. "Hold up, I think there's something in here with us," he said.
"A Heartless?" Aela asked as she pulled out her Skyforge steel dagger.
"I don't think it is," Sora said as he moved over to where he saw the moving object.
"Be careful, Sora!" Serana warned him.
Sora then a large urn was holding down the struggling being and he pushed it off and leaping out from its imprisonment, the object wrapped itself around Sora startling him and the others a little before it unfurled itself from Sora making him chuckle in amusement as he saw what it was before him.
The moving object was an ornate Persian carpet with gold linings and tassels and it was using said tassels as hands and feet. The intricate designs all across the purple fabric seemed to highlight its energetic and playful personality as it danced around Sora happily and Sora realised that it was saying thank you to him.
"A magic carpet?" Dragonborn whispered. The carpet heard him and nodded before moving to stand at the open window as if ready to take off.
"Hey, I think he wants us to follow him," Sora said and the carpet nodded.
"Maybe he knows where Aladdin is?" Veronica suggested and the carpet danced eagerly.
"Then let's… get moving," Courier said as she tried to sit and stand to her feet.
"No! You need to heal!" Veronica said to her.
"We'll take her with us," Dragonborn said. "That way I can still tend her injuries," he added and everyone agreed before helping Courier onto the magic carpet which then floated and everyone climbed onto it and it then zoomed off into the air.
…
Carpet then flew the heroes out into the desert and eventually night began to fall as the group reached a part of the desert where a young brown skinned man wearing a purple vest and dirty white pants along with a monkey struggling to pull themselves out of the sand.
"Could that be Aladdin?" Sora asked his friends.
"It must be. Otherwise, why bring us out here?" Serana replied.
Then Heartless appeared. "Heartless!" Sora exclaimed.
"You take care of the Heartless, I'll help Aladdin down there!" Dragonborn said before he looked at Carpet and said to it, "Keep Courier away until it's safe, alright?" Carpet nodded in confirmation before flying a short distance away.
Sora, Aela, Serana, Veronica and ED-E fought off the Heartless while Dragonborn strode into the churning sand to help Aladdin out of it. "Who are you?!" Aladdin asked as he looked up at the black armoured man.
"A friend," Dragonborn replied as he helped pull Aladdin and his pet monkey out of the roiling sands.
"There are too many! We can't keep this up!" Veronica shouted as she slammed the head of Oh Baby into a soldier Heartless.
Aladdin then pulled out from his pocket a brass oil lamp, rubbing it and saying, "Genie! Get rid of these guys!" Then a stream of blue smoke and magical sparks flew into the air as a large periwinkle blue man appeared and replied, "Wish no. 1 coming right up!"
With a snap of his fingers, the Heartless disappeared. Aladdin sighed in relief as Carpet came back with Courier.
"So, kind telling me who you guys are and what those monsters were?" Aladdin asked the group.
Sora then proceeded to introduce everyone to Aladdin and what the Heartless were. "I see. Thanks, Sora," Aladdin said gratefully.
"So, what were you doing out here, Aladdin?" Sora then asked.
"Oh, same as usual," Aladdin replied. "Just hunting legendary treasures in the Cave of Wonders," he said. "It's where I found Carpet and this lamp," he added.
"What's so special about that lamp?" Dragonborn asked.
"Well, legend has it that whoever…" Aladdin began to say when the periwinkle man interrupted him.
"Please, Al, leave the introductions to the professionals!" The blue man then turned into an Austrian bodybuilder. "The ever impressive!" He then appeared inside a glass cube, "The long contained!" Before appearing as himself along with a ventriloquist doll of himself "Often imitated, but never!" Suddenly duplicates of him appeared all shouting, "Duplicated, duplicated, duplicated, duplicated!" Then a spot light shone on him as he declared, "Genie! Of the Lamp!" then the other Genies cheered and whistled as the original turned into a talk show host, "Right here, direct from the lamp, right here for your wish fulfillment! Thank you~~!"
"Wish fulfillment?" Veronica asked.
Genie nodded and replied, "Three wishes to be exact! And ix-nay on the wishing for more wishes!" He then turned into a slot machine, his arm pulling down and three gold genies appeared in the window. "Three!" And out of the slot, three caballeros appeared saying, "Uno, dos, tres!"
Turning into a sepia toned man, Genie then said, "No substitutions, exchanges or refunds!" A sepia toned duck with a cigar in its mouth dropped down with the word refund painted on a sign around its neck.
"Any wish?" Serana asked.
"Ah, almost," Genie replied turning into a distinguished gentleman. "There are a few provisos, a couple of quid pro quos," he said.
"Like?" Aladdin asked.
"Ah, rule number one! I can't kill anybody!" Genie then sliced off his head making everyone wince. "So don't ask. Rule number two! I can't make anybody fall in love with anyone else," He then turned into a giant pair of lips that then kissed Aladdin on the face. "Mwah! You little punim there!"
Then going flat on his back, Genie said, "Rule number three!" before slowly rising up as a hunchbacked zombie. "I can't bring people back from the dead. It's not a pretty picture… I DON'T LIKE DOING IT!" he shouted as he shook Aladdin before turning back to normal and saying, "Other than that, you got it!"
"Well, that sums it up," Aladdin said before he looked at Genie and asked, "Now about my three wishes?"
"Ah, dost mine ears deceive me?" Genie said. "Three? You are down by one, boy!" he declared.
"Ah, no. I never actually wished to get rid of those Heartless, you did that yourself," Aladdin said slyly.
Genie raised his hand to protested before his jaw dropped, realising that what Aladdin said was true. "Well, don't I feel sheepish?" he asked as he turned into a sheep and he looked at Aladdin and said, "Alright, you baa-aad boy! But not more freebies!"
"Fair deal," Aladdin nodded his head before he looked at Courier who still lay on Carpet injured. "Whoa, what happened to her?" he asked.
"She was injured fighting some enemies we countered earlier," Dragonborn replied.
"Well, you guys saved my skin back there, so I guess I should repay the favour," Aladdin said before he looked at Genie and made his first official wish, "Genie, I wish for you to heal her!"
"Alright! You said the word, Doctor Genie is in the house!" Genie replied as he snapped his fingers and suddenly Courier's stitched itself up before healing over instantly, leaving only a scar. Courier gingerly sat up and touched her chest, clearly impressed at how her wound was healed by magic and she looked at Genie and nodded her thanks.
"So, master, what'll be your second wish?" Genie asked Aladdin.
Aladdin gave it some thought before saying, "How about making me a fabulously wealthy prince?" he asked.
"Ooh, money, royalty, fame!" Genie said. "Say the word and you'll have a hundred camels loaded with gold and spices!" he declared as he held a phone to his ear. "If it ain't here in thirty minutes or less, I'll throw in a cappuccino!"
"I think I'll put that on hold until we get to Agrabah," Aladdin said.
"Why would you want to become a prince?" Aela asked him.
"Well, there's this girl named Jasmine and I like her, but… aw who am I kidding? She'd never want to be seen with a street rat like me," Aladdin said.
"You truly think Jasmine wouldn't want to be with you?" Dragonborn asked. "She obviously likes you," he said.
"How do you know that?" Aladdin asked.
"That reminds us! Jasmine is in trouble! Jafar is looking for her!" Sora said quickly.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Aladdin said as they hopped onto Carpet and flew back to Agrabah.
As they flew back to Agrabah, Sora asked Aladdin, "So, say you do become a prince, what would your last wish be?"
"I don't know," Aladdin replied. "I want it to be good," he said before he looked at Genie who was flying alongside them. "What would you wish for?" he asked.
Genie halted looking surprised. "No-one's ever asked me that before," he said quietly. "In my case… oh, forget it…"
"What is it?" Courier asked Genie who said, "No, I can't."
"It's okay, we won't laugh," Sora said to reassuringly.
Genie sighed before saying, "Freedom!"
"You're… a prisoner?" Veronica asked her eyes going soft in sympathy.
"All part and parcel, the whole Genie gig," Genie said before growing to phenomenal size, his voice echoing as he said, "PHENOMENAL COSMIC POWERS!" He then shrunk down into his lamp and saying in a tiny voice, "Itty-bitty living space!"
"Genie, that's terrible!" Aladdin said in concern.
"But, oh, to be free?" Genie said as he slowly appeared out of his lamp. "Not have to go, poof! What do you need? Poof! What do you need? Poof! What do you need? To be my own master would be greater than all the treasures of the world!" he declared as he looked up the sky before slowly going back down. "But what I talking about here? Let's get real, it's never gonna happen! Genie, wake up and smell the hummus!"
"What are you talking about?" Courier asked.
"Well, the only way I get out of this, is if my master wishes me out," Genie replied. "So you can guess how often that's happened," he said cynically.
"I'll do it. I'll set you free," Aladdin offered.
"Uh-huh, yeah, right!" Genie said as his head turned into a puppet whose suddenly grew longer. Aladdin pushed the nose back in turning Genie's head back to normal. "I'm serious! After I use my second wish, I'll use my last wish to set you free," he said.
Genie looked up at Aladdin with hope and skepticism in his eyes as he asked, "You'd really do that for me?"
"Genie, it's a promise! After we find Jasmine," Aladdin replied.
"Then let's go rescue a princess!" Genie beamed before he turned into a happy sponge chanting, "I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready!"
…
As soon as they arrived in Agrabah, the heroes were ambushed by the Heartless. Aladdin and Abu helped fight off the Heartless, but while Sora was fighting a Heartless, one snuck up behind him and prepared to strike when suddenly it was destroyed by a blaster.
"Away from them, you dogs!" Sora looked over to a 4' tall yellow alien put away its blaster, "In here! Hurry! Before more of them show up!" she shouted.
"Do we trust her?" Sora asked his friends.
"You want to stay out here?" Courier said and Sora shrugged his shoulders before following the little alien into the place Aladdin recognised as his home.
"Unbelievable! The Dark Side grows stronger every day! I can't even go shopping in Agrabah anymore!" the little alien complained.
"Who are you?" Sora asked her when Genie beamed and said, "Maz? Is that really you?" he asked happily.
Maz smiled up at Genie and replied, "Genie, old friend! It's been years! How are things?"
"Great! My new master and best buddy, Al, has promised to use his last wish to set me free!" Genie said, patting Aladdin on the shoulder.
"Really?" Maz looked at Aladdin appraisingly and said, "That's very generous of you." She then looked at everyone else, "The rest of you aren't from around here, and neither are Jafar's new allies," she said knowingly.
Sora opened his mouth to speak when Maz held up a hand to forestall him. "No need, I know why you are here," she said.
Maz then began to examine everyone in front of her and she looked at Dragonborn and said, "You are a warrior gifted with great power… the blood of dragons flows in your veins." Dragonborn simply nodded in response. Maz then looked at Serana who shifted a little, "A Daughter of Coldharbor? My sympathies, yet you have an inner strength and a person close to you who keeps you going forward in life." Serana shifted a little as if uncomfortable with such details being revealed. Looking at Aela, Maz smiled, "A fierce and hardy warrior with the strength and ferocity of a wolf; when you see something… or someone you want, you go after them with everything you have." Aela smirked a little in response.
Maz then looked at Veronica, her eyes softening as she said, "You've been through much hardship and watched as your family slowly kill themselves and you couldn't stay to watch it any longer." Veronica nodded sadly. Looking at Courier, Maz said, "A veritable wild-card. Death could not stop you and yet, you suffer from deep personal demons that you try to hide from others." Peering close at Courier, Maz added, "You also share a similar aura to you friend here." She then cast a glance at Dragonborn who tilted his head in response. "Interesting…"
Maz then looked at Sora. "You're a Keyblade wielder, and you're looking for someone," she remarked.
"Yeah… Riku and Kairi," Sora replied.
"Didn't we see Riku in Traverse Town?" Serana asked and Sora nodded and replied, "So, just Kairi then."
Maz stared at Sora a moment longer before saying, "Traverse Town? Then it appears things are worse than I thought!" she said.
Looking at everyone Maz said to them, "Jafar is looking for Jasmine and the Keyhole. You must stop him from finding them first!"
"Keyhole, huh?" Genie stated. "I swear I heard that somewhere before," he said as he put a hand to his chin thought. "Now where was it? It's only been a few hundred years…"
"We'll figure it out later," Courier said. "Right now, we need to stop Jafar from taking Jasmine and finding the Keyhole!" she declared.
"She's right," Maz said. "I saw Jafar and the palace gates along with Sergeant Kreel and his men," she told them.
"What do you know of Kreel?" Aela asked her.
"He's a remnant of the Old Empire, one of their best foot-soldiers who was handpicked and trained by Darth Vader himself in lightsaber combat," Maz replied. "He's now the current wielder of the Darksaber," she said grimly.
"Darksaber?" Veronica parroted.
"That weapon he was using," Courier said as she figured out the details. Maz nodded and said, "Indeed. It's a legendary weapon with a long and bloody history, but that can wait. Now go! Stop Jafar before it is too late!"
Everyone nodded and prepared to leave, but Maz stopped Sora. "A moment please, young one," she requested.
"What is it?" Sora asked her. Maz removed her spectacle, revealing her tiny eyes as she replied, "I've seen the look in your eyes before on the faces of others… before you lost your home, your friends and mother to the Heartless, you were looking for someone else." Sora's eyes widened as Maz continued, "You're looking for your father and older sister."
Sora said nothing and Maz then said, "The real reason you wanted to explore the other worlds was to put your family back together. If you wish to work better with your friends, you must be honest with them."
Sora reluctantly nodded before leaving.
…
Aladdin led the heroes across the rooftops, leaping across them and they soon reached the palace gates where they found Jafar along with Sergeant Kreel his men. Kreel had Jasmine held captive so as to prevent her escaping.
Leaping down the ground, Aladdin shouted, "Jafar! Let Jasmine go!"
Jafar sneered and replied, "Setting your sights a little high, aren't you boy? Be gone, street rat! I shan't allow you to trouble the Princess any further!"
"I'm so sorry, Aladdin!" Jasmine said as she struggled in Kreel's grip but the Stormtrooper's grip on her was too tight for her to escape. Courier moved to fight Kreel, but Veronica held her back.
Aladdin held the lamp behind his back, rubbing it, "Genie! I wish you to help Jasmine, please!" he whispered.
Then Genie appeared beside Kreel and punched him. "Wish number two and last one left! You're making this really easy you know?" he said as he lifted Jasmine into the air to carry her over to Aladdin and the others.
Jafar laughed and said, "I'm sorry, boy, but I'm afraid your wish has been denied!" Iago suddenly flew over carrying Genie's lamp in his claws which made Aladdin give a startled jump of surprise.
"I'm sorry, Al!" Genie cried as he dropped Jasmine into an urn. Jasmine fell into the urn with scream and as she fell into it, the urn sprouted spider-like legs.
"And now, I bid you farewell! Attack!" Jafar ordered and he and Kreel along with the lamp disappeared. More clay urns sprouted legs and two exploded to reveal an insect-like Heartless head and thorax.
"Aladdin! Help!" Jasmine cried out from her imprisonment as the clay urns and the Heartless head and tail joined to form a centipede.
"Hang one, Jasmine!" Aladdin shouted.
"What do we do?!" Sora yelled as the Heartless centipede tried to escape.
"Use that summon of yours!" Courier told him. "Have him cut off the Heartless while we try to get Jasmine out of there!" she ordered.
"Got it!" Sora then put his hand to his heart and shouted, "SIMBA!" And in a flash of light a large lion with a red mane of hair appeared before them.
"What the? How did I get here?" the lion asked before he looked at Sora and the others, "Who are you?"
"NO time to explain!" Aela answered. She then pointed at the Heartless centipede and said, "That monster has a friend of ours. Can you help us stop him?" she asked.
The lion growled in anger and said, "That's the same monster that attack my home!" Looking at the heroes, the lion, "I'm Simba, let me lend a paw!"
"Then shut up and fight!" Courier said as she pulled out her holorifle.
Everyone then went to work to prevent the Heartless from escaping. Simba roared as he slashed at the head with his claws. Dragonborn stabbed his sword into the Heartless' tail to keep it from moving while everyone else worked on destroying the pots, trying to figure out which one held Jasmine.
Soon, the Heartless was destroyed leaving only one pot left. "Hang on, Jasmine!" Veronica said as she smashed it open only to find it was empty save for a small device. "She's gone!" the ex-Scribe exclaimed.
Then the device played a message, "It seems your Princess is in another castle."
"Kreel!" Sora spat.
"If you want the Princess back, then come to where the Lamp rested. The Cave of Wonders. Come little heroes, I'll be waiting!" the device said in Kreel's voice before stopping.
"To the desert! Let's move!" Aladdin shouted.
Sora looked at Simba and said to him, "Thanks for your help."
Simba nodded and replied, "No problem. If you need any more help, just call." And with that he disappeared.
"So, we're not gonna talk about how a lion can talk?" Veronica asked.
"Remind me to tell you about a dog I met once," Dragonborn said to her.
Climbing onto Carpet, the heroes then headed for the Cave of Wonders. On the way there, Courier looked at Veronica and asked her, "Why did you stop me? I could've saved Jasmine!"
"Or Kreel could have killed you that time," Veronica retorted. "He got pretty close last time!" she said.
"If it means stopping Elijah, then I'm willing to take the risk," Courier said coldly. "I've already died once, and it didn't stop me before!" she added as she pointed to her head referencing the first time she died.
"One day, you're gonna run into something just as stubborn as you are! And what will you do then?" Veronica asked.
"I'll let you know when that happens," Courier replied sarcastically.
Soon they reached the entrance to the Cave of Wonders, the head of a giant panther that then spoke in a deep, booming voice, "WHO DISTURBS MY SLUMBER?" it asked.
"It is I, Aladdin, the Diamond in the Rough!" Aladdin replied, Abu meekly hid behind Aladdin's shoulder. "Abu's sorry about last time. We won't touch the Forbidden treasure this time," he said.
The Panther's eyes looked at Sora and said, "YOU BRING THE KEYBLADE WIELDER WITH YOU, LONG HAVE I AWAITED HIS ARRIVAL. ENTER!"
The Panther opened its mouth to reveal the staircase.
"Let's go, the longer we wait, the sooner, Jafar will find the Keyhole," Dragonborn said as he drew his sword and held it ready as everyone entered the Cave of Wonders.
…
Far within the Cave of Wonders, inside the Lamp Chamber, Jafar stood next to the enslaved Genie while Jasmine lay unconscious on the floor with Kreel standing guard.
"How do you plan to find the Keyhole when the Heartless could not?" Kreel asked Jafar who smirked in response before looking at Genie and said, "My first wish, Genie, show me the Keyhole!" he commanded.
Genie sighed despondently before snapping his fingers and a rock wall burst apart revealing the Keyhole's resting place.
"At last!" Jafar then began to laugh evilly.
…
The heroes fought their way through the Cave and Abu was tempted by the treasure, but Aladdin quickly reminded the sticky-fingered monkey what happened last time. Abu quickly stopped, not wanting to be buried alive again.
Back in the Lamp Chamber, Maleficent and Elijah had arrived when they learnt that Jafar had Princess Jasmine and found the Keyhole.
"The heroes again?" Maleficent asked Jafar who sneered and said, "They're more persistent than I thought. But why not explain the situation to that boy Riku?" he suggested. "Doing so my prove useful to our…" he tried to say when he was interrupted by a rocking explosion and striding in through the smoke was Courier and the others.
"Knock-knock, anyone home?" Courier asked menacingly and she locked eyes with Elijah, "You!" she cursed as she pulled out Maria.
"Courier!" Elijah grunted in distaste and the rogue Brotherhood of Steel then noticed Veronica standing beside Courier with an expression of shock and disbelief. "Veronica," he said his voice softening slightly.
"Why? Why, Elijah? Why did you join Maleficent?" Veronica asked in hurt and confusion. Elijah's expression was unreadable as Sora looked at Maleficent.
"Are you Maleficent?" the Keyblade wielder asked.
Maleficent simply smiled in response before she and Elijah disappeared. Aladdin looked at Jafar and shouted, "Let Jasmine go!"
"Not a chance, boy! She's a princess, one of seven who hold the key to opening the final door!" Jafar said.
"Opening?" Aela said and Serana finished her sentence with "The final door?"
"Yes, but you fools won't live to see what's beyond it!" Jafar gloated. Holding up the lamp, he shouted, "Genie! My second wish; crush them!"
There was an awkward silence before Genie broke it with, "Uh… well you see, Master, I can't… really… do that," he said nervously as he tugged on a red tie around his neck.
"What?!" Jafar sputtered angrily.
"Sorry, but dem's Da Rules!" Genie said as a large book and flipped open to the relevant page. "My hands are tied!" And sure enough, Genie's hands were tied with thick hemp rope.
"Useless fool!" Jafar spat as he fixed his gaze on the heroes and said, "If you can't destroy them, then I will! My second wish; make me the most powerful sorcerer in all the worlds!" he screamed.
"Genie, no!" Aladdin shouted.
"Sorry, Al, the one with the lamp calls the shots. I don't have a choice!" Genie lamented as he snapped his fingers and Jafar was suddenly super-charged with magic, lifting himself up on a cushion of pure magic. Jafar laughed maniacally as he floated in the air.
"Get the lamp!" Dragonborn shouted as they rushed in quickly. Veronica and Aela tried to go for the lamp but they were both hit with a spell and turned them both into stone statues. Serana tried to rush but Jafar zapped her into a large hourglass. "Ah, ah, my dear, your time is up!" Jafar gloated.
"Serana!" Dragonborn shouted as he broke off and moved to free Serana from her confines as sand began to fall on her, beginning the process of burying her alive.
"Oh, nice shot, Jafar!" Iago praised before he was knocked out by Abu who then tried to go for the lamp, but Jafar spotted him and hit him with a spell.
Abu shrieked as he was turned into a toy monkey. "Don't toy with me!" Jafar shouted.
"Abu!" Aladdin called out in dismay.
Carpet and ED-E zoomed in for the Lamp but they were struck by a spell where upon Carpet was literally unravelled into string and ED-E collapsed into a pile of bolts and gears. Soon, Dragonborn, Courier, Sora and Aladdin were the only ones left standing.
Dragonborn turned to the others and said, "I'm getting Serana out of there! Take care of Jafar! I'll help you once I free Serana!"
"What about Kreel?!" Sora shouted.
"Leave him to me!" Courier stated as she spun Lucky and Maria on either hand. Kreel leapt down from his spot and activated the Darksaber, the blade singing with a shrill wine of power.
"Round two, asshole! Let's go!" Courier challenged. Kreel gave a laugh before charging in and Courier charged in as well, firing her guns at the SCAR trooper.
Sora and Aladdin charged towards Jafar as he flung spells and hexes at them. Aladdin used his natural agility to leap or dodge them, whereas Sora took them head on but appeared unfazed by them. This caught Jafar's attention as he said, "It seems your connection with Skywalker renders you immune to my spells."
"What do you know about my dad?!" Sora demanded.
"More than you it seems!" Jafar hissed. "Something you won't live to find out, and I'm just getting warmed up!" Jafar then spewed fire from his mouth and the flames surrounded Sora and Aladdin.
"Afraid to fight us yourself, you cowardly snake?" Aladdin called out.
"A snake, am I?" Jafar asked. "Then perhaps, you'd like ssssssee how ssssssnakelike I can be?" he said as he suddenly transformed into a giant cobra with black scales and red markings.
"You had to call him a snake, didn't you?" Sora deadpanned at Aladdin who shrugged in response just as Jafar slithered towards them forcing them to dodge. Jafar then tried to lunge for them with venom filled fangs, missing them twice and on the third try, Aladdin swung his scimitar and hit Jafar square in the face causing him to shriek in pain.
Genie then transformed into a cheerleader squadron chanting, "Rickem rockem rackem, rake-stick that sword into that snake!"
"You sssssstay out of thissssss!" Jafar commanded. Genie then reverted to one cheerleader weakly waving a small Jafar flag saying, "Jafar, Jafar, he's our man, if he can't do it? GREAT!"
As Sora and Aladdi continued to fight Jafar, Courier faced off against Kreel. "You fight well!" Kreel complimented. "Perhaps one day, you'll join us willingly?" he offered.
"No thanks! You guys are too Legion for me!" Courier responded as she swung a fist at Kreel's head. Kreel caught the fist but Courier then smashed her knee into Kreel's stomach. Kreel grunted in pain before he swung his own fist into Courier's gut, making her grunt in pain. Kicking Courier off him, Kreel steadied himself and readied the Darksaber in his hands.
Courier then activated her VATS, going for the Darksaber in Kreel's hand and fired a shot from Maria. The Jacketed hollow point hit Kreel's hand, knocking the Darksaber out of his hand. Kreel growled in pain as blood poured out of his palm before Courier closed the distance and slammed the butt of Lucky into Kreel's temple, knocking him out.
Looking over at Dragonborn who was trying to free Serana, Courier rushed over to help when Jafar moved in front of her. "Not ssso fassst!"
Dragonborn then used his Voice.
"FO KRAH DIIN!"
A great torrent of ice and snow spewed out of Dragonborn's mouth and hit Jafar's scales. Jafar shrieked in pain and Dragonborn shouted to Sora, "Sora! Snakes are coldblooded!" Sora nodded in understanding and began to cast ice magic at Jafar who shrieked in pain as his coldblooded body was bombarded with icy cold magic.
Dragonborn went back to trying to free Serana who was now up to her shoulders in sand he hacked at the hourglass, hoping to destroy but it appeared that the glass was too strong to pierce with a sword.
Sora then suddenly got an idea in his head. One that just might work. Smiling privately to himself, he looked up at Jafar and said, "Meh!" Shrugging his shoulders as he did.
"What?! What do you mean 'meh'?!" Jafar demanded angrily.
"Exactly that. You're not all that powerful, just meh," Sora said smugly. "There's so much more powerful people than you; Hades, Elenwen, God, the Genie, to name a few," he added.
"WHAT!?" Jafar screamed feeling insulted by Sora's dismissive attitude towards him.
Aladdin however caught onto to what Sora was doing and went along with it. "He's right! The Genie has more power than you'll ever have!" he shouted.
Genie having not caught on meekly said, "Sora, Al? What are you doing? Why are you bringing me into this?"
"He gave you your power! He can take it away just easily!" Aladdin then said. "Face it! You're still just second-best!" he taunted.
"That's being nice about it. When they look at you, they won't think you're even worth their time. They'll just say meh!" Sora put in.
Jafar hissed angrily before suddenly realising there was some truth to those words. "You're right… hisssss power exceedsssss my own!" he said. "But not for much longer!" he added triumphantly as he slithered towards Genie who was now trying to talk him out of it.
"Jafar! They're talking crazy! One too many hints from the snake!" Genie said.
"SSSlave! For my final wish, I wissssh to be an all-powerful genie!" Jafar commanded.
Dragonborn and Courier watched in horror as Genie said, "Okay… your wish is my command!" Looking at Sora and Aladdin, he whispered, "Way to go you two!" Too afraid to see what would happen, Genie covered his eyes with one while he granted Jafar's final wish with the other. A stream of magic shot out from Genie's finger and as it collided with Jafar, the transformation was instant as Jafar changed from his snake form into the form of a red skinned genie.
"Yyyyyessss! Yes! The power! The ABSOLUTE POWER!" Jafar roared as the room shook and the ground exploded to reveal a vast lava filled cavern below.
With a final roar, Dragonborn smashed the blade of his sword into the hourglass just as the sand nearly covered Serana entirely. The glass broke apart and sand poured out and Serana slid out. Dragonborn dug her out and Sora asked him, "Is she…?"
"She's alive," Dragonborn said in relief. "What got into your head? Putting that idea in Jafar's head?" he asked.
Courier thought about it for a second and she perked up in realisation. "The Lamp! Jafar has his own lamp that's he bound to now! We grab that, we can end this fight!"
"we're gonna all the help we can get!" Aladdin said as he pointed down below and Sora groaned as he saw Iago flying around with a Black Lamp in his claws.
"Then let's go grab it!" Dragonborn said as he readied himself for the jump. Noticing the Darksaber on the ground, he tossed it over to Courier who caught it with one hand.
"What's this for?" she asked.
"Spoils of war, might come in handy," Dragonborn replied before he jumped down into the cavern below. Sora and Aladdin jumped in after Dragonborn. Courier stared at the Darksaber in her hands before putting it in her satchel and jumped after the others.
Luckily there were some stone platforms for the heroes to land so as to avoid ending up in the lava. Jafar emerged from the Lava, hefting a large molten boulder in his hands before throwing it at the heroes with a roar.
Sora leapt up and smacked his Keyblade into the molten boulder, sending it right back at Jafar, stunning the evil genie.
"Get the lamp!" Aladdin shouted as he chased after Iago who flew for his life screaming in fear as Aladdin, Courier and Dragonborn gave chase.
Jafar raised a fist and tried to slam it down onto the heroes. Dragonborn used Voice.
"IZZ SLEN NUS"
Jafar grunted in pain as his head was covered in thick ice and he tried to break it off with his fists before diving into the lava to melt it off.
Sora cast Thunder and bolts of lightning shot down and Iago yelped in terror as the magical bolts of lighting narrowly missed him.
Jafar re-emerged from the lava angrier than ever. "THE UNIVERSE IS MINE TO COMMAND! TO CONTROL!" he bellowed as he swept his arms across the platforms.
…
Up above the cavern, Jasmine came to and she saw what was happening below, suddenly the sound of footsteps caught her attention and she turned around only to gasp and her world went black.
…
Dragonborn braced himself against Jafar's arm, pushing against the limb with his considerable strength. Courier fired Medicine Stick at Jafar's head. Jafar grunted in discomfort as tough the 45-70 semi-wad cutters were merely bee-stings to him.
Sora grunted as he futilely tried to jump and grab the lamp from Iago, but Iago was wisely keeping out of Sora's reach.
Then a strangely familiar voice made itself heard in Sora's mind. 'Use the Force, Sora.'
"Huh?" Sora looked around to see where the voice had come. 'The Force, Sora. Use it, trust me,' the voice whispered to him.
Reaching out with one hand, Sora closed his eyes and suddenly the Black Lamp in Iago's claw shook. Iago tried to grasp it more firmly but with a wrench, the lamp flew out of Iago's claws and into Sora's hand. Sora smiled in triumph before he held the lamp in his hands and looked at Jafar.
"Hey Jafar!" Jafar looked over and horror dawned in his eyes as he saw his lamp in Sora's hands. "You wanted to be a Genie? You got it!"
Golden shackles appeared on Jafar's wrists. "WHAT?!" Jafar stared in horror at the two accessories on his wrists.
"And everything that goes with it! Now back to your lamp!" Sora commanded.
"NO! NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Jafar screamed as he was sucked into his lamp, latching onto Iago who was screaming as well.
"Phenomenal cosmic powers!" Sora said as Jafar was finally sucked into his prison. "Itty bitty living space," he grinned.
"Al, Sora, you little geniuses you!" Genie beamed as the Lamp Chamber returned to normal and those who had been affected by Jafar's magic were restored to their natural state.
Veronica and Aela coughed as they returned to flesh, Carpet was re-ravelled and ED-E was screwed back together and Abu turned back into a real monkey. Serana came to and asked "What happened?"
"It's over," Dragonborn told her as he helped Serana to her feet before tending to Aela.
"You okay, V?" Courier asked Veronica who smiled shakily and replied, "Better now. Is it over? What did I miss?"
"Sora and Aladdin tricked Jafar into becoming a Genie and trapped him in his own lamp," Courier explained.
"That's… pretty smart," Veronica said.
"Sora! The Keyhole!" Dragonborn shouted pointing over at the Keyhole. Sora raised his Keyblade and a beam of bright light shot out from his Keyblade and locked the Keyhole with a loud click.
Aladdin was then looking around for Jasmine, calling out her name, "Jasmine?! Jasmine!" he shouted desperately.
"She's gone!" Sora exclaimed.
"Kreel must've woken up and took Jasmine while we were fighting Jafar," Dragonborn stated.
Then an ominous rumbling was heard and boulder started to fall from the ceiling and deep cracks appeared.
ED-E beeped urgently. "The cave's integrity is coming apart! We gotta get outta here now!" Courier shouted.
"Climb on!" Aladdin shouted as he jumped onto Carpet. Everyone climbed and Carpet flew them out of the Cave of Wonders, narrowly avoiding boulders and rocks as they fell from the ceiling. Finally, the heroes flew out of the mouth of Panther as it sank down into the desert sands.
…
Flying back to Agrabah to Aladdin's house, the heroes found Maz waiting for them.
"What should tell Aladdin?" Aela asked.
"The truth. He deserves to know what's going on," Dragonborn said simply.
Sora and his friends then began to explain everything to Aladdin who listened attentively. After telling Aladdin everything about other worlds and Maleficent, Aladdin spoke, "So, Jasmine's no longer in Agrabah or this world anymore," he said slowly. "Let's go find her!" he declared.
"I'm sorry, they can't take you with them!" Maz said to him.
"Why not?!" Aladdin asked in dismay.
"Even if we wanted to, we'd be messing up the World Order even more just as Maleficent and her allies are," Courier informed him.
"We'll find Jasmine for you, Aladdin," Sora then said to Aladdin. "I promise!" he declared.
Genie then spoke to Aladdin, "Al, it's no problem, you'll still got one wish left!" he reminded him. "Say the word and I'll bring Jasmine back safe and sound!" he said.
"But, Genie, what about your freedom?" Aladdin said to him.
"Hey, it's only an eternity of servitude," Genie said dismissively. "This is love we're talking about!" he told Aladdin. "Al, you're not gonna find another girl like Jasmine. Not in a million years! Believe me, I know, I checked!"
"It's your call, Aladdin," Sora said to Aladdin. "What are you gonna do?" he asked.
Aladdin thought about it before replying, "I know what to do," he said before he looked at Genie and made his final wish. "Genie, I wish for your freedom!"
"One rescued princess coming up!" Genie said rolling up his sleeves before realising what Aladdin's final wish was, "…What?" he asked.
"Genie… you're free!" Aladdin said as he held the lamp which began to glow as Genie was now free from servitude, his tether to the lamp disappearing and the shackles on his wrist disappearing. The lamp glowed one final time before falling to the floor with a clatter. Genie gingerly picked up the lamp, looking at with an expression of scarcely comprehending what had happened.
"Heh… I'm free? I'm free!" Genie said though chuckles. Handing the lamp to Dragonborn he said to him, "Quick! Wish for something outrageous! Say, say, 'I want Elder Scrolls VI!' Wish for Elder Scrolls VI, try that!"
"Uhhh… I wish for Elder Scrolls VI?" Dragonborn said uncertainly.
"NO WAY!" Genie then burst into hysterical laughter of joy as everyone rolled their eyes but they were happy Genie was now free from his servitude. "Oh, how does that feel good! I'm free! I'm free at last!" Genie crowed in happiness.
Suddenly, a suitcase appeared before Genie and he began to pack it full of clothes. "I'm hitting the road! I'm off to see the worlds! I'm…" He suddenly looked at Aladdin, his expression falling.
Aladdin smiled sadly at Genie and said, "You have your freedom now. Your own master. But, it'd be great if you went along with Sora and the others to bring Jasmine back."
Genie turned around folding his arms and replied, "Sorry, Al, I'm done taking orders!" Aladdin slumped his shoulder, but Genie then he turned around with a smile on his face and said, "But a favour, now that's entirely different! I can give that a shot!"
"After all, we're pals, right?" Genie then asked Aladdin.
"Genie?" Aladdin looked up at Genie who then said, "Just leave it to me! Jasmine will back home before you know it!" Aladdin smiled up at Genie and laughed.
Courier then looked at Sora and asked, "So, what was it you did back in the Cave of Wonders? How did you get the Lamp from Iago?" she asked.
"I don't know, I heard this voice telling me to use the Force," Sora replied uncertainly.
"Force? What Force?" Veronica asked.
Then appearing in the middle of the room was spectral ghost of an old man wearing brown robes. "Perhaps I can shed some light on the subject?" the ghost offered with a smile on his bearded face.
Everyone barring Maz stared at the ghost in shock and Genie keeled over in fright.
…
Meanwhile, Maleficent and her inner circle stood around a stone table, having watched the battle of Sora and his companions against Jafar. Hades grunted in distaste as he said, "That smarmy vizier could've had them, if two people stuck around to help him!" He glared at Riku and Sergeant Kreel.
"Hey, we did our part!" Riku argued. "We brought the Princess, didn't we?" he pointed out.
"Indeed, and thanks to you, we are one step closer to our goal," Elenwen replied.
"Jafar was beyond help, his hatred and arrogance led to his own undoing," Father Elijah stated.
"Indeed, one should beware of letting it burn too fiercely," Maleficent said in agreement and casting a glance at Hades who held up his hands in protest.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Lighten up! I'm as cool as they come!" the God of the Underworld said before he looked at Riku. "By the way, kid, have we got something for you?"
"Huh?" Riku exclaimed in confusion.
"We had a deal, yes?" Maleficent reminded him. "You help us, we grant you your wish," she said as she waved her hand at the stone table and an image of an unconscious Kairi emerged.
"Kairi!" Riku exclaimed in desperation.
"Go to her, your vessel is waiting," Elenwen said to him and swaggering in was a tall man wearing a pirate robe with a hook for a left hand.
"Just remember, this is no pleasure cruise!" the pirate said. "It won't be a pleasant voyage!" he warned.
"Why are you all doing this for me? What's the catch?" Riku asked suspiciously.
"Catch?" Maleficent echoed. "Silly boy, you're like a son to me," she said sweetly. "I only want you to be happy," she added as she pinched Riku's cheek.
Riku brushed her off and said, "I seriously doubt that!"
"Believe what you wish, boy," Father Elijah replied. "We have kept our end of the bargain. I hope you remember that," he said sternly. Riku then walked off with the pirate.
Elijah then looked into the Shadows and the dark helmeted figure standing there. "Lord Kylo, have you brought good news?" he asked the man.
Kylo Ren replied with, "Our new allies, HYDRA, have taken your technology and improved upon it. They will soon deploy it."
"Excellent, I look forward to seeing it in action," Elijah said with a gleam in his eyes.
"What's so special about that junk anyway?" Hades groused. "Doesn't seem all that special to me," he added.
"Because you have not seen it for yourself," Elijah replied. "Imagine an army which cannot be beaten, totally subservient to your whims, or technology that can provide you with everything you require?"
"So?" Hades asked.
"Well, in any cases, I shall certainly like to see how the Keyblade's Chosen and his allies fare against the technologies of the Big Empty!" Elijah said with a sadistic gleam in his eyes. "Especially how a world full of heroes will fare against," he added.
…
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: There! The seventh chapter of this done and dusted! It took me a while, but I got through it! Anyways, next chapter will be something marvelous! *wink, wink, nudge, nudge.*
Anyways, not much more to say, so I'll just leave this here and see you all in the next one, because my back is killing me and my hands are pretty tired.
Be kind to one another,
Angry lil' elf.