Chapter 12

Kefka Pallazo didn't move an inch. He stood there like a scarecrow for a little while as Sora closed the door behind him. In that instant, Kefka started to cackle with delight and he put his two hands together. The man had long white nails, which gave Sora shivers.

"You want me to leave? On what grounds boy?" asked Kefka.

"You heard me. Leave!" cried Sora. He wasn't sure how he was going to handle this. He had nothing to defend himself with and this Kefka person may have something up his sleeve. Kefka continued laughing.

"Who are you again? Tell me." laughed Kefka.

"I'm Sora!"

Kefka continued to laugh. It started to irritate Sora.

"What's so funny?!" demanded Sora.

"I'm laughing because you are acting big and strong, trying to look menacing. You're just a little boy! This is so funny! It's enough to make me want to puke!" cried Kefka.

"Why are you hurting Namine?!" cried Sora.

"Hurting her? I'm doing no such thing. I'm just making sure she stays locked up in here. Xehanort is paying me good money just for taking a quick peak and then leave." said Kefka.

Sora found an opening. An opening that he could use. Sora wasn't much of a negotiator. He was always terrible at asking for prices on something in a store. He was very shy when it came to those things. But perhaps if he played his cards right, he might be willing to make Kefka turnaround and leave.

"What if I told you I can pay you more than what Xehanort pays you?" said Sora.

"What's that? You are offering me more money? How? You look broke." said Kefka.

"I-I know the nephew of Scrooge McDuck. I can put in a good word for you and he'll write you a big paycheck! Besides, how much does Xehanort pay you?" asked Sora.

"Scrooge McDuck's nephew? You know somebody related to that magnificently rich old duck?" asked Kefka, finally interested.

"Yes! I do! And I'll tell him to tell his uncle. Better yet, I can talk with him personally. I have a way with words." said Sora, hoping he wasn't messing up.

"You are a charming young man. I can give you that. But you are a middle schooler. What business does a boy like you have with McDuck?" asked Kefka.

Sora started to think fast. A good reply. "I know he's scared of losing his money." said Sora.

"Yes. All rich folk have that fear." said Kefka.

"And I know something that Scrooge has that gives him the money. There was this coin…" Sora had to stop. He felt like he was putting somebody in danger. And Scrooge never met Sora! He was using the old man as a escape goat! He had to stop before things went far.

To his surprise, Kefka spoke. "You mean his lucky dime. Yes. It has magical properties. I was there when the magic was bestowed upon it." said Kefka.

"What?" asked Sora.

"Yes! A long time ago, the lucky dime was once a regular dime. It just like any other old dime that people had. It was spare change! I remember I was invited to a gala, watching the magic come to life. Okay, I wasn't invited. I crashed that gala. There were fairies there. The Fairy Godmother, The Blue Fairy, Maleficent, Merlin, Yen-Sid, and other magical beings. They were doing some sort of thing where they were enchanting certain objects for the safety of the world, or something or other. The dime was one of those things. In fact, it was stolen that day!" said Kefka.

"Stolen?" asked Sora, interested in Kefka's story. He mentioned so many familiar names that Sora knew instantly.

"Yes. It was stolen by a powerful wizard named Merlock. He took it and everyone started to freak out. It was I who chased the wizard, but I wasn't able to get the dime." said Kefka.

"Then how did Scrooge get ahold of it?" asked Sora.

"A witch named Magica De Spell, a duck woman, took the dime, and Scrooge was in a battle with her. It was such a deliciously chaotic day! First the enchanted gala, then a battle between old McDuck and Magica De Spell on board a pirate ship! It was a day full of adventures! All I did was sit back and watch the drama unfold like some sort of movie goer." said Kefka.

"My head is starting to hurt. So much happened. When was this exactly?" asked Sora.

"I really don't remember when that happened. But I do know that the dime is magical and Scrooge has it under his iron fist. He would never part with it." said Kefka.

"You didn't fight him for it?" asked Sora.

"Nope. I'm not interested in money. I'm interested in chaos!" said Kefka.

"Chaos. Well, there is a whole lot of it happening now. And I think something bad is going to happen." said Sora.

"How so?" asked Kefka.

"You see, there are good forces and bad forces up there in Oblivion. And you don't seem like you are aware of what's happening." said Sora.

"My boy, I'm well aware of what's going on up there. I know there are people who fight against Xehanort, and those who side with him." said Kefka.

"Then why do you work for Xehanort?" asked Sora.

"I'm only in it for the chaos!" replied Kefka.

"Then if you want more chaos, what would happen if Namine went with me. She knows things that she can answer for me. And whatever she tells me, I know that those forces are going to collide up there. One way or another. I feel it. And I know you feel it too. You know this school has something wrong with it." said Sora.

Kefka smiled with his horrible red lips and put his back against the wall.

"Say I let you go with Namine, Denzel and Marlene. If I do, Xehanort will find out." said Kefka.

"Will he? What if he doesn't? When the chaos is unleashed, what would his reaction be?" asked Sora.

Kefka nodded as if an idea came to him. "Yes. He would be shocked. And what Xehanort doesn't know won't hurt him. If I keep my mouth shut… oh! I like where this is going! You just peaked my interest. Forces of good and evil, up there, clashing with each passing day… yes… it all sounds so deliciously entertaining!" exclaimed Kefka excitedly.

"Then, can we leave?" asked Sora.

"Ha!" cackled Kefka and then he replied.

"Absolutely…. NOT!" He then pulled out some cards from his coat and started to shuffle them.

"I admit I'd love to see how things will end up there. And I'm not sure if you can stomach the truth about this place." said Kefka.

Sora gritted his teeth. And Kefka started to laugh.

"Maybe. Or maybe not! You've come this far! You now know that your headmaster is a liar! And you also know about the two forces that are against each other with each passing day! You don't think I know about all this! I already have my fair share of chaos everyday!" Kefka was saying as he was walking around in circles shuffling his cards. He of course didn't notice Sora walking up to him slowly, and then he pushes him off the stairs.

Kefka fell a few feet high from where he was standing and landed on the river below. He looked funny as he waved his arms around like a maniac and his cards flying everywhere.

As he started to panic and yell out curses, Sora called out to Marlene and Denzel. They quickly walked out, each of them helping Namine out.

"You know, you could have just pushed him from the beginning." said Denzel.

"Does it matter now? Let's get out of here!" cried Marlene.

Sora helped them out quickly while Kefka got on a small boat that was tied to the bottom of the stairs.

"Tweedles! Where are you?! After them!" cried Kefka.

Sora and the others went back into the hallway and they exited through the door where Sora came in. They however didn't notice Maleficent observing them as she opened her door. She yawned and covered her mouth as she saw them.

"Well, well." she said to herself. She went outside and the Tweedles stopped in their tracks.

"Lady Maleficent! You're awake!" cried one of the tweedles.

"Tell your master to shut his mouth. His screaming woke me up." said Maleficent.

"But those kids! They are getting away!" cried another tweedle.

"Are you defying your mistress?" asked Maleficent, eyeing the tweedles with disgust. The tweedles bowed their heads and ran back to help Kefka out. Maleficent turned her head and watched as Sora left with Namine.

"This truly is going to be a problem." she said to herself.