Chapter 24
Deep in the underground tunnels of Oblivion, Kefka Pallazo was tied up and put on a boat. He was mumbling curses since his mouth was covered in a cloth.
Denzel and Marlene waved at the foolish clown as he was floating away.
"Sorry dude. Nothing personal. Well, it was personal." said Denzel.
"Awful timing." said Marlene.
The kids went upstairs and went to a newly cleaned room for Namine, who was still resting. Roxas was by her side, speaking with her. The two hit it off great. They would talk for hours on end and they seemed to enjoy each other's company.
"And then. Sora had to take a shower after that! He reeked for days!" said Roxas, laughing.
Namine laughed too. "Gosh! That was horrible! I'm sorry that happened." said Namine.
"We used to be close. The four of us. Until the incident happened." said Roxas.
"If only we didn't have to deal with so much drama and other things going on." said Namine.
"When you had the dreams, were they all mixed up?" asked Roxas.
"More or less. My dreams were always about hope, despair, fights, and love." said Namine.
"Yeah. Have you noticed that the dreams are pretty much fairy tales? Like, lovers are always in the stories? Beauty and the Beast. Aladdin and Jasmine. Simba and Nala. There is always a love story." said Roxas.
"I like love stories. They sometimes fill your heart with hope." said Namine.
"Yeah, but they are so unrealistic." said Roxas.
Denzel and Marlene exchanged looks and decided to step out. They said they were going to stand guard outside.
"I admit, some of them are hard to believe. Like love at first sight. It's too hard to imagine." said Namine.
Roxas leaned closer to Namine's side. Not too close, but somewhat close. Almost shoulder to shoulder close.
"I haven't told Sora this. But in the dreams, the ones where we are in; I find out Sora has a crush on Kairi. In fact, they love each other." said Roxas.
"That's right. And I had a dream where we both say we will be together as long as Sora and Kairi were together." said Namine softly.
"What does that mean exactly?" asked Roxas.
"It can be interpreted in some ways. We are either good friends, or perhaps we had something special." Namine said with some pause.
"If there was something special, how come we stopped seeing each other? In one dream, I came back from the dead. Kind of. Like a doll brought to life. I sound weird, yes. And I'm with Axel and Xion. I completely forget about you. And I didn't like that." said Roxas.
"That was in Kingdom Hearts 3." said Namine with a sly smile.
"What?" asked Roxas dumbfounded.
"It's a long story. I'll explain what that is." said Namine.
"We are in a story?" asked Roxas.
"My dreams go outside the barriers of our world. In another world, we are characters in a story based on a video game, books and even a movie." said Namine.
"A movie? A video game? Books? You lost me there." said Roxas.
"Roxas, let's talk about now. Today. Reality. Right here. What do you feel?" asked Namine.
"I don't know. I feel like we are rushing into this." said Roxas.
"Rushing?" said Namine.
"Should we even be allowed to do this? I mean… I like you a lot. I really do. But are we rushing?" asked Roxas.
"Most love stories are rushed. And some take their time. We may not have gotten to know each other better in this world, but we absolutely did have time to know each other in the dreams." said Namine.
Roxas got closer to Namine. Now a couple inches close to her. "In one dream, I'm in a white room and you told me that I shouldn't exist. You were in the same boat as I was. It was a totally platonic conversation we had, but I bet for a lot of people, that conversation meant so much more. If we truly are fairy tale characters, then I suppose people can make up stories about us." said Roxas.
"What do you choose in this story?" asked Namine, her face getting closer to Roxas's.
"I choose…. I choose love." said Roxas.
Namine and Roxas slowly placed their lips against each other and they shared a kiss. Roxas held Namine's hands, which were warm to the touch.
Denzel and Marlene were outside, waiting for a few minutes.
"You don't suppose things are… weird in there?" asked Marlene.
"We heard Cloud and Tifa say things before." said Denzel.
"Yes, but… hey, since when have you ever heard Cloud and Tifa….. Denzel… do you feel that?" asked Marlene.
The hallway got cold. Very cold. Then, a shadow appeared. Not a Heartless. Unfortunately, what appeared was worse than a Heartless.
Vanitas appeared before the children. He was wearing black armor, with red veins decorated on his chest and he was wearing black and red boots with a black cape covering behind his legs. On the side of his hips, on one hand, he carried what appeared to be a black helmet.
And on the other hand…. A sword shaped like a key.
"Leave." demanded Vanitas.
Denzel put up his fists and Marlene pulled him away. "There's nothing we can do! We have to run!" cried Marlene.
"Right…. ROXAS! NAMINE!" cried Denzel before he left with Marlene.
As the kids were running far from the danger, Vanitas blasted the door open with a dark volley from his key shaped sword.
Roxas stood up and faced Vanitas.
"Vanitas. What have they done to you?" asked Roxas in disbelief.
"Namine. Come with me. The lords of evil wish to see you." said Vanitas.
"You cannot take her!" cried Roxas. He pushed Vanitas, but he didn't budge an inch. Instead, Vanitas kicked Roxas on the stomach with his foot, sending him flying across the room.
"Don't hurt him, Vanitas! Take me! Leave him!" cried Namine, standing up from bed.
Vanitas looked at Namine. His once blue eyes were now the color yellow, the same as Xehanort's. He did not smile, nor did he make a facial expression. He truly was a heartless vessel.
"Come." said Vanitas.
….
Namine found herself walking in the hallway with Vanitas. The school looked eerie and scary to walk in. She was expecting some sort of jump scare to appear out of nowhere.
Eventually, she did jump. A snarling blue creature wearing a red jumpsuit appeared. He had a collar around his neck and he was trying to pry it out. And then, it shocked it. The creature breathed deeply in and out. And then, Frollo appeared.
"So this is Namine. You look like an angel carved for Notre Dame. Such beauty and splendor." said Frollo.
Namine didn't say a word. She simply scowled at the man. Namine already had nightmares about him. She knew what this creep was capable of.
"Stitch, be a good little demon, and take Namine to see the headmaster." said Frollo.
Stitch obeyed and held Namine's hands. "I'm s-so-sorry." Stitch managed to say.
"You poor thing." said Namine sadly.
Stitch took Namine to a large room. It wasn't Xehanort's office. It was the gym, fashioned into a throne room. Namine didn't know either to laugh or be scared. It was ridiculous that the gym would be turned into this. However, the minute they arrived, there was a fight. A very big fight.
"What the hell is going on here!?" cried Frollo.
Xehanort appeared, weeshing loudly and making odd noises. "S-scar! Scar! He's…. Too strong!" cried Xehanort.
Sephiroth appeared with his black wing before them. "He's even given me a hard time. How can this stupid lion be that strong?!" exclaimed the exhausted One Winged Angel.
Scar himself appeared, with red flame balls surrounding him. And behind him, walking a few inches from him were two figures. Figures that were dangerous in their own right.
The Horned King and Hades.
"What is this?" asked a frightened Namine.
"They arrived and infiltrated the school!" cried Xehanort.
"Did you invite them?" asked Frollo.
"I would never invite them here! I don't need their power!" cried Xehanort.
"We are here to speak of allegiance." said Scar.
The Horned King slowly spoke, with an echoing voice. "Sephiroth attacked us first. We only wanted to talk. The one winged angel needs to learn to restrain himself." said the Horned King.
Hades didn't say a word. He simply smiled and put his long blue hands together.
"You burst into the gym and started firing your blasted fire balls at us." said Sephiroth.
"That is how I make an entrance." said Scar.
Maleficent appeared and scoffed. "The six great evils. There should be seven! Seven great evils!" said Maleficent.
"Correct my dear. Seven. There should be seven great evils. Xehanort, Sephiroth, Frollo, Hades, Maleficent, Scar and yours truly." said the Horned King.
"Seven? Why seven?" asked Sephiroth.
"Of course. Seven. Why haven't I thought of that? It was so simple!" cackled Xehanort.
Namine's eyes widened in terror. She HAS HEARD of that term before. In the dreams. The seven. Seven guardians of light. Seven princesses of hearts. And the seven darknesses. Here, it was the seven great evils. Oh how circumstances changed and were falling into place. A very weird place.
"Yes fool. Seven. The seven of us would take over everything. Why haven't you invited us to this? We would be glad to give you our aid." said Scar.
Sephiroth smiled and stroked his chin. "I'm liking where this is going. What say you lord of death? I'm surprised you didn't say a word." said Sephiroth.
Hades laughed and spoke. His voice was utterly annoying. "I was paid 50 bucks to be in this fan fiction. I gotta say, that is so cheap for me. But hey, this is Kingdom Hearts, so anything goes I suppose."
"What are you saying?" asked Xehanort confused. Heck, everyone was confused, except for Namine, who was up to speed pretty much with the confusing mambo jumbo.
Frollo went on his knees before Hades and pulled his long blue hand toward his own lips.
"What Hades says, coming from his mouth, is nothing but the gospel truth! Praise thee! Praise thee!" Frollo said and then he kissed his hand with his ice cold lips.
"Should I be grossed out, or be flattered? Anyway, yes, the seven of us should join up. Why? Because the goodie two shoes Snow White is planning to dethrone us." said Hades.
"Snow White? Is this a joke? That woman only makes pies and sings to forest animals. Calling her a threat is ludicrous." said Sephiroth.
"You realize she can take control of me with her singing voice. That woman is a demon!" sneered Scar.
"What about the boy? Sora? Where is he?" asked The Horned King.
"Sora is not here. He vanished. And he will be. Thank goodness he's a coward." said Xehanort.
"You mean he lives." said the Horned King.
"Uh oh. Major plot twist coming up? What's ya gonna do Hornie? Huh? Huh?!" asked Hades excitedly.
"I would prefer you would not call me that. It is highly indecent of you. You are a god. Ruler of the dead. Act like it." snarled the Horned King.
"Xehanort, what about your Heartless?" asked Maleficent.
"Heartless? What is that?" asked Scar.
"Creatures I unleashed to destroy hearts. I have fabricated a large number of them. We should unleash them all now." said Xehanort.
"So what? For all of us to deal with them? How do we know they are not going to swallow our hearts?" asked Frollo.
"I for one do not have a heart." said Hades.
"Nor do I." said the Horned King.
"I'm all hollow within." said Maleficent.
"Enough! Xehanort, while our enemies are growing in size, you have delayed time and time again to destroy the boy and unleash the Heartless. You are slow!" sneered Scar.
"Quiet, or I'll turn you into a throw rug! But you're right. I haven't taken the steps necessary for my plan…" said Xehanort.
"Your plan? You mean all of our plan." said Maleficent.
"She's right. The seven of us are in this." said Frollo.
"You cannot do that! Please, don't send those monsters out into the world! You'll destroy us all!" cried Namine.
"Ah! We forgot about you! Yes. Everyone, this is Namine. She is in league with Sora. Perhaps you know where he is." said Xehanort.
"I don't know where he is." said Namine.
"Don't lie to us. You are hiding him." said Maleficent.
"I will never talk!" cried Namine.
Just then, water balls appeared out of nowhere and splashed against the seven evils. Everyone started to scream curses since the water was cold. Namine was baffled for a second when all of a sudden, a beautiful woman appeared.
"Namine!" cried Aqua.
"Your…." Namine was saying.
"Denzel and Marlene told me. I found them. I'll explain later. Come with me!" cried Aqua. She pulled out a wand and threw more water balls at the villains.
"Let's go!" she cried. Aqua pulled Namine's hand and they ran out of the throne room.
Sephiroth and Hades were not affected at all by the water. They simply stared as Aqua and Namine left.
"Should we do something?" asked Hades.
"Don't bother. I would like to see how things are going to go from here. Makes life exciting." said Sephiroth.
Xehanort composed himself as everyone else was quickly recovering.
"I cannot wait to sink my teeth in her skull for this." sneered Scar.
"Not if I turn her into a skeleton." said the Horned King.
"Burn her alive! That would teach her." said Frollo.
"She had a wand. She must be a witch." said Maleficent.
"A good witch. Not unlike you, who loves to dabble in the dark arts. Makes you very bad." said Hades.
"Flattery won't get you nowhere my dear." said Maleficent.
Xehanort didn't say a word. He saw her. He saw Aqua. She actually came to rescue Namine. And she used a wand with a water spell to do it. Simple water balls froze them in their tracks. But that was not what bothered him. Aqua came to the rescue. And if she did…. That meant the spark of hope was somehow alive. And he knew he had to stop it. No. Kill that spark of hope before it was too late…..
"Vanitas." Xehanort said. Vanitas appeared.
"Go outside Oblivion and find Sora. Kill him. And bring me his head so I can shove it on Aqua's face. She must not be allowed to fight either. With Sora dead, hope dies along with him." whispered Xehanort.
Vanitas nodded and put on his black helmet. The other six evils watched as Vanitas walked through a dark corridor.