Chapter LXXXXV: Goin' onto the Groovin Empire Part IX

It was now late in the night and the jungle was littered with the sounds of creaking crickets echoing all around, the plants everywhere dripped once now and again as there had been a rainfall for a while not too long ago.

Everything though had now settled down as the mists wavered in the air, all three villains had settled into their sleeping arrangements. Yzma quite obviously was in a luxury tent with extravagant colours of purple and dark blue, along with a single painted image of a green lizard. Kronk on the other hand was in the weirdest arrangement that could be thought of, lying on the jungle floor in his blue and white striped pyjamas as he continued to snore away with a teddy bear laying on his abdomen as a tiny miniature tent was made over his feet.

Pete though unlike the other two had taken to simply resting in a sleeping bag under a tree, through the gap in the leaves though Pete simply stared into the night sky as the stars shone down. He hadn't been able to sleep much since the rain had woken him up before and now he couldn't get one specific thought out of his mind.

Looking on in his mind's eye he saw an image of Hari as she battled away with her dazzling red energy and her cold eyes as she gazed on with her same emotionless radiance as her long brown hair twirled in the air. Seeing it as the image shone he reached his arm up as though he could catch it in his palm, however as reached up it faded in moments to be replaced by the lonely night again.

His hand still in the air he wondered aloud sadly, "Hari? How're ya doin now?"

But then as he asked that one question suddenly Kronk gasped loudly and sat up from his miniature tent in moments making Pete jump too as he stared at him shocked. He was silent as he looked on, he then heard him say looking as though he was on to something as he stared at his teddy bear, "the peasant! At the diner!..." Pete was quiet, what was he on about? But then Kronk finished, "he didn't pay his cheque." With that the bumbling moron lay back to rest as he continued to snore away again.

Looking at him oddly as he did this Pete wondered with a look of awkward bafflement on his face, "just what the heck was that there about?"

But then as he asked this one question suddenly a distinct squeak reached his pointed ears, "what's that?" He asked. Looking around he quickly got out of his sleeping bag as he stood up and walked over to where he could hear the sound, crouching down he quickly then pushed the various bushes and leaves that were in his way and there he saw something that really surprised him.

It was a heartless, a small dark blue one with a red hooked tail.

Looking at it, it was clear it had been badly damaged as one of it's wings were wounded to the point where it could no longer fly anymore, gathering the small hook bat in his hands Pete then asked, "what're ya doin here?"

At the sound of its master's voice the heartless cried out again as it beat it's one remaining wing up and down, seeing it do this Pete didn't quite get it, but then bowing his head closer to listen to the creature a little better, it then squeaked into his ear.

Listening to it puzzled for a moment Pete's eyes then widened as he then spoke out, "so that's who they're with!" Then seeing that it had fulfilled its duty the small heartless fell down in Pete's hands. It finally succumbed to the magical damage it had received from Nozomi's Thunderga attack as it faded quickly away into the darkness as its small heart flew away into the night.

Getting up quickly he then moved over to Kronk as he shook him hard, "oi! Kronk! Kronk! Get up!"

Waking up again blearily Kronk looked a little disorientated as he looked up at him and said, "huh what? What's got you-"

But not having time to talk Pete told him, "I've just received info! I know where that llama emperor is! And the other target too!"

At this description Kronk instantly got his act together as he got up quickly and spoke, "what! Where are they?"

Looking at him Pete then looked back at the space where the bat heartless had vanished as he told him, "they're both with this big farmer fella in a green poncho! They're tryin ta get back to the palace."

Listening to this description it was then something clicked into Kronk's mind as he quickly said breathless, "I know that guy!"

At once Pete turned to him again surprised now himself as he asked, "what?"

Nodding quickly as the memories rushed into his cranium Kronk spoke as he held a hand his chin, "that's the guy who I saw disappearing into the crowd with Kuzco!" Then taking a quick intake of breath he then stumbled onto another thought, "and where his village is-"

But then Pete finished it for him, "we'll find 'em!" For he smiled broadly at this news for it was the best that they could of possibly have asked for!

Smiling himself glad for his deduction Kronk then said, "oh yeah! We're all gettin it together!" With that he then got up as he then said, "I gotta go and tell Yzma!"

With that he got up and ran to her tent, while Pete on the other hand put a hand to his mouth as he blew into his fingers, a loud whistle echoed everywhere as then there was a huge thunder as then the three huge heartless that were given to them all landed on the ground.

Staring at them happily Pete then told them as the rapid dog heartless emerged again hungrily breathing in and out, "suit up guys! We're back in business!" As he said this suddenly came an irritated cry as Yzma had been woken up from her beauty sleep, "KKKKKRRROOONNNKKK!"

Walking alone and sadly as the sun dawned finally through the trees, Kuzco wandered down a lonely path as his depression echoed all over from him. It had been a horrible night for him as he'd been left soaking in the stormy rains with nothing to cover him from the cold wet droplets or anywhere to shelter him from the unforgiving weather.

His head down as he continued to walk on he then stopped as he sensed something bright, looking up he saw a huge field of green luscious grass in the mists of rolling hills as several small shapes walked across its plains, llamas of all different colours as they all munched away.

Seeing his fellow 'brethren' he was depressed with his ears down but then having nothing else to do Kuzco approached them all, a smile on his face as he tried to initiate conversation but he was only met with critical stares from them all. Feeling uncertain as he stared at them his expression changed with awkwardness as he bent his head back slightly as though to make a laugh. However he was met with only rejection as all of the snooty creatures walked off leaving Kuzco all alone once again as they all moved onto another patch of the grass.

Seeing them all leaving him his ears drooped once again… isolated he looked down at the grass below him, it was pleasant enough to look at but then he slowly and hesitantly sniffed it. There was nothing really bad about it, as it smelled of earth and watery dew drops, then slowly he reached his head down dejected with his mouth open.

Stopping above it for a moment he wondered, would he really eat this stuff? Was he just going to resign to his fate and be like this? Well… what other choice did he have? So launching forwards he dug his teeth into the substance however he had reached in too deep and so was taking a thin slice of earthy mud with it as he chomped into it forcing it down his throat. The effect and taste was absolutely disgusting as he felt like he'd be sick as he poked his tongue out as it was lathered with mud and pieces of grass.

However his pride down and his depression there despite the disgusting taste he bent back down to take another bite once more, but then as he went to do so a shadow emerged over him.

Looking up noticing the darkness that had come over him he then saw much to distress and panic were two heartless! These ones were two big fat bandit heartless, they looked down at the helpless llama emperor with alien soulless eyes.

Seeing them both Kuzco was breathless with fear as then suddenly one of them started to move, lifting one of its grand fists out as it went to grab him. Seeing this terrified out of his mind he jumped out of the way as he darted and started to runaway.

But then the other heartless seeing him do this bent itself backwards and then as Kuzco made it a certain distance it spat out a huge spray of flames. The fire rushing over him Kuzco watched terrified as a huge burning wall emerged barring him in as it sent the other llamas in a panic as they all started to runaway as terrified as he was.

Running back again Kuzco tried another direction but then the same thing happened again as both heartless spread their flames into a wide circle ensnaring the llama emperor into one place as he tried to dart left and right franticly.
Stopping as he saw the enormous burning circle he was in now asked aloud terrified, "what do I do? What do I-" But then suddenly at his hooves small dark shadow heartless rose up from the dark swirls before the flames. Backing away quickly Kuzco then cried out as the heartless came after him, "nooooo!" Then he stopped fast in his tracks as the fire bandit stomped hard and created a thunderous tremble in the ground making Kuzco halt in moments as he jumped from fright.

Looking up at the fire bandits and then behind as the shadow heartless began to close on him, Kuzco didn't know what to do at all! As they all began to come closer and closer with their sharp claws Kuzco covered his head on the ground with his hooves as he shouted out desperately, "NOZOMI! PACHA! CAIT SITH!"

As he continued to hold his head down he suddenly heard the loud sound of running, slashing and finally blasts of some kind. Hearing it he didn't know what was happening and he was too afraid to look, but then suddenly he heard the sound of something disintegrating.

Opening his eyes slowly and cautiously he then saw with shock and amazement someone who he thought he'd never see again, Nozomi her back to him with Cait sith upon her shoulder, looking up at the two of them as he saw the flames and the heartless had vanished he didn't know whether this was real or if he'd died, so he asked breathless, "Nozomi? Cait sith?"

But then as he spoke their names the female keyblader rushed forwards as she jumped out of sight with her wings opening up and lifting her away as she vanished behind a crowd of now calm llamas.

Seeing her run Kuzco quickly began to run after her desperate to apologise, "Nozomi! Wait I-" but he couldn't see where she'd disappeared to, it was too late as she was gone once more.

Feeling his depression returning in full swing Kuzco bent his head down in despair… but then as he began to settle into the darkness of being alone once again a voice spoke in the distance, "and so there we all were standing on a cliff."

Kuzco was silent in shock once again as he heard another voice speak up, "yep that we were mate."

Hearing him the other voice made a sound like a nod, "mmm hmmm, and then the ground started to rumble and just before it started to go, he grabbed us all before we fell."

Then a female tone spoke up as she said, "yeah that was real hard to believe!" She spoke ending with a slight laugh.

Kuzco was in utter disbelief, they couldn't? They wouldn't would they? He approached to where the voices were coming from and as he passed a big group of llamas that continued to munch away, he found them.

For there they all were together, Pacha sitting amongst a small group of patient listening llamas as Nozomi was sitting on ones back as she listened amused with a bright smile on her face, while Cait sith stood on her shoulder as his arms were folded with a small smile too.

Kuzco was breathless as he saw them all together in front of him, then he listened as Pacha continued, "and you all might think we're crazy for following him out here, but I've been convinced there is some goodness in him."

Nodding further at this Nozomi responded, "yeah, and it took a long while to see it and besides we couldn't leave him out here all alone and defenceless, he's a lousy dumb animal."

Kuzco was in silence as then Cait sith responded, "ya got that right!"

Then Pacha smiled as he whispered to the other llamas, "yeah he is definitely a really lousy llama." Finally at last as they all finished their conversation with their patient audience Pacha and Nozomi along with Cait sith turned their attentions to Kuzco who just couldn't believe his luck! This might have been the best dream he could hope for!

With smiles decorating everyone's faces they all began to walk forwards towards one another, with Kuzco being the most grateful looking. But then as he finally made it to them all his eagerness was replaced by sudden regret as he became apologetic and started darting his eyes left and right and spoke to them, "hey, Pacha, Nozomi, Cait sith what I said to you guys at the diner, I, I didn't really mean-"

But then Pacha put up a gentle hand to say it was all right and he didn't have to go on anymore, and so asked him, "so… tired of being a llama?" As he held out his hand to be shaked.

His eyes tearing up as he was so overwhelmed by gratefulness and happiness Kuzco replied in moments almost in a wail, "yyyyeeeeessss!"

Nozomi seeing him like this thought for a moment, 'aww he looks a bit cute now,' and then she decided to ask her own question, "and you're gonna drop the charges too?"

But at this question Kuzco made no reply as he simply ran over to them all as he then couldn't hold his emotions in as he hugged Nozomi and Pacha together.

Seeing him like this Nozomi and Pacha were both incredibly surprised but then smiling gently they held him quietly as Cait sith looked on with a smile on his face as his tail waved back and forth. They were all like this for a long while until Kuzco finally calmed down.

After taking a breather for a bit letting Kuzco recover from his emotional turmoil and revitalisation he lay amongst the llamas along with Nozomi and Pacha.

Nozomi herself simply sat upon the back of one of the llamas again as she swung her legs back and forth, while Pacha simply sat where he had been before, Cait sith in the meantime was next to the llama emperor as he talked to him and waited for him calmly.

Calming down now Kuzco breathed in and out gently, Cait sith next to him patted his head as he asked him, "Ya've had ya fill now lad?"

Hearing him he replied, "yeah I'm fine, I'm fine now," with that he got up on his hooves again and as he did Cait sith sat on his back with him. As Kuzco walked over Cait sith patted him saying, "real good lad! Real good."

Hearing him Kuzco smiled again but then as he made it over back to Nozomi and Pacha a question came to him as he asked, "hey?"

Turning as he asked Nozomi and Pacha looked to him, it was Nozomi who asked, "yeah?"

Kuzco then continued, "What made you guys all come back for me?"

Hearing him Nozomi replied to him shrugging her shoulders as she told him, "we told you earlier, we couldn't leave you to the heartless and all alone there could we?"

However this wasn't enough for him as Kuzco asked again, "yeah but," he then turned to Pacha who he knew would give him the answer he was looking for as he asked him, "Pacha?"

Looking at him he replied, "yeah?"

Kuzco asked him, "Why did you come back? I mean after what you said, I thought you'd never come back?"

Listening to him Pacha smiled a little sadly as he told him, "well I almost didn't."

Hearing this Kuzco became a little depressed slightly again as he asked, "you didn't?"
He nodded as he told him, "yeah, but then Nozomi and Cait sith chased after me, they just kept following me and following me, no matter what I said to them and then convinced me into a deal."

Hearing this Kuzco asked him, "a deal?"

Nodding Pacha replied, "yeah, basically we'd keep eye on you in the distance and see if you had changed, both Nozomi and Cait sith along with me watched on and… they were right about you, " Pacha was silent as he smiled glad that he'd listened then and seen for himself the reality of things. He then looked to Kuzco again who was astounded as he told him, "they made me believe in you again."

Hearing this revelation Kuzco was astounded, "Cait sith… and Nozomi did?" He then looked to the small cat that was still on his back.

Nodding at this info Cait sith replied, "Aye we did mate! Even though you were a right brat!"

He looked then to Nozomi who had turned her face away a slight blush on her face as she then spoke, "well I think we should all get a move on! We gotta get to that palace!"

Seeing this Kuzco was blank for a moment but then he smiled himself as he realised that she was a little similar to him when hiding his true intentions, but then hearing her it was Cait sith who spoke up, "right you are lass, let's go ya blokes!" With that he jumped off of Kuzco's back and landed on Nozomi's shoulder once again.

Hearing him Pacha replied getting up in moments, "right you are you guys! Kuzco let's move!"

Hearing him the llama emperor got up in moments as he became just as determined and pumped up, "right okay!" With that all of them ran forwards to continue on their journey.

Running forwards Pacha talked to Nozomi, Kuzco and Cait sith, "right we're just going to stop by my house and get some supplies."

Nodding as she heard him Nozomi replied, "okay."

Then Kuzco spoke, "then we'll all be on our way right?"

Pacha replied in moments, "right!"

Suddenly though as they ran around the corner of the jungle and out into the open where they would see the village they were instead met with an alarming sight. The whole village had spouts of smokes coming from the buildings as well as cries and screams. As everyone looked on horrified they then saw people running from the ruins.

Looking on as she heard these cries and screams Nozomi instantly imagined in her mind Bamboo town and when she was on the roof as she saw her home destroyed.

Seeing his own home being vandalised in such a horrible manner Pacha was devastated as he asked horrified, "what is this? What's happening?"

At his question Nozomi then saw what was causing it, "heartless!" Then there they were shadows running around and various other types chasing after helpless people.

Looking at them and remembering the situation he had been in not so long ago Kuzco spoke out, "how did they all get here?"

Nozomi looking on, though she didn't know at first who was the cause she knew how she cure it! So taking out her right hand out she summoned the 'Starseeker' in moments as she said, "well I don't know, but I'll be the one to get them out of here!" With that she ran forwards as she was quickly followed by Pacha and Kuzco to stop the invasion of heartless.

Up on the top of the hill Yzma watched with delight as the heartless tore into the village creating havoc and chaos, laughing happily she cried "ha! This is just great!" Then turning around she looked back to Pete and Kronk who were both standing around a small family.

A mother who had a round middle showing that she was pregnant wearing an orange dress with a yellow over coat. Her dark black hair was tied back by a green hair band as she wore huge round earrings; she looked on with an angered protective look on her face.

Her two children scared around her were a young girl with her hair up in pigtails, with a yellow shirt and orange skirt as she hugged her mother along with her younger brother who too had black hair like his sister but in a ponytail and a green skirt around his middle.

Pleased at the destruction that was occurring himself Pete laughed out, "Yeah it sure is! There's no way that those chumps would miss this!"

Hearing this strange huge lummox say this Chicha (Pacha's wife) spoke up, "just what do you think you people are doing!"

Turning around at this outburst Yzma told her, "it's simple, I'm here to see your husband and take the llama with me!"

Listening to this same ridiculous explanation again, Chicha replied in moments, "I don't have any idea what you're talking about! Pacha isn't here! And we don't have any other llama than the one I showed you before!"

Hearing this remembering the creature they were shown before, Yzma only smiled as she was not going to be fooled by this naiveté so replied, "you can keep trying with that act sister, but you're not fooling me! When I find him then you'll be-"

But then suddenly there was an interruption, as there was a sound of slicing and a loud cry, turning as she heard this Yzma, Pete and everyone there watched as two men went running in another direction as a girl's voice called out, "just get out of here and keep moving!"

Pete hearing that voice recognised it in moments and was even more pleased as he spoke out, "ha! So she's here now."

Then at these words finally Nozomi, Cait sith and Pacha along with Kuzco arrived from around the corner, seeing his family amongst the villains he cried out, "Chicha! Kids!"

Seeing her husband she responded in moments, "Pacha!"

Their children called out just as surprised, "daddy! Dad!"

However she couldn't move forwards as Pete and Kronk made a barrier preventing them from making any sudden movements.

Seeing Pete there Nozomi cried out in moments, "Pete!"
Hearing her he smiled at her and mocked her saying, "why well hello again there sweet cheeks!"

Kuzco seeing his former royal adviser shouted out to her, "Yzma!"

Seeing him pleased that he was at last within her clutches she replied to him in a sweet crawling manner, "ah my dear emperor! I'm so glad to finally see you again."

Hearing her calling out to him Kuzco was absolutely appalled, "why are you doing this! Why are you-"

Not bothered by the destruction she was causing Yzma replied to him, "oh Kuzco, I'm simply doing your own work for you, you were going to destroy this village to begin with, and now that I have the power, I can have all he fun I want."

Angered at this creepy old woman as Kuzco became appalled, Nozomi was not in the mood for word games as she spoke out, "Yzma! You were in the palace with my friends when he was turned into a llama! What have you done with Mickey and Riku!"

Listening to this rude young girl interrupting her conversation Yzma though a little irritated was at the same amused as she then decided to toy with her, "ah? Riku? Mickey? Oh my other little guests? I remember them; in fact they're still both incarcerated in the palace… permanently."

Hearing this finally requiring the info she needed to confirm where her friends were Nozomi then became immediately concerned as she asked agitated, "what do you mean what have you done to them?"

However instead of answering her question Yzma simply smiled as she then clicked her fingers and suddenly as she did three enormous shapes descended from the sky, as the earth shook and trembled Nozomi and the others jumped and almost tripped over. Getting her balance as best she could it was then Cait sith who shouted out, "just what the heck was-"

But as they all looked up everyone saw the monsters, they were three huge rolled up spheres of some kind, the biggest a yellow one, a blue one and finally the last one that was red. Looking at them they seemed to be armoured with odd patterns all over them like a soccer ball, Nozomi looking asked, "what the-"

But then suddenly as she began to speak the three enormous spheres began to roll out, and as they did three creatures emerged each of them looking like huge armoured armadillos and at the same time they were insect like with yellow antenna sticking out from their heads and big alien like black eyes with sharp toothed mouths.

Seeing them all Nozomi along with the others were shocked but then Yzma chipped in, "now it's time to collect what's mine! Hand over the emperor!" At the sound of her voice the creatures started to move in moments as they slowly started to approach their targets.

Seeing them coming and knowing that this wasn't good Nozomi turned to Pacha and Kuzco, "guys you both get going," then she turned her head to look at her small companion on her shoulder, "Cait sith?"

Hearing her he asked, "yeah lass?"

She then told him, "You look after Kuzco and Pacha while I take care of things here, kay?"

Listening as she told him this Cait sith was quiet for a moment but then knowing that she was the only one who could handle the monsters he told her, "right you are lass, ya just mind ye steps out there!"

Nodding at this Nozomi replied instantly, "you know I will!"

With that Cait sith turned to Pacha and Kuzco as he told them both, "all right lads! Let's give the lass breathin' space!"

Hearing the small cat say this to both of them, they were quiet wanting to quarrel with this idea, but knowing too that there was very little they could both do, submitted as Pacha spoke out, "right okay!"

With that both llama emperor and farmer began to run but before they left they called out to her with Kuzco calling out first, "go get 'em Nozomi!" "Yeah good luck!"

Glad to hear them both cheering her on Nozomi smiled, but then gripping her keyblade hard she looked at the monsters with fierce determination as she then spoke, "well let's get started then!" As she charged fiercely forwards.