(Chapter 6: The Viscous Fangs and the Miraculous Wings)
After shrieking in terror, Nozomi was quickly backing away fast! Making a flurry of snow fly about, she scrambled back onto her feet in a panic. Her eyes were closed, desperate to rid herself of the horror she'd just seen! Then-!
"You idiot, don't get up there!"
"Huh?" But by the time this shout registered, she somehow felt an oddly warm wetness surround her head! Opening her eyes wide, she saw a long red tongue and dripping sharp jaws around her face. She realised in horror, that she'd somehow stuck her head into the wolf's mouth!
"Ah!" She was frozen in shock and disgust seeing the dribble! Then she quickly freaked out when she saw the terrible jaws begin to move! "Hey! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" She instantly pulled her head back and-!
SNAP!
The wolf had shut its mouth fast! Hurriedly getting some distance away from it, Nozomi looked back at it. She saw the monstrous animal licking its teeth, still hungry for her! Taking steps back, terrified, she stuttered in fear, "Get, get…!"
"GGGRRRR!"
The ferocious beast seemed to be grinning at her fear as it approached her. Its teeth were bare and ready to devour her whole! Nozomi's flight instinct finally kicked in, and she shouted in fear as she ran, "Get away from me!"
"RWARF! RWARF! RAWRF!"
The wolf began to chase after her too! Riku and the little group that huddled behind him suddenly as Nozomi came running straight towards him-!
FWOOSH! FWOOSH! FWOOSH!
The boy and his animals leave faster than the wind! Baffled as he looked behind, he sighed as he saw them run away. However, knowing it was time, he stated, "I need to get serious!" With that, he stepped forwards to get rid of that wolf.
Extending his right arm, he closed his eyes to call upon his Keyblade, but-!
GRAB!
"Hey!"
Suddenly Riku's right hand was grabbed! Opening his eyes, startled, he saw that Nozomi had snatched his hand and she ran on with him. She looked back and forth towards the wolf while dodging between trees to get them away from the dangerous animal!
Riku couldn't believe what was happening!? He demanded loudly, "What're you doing?!"
Nozomi looking at him, retorted, "Saving your life, that's what!"
Riku blinked at this; that was not an answer he was expecting! But as they ran on, he looked, realised with alarm and cried out, "Hey! Watch where you're-!"
SLIDE!
"Whoa!?"
But it was too late, as Nozomi had stepped onto an ice lake! Her running speed made them both skid quickly forwards, letting her let go of his hand in a hurry! Riku had managed somehow to keep his balance on the ice as he was nearer the edge, but-!
"Ah!"
SMACK!
She wasn't so lucky and had fallen straight onto her backside!
"OWWW!"
As she cried out from the pain, he watched as she grimaced sitting on the ice in the centre of the lake. He couldn't imagine the pain of the impact, but it was something he didn't want to experience anytime soon! But maybe things would start to calm down now? But-!
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
He'd been hoping for too much. Looking down, he saw that the ice beneath Nozomi was beginning to splinter and break from the heavy impact she'd made!
"Aww, man!" As she panicked, he saw her quickly try to get back onto her feet. But it was easier said than done, for her legs were shaking tremendously at maintaining balance in slippery terrain.
"Talk about bad luck!" He uttered, for he'd never seen a case like this before in his life! As he scratched his head, Riku wondered what would be the next best thing to do. When he sensed something, he turned around and saw-!
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
Seeing more dents in the ice appear, Nozomi was badly trying to keep calm as she uttered, "Okay, okay, easy now...!" Finally, she was beginning to get stability and proper balance back over her legs when-!
"AAAWWWOOOHHH!"
Feeling horrible dread, Nozomi turned and saw that it was the wolf after her again! Licking its sharp teeth, it was hungry and dangerously eager as it started approaching her on the ice!
Appalled, she cried out, "Oh, for Pete's sake, give me a break! Leave me alone!"
"RWARF! RWARF! RAWRF!"
The wolf instead charged straight ahead, its jaws wide and open to devour her! Alarmed, Nozomi, in a panic, tried running! But she needed more momentum! The ice didn't produce any grit due to its slipperiness; she wasn't getting away!
SLIP! SLIP! SLIP!
"Oh, c'mon!" She cried out loudly, terrified.
The wolf charged faster! It was coming closer and closer towards her; she was going to be torn apart!
Sweating, Nozomi tried harder and harder to run! But-!
SLIP! SLIP! SLIP!
She was still getting nowhere fast! The wolf was now only a metre away, its dangerous features grinning menacingly, ready to devour her whole!
SLIP! SLIP! SLIP!
Feeling its terrible shadow over her, Nozomi cried, desperately closing her eyes, "Please c'mon!"
SHINE!
"Huh?" Suddenly she sped forwards, feeling as light as a feather! The slipperiness was gone, "What the?!"
SMASH!
"RWWOOAARRR!"
SPLASH!
Stopping fast, feeling drops of water fall all over her back. Nozomi, puzzled, turned cautiously around. There she saw where she'd been standing was a huge cratered hole in the ice that the wolf must have fallen into. Looking around, she saw no signs of the dangerous creature anymore.
….
Blinking, Nozomi couldn't believe this. For boy, had her bad luck made a quick turnaround for her! "Ha, ha, ha... well, that's different?"
She then took a few deep breaths to get herself back together. Nozomi wondered what she should do next. Should she-?
Then quickly, she remembered and asked, "Hey, wait a minute?" Looking about, she saw and realised, "Where's Snowball?" For there was no sign of him anywhere near her!
Becoming worried, she asked, "He couldn't of-!"
TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!
"Huh?" Puzzled by this sound, Nozomi looked to where she thought she heard that sound. Then she immediately wished she hadn't!
For looking up at her with its horrific enraged eyes, was the wolf who was now underneath the ice!
"EEEEEKKKK!"
Her panic back, Nozomi ran around here, there and everywhere, trying to escape the wolf again! It was swimming under the lake's surface and was chasing after her at monstrous speed! As she continued to run weightlessly across the lake in a dizzy circle, she finally got the idea to get back on the shore!
Making it back onto the snow, she shouted, "Why won't you just leave me alone, you-!"
SMASH!
The wolf then smashed its head straight through the ice and quickly chased after her, gnashing its teeth madly as it roared after her angrily,
"RWARF! RWARF! RAWRF!"
"AAAGGGHHH!"
Regretting her words, Nozomi knew she'd made it madder! As it chased her on the snowy ground again. She couldn't think of what to do!? How was she supposed to get away from this beast! What could she do, to-?
Then she saw a big blue tree with a thick trunk ahead of her! If she could climb that, then-!
SNAP!
"Agh!"
Terrified, it nearly got her! She couldn't hesitate! Mustering what strength she had, she ran faster towards the tree and then, with an almighty burst of energy, Nozomi jumped as hard as she could! Time seemed to slow down until, "Yes!" She finally grabbed onto the trunk.
"RWARF! RWARF! RAWRF!"
Shaking as she heard the wolf again, she slipped from nervousness, but, "Oh no!" With that, she clung tightly to the tree, scurrying it up fast. She got as high as she could before stopping. Then feeling this desperate burst of energy ebb away, she grasped hard around the trunk, hugging it tightly for dear life!
"Okay...okay..." She closed her eyes to relax and recover from the shock. Then opening them, she looked down below and saw, to her dread, the horrible predator was stalking the tree and looking up at her hungrily; it was clear that it was still eager to eat her as it snarled!
Shuddering, seeing its yellow-red eyes, she tapped her forehead against the trunk in despair, whimpering her complaints,"I am not having a good day!"
"You're not the only one!"
Surprised, Nozomi turned, and there she saw upon a nearby branch Riku! Looking on, she also saw the young blonde boy and his animal friends huddled up close to him, all of them shivering in fear. Their eyes fixed on the wolf as it looked up at them all.
Blinking in disbelief as she saw them, she didn't understand what was happening and asked him, "How did you all get up there?"
Riku then told her, as the boy hugged him, showing what he had used to pull him up to their level," I was fished up here by these guys, using this rope."
Nozomi looked at the long item, then thought about her dreadful predicament. Her hands and arms were getting tired from holding onto the tree. She smiled and said gratefully, "That's useful. I could use a line here!" With that, she held her hand out in glad yearning.
She saw Riku look at her oddly as he asked, "What do you need this for?"
Perplexed, Nozomi didn't understand, "...Um? What do you mean?"
Riku, in turn, looked just as puzzled somehow. He then asked her, "You've got wings on your feet. Can't you fly your way over here?"
Appalled, Nozomi didn't understand him in the slightest! Mad, she told him, "What're you talking about?! If this is some joke, it's not funny!" Then gesturing down with her right hand, she added, "If you haven't noticed! I'm in a life-or-death crisis here!"
"Look at your feet! How can you not notice your power!?" Riku retorted back.
Mad, Nozomi was angry now! Everything about him was making her fume red! So she turned her head to look away from him, then as her head looked down-!
"GAAAAARRRGHHH!"
The wolf leapt at her again and-!
SCRATCH!
Its claws dug straight into the blue trunk, making the wood splinter as it slid down, snarling, incurring damage onto the tree!
"AAAGGGHHH!"
Screaming, she scrambled further up the tree in terror! "Oh, man! Oh, man, I-!"
Then suddenly, she realised something, "Wait...?" Then looking around the tree, she realised, "Why do I feel so light now?" Because somehow, climbing wasn't hard for her to do anymore.
This didn't make sense: "Why am I not struggling now? What could-!"
GLITTER!
Finally, she saw them on either side of her feet. As she looked down, a pair of small glittering and wavering white wings of light flowed out from her ankles. "What are-!"
"QUACK!"
Distracted, she saw with fright the little green duck who somehow wasn't with Riku's group, running out from under the tree she was holding onto, then quickly it made contact with the wolf! It was terrified as it shivered from fright, looking at the horrible beast who now focused its attention squarely on it! Her eyes wide seeing this, she didn't know what to do! What could she-!
"RWWOOAARRR!"
"QUUUUUUAAAAAACCCCCKKKKKKK!"
Immediately the poor creature was being chased by the wolf, as it ran all over the place in fright and panic, trying to escape the monster that wished to devour it whole!
Becoming distressed for it, Nozomi cried out to Riku, "Snowball! C'mon, We've got to do something for-!"
"Like what, we-?!" Then she saw that he was stopped, as the blonde boy and his remaining friends hugged him tightly in fright, preventing him from moving as he tried to pry them off him!
Feeling awkward seeing this, Nozomi didn't know what to think for a moment. When-!
"RWWOOAARRR!"
Nozomi looked down again. She saw that the green duck had made a beeline and, in panic, dove through a hole in another blue tree. The wolf, spying this desperate escape, drove its head and long jaws into the same hole, and then-!
SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! SNAP!
Growing pale hearing these horrible series of sharp gnashing sounds, Nozomi shivered. Then after some dreadful quiet moments, the monster removed its hideous mouth from the tree. It licked its hungry jaws and dribbled satisfactorily as a few green feathers dropped, creating a sad, pitiful pile on the floor.
Horrified, Nozomi realised the poor fate of the bird. Gripping the tree before her. It was horrible; she couldn't do anything. She didn't know what to do; how could they face a terrible monster like this? How could she-!
"TWEET! TWEET! TWEET! TWEET!"
Nozomi's eyes opened widely. Then she saw-!
SWOOSH!
The little red bird with Riku's group had flown straight down! It had made it to the wolf, and she quickly saw with disbelief that it was punching the beast's nose! Outraged at what the monster had done to its friend, it used all kinds of methods to mock and hurt the beast with what strength it could!
"Whoa!" She cried out; she couldn't believe it. A little creature like that was willing to face a monster like that!? She quickly looked at Riku and cried, "Hey, do you see that!?"
"I do!" Riku told her, still trying to make the boy and the cat let go of him! But looking at the incredible scene, he told her, "But this isn't good! It's got no chance against something that big; it'll need help or-!"
"RWARF! RWARF! RAWRF!"
The wolf became incensed at the red bird's annoying and pathetic antics. It moved one of its huge paws back and-!
SLASH!
"TWEET!"
The wolf sent the bird hurtling down onto the snowy floor, looking on it became unmoving, and it was clear to all that it had fallen unconscious. It was utterly helpless against the wolf who towered over it!
Nozomi seeing this shivered, then quickly saw the wolf open its jaws widely as it went to devour the poor helpless creature in one gulp! It was then she felt something inside of her snap,
"STOP IT!"
"What the!?" Riku stopping in his desperate struggles along with the blonde boy and cat, looked over to the girl. As he did, it was then he saw her move down fast! The wings beside her feet let her make it down to the floor. Then quickly making it to the floor, she moved and made it to the red bird. She promptly picked it up and cupped it in her hands protectively.
Seeing her do this with amazement, Riku was quiet. But then, remembering the danger of the situation, he cried out, "What do you think you're doing!? You can't just-!"
"GGGRRRR!"
The wolf immediately stopped his voice as it eyed its new prey with sinister gleeful eyes and licked its lips. He had no idea what the girl had planned, for what did she think she could do against a wolf!? What made her-!
"I won't forgive you!" As she cried this out, the wolf moved closer to her; with hungry eagerness, the girl stepped back and cried out again, "I absolutely won't forgive you!"
"RWARF! RWARF! RAWRF!"
The wolf didn't care and charged at her fast, then moving its claws back, it went to strike her!
Riku cried out, worried, "Look out!"
SLASH!
But fortunately, the girl was faster, and she quickly ducked out of the way and moved. As she ran to another side, she breathed in and out hard; it was taking all her energy to keep up the agility she needed to evade.
Seeing her do this, he knew he needed to help her fast! So quickly looking at the boy and cat, he told them both, "C'mon! Let me go, both of you! Now!" With that, he did his best to make them release him!
"GGGRRRR!"
Nozomi shivered at the sight of the wolf; she didn't know what she was supposed to do! What could she do!? She didn't know, but one thing was for sure: she didn't want this little red bird in her hands to perish, like the poor duck, she had to protect it! She had to-!
SHINE!
Suddenly around her body, a light began to shine! As it did, her eyes widened, and she asked, "This is-!?"
FLASH!
"Huh!?" Then quickly, her right came forwards, and as it did, the light solidified and turned into a wondrous shape! Looking on, she saw that she was quickly holding an odd object; it was purple with stars and wings, with a crescent moon end to it. Looking at it, she somehow realised its name, "The Starseeker...?" Then surprised, she asked, "Wait, how do I know that?"
No one could answer that for her, but as she looked at the thing that seemed like a weapon, she quickly realised, "This thing, it came to me in Bamboo Town, but what is-!"
"RWARF! RWARF! RAWRF!"
Quickly snapped out of her bedazzlement, Nozomi saw with fear the wolf came straight at her and-!
"Agh!"
SLICE!
Countering fast, she'd moved the odd weapon before her! Quickly she struck the wolf and rolled fast to her right, making snow fly about!
"GGGRRRR!"
The wolf was more agitated than before, mad that she had the nerve to hit it! Nozomi though she didn't care for this. Instead, she paced herself. Moving cautiously as the wolf circled her, her mind raced as she tried to think of what to do. She couldn't let the bird in her hand get hurt again, but if she made one wrong move, that would be it for her! She had to-!
"TWEET!"
"Whoa!?" Surprised by this cry, she looked at her left open hand. She then saw the little red bird awake again, amazed. She smiled at it and said, "Hey, you're awake again. That's great!"
The bird was puzzled, then smiled, clearly happy too, as it nodded to her.
Nozomi smiled, but before she could say another word-!
"LOOK OUT!"
"Huh?" Nozomi turned as this cry and-!
"RWARF! RWARF! RAWRF!"
The wolf charged straight at her! Its claws raised at her again. Nozomi quickly moved and-!
CLASH!
She stopped the blow and did her best to hold back the wolf with both hands. She saw the little bird had flown up and away into the air! As it fluttered about worriedly, she said, "Go on, get out of here! Get higher!"
The frightened bird nodded hurriedly before flying high into the air. As it did, Nozomi was glad it was getting away, that she'd managed to save it. But as she stared at the wolf-!
"GGGRRRR!"
It was clear that it had no intention of letting her leave alive! For she couldn't face this monster with only just her strength! There had to be something, something that would-!As she paced herself, doing her best to push forwards against its awful strength, she uttered quietly, "I need to think of something!"
"Nozomi!?"
Hearing her name, she looked up and there she saw her new acquaintance had finally got himself free from the boy and cat, who quickly welcomed back their little red bird friend. As she looked up at them, she saw the long rope that the white-haired boy held in his hands as she did. An idea quickly came to her mind, and with a small smile, she uttered, "That might just work!"
SLASH!
"Agh!"
The wolf struck at her again, making her fall backwards! But quickly dodging another oncoming blow, she didn't move in to strike. Instead, she stood up straight and held the Starseeker in her hands defensively, facing the aggressive beast head-on.
As it stared at her hatefully, she looked above and shouted, "Riku, I need that rope right now!"
He looked down at her, baffled and asked, "This rope?" Then as he looked at it and back at her, he was puzzled and asked, "What for? How can this-!"
"I need it! Just figure it out! I can't do this on my own forever!" As she said that, the wolf launched itself at her again and-!
CRUNCH!
Riku looked down at her, terribly worried as she parried against the wolf, as it sank its sharp teeth into the Starseeker. He knew she was only a girl, and as she struggled against the monster's strength, she was a beginner with a Keyblade.
His mind raced, then looking at the rope in his hands, he watched as she circled along with the wolf as it continued to gaze at her hungrily with its angry red and yellow eyes. He saw that she had somehow manoeuvred the wolf to have its back before them all, with its tail raised high, in front of the tree branch he and his odd group were on.
As he saw its tail waver to and throw, he realised what she was doing! Then looking at the rope and odd group with him, he looked back down at her. There he could see the desperate plea for help in them, seeing this he realised why she couldn't just outright say the idea, and in understanding, he quickly nodded to her and immediately acted on the chance she'd given them!
Nozomi looked up and saw that Riku was beginning to act; she was glad as she saw the group begin to make their move. She smiled, but then-!
SLASH!
"Agh!"
She was pushed back by the wolf again, who'd finally released it's teeth from the Starseeker. Angered, she stood still and silently faced it while the wolf standing still as well, did one thing again,
"GGGRRRR!"
Hearing it growl menacingly again, she knew one thing for sure. She hated this thing just as much as she feared it. It licked its wet fangs hungrily once more, showing its eager intentions for her. However though the sight of it chilled her, it quickly made her think again of the poor little green duck, how it must have been so terrified and helpless in its last moments.
Gripping her hands around the Starseeker, she hated the fact that it had taken another life nearly lost for her to make her do anything to help. But with this new fire burning inside, she was determined not to be frightened like that again; she didn't want to stand back and do nothing anymore. Things had to change, so she could protect who she wanted to!
TIE! TIE! TIE! TIE!
Quickly the rope was finally tied to the wolf's tail by the cat, who climbed back up it. Then holding onto the rope tightly was Riku, the young boy, the red bird and now the cat, who joined them as it held on too.
She smiled pleased and at that moment-!
"RWARF! RWARF! RAWRF!"
The wolf launched itself at her, its sharp teeth and claws ready to tear her apart!
"All right now!"
The group quickly pulled the rope with all their strength combined and-!
SWING!
The rope lifted the wolf off its hind legs and Nozomi ducked down, as it missed her going overhead! She turned to see what the ferocious beast would do next! "Huh!?" She saw it was using its front paws to plough into the snow, to get at her once more!
"RWARF! RWARF! RAWRF!"
But as it leapt at her again, she cried, "Oh no, you don't!" With that, she turned and-!
SLICE!
She hit it in the face, making it perform a full swing around the tree!
"Ha! Take that!" But she spoke too soon, as-!
SWING!
This momentum made the rope loop around and tighten around the tree, then in horror, she saw-!
SCRATCH!
The wolf had now caught onto the tree branch, using its long sharp claws to anchor itself onto the branch Riku and the others were on!
"GGGRRRR!"
Its yellow and red enraged eyes focused on them with deadly intent upon Riku and his group. It began to make its way towards the three of them, slowly and menacingly, eager to devour them all!
"Get out of there!" Nozomi shouted out in panic.
But watching on, she saw Riku didn't run. Instead, he faced the wolf silently with fierce determination, with the young boy and his animal friends shivering behind him. Nozomi didn't understand what he was doing!? Then she saw him reach out his own right hand and-!
FLASH!
In a quick flash of light, another odd weapon appeared! Looking at it, Nozomi somehow realised its name, 'The Way To Dawn.'
"He's got one of those weird things too?!" She asked, shocked but amazed she saw Riku move and-!
SLASH!
He struck the wolf hard and fast as it came charging straight towards him. Then she saw with awe that he moved with such ease and strength that-!
SMASH!
"GGGRRR..."
The wolf was struck straight into the tree's trunk and quickly fell against it becoming unconscious!
Her mouth hanging open in disbelief, Nozomi uttered, "Whoa!" Then-!
BOOM! BANG! BANG! BANG! BOOM!
"EEEKKK!"
Nozomi jumped out of her skin, and suddenly, gunshots sounded out loudly from behind her! Then in alarm, she turned to look behind and there she saw cried a strange motley crew come out from the forest. Three bearded older men, each holding an old-fashioned shooting rifle, and then-!
"Help's arrived, fella's!"
Another person arrived behind them, and they were another bizarre character.
Nozomi stared at this… person? Weirdly to her, he looked like a big mouse. He wore a black shirt with white lines, with a trendy red jacket over it that was zipped halfway down his chest. He also had red pants with yellow pouches strapped on by black straps, big yellow shoes on his feet and orange straps crossing over the caps.
Staring at him, puzzled by his unusual get-up, she noticed that he had an odd weapon, like her and-!
"Oh no!" Then in worry, she quickly remembered Riku and the others! Looking up at the tree fast, she saw in surprise that her white-haired acquaintance looked down coolly, completely relaxed, unlike herself. While the young boy and cat were now standing over the wolf as its front and back paws were tied to the tree branch, making it swing back and forth with its tongue dangling out in defeat.
Nozomi was shocked, "How they'd get that done so quickly!?" Then she heard-!
"Riku, you're safe!" The mouse cried out in relief, running closer towards the tree.
She then heard laughter from Riku as he said,"It was nothing that I couldn't handle, your majesty!" Then-!
JUMP!
He launched himself from the tree, landing just a little further ahead of Nozomi.
She stared at Riku, who smiled at her for a moment before turning his attention to the red-clad mouse. The two of them, before her, began to chatter. The mouse was excited while Riku laughed at his responses.
Nozomi was quiet, still trying to grasp what was going on, not noticing that the boy and the cat arrived back down too and walked away along with the wolf as the hunters took it from the tree and then marched off together with them. To proudly reveal to the townsfolk below that the heroes had taken care of the wolf!
As Nozomi continued to stare at Riku and the mouse conversing together. Everything began to sink in, and to feel the absurdity of it all. She'd had enough! Annoyed at this dangerous craziness she'd experienced and then irritated with annoyance, she said angrily to Riku, "What did you mean before!? That it was nothing you couldn't handle, huh?"
Both he and the mouse had stopped their discussions. Then staring at Nozomi, it was clear the white-haired young man didn't understand her reaction, as he uttered, "What?"
Nozomi told him," Just who do you think had to face that wolf head-on? While you were busy, being useless stuck in a tree!?" Then she added, "If it weren't for me, you never would have thought to use the rope in the first place!" With that looking away pouting, she added, "How can you just ignore me like this!"
Riku immediately soured in seconds while the mouse laughed nervously and said, "Um, sorry there, we weren't trying to ignore you! Honestly!"
Still irritated, Nozomi looked down at him and asked, "And who're you supposed to be? His sidekick?"
"Don't be rude!" Riku had enough of her attitude and told her outright, "This is his royal highness, King Mickey!" Then he added, "You can't fly off at him like that!" He told her harshly.
Nozomi blinked at this, and then she stared at Riku as though he was crazy. Then looking at him, she turned back to the mouse and asked, puzzled, "Wait...you're a King?"
Riku sighed with annoyance, with a palm to his face.
Mickey though laughed, then speaking in a genteel tone, he said, "Ah, ha! Yeah, I think you'll understand better if we sit down and chat," then he headed to a particular direction and sat down, then gestured his hand, Nozomi walked towards him with Riku following. Then-!
"Fire!"
BLAZE!
"Whoa!"
Nozomi saw with amazement that the mouse had lit up some twigs near them with magic! As the fiery warmth grew, she felt relief and comfort grow as she warmed her hands. Feeling her fingertips again, she smiled, and then she saw Riku sitting on the opposite side, making the same gesture. It was clear that he was glad for the warmth too.
Mickey smiled at their reactions and said, "Well, I think I'd better do some explainin' here to get you up to speed." With that, he revealed what he and Riku were, along with some other tales that would help Nozomi understand...
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After explaining everything to Nozomi, who at first was utterly dismissive from the start, as she heard about their adventures, she looked down at the Starseeker. She knew now that it was something called a Keyblade. She looked at them both with wide eyes in surprise and wonder. She uttered, "Wow..."
As the information settled in, she looked at them again. Then turning to the King, she bowed her head in apology, "I… I'm so sorry, your majesty, Mickey. I didn't mean to be rude back there! It's just so much has happened that I..."
Mickey looked at her kindly as he told her, "Aw, don't think nothin' of it! I can't expect everyone in the worlds to know me, and it is a lot you've been through, so I can't blame you for being a little rowdy!"
Nozomi raised her head as she nodded, smiling, grateful that he was so patient. Then quickly inside, she felt great excitement as she looked at the Keyblade. Becoming starstruck, she asked happily, "So what you're saying is, is that with this Keyblade, I can go and travel to other worlds?"
Riku and the King both looked at her surprised, as they blinked at her reaction; not expecting such positivity, Riku began to reply hesitantly, "Well, sort of yeah, but-!"
"Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Cut off, Nozomi had gotten up and was now swinging the Keyblade around in a fit of giggles like a small child as she felt her happiness surge! She was unable to believe her luck! 'I get to have an adventure!' She thought to herself as she imagined all the incredible things they could all do together! Then putting her hand to her heart, she smiled and thought with great hope, 'Master, Wairu, I can find you both now!'
Feeling this great light shine inside, she smiled. Then she opened her eyes, looked in the distance, and there she noticed something red and small, shivering before a particular tree. Becoming concerned, forgetting her happy feeling, she walked forwards.
Getting closer to it, she saw that it was the small little red bird she had saved before.
She looked down at it and heard Mickey and Riku run up behind her and stop. She didn't look behind. Instead, her expression became sad face as she saw that the little red bird was crying over the duck's single fallen green feather.
Everyone was silent as Nozomi closed her eyes, then she whispered, kneeling beside the bird, "I'm sorry…" feeling regret that she couldn't save the duck.
….
Nozomi could feel the sadness spread everywhere. She didn't know what else she could do or say, then she heard, "C'mon." Then she felt a hand on her right shoulder; turning to look, she saw Riku, who told her, "We should go now; there's nothing else for us to do here."
She nodded to this, and with that, she moved to get up and go, when-!
"Quack...?"
"Huh!?" Turning to look to her left side, Nozomi saw somehow, "It's you! The duck!" It looked up at her, clearly puzzled at why she and the others looked so depressed.
Perplexed, Riku asked, "Wait, it didn't get eaten?"
"I guess not? Maybe-!"
"TWEET! TWEET! TWEET! TWEET!"
Nozomi was quickly interrupted, as the little red bird had stopped crying and quickly it flew straight over and started hugging the duck happily. Great joy entered the atmosphere as everyone quickly felt the happiness of the two at being reunited.
As these moments of glee hovered, even Mickey couldn't help but say with a small smile, "Well, this a nice happy change, huh? Fella's?"
Nozomi nodded happily while Riku revealed a small smile.
Then after the two held each other for a little more, the bird tweeted something in explanation to the duck, and they both rushed off to where the boy and cat had gone! But before they did, the little red bird flew near Nozomi's nose, then pecked it gently as a small thank you kiss. Nozomi touched her nose in surprise and smiled at the little red bird and then the green duck before they rushed off together into the distance!
"Take care out there, guys!" She cried out, and with that, she waved to them as they waved back before fully leaving on their way.
"Well…that's what I'd call different," Riku uttered with a smile still gracing his features as he watched them run away together.
Nozomi didn't say anything in reply as she smiled, however, looking back behind her. She looked back down at the green feather still in the snow, but as she did, it made her think of something else…"Wairu…" she whispered sadly. For she hoped he was safe wherever he was.
FLASH!
"Huh?" Then in surprise, she and the others saw the feather suddenly begin to glimmer and sparkle with light as it was lifted into the air by the mysterious power!
"What's going on?!" Nozomi asked, baffled.
Suddenly as she said this-!
SHINE!
A beam of light appeared from the feather, which rose and quickly formed a bright glittering keyhole!
Looking at it, Nozomi didn't know what to think, when-!
GLOW!
A beam of light shot out from the end of the Starseeker! This strength and the sudden light appearance nearly made Nozomi topple forwards as the beam entered the keyhole. Then-!
CLICK!
The sound of something unlocking came as the keyhole disappeared in a twinkle of light!
"What was-!?" but it was too early to speak as the wings beside Nozomi's feet reappeared. They grew bigger, making a circling turquoise blue ring appear around the group!
Looking down at it, Nozomi heard Mickey say, "This is the same as-!"
Then quickly, a gigantic Roman numeral appeared in the circle's centre, shining brightly.
"VII"
It blinded them as it engulfed them in blinding white radiance, and then-!
SHINE!
They quickly all disappeared into the air as a huge pillar of light appeared in the sky, making the three vanish into the heavens above!
RUSTLE! RUSTLE! RUSTLE!
At that moment, from the shadows of the trees appeared a deadly angel with steely wings. As she looked at the now empty scenery with her cold green eyes, she stated, "So it appears that I am too late…" Then after some calculations, she decided, "I will need to inform my lady of what has transpired." With that, she turned to look behind herself, then extended her right hand!
VOOM!
A treacherous portal of darkness appeared, which she would now use to return to her master, Maleficent. Who would need to know the current state of her mission to secure the chosen awakened Vessels...
