Chapter LXXXXVIII: Goin' onto the Groovin Empire Part XII

Up in the higher reaches of the palace, 'He' watched from one of the many tall solemn looming columns as Nozomi and the others ran quickly down the long stairways as the masses of heartless descended after them.

Gazing down at them all, he noticed then Nozomi carrying that particular little white rabbit, one of his eyebrows twitched at this ever so slightly as a tiny little spring of irritation entered his heart. But shaking his head he simply instead smiled dismissing it as he said, "Well let's see how you're all going to play this all off, shall we?"

Hurrying forwards panicked madly desperate not to break the bottles in his poncho Pacha spoke up as the thunderous steps of the heartless came behind them all, "we've gotta do something now! We've got to change you all back!"

Hearing him say this being carried by Nozomi still Riku spoke up annoyed, "how are we supposed to do that! We don't have the time to stop and leisurely test these things!"

At this catching one particular word of what his ally had said Mickey spoke up on Pacha's soldier, "that's it! We gotta have one person who can test all the potions while we go."

Hearing this statement it was then Kuzco who spoke up himself, "and who's going to do that!"

Nozomi hearing him then as she was beside him Nozomi looked at him and said rather eerily calmly, "Well why don't you do it?"

At this Kuzco looked at her appalled as Riku looked on perplexed, the llama emperor then complained to her, "what me! Why should I-"

Nozomi quickly explained herself in seconds, "well you're the one who got us started on this whole quest, and the one who's been ranting on about wanting to be turned back so badly and I guess it'd be best if you played the guinea pig." Which she finished with a cheeky smile despite the situation.

Listening to this far more appalled then he was before Kuzco began to open his mouth to speak his mind when suddenly Pacha interrupted and grabbed him by the neck and said, "Sounds good to me!" With that he flicked out a cork out of one of the many bottles and then stuffed it into Kuzco's mouth. Suddenly there was an explosion of pink and red light as bellows of smoke emerged everywhere.

Surprising everyone as they ran on forwards Nozomi spoke up, "what the heck was-"

But then a quiet frightened voice reached her ears, "uh guys? A little help?"

Stopping everyone saw shocked and surprised that Kuzco had been transformed into a small red hued coloured tortoise who was travelling at a slow anxious pace. Seeing him no one could believe it!

Mickey then began to speak up as he said, "wow I had no idea that was gonna-"

But then suddenly the steps of the heartless were becoming all the more too close for comfort! "Kuzco!" With this Nozomi ran back and quickly whisked the small vulnerable reptile up into her other free arm as everyone began fleeing again.

Completely surprised that Nozomi was now carrying him Kuzco had no idea how to react at all as he was held against her long armed top, but suddenly there was a huge flash and a bang and before this intriguing point could sink in further the tightness around him increased. In fact it increased too much!

Feeling Nozomi's heavy pressured arm around him shoving him into her Kuzco spoke out nearly gasping for breath, "hey Nozomi! Lay off on the hold will ya!"

Riku experiencing the same pressure himself spoke up just as loudly and clearly irritated, "exactly it's getting hard to breathe!"

Nozomi herself replied in moments breathless herself as she said, "I can't help it! Besides we're being fired at!" Then at that moment again came another big loud bang as a laser rained out from one of the mouths of the oncoming heartless making a massive explosion behind her making her jump in fright as she cried, "yaaahhhh!"

Then at once suddenly she along with Pacha carrying their small passengers stopped as they both arrived at an open hallway with a huge long staircase beneath them leading into a huge deep expanse of darkness. Seeing this sight both of them were hesitant at first to move forward again, but suddenly!

Nozomi turned as she felt the flash and seeing it coming she shouted out, "move!" With that Pacha noticing himself ran and jumped just as fast as Nozomi did just before another blast struck the very floor they'd been upon in mere seconds as they sped down the stairway sliding on either side of its banisters.

Riding down Nozomi still held on tightly to both Kuzco and Riku who were struggling to breathe, looking to her left she saw then that Pacha was struggling as he couldn't keep his balance too well as the blasts from the heartless still kept coming. Seeing this she knew she had to do something! But unfortunately with her arms full she couldn't do a thing, so quickly she took action.

Pacha riding down still waved his arms back and forth trying to stay afloat as the heartless continued their barrage, Mickey on his shoulder too was holding on tightly desperate not to let go as he called out, "hold on there Pacha!"

Gritting his teeth the farmer tried to do just that but then, "Pacha!" He heard Nozomi calling out to him. Turning he saw her move as she moved her right arm and called out to him, "heads up!" With that she sent a red tumbling panicked Kuzco tortoise into the air as he called out, "hey whoooooaaaaa!"

Seeing this Pacha quickly moved his arms out and at once caught Kuzco in moments, then acting with an idea of his own he put Kuzco under his feet as he used his hard tortoise shell to his advantage as he turned him into a makeshift skateboard as he rode down with far more ease.

Her work done Nozomi turned around fast riding backwards as he then pointed her keyblade with her right hand and aimed. She then shouted out her spell in seconds, "Firaga!" With that the fire spell flowed out in seconds striking some of the many heartless that pursued them with an explosion of flames.

Riku was now in a more troubling position then he was before as Nozomi was holding him directly on her chest making him feel a particular part of her body that was making him blush and squirm like crazy!

Meanwhile travelling at their own immense chaotic speed Pacha, Mickey and Kuzco saw that down below unfortunately there were more heartless waiting for them, though this time all of them were armed to the brim with very sharp swords and blades.

Seeing this Mickey looked back to Nozomi and saw that she was too busy dealing with the heartless on her end and so quickly spoke to Pacha in a hurried voice, "Pacha! Ya better do somethin' quick!"

Hearing this Pacha replied back instantly, "on it!" Quickly he pulled up another of the potion bottles out of his poncho as he then flipped the cork out and prayed under his breath, "oh please be something with wings!" Finishing he then shoved the bottle into Kuzco's mouth and at once the red and pink smoke exploded everywhere again.

Stopping her backwards attack hearing the loud bang of magic Nozomi turned around and saw the red and pink smoke everywhere as it blinded all the heartless that was in their way. Seeing this Nozomi then saw a projectile shoot in the air and as it did she called out, "guys!" With that she turned forward again as she called out her wings and flew into the air chasing after them as she continued to hold Riku close to her.

In the air in his new transformation Kuzco spoke out proudly as he felt himself fly in the air powerfully, "yeah! We're flying!" However this was short lived as he quickly discovered that he wasn't the mighty beast he'd thought he'd become. Instead now he was a small puny red parrot of sorts with even tinier wings that could be compared to that of a fly. Noticing this with dread as he felt Pacha's enormous weight on his tiny leg whispered worriedly, "uh oh!" With that they all started to plummet to the ground.

Seeing this happen Nozomi acted in seconds, "oh no!" Then quickly she aimed and released, "Aero!" With that the wind spell caught all her friends in seconds allowing them all to gently descend onto the floor with no injury.

Landing quickly beside them all she rushed over and asked them all hurriedly, "are you guys all right!"

Hearing her Pacha looked at her surprised for a moment but then somehow mustering a smile he replied, "yeah, yeah just about."

Aching all over though from the tremendous weight that had been put upon his small tiny little body Kuzco relayed tired with annoyance," ugh, I could be way better than this…" as he was getting tired of being the guinea pig.

Nodding as he said this Mickey replied passing over what Kuzco had said, "yeah thanks there Nozomi! That was a real good save and-" but then Mickey noticed Riku who being held still against Nozomi's chest was blushing furiously red, but Mickey couldn't tell with what, annoyance? Or was it embarrassment? Seeing this he began to ask, "Riku are you-" However suddenly again there was the rumbling in the ground as the heartless were once again hot on their heels. Hearing them approaching Nozomi turned as she saw them and turned again as she called out, "scram!"

Heeding her words in moments everyone began to do just that as Pacha snatched Kuzco into his arms, while the heartless continued their pursuit. Then as they began to cross over a long ominous bridge Kuzco decided to make his protests again, "listen! We're not getting anywhere with Pacha picking the vials! I wanna pick the next one!"

To which as Nozomi ran whispered to herself annoyed, "like's that even gonna make any difference!" To which though Riku was still annoyed by his position couldn't help but agree with her as he said in his grumpy tone, "you've got that right!"

Annoyed himself at his bratty behaviour Pacha relented in moments as he told him, "fine by me!" However Mickey was clearly a little uncertain and was obviously quite reluctant at this idea.

Seeing that he'd got his way Kuzco was pleased at least a little at this and so told him, "fine! Now give me that one!" With that Pacha did just that as he shoved the bottle Kuzco had chosen into the emperor's opened mouth.

Once again another explosion of pink, red smoke erupted everywhere along with the sparks darting left and right.

Suddenly as the smoke dispersed everyone was back-to-back against a huge shape that now was sitting in the centre of the bridge with everyone looking on petrified at the depths below them. For the shape that Kuzco had now turned into was that of a red coloured whale with an enormous mouth with a light pink underbelly. As he saw the transformation that had occurred because of his choice he spoke to everyone annoyed before they could make a criticism, "don't any of you say a word!"

At this Nozomi looked at him annoyed as she now had her hands and arms against his blubber as Riku now finally escaped her hold as he too had a similar pose to her, she then told him sarcastically irritated, "oh what? That you've gained over five thousand pounds? Hard to miss."

Kuzco hearing her say this was annoyed himself in moments was about to retort straight back at her when suddenly the bridge cracked underneath them because of Kuzco's huge weight, then it all at once collapsed and as it did everyone screamed loudly panicked, "AAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHH!" The heartless finally making it over to the crumbled edge watched with their soulless alien eyes as the heroes all fell into the watery gloom below.

Gazing down at the progress of her prey as the heartless made their way to the crumbled edge, Yzma looked on with irritation, as it was taking longer than she wanted for them all to be dead and gone. Pete and Kronk beside her all looked on with differently, her so-called provider of the heartless looked on just as annoyed, while Kronk on the other hand looked on with slight anxiousness as once again his conscience was plaguing him along with his guilt as he bit his lower lip.

Pete spoke up as he punched his right fist into his left palm as he said, "that lot are as tenacious as ever! Well they ain't gonna-"

However he was interrupted as Yzma commanded, "drain the canals!" As her impatience had now gotten the better of her.

As they were all submerged into the dark waters Nozomi panicked as once again she was in her most dreaded weak spot, holding her breath as she struggled at her attempt of 'swimming' she suddenly felt something beneath her as it quickly carried her and the others to the surface. Breaking through the waters Nozomi coughed and spluttered as she could breathe again, she then spoke breathlessly, "wha? What has-"

But then she saw the surface that had saved her; it was Kuzco as he had swam beneath her and everyone else and had now made a makeshift island of sorts for them all to use. Pacha coughing himself glad to be able to breathe himself asked, "is every… is everyone all right?"

At this question Mickey climbed over Pacha's shoulder as he was dripping wet himself, he was clearly breathless too from the fall and with his size it didn't help things as he replied, "oh sure!... uh, um never been better."

Seeing that everyone was all right Nozomi was relieved as she then said, "Hey, well Kuzco looks like we owe you twice now!"

Hearing this feeling his pride rise up again Kuzco replied smugly, "well hey? What do you expect? I was born an emperor after all?"

Smiling at this comment Nozomi was quiet for a moment when suddenly it hit her, where was Riku! Looking around urgently she spoke out, "Riku! Riku! Hs anyone seen Riku!"

Hearing her everyone looked at her puzzled as she spoke out, Pacha then asked her, "what?"

Nozomi not understanding why he and everyone were looking at her this way she then asked, "Riku! I can't see him anywhere! C'mon why are you all looking at me like that! He might be drowning or-"

However she was interrupted as then a familiar tone spoke up, "I'm up here you moron!" Nozomi stopped as she finally realised where Riku was, he was on top of her head!

Feeling his white fuzzy form there she asked him surprised, "Riku! What're you doing on my head!"

To which he sighed again as he told her, "well I couldn't swim too well like this so I grabbed the nearest thing I could cling to… that's it and besides Cait sith's always resting here on you so its not that big of a deal is it?"

Hearing this Nozomi replied getting it, "oh?"

Listening to this little interaction Pacha and Mickey couldn't help but smile at it while Kuzco didn't understand a words of what was going on, but then Pacha decided to act, "right then! Okay Kuzco open up!" With that he took another potion bottle as he went to put it into the emperor's mouth again.

However Nozomi quickly tried to squawk out, "no wait Pacha! I can't-"

But it was too late as the potion was shoved into the emperor's waiting mouth and as it did the huge explosion of pink and red smoke echoed everywhere again as the flashes were sent flying everywhere.

As the light faded and the smoke dispersed and went Kuzco emerged from the surface as he looked at himself and then saw with delight as he patted the waters surface, "yay! I'm a llama again!" At which point Pacha and Mickey smiled glad at his happy state, but then Kuzco realised what had happened as he said, "wait?"

Suddenly something broke through the surface coughing and spluttering and as it did it grabbed Kuzco's long black neck, stunned like mad the llama emperor saw with huge surprise it was Nozomi as she clung to him like mad holding him tightly.

Seeing this Kuzco then was flustered and absolutely surprised, as he demanded, "what the heck are you doing! Why are you-"

He was interrupted as Nozomi told him mad and breathless slightly again, "I'm holding you all right! I can't swim! So you're one of the only few things I can cling to! Okay! Honestly you dumb animal! Why doesn't anyone ever listen to me when I'm trying to…"

Riku still on her head as she barked her angry comments out was tired of all this watery nonsense himself but then as he looked to Kuzco he noticed there was a red blush streaked all over his face. Seeing this Riku then felt a surge of irritation inside himself as this annoyed him bitterly inside.

But suddenly the water they were all in suddenly surged and a huge whirlpool appeared underneath them as it drained them all down into a deep abyss, they all screamed as they descended, "AAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!"

Seeing what they'd managed to do Pete then spoke out proudly, "ha! Now we got 'em! We've flushed 'em all like the rats they are!"

Yzma was clearly just as pleased as she smiled broadly with that same creepy smile that she had, while Kronk was beginning to feel worse and worse… why was he doing this?

Outside the golden-headed building exhaled water out of its nostrils making a huge waterfall beneath it as it all flowed down the steps of the palace, watching as she saw the water Nozomi gulped nervously as she dangled over the huge height beneath her as she held onto Kuzco's legs as he held onto the topper rim of the hole they'd emerged from, Riku was clinging tightly to her head as he was desperate not to make any sudden moves. Pacha beside them held on just as tightly, while Mickey held onto his shoulder blade just as desperate himself.

Looking down Nozomi then spoke, "wow! That was lucky!"

Hearing her Riku not wanting to know told her annoyed, "don't remind me!" As held on just a little tighter making Nozomi wince.

Hearing this though desperately holding on as his grip was aching terribly, Kuzco spoke up," well forget about all that! What're we all supposed to do now! I can't hold on much longer!"

Pacha gritting his teeth agreed to as he spoke out, " I know Kuzco! I know but we've gotta be careful of how we do things and-"

But then he was interrupted as Nozomi spoke up, "it's okay! I can get us out of this!"

At this Pacha was wondering what she was saying? As he was silent for a moment before he asked her perplexed, "what but how! We're all stuck in mid air! And there's nothing for you to take off from! How are you supposed to-"

Mickey spoke up interrupting him, "it's okay Pacha! Nozomi can do it! Can't ya?" He asked her as he looked down at her.

Smiling as the king spoke to her Nozomi replied, "thanks your majesty! And yeah I can so don't worry Pacha! I can do it without a platform." With that she then quickly let go of Kuzco's legs.
Feeling her let go he cried out alarmed, "Nozomi!" However quickly his anxious expression changed as he became astounded once again as he saw her summon her wings and then run in the air. Everyone watched as she turned in the air with Riku on her head and smiled to them as she said, "right! Now who wants to get passed up first?"

Yzma watching what had occurred was smiling delightfully as she then went over to the edge of the one nostril hole to see her former enemies as simple smudges on the ground as she spoke, "oh! This is just so sweet and now-" However to her dismay she quickly saw that they were alive and in one piece as she saw that girl with the wings! Angered in moments she then shouted out, "Pete!"

Jumping at the sound of her voice he almost felt like cowering but then trying to hide his nervousness he replied, "uh? Eh? Yeah there Yzma?"

At once she pointed down the hole as she looked back to him and demanded, "Get the heartless after them now!"

Meanwhile on the outside, Nozomi had already pulled up Kuzco onto the ledge as she left him and Riku to get their breath back from the big amount of excitement that had taken place. Reaching her hand forwards she told Pacha smiling, "all right Pacha, takin' this way up?"

"Ya bet we are! Right Pacha?" Mickey asked as he looked to his large ally.

Hearing her and listening to what Mickey said he replied, "yeah! Yeah definitely." For him seeing her reaching her hand out he was amazed, but smiling he took her hand in his and then letting go of the edge his other hand grabbed hold of both of her hands and she lifted him up as he asked, "I'm not heavy am I?"

At this Nozomi shook her head as her smile still rested on her face as she told him, "no, you're fine Pacha, with my power I don't have any sense of weight so its nothing."

Glad to hear this and feeling relieved he was about to say something else to her when suddenly there was a huge sound of scurrying and scratching as something was coming from the nostril he'd been holding onto only seconds ago!

Watching then perplexed everyone saw the huge mess of heartless that had been chasing them all fall down through the hole and in a higgledy piggldey mess fall and be dashed to pieces on the hard floor as their hearts all faded away in moments.

Watching this it was then that Kuzco looking on, as everyone else was blank he said, "well that was anti-climatic."

Seeing what had happened Yzma was infuriated as she turned on Pete again as he looked on petrified as she then roared at him, "what the heck do you think that was!"

At this feeling terrified out of his mind Pete answered nervously, "um? Uh an attack?"

Kronk watching on was feeling now just as nervous as Pete was as he had no idea how his mistress was going to act, then he got to see as she hollered at him, "AAAAGGGGRRRR! You're utterly useless!" Then looking up into the darkness of the ceilings of the palace she finally called out to 'him' "URIAX!"

Hearing his name being called he appeared in a swirling wind of darkness as he asked her in a cool tone, "yeah? What is it you might want? Yzma?"

Seeing him looking and speaking to her in this tone she was not in the mood for his coyness as she pointed at him angrily with a prosecuting finger, "I want you to deliver your promise to bring me results!" Then she looked to Pete as she looked at him annoyed beyond belief as she said, "these two idiots have given me nothing but incompetence and I'm fed up with it! I don't wanna work with that lummox anymore!"

Yzma turned and looked to Uriax again not seeing that Pete's ears had gone down as his self-esteem wilted once again and Kronk was left looking just as saddened. She then spoke to him, "now I want you to deliver me victory and I want it delivered now!"

At this angry outburst Uriax remained as still and cool as ice, there was then a moment of silence as no one could tell what he was thinking under that white mask of his, but finally some words came out undeterred, "all right then, I will but you remember this… if you break it, you buy it."

With that he clicked his fingers as his dark creation came into existence in seconds in a cloud of black smoke and swirls of furious dark blue electricity.

Finally all on the ledge together everyone breathed in out recovering their energy from the whole wacky intense event they'd all been through, now off of Nozomi's head Riku spoke as his paws were on the ground along with his long ears, "wow… I'm glad… that's over."

Hearing him breathing herself deeply replied, "You got… that right!"

"Well at least we're all together now fella's," Mickey said as he too climbed down from Pacha's shoulder as he got back on the ground to stretch his shoulders and arms.

"Yeah," Kuzco breathed, as he was glad to rest too.

Pacha though was quickly back on to the mission at hand as he pulled out two of the last vials of potion as he told everyone, "right guys! Only two left it's got to be one of these!"

At this Kuzco spoke out, "great! Let's test 'em!"

Everyone else now really eager too watched as Pacha went to open as he said, "right!" But suddenly as he went to do so there was a huge deafening shout, "OH NO YOU DON'T!" Making the potions fall out of his hands and even sending everyone off their feet as a wind spell came from nowhere making them all fall on their backs and off their feet.

Scaring everyone out of their minds suddenly a portal of darkness emerged behind them all and from within Yzma and Kronk appeared, then before any of them could act Yzma commanded in moments, "Kronk get the potions!"

Hearing her he replied, "Uh right there! Yzma!" With that he ran forwards to get the two vials, seeing him quickly Riku, Mickey acted fast as once again they both took the two potions in their paws. However they weren't quick enough and were both snatched up into Kronk's hands.

Seeing them both struggle Nozomi reacted in moments, "Riku! Mickey!" Then quickly she drew out her keyblade 'The Starseeker' as she looked at Kronk angrily as she demanded, "let them go!"

Kronk feeling bad again hesitated as he felt both the small animals in his hands as they felt so vulnerable, he began to try and speak, "uh well I, look I-"

However regardless of what this guy was going to say Riku had had enough of being man handled for one day, so he bit him hard making Kronk gasp out painfully as Riku was quickly released and with him he took the bottle he had in his paws. Unfortunately Mickey was still left in Kronk's left hand and due to his small size it was harder for him to deal with the pressure of his grip. Seeing him struggle as he turned Mickey called out, "your majesty!"

Appalled at what was happening Pacha spoke up worried, "Mickey!" Not wanting this anymore Nozomi rushed forwards and aimed her keyblade straight at Kronk's face as she then demanded, "You let him go now!"

Yzma behind him watching as Nozomi had the keyblade aimed at her cohort then ordered him, "Kronk! You get that girl out of the way and bring me that rabbit and mouse here this minute!"

Kronk now at the crossroads was shaking inside as his guilt was rising rapidly inside him, what should he do? Then feeling Mickey in his hand he felt him gasp again and shudder painfully, it was seeing this… that he made his decision.

Watching Kronk and his expression Nozomi was quiet and confused as she couldn't see expression on his face at all as he bent his head down, suddenly Yzma spoke out again, "Kronk!"

All at once shocking everyone Kronk suddenly released Mickey from his hand and quickly threw the bottle that the mouse king had been carrying straight at Yzma.

Watching as this happened Pacha then cried out anxiously, "no don't!" For that could have been the one bottle to turn everyone back! There was a huge explosion of smoke, huge and darkened and ominous almost like a mini mushroom cloud. There was then a huge bout of manic sinister laughter almost man-like, everyone was wide-eyed with horror at this for what could she possibly have been turned into?

Suddenly all at once the smoke cleared and it was!

A cat… a very small cat, almost like a kitten, pale blue in colour with big blue coloured eyes as it mewed in a quiet soft voice, making it incredibly cute but weird knowing that it was Yzma.

Nozomi looking at her then said aloud baffled, "well that's different…"

However there was now a huge positive to this outcome that Pacha revealed, "well we know which potion will turn you all back now, Riku's got it!"

Listening to this realising, Riku almost couldn't believe it! He had the key to their humanity! He was quiet but then he smiled glad and happy as he said, "well great! Let's use it already!" With that he began to try and open it. However suddenly Yzma wasn't pleased with this as she screamed angrily, "URIAX!" In a high pitched squeaky voice.

Hearing this alarmed, suddenly a huge dark shadow sprung from nowhere from above everyone with no warning and as it did something long and big swung downwards. Noticing out of the corner of her eye just in time Nozomi ducked as she cried out, "whoa!" As the dust and debris was scattered everywhere, as she lay on the ledge wondering what had happened she suddenly saw Kronk and Pacha fall off the edge as they yelled out together panicked, "AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!"

Seeing this she cried out, "Pacha!" At once she dived into the air as she quickly went after her ally and former enemy. Reaching out to her the two of them were quickly grabbed by Nozomi's hands as she began to descend down with them, though it was a little more difficult than it had been earlier for her as she had rushed the process and so the sense of weight hadn't been completely removed from her.

Gritting her teeth as the wings on her feet beat strongly against the force of gravity, she lowered down with them gently as best she could, Pacha and Kronk were both silent as they watched her and didn't say a word until they finally both made it to another nearby ledge.

Making it quickly back onto a stable surface Pacha began to speak up, "just what was that! Kuzco and the others? Do you think they-"

Interrupting him Nozomi spoke as she looked up then herself, "I don't know I just hope they're all right! I got to go back up quick!" With that she went back to the reaches of the sky, but before she left she turned and asked, "uh hey? What was it… Klunk?"

At this the former lackey replied correcting her, "uh it's Kronk, there."

Nodding Nozomi replied, "right, you look after yourself and Pacha and get to a safe place, and also from what I've seen of you… you're way too nice for your own good."

Silent as he heard this Kronk didn't know at first how to reply but then Pacha spoke up, "don't worry I'll make sure we're safe you just take care of whatever is up there and help the others too!"
Nodding at this Nozomi replied, "Will do!" With that she took off and ascended while Pacha and Kronk watched from below quietly.

Ascending and arriving quickly back to where she was before Nozomi stood in mid air as she looked around quickly for Riku and the others, however all that was there was a huge dent in the palace wall and some small pieces of debris. Alarmed at this she called out worried, "Riku! Mickey! Kuzco! Where are you! Answer me!"

There was nothing but silence as an uneasy atmosphere began to soak everything, feeling really horrible Nozomi was terrified but then she heard a call from behind, "NOZOMI!"

Turning around quickly something went to strike her, quickly ducking as best she could from this first wave she was then struck by something really hard that winded her as she spun away in the air. Cringing from the pain she squinted painfully from the blow and saw with alarm what had struck her.

It was a huge heartless in the shape of an enormous frilled lizard with huge yellow boogley eyes as they stared and swivelled in place. It was utterly creepy, as did this. Its main body was green turquoise blue in colour with a pale underbelly. Black, white and yellow in colour were its frills on its arms and legs making something like makeshift wings that allowed it to stay afloat in the air and around its neck was a single lion mane like frill surrounding its head. This created an almost kingly feel to the monster making it all the more haunting to look at.

It was also decorated with golden manacles on its legs and golden lines revealing its scales with the heartless sign on its chest but then looking to its tail Nozomi then saw something that alarmed her far more than anything else, for there at the bottom was a golden gilded cage and inside squeezed uncomfortably all together were Kuzco, Mickey and Riku as they were swung back and forth. A golden bell tingled as they were all swung together to and throw.

Seeing this Nozomi was appalled as she cried out, "guys!"

Inside cringing from the uncomfortable positions they were all in Kuzco breathed, "will you… guys… move! I haven't got any room!"

As he said this Mickey replied, "sorry Kuzco! But we don't exactly have room either y'know!"

Riku though as uncomfortable as he was called out to Nozomi, "we're okay! But the potion! We've lost it! We haven't got it!"

Glad to hear this relieving some of her worry Nozomi then called out a now bigger worry, "what it's gone! But where! Where could it-"

"Are you looking for this?" Came a high pitched squeaky tone, looking up Nozomi saw Yzma was now on the heartless' head in her cat form as its eyes continued to swivel around. In her paws though Nozomi saw the single potion that they were all looking for.

Seeing it in the small cat's hand she spoke angrily to her, "you let my friends go now! And give us that potion!"

However simply scoffing at her Yzma simply replied, "unlikely you hapless fool! I'll keep it and drink it myself and then turn back into my beautiful self (to which Nozomi thought to herself, 'she's better off as she is now.') but first…" The heartless then hissed at this pause as it looked on angrily at Nozomi with hostility, gripping her keyblade tightly as she could sense what was coming Yzma then concluded menacingly, "I'm going to have the heartless kill you all!" With that the beast bellowed loudly as it began its pursuit in the air after Nozomi as she began her retreat quickly running through the air as the creature swum in the air.

As she chased her prey though Yzma quietly coughed as she asked perplexed at her new tone, "is this really my voice now?"