Chapter CXVI: Into the depths of Atlantis Part XVI

Boom!

A huge blast echoed out all around as it destroyed its intended target, this left a smouldering mess of what used to be the throne room doors and now all that was left was a charred hole and black smouldering smoke.

As the black sooty atmosphere flowed away Vinny stood tossing a few sticks of tied dynamite in his hand and said in a jokingly manner in his usual bored monotone voice, "knock! Knock!"

Looking at him annoyed bitterly as he did this Nozomi was silent as she felt the ropes tied tightly around her wrists keeping her arms pinned behind her back. This had been done to the others too, all except Milo who out of everyone was physically the weakest and had no training in weapon usage.

The displeased look still on her face Nozomi then heard Cookie as he pulled up a shotgun and said continuing the taunting humour, "room service!"

At this point though it was finally someone in the group had had enough, "I'll give ya all room service! When I get me mitts out of these ropes here I'll-" for even Cait sith had had his small paws bond together, but how they would know he was a threat to anyone was a mystery.

However ignoring this angry little outburst Helga spoke up as she continued to hold on to the princess of Atlantis who's arms were being pinned back by her strong free left arm, "tell them to drop their weapons!"

For the two still human guards that were standing stood strong and determined despite the horror that was occurring to their ancient city, they didn't move a muscle as Helga was growing impatient as she then spoke out, " now!" As she nudged her gun into Kida's back.

Meixeng hearing this sound spoke out angrily as she said, "you leave her!"

The king himself hearing the outrage and slight distress in Meixeng's voice then realised he tremendous weight of the situation and who's life was being threatened as he then gave his order keeping his ancient authority. With that at the words of their king the guards dropped their spears and with that Helga gave out her next order, "spread out! Search everywhere!"

With that everyone who was untied and in cohoots with the commander and leuitenant began the raid as they all pulled and wrecked everything that was in sight, all of them trying to find the doorway to the crystal chamber. Quietly angry as they continued this barbaric activity all Nozomi could do was stare on, for if she could get her hands on her keyblade-

"Move!" Audrey ordered as she pushed knocking Nozomi out of her thoughts as she pushed her forwards with her gun.

Cait sith seeing this told her angry, "oi! Watch where yer pointin' that thing!"

Annoyed herself Nozomi looked at her for a moment seeing the still harsh coldness in her eyes, however biting her tongue back Nozomi said nothing as she was led forwards along with Mickey and Riku as they were all brought to the same point where Milo was.

It was clear that Rourke too was getting impatient as he told them all, "now look all of you we're here in the spot! Now there must be something else!" As he shoved the book in the captive linguists face.

Angry Milo then told him pushing the book away from himself as he read it out for the barbaric commander to understand, "well it doesn't! It just says 'the heart of Atlantis lies in the eyes of our king!'"

Nodding as he said this Nozomi then finally spoke out as she said,"exactly! Now stop all this! You've caused enough damage!"

Cait sith then also chipped in as he said, "yeah! Beside what're ya lot thinkin' yer gonna get from breakin' a lot of pots and tearin' curtains!"

Hearing this his impatience was growing immensely by the minute but as Rourke heard this particular remark from the small little black cat on Nozomi's shoulder this gave him the initiative as he walked forwards and said, "you've all got valid points! So maybe old king Coal here can help us fill in the blanks!" With that he went straight towards the ruler of Atlantis.

Mickey himself sensed something horrible was going to happen as he called out, "no! Don't do-"

However he was cut off as Vinny poked his gun into Mickey's back as he told him, "tone it down there mouse boy."

This made both Nozomi and Riku along with Cait sith look at Vinny angrily, everyone was agitated beyond words! If only they could all do something!

Rourke in the meantime had made it over to the king of Atlantis as he started his interrogation of the ancient one as he asked putting a small tooth pick into his mouth, "so how bout' it chief? Where's the crystal chamber?"

The king though was not intimidated as he told him defiantly, "you will destroy yourselves!"

However this one sentence led to Rourke's little snap of patience as he said almost grinding his teeth as he removed the tooth pick, "maybe I'm not being clear!" With that before anyone could blink he shoved his right fist swiftly and crushingly into the kings chest making him collapse in moments as he gasped painfully.

Everyone's eyes widened in horror as gaps echoed all around, Meixeng hearing the thud and the pain from the king was alarmed herself as she shouted out, "old man!" Then quickly as her panicked tone escaped her lips Uma and Fuma left her shoulders as they both went over to try and assist the ancient king.

Angry Kida was distressed with alarm as she struggled to get herself free as she angrily spoke out in her ancient Atlantian tongue at her father's attacker, outraged himself Riku spoke out himself gripping his hands tightly, "damn you!"

Nozomi couldn't believe this man could steep so low as she spoke out herself, "you monster!" As Cait sith's fur bristled angrily all over him as he looked on just as mad himself as he too was horribly upset as he looked down to the ground unable to look at the pain that had been caused.

Sweet rushing over to the ancient king gazed down at him with high concerns as Fuma and Uma continued to look at the old man anxiously. Seeing the damage that had been caused as he felt the man's ancient heart he spoke out to his commander, "Rourke this was not a part of the plan!"

The commander though unmoved by all this emotion simply smiled as he told him, "plans change doc, I suggest you put a bandage on that bleeding heart of yours it doesn't suit a mercenary."

With that Rourke helped himself as he sat on the throne enjoying the power he was exerting as he put his feet up on the table throwing off a bowl that contained ripe and delicious fruit destroying the ceramic work in moments as the sweet contents rolled over here there and everywhere. Gazing at him as he did this Nozomi wanted to rush on over and cut him down right there and then!

Smiling smugly still Rourke continued, "well as usual diplomacy has failed us, now I'm going to count to ten and you're going to tell me where the crystal is." With that at the click of his fingers gas masked heartless emerged as they quickly took the king from Sweet and hoisted him up so his blind eyes could look in the direction of Rourke's voice.

Horrified at what he was going to do Mickey turned his head and tried quickly once more to stop what was happening as he cried out, "no stop it! Ya can't just-" but once again he felt Vinny poking into his back stopping him in his tracks from breathing another word.

Rourke still impatiently angry began his count down, "One!" With that he cocked his gun ready to fire, this action even made the other members of his group look on in shock, he was really planning to do this? The commander continued his own form of counting, "nine! Te-"

However he stopped in his tracks as he noticed something as he looked to the water behind the king, then looking down at 'The Shepard's Journal' that was still in his hands he saw the stones in the central pool of the water were the same shape as the emblem on the journal. As his mind deduced the information as he continued to stare on at the ancient symbol he repeated from memory what Milo had said only seconds before, "the heart of Atlantis lies in the eyes of our king."

He got it! It was there in the centre of that pool, that was where the doorway to the crystal was! He then spoke out amazed at his own deduction skills, " this is it we're in!" With that he threw the book straight back to Milo as he began to make his way to the ancient doorway and as he did that the heartless released the old man in moments as Sweet went straight back to attend to him.

Watching as he started to make his way to the entrance of the crystal Nozomi couldn't believe it! She then spoke out, "how did he find it! I mean what kind of thing could of-"

Riku interrupted her as he told her, "well he may not be able to decipher things as well as Milo or be as civil as what we are... but he has cold dark cunning eyes that can be the most dangerous thing there is to have."

Silenced as she heard Riku's conclusion Nozomi looked back to Rourke again, whatever was going to happen next was undeniably going to be worse then what they had already had.

Milo in the meantime once again tried to reason with Rourke as he spoke out to him,"Rourke for the last time you have got to listen to me! You don't have the slightest idea what this power is capable of!"

Cait sith becoming more bitter by the moment also added, "that's right! Now ya lot cut this out right now this has gone on too far!" With that he continued to struggle against his bonds aggressively trying to get free.

However their leiutenant still being just as smug ignored the little outburst as she said continuing to hold onto the princess tightly, "I'm sure there are going to be many countries that will pay anything to find out about this treasure..."

At that moment as Rourke finally made his way over to the entrance he went to step upon the stone circle that had a slight small glow in the centre of the pool, but as he was inches from touching it a smug grin came across Meixeng's face as she said under her breath, "don't be so sure!"

Helga hearing these words stopped for a moment as she wondered why she would-

Suddenly something shone from where Rourke was standing as a huge sound of ringing echoed all around, as this occurred the commander asked perplexed, "what the heck is-"

Then suddenly a light blue electrical charge appearred from within the stone circle as it raced in fast lines all over it. Rourke still puzzled had no time to process anything as suddenly, "AAAAGGGGHHHH!" He was thrown back by a massive electrical blue bolt as he was slammed straight into the watery floor.

Everyone was completely startled at this! As they were all speechless but then Mole not believeing it himself then cried out, "what was-"

Suddenly a huge sound of laughter echoed out and then everyone turned and saw that it was Meixeng as a grin was plastered over her face, everybody was dumbfounded what was so funny?

Rourke recovering from the stinging pain he'd been inflicted with could hear this laughter as well and as he looked up from the water now all soaking wet as he saw the monkey mistress nobody as she looked in his direction and said, "serves you right!"

Hearing this one sentence it was immediatley Rourke realised angrily, "you! You set that up!"

Grinning seeing that she had touched a nerve Meixeng replied, "oh what's wrong? Don't like having the carpet pulled out from under ya?"

However it was clear that Rourke was in no mood for jokes as he shouted out "leiutenant!"

At this one order in moments Helga released her grip on Kida as she stormed over to Meixeng and grabbed her by her blouse speaking angrily to her, "just what are you playing at!"

Feeling her do this Meixeng was not intimidated as she answered back the grin still on her face, "nothin' that's gonna be pleasein' you guys anytime soon."

Biting her bottom lip though Helga was getting just as agitated as her commander as she told her pointing the gun straight to Meixeng's chin, "playtime is over! Now disarm whatever it is you've put on that door!"

However still unfazed Meixeng simply continued to smile as she replied, "oh! Look who's getting fierce! Oh military types are so scary!"

Kida though and everyone else staring at this hostile interaction knew that Helga's string of patience was getting thinner and thinner, it was just ridiculous from the plain eye! How could she be so amused by this!

The princess of Atlantis called out to her, "Meixeng! Stop being foolish! You will agh!"

However she was stopped from going on as Rourke had now run up from behind and grabbed Kida, holding her back as he pinned her arms behind her. Pointing a gun to her he told the nobody, "this little charade is getting' old really fast! Now either you start talkin' or this princess won't be movin'' `With that he cocked the gun again showing that he was horribly serious.

Gasping at this Nozomi shook her head as she called out to her as well, "Meixeng!"

Hearing the sound of the gun and the distress that was in Nozomi's voice it was finally then that the female nobody dropped the jester tactics as she said in a serious tone as she lifted her arms up, "fine! Okay... you win, I'll tell ya the details of whatever... just lay off of Kida."

With that seeing that she was finally going to play ball Rourke grinned himself as he removed the gun from the Atlantian princess as he stood and listened quietly to what it was Meixeng had to say.

Helga as well relaxed releasing her hold on the nobody girl as well as removing the gun from her chin, Meixeng shaking her head then spoke, "geez no one can ever take a joke can they?"

Riku then thought to himself annoyed, 'that was no time for a joke!'

Looking at everyone then seriously she told them all with a sigh, "all right everyone I'm afraid that lock ain't gonna be comin' off, its permanent so there ain't no entry for no one! Sorry!"

Hearing this everyone was quiet with shock, but then Cait sith spoke up as he said outraged, "what!"

Meixeng then shrugged her shoulders as she said, "that's the way it is sorry!"

Rourke seeing that this was another one of her little prankster games tightened his grip on Kida making her wince painfully as he said to her, "I have warned you this little comedy act is gettin-"

However he was interrupted as then an ancient voice spoke up though painfully still weak, "she speaks the truth."

With that everyone looked in the king of Atlantis's direction, he was still being nursed by Sweet as Uma and Fuma were around his shoulders both looking on anxiously with worry. He spoke on to everyone as they all looked on dumbstruck, "that... chamber has been permanently sealed, no one not even I can open it..."

Hearing this everyone couldn't believe it! Why would he do this? Milo then voiced this silent question, "what! But why! Why would you-"

Meixeng then told him and everyone, "because he asked me to."

With that everyone turned their gaze back to Meixeng as she looked on with cold seriousness as her blind eyes looked into the distance, Mickey hearing this then asked her, "he asked you to seal the crystal chamber away? Why did he do that? What did you use to-"

Interrupting him Meixeng made her explanation, "after the terror that occurred all those hundreds of years ago... the old man never wanted that power to be used or touched again and so... when he discovered and found out about me he sensed the power that I have... and so he asked me to seal away the door."

Hearing this information Kida then asked, "you knew!" Meixeng then turned in the direction of her voice as she listened on, "you knew about that the crystal all this time and you-"

"No," Meixeng interrupted her stopping her in her tracks as she told the princess,"he didn't tell me what was beyond the door, he simply told me that he didn't want what was inside to be touched ever again... and he explained that if I did this for him he would tolerate my stay here and would allow me to live with his people... and be near you."

Hearing this revelation Kida looked at Meixeng with widened eyes as she remembered herself when they had first met her all those hundreds of years ago,when she as a young child was consoled by sweet comforting words her and warm arms that held her so gently.

However Rourke was not in the mood for sentimentality, "oh well that's all very well and sweet... but" with that he released Kida as he walked up to Meixeng and put his gun to her temple and said, "I'm not gonna be so soft on the one barring me from my millions!" With that he had his his gun again ready to fire.

Horrified Nozomi cried out, "no don't! You can't!"

Milo called out too himself, "Rourke please! This isn't gonna solve anything!"

Rourke now near his breaking point then asked with gritted teeth, "then what would all of you academics recommend then? You heard this girl! No one's going to be getting past that seal! And I felt the full force of that!"

It was then Mickey spoke out quickly, "but we don't know how she put the seal on if we all know about that! Maybe we can do somethin!"

That was right, there was still a chance and so quickly Nozomi spoke out, "yeah! Meixeng how did you make it! Please! There must be something!"

Quiet then still feeling the hostile atmosphere around her and the cold gun against her forehead Meixeng but knew inside inside it was probably pointless as she explained, "well that little burst you all saw there, I would sometimes need to re-charge it every whatever year I did it and well... you get fed up with it but then... one day I came across a black cube of some kind as I wandered around."

Hearing this key word Riku asked aloud, "a black cube?"

Rourke looking in the direction of the white keyblader was quiet but turning again he listened as Meixeng continued, "yeah and then on that day when I was rechargin' my little lock, I discovered that the cube was reactin' to it and then well I had a little brainstorm and I placed it in the centre of the entry point and it melded into along with my charge... and after that I never had to recharge it again! I couldn't even touch it anymore myself afterwards..."

Nozomi listening to this information and hearing about the black cube was quiet when she suddenly had an image in her mind, as she remembered the other black cubes they'd all come across on their journey, the Lachesis reports! She then thought to herself, 'that cube it must be!' But then as she realised this another memory re-surfaced inside as she remembered what had occurred in Hercules's world, Riku 's pain...

Rourke hearing this info then asked, " a black cube huh? So thats the thing we gotta be dealin' with? So..." With that he looked to the restrained keybladers, he looked to Nozomi and saw an expression of what could be best described as saddened horror.

Looking at this expression suspociously for a moment he turned his attentions to the white haired member as he walked on over and asked him using his favourite dangerous instrument as a greeting as pushed it under his chin as he asked, "what is it you know?"

Mickey seeing this cried out, "Riku!"

Nozomi snapping out of her realisation looked back and saw what Rourke was doing as well and so spoke out distressed, "what are you doing leave him alone! Don't you-"

However she stopped in her tracks as Rourke was pointing his gun at her now as he told Riku, "I heard yer tone a minute ago... you know what that cube thing is don't you?"

Riku said nothing as he simply looked on quietly with defiant eyes, however Roruke simply smiled again as he continued, "and I'm willin' to bet you know how to disarm it right?"

Once again Riku said nothing keeping his lips sealed, Rourke could already see though what his weak point was as he smiled and said, "now why don't you fess up? I'm so near to being trigger happy..." with that he slowly pulled on the trigger making everyone's eyes widen in horror.

Cait sith then shouted out, "quit that! That ain't funny here ya big fat gorilla!"

Riku seeing this looked to Nozomi for a moment as she looked on terrified but she shook her head at him as she worded with her lips, 'no' for it was clear she'd already figured out what the cube was too... however, "all right! I'll tell you."

Nozomi looked on with disbelief as Rourke simply smiled more and asked, "good... we have an agreement, so what do we do?" With that he removed the gun from Nozomi's face.

Riku was quiet as he looked to Nozomi again who shook her head again as she didn't want this to happen, however Riku looked to Rourke again as he told him, "you'll have to let Nozomi go and take her to the chamber entry point, she can disarm it."

Nozomi couldn't believe it! Why would he tell him? Rourke hearing this was surprised, "she can disarm it?" With that he looked to her again as he said with a grin on his face, "I never knew you were a bomb and trap expert?"

The female keyblader shook her head again as she said, "please don't do this! I don't want to! I-"

However once again the gun was pointed at her as Rourke told her, "you ain''t got no choice." With that he went behind her and started to remove the ropes binding her hands.

Looking to Riku she asked him, "why did you tell him that! You shouldn't of!"

However looking at her himself he told her, "I didn't have a choice... besides you promised you'd collect all of the reports for that boy back in the Radiant Gardens didn't you?"

Remembering her past promise to the slumbering boy Nozomi though continued to protest as she said,"yeah I know but! You've been in pain every time I've collected one haven't you! I don't want that! I don't want to hurt you again! I don't want to collect anymore if you're gonna be in any more pain!"

Hearing this Riku was surprised and even felt honoured inside somehow but then he smiled as he replied to her shaking his head slightly, "it'll be fine... besides Cait sith's always been able to heal me whenever its happened before," with that he turned his head to the small cat still on her shoulder as he asked him, "right?"

Hearing the question being asked to him Cait sith replied, "aye lad! I'll be able to do it! But I will have to say yer getting' harder each and every time to do!" Then looking to Nozomi who looked further upset at these words told her, "don't worry lass I'll take care of him, so don't be makin' no more fuss!"

Quiet Nozomi then looked to Riku again as she became quiet for a moment as he nodded to her again as he said, "it'll be all right..."

Nozomi though still wanted to protest as she said, "but-!"

However it was then Rourke had finished untying her as quickly he took Cait sith off of her shoulder and said, "we only need her to do this, you can stay behind here!" With that he dropped him down making him land in the cold water.

As Nozomi was shoved forwards she called back worried, "Cait sith!"

Getting out of the water shaking himself and splutterring licking his lips spitting out water he spoke out mad, "ya dumb lummox! I'm gonna be getting' ya back to for that!"

However this comment was ignored as Nozomi was led to the entryway looking to Milo then and Kida and finally Meixeng, she looked at all of them worried... could she do this again? True she'd beaten five already but she had always desperatley struggled and at times it was even a miracle that she'd even survived and won.

Pushed forwards by Rourke she was then released as she was told, "now go on and do your work... and don't take too long about it!"

Looking at the one who'd caused all this trouble and misery Nozomi looked at him bitterly but then gazing around again she saw the others who were assisting him in doing this, in particular her eyes looked to Audrey who looked back at her with a slight look of concern.

However this was no time to dwadle as she looked away again and turned to look at the entryway and then quickly though she didn't want to she made her way over to it. Then quickly stepping onto it the same light blue electrical charge came up all around her and raced all over her body. Gritting her teeth hard it was horribly painful as it stung her all over however she wasn't going to scream, no matter what! But then she felt that all familiar feeling! Lifting her arms out she iternally called out to it and at once the thing at the centre of the trap knew her... it knew this familiar light.

Then at once Nozomi gasped as finally it came together in her hands forming in moments as the pale blue light shone brightly, the Lachesis report cube and as it finally came together the world around her darkened in moments.

As the others all watched this spectacle from outside of the entry point they all saw the pale blue light fade away and as it did Nozomi was now kneeling on the ground her head down as a black cube was now held in both of her hands.

Looking at her Milo breathed with worry, "Nozomi...?"

Everyone was quiet but then Riku spoke quietly as he felt a small dull painful ache inside of him, "you better come back! Win this one!... Nozomi!"

As her world faded away Nozomi stood once more upon the familiar stained glass pillar as she felt it lift once more ascending into dark depths she heard the automated voice.

"PROGRAM ACTIVATED"

"INITIATING SEQUENCE 7-5... BEGIN STAGE"

Opening her eyes finally she felt another familiar feeling, however this time instead of feelings just her knees to her feet being encased she felt her whole being dressed. Looking on shocked as the armour appeared its light blue and silver metal shining in the dark as her she felt her leather cape fall from her shoulders. She saw that she was now dressed from head to toe in the armour that she had fought Hari against in within the Underworld. Feeling her gloved hand and the strength of the strong yet light steel she asked, "the whole body now? Why am I?"

"KEY SET AND READY ENTER COMBATANT"

Nozomi then looked up and saw once again the digital ring as it glowed upon the surface of the pillar, white mist appeared as from within its cold depths a knight emerged. However this one made Nozomi looked on truly shocked as this knight unlike the others before her was clad in almost the same armour as her! Though this one was male and about the same as age as the overall design and colour, even the cape behind it were an exact match to hers!

Gazing Nozomi asked, "how can this one be-"

However at once the knight stood ready and waiting as it aimed its own keyblade at her, ready in a dueller's stance! Seeing this Nozomi knew this was no time to hesitate and so quickly she gathered herself and got ready as she too took the same stance summoning 'The Starseeker' in moments, burning with fierce determination.

"CHASER PROGRAM BEGIN"

With that the battle ensued as both knights ran charged forwards towards one another to clash and to decide who was the stronger of the two in this realm of darkness.