Chapter CXXIX: Divided, The Conflict Upon The Pridelands Part V
Running fast and hard breathing hard as he was now struggling against the smoke himself Riku called back, "everyone this way!"
Hearing him quickly they all followed his lead as they all avoided more fiery debris that fell from a nearby tree, the fire had now swarmed and had turned into an immense inferno engulfing everything around the rushed heroes.
The strength of the heat and the smell of the smoke was thick and unbelievable! It was also becoming unbearable being inside it as Nozomi tried to hold her breath as she ran forwards, inside her heart was pumping fearfully! Any paths to escape the fire seemed to have all vanished! She'd even used up now all of her magic! So there was now no way for them to make even small gaps in the flames! So what were they supposed to do?! How were they supposed to-
"Oh no!" Knocking her out of her thoughts Nozomi came to a halt as the king had called out and now all of them had come to a dead end! There was nowhere for them to go! Then looking back the smoke had built up behind them so thickly that it created a smog like wall stopping any of them from back tracking.
Wide eyed herself Nozomi felt a horrible chill go down her back as she whispered, "there's no where to go!"
Annoyed beyond all measure Cait sith cried out, "oh well done ya daft snow drop! Now what do we do?!"
Angered Riku said, "I'm sorry!" But he quickly felt his fear building up inside too, what had he done!? What did he lead his friends into!
Kiara fearful herself coughed as she felt the small black mouse kangaroo on her back do the same, meanwhile Cait sith continued with his rant, "sorry ain't gonna cut the butter lad! We gotta be movin' or! " Then as he continued on the Pride Lands princess looked around herself as she tried to get a better idea of their surroundings. The smoke that covered everything was making it incredibly hard even for her keen lioness eyes to look through. But then as she squinted hard trying to see anything, anything at all! Then she finally she spotted something!
"Cause I don't wanna be roasted like a chicken wing and-"
By this time Nozomi had had enough of! "Cait Sith we get the idea! Now cut it out! It's not just Riku's fault we're-"
"Everyone!" Immediately even interrupting her all of the keybladers turned to the lioness princess and as they did quickly she continued, "there's a cliff there we can leap to!"
At once hearing this everyone looked in the direction she was now pointing to and as they did they saw it! It was a tall and almost dark red cliff edge with the smoke and fire dancing around and under it.
In moments Riku knew then they all had a chance! This was a platform for their way out! "that's it!" Then turning he asked, "Nozomi! Can you fly up there?"
Hearing him in moments Nozomi with no hesitation quickly acted as she summoned her wings and looking up she saw them! The orbs! They were there! So quickly she replied, "yes! Yes I can! I can do it!"
Smiling at this news Riku replied, "great! All right then!" Quickly with that looking back at the cliff he then told everyone, "okay guys let's make a break for that cliff!"
Kiara hearing this replied to the small white lion cub, "right!"
With that quickly everyone got ready as they prepared themselves to leap forwards! Moving her shoulders back and forth as she shuffled them Cait sith on her back still felt really nervous and quickly he looked behind and saw the fire was roaring straight their way! Looking down he patted the sides of Nozomi's back as he told her, "lass ya better get this right!"
Hearing him Nozomi responded in moments, "don't worry! I won't let you get roasted Cait sith!"
At that moment Riku called out, "guys go!" At once all three cats leaped forwards as the flames of the brush came storming after them. Running hard everyones breaths were heightened from adrenalin as it pumped them all forwards. Then the fateful moment came as quickly all of them leaped over the flames and in seconds they all dug their sharp claws into the cliffs rocky edge.
Digging in hard Riku gritted his teeth and using the momentum from the jump he quickly swung himself as he managed to pull himself up and over the cliffs edge, breathing hard as the fire continued to rise from below he tried hard to recover himself.
Kiara struggling herself for a moment as some of the rocks beneath her claws and paws collapsed she gasped as Mickey still riding on her back called out, "Kiara!"
Hearing the king quickly Riku ran back towards the edge as he called out, "Mickey! Kiara!" But at this call suddenly the lioness princess emerged from the cliff's edge as she had made it!
But quickly she fell collapsing into unconsciousness fully exhausted as the fumes had finally got to her. Running to her as she fell to the rocky floor Riku spoke worried, "Kiara! Can you hear me? Can you-"
"Riku?" Turning quickly he saw it was the king speaking to him who now lay on the floor himself.
The small white lion cub made it over to Mickey quickly as he asked him, "Mickey? Are you okay? Has Kiara-"
Putting his small paw up Mickey stopped him from going on as he told him,"don't worry! I can take care of Kiara but-"
"Awww lass!" Quickly this distracted Riku and in moments he ran forwards to see what was going on over the ledge.
Meanwhile over that certain ledge Nozomi was struggling for dear life as her power sadly given out and she'd only managed to land on a few orbs which left her now clinging like mad! She was now dangling near the bottom of the ledge.
Annoyed beyond all measure Cait sith cried out, "ya a right dumb bell! Look what ya landed us in! Ya've-"
"Oh shut up Cait sith! I don't need this right now!" Nozomi cried out mad, for she was stressed like mad as she tried quickly to think of a way out of this situation!
At once from above she heard a familiar call, "Nozomi!"
Looking up she quickly saw who it was as she called out, "Riku!"
Seeing her like this he called to her again, "what's wrong! Can't you climb up?!"
Nozomi then responded, "the rocks are unsteady here! I didn't wanna risk falling and well I can't rely on my magic anymore now and-"
Hearing this Riku then told her, "just jump and leap forwards!"
Baffled for a moment she called back, "huh? But-"
Riku then told her, "you haven't got time to disagree with me now come on! Just leap forwards and if you have some trouble I'll grab onto you from here!"
Nozomi hearing this was silent for a moment as she digested the info she was being given and at once Riku called out again, " Come on! Hurry!"
Finally acknowledging this she nodded as she replied, "okay!..." Then preparing herself mentally she called out, "here I go!"
With that quickly she swung herself as the rocks quickly became dislodged and as they did she leaped upwards as Cait sith called out, "lass!"
But ignoring him she kept going and she leaped then swung and leaped again! She was getting closer and closer and then finally she reached the last nook! Grasping onto it tightly she dug her claws in and as she did her weight caused the rocks to crumble away, seeing this she looked on with wide eyes in shock.
Suddenly before gravity could take its toll something dug into both of her paws, "oww!" Gasping from the pain she saw Riku had reached his own paws forwards but to hold her properly sadly he had to use his claws which were now digging into her and these were hurting her like mad.
Cringing from the sharpness that was cutting into her Nozomi spoke out, "Riku! Ow! That hurts!"
Annoyed he told her as her weight was now pulling him forwards, making him slightly unbalanced, "I know deal with it!" With that gritting his teeth hard he pulled with all his strength as finally she was once again on safe grounds.
Gasping hard feeling the adrenalin pumping through herself Nozomi stood on her paws but quickly she felt herself becoming horribly dizzy as she tried to speak, "Riku... thank you I-" but then the fumes got to her as she fell to the ground and into unconsciousness.
Hearing her collapse immediately Riku got up and looked to her as he became horribly anxious, "Nozomi! What's wrong?! Nozomi!"
But then, "well looks like that the dizziness there is-" but before he could finish his sentence even Cait sith succumbed as he too fell to the ground.
Seeing this Riku's eyes widened as he called out, "Cait sith!?" Quickly turning he called out, "Mickey! Nozomi and Cait sith are-"
But then he saw now that the mouse king too had now fallen to the smoke of the fire, everyone was now down but him! Seeing this the feeling of horror was now rising within him as he whispered, "oh no..."Then quickly as he said this Riku started coughing as now the smoke was beginning to get to him too, dizziness was beginning to take over!
However shaking his head he wasn't going to lose to this! He couldn't! "Focus! C'mon I have to! I can't-"
But as he said this somehow from the dark fumes and smoke emerged a figure, a lion. As he gazed at him at first Riku shook his head as he wondered if hallucinations come with near unconsciousness?
However he could hear paw steps, they had to be real or could it? But as he gazed on still struggling to stay awake he watched as the lion walked on over to Kiara who was still unconscious. The lion to Riku had a dark and menacing aura about him but then with the smoke surrounding him he wasn't sure if it was simply this that was causing the effect?
As the silent lion stared at the lioness princess with his serious and intense eyes he moved her head back with his paw which now left her exposing her neck. He then peered around himself and as he peered all around he saw Riku and was silent for a moment before a cunning smile appeared across his face. As it did Riku wondered to himself, "what is he-"
But before he could say another word suddenly the lion bit into Kiara's neck which immediately snapped Riku into high alert as he cried out, "Kiara! What're you doing!" With that he went to intervene.
"Oh well look who's suddenly become feisty huh?" This voice stopped Riku in moments as it barred him from the dark attacking lion. This figure emerged to be a sleek and elegant lioness with earrings pierced into her ears.
Looking at her and seeing that she was working with this attacker Riku told her angered, "get out of my way!"
With that the lioness then told him, "oh? How cute, he's tryin' to be a hero too?"
Riku then was about to act when suddenly, "Jona!"
Distracting him Riku quickly turned as the lioness did and saw with surprise that Kiara was now being carried upon the lion's back as she was draped over him, once again the dark rescuer spoke, "c'mon we gotta move!"
Still relaxed and cool as ice Jona replied, "sure, sure Kovu honey of course!" Then turning to Riku she asked him, "so you wanna ta have a helpin' paw there small fry?"
Hearing her say this Riku almost couldn't believe it as he asked, "you guys are here to help us?"
With that Jona walked over to where Mickey was lying and quickly with no effort she tossed him onto her back and with that she walked on over to him again as she told him, "what's it look like to you?"
Seeing this occur and now with the king on this lioness' back he felt uncertainty inside himself at these two intentions but he knew on his own there was no way he'd be able to rescue everyone... so quickly without another word he rushed back over to Nozomi as he pulled her up over himself letting her now drape over his back like Kovu had done for Kiara.
Then looking he saw that Cait sith was on the floor but before he cold act Jona walked over and quickly in moments like with Mickey she threw him over her back as now both of them lay side by side, seeing her do this Riku told her though still with an air of uncertainty, "thanks..."
With that smiling Jona winked to him as she told him, "don't mention it!"
Then suddenly running between the two of them with his royal patient on his back Kovu spoke up,"c'mon! Let's move the flames are increasing by the moment!"
Hearing the air of seriousness in his voice Riku replied instantly, "right! Let's go!" With that both lions and lioness ran with unconscious cargo as they went to escape from the fire that continued to burn and chase after them.
As they ran through the unbearable heat Riku looked to Kiara, Mickey, Cait sith and then finally to Nozomi and as he did he told them all silently, "hold on everyone! We'll be out of this soon!"
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Quickly shocked the youngest knight turned and as he did suddenly from behind him there was a huge flash of light!
Seeing this light from behind him Aqua had to cover her eyes but quickly she cried out once more highly worried, "Ven!"
The young knight had somehow been launched and sent off his feet along with the knight who had been attacking. This individual was now out cold, seeing this Ven wondered to himself, "what happened there? Why have I-" but as he moved himself he saw somehow with shocked eyes that now a shining and glowing yellow shield surrounded him! Then looking at the knight he had been trying to protect he saw that he now had a sharp and pointed dagger exposed from under his cloak! This man had-
But the knight with the knife seeing the power that now surrounded this young man that had tried to defend him he cried out, "you! You have one!"
Aqua finally recovering saw the shield herself and as she did she was shocked as she said, "Ven you-"
"One's here!"
The shout filled the hallways and as they did in moments the other knights all became confused as they all started to turn to where they could see the bright and shining yellow shield.
Aqua and Ven both seeing the knights all beginning to turn their way could all feel the hostility of greed and the horrible hateful wrath that was soon going to descend upon them both.
Gazing on from his yellow protective cocoon Ventus was terrified as he knew in moments they were all going to be coming for him! Then once again the knight shouted out loudly!
"A Vessel! It's the fifth-"
But suddenly the knight was silenced as something cut through his chest, Ventus and Aqua both became horrified as the blade was then quickly withdrawn as the knight's body faded away in moments as his heart drifted and glowed away.
The attacker was revealed to be none other then their fellow knight Terra!
Seeing the horrific act that had been done Aqua was devastated as she cried out, "Terra what-"
But suddenly Terra shouted loudly, "c'mon!"
Then at once his armour glowed all over with vibrant and powerful orange energy and as this sparked all over him he gripped his keyblade tightly and in moments he ran forwards and suddenly he leaped and stabbed it into the floor!
In seconds a huge and powerful destructive path path tore across the hallway making all of the warring knights scatter left and right almost like bowling pins!
As Ventus watched from his lying position quickly the yellow shield quickly glowed and faded away and as is did he began to ask, "Terra what're you-"
However Terra paid no heed to him as he rushed forwards through the opened path and as all the knights looked to him they all quickly forgot about the shining shield! Seeing that he'd gotten their attention Terra put his hand to his chest and in moments a bright and shining small crystal like glass shape emerged. As it shone within his palm a powerful orange light emanated everywhere and all around there were shocked gasps!
But before anymore words could be said Terra cried out again, "you're all after one of these! One of the very things that can create the ultimate source of power for you all! Now chase after this like your namesake!" With that quickly he started to flee as the knights all quickly began their pursuit of him!
There came countless more shouts but one in particular echoed the strongest, "after that vessel! Get him! Claim him! He must be..."
Then quickly as these shouts all trailed away both Aqua and Ventus were left in a completely empty and desolate hallway as the enormous revelation was presented before them both...
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"Vessel?"Awakening after another dream Nozomi felt awful all over from the vision! But why did Terra have to-
Suddenly Nozomi stopped as she felt a strange sensation all over herself, she felt clammy, she felt cold she was? "Why am I all wet?" she asked as she lifted up her paws. But at last she realised her surroundings and saw in the very distance over the side of a hill the fiery inferno they had been in and looking down she saw she was in water! But she wasn't drowning instead she was floating and she could herself being dragged by-
"Whoa!"
Suddenly she was released and as she splashed into the water a voice spoke, "you're awake!?"
"Agh! Water!" She then started to panic as she splashed left and right all over the place as she continued, "I can't swim! I can't-!" But quickly she became quiet as she saw she could stand in the liquid, confused at this she asked,"huh?"
Seeing what she'd been doing Cait sith called out, "lass yer in the shallow part ya daft banshee!"
Hearing her other feline companion Nozomi looked to where she could hear his voice and quickly she saw the small crowned cat and Mickey sitting upon a lioness who she hadn't seen before! Looking at her and then back to them seeing them both alive and well she asked, "Cait sith? Mickey? You've been-"
Interrupting her Cait sith spoke as he told her, "yep lass! Me and mousey cheeks here have been saved by this here strong lassie, Jona!"
Looking to this lioness who looked to her now with her rich yellow eyes Nozomi was struck inside as she asked, "Jona?"
To which the earring wearing lioness bowed her head and replied,"there you have it!"
Looking to her Nozomi was confused at what had just happened and so continued, "what happened to us? The last thing I-"
"You guys were all rescued! By me, Jona and this little Riku guy here... you're all safe now in the Pride Lands!"
Turning as she heard this other new voice Nozomi turned and saw another lion, looking she saw a dark mane and serious emerald green eyes and as she looked at him Nozomi was struck silent. She didn't know what to think at first but as she looked to him and back to Jona she realised they had something in common... a mischievousness, a sinister one?
Then looking back then to the lion with intense green eyes she asked him, "thanks and you are...?"
At once a reply came, "Kovu! One of your dear rescuers!"
Repeating the name Nozomi asked, "Kovu?"
Then looking below him Nozomi saw someone else, "Kiara!" She cried out! For there before the feet of this lion was the Pride Lands princess. Running to her quickly the small Tiger cub asked her, "Kiara! Are you okay? Can you hear me? Are you-?"
Awakening from her unconsciousness hearing her name being called the lioness asked aloud, "Nozomi?"
Gasping from joy she cried out, "Kiara you're all right! Thank goodness!"
Moving her head off of the ground feeling disorientated she asked, "what happened to us? Where are we?"
Nozomi then told her, "we've all been rescued! We're back in the Pride Lands!"
Snapping awake at this information Kiara asked, "the Pride Lands?"
Nozomi then became confused as she saw a look of frustration come over her face as she started to get up and as she did Nozomi asked, "Kiara?"
At once the lioness princess said, "why are we here? We can't be here! We've got to go now!"
Hearing this this the small Tiger cub was left dumbfounded and still on Jona's back Cait sith asked her, "what're ya talkin' about there ya daft lass!"
At once finally back on her legs and annoyed Kiara responded, "I'm saying we can't be where my father is here! I-"at once she buckled and fell onto her paws again.
Worried at once Nozomi went to her again,"Kiara!" Quickly Riku came too, even Mickey now hopped off of Jona's back to join them.
Kovu looking at the actions of the princess walked on over as he told her, "you're in no position to go anywhere!"
Hearing him Kiara looked up aggravated with fierce eyes she asked, "and who're you to say that? Who do you think you are!"
Taken aback at this so-called princess Kovu answered back,"me?! I think me and Jona here are the ones who came saved you and your friends lives! That's who we are!"
"Saving? We didn't need to be saved! We had everything under control right guys!?" Kiara asked her friends.
Nozomi at this question pursed her lips as she wasn't gonna say anything on this part, even Riku and Mickey were quiet too themselves as they were not going to promote foolishness.
Meanwhile Cait sith still on Jona's back simply put a hand to his palm as he could see stubbornness was rearing its ugly head while simply Jona herself just smiled away finding all this drama very entertaining.
Seeing the silence that surrounded her Kiara became even more frustrated as then she heard Kovu say smugly from behind her, "doesn't look like your friends agree to me from where I'm standing!"
At once Kiara answered back angered, "then you move down wind!" With that she started to walk off.
Seeing her do this Nozomi started to walk after her as she called out, "Kiara wait! You shouldn't-"
Kovu though wasn't going to comply with this request and quickly blocked her path with that still as smug air, he wasn't going to let this princess leave his sights! This immediately put Mickey and Riku on high alert as Nozomi looked on with uncertainty in her eyes, for she just couldn't read what was going on! She didn't want to hurt Kovu or Jona since they did help to save her and friends!
However Kiara wasn't going to have her path blocked by anyone and moved to go another way, once again though Kovu blocked her! Annoyed Kiara realised she'd have to employ faster tactics and so quickly she darted around and made a small distance when suddenly, "'fraid not this way sugar pie!"
For it was Jona who had now gotten in her way as she looked at her with the same mischievousness in her eyes as her accompanying partner, gritting her teeth as she looked at her Kiara then saw Cait sith on her back and as she did she spoke, "Cait sith!"
Putting his arms up questioningly the small cat replied, "yeah lass?"
Kiara then demanded, "can't you stop her!?"
With that he replied bluntly, "lass do ya think I can with me small stature?"
Annoyed at this reply immediately Kiara started backtracking and once again Kovu came in her way and as he did she started to try and dart away more another block, then the same action, again, again and again.
Watching on it almost seemed like a playful game between two large kittens and as Nozomi watched on her anxiety was quickly starting to drift away and instead she almost felt like laughing, for what was going on exactly here now?
Clearly the others too were becoming just as relaxed but Kovu now stopped as Kiara looked almost ready to pounce and as she did this he asked her looking very sceptical, "what're you doing?"
Looking up at this lion as he said this Kiara looked to his green eyes and as she saw this familiar look... she recognised it! Then cautiously she asked with a smile coming to her face, "Kovu?"
At once he smiled himself in turn humoured that finally this clueless princess had got it!
Excitement flooding her being Kiara cried out, "Kovu it is you!"
Seeing her reaction Nozomi asked her, "what you know him Kiara?"
Really happy now she turned to her and said, "yeah! I met him in the Out Lands when I was still a cub! He helped me then and now-"
Smiling with smugness Kovu replied, "I've done it again!"
At this point it was then Jona walked over as she decided to make a little correction,"uh? Aren't you forgettin' someone Kovu sweetie?"
Hearing her Kiara turned along with Nozomi to look at her along with Kovu himself and quickly he did this with a laugh as he said, "ah! Yeah sorry, correction we both saved you this time! Though I was the one who carried you across Kiara."
Looking at Jona unsure for a moment Kiara turned back to Kovu and then laughed and said, "oh? Okay well thanks... to both of you!" To which she aimed her smile to the earring wearing lioness too.
Smiling glad for the praise herself Jona replied, "no trouble there!"
Glad then that everything was calm again now Nozomi smiled and breathed a sigh of relief, "well it's great everyone's getting along now huh?"
With that finally Cait sith jumped off of Jona's back as he made his way to Nozomi and sat himself again on her as he replied, "ya hit the nail on the head there lass!"
Laughing a little at this Nozomi then stopped as she realised herself that she still had some thanks to give too! Looking to Riku and Mickey who too now relaxed she decided to give it so walking over she asked, "isn't this great guys?"
At this question Mickey was the first to reply as he smiled, "yeah it is! We've all done great here! We're alive and well and that Kovu and Jona both seem easy to get along with huh?'
Nozomi nodded at this,"yeah they are!" Then looking she turned to Riku who was smiling at the discussion that was now occurring between the lioness princess and dark maned lion. Jona had now taken a step back and was watching on from a distance too.
Feeling eyes on him Riku then saw his Tiger cub friend looking at him and as he did he asked her, "you okay Nozomi?"
Nodding she smiled as she replied, "yeah... Riku I just wanted to say-"
"RRRROOOOOAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!"
Suddenly sending everyone off of their feet they all turned as a tall proud lion came running forwards his eyes fierce and his sharp teeth bare as he was clearly angered! Then suddenly before anyone knew it around them more lions appeared and now they were all surrounded!
Quickly Kiara called out, "father!?"
Hearing this Riku asked, "father?"
For now as they all looked around both Out Landers and Keybladers with a dangerous anxious uncertainty in the air there was was a thought that came to Nozomi's mind, maybe this was the real fire they should all be terrified of?
