Chapter CCXXXI: The Beginning Of The Radiant Restoration Carnival
TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!
The noise was incessant and unyielding. Again and again watching on the captive audience who were the allies to the lady in question, saw that she, Maleficent was clearly impatient with irritation. She had been waiting far too long, for one particular individual to come back.
Looking on with total unease, the one who had been with her the longest, Pete. Knew exactly who she was waiting for. It was none other than his accomplice, Hari. Since the fight had ended within the realms of the Radiant Gardens, she had taken a long time to return and the results had not been pleasing to Maleficent in the slightest! For the plan and goal she had wanted to achieve had come to nothing, she had nor claimed her right land and property...whats more, her most hated of adversaries had made it to the restored town.
Knowing this, Pete realised that the moment Hari appeared back within the castle it would be explosive and she might just-!
"My lady..."
Turning at once hearing the cool feminine voice he was so familiar with, Pete saw along with Uriax and Jona that there descending from the illuminated stained glass ceiling above them it was none other than the metallic winged servant to their mistress of darkness.
Maleficent turned slowly as she heard this single sentence, then as she finished her movement with her staff in hand, she saw that her servant had landed upon the cold floor before her and as she did so, she saw her fold her wings back inside of herself. Then finally she finished saying, concentrating her cold green eyes upon her, "I have returned to you."
Hearing these words, the ruler of the heartless then finally spoke herself with clear disappointed disdain, "So you have?"
To which hearing this, Uriax who'd been standing with his arms folded then said himself with a slight arrogant tone, "And it's about time you did!"
Pete hearing this, turned immediately to look at Uriax in disbelief along with Jona who was standing beside him. However before either could say anything to him, Uriax continued to speak on himself, "You just had to take your sweet time in making us wait didn't you!?"
As he spoke in such an accusatory tone, Jona couldn't understand what had got into him but before she could speak or move, Uriax continue on with his rant, "Just what did you think you were doing?! What-!"
"Uriax!"
Immediately her apprentice was silenced and as he was, he looked to his mistress and saw that she was looking at him with fierce displeasure. As he noticed the anger that burned in her eyes, he hushed up completely as she then told him, "That is enough! I will speak of my own grievances... I do not need you to add your own at this moment!"
As this was said, Uriax became completely silent. However it was clear that he was disgruntled at being put down, however he knew that if he said anything more at that moment then he would pay severely for his loose tongue. Especially considering the his failure in winning the Radiant Gardens... so he withdrew back from the conversation and simply waited to see what his mistress would ask of Hari.
Maleficent seeing that she'd finally achieved some silence, then returned her attention to her winged servant again. As she did so, she then decided to centre upon the one question that Uriax had directed at her servant, "...Now, since it was asked I will have you answer." With that narrowing her eyes, she finished her question, "Hari, why did you take so long in returning to us, what delayed you?"
Hearing this being asked of her, the winged servant didn't move to reply at first as her eyes were lowered to the floor. However after a quiet moment, she then lifted her head back up and replied simply, "My observations."
"Observations?" Maleficent echoed curiously.
As she did this act, Hari concentrating upon her mistress then continued on with her explanations, "Yes, I observed the terrain of the Radiant Gardens after the defeat and capture of the demon Bebuzzu... to see if it would be ready for a potential take over by you my lady with your heartless."
Hearing this being said, Maleficent then asked raising a single eyebrow, "Did you?" To which Hari, simply made a single bow of her head an as this occurred, the mistress of the heartless continued on to ask, "And what conclusion did you come to?"
Hari then answered her, "I believe we are more than ready to engage them, especially now that they are in a celebratory mood, they have for certain lowered their defences tremendously, you will have no doubt absolute victory this time... and I know you will gain the keys you have waited for so long."
As this positive conclusion was given to her, Maleficent revealed a small smile and lowering herself down she held Hari's face and gazed into her eyes. Doing this simple act she then asked, "Is that so?"
Gazing on at what was going on, Pete felt a tense and somewhat dangerous atmosphere enter the space they were in. As he did so, he didn't know what to do, for he didn't know what Maleficent would-!
"Do you believe me to be such a fool!?" To which immediately, Maleficent dug her nails deeply into Hari's face and as she did so, the emotionless girl closed her eyes not wincing even once.
Pete was immediately on edge and quickly he cried out, "Hari!?"
Ignoring his cry though, Maleficent continued on with her enraged complaints, "You think you could sneak away from my realm and not have me notice!?" Hari said nothing to these words, this infuriated Maleficent all the more as then continued with her enraged words, " You are loyal to me and me alone! You do not make decisions on your own or take any initiative without my permission given! Do you understand that?!"
Hari hearing these harsh words being given to her, answered in her cool and distant tone of voice, "Yes I do."
"Do you Hari?" Maleficent asked her again.
As this was asked of her once more, the green eyed servant to the witch of darkness opened her cool green eyes again. Then unwavering she answered her, "Yes, your words are absolute my lady, I am the sword that exists for your sake and yours alone."
Maleficent was silent hearing these words, looking into her servant's eyes she could see she was as, as unreadable as ever. She knew though with the past that had passed, with her sneaking away to the battle using Pete's words and not her own... she couldn't entirely trust her anymore. But she didn't reveal these thoughts to her as she then said, "Very well then." With that she lifted herself up again and released her sharp tight grip upon Hari's face.
Pete seeing this happen, then saw again like a long time ago before that deep red imprints had been dug into Hari's skin. This made him feel terrible for his accomplice, however he couldn't move to help her then, for if he did Maleficent would surely-!
"Now since your are my sword!"
Immediately distracted out of his thoughts, Pete looked to Maleficent and as he did so, he then heard her say, "You will do as I command and for now you will not leave this castle! Under any circumstances or by any other commands issued by any of those present here!" Then narrowing her eyes as she looked behind herself, she asked her servant, "Do I make myself clear to you, Hari?"
As this was asked of her, Hari looking to her mistress with no change in her expression responded, "Yes my lady." With that she bowed her head again, hiding away her face.
Taking these words to be true, Maleficent turned away from Hari and looking to remaining servants, she then told them, "Now, since I will be holding custody of my blade for the time being, I will have the rest of you now act!"
Blinking as she heard this, it was then finally that Jona spoke and voiced her curiosity, "You mean, you want me, Uriax and Pete to-?"
"I want you to take over that revolting domain of the Radiant Gardens, once and for all!" Maleficent commanded. Then as she said those words, looking back to Hari who still continued to bow, she added, "For it is like Hari said, since they feel so victorious they will not expect any of us to come and rain upon their parade... especially considering the fact that foolish boy and his companions have now come to join them!"
Pete was silent hearing this, he didn't expect Maleficent to launch an attack so soon! Especially after the mess Bebuzzu had caused! Looking on and seeing her irritation and anger through her tone and words, he could only summarise that she was now impatient and successful wanted results. He couldn't say anything to disagree with her, however he felt that-!
"Ha!"
Distracted again, Pete turned and saw it was now Uriax who was speaking. It was clear that he was now pleased with these turns of events and becoming so he stated, "So it's time for some payback, huh?"
Maleficent didn't give any reply to this, but it was quite obvious to the dark apprentice that was indeed what his mistress had planned for him. Knowing this, smirking he then decided to ask, "And your giving us license to win by any means necessary?"
With this question given, the mistress of the heartless replied, "Indeed you do!" Then forming a smoky green viewing orb with a turn of her hand, she also added, "I want you now to collect the remaining vessels that are in that town and bring them here to me!"
Jona hearing this, then felt a chill go down her spine for looking at the orb. She saw the glowing lights that were there in the shadowed map that was the Radiant Gardens, the sky blue, the pink, the yellow and... the purple light. Holding a hand to her chest she asked, "You mean you want-?"
"Yes," Maleficent answered then grinning with a chilling sinister smile on her face she informed her servants, "I want the merging to begin..."
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FLASH!
Suddenly in moments, looking on the large group of heroes and now the townsfolk looked on with amazement. For there before them all, Merlin having raised the golden and green jewel encrusted Time Lock. Saw it's effects taking place!
Immediately dozens of golden chains reached out from the lock and wrapped themselves around the door of time, latching onto it tightly! As it did so, everyone watched on in amazement as the door was folded over and over again upon itself, becoming smaller and smaller before finally... all that was left was the green and golden lock itself upon the floor.
Looking on, it was then that Donald spoke up and said with awe in his voice, "Wow! So that's a Time Lock! I've never seen anythin' like that!"
Even Goofy couldn't help but comment and say, "Yeah I sure haven't either! That's a real nifty little trinket!"
"Yeah it is!" Jimmy saying this, enthralled by the spectacle was writing everything that was happening as fast as he could, for he didn't want to miss a single detail of any of these events! "I gotta really get all the details here! I'm gonna have to ask how that lock works!"
"That you'll get to know little mate!" Cait sith told the small journal keeper, with that he gave him the thumbs up and added, "We'll have a huge discussing session after this done!"
Pleased with this declaration, Jiminy then told the crowned cat, "Now that I'm really looking forward to, Cait sith!"
Smiling just as much as her feline friend, Nozomi was pleased to see them both become such fast friends. Then looking to Sora as he continued to gaze on at the spectacle before them, she was interested herself in learning about the famous keyblader as well, since he was so often talked about in the worlds she had been to.
Merlin though unaware of these interactions and thoughts turned to the amazed audience that was behind him and as he did so, now holding the Time Lock in his hands, he announced, "Now, my dear residents of Radiant Gardens!" With that after placing the treasure away into one of his pockets, he reached and stretched his arms up above himself and declared, "Let us enjoy our long awaited carnival!"
"Finally!"
With that springing up from behind the aged wizard, Cid came forth. As he did so, he held a particular contraption in his hand. Looking at it he then said, "I thought I'd never get to use this!" With that he moved his one pointed right finger towards the button and-!
BOOM!
Amazed in seconds everyone then saw that everyone saw in the sky a rang of rockets storm through the sky and as they did so-!
BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST!
A huge sea of golden and red confetti rained down upon everyone making everyone smile brightly! Then in another moment-!
KABOOM!
Dozens of bright yellow papers fluttered down, everyone reaching up and catching a few in their hands gazed at them. Puzzled by what had come, the keybladers all looked at the slips puzzled. Cait sith most curious, looking down from on top of Nozomi's head and asked her, "What is lass?"
This question put to her, Nozomi reading what was on a few slips she caught asked, "Tickets?"
"Now Y'all!"
Turning her attention quickly back in Cid's direction as did the rest of the audience, they heard the inventor tell them, "You've all got yourselves some discount tickets! For all the terror and trouble we went through I wouldn't want all of your allowances to be stressed too!"
Surprise came over everyone's faces and as it did so, one other figure stepped up to the podium and added, "That's right! And those who get to me Scrooge and Crumble will get a dish of ice cream for free and a drink of their choice!"
Looking it was then they all saw that it was none other than Scrooge Mcduck talking. Smiling with his cane in hand, he then told them all, "Now since you've all been given the chance to get some goodies, go get goin' and get 'em!"
Merlin, smiling himself as he heard his partners make such generous offerings then told the audience, "Right you heard them everyone! All of you have fun to your heart's content!"
"WWWHHHOOOO!"
Immediately there were huge sounds of applause and cries of joy! For at last everyone was finally going to get to enjoy the festivities they had so long been planning and waiting for...with some added treats for extra amazing good measure!
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Walking through the bustling streets of people enjoying the long awaited festivities. Who were carrying hands of freebie goodies in their hands. Nozomi couldn't believe she was finally getting to experience it. The carnival! The whole town itself was shining with joyful radiance, so much so that it almost felt like a living real life dream!
Looking at the different stalls that were now lined up either side with various foods and goods that were being sold, she almost didn't know where to look or even where to begin her enjoyment! Then listening on, despite the cries of the crowd cheering and the laughter that echoed all around, she could also hear vibrant cheerful music playing all around. Smiling brightly, she couldn't help but comment, "Wow! This is so wonderful!"
"Ya got that right lass it is!" Cait sith declared, with that he clapped his gloved paws together and as he did so, he couldn't help but add, "The ARCS and that Restoration Committee group really put their all into making this thing into a big hit!"
Smiling as she heard him say that, Nozomi was about to reply back to him when behind her someone else voiced their opinion, "Well I think they more than hit the mark! They've made this thing into a real blast!"
Turning her head, Nozomi then saw that who said these words was none other than Sora. Looking at the blue eyed and black clad young man, he was just as enamoured of everything as she was. Smiling quickly as his words settled into her mind, she couldn't help but nod enthusiastically and reply, "Yeah totally! It is!" Then looking around herself and seeing the crowds of people having fun, she couldn't help but say, "It's turned out way better than I thought it would be! You wouldn't believe what we all had to go through to let this happen!"
Sora walking beside her, still smiling then decided to ask her, "Why don't you try me? I bet there's nothing you can tell me that will shock me!"
Jiminy in the meantime still riding upon Sora's head writing away, then couldn't help but ask, "Yes I'm interested to know more as well, Nozomi do you think you could fill us in on everything?"
Puzzled as she heard this, Nozomi then repeated, "Everything?"
The small cricket then told her, "Yes! I wanna hear about you, where you grew up, how you got along with Riku and the King, your adventures, the whole thing!" It was clear Jiminy was excited to know, so looking to Nozomi with almost glittering expectant eyes he asked her, "So? Could you tell me and Sora?"
Nozomi immediately brightening in amusement smiled and replied, "Sure!"
Cait sith himself amused too at seeing Jiminy's excited state then couldn't help but say, "Just you wait lads! I'll be givin' ya all the juiciest of details next!"
"Great!" Jiminy replied, then with a new little notepad ready and his pen in hand, he said, "So? What's the first thing you can tell us about?"
Sora quiet with expectant eagerness listened on, however at the corner of his eye he saw-!
"So? Yeah that's the place I was born, Bamboo town and it was?" Nozomi in the meantime explaining away to Jiminy what her life was like before her adventures with Riku and Mickey. As she did so, the small cricket was writing away as she continued on to say, "It was a warm place where didn't have much rain and-!"
"I don't believe it!?"
Spooked Nozomi turned to look at Sora who was staring on at something with wide eyes.
Feeling his alarm quickly fade way, quickly Cait sith mad demanded out of him, "Don't believe what lad!? What'd you make all the hubub for!? What's-!?"
Sora ignoring Cait sith's complaints cried out pointing out a certain stall, "They're given out free candy floss and three bags of candy to the first fifty who go over there with the free tickets!"
Nozomi blank hearing this, let the info pass and settle into her mind. Then as it registered, she cried out, "What're we waiting for!?" With that she was charging forwards straight towards the stand!
"Hey wait up!" Sora cried out! With that he immediately chased after Nozomi to get his hands on some freebie goodies!
Holding on for dear life upon Sora's head, Jiminy was stopped from doing all his writing. As he was he couldn't help but cry out, "Hey! Fella's there's no need to rush y'know!"
Cait sith tugging hard on Nozomi's head to make her stop himself told her mad, "Exactly ya darn banshee! Why're ya hurryin' like-!"
"Two specials please!"
"Two specials please!"
Both keyblader simultaneously gave their tickets over and were given their treats which they quickly both munch into!
Nozomi tearing a piece of pink candy floss with her mouth, was in total delight as she mumbled munching away, "Mmm... this is great!"
"You're telling me!" Sora replied munching away on some rainbow candies which he stuffed into his own mouth.
Seeing their two rides were in the midst of feeding, didn't impress cricket or cat. Cait sith focused further on Nozomi for a moment sighed, then looking to Jiminy he then decided to ask him, "This happen to you often lad?"
Hearing this question being put to him, Jiminy had to reply honesty with clear tiredness in his own eyes, "Yes...quite sadly I have to admit."
Rolling his eyes, the crowned cat replied, "I knew it!" Then as soon as those words were said-!
"FREE TOFFEE APPLES THIS WAY! COME THIS WAY IF YOU WANT FREE SODA TOO!"
Immediately both the animals rides froze! As this occurred, Cait sith and Jiminy felt a chill as they knew what was coming next, though Jiminy couldn't help but complain softly saying, "Oh no...!"
"I want some!"
"Me too!"
With that Nozomi and Sora were off, both eager to sample and get more treats with their free tickets!
...
Meanwhile walking a little distance behind, quietly was Riku. Sighing as he saw them both go off in their hyped up state, he couldn't help but complain softly to himself, "Man... those two just won't grow up will they?"
"Well if they did, they wouldn't be themselves would they?" Kairi replied as she walked beside her friend.
"I guess?" He uttered in response. For though Riku complained, inside he was pleased that finally he'd been reunited with his bumbling friend Sora and the calm yet bubbly Kairi who was beside him, also looking behind himself he was glad to see that Mickey was expressing great happiness too. For he was busy having discussions with Donald and Goofy finding out what they had been up to in his absence. A small smile revealed as he saw this, he looked ahead of himself again to look at Sora and Nozomi who had gained even more treats and goodies, it looked like they were nearly outweighed by all the promotional items!
As he did so and saw them laughing while they busily ate talking (Cait sith and Jiminy now having some of their own treats too), it reminded him again of when he'd been in Notre Dame. Remembering what he had thought then, looking at his best friend and his female comrade, he realised it to be more true seeing them side by side, "Those two are nearly perfect carbon copies of each other!" Saying this, he couldn't help but scoff slightly at how ludicrous everything had been since the start of his adventure with the dark haired girl.
"Yeah, they're almost like peas in a pod!" Surprised as he heard this comment, Riku turned and saw that it was none other than Kairi who said those particular words. Looking at her and seeing her smile, as she looked to the chosen keyblader and his new acquaintance, she couldn't help but add, "I never thought I'd find Sora's equivalent in another girl!"
Riku hearing this then looking on forwards couldn't help but remark, "You're telling me!"
"Telling you what?"
Surprised, Riku turned and there he saw that Nozomi had come over to him. Her lilac eyes shining with curiosity her head was titled as she looked to him.
Slightly taken aback to suddenly see her there, he then asked her hastily, "What'e you doing back this way?"
Not understanding his reaction, Nozomi ignored it and then told him, "I just got too much stuff and thought you'd like something?" With that reaching into a paper bag she had, she then brought out a toffee apple and handing it to Riku told him happily, "Here!"
Quiet as he heard this and staring at the apple, it was clear after a moment that the white haired young man wasn't exactly pleased with the candy apple and asked, "Couldn't you have got me something softer? Do you realise how tough those things are to sink your teeth into?"
As this complaint was made to her, Nozomi annoyed then told him, "Geez you don't have to be such a fuss pot, you dumb snowball! I do have other things you know!"
Surprised to hear this, Kairi couldn't help but ask quietly to herself, "Snowball?"
Not noticing her utter this, Riku then told her, "Alright then, give me something soft this time."
"Fine then!" Nozomi retorted, with that she pouted mad as she placed the toffee apple back in the bag and went to choose something else, something she thought Riku would like.
Kairi quiet looking on at this interaction didn't expect the two of them to be argumentative. However as she looked on, she saw that her white haired friend without Nozomi noticing was smiling at her gently, with warmth in his blue eyes. This further surprised the princess of heart, however at the same time she couldn't help but feel warmed seeing this secret sight.
"Here!" Nozomi proclaimed. With that she took out a plastic wrapped sweet, then forcing it into Riku's right hand. She then told him, "Even you should be able to eat this!"
Scoffing as he heard this, Riku replied, "We'll see about that!"
Annoyed as he said this, Nozomi then turned to Kairi. The princess of heart didn't know what to expect from the dark haired girl but instead of a hostile reaction, she was treated to a pleasant one as she was offered up the white bag she had and said, "Here you go!"
Surprised she was offering her a whole white paper bag, Kairi then had to ask, "You're offering me this whole thing?"
With a single nod, Nozomi then told her, "Yep! I can tell you're nicer than that grumpy old snowball here!" With that, as Kairi took the bag into her own hands. The dark haired keyblader then also added, "Plus we girls have gotta stick together and give each other support right?"
Quiet as she heard this, Kairi then chuckled and replied, "Yeah, that's right! I'll definitely do that more from now on!"
Nodding, Nozomi clearly happy then decided to turn and offer some of her candies to the king and try to get to know the other two newcomers, Donald Goofy who Sora was already sharing some of his sweet stuff with.
Having been silent during this conversation, Cait sith looking back cried out, "Catch ya both in a bit!"
Seeing the crowned cat and her go, Kairi couldn't help but continue to smile. As she did so, she heard Riku say, "Typical!" Then looking she saw that the treat Nozomi had given to him, was none other than a round chocolate that was iced with coconut flakes. It was a sweet snowball. Staring at the treat, he grinned adding, "She really knows how to put a point across doesn't she?" With that he bit into the soft mushy marshmallow that was in the centre of the chocolate treat.
As he said those words, Kairi looking towards him was quiet as she continued to hold her white bag. Gazing at Riku's face as he continued to eat away, she couldn't help but dwell on the thing she had noticed before... smiling gently with warmth herself, she then commented, "You've really softened haven't you?"
Puzzled as he heard this, Riku finishing his mouthful looked to her puzzled and as he did so, he couldn't help but ask, "Huh? What do you mean by that?"
As this was asked of her, Kairi then continuing to smile told him, "You don't feel so rough around the edges anymore... it seems like you've really mellowed out." With that she picked out a sweet treat of her own.
Baffled as she said this, Riku then couldn't help but ask her, "What do you mean mellowed? Are you trying to say I was stressed out or something before I left you all?"
Laughing as she heard this, Kairi selecting her treat then told him, "I wouldn't say that!" Then looking back to Nozomi who told something to Sora that made him look shocked while she giggled, with Mickey, Donald and Goofy laughing loudly themselves. She continued on to say, "...But before, I mean not just after you left us but after everything that happened with Xehanort and a little before then, you always seemed to have a chip on your shoulder Riku."
Quiet as he heard this being said, Riku said nothing. Instead he gazed on at Kairi as she continued on with her explanations, "I guess, it might have stemmed from when you were obsessed with seeing the other worlds, because of my presence... you were just so hell bent to escape the Destiny Islands that nearly nothing else mattered to you."
As this was said, Riku still didn't understand what had got her talking about this particular aspect of his personality. So he decided to ask her as she bit into a cookie she had at hand, "Are you trying to say at that time I didn't care about you guys?"
Kairi shook her head at this answer. Then as she did so, she continued on, "No I know you did, but that obsession you had back then... it scared me."
Shocked to hear this, Riku then had to ask her, "I scared you?"
Making a small nod to him, Kairi looked sad to admit this. However she knew she had to continue to explain, "Yeah you did, I noticed that obsession became bigger and darker as time went on with us growing up together... then when the heartless invaded it-"
"Took me over?" Riku asked her.
Surprised that he knew what she was going to say, she stared at him with her own blue coloured eyes. As she did so, she watched Riku become depressed at his own admittance. As he did so, he didn't look to Kairi instead he continued on to say looking to the floor, "...I know that happened myself, when Maleficent lured me to her side, she exploited my feelings to see other worlds and..."
"Your feelings towards me and Sora?" Kairi asked him, looking just as saddened herself.
Freezing slightly as she pointed this out so simply, Riku simply didn't respond audibly. Instead he made a single nod with his head.
Seeing him do this, Kairi then replied sadly herself, "I thought as much that's what it was..." With that she finished the cookie she had in her hand and as she did so, looking to Riku again she asked him, "And then after we defeated Xehanort and you were reunited with us... you couldn't forgive yourself for falling into that darkness could you?"
As this was put to him, Riku then told her still averting his eyes away, "I didn't deserve forgiveness for it..." then as he said those words, he looked in Nozomi's direction as she continued to chat away with Sora and the others. As he looked at his female companion, his expression softened ever so slightly as he said, "Yet, despite everything I did and went through...she cried for me."
Seeing where he was looking to, Kairi didn't need an explanation as to who it was he was talking about. Instead she remained silent, hearing her do so. Riku continued to speak on himself, "I never expected anyone to do that for me, she even said that I was precious to her... and that she'd always be there for me and the others too."
As this was said, Kairi quiet further for a moment then asked, "You mean she forgave you?"
This answer given, Riku couldn't help but release a chuckle as he replied, "I guess, in her own way, yeah..." with that Riku finished off his chocolate snowball.
Kairi seeing Riku had become more positive in his demeanour, then told him, "So I was right?"
"Hm?" Confused, Riku turned to look at her still clearly puzzled.
Laughing as she noticed a particular something. Kairi approaching Riku then wiping away some flakes of coconut with a white napkin that surrounded his mouth, she then told him, "Nozomi has softened you... you big Snowball!"
Annoyed, Riku immediately swatted her hand away and as he did so, he told her, "Urgh not you too!"
Kairi laughed at this, then as she did so she decided to tell him, "But I'm glad that she's done that for you!" Then Kairi nodding her head to the side also added, "And I hope she continues to... because I'm glad that you've been able to move on from your shadows of darkness that were in the past." Then looking to Sora who was continuing to interact with Nozomi along with the king and the others, she finished saying, "Because I know that me and Sora are glad to have you properly back."
As this was said to her, Riku smiled to her himself and replied, "I'm glad to be back too... all of myself."
Smiling further as this was said, Kairi then decided to add, "Good!" Then grinning teasingly, she declared, "And I'm so not going to forget to use that cute new little title she's given you fro now on!"
Hearing this with annoyance Riku then retorted, "I'd hoped you would at least forget that part!"
Grinning though Kairi then told him simply, "Never gonna happen now!"
"HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!"
Laughing loudly, Sora and the others couldn't believe what had just been told to them by Cait sith. Looking at her, the chosen keyblader then told Nozomi, "You thought you were going to explode from drinking water!?"
"That she did lad!" Then looking to his ride, he added, "I'm just sad I wasn't awake to see it!"
Annoyed by him Nozomi then said mad, "Hey! I was tricked into thinking it was Nitro Glycerine or something! How can you blame me for thinking that!?"
"You'd be able to tell from the taste!" Donald told the angry girl.
As this was said, Goofy still continuing to chuckle then added, "Exactly, even I bet I could tell that!" With that the tall doggy man continued chuckling.
In seconds, Nozomi then retorted angrily, "Oh shut up!" Then looking in another direction, she saw the interaction that was happening between Riku and Kairi. As she did so, the female keyblader froze in seconds. As she did, she then felt that all too familiar uncomfortable discomfort in her heart.
Mickey finishing his own set of giggles then said to everyone, "Okay fella's I think that's enough! We all need to see the rest of what this carnival has to offer us, so why don't we get going and experience it all?"
"Yeah we should!" Sora responded, then looking excited he added, "All those snacks have just got me more pumped up to enjoy myself!"
"Aren't you sure that's just a heavy bout of sugar rush lad?" Cait sith asked the chosen keyblader.
As this was put to him, Sora didn't reply to i, instead running on ahead he said, "C'mon guys let's going!" With that the chosen keyblader ran on ahead. As he did so, passing Riku he took his princess by the hand and told her, "Let's beat them to it Kairi!"
Hearing this being told to her, the princess of heart smiled and replied, "Yeah let's!" With that she let Sora run on to lead her into the radiant festivities.
"Hey Sora!" With that cry, Donald started to give chase and as he did so he added, "Wait for us!"
Seeing them all run off, Riku rolled his eyes and said, "There they go again!" With that he started to walk after them to enjoy more of the festivities himself.
Seeing them leave them in the dust, Mickey smiled then walking to his comrade's side he asked her, "Wanna join them, Nozomi?"
As this was asked to her, the female keyblader then replied, "Oh sure, yeah!" Then recovering her smile Nozomi then continued on to say, "Let's go and have fun Mickey!" With that the king taking her by the hand, she went to enjoy the rest of the festivities that the carnival had to give them. All the while ignoring the dull pain that was in her heart...
"Whoo hoo! It's fun time!" Cait sith cried out, with that the keybladers bathed themselves in the radiance of warmth and fun that was the restoration carnival!
