Chapter CCLIX: The Palace of Alexandra Part I
Her eyes closed, Nozomi felt the rush of power from the Door of Time as it pulled her and her comrades through the rushing mesmerising glittering flows. As she felt it's radiance, within her mind she couldn't help but wonder... what was the sight she was going to see when she opened her eyes?
She didn't have much time to think about this for then-!
"AAGGHH!"
"WWHHOOAA!"
"DDDAAA!"
Everyone quickly came through the door, but then as they landed on the other side. Somehow, Sora, Donald and Goofy had all fallen into one big heap upon the ground before her.
Seeing them like this as they ached on the floor, Nozomi couldn't help but ask awkwardly with a smile, "Are you guys...okay there?"
"Urgh," Aching Sora feeling the weight of everyone replied, "My pride isn't." With that Goofy and Donald feeling much the same began to lift themselves off their Keyblader.
Sniggering on Nozomi's shoulder, Cait sith then couldn't help but say, "This is rich! Ya lot really are fine bunch of dafts!" Then as Sora looked over to him with annoyance, the crowned cat couldn't help but say to his ride, "It's nice to have a reverse on this kinda of situation for us lass, huh?"
Not understanding him, the female Keyblader uttered, "What?"
Silent as he heard her say this, the cat then said, "Cause it's usually our group that gets into that there kinda mess."
Finally getting what it was that he was talking about, the female Keyblader then simply replied, "Oh..." Then thinking to herself about their chaotic past, she replied, "Yeah I guess that has happened a lot to us hasn't it?"
Sighing, Cait sith then told her, "Lass I'm such a waste bein' mixed up with ya all this time."
This in turn caused Nozomi to look at him with annoyance, but before she could comment-!
"Alright, c'mon! We haven't got time to be fooling around here!" It was Riku who decided to take charge then, for walking on forwards he reminded everyone, "We need to get information, to prevent any further loss and sorrow." With that proceeding forwards, leading the way he told them all, "Now let's go!"
With that the rest of their comrades who decided to follow them through started to follow the white haired Keyblader. Watching them go, Nozomi then heard Leon say, "Agreed, I don't want anymore devastation to befall anyone else."
"You said it Squall!" Yuffie replied, holding her giant Kunai with one hand over her back. With that she added with determination, "We gotta do our best for all our juniors here!"
"I'm no junior!" Ori announced, then running up and behind Yuffie, he moved his hands and-!
"Hey!"
He'd quickly grabbed her Kunai and running off with it, he told her with a sharp toothed grin, "You better try and keep up with me, lady senior!" Yuffie began chasing after him as everyone looked on with a mixture of awkwardness and annoyance.
Seeing this occur as everyone began to make some distance, Nozomi released a small sigh and said, "Some thing's never change."However a small smile graced her features as she was glad that there was some positive energy that could be found despite the gravity of tragic fate that surrounded them.
"Lass hurry up will ya! I don't want to be standin' around here till me crown rusts!" Cait sith said impatiently while patting the side of her head hard.
"Yeah, yeah," She uttered, with that she took off. But before fully leaving she heard-!
"Lass!"
Turning around she saw calling from the other side of the Door of Time, it was none other than Merlin with Dajh and Bonkers, riding Coco by his side. Seeing them, she heard the aged Magician tell her, "You all take care! Don't do anything reckless there!"
"I'll try!" She joked with a smile, with that waving she began running and called back to them, "I'll see you guys later!"
"Good luck Nozomi! Give those evil doers one for, for us!" Bonkers called out.
"Kweh!" Came Coco's enthusiastic cry,
The female Keyblader nodded and with that the door closed as she ran to go over and catch up with the others.
However as she went one hidden voice uttered, "That's it, ya lead me right back to the rest of those dumb mutts!" For continuing to shadow them all, Pete with his sinister glowing green present from Maleficent said, "For I'm gonna be givin' all ya, a real special delivery..."
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"Riku!" Running forwards, making it past everyone and finally getting towards the front of the group. The young girl made it to the one who warmed her heart.
Seeing her make it over to him and the King, the white haired Keyblader revealed a small smile and asked her, "So you finally made it over, huh?"
Releasing a laugh herself, Nozomi replied, "Yeah finally!"
Mickey glad to see her and Cait sith nodded pleased and told them, "Better late than never, huh?"
"Me thoughts exactly, Mickey mate!" Cait sith cried chiming in, then-!
"Hey! Give that back already will ya!"
"Not a chance! Aren't ya supposed to be able to catch up to me! You old lady!"
Watching on Riku then saw that Yuffie and Ori were still messing around, sighing he couldn't help but say, "I guess they're not taking this too seriously."
Nozomi only laughed awkwardly at this comment. However as she finally looked about at their whereabouts, she couldn't help but notice how dark the area they were in was. Taking note of this, she also saw that they were walking along a great expanse of grass and around them there was a thick layer of fog.
It was a dismal scene to look upon and nothing of what she was imagining they were going to see. Feeling a little nervous, she couldn't help but ask, "Um, Cait sith?"
"Yeah lass?" Cait sith replied relaxed.
Looking around herself, Nozomi asked, "Are you sure we're in the right place? It feels like we're walking to some kind of haunted mansion or something."
Hearing her say this, the crowned cat told her, "It's not that spooky lass and besides, me and Reeve had to choose around this time for us to come back to."
"And what's the reason?" Nozomi asked not understanding.
"That's cause-!"
BBBOOOMMM!
"Agh!"
Clutching onto Riku's arm, the female Keyblader hearing and feeling this giant burst of light cried out, "What was that!?"
Everyone else stopped simultaneously in their tracks too! All of them bewildered as suddenly-!
BBBOOOMMM! BBBOOOMMM! BBBOOOMMM!
More of these loud bursts came! Then looking up, it was then Shirma hugging her sister cried out, "There! Up there, it's fireworks!"
No-one could believe it! There in the sky lighting up everything with golden warm light were indeed marvellous spectacles of fireworks! Everyone was entranced, then as they were quickly looking ahead Timbre noticed something! He cried out, "Guys look at this!" With that he ran ahead!
In seconds seeing him go, Musashi followed suite and cried out, "Hey wait up, Whisker dude!"
With that everyone all began to follow him too, then they all heard him cry out in awe, "WWWOOOWWW!" Arriving at the same spot he was standing at too, they saw what had made him exclaim so loudly.
There before them underneath the light of the full moon, illuminating the night was a grand castle. It was shining golden with light amongst a kaleidoscope of rainbow that was shining from the many buildings that was the city that surrounded it.
Looking on, though she knew it to be the castle it Cait sith had described to her a long time ago. A glowing crown of gold, surrounded by a sea of white marble, but mere words could never describe the full extent of what was the Alexandra palace. This now only made her want to know what the inside of the palace was like too as she gazed upon its distant splendour.
Clearly just as awestruck by the beauty of the palace, Mickey though couldn't help but ask, "Why are there fireworks goin' off?"
"That's because of the celebration," Reeve answered as he walked forwards.
"Celebration?" Mickey repeated curious.
"Correct," With that looking at the kingdom that was once his, Cait sith's and his princess's home, he then explained, "This night long ago was the celebration of the two thousand year dynasty of the kingdom..." looking saddened at that moment, he went on to say, "Her majesty when she still existed was seven years of age when this celebration commenced."
Listening to this, becoming curious Zidane couldn't help but ask him, "And how old were you at that time?"
"I was fourteen," Reeve answered.
"Oh?" Timbre uttered, then thinking over the basic numbers he uttered, "So that's how big the gap between you is?"
Annoyed, Cait sith cried out, "Oh! Who cares, this ain't the time to be talkin' about that! We need to get answers and we need to get goin'! As in now!" With that the crowned cat hopped off of Nozomi's head and started storming forwards, uttering, "I want me highness back with me already!"
"Cait sith!" Grabbing him, Nozomi held him in her arms.
"Lass what're you doin'! Get off!" Cait sith cried out mad!
"We can't just waltz in suddenly," For thinking about the other times they had travelled back in time, she said, "I mean if any Heartless come or something, innocent people will get caught in our mess! We can't drag them into this!"
Hearing her worry, Reeve revealed a small smile and told her. Placing a hand upon her shoulder, "Nozomi it's okay, there won't be any people there in the palace."
Surprised by this, she asked him, "There won't?"
Shaking his head, Reeve then explained, "No, because the inhabitants of the city are there." With that the bearer of the Fifth Fragment pointed to something in the distance.
Puzzled everyone looked to where he was indicating to. There they saw glittering in the distance just beyond the shining crown like castle, there was, "The sea?" Sora echoed in surprise.
With a single nod, Reeve then went on to explain as the glimmering waves and the movements of the many happy civilians moved about the expanse of sands with what everyone presumed were lanterns, "It is there by the sea, everyone celebrates under the night sky to remember the point in time when the Warrior of Light liberated everyone from the chaos of war, to then be reunited with his princess Sarah, that then lead to Alexandra being created afterword."
Hearing this explanation, someone else though couldn't help but ask, "Why isn't it called the Palace of Sarah or Light then?" It was Ori again, who was disgruntled after finally being caught by Yuffie who'd pried back her Kunai from him.
Reeve then coughed and said, "Because the child they conceived together and started the line of royalty was called Alexandra."
Annoyed with all this trivia, Cait sith then cried out, "Yeah, yeah whatever! We don't need anymore history lessons! We need to get goin'! Now hurry up!" With that he struggled against Nozomi's grip again.
Leon though had to ask one particular thing that might be an obstacle though for them, "What about the palace guards? There's no way they'd leave the place completely unattended."
Reeve seeing that the Gunblade warrior had thought about this one fact, then told him,"Well I do remember on this one night, though they were supposed to guard it closely... they'd all fallen into a mysterious stupor, which most assumed was caused by an excess of certain beverages."
Hearing this everyone was quiet... but then Alania caught on to his line of thinking and said, "Oh! I get what you mean we can do!"
Not getting it, Nozomi uttered, "What?"
It was then Juan who'd been quiet up to that point then said, "We can send all those guards off to la tierra del sueno, while they all dream away!"
Typically not understanding Juan again Nozomi uttered, "Huh?"
Riku then told her, "It means we're gonna knock them out cold, probably with some sleep spells."
"Oh okay," Nozomi answered. However still worried, she couldn't help but ask thinking that it was the past and not the future they were affecting, "But are you sure we won't disturb anything by doing this? I mean the past is more fragile than the future so-?"
"It won't be affected," Reeve told her.
Nozomi though still uncertain asked, "How can you be sure?"
Reeve then looking back to her with a smile then went on to say, "Because I don't remember it happening, so hence that means the past was never effected."
Still perplexed though, Nozomi tried to ask, "But I-!"
It was Kagi's turn to walk up to her, as he did he told her, " I know this time travel stuff is confusing Nozomi, but there's no need to worry." With that he went on to tell her, "I think we've got all our bases covered, so don't give yourself a headache over all this stuff, okay?"
Hearing Kagi say this, Nozomi still a little uncertain though... released a sigh and uttered, "Okay." With that she went to walk forwards, still holding Cait sith in her arms.
As Reeve led the way for everyone as he travelled down the hill with them all following him, meanwhile Cait sith still struggling cried out, "Hey! I don't want you leading us! I wanna be the first down there to save her highness!"
Nozomi hearing Cait sith call for her lost friend like this, felt terrible inside. Remembering her disappearing into countless pink shards, she felt herself tear up.
"You alright?"
Taken out of her painful thoughts, Nozomi looked up and saw Riku looking down at her with concern in his eyes. Seeing this, the young girl was quiet for a brief moment but then shaking her head with a small sad smile, she told him, "...I could be better."
Seeing her struggle like this, Riku could only imagine what she was going through He told her as gently as he could, "I'll be there with you, it'll be okay."
Her heart skipping a beat as she heard him say this, Nozomi felt a blush blossom upon her cheeks. But despite her embarrassment, she felt so much comfort just from that gesture and gentle words, she told him with a grateful smile, "Yeah... thanks."
Riku glad to see he'd been able to ease her, even a little. He nodded simply pleased.
"Whoo! Whoo!"
Both jumping with shock at this release of whooping, they both quickly saw who was the culprit. Cait sith looking on up at the both, then told Riku, "Looks like ya've turned into a real charmer now, haven't ya Snowball lad?"
Annoyed, immediatley Riku told him mad, "Shut up, Cait sith!"
But then adding only more bitterness to this once sweet moment, Timbre walking past with Zidane told him, "That was barely a passing grade! I'd expect you to at least give her a hug!"
His monkey tailed buddy walking with him, then concurred and said, "Totally! You got a long way to go in charms Snow boy!"
Annoyed even more, Riku then told them too, "You both shut up too!"
Nozomi though embarrassed too, couldn't help but smile a little more. For with all their comrades there with them, it seemed so certain to her that everything would be alright.
Then with this positive thought and encouraging feeling, Nozomi travelled with her companions and went to make it to the glowing crowned city of Alexandra.
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Following on from behind, still keeping at a relatively safe distance. Even though he was supposed to keep serious and focus upon his mission, even Pete couldn't help but be dazzled by the spectacle that was the city.
The streets and many buildings around them seemed like they were made of gold from the sandy colour of the brickwork and the shine of the lamps that hung overhead. There were also the many decorative lanterns that hung overhead and this only increased the beauty and the spirit of celebration that was strong throughout the streets, as many glimmering rainbow lights danced upon them all.
As he was awestruck by the spectacle of the city, Pete couldn't help but wish quietly, "Darn it! If I didn't have to be servin' Maleficent like this, this place it'd be on right on top of the touring list!"
Then as he continued his silent observations, he listened to the heroes and heard one of them ask the guy he heard called Reeve, "Hey! How much further have we gotta go?"
As this question was voiced with clear impatience, Pete couldn't tell which of them had asked this. But he could made out Reeve's voice as he told them, "It's not too much further, we just have to pass down a few more streets and we'll make it onto the main leading road."
With this direction given, Pete continued in his tailing. As they passed these spoken of streets, which again were filled with many street stores and a few restaurants until they reached the main road.
It seemed to Pete that it shined with gold in colour, but then he realised that the bricks were actually just sandy in colour, with many lights illuminating the sides of it. Giving it a more wondrous image, however the things his eyes were drawn to was the shining in the distance. That was clearly the palace that was waiting for them all, he felt his anticipation only heighten as they continued closer and closer to the spectacle...
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Now holding Riku by the hand as they approached the wondrous palace, Nozomi then saw before them was a glistening golden gate with many intricate metals works. It was truly an oppulant barrier to keep the lesser out.
"Wow!" Nozomi gasped, then looking to Reeve who was standing near to them, she couldn't help but say, "I knew that Oralee was a princess, but it never occurred to me that she'd be from somewhere this fancy!"
Riku looking momentarily puzzled as this unknown name was spoken, didn't get a moment to comment. For Cait sith then responded, "Aye lass she was..." then remembering her again, he couldn't help but say, "Though I think she would have been embarrassed ta show ya this place."
Puzzled Nozomi then asked, "Why's that?"
Reeve then answered, "Because she wouldn't want you to feel inferior to her, simply because of wealth or her position." For then as the guardian knight looked up, he went on to say, "She never had too many friends growing up, only rare young visiting family members along with-"
"Hey! I was more with her highness more than yaself Reeve!" Annoyed Cait sith then pointed to him from Nozomi's shoulder and went on to tell him, "I'll be the one to finish the explanations!"
Releasing a small amused chuckle, Reeve relented and replied, "By all means, do so Cait sith."
With a hard nod, the crowned cat then said, "I meself was her Highness's closest friend and guardian! But our two other best pals were a small unicorn that she called him Uni and a Hamster called Chip!"
Thinking that as one of the weirdest group combo's, Riku couldn't help but ask, "You were friends with a unicorn and a hamster?"
With another nod, Cait sith then said, "Aye lad I was! We made a brilliant team and a band too, though Uni himself could only ever do a clip clop with his hooves, he always did put in a good effort."
"Right..." Riku uttered, still not quite believing what he was hearing.
Having heard all this too though and very much remembering the sweet princess, Timbre looking at the sight of the palace then commented, "Wow! Not only beautiful but with awesome digs!" Then looking over in Reeve and Cait sith's direction, he couldn't help but comment with a cheeky grin, "Now I'm gonna have to put in more effort to win her over from you guys!"
Simply surprised this, Reeve stared at Timbre while Cait sith angrily cried out, "Over me crown ya will! I'll claw yer eyes out if ya even try!"
Timbre only grinned more, then running over to the gilded gates he called upon his power with each step before floating right on over! Then making it to the other side, with one swift strong motion from his spear, the doors began to slowly open up. As they did so, he announced making a graceful bow, "Ladies and gents, we're open for business!"
Zidane hearing his old pal say this as he followed the others through the gates, then rolled his eyes and uttered under his breath, "Show off!" However-!
"Halt!"
Quickly coming were the sounds of the soldiers... which they already anticipated! Immediately, they all began the spells that would be needed to thwart them and to lessen the impact of their presence in the past.
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Seeing the heroes all begin to take on the guards, it was then that Pete decided it was the right time to get back in touch with Maleficent and Hari. Standing behind one of the pillars that created the golden gilded gate. He focused his hands and created a small sphere of darkness, looking about himself to make sure no-one was catching onto him, he whispered, "Oi! Maleficent, Hari! Can ya hear me from yer side?"
…
There didn't seem to be any response to his callings, so again he tried, asking while putting one of his ears near to the orb he asked, "Hello?"
"YOUR LATE!"
"Yeow!"
Pete yelped as that yell from Maleficent hurt his ears, as he ached he then heard the witch of darkness berate him saying, "What nerve do you have to make me wait like this! Didn't I say for you to start the assault immediately!?"
Trying to get his bearings back while his head ached, Pete then explained quickly trying to calm his master down, "Yeah, yeah I know! I know that there Maleficent! But it hasn't been a good time! Lots of things are goin' on and-!"
"Agh!"
Hearing a yelp from one of the poor soldiers, who were all being subdued by the heroes. Pete then went on to explain, "I've made it to the other wise with these dolts and they're on their way into this here magic crown castle and-!"
"What did you say?" Maleficent asked interrupting his panicked explanations.
"I'm with the dolts and-!"
"I know that! What castle are you talking about?"
As this was asked of him, Pete was blank for a moment. Then remembering what bits and pieces he had heard, he recounted as best he could, "They've come here to this palace place to get more info about some lost people and it's called Alex or something, but what I know it's all covered with gold and they're must be some thing real big here for them all to travel into a door of time like this."
Hearing his rambling explanation, Maleficent was quiet... Pete was waiting anxiously for her to say something. Then finally she did so, "I see..." A cunning smile was upon her features as she concluded, "This may prove to be to our advantage."
"Advantage?" Pete repeated curious.
Maleficent though not bothering to though, then told Pete what she next wanted, "I want you to follow them for a bit longer, but when they end up in one particular location..."
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"Urgh...!"
COLLAPSE!
At last the final soldier had succumbed to the powers of the mages that were in the group and the whole squadron had all fallen into a deep slumber. As they all did so, Shirma finishing last, looking all over the men whispered gently, "I'm sorry!"
Alania though told her sister, patting her head gently, "You don't have to be!"
With that everyone was on their way, however as they all began to walk on. Ori passing one of the soldiers couldn't help but kneel down and tell him, "When you wake up, you will have the urge to quack like a real grumpy duck!"
"Hey!" Donald cried out loud, not liking his sense of humour.
Shaking his head at his comrade's behaviour, Ody looking about the entrance of the palace couldn't help but say, "You know I couldn't help but imagine there would be gardens in the entrance.
For the bricked floor beneath them, though it didn't have grass or flowers. There was instead intricate brick work that created an elaborate pattern of diamonds that were hues of white and black.
Cait sith hearing him though said, "Nah gardens like that are kept at the back of the place! Something about household comforts or something, the front of the place is here to dazzle the common folks who gawk at the place."
"That doesn't surprise me in the slightest," Riku replied. However as they all continued to walk closer to the entrance though, he couldn't help but feel a sting in his chest that made him wince, "Tch!"
Hearing him utter in pain like this, Nozomi was immediately concerned as she asked him, "Riku?"
Shaking his head thinking of the more terrible worry she was going through, he told her, "It's just a bit of indigestion, don't worry about it." He told her with a slightly embarrassed smile.
Nozomi though felt like she couldn't quite buy that. But before she could say anything,
"And we're here!"
Turning she saw that the others had all made it to the massive front heavy wooden doors of the palace. She didn't know how or who'd done it but the doors opened up widely, almost as if it was done by magic (Which it probably was.)
As everyone began to go on through, they all saw the warm and rich hues of yellow that made the hallway with the red luxurious carpet all coming underneath their heels. Nozomi could feel the softness of the carpet quickly as she walked on it, so much so she felt it was almost wrong for her to just wear trainers on it.
Cait sith though clearly enjoying every moment of this, jumped off of her shoulder. Then running forwards along the carpet he announced, "Welcome to me and me highness's abode!"
Annoyed though, Ori told him, "We already know what this place is!" Then walking forwards, looking about the place he demanded, "Now where are we supposed to get some information from around here!"
Reeve unsurprised, then walking forwards himself told the young boy, "For the information we'll need, we must go to the internal archives." With that looking down the rich hallways, he continued on to say remembering the layout, "They will be in the centre of the palace."
Mickey hearing this, then decided to ask him, "Have you ever been in there Reeve?"
Shaking his head the knight then told the Mouse King, "No, neither myself Cait sith or her Highness ever went inside, but we always heard rumour that very important secrets were hidden away in there by officials and her Highness's guardian Beatrix."
"Right!" Timbre said, then walking forwards himself he said, "Now we got our plan of action, let's go and make some tracks!"
Everyone was clearly motivated with the same drive and immediately they all went inside to make it over to those archives. However as they journeyed, on Riku though thinking nothing of his pain somehow could feel it, it was only getting worse...
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Still hiding away within his designated hiding place, Pete was quiet. He was waiting for a certain signal, thinking of what Maleficent wanted he couldn't help but feel awfully nervous, for he couldn't know what would-!
BANG!
"What the-!"
Hearing this shout, Pete wondered, "Is that-?"
"Hey there! Losers!"
Pete knew it! This was it! It was time for him to play his role!
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"Did you all miss me?"
Everyone shocked then saw someone they thought they wouldn't see that at all at that time! For there, standing in the way in their path, it was none other than-!
"Jona!"
For there indeed was the exotic Sphynx, standing with a cunning and mischievous grin on her face! Seeing her there, Timbre cried out immediately, "Sis!"
"One and the same!" Jona mused, but not giving Timbre or the rest of her former crew time to act, she brought something out from behind her and said, "Now, let's have a blast!" With that she threw the object with all strength and then-!
BLAST!
"AAAGGGHHH!"
A massive explosion erupted out, sending magical blast of fire out everywhere that struck all the heroes immediately! Sending them all flying backwards, striking the floor! But before any of them had any time to recover-!
"Here have another!"
It was another voice, Nozomi just getting onto her knees with Riku doing the same beside her, she knew who it was, "Pete-!"
SSSWWWIIISSSHHH!
Suddenly a menacing green fog, began to spread across everywhere! Nozomi seeing this fog, asked, "What's-?"
COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!
Quickly everyone around her and even Nozomi herself started to cough loudly, for this fog! She and the others couldn't tell what was happening but then-!
"Urgh!" She felt intense exhaustion, she wanted to close her eyes, lie down and-!
"Nozomi! Riku!"
GRAB!
Taking their hands in seconds, the two Keybladers were dragged out of the fog in moments! As they were, Nozomi felt that exhaustion fade from her however she continued to cough as her body was trying to reject whatever was inside the hideous green mist.
Riku coughing as well though, felt himself quickly recover. As he did, he asked, "What, what was...that?"
Mickey looking back with a mixture of irritation and dismay, told his comrade, "We've been ambushed fella's! Our pals they're-!"
"They're?" Just recovering, looking back Nozomi asked, "They're what? What's-!"
However she saw then what Mickey was talking about, their army of comrades who had followed them into the palace of Alexandra. All of them were now practically unmoving, all of them lying upon the red carpet motionless!
Horrified, Nozomi in seconds cried out loudly in panic, "Guys!"
"My, my... how disappointing."
Feeling herself freeze, hearing this familiar velvety yet cold chilling voice Nozomi turned and there saw, standing with Jona by her side grinning triumphantly. It was none other than the Mistress of the Heartless, Maleficent!
The witch of darkness though, paying no care to Nozomi's shocked expression then counted who had escaped her trap, "So, eight of you managed to escape my mists of slumber."
Repeating confused, "Eight?" It was then that Nozomi saw that the others who had made it out besides them. It was Reeve, with Kagi beside him. Then Timbre, Zidane and Shirma who the monkey tailed young man was pulling by the hand with them.
Out of their army comrades, they were now only-!
"Oi! That's nine!" It was then Cait sith who piped up, annoyed he cried out, "Stop leaving me out of the numbers here! I ain't that puny!"
Maleficent ignoring him though, was pleased by one result that she could see, "Well, at least those three pests will not be in my way this time."
The three pests Riku could see that she was talking about, it was none other than Sora, Donald and Goofy who were knocked out along with Princess of Heart, Kairi. Seeing his friends on the floor like that... he gripped his right hand tightly in rage. Getting ready to bring out his Keyblade as he went to run he had no opportunity to strike for-!
SLASH!
He quickly was made to retreat back, it was none other than Hari who had come to stop him!
As she looked at him with her cold green and pink eyes, with her Keyblade drawn directed at him and the rest of the helpless heroes, she questioned him coolly and mockingly, "Ready to meet your fate?"
On guard immediately everyone know how to rush to prepare, with their numbers horribly reduced and now with Maleficent there with the indomitable weapon that Hari was with the power of the sixth Fragment, the cold subtle blade Lachesis.
