Chapter 53: welcome to the alliance
I do not own kingdom hearts or the properties shown in this fanfic. They belong to the respective owners and the original story is based on the works of Darius Almighty. Kingdom hearts and trials of the keyblade is owned by square Enix, Disney, and Tetsuya Nomura. Please support the official release.
Right. Now time to arrive at home one the rebel alliance's home base! Looks like it's time to take back the garden at all costs.
With that out of the way, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
"Are we there yet?" Cid asked impatiently as he steered his ship through the cosmos.
"Not to worry, Captain Highwind," the mechanical C-3PO replied cheerfully from beside the pilot. "According to Artoo, we should encounter the Rebel Alliance fleet shortly." Beside the golden droid was the much smaller droid known as R2-D2. From a small plug in his body he was hooked up to the ship's navigation systems and, with the help of the galactic map held in the small golden sphere of Captain Flint, he guided the ship towards their destination.
Cid scoffed. "Far be it from me to doubt the directions of a trash can."
Aladdin stared out the window, watching with a neutral expression as the stars went by. There were many more than he had ever seen in the skies above Agrabah at night. He supposed he should be excited. He was traveling the universe, seeing things that people on his world would never even have dreamed of. But he just didn't feel it. What did it matter, without Jasmine here to share it with him?
"Hey." Aladdin looked up. The large and furry form of the Beast was standing beside him. It wasn't hard for Aladdin to remember his name.
"Hey," he said back half-heartedly, before turning back to the window.
"How you holding up?" Beast asked as he took a seat next to the boy.
"Alright, I guess. I suppose I should be used to this sort of thing by now. After all, it isn't the first time I've let Jasmine down. And when I think about that, then that makes me ask myself, 'what can I really do now?' I am I stronger now that I have this?" He lifted his Keyblade Wishing Lamp which he still held. "If that's so, how could I have allowed her to be taken again?"
"I can't answer that." Beast also turned back to the window. "But Sora...he just has a way of making the impossible happen. No matter the obstacle, he manages to get through it in the end. I've seen it. And I'm sure you have too." Aladdin unconsciously nodded. "So whenever I see that dopey smiling face of his, I just can't help but feel like everything's gonna turn out alright. And that someday...I'll see her again." And that's when Aladdin remembered. Beast was in the same boat he was. His love had been forcibly taken from him as well. And yet somehow, he still believed that he could find her.
For the first time since Jasmine was kidnapped, Aladdin smiled. "Thanks."
Beast shrugged. "Welcome aboard." And managed a smile himself.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Jack Sparrow said from behind them. "I thought this was the swinging bachelors club, not the whiny 'I lost my girlfriend' club. If you need me, I'll be over here, not being unhappy." Both Aladdin and Beast glared at his back as he swaggered off.
"But I don't like him," Aladdin stated bluntly.
"Good," Beast growled. "Now you're really one of us."
Sora entered the bridge then, followed closely behind by Kairi. "Sora," Leon said as soon as he came in. "You okay?"
"You gave us quite a fright," Aerith murmured.
Sora shook his head. "No, really. I'm fine. But how close are we to the fleet?"
R2-D2 beeped something. "Well, according to Artoo," C-3PO interpreted. "We should be arriving right about-"
"Whoa." Everyone turned to where Aladdin had suddenly gasped while staring out the window. His reaction couldn't be interpreted until they looked out the window themselves, and when they did, they couldn't help gasping themselves.
The Rebel Alliance Fleet was more incredible than anyone could have imagined. There were sips of every shape and size, from many different worlds. Several great capital ships were surrounded by smaller space craft, and kept watch over by small one-maned fighters. All these ships traveled in perfect formation through the infinite reaches of outer space, a powerful force to oppose even the Galactic Empire.
"Whoa, Nelly!" Jack Skellington exclaimed, pressing his skull against the window. "It's like a Christmas tree! Made of deadly war machines!"
"I didn't think that there were this many," Quistis said as she gazed outside. By now everyone was doing the same.
"So these guys are on our side, right?" Ron asked as they drew nearer. No sooner had he asked, when they were suddenly approached. Two small one-man ships had broken away from the fleet, cornering the Shera on the left and right. Rufus gulped from his shoulder. "Uh oh."
"No need to worry," C-3PO offered to ease everyone's nervousness. "They merely need to identify who we are, decide if we're friend or foe. We'll all be fine once they know I'm with you!" A beeping noise sounded from Cid's steering control.
"We're getting a transmission," Cid announced. He flicked a switch to allow everyone to listen.
"Attention unknown ship," said the voice from the transmission. "This is the Starcruiser Home One. What purpose do you have in this sector?"
"Greetings and salutations to you, good sir!" C-3PO said happily into the comms box at Cid's control panel. "There is no need for concern. The ones aboard this ship are honoured guests of mine! I am C-3PO: Human Cyborg Relations."
"Who?" If C-3PO had a heart, it would have shattered. R2-D2 seemed to be laughing as he hung his metal head depressingly.
"Hey, what's going on here?" the transmission asked, but someone else was speaking this time. "Someone's coming here? Hey, wait a minute...I recognize that ship! Get out of the way ya lousy suit!" The sounds of struggling could be heard in the background. "Sora! Is that you?"
"Han?" Sora called, a big grin forming on his face. "Han, is that you?"
"You're damn right it is!" Han Solo laughed over the communication. " I knew you couldn't stay away! You're coming to join the Alliance, ain't cha?"
"You got it!" Sora said with a thumbs up, even though Han couldn't see it.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Park that hunk of junk in the hanger and come on down!" With that, the transmission switched off.
"Friend of yours?" Leon asked Sora.
"Friend!? Ha!" Jack Sparrow snapped angrily. "Lousy cheat swindled me out of five-thousand munny!"
"He did not just call my ship a hunk of junk," Cid growled.
The Starcruiser Home One was easily the biggest ship in the Alliance Fleet. Its long cylindrical hull spanned a few thousand feet; it was possibly even larger than that of the dreaded Imperial Star Destroyers. Lined with powerful laser cannons and propelled by multiple booster engines, it was clear that this ship was the centre of and headquarters for the entire Rebel Fleet. The Shera came in beside it to dock through one of the hanger doors. Barely able to fit due to its large size, the airship entered the cruiser. The Shera's propellers came to a slow stop as it started its landing. It had been a while since she had touched down but did so without flaw. With that done, the ramp lowered; Sora was the first to step out.
What greeted his sight was a hanger filled not only with war-ready space ships of many different designs, but men, women, and aliens, most of which had now turned their eyes to him. He didn't have time to greet anyone before two strong, very hairy arms wrapped around him.
"Whoa! Ow! Easy, Chewie!" Sora laughed, strained on account of the bone crushing hug he was receiving from the large hairy alien known as Chewbacca.
"Take it easy on the kid, Chewie!" Han Solo shouted as he walked over. "We still need him to save the universe and all that junk." Chewbacca howled some kind of response before setting Sora down. "How've you been, hero?" Han laughed when he and Sora shook hands. He looked the same as ever, a scruffy looking pilot. "Finally decided to take me up on my offer, huh? Better late than never!"
"What can I say?" Sora grinned. "I love to be fashionably late."
Han grinned cheekily. But when his eyes met with those of a certain pirate standing at the foot of the Shera's ramp, his smile quickly dropped. Jack Sparrow glared at Han and Han glared right back at him. Sora chuckled uncomfortably. These two hadn't exactly parted on good terms.
Han sniffed disdainfully. "Sparrow."
Jack scoffed. "Sobo."
"It's Solo, you jerk!" Han yelled right in his face.
"Yeah, and your mother makes her living on her back," Jack sneered. Han had to be restrained by both Sora and Chewbacca lest he do something he probably wouldn't regret.
"Whoa! Look at this place!" Ron exclaimed as he came down the ramp. "I feel like I've taken a step into a multi-million dollar franchise!"
"And here I thought Cid's ship was the coolest," Kim said.
"I heard that!" came Cid's call from inside.
Aerith stepped down the ramp, realizing she was being stared at by Chewbacca. She smiled sweetly. "Hello there," she said. Chewbacca rubbed the back of his head nervously and howled. It was impossible to tell, but Sora was sure the wookie was blushing.
"Ho boy, he's gonna sleep well tonight," Han grinned at his friend.
"Excuse me," Leon said abruptly as he approached. "But we need to speak to whomever is in charge here. It's urgent."
Han raised an eyebrow. "Well, you'd want to speak with her heinous highness than, wouldn't ya? Sounds like a plan; she'd want to speak to Sora anyway. By the way, how'd you get the scar? Haircut gone wrong?" Leon glowered at him. "Oh, I can tell you're a fun guy. Whatever. Let's go meet the higher-ups." Han lead the way, and Sora, Leon and Aerith went after him.
"Stay with the ship," Leon ordered, glancing at the Shera crew standing in its doorway. He left disappointed looks behind him as he departed with the others.
"'Stay with the ship'," po mimicked mockingly. "'Oh, look at me, I'm the big boss man cause I've got a wicked looking scar!' Ha!"
"How am I supposed to fulfill my sci-fi dreams if he won't let me?" Jack Skellington sighed.
"Now, now, kiddies," Jack Sparrow, of all people, said. "Mister Leon is in charge and we must abide by the rules he has set out for us." The two of them sighed. "However," Jack continued with a saucy grin. "He never specified which ship to stay with, savvy?" Jack Skellington and po blinked, both turning their eyes to hanger which was filled with spaceships, before breaking into grins of their own. Jack Sparrow's eyes were focused on one ship in particular, though. A certain ship he recalled as...the Aluminum Falcon.
Passing through the whitewashed halls of Home One, Han Solo guided the group through many twists and turns, passing many crew members and Alliance personnel on the way. The ship was just as big as it looked. Everywhere they went people were busy with something. Everyone had to do their part for the sake of the Rebel Alliance.
"I had a feeling we'd meet again." Leaning against one of the white walls, staining it with his dark red cape, was a rather unforgettable man in Sora's mind.
"Vincent!" he exclaimed. The one leaning against the wall was none other than Vincent Valentine, the enigma of a man that Sora and company had met on the desert planet. Sora hadn't seen him after he'd saved them from the Yautja and went with Han to join the Rebel Alliance. "How have you been?"
Vincent shrugged. "Surviving," he replied. Sora grinned.
"Guys, this is Vincent Valentine," Sora introduced on his friends behalf. At Sora's call, Vincent gave a mock salute with his golden clawed hand. "He helped us out awhile back."
"Yeah, once we parted ways he was so insistent on joining," Han muttered offhandedly. "Not good for much, he hasn't done much since he got here. But he knows things, I'll give him that."
"More than you have to offer, anyway," Vincent stated with closed eyes.
"Why you..." Vincent purposely gave Han a glimpse of the triple-barreled gun he kept in his holster, so Han wisely backed off. "Fine! Whatever! Let's go! Leave the vampire to his skulking!" And Han lead them off again past Vincent.
"See you around, Vincent!" Sora called behind him. Vincent gave a nod.
"Vincent," someone greeted in a soft voice, and Vincent saw someone had stayed behind. Red eyes met green as he looked upon her.
He nodded recognizably. "Aerith."
Aerith smiled kindly. "It's been awhile, Vincent."
"It certainly has."
"But it's good to see you're doing well. I should have known you'd be involved with something like this. I think the last time we met was-"
"I haven't seen him, Aerith," Vincent stated bluntly, right before he straightened up from the wall and strode past her down the hall.
Aerith watched him go before her eyes turned to the floor sadly. She had forgotten how good Vincent was at reading people.
"Welcome to where the magic happens, gang!" Han Solo had brought them into the very heart of Home One. It was a circular room, white like the rest of the ship, filled with men, women and aliens working 'round the clock. Technicians worked at computers all around the room, soldiers chatted about past experiences, and generals and higher ups discussed strategy in the room's centre, where a holographic map was displayed for all to see.
"You could start a war from here," Leon stated as his eyes scanned the place.
"We didn't start it," Han said with a grin. "But we're gonna finish it." As they entered the war room with Han in the lead, they noticed the Rebels were starting to stare at them, at Sora in particular. They were looking with awe, admiration, even a bit of fear. Many of them had stopped what they were doing and took to whispering amongst themselves.
"Captain Solo!" The one who had called to Han and was now walking over was...was...well, he was a fish. This alien with the large red head of a fish and the body of a man approached the group, flanked by two more of his own species. Judging from his white uniform and the proud way he walked, he was someone of high rank and importance.
"Guys, I'd like you to meet Admiral Ackbar," Han said on the fish-man's behalf. "He's the supreme commander of the entire Rebel Fleet. We wouldn't be half the force we are today without him."
"Captain Solo," Admiral Ackbar said again, stopping before the group. He was surprisingly tall. "This is them, I assume?" At Han's nod, Ackbar smiled with his fishy lips. "I welcome you all aboard my ship. The Home One is always happy to receive allies to our cause."
"Admiral Ackbar, it's a pleasure to meet you," Leon said formally on everyone's behalf, shaking hands with the admiral's red hands. "My name is Leon."
"Ah, yes! Mr. Leonhart!" Ackbar said recognizably. "I've heard much about you."
"You have?" Leon asked in surprise. "How?"
"Is he here?" Someone else's voice interrupted the conversation. It was a woman. Having just entered just now, she was speaking quickly to one of the Rebels. Though he could only see her back, Sora could see she wore a rich white dress, very standout-ish in a room full of soldiers, and had brown hair done up in a bun on her head. "Is he here?" she was asking the officer. "I heard he had arrived. Where is he?"
"Over here, princess!" Han Solo called indignantly. The lady turned.
For that split second, Sora's heart stopped beating. The woman was very fair of face, beautiful in fact, with dark eyes that could. But more than that...
She looked just like her.
"Ah, excellent," Ackbar chuckled. "Everyone, it is my pleasure to introduce you to one of the very founders of the Rebel Alliance itself, Princess Leia Organa." The woman, Princess Leia, walked over to them with such an air of dignity and respect about her, none could take their eyes away, Sora included, though for entirely different reasons. Upon reaching them, he was the first one she smiled at.
"It...really is an honour to meet you," Leia said in what seemed to be complete awe of the young man standing before her. She held out her hand for Sora to shake. He didn't take it though, as he stared, just stared at her. It wasn't long before the princess began to shift uncomfortably under his gaze. "Um..."
"Sora?" Aerith called gently. At that Sora snapped out of it to the questioning looks of everyone around him.
"Oh, sorry!" Sora stammered, and finally shook Leia's hand, grinning as best he could. "It's nice to meet you too." Leia smiled back.
"Love struck, eh Sora?" Han chuckled, quickly sidling up to Leia and slinging an arm around her shoulders. "Well, look elsewhere. She's mine and mine alone. Despite what she herself might say."
"Take it off or I'll break it off," Leia growled. Han hastily retracted his arm. "Sorry. Forgive me if I'm a little nervous. It's just that I've heard so much about you. You could even call me a fan." She smiled at him again, so Sora smiled back. Maybe he was just imagining things. "I have to thank you for coming here, Sora. But I have to wonder, how did you find us?"
"Oh! That would be my doing, Princess Leia!" C-3PO eagerly called as he shuffled inside the war room, R2-D2 rolling along behind him. "It was me! I found Master Sora and instructed he come here. I'm just glad I can be of help."
"What the!?" Han suddenly gasped, utterly flabbergasted when the droid arrived. "What are you doing here?!" he shouted at Threepio. "I thought me and Chewie dumped you in a godforsaken desert on some backwater planet!"
"What?" Leia growled venomously.
"Oh, now I remember," C-3PO pondered thoughtfully. "I was aboard Captain Solo's ship at the time, and was regaling him with my knowledge of the mating habits of the carnivorous asteroid worms. I don't remember much after that, but when I came to I was in the middle of a barren desert. How peculiar." Princess Leia gave Han a look that could kill.
"What?" Han said innocently. "He was bugging me!" Leia sighed hopelessly. "Besides, you should be thanking me. When I dropped Sora off on his ship, I also snuck this little guy inside." R2 beeped when Han gestured to him. "I knew he always kept tabs on the fleet's location. You know, just in case you ever changed your minds about joining."
"It's a good thing you did," Leon acknowledged. "Because we need your help."
Leia frowned. "Ah. I assume you are speaking of your home world. Radiant Garden."
Sora surprise showed. "How did you know?"
"I'm afraid the situation there is much worse than you may realize," Admiral Ackbar stated grimly.
"Worse?" Aerith asked, worriedly.
"Indeed." Princess Leia took a deep breath, preparing for a long explanation.
"We've long known about your situation, how the Empire befriended you before they drove you from your world and effectively took over; it's not the first time this has happened. It's how we've come to learn of each of you. We planned to help you take back your world, so that maybe in return you, Sora, might help us to stop the Empire once and for all. But while we searched for a way to contact you, something happened. For some weeks now more and more Imperial forces were being transported to Radiant Garden, strengthening the garrison already stationed there. The Empire normally doesn't do this." Her dark eyes narrowed. "Unless that world has something of value to them."
"What?" Leon asked. "What could they want from us? We have nothing of value."
"Nothing you know about." They way the princess spoke so calmly and powerfully, there was little argument as to why she was in charge. "The Rebel Alliance has several spies within many forms of Imperial government. They say that something has been discovered while refitting the city of Radiant Garden, within the computer network of your citadel. They were computer files, deep, deep under many layers of encryption. They were simply titled, 'The Keyblade War'." Sora drew a sharp intake of breath. Leon and Aerith exchanged looks of confusion, and fear. "This ring a bell to any of you?"
"We had no idea of this," Leon said truthfully. "We've never even got a chance to go through our computer network since we regained our world from the last time."
"That it was right under our noses the whole time...," Aerith whispered.
"I don't see what the big deal is," Han Solo scoffed offhandedly. "So the Emperor get a couple of old files. Big whoop."
"Don't you see, Han?" Leia snapped. "There's no telling what kind of damage this information could cause in the Empire's hands! The Emperor has been obsessed with Keyblades ever since he heard of Sora. Who knows what those files could hold? The could reveal some kind of power behind the Keyblade, or even a weakness for it, or about-"
"Kingdom Hearts."
Sora's voice was so soft he wasn't sure anyone had heard them, but they had, and were looking at him with mixed expressions. "What did you say?" Leia asked.
"Kingdom Hearts," Sora repeated, his head bowed as he thought. "That's why he wants the files, cause that's what he's after. So he can learn the secrets of Kingdom Hearts!"
"That mumbo jumbo about the Heart of all Worlds?" Han asked unbelievingly. "You honestly believe in that stuff? Please!"
"It's no joke," Aerith said quietly. "It's all quite real. Isn't that right, Sora?" Sora nodded while Han frowned.
Leia pressed her face into her hand. "So that's it...," she whispered. "It's power he's after. And Kingdom Hearts would give him plenty of it. We've long suspected him of this."
"But how do you know all this?" Ackbar asked Sora. The same question was in everyone else's eyes.
"He told me," Sora answered. The eyes of everyone present widened to the size of dinner plates.
"You've met the Emperor?!" Han exclaimed.
"In person!?" Princess Leia
"Sora, when did this happen!?" Leon snapped.
"Well, I didn't technically meet him!" Sora tried to defend himself. "I mean, I met him but I didn't exactly meet him!" They were looking at him like he was insane. "No! You see, he was in my mind! He broke in trying to...to...do something!"
Leia stroked her forehead. "It's not impossible. The Emperor has many evil powers. Luke would know more about this sort of thing."
"Where is Master Luke?" C-3PO asked curiously. "I'm sure he would be delighted to meet Master Sora as well."
"He left not too long ago," Ackbar answered. "He said he was going to the Dagobah system. He won't be back for several days."
"Figures. The only time we need him," Han muttered.
"In any case," Leia continued. "This only furthers our cause. If the Empire desires Kingdom Hearts then we must do everything in our power stop him, which means he must not get those Keyblade War files, no matter what." Now she had eyes only for Sora. "Sora, we will help you retake Radiant Garden, it is our prime objective to do so. But...I'm hoping that once this is all over and done with, that you and your friends will join the Rebel Alliance." She smiled warmly. "You'd be doing a great deal of justice for the universe."
For a long while Sora just kept the gaze of the face that was so painfully familiar to him. He turned his head to Leon and Aerith, who nodded. Aerith with a smile, Leon with the faintest hint of a smirk.
"What are you talking about?" Sora said finally. "We were members the moment we flew into this place!" Leia broke out into a genuine grin. Han gave a happy thumbs up, while Ackbar nodded approvingly. R2-D2 meanwhile spun his head round happily beside a cheerful C-3PO. "And we will take back Radiant Garden! My friends and I are all behind you!"
BOOM
The explosion was heard by the entire war room and, being a war room, everyone in it went into high alert. "Sir! Sir!" An officer ran into the room, tired and out of breath. "Down in the hanger, sir! There's some kind of...skeleton man playing catch with some panda dressed in shorts!"
"So?" Ackbar asked.
"Well, the panda is using thermal detonators as the ball!" Another explosion resounded through Home One. "Also, one of our X-wing fighters has been stolen by a boy and some kind of naked rodent. And Captain Solo! Your ship is being pilfered by a man dressed as a pirate!"
"My baby!" Han cried in horror.
As the man listed all the other things that were going horribly wrong, Sora managed to slip unnoticed out the door and ran back to the hanger to stop his so-called friends as fast as freakin' possible.
KHKHKHKH
General Darius couldn't find the words to describe his reaction.
"Sir? May I ask why?" he asked calmly and cautiously.
Darth Vader stared silently into space from the bridge of the Super Star Destroyer Executer, something he always did when there was a task to be accomplished. But this time Darius couldn't tell what he wanted. Ever since his transmitted conversation with the Emperor himself ended but a few minutes ago, he had been acting strangely.
"No, General. You may not," he replied coldly after awhile.
Darius frowned under his helmet. "I'm sorry, sir. I just don't understand. Why are we calling off the search for Riku?"
"You are not meant to understand, Darius, only obey. And I will make it clear to you now that you should never question my orders again." More silence as Vader stared out the window. What he was thinking, Darius could not even guess. "Sora is our target now, that is all you need to understand."
"Yes sir," Darius acknowledged with a bow, keeping his frustrations to himself.
"Don't fret, General," Vader said, as if he could read Darius' thoughts. Sometimes the general thought he could. "Riku will still prove useful to us. He will lead us straight to Disney Castle without even knowing it. You two can settle whatever quarrel you have there." Darius nodded. He was looking forward to it.
"But this puts us at a severe disadvantage. We at least had a tracker on Riku's ship. We have no idea where Sora could be."
"We don't need to find him," Vader said quietly, causing even more confusion for the general. "When the time comes, and Sora learns the truth, he will come to me." Darth Vader turned from the window and swept past the perplexed Darius, cape dragging behind him like a veil of darkness.
"Oh, and one more thing," Vader suddenly said stopping his walk. "Contact our friend. His services are no longer required." With that last order Vader swept out of the bridge, leaving General Darius to carry it out.
KHKHKHKH
"This is General Darius of the Galactic Empire to the Yautja hunter with an urgent message. As of right now, you are hereby ordered to call off the hunt for the one called Sora. This a direct command from Lord Vader himself. I repeat, call of the-"
The hunter abruptly cut off the communication from the bridge of his ship, which floated in a secluded area of space. If his mandibles would have allowed it, he would scowl at such an idea.
Call off the hunt? That just wasn't possible now. There wasn't even a word in his people's language that would describe such a dishonour. The hunt can never be 'called off'. Once the prey was identified, the hunter must stalk it until either he, or the target, was dead. It is a law that has been passed down through his people for uncounted years and he wasn't about to break it now.
But more than that, this prey, this boy, this...Sora; it intrigued him.
As a veteran of numerous battles he had many victories and trophies to be proud of. Warriors and creatures of all shapes and sizes had fallen to his blades, but this one was different. If it weren't for his people held hostage in the cold and unyielding fist of the Emperor, he would never have had even taken on this hunt, but now he was glad that he did. When he first encountered the boy, the first thing he noticed were his eyes. Young as they were, they were fierce, without fear, the eyes of a true warrior. He knew there and then that Sora would truly be his greatest hunt ever. This wasn't about Darth Vader anymore, or about Empires or even the fate of his people. This was about honour, this was about glory.
This was about claiming Sora's head for very his own.
Making sure all controls were in proper working order, the Yautja typed commands into its ship's controls and gripped the wheel once everything was ready. In a matter of moments, his ship warped out of the area in a flash.
And that concludes another chapter. Be sure to write nice reviews, adapt the original story (Darius Almighty's work) on DeviantArt, turn it into a webcomic or post the story on TV tropes or follow and favorite it. And remember may your heart be your guiding key!