*Chapter 3: Another World/New Friends*
*Traverse Town*
The trio walked through the doors of the town. Goofy looked up and noticed one of the stars is beginning to disappear. Donald and Moro gasped at the sight as the star is going out. One world had disappeared.
"C'mon, let's hurry." Donald spoke. "We gotta find that key. How would we know who had it?"
"We gotta find Leon. He'll know." Goofy replied.
"But where are we gonna find this Leon guy? And do you know what he looks like?" Moro asked. Goofy scratched his head in wonder as Donald taps his foot. "This town is pretty big. Should we split up?"
"But you could get lost, Moro." Donald said.
"It'll be faster if we split up and find Leon. And I can call you guys with this." Moro got out his phone. He took out two wrist bands to give Donald and Goofy each. "Chip and Dale made these for you guys. I can use my phone to call you, or you can call me."
"Hmmm. Well, you be careful and try not to get lost, okay?" Goofy said.
"Now let's get searching!" Donald said as he took off as Goofy began to follow him. Moro took off in another direction.
XX
Pepper tried to wake up Amikai by licking her face and pull at her hair. The girl groaned and opened her eyes to see her fox. Pepper smiled and nuzzled her face. Amikai sat up and held her head.
"Oww...my head." Amikai groaned. She looked around and see that she and Pepper are in the dead-end alleyway surrounded by wooden crates and garbage cans. The sounds of distant laughter and music echo in the background. Amikai got up on her feet and follow the sounds as Pepper followed her closely. As Amikai made her way through the narrow alleyway, she finds yourself in a town with a night sky filled with stars shining brightly on its horizons. Amikai and Pepper stumbled across the town square and can't help but notice the beautifully paved streets lit with warm, yellow lights. Two black lamps stand at the center of the plaza, surrounded by children running playfully around the open area. By following the sound of the music, Amikai discovers an outdoor café filled with a number of unique patrons. There's a live band tonight, and they're playing smooth jazz music. As the music flows through the square, the children dance, and the streetlights combined with the moonlight keep the town in ever-glow...
'Where the heck am I? I remember being sucked into the dark vortex...' Amikai thought to herself as she looked around. 'I don't think I'm on my island anymore. This place is different.' Amikai turned to the stairs and see one of the shops. She and Pepper walked up the stairs and reached the shop. Amikai walked inside as Pepper hurried in and jumped on one of the sofas.
"Hey! No pets allowed!" A voice yelled. Amikai turned to the man with blonde hair and have a toothpick in his mouth. "The pet store is elsewhere!"
"Sorry!" Amikai said, walking up to the counter to greet him. "Listen, I need help. Can you tell me where I am?" The man raised his brow at her in confusion. Amikai waited for his response. The man wiped his nose.
"You new around here, eh? Let me guess... You from another world and the darkness put you here in Traverse Town."
"Traverse Town... Wait, this is a different world? What do you mean the darkness brought me here?" Amikai asked.
"Oh boy. Listen, let us introduce ourselves before I get to tell you details. The name's Cid." The man said. "What's your name, kid?"
"Amikai."
"Eh, heard a better name. Not bad." Cid said with a smirk. Amikai ignored his joke and wanted answers. "Okay. Look, it's a long story, but some people from different worlds were brought here because their worlds disappeared. You're one of them."
"Weird, but I'll go with that." Amikai said, pacing around. "Since I am here, then that means my brother could be here! And my parents too! I need to look for them, Cid."
"Go knock yourself out, but not everyone comes to this town all at once. But I wish you luck." Cid said. "If you need anything, come back here." Amikai nodded in thanks and took Pepper out with her to search around town.
Amikai looking around town square for her brother and parents, but they are nowhere to be found. Amikai began to search for them in the second district. A hand appeared to grab her arm. Amikai gasped and looked up to see a teen smirking down at her.
"Hey cutie. Lost?" He asked. Amikai tried to pull away from him.
"Let go of me!"
"Easy, I'm not gonna hurt you. I just wanted to show you around town." The boy said, trying to pull her. Amikai started to fight back, yelling at him. Pepper started to bark. Before the boy could do worse, a creature appeared and lunged its hand into the boy's chest, making him cry out. "Ahhhh!" Amikai was released and stare at the horrific sight. The creature looks like a soldier, and it held a heart. The boy's body fell on the ground, and he disappeared.
"Oh my god!" Amikai gasped. The creature vanished with the heart and the shadow creatures from the island appeared around Amikai. "Oh no...not again!" Pepper growled and swiped at one of the shadows. Amikai got out her Keyblade and fought off the shadows. She gripped on it and swung it hard to defeat the last shadow. It flew towards the wall, and it vanished. "What are those things? And what the heck did I see after the guy's heart was taken?"
"They'll keep coming out of nowhere." A male voice spoke from behind her. Amikai spun around and see a young man with brown hair, holding a gunblade. "And they'll keep on coming at you, as long as you continue to wield that Keyblade."
"Um, who are you?" Amikai asked.
"Why would it choose a kid like you?" The man asked himself.
"You got a problem with that?" Amikai asked with a glare. The man began to walk towards her, but Amikai held up her Keyblade to defend herself. "Hey, stay back! I almost got kidnapped a minute ago and I won't let you take me or my fox!"
"Do I look like the type who would take a kid? No. Now, let's see that Keyblade..." The man reached out. Amikai made a look and held her weapon in a tight grip.
"How about no?" She asked. "This thing is keeping me safe so far!" The man grew impatient. He couldn't fight her like this.
"Then you leave me no choice. Yuffie, now!"
"Huh?" Amikai turned around to see a girl with short black hair, charging at her with her ninja knives. "Hey! Wait a minute!"
"Now, Leon!" The girl shouted. Amikai felt something hit the back of her head. The girl collapsed on the ground with the Keyblade in her hand. Pepper growled at the two. "Well, we found the one who has the Keyblade." Yuffie spoke.
"Still...it looks like things are worse than we thought. A lot worse." Leon said. He shooed the fox away as he picked up Amikai and place her over his shoulder and held the Keyblade in his hand. Yuffie looked down at Pepper with a smile. Leon walked away with Amikai and the Keyblade. "Bring the fox. As soon as the kid wakes up, we explain everything to her." Leon said.
"If you say so." Yuffie said with a shrug. "Well, come on little guy. Your owner won't be harmed. And you won't be either." She said as she started to scratch behind Pepper's ears. The fox began to trust her and follow her out of the district.
XX
Donald and Goofy are at a different district to look for Leon. They have been everywhere for him, and they haven't heard anything from Moro. Goofy gulped when they are walking in the dark part of town. There are hotels next to them. But it's so quiet here. No voices, nobody around.
"Gee, there's nobody here. Sure is spooky!" Goofy spoke.
"Aw, phooey. I'm not scared." Donald told him with an annoyed look. A hand gently taps Donald's shoulder, making him jump and scream. He got on Goofy's back, shaking.
"Excuse me. Did the king send you?" A female voice asked. Donald and Goofy turned to see a young woman with brown hair in a pink dress. She smiled at them.
"Wake up." A voice said. "Wake up, chosen one!" Amikai opened her eyes and see Yuffie beside her. Amikai sat up in alarm and held the back of her head with a groan.
"Ugh, what hit me?" She asked. "Where am I?"
"I hope Squall didn't overdo it." Yuffie replied, tilting her head.
"Who?" Amikai asked, raising her brow. Leon stepped in and crossed his arms.
"That's Leon to you. Sorry about earlier, it's the only way to make you calm down." He spoke. Amikai gave him a sneer as she rubbed the back of her head, feeling the bump. "We're not going to hurt you. There's a reason why you are here and the Keyblade chose you." Amikai turned her attention to the Keyblade resting against the wall where Pepper is.
"The Keyblade..." Amikai whispered, holding her head. "That's what it's called. Where did it come from? And what are those monsters? One of them took that creep's heart and he disappeared."
"Those things that attacked you are called the Heartless." Yuffie responded.
"Those without hearts." Leon spoke.
"Those without hearts, that's what attracts them." Yuffie finished.
"And there is darkness within every heart." Leon said. Amikai thought back of what that Heartless did to that teen who tried to take Amikai earlier. It took his heart. That teen must've had darkness in him.
"Where did the Heartless come from?" Amikai asked as Pepper jumped up on the bed to be next to her. "Are they the reason why my home disappeared?"
"There is this guy named Ansem." Yuffie said. Amikai turned to her.
XX
"Ansem?" Goofy wondered, not familiar with the name after the woman, Aerith, told both Donald and Goofy about why the worlds are disappearing and how the Heartless were created.
"He was studying the Heartless. He recorded all of his findings in a very detailed report." Aerith said.
"Gawrsh, uh, can we see it?" Goofy asked.
"The pages were scattered everywhere. To many worlds." Aerith replied, shaking her head.
"Then maybe the king went out to find 'em!" Goofy said as he thought about it. Donald nodded.
"Yes. My thoughts exactly." Aerith said.
"Then we gotta find him quick!" Goofy said.
"Wait! First, we need to find that key!" Donald reminded him.
"That's right. The Keyblade." Aerith said with a smile.
XX
"So...this is the key?" Amikai asked, holding up the Keyblade, admiring it.
"The Heartless have great fear of the Keyblade." Leon told her. "Use it to destroy them, Amikai. And you will be fine. The Keyblade will save many worlds. And you are the chosen one."
"But...why me? I'm not worthy." Amikai said.
"Well, you can't get rid of it. It chose you." Yuffie said with a wink. Amikai sighed a bit.
"Of all people, why me?" Amikai asked herself. Pepper whined a little. "Why did this happen? I lost my home. I don't know where my family is. I hope they're okay." Leon closed his eyes, not saying a word. "Thanks for the info, but I need to find-" Amikai was cut off when a Heartless appeared. "There's one here!"
"Yuffie, go!" Leon said as he got out his gunblade.
Donald was about to enter the room where Leon and Yuffie are, but the door bursts open and Yuffie rushed out. She didn't realize Donald was in front of the door and was crushed in the wall. Leon swung his weapon at the Solider to make it crash through the window.
"What do we do now?" Amikai asked.
"The leader is somewhere in this town! We have to find it!" Leon told her, heading out the door. "Let's go!"
"Wait!" Amikai called as she tried to catch up with him as Pepper followed closely. Goofy moved the door and Donald fell on the floor, groaning.
Amikai fought off the Heartless as she tried to catch up with Leon. The Shadows and Soldiers are after her, but Amikai managed to handle fighting them off with her Keyblade. Pepper went off ahead of her to find Leon's scent and he let out a howl to get Amikai's attention. Amikai caught up with her fox and found the third district. They arrived and tried to find Leon. Amikai bumped into someone and got her Keyblade out. Moro gasped and held his hands up in defense.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Easy!" Moro said. His eyes set on the Keyblade. "The key! You...you're the one who-?"
"Moro! There you are!" Goofy called. The two turned to see Donald and Goofy arrive and they noticed the Keyblade.
"Oh, the key!" They both said. Amikai gripped on the Keyblade, staring at the three. Before either of them could utter a word, the Heartless appeared. Moro made a look and got his sword out. Goofy brought out his shield and Donald got his staff out and got his magic ready. Pepper ran off and hid by the stairs as he watched in fear.
"What are those things?" Moro asked.
"Heartless!" Donald replied. "Let's get 'em!" The four began to fight the Heartless together. Amikai let out a grunt as she swung her weapon at one of the Shadows to knock them down. Moro used his wand to use his magic on the Soldiers by using Firaga. Goofy uses Tornado on the Shadows. Donald uses Blizzara. Amikai was impressed by their skills of battle.
"Lookout!" Moro shouted as he pointed behind Amikai. A Soldier scratched Amikai from behind, making her yell. Her jacket was torn.
"Cure!" Donald shouted as his staff glows green. Amikai felt better, no longer feeling the pain. "Focus!"
"Uh, guys..." Moro said as he looked up. Amikai, Donald, and Goofy looked up to see pieces of armor coming down at them. A Guard Armor. The leader that brought the Heartless to Traverse Town.
"Oh god..." Amikai gasped as her eyes went wide.
"Amikai, use your Keyblade!" Leon's voice shouted. "Don't be afraid!"
"Yeah, you can do it!" Yuffie yelled. Amikai turned her attention back to the big Heartless. Moro stood by her side with Donald and Goofy.
"We're here to help you! Keep your guard up and don't let fear bring you down!" Moro said. Amikai looked up at him and made a nod.
"Alright. Let's do this!" She said as they charge at Guard Armor. The Guard Armor spun its arms around, hitting them, but Amikai dodged it by rolling forward and attack its feet. Moro used Aeroga to put on Amikai to protect her from damage. "Take this!" Amikai yelled and she swung her Keyblade at the feet to destroy them.
"Now the arms!" Donald shouted.
"Got it!" Moro says as he grabbed his sword and made a jump and spun around. "Light!" His sword glows and he swung it against the body of Guard Armor. Amikai gasped as the teen used one of the powers for his sword to give the leader of the Heartless damage. "Now, give it all you got!" Moro said to his allies.
"Go on, pal!" Goofy told Amikai.
"But-"
"Hurry!" Donald shouted. Amikai looked at her Keyblade and closed her eyes. It began to glow. Amikai let out a cry as she threw at against Guard Armor, using Strike Raid. The Guard Armor started to shake and collapse. It disappeared and a heart was free. The Keyblade reappeared in Amikai's hand as she watched the heart fly up in the night sky.
XX
"You were looking for me?" Amikai asked the trio who nodded. After defeating Guard Armor, they are all settled at the first district as the citizens or outsiders calmed down after hearing the attack. "But why?"
"They, too, have been seeking a wielder of the Keyblade." Leon spoke, leaning his back against the wall, crossing his arms.
"And you did great defeating that Heartless!" Goofy said with a smile.
"Oh, it was nothing..." Amikai said, admiring her Keyblade. "Still...I don't understand why it chose me. But this voice in my head keeps telling me to use it."
"Voice?" Moro wondered.
"Never mind. What do you guys need me for? To save the world or something?" Amikai asked.
"You can say that." Moro explained. "You see, these Heartless seemed to be bad news and they could be seen in different worlds. They must be stopped."
"And we need to find the king." Donald spoke.
"Oh..." Amikai said with a frown. Moro is concerned.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"I...I wonder if I could find my brother." Amikai replied. "Or maybe my parents. I lost them after my world vanished and I woke up in this town." Moro felt sorry for her. He brought Donald and Goofy in the huddle. Amikai crossed her arms at them.
"Why are we huddling?" Goofy asked.
"Guys, we need her to come with us to find the king, right?" Moro said.
"Yeah..." Donald replied.
"She helps us, we help her in return. Sounds like a fair deal, right?" Moro asked with a small smile. "She is a rookie, so we have time to teach her everything we know. Teach her how to use magic and use the Keyblade." They all nodded and turned back to Amikai. "So...why don't you come with us?" Moro asked her.
"We can go to other worlds on our vessel." Goofy said.
"Other worlds?" Amikai repeated.
"Go with them, Amikai." Leon told the girl. "Especially if you want to find your family." Amikai looked at him, then at the trio. She sighed a bit and scratched her head. Donald tapped his foot at her.
"But you can't come along looking like that. Understand? No frowning. No sad face. Okay?" He said.
"Yeah. Ya gotta look funny, like us!" Goofy giggled.
"This boat runs on happy faces." Donald finished.
"That's right. An adventure always brings a smile to our faces!" Moro said with a smile. Amikai looked at them in silent. She took a breath and form a silly smile with her eyes crossed. Donald and Goofy stared at her in silent, blinking at her expression. Moro tried not to laugh. Amikai stopped what she was doing.
"What...?" She asked. Donald, Goofy, and Moro let out a laugh. Amikai couldn't help but to laugh along with them.
"That was one funny face!" Goofy laughed.
"Alright. I'm in, you guys. I'm Amikai by the way." The girl said.
"Donald Duck."
"Name's Goofy."
"Moro." They all got their hands out. Amikai placed her hand over theirs.
"All for one and one for all!" Goofy said. Pepper came up to them, wagging his tail. Amikai picked him up and nuzzled his face. Leon formed a smirk as he watched them.
"That little squirt took down that Heartless! Who'd have thought it?" A voice from the shadows watching the table with holographs of Amikai and the others. In the room of villains, they witnessed the fight between Guard Armor and the new Keyblade Master.
"Such is the power of the Keyblade. The child's strength is not her own." Another male voice spoke, holding a cobra staff.
"Why don't we turn her into a Heartless? Ha! That'll settle things quick enough." A female voice cackled.
"And the brat's friends are the king's lackeys. Swoggle me eyes, they'll all bilge rats by the look of them." A male voice spoke as he watched the holograph group chatting.
"You're no prize yourself! Hahaha!" Another male voice said with a laugh. A figure with a hook gave him a snarl.
"Shut up!"
"Enough." A female voice spoke, making the figures turn to the leader of the group. A mistress of evil herself, Maleficent. She stepped out of the shadows. "The Keyblade has chosen her. Will it be she who conquers the darkness? Or will the darkness swallow her? Either way, she could be quite useful..." She formed a smirk. "Besides...there is something in her heart."
"Her heart?" One of the villains asked.
"Indeed." Maleficent walked over to the table to look at Amikai's holograph. "There is one who may know about her heart." Her eyes moved over to the shadows. Coming out of them is Kokoro, held by the Defenders. "Speaking of which..."