Intermission: A Kidnapping and Ultimatum
The sun shines down gently on Radiant Garden, her people moving about in their everyday lives. Memories of the horror brought on them by Xehanort had long begun to fade as everyone began looking towards the future.
Gummi Ship travel had begun to grow in commonality, trips between Twilight Town and Disney Castle becoming all the more common along with the belief that the World Order will slowly be abandoned and worlds reconnect gradually with each other.
"Alright! That'll do, Ellie!" Cid calls out as a transport ship comes into land. Carrying goods from Twilight Town. A hatch opens up on the front as Ellie walks out, dressed in fresh clothes and a new eye in her head. "Another job well done. You deserve a break after this."
"Much appreciated Cid. Feels good to be needed here." Ellie replies as the two leave the hangar. Ellie takes a moment to breathe in the nature of Radiant Garden, embracing the warmth that had long since left her dimension. It had been four months since she and Isaac arrived here after escaping the Sprawl, and she could not be any happier. The vibrant life she was surrounded by, along with the obvious improved safety standards made her feel like a new person.
While she had always felt it, it wasn't until she came here that she realised just how cold and dark her home was. Seeing how the colours here screamed with life helped soothe her nerves, especially for the first few days of their stay.
"Say, you doing alright? Those nightmares still bugging ya?" Cid asks. Ellie knew what he was talking about. The nightmares of the Marker, its Necromorph minions tearing through everyone. Her becoming one as an Infector latches onto her. It was no surprise that what she was stuck with her.
But she knew it was even worse for Isaac, Sora and Kairi.
"I'm doing alright. Being here helps a lot. But Isaac still has nightmares occasionally. Not as bad at the start, but he still has them." Ellie couldn't help but worry about Isaac, now her boyfriend. The dreams he was having, being a puppet of the Marker, hurt him just as much as anything.
At least he was no longer haunted by images of Nicole.
"Yeah. He's a tough one, though. He'll pull through, just like them." Cid remarks, pulling out his toothpick and flicking it into a nearby bin before grabbing another one. "Helps that he's putting his engineering mind to work on the Gummi Ships."
"Oh, I agree." Ellie replies as they come to the main plaza, the grand castle of Ansem the Wise looming over them. "The less we think of our doomed home, the better."
"I'm afraid that won't be possible for a while." A voice echoes behind the two. Turning on their heels, they find walking towards them was the Master of Masters, hands behind his back.
"What do you want?" Ellie asks with a growl, hand reaching for the Plasma Cutter on her belt. Heartless attacks were rare and far between, but it never hurt to keep the trusty tool nearby. Cid had already summoned his spear to his side, holding it with both hands with a glare.
"You're the bastard that put Sora and Kairi through that hell, ain't ya?"
"Bingo! Twelve points for the ageing pilot." The Master of Master's claps his hands before folding his arms. "But I'm afraid I'm not here to joke around. There is still business left in the Dead Realm. One heart left that is waiting to be freed." He points a finger at Ellie. "And you are going to be the catalyst to drag Sora, Isaac and Kairi back in there."
"Fuck that!" Ellie spits as she fires at him. The MoM moves in a flash, flash-stepping towards the two as Cid thrusts his spear forward. Only for the MoM to grab it tightly near his hands.
"Nothing personal, kid." He speaks in a southern accent before tossing Cid aside like a ragdoll, before flashing towards Ellie and grabbing her neck. "Don't worry. Your boyfriend will be coming to rescue you soon enough. Just be a good girl and wait." He hits her on the head, knocking her out before summoning a portal. Carrying Ellie on his shoulder, he waltzes on through as Cid looks on with narrow eyes.
"Dang it!"
In the Mysterious Tower, Yen Sid watched as Sora and Kairi went through a training exercise with Roxas, Ven and Xion. Ever since they became masters, they had wasted no time in helping to train the trio. Especially to get their minds away from that Realm.
Yen Sid could not help but feel ashamed for failing to stop them from going through the ordeal. Even if he was proud that they managed to escape and with survivors who still had their hearts. It was a trial he never wanted them to take.
The ordeal with Xehanort had been bad enough, in his eyes.
"Gah!" A cry from Roxas breaks Yen Sid from his thoughts as he sees the trio lying on the ground, breathing hard. While Sora and Kairi stand tall. "You beat us again."
"Hey, look on the bright side." Sora comments as he helps his two brothers up. "You're getting better each day. I think you can take on the Mark of Mastery exam."
"I will be the judge of that, Sora, but I agree." Yen Sid remarks, walking up. "The time is nigh that the three of you undertake the Mark of Mastery. I believe you have been waiting patiently enough."
"Yeah, but it's a shame Lea won't be joining us." Xion points out, rubbing her arm. "Then again, Terra and Aqua did agree to both train him and Naminé together. Wonder how well they are doing?"
"We can ask them when we next see them." Kairi replies, holding her hands together. "For now, let's have lunch. I bet you're starving after that match." As if to answer her, everyone's stomachs growled at the mention of food.
Even Master Yen Sid's, much to his embarrassment, as the younger generation chuckles at him. Until the sounds of a portal tearing open in the sky, with a Gummi Ship flying through towards them.
"Hey, isn't that the Kellion? Isaac and Ellie's ship? What is it doing here?" Roxas asks in confusion as the Gummi Ship comes into land. They weren't expecting them to visit.
"Think something happened?" Xion asks.
"Only one way to find out." Sora replies as the ship powers down. A door opens up on the side, with Isaac exiting the ship in civilian clothes.
And with a distressed expression on his face.
"Isaac? What's wrong?" Kairi asks gently, wondering why Ellie was not with him.
"It's Ellie. She…" Isaac takes a shaky breath. "She's been kidnapped." Shocked gasps erupt from the group while Yen Sid's eyes narrow,
"Who did it?" Ven asks.
"It was that creep in the black coat. The one called the 'Master of Master's'. He ambushed Ellie and Cid as they left the hanger." Isaac explains before banging his hand on the side of the ship. "I should have been with them!"
"Peace, Isaac. Unfettered rage does no good here. Come, into the tower. Let us see if I can find where she was taken." Yen Sid replies, pointing towards the entrance.
"No need to do that, old man. I'm right here." The MoM's voice echoes around them as he appears on the steps leading to the tower. Instantly, everyone summons their Keyblades while Isaac aims his Plasma Cutter. Yen Sid summons orbs of light as he glares at the MoM once again. "Again, with the cliché reaction… This is getting old real fast."
"What did you do to Ellie?!" Isaac snarls, not wanting any bull from the MoM.
"Oh, nothing. Just sent her back to the Dead Realm, is all."
"You what!?" Isaac growls, finger tightening around the trigger. Sora and the other Keyblade wielders shared Isaac's anger, barely holding themselves back from attacking.
"As for the reason why, well, it's because there is one more person in that realm who needs rescuing. But I know you three won't go back without incentive, so…" He spreads an arm wide. "I decided to give you one."
"Fuck you!" Isaac screams, firing a shot at the Mom, who flash steps away.
"Wow, the same reaction as your girlfriend. Not bad." The MoM intones before folding his arms. "But pointless all the sane. You have only one choice, you three. Return to the Dead Realm and rescue both. Otherwise, you can say goodbye to Ellie forever." With a snap of his fingers, he resummons the portal before vanishing into the shadows.
"Damn it…" Isaac mumbles before glancing at the portal. He frowns with sadness as he closes his eyes, before feeling a gentle hand on his arm.
"Isaac. We can do this. We can rescue her." Kairi says with determination.
"That's right. We did it once. We can do it again." Sora reaffirms. Isaac looks between the two, before giving a thankful nod.
"You're not going alone this time." Roxas suddenly says, walking up to them. "I'm coming along as well." The trio and Yen Sid look in shock at Roxas's words before Ven steps up next to him.
"Me as well. I felt awful not being able to help you last time. I won't let you face those things again without backup."
"It's the same with me." Xion also says. "We had to sit and watch through a portal, but this time, we are going with you to save Ellie. No matter what."
"Are you sure? The Marker will try and get its claws into your mind." Sora warns, but the trio brush him off. Not seeing that he would be able to convince them anytime soon, he relents. "Alright, if that's what you guys want, then fine."
"If your hearts are set on this, then you will need these." Yen Sid speaks, before sending two orbs of light to Roxas and Xion's shoulders. The light settles, forming into armoured pauldron reminiscent of Ven's.
Roxas's pauldron was a mixture of white, black and blue. While Xion's was red, black and silver.
"With these, you can summon your Keyblade Armour alongside your gliders. Judging by what we saw through the portal, there is no doubt in my mind you will need them."
"Thank you, Master." The two bowed with respect while Isaac had retreated into the Gummi Ship. When he returned, he was wearing his Advance Suit while carrying the weapons they had used back in the Sprawl.
"I know you guys have your Keyblades, but it never hurts to have a backup." He says, laying down the Plasma Cutter, Flamethrower, Pulse Rifle, Contact Beam and Seeker Rifle. "Take your picks, guys." Sora and Kairi instantly pick up the Plasma Cutter and Flamethrower, respectively. They had grown fond of the two tools that had protected them on the sprawl.
Roxas picked up the Contact Beam, feeling the weight of the rock-breaking tool before placing it on his back. Xion grabbed the Seeker Rifle, looking down at the scope before doing the same. Ven gently holds the Pulse Rifle, getting a feel of the weapon before holstering it on his back.
"I will summon the others and bring them here. If things are the same, we should be able to monitor what is happening. And while we may not be with you, know that we are with you in your hearts." Yen Sid tells the six as they get ready to enter the portal.
"We know. And we'll be back with Ellie and this other person before you know it." Sora replies with his trademark smile, but Yen Sid can catch the faint shaking in his and Kairi's left hands.
They had still not recovered from what the Marker did to them. I only pray that their hearts are stronger than the fears that threaten to consume them. He glances at Roxas, Ven and Xion. They had seemingly noticed the shakes as they stood closer to the couple. At the very least, they are not alone.
And with one last farewell, Yen Sid watches as the group returns to the Dead Realm, hopefully for the last time.
"May your hearts be your guiding keys."
Been a while since i last updated this fic. Sorry about that. Been side-tracked with writing another fic on AO3. Name of it is in the bio encase you're interested.