Chapter 8:
Hollow Bastion:
"That smarmy vizier could've had 'em-" says Hades, "if someone had stuck around to give him a hand."
"Hey, I did my part," says Riku, "I brought the Princess, didn't I?"
"Jafar was beyond help," says Maleficent, "consumed by his own hatred. One should be wary of letting it burn too fiercely."
"Woah, woah, woah," says Hades, "lighten up. I'm as cool as they come, okay? By the way, Kid, have we got something special for you."
"We had a deal, yes," asks Maleficent, "you help us, and we grant you your wish..."
She then makes an image of Kairi. "Kairi," says Riku.
"Go to her," says Maleficent, "your vessel is waiting."
Captain Hook then appears. "Just remember, this is no pleasure cruise," says Hook, "it won't be a pleasant voyage."
"Why are you doing all this for me," asks Riku, "what's the catch?"
"Catch," asks Maleficent, "what's the catch? Silly boy, you're like a son to me. I only want to make you happy."
"I seriously doubt that," says Riku.
"Believe what you wish," says Maleficent, "but lest we forget, I kept my end of the bargain."
Riku then walks away.
...
Riku was alone.
Riku: Have I made the right choice
Did I make a mistake
When I listened to her voice
All they do is take
I just wanted to save my friend
And now I'm with the wrong crowd
Could I cause the end
Maybe I won't make my friends proud
Darkness
I feel darkness
I see darkness
Is there no end to the darkness
I've betrayed my friend
To save my other friend
I can't just pretend
That we'll be friends to the end
What has happened to me
I don't recognize myself
All I see
Is someone out for himself
Darkness
I feel darkness
I see darkness
Is there no end to the darkness
There is nothing but darkness!
Somewhere Between Worlds:
Sora and his friends are traveling. "How's Genie doing," asks Sora.
"He's resting in the lamp," I said, "very interesting how someone so big can fit in something that looks like it was built for me."
"Is that a whale," asks Donald.
I then took a look, and I started to shiver. "Monstro," I said, "he's a whale of a whale and vicious besides!"
The whale then swallowed our ship whole...
Monstro:
Sora woke up from a dream. "Where are we," asks Sora.
"Y'know," says Goofy, "I think that big ole' Monstro just swallowed us!"
"How did he even get up here," I asked, "unless... could Monstro be one of the worlds? How does that work?"
"Hello?" We all look and see my closest friend!
"Pinocchio," I asked. Pinocchio then walked away. "C'mon, everybody, after him, quick!"
...
We then found this boat. "What have you got there, Pinocchio," asks Geppetto, Pinocchio's Father.
"With this, we can get out of here, Father," says Pinocchio.
"Really," asks Geppetto, "with this big block? You think so?"
"It's true," says Sora, "so, how did you get here, Pinocchio?"
"Oh, my," says Geppetto, "so the whale swallowed all of you, too? My goodness."
"Yeah," says Sora, "looks like it."
"My name is Geppetto. I'm Pinocchio's Father. When we got separated, I traveled all over, looking for him. Thank goodness we're together again. So, you seem to know Pinocchio quite well. I hope he was a good boy in my absence." Do I need to tell you how Pinocchio skipped school to become a celebrity or how he went to an amusement park and started turning to a donkey? He is a good boy; he's just easily influenced. "Well, we've all had quite a journey. Right, Pinocchio? Pinocchio?"
"We'll go find him," says Sora.
...
Sora, Donald, and Goofy find Pinocchio. "What are you doing," asks Sora, "come on, let's go back."
"You know, Geppetto's awfully worried about you," says Goofy.
"Pinocchio, stop fooling around," says Sora, "this is no time for games!"
"But Sora, I thought you liked games," says Riku, "or are you too cool to play them now that you have the Keyblade?"
"Riku," asks Sora, "what are you doing here?"
"Just playing with Pinocchio," says Riku.
"You know what I mean," says Sora, "what about Kairi? Did you find her?"
"Maybe," says Riku, "catch us and maybe I'll tell you what I know!"
"Come on," says Sora.
Riku then runs off with Pinocchio and Sora, Donald, and Goofy are forced to chase after them while fighting some Heartless along the way.
...
"Why do you still care about that boy," asks Maleficent, "he has all but deserted you for the Keyblade and his new companions, after all."
"I don't care about him," says Riku, "I was just messing with him a little."
"Oh, really," Maleficent asks sarcastically, "of course you were. Beware the darkness in your heart. The Heartless prey upon it."
"Mind your own business," says Riku as Maleficent leaves.
...
Sora, Donald, and Goofy chase Pinocchio and find Riku again. "Riku, what's the matter with you," asks Sora, "what were you thinking? Don't you realize what you're doing?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing, Sora," says Riku, "you only seem interested in running around and showing off that keyblade these days. Do you even want to save Kairi?"
"I do," says Sora.
Then Pinocchio screams.
...
Pinocchio was being held captive by a monster.
"You up for this," asks Riku.
"No problem," says Sora, "let's do it!"
Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Riku then fight the monster together. The Keyblade then summons a lion, and it attacks the monster, taking it down. "Woah," they all said.
"I am Simba, the Lion King! The Keyblade can summon me whenever you need my help! Now, I must go!" Simba then disappears.
"And to think, this is what Kairi, and I wanted this whole time," says Sora.
"Maybe you two should've hoped for something else," says Riku.
The monster coughs up Pinocchio, but Riku takes him.
...
"Please, give me back my little boy," says Geppetto.
"Not many puppets have hearts," says Riku, "maybe he can help someone find theirs!"
"Are you talking about Kairi," asks Sora.
"What do you care about her," asks Riku. He then leaves with Pinocchio.
...
"Hey, let Pinocchio go, Riku," says Sora.
"A puppet that's lost its heart to the Heartless," says Riku, "maybe it holds the key to helping Kairi. How'bout it, Sora. Let's join forces to save her. We can do it together."
"Sora, I know he's your friend," says Goofy, "but my closest friend turned out to be a traitor! Some friends don't stay friends!"
"Are you seriously going to listen to someone named Goofy," asks Riku.
"At least Pinocchio still has a conscience," says Sora.
"Conscience," asks Riku.
I then ran to Pinocchio. "You might not hear it," says Sora, "but right now it's loud and clear. And it's telling me you're on the wrong side!"
"Then you leave me no choice," says Riku.
"Pinocchio," I said, "Pinocchio!"
"Jiminy," says Pinocchio, "I'm not gonna make it!" Then Pinocchio started to glow. "Oh, I guess I'm okay."
Then that monster came again. Riku left and Sora, Donald, and Goofy fought the monster. Sora then uses the Keyblade to summon Genie, who then defeats the monster.
Flashback:
Riku and Maleficent have found Kairi. "So, Kairi's like a lifeless puppet now," asks Riku.
"Precisely," says Maleficent.
"And her heart was..." Riku begins.
"Taken by the Heartless no doubt," says Maleficent.
"Tell me, what can I do," asks Riku.
"There are seven maidens of the purest heart," says Maleficent, "we call them the Princesses of Heart! Gather them together, and a door will open to the heart of all worlds. Within lies untold wisdom. There, you will surely find a way to recover Kairi's heart. Now, I'll grant you a marvelous gift. The power to control the Heartless!"
"Soon, Kairi," says Riku, "soon!"
Monstro:
Pinocchio and Geppetto found a way to make Monstro sneeze and we were all able to escape. Now, on to the next destination!
To Be Continued