Chapter 81: The Heart of Atlantis
Having eaten their meals, Kida takes most of those available to a body of water, Ven, Taren, Layla, and Jay to help out, Aqua came along as well to hopefully find the helmet as they were running out of time. Taren was trying to figure out how to find the helmet and was uncertain if Kida would know about it, and very much doubted the king would be willing as he was pretty certain to make them leave the city.
"We're running out of time, it's dark and by now we'll be forced to leave the city." Jay ran his hand through his hair.
Taren nodded. "Don't worry, Mirta is already on her way doing that. She has her illusion magic and no one would know she was even there." Remembering the conversation when Bloom had an idea for Mirta to cast her illusion magic on them, either to hide or pose as Atlanteans. Mirta was at first uncertain, but was willing to give it a shot as she had her Digimon and Titan to sneak around to help her. He gave his praise and support to her, not aware of her earning a flush from him, which he missed for a moment before she left. "Hope she's doing alright."
Layla was able to notice how his expression showed he was worried for Mitzi, she was aware of her growing infatuation for the keybearer. She knew it would be wrong to meddle, but thought to give it a shot. "You seem to care for Mirta, don't you?"
He looks at her with a confused look on his face, believing he was worried for his friend. "Well, Mirta is a friend and got every reason to worry since we know little-"
But Layla shook her head to cut him off. "Nope, that's not what I mean. Do you…actually like her?"
Looks at her with an odd look. "What are you talking about?" Taren was clueless of where this was going. But then gained a flashback of something that he remembered and caused his face to flush red. "Wait, you're thinking it's because of me kissing you two-I mean, the Aracuan bird! She's really nice and attractive, but I already have Bloom and Flora."
Not seeming to buy into his excuse. "Really? and I'm surprised you aren't thinking of building up a harem." She gave off a teasing grin to him, crossing her arms under her chest. "Although it did almost seem convincing." She can see the flush on his face that told her of his reaction.
"What? Come on, you know that wasn't me! I mean I like to get to know them first and don't want to hurt Bloom and Flora. Besides, Mirta's great, she's gained a lot of support from us being friends with her, and even if she does seem cute in that fairy outfit."
"What was that about her winx form?"
Realized he walked right into it when he saw the smugness on her face. Earning a brighter red on his face of what he just said when thinking of Mirta in the outfit he first saw her back on Earth, showing a lot of her curves and chest as well when… no, he shouldn't be even thinking of it that way.
Shaking his head and mildly glares at the bemused princess. "Not. One. Word."
"Hey, guys, what's going on here?" Aqua came by through the bushes to check up on them.
"Nothing." Taren walks past the blue haired keybearer. Wanting to smack himself for suddenly thinking of things with three girls in his head.
Back with the rest of the group found the place full of fireflies like the ones they encountered. It took some caution to avoid touching them in risk of being scorched like the camp. But they found a way to handle them with Kida holding out a stick with a glass globe tied up at the end, illuminating the globe with a few fireflies that she caught to be used as a lamp.
"All the centuries we've been unable to find the city of Atlantis on the surface." Jay explains while Layla slowly reaches her finger to one of the fireflies. "Usually explorers find broken pots or pottery. No one knew how Atlantis vanished yet inspired so many myths."
"You know, for something that can cause much destruction, these guys are really amazing." Layla looked at one with her finger without getting burned.
Sighs, Kida did not seem to share their positivity. "We are not thriving. True our people live." Layla gently brings the firefly into the glass globe, allowing Kida to close it. "But our culture is dying. We are like a stone the ocean beats against, with each passing year a little more of us is worn away."
They truly pity her, everywhere they see of the once great civilization was nothing but ruins. "I just wish we could do something to help you, Kida. We could offer to take your people to another world, but pretty much doubt any would want to leave their home." Aqua knew it would be too much magic and needed a ship to take so many."
Kida smiles of her help. "I appreciate your efforts, Aqua, but I know my people would wish to stay here. I believe there is another way. There is a mural here with writing all around the pictures."
"Great, so lead the way." Ven says. He then suddenly noticed both Taren and Jay covering their eyes while Odie turned around with a blush on his face. He noticed Aqua and Laya went behind a pair of bushes causing his eyes to widen and a very small blush to adorn his cheeks. "Uh…. Kida? what are you doing?" The blonde keyblade master asks as the Atlantean was in the middle of taking off the blue skirt she was wearing.
"You do swim, do you not?" She asked if they were able to, oblivious to their mutual reactions when asking off her skirt, revealing a pair of blue bikini bottoms that matched the blue tube top she was wearing.
"Uh… yeah. Been swimming since I was a kid" Taren answered, a little uneasy.
"Been keeping in shape." Jay responded,
Odie didn't seem much with his lack of physical skills. "Not really, so I might as well stay back." He will just have to stay behind and maybe find the others
Layla came out of the bushes, now in a brown and green bikini. "It shouldn't be a problem for me, I've been a star swimmer back home."
Aqua's was a one-piece dark blue swimsuit, however, even in her 30s, her years of training and keeping herself in shape as a keyblade master has done well to her figure. "Good thing I brought some in case, but if its down there we'll have to swim for it. "Stretching her arms and noticed Ven's reaction and his eyes on Kida. Arching an eyebrow and starting to notice something from her childhood friend. "Ven, you in there? She asked if you can swim?"
Ventus blinked and turned to Aqua who asked him a question. "Uh, wha? Oh, I swim pretty girl-pretty good! Pretty good!" Getting his words mixed up and lost at thought when he was staring at Kida.
Aqua was obviously watching and a smirk was growing on her face but said nothing.
Kida remained unaware of it but happy to hear that they could. "Good, it is a fair distance to where we are going." She says as she begins walking into the water, the boys, with the exception of Odie with the Shepherd's Journal in his hand join the ladies in the water.
"Not to worry, we can handle a lot so swimming shouldn't be a problem." Jay says.
"Yeah, we're wasting time so let's get going." Taren dives into the water.
Ven followed him, but the others just stood there with amused faces until a few seconds later they came back up.
Aqua chuckles and smirks. "Back so soon?"
Ven, looking sheepish and smiles at the amused princess. "Uh, we sort of… thought to check for any signs of danger."
Taren nodded as he realized they had no idea where to go. "Y-Yeah, and thought maybe let you lead, your highness… we have no idea where we're going."
Kida takes a deep breath and dives in, the others soon follow her. Layla made an enchantment to help them swim and breathe easier, never knowing how far Kida was taking them as well as Kida's crystal to light the way for them in the dark depths of the water. They pass several sunken ruins and statues, many of them showing damage or in slow decay.
Odie sat by the steps looking through the pages of the journal for any information, yet still baffled as to how there was one missing page. It was doubtful that it was lost in the fire, otherwise the whole journal would have been burned. Yet, upon further observation, the torn page looked too neat… almost as if it was ripped, and mostly odd for a whole page to be missing rather than a chunk of it missing.
"I got a bad feeling about this."
"Hey, anyone there?"
He heard Theresa's voice on the walkie talkie and responded to it. "Yeah, it's me. The they went for a swim with Kida."
"A swim?" She asked him.
"Jay, Taren, Ventus and Aqua. I stayed behind as I wouldn't have made it far. She says something about writing on the walls that could be the key to this Heart of Atlantis." Odie says and continues. "Theresa, are the others with you?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Listen, something isn't right, remember that missing page? I looked through all the pages and all appeared to be fine." Odie explains to her.
"What are you getting at?" This time he hears Bloom who questioned him. "Did you find out about something?"
"Maybe, I noticed how the page was completely torn off… like someone ripped it out." Odie opened the book and started to believe there was a bigger mystery. "Maybe it had something important like this Heart of Atlantis that's been ment-." Odie stopped talking when he noticed a large shadow casted over him, looked over his shoulder and gasped. "You-Ummph!"
He was hoisted from the ground with struggle, causing him to drop the journal and the walkie talkie.
"Mmmph! Mmph!"
"Odie? Come in! Od-" A large boot crushed it completely on the full impact.
Meanwhile, the group swam towards a large building with a dome shaped roof. They follow Kida into the building as she swims up and a moment later they breach the water's surface into a small air pocket near the roof of the building.
Everyone was taking in the oxygen and relieved to be able to breathe. Kida smiles at them and asked. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, thanks to Aqua and Layla's help we wouldn't have reached this far." Jay told her.
"Fortunately we didn't drown." Aqua added.
"Good, follow me." Taking a large gulp of air, Kida once more dives down underwater, they follow her as she swims straight down and stops in front of a wall with a large mural as her crystal shines brightly. Aqua took a closer look at the writing and once she finished, she pointed upwards to speak of what she found.
"So what was it?" Layla asked her what she found.
"I think it was some sort of visual history of the city." Aqua answered her of what she found out. "Something about its foundation and the complete history." Amazed how it was still intact despite all that happened thousands of years ago. "Okay, maybe a few bits of details were off as I used the translation magic."
"The light I saw that day." KIda spoke, something she saw and asked the keybearers. "The star in the middle of the city, what does it say about that?" she questions intently.
"We dunno yet." Ventus said in truth. "Maybe it could be written on the walls, we better find out."
"Ventus, you go with her, Jay may help out as well. We'll stay up here." Layla needed to catch her breath, she watched Aqua pull out a glow stick and held it up.
The blonde nodded and followed her along with Jay, they find pictures of two large statues creating some sort of shield or barrier with several small figures, surrounding a large crystal, Ventus noticed at the other side of the barriers, ships and soldiers from various ancient cultures tried to attack but were repelled. Even various creatures appeared to have fought Atlantis, blue, green, red, yellow and purple. Clearly they must have been the Kaiju, but some who held something in their hands and had creatures fought alongside them as well but what happened was corroded away, possibly some ancient battle long ago.
Aqua looks sound, something caught her eye below the sandy ground, it was some sort of helmet… and blue. 'Wait… could it be?' Aqua's eyes widened and swam down towards it, she pulled it out and saw the emblem of the Water Civilization. She swam up to show them what she found, they were astonished and gave her a thumbs up.
Jay pointed out to the writing he found, they moved closer and saw those with the crystals. His eyes widened and gestured for them to swim up for what he found. Surprising the others of what they found.
"Did you find anything?" Taren asked them and noticed Aqua's grin.
"Oh I found something alright." Lifting up the helmet to show them. "One Helmet of Ultimate Technology!"
Layla gasped and astonished that she found it. "That's amazing! We did it!" She cheered and pulled the surprise Taren and Aqua in a hug while she was trying to not drop the helmet..
"Hey, easy! Trying to keep afloat here!" Taren would hardly blame her, now they have one more to find after this.
"If I drop this, you can get it."
Ventus and Jay came up to the surface, followed by Kida of what they found on their own.
"The Heart of Atlantis." Jay mumbled.
"What?" Kida pondered.
"Uh, can you repeat that?" Taren asked him.
"It's the heart of Atlantis." Jay answered. "That's what the Shepherd was talking about."
Layla slowly caught on to what he was saying and from Kida's story about a shining light. "So the star we just saw on the wall and the bright light Kida was talking about."
"Was really a crystal!" Ventus stated with realization. "I almost thought it meant like the heart of this city but it's really a crystal. Like these." He reached out to Kida's and held it up.
"What about them?" Taren didn't understand until Ventus explained it to him.
"Don't you get it? The power source that made this city, the bright light Kida mentioned. They're the same thing!"
Kida was in shock and couldn't believe it after all this time. "That cannot be." Shaking her head in disbelief.
"That's probably what's keeping everyone and this place alive for so long." Aqua realized as it had to make sense for so many to have remained immortal for many thousands of years and not died or even aged.
"Then where is it now?" If what they say is true, the Heart of Atlantis could still be around or maybe hidden.
They sighed and knew it only led to more questions than answers.
"Probably hidden away like the helmet." Taren groaned. "But you'd think something this important would have been mentioned in the journal."
"Unless…" Jay started to process through his thoughts of something until he remembered the journal. "The missing page." It had to be the one… but question where is it?
"You mean that missing page could be it?" Layla thought, and if it was then they would have a harder time finding it.
"We better get back and tell the others. We haven't got much time." Aqua advised them. She noticed the young hero's face and maybe thinking of the same thing, when she heard about it, it would have been something to brush aside but something didn't seem right that one page about the Heart of Atlantis just happened to be missing out of so many pages.
Jay was the first to break the surface after swimming all the way back to the steps, followed by Aqua and Ventus. They were climbing up the steps when they noticed someone standing in front of them.
"Ah, Jay." Jay looked up with a stunned face and widen eyes when hearing a familiar sinister chuckle.
"Had a nice swim?" Before them was Cronus, chuckling with a grinning look. Behind him were his monster minions, yet also with a large giant with a machine gun. His eyes were yellow and glowing creepy, glowing blue streaks on his face and cerulean hair swept back and spikey. Beside him was a young woman with shoulder-length crimson red hair and matching eyes. She has a widow's peak and her hair is styled spiky. Her outfit was somewhat revealing; a connected one-piece bearing crimson sleeves, wearing a pair of arm guards and gloves with spiky fingertips and a long. Furry crimson cape that drags behind her, wearing thigh-high boots and torn red stockings. In her right hand was some sort of strange weapon hoisted to her back.
There were several who appeared to be soldiers in dark blue ninja-get ups with armed weapons and armor, almost dressed up like ninjas.
Jay couldn't believe it, yet he should have guessed Cronus would have followed them. "Cronus!"
Aqua looked at him and realized he was the enemy the kids had fought on several occasions. Both she and Ventus summoned their keyblades for a fight. They had to warn the others if they were fast enough to dive back in, yet it was too late when Kida came up to the surface.
One of Cronus' monster minions reached down and pulled her out of the water by the neck, but was unexpected of her to kick him in the gut and freed herself when Ventus rushed to her help and swatted the giant into the water with his summoned keyblade, a ninja-like soldier made a sneak attack with his sword pulled but Ventus used Lightning to blast him. He was caught off guard by another snuck behind him and held a blade to his neck.
"Ventus!" Aqua went to help her friend, but stopped by the redhead woman who was aiming her weapon at her.
"Don't even think about it, blue." She gave a sinister coy grin on her face to the keyblader. "Same to you, princess if you value their lives."
"The same for your friend, Odie." Cronus clicked his fingers, one of his minions stepped out and held the struggling Odie in his grip.
The Atlantean princess saw her friends in peril, as well as Odie held as a hostage and did not wish to endanger his safety. Reluctantly, she gives in, but not before kicking the same monster from earlier in the face as he tried to climb out of the water and was restrained by the soldiers.
"There, that wasn't so hard." Cronus chuckles and pleased how it was going well for him. "I apologize for the lack of introductions, my name is Cronus, the future ruler of this world and my two associates, Azul and Rosso."
Jay glared at him. "You followed us to find something for another of your plans, Cronus?" It was plain obvious to Jay, but dare not risk what he already knows to endanger these people.
"You mean the Helmet of Ultimate Technology?" Earning a mutual shock from their faces when he mentioned it. "Yes, indeed. And also this." Slipping a hand into his suit and pulling a page that showed a large blue crystal in the middle of it, Jay recognised it as the missing page from the book.
"The Heart of Atlantis." Ventus realized what they were after. Earning a gasp from Kida to learn about their inventions. "That's what you're after, isn't it?"
"Indeed." Cronus gained their full attention. "After finding one of the ruins, I knew for certain this city had to have that crystal hidden but unable to search for it, and you all found the right path for us. It was all from that book that had the answers."
The red haired woman named Rosso held up the journal in her hand and waved it to mock them. "It certainly saved a lot of trouble to find this place."
"And at last, the power to bring this world to its knees, destroying nations and kingdoms. And with the helmet to command creatures from the vast oceans would be a bonus." A sinister grin formed on the mad god with a laugh followed after.
"We won't let you do this!" Ventus proclaimed with determination to protect this city Ignoring the situation he was in along with his friends. "That thing we found out is the lifeforce of this city."
"He's right, you take it away and everything down here will die." Jay agreed with him. But knew it only fell on deaf ears to Cronus who hardly showed any lack of care for his actions.
"Ha, that's just the tip of the iceberg for what we got plans for and the artifacts." Azul let out a chuckle as it hardly mattered to him. but stopped to notice something was off and two people were missing. "Hey, weren't there two more with you? I thought that red haired brat was here."
Even this caught Cronus' attention and looked around. "You're right, that boy who helped the heroes from before. Where is he?"
"Right here, Cronus! Seeker Mine!"
They were taken by surprise by the swirling orbs of light shot at them, taking out one of the monsters who fell on his butt. Another one of the hired soldiers was suddenly hit by a pink sticky substance and stuck his hand to the sheath which was caused by Layla who sprung up from the water in her Winx form.
Recognising that voice and spotted Taren by the bushes with his keyblade. "Was wondering when you showed up, kid."
Taren remembered the large giant back at the colosseum. "You're the one from the Kaiju realm!"
"That's right! Would have stayed to watch, but had a job to do." Hoisting his heavy gun to his back and sprinted towards the startled keyblade apprentice with inhuman speed, pulling back his balled fist to throat a powerful punch. "Like this!"
"Taren, look out!" Layla cried out and rushed to his aid.
Reacting as fast as possible, he conjured a Reflect to take full impact while Layla created a shield to help him. Yet, it did not falter the superhuman as he channeled his power into his fist with sparks flying about between their aura and magic. Azul continued to grin and used his other hand to throw another punch with full force, pushing the two to their limit and shattered the barrier, hurling them into the lake when they cried out.
"Taren! Layla!"
Jay, Ventus, Odie and Aqua could not believe what they just saw and how powerful this guy was, almost able to take on the keybladers without a magical weapon.
"Most impressive, Azul." Cronus applauded him with a light clap of witnessing his power.
They saw Taren sprang up through the surface, holding the worn out Layla to cling to him for support and coughing up for air.
"Now it's my turn to play!" Rosso charged in, her gun suddenly sprouted two long scythes from each side. Swiping her weapon across created a twin crimson horizontal slash towards the rest. Ventus and Jay dodged the attack, it swopped past them and slashed a stone behind them right through, causing them to slide off.
Aqua then casted several shards of ice at her. "Jay, you help the others, me and Ventus will deal with these two." She had a feeling they were much stronger than they look and did not want to risk the young heroes getting hurt.
Jay nodded as they were clearly outmatched, yet needed to get Odie and the princess out of harm's way.
The monsters took action and joined the fight, both who appear to have the half switched with a troll with legs for a kermode bear and the bear for the troll's legs, the second was a brownish skinned giant. Jay was able to pull out his sword, but did not expect Azul to chrome from behind and stomp his foot on the ground, creating a strong impact to crack the stone platforms.
Jay lost his balance, allowing the giants to pummel him, yet came to his rescue was Aqua who swatted them away with her Windaga. "You okay?" She reached out her hand to help him up.
Accepting her help and getting back on his feet. "I'm fine, but we gotta save Odie and Kida."
"First you have to get through us!" Azul hoisted his heavy shotgun and swung it like a club, although missed, he switched to shooting them from a distance with a shower of bullets raining on them.
"Save some for me, Azul. I'm eager for some fight!" Rosso cackles and decides to go after Aqua. "You and me, blue! I always wanted to fight a keyblade!" Running towards her and clashing her gunblade with Aqua's keyblade several times to force one another into defense, both weapons struggling to overpower each other by their wielders' strength.
Aqua has noted of her fighting skills and her sadistic personality, deflecting the coming scythe blades and noted Ventus with James having a hard time with their opponent. 'Just who are these guys?'. She pondered, as they were not like most foes they've come across. They need to get their friends and save them.
"Harpoon Torpedo!"
Everyone heard a roar and some sort of missile sprang up from the water until it split into four coming down on the chosen targets. Forcing Cronos and his monster minions to scatter before the missiles hit the grounds, this gave Odie the chance to break free from his capturer and make a run for it.
"Jay! Ventus!" Odie jumped over a rock to get himself out of danger, alerting his friends that he was safe.
Emerging from the waters was Ikkakumon with Layla on his head. "Good job, Ikkakumon."
Taren got out of the water and summoned his keyblade for a rematch.
Cronus, seeing the situation they were in right now as his enemies were recovering and only a matter of time for the others to find them. Deciding it was time to leave while they still have a chance, clutching Kida's arm and pulling her up. "Rosso, Azul. I believe we overstayed our welcome."
"Aw, but I was so fired up!" Rosso whined just when she made another shot at her targets, but then recovered to a smile as she would think of having more to 'play with'. "Fine, as long as I get to shoot something."
"Relax, we have plenty of time to do that." Azul lifted his heavy machine gun and fired multiple rounds to buy them time, following Cronus into the portal.
Ventus and Taren rushed over to get the princess before it closed, however they were too late as it disappeared before they could even touch it.
Jay's head and shoulders slump, failing in protecting Kida and now Cronus' prisoner. Yet, Odie was safe and helped untie the knots around his wrists. "Odie, you alright?"
"Yeah, a little sore but nothing serious." Odie checked for any bruises on his wrists but so far none. "Did you guys find anything down there?"
"Got the helmet." Taren told him as Layla climbed off her partner to reveal the artifact in her hands. "Luckilly we had this hidden before they even knew we had it. But now we have bigger problems."
Odie agreed with her. "You're not wrong there. If Cronus gets his hands on the Heart of Atlantis, the whole world will be in danger."
"We gotta get the others, they must be heading to the palace." Ventus surmised.
Taren pulled out his phone to contact the others. "Bloom, we got a situation. Meet us at the palace, ASAP!"
The portal was opened by Cronus as he emerged, followed by the Tsviets and his giants stepping out to appear before the palace.
"Why didn't you let us take them out when we had the chance?" Rosso complained, she really did want to shoot them.
"Or even talk about the helmet's whereabouts?" Azukl added.
Cronus answered their questions for their reason for leaving. "They wouldn't have just taken a swim for no reason and I can almost feel its power nearby." Turning his attention to the captive princess who was held by Kida. "And if they have, I'm certain they will be open to negotiate an exchange."
"I understand, whether or not they do have it they wouldn't risk the life of an innocent." Azul caught on to his plan.
"Precisely." Facing the large doors of the palace, he was certain the king would have knowledge of the crystal's whereabouts. "But while we wait, we have a crystal to find.'
Before the ground was a shroud of darkness manifested, rising from the ground, a thin build male with long unkempt black hair, with some white restraints around his face like a mask. HIs outfit was black, maybe dark purple, but wore it like a straight jacket. The striking features were a mechanical pair of wings from his back, but were more metallic with sharp blades.
"Ah, Nero. So good of you to join us." Cronus greeted him casually.
"I was observing from the shadows, those Winx girls and the other heroes are on their way. But the inside of the throne is not at all guarded." The one named Nero reported, hardly focusing on looking directly at anyone.
Hearing this was satisfying to them, with the exception of Kida. Cronus turns to the Tsviets and the giants with an idea in mind. "Why don't we make our introductions, shall we?
The doors in the throne room were suddenly torn to pieces by Azul who charged in and used the full might of his superhuman strength and halted with his foot planted down into the stone floor. Hardly felt a thing, shrugging off any debris from his shoulders and head while wearing a savage grin as he confronted the guards. Rosso and the Cyber Ninja followed them with Kida held by the arms from her back. "Knock knock."
The royal guards were ready to take action until they stopped to see their princess held hostage. Rosso held her close with the blade up to her neck.
Nightwing saw the princess being held as a hostage. "Unhand the princess!"
Pressing the barrel into her back while keeping a firm grip on her arm as to show she means it. "Drop your weapons, or her royal highness gets more than a haircut!"
Seeing his daughter in danger and could not risk her life. Kashekim sighs and reluctantly complies before giving an order to his guards and the captain. "Drop your weapons and do not interfere."
The royal guards and Nightwing did as they commanded to avoid risking Kida's life, dropping their spears to the floor.
Cronus approves of this and smirks. "Search the place! Those heroes are on their way and we don't have much time!" The Giants and the ninja begin their search, ransacking the throne room for anything they can find that may hold clues to the Heart of Atlantis. "Azul, Nero, you two keep our heroes busy while I have a talk with the king."
Azul and Nero nodded before making their departure.
"Any idea where the crystal is?" Rosso asked him while keeping Kida at gunpoint before she questioned the mad god who was holding the journal. "You speak Atlantean, right?"
Cronus was looking through the pages along with the page he held to find any sort of clue inside it. "Indeed, but the only thing I can find is that the Heart of Atlantis lies in the eyes of her king." Cronus recalled as he translated it.
Unable to understand what all that means, she then turned her head to the king and had a suggestion. "Maybe his highness will tell us."
"An excellent idea." Cronus grabbed him by the robe, lifting the king to his height to interrogate. "You've been ruling this city for thousands of years. Tell me where the crystal is and I may be considered sparing your people… for the time being."
Defiant in his situation, the king refused to let them intimidate him, narrowing his eyes towards Cronus with an ominous warning. "You will destroy yourselves."
His words did not seem to faze the mad god who brushed it off with a chuckle. "Oh, I sincerely doubt that. But maybe this will make it clear." Making an example by throwing his fist into the elderly king's stomach. Kida curses at them in Atlantean for what they did to her father.
Nightwing growls and shoots a death glare at them. "You'll pay for that!"
"Oh please, like I never heard that one before." Cronus rolled his eyes over their empty threats and walked around him, standing before the throne. "Seems I will have to get my hands dirty. Hold him." They held the king and restrained him. "I'm going to make you either talk or you won't have any."
Drawing his scythe in his hand and swinging it high above, just as he was about to swing it downwards... until Cronus paused and noticed a drop of water falling in the center of the stepping stones. Something about the shape of the stones and how they look familiar. Pulling out the book in his hand and looking at the front of the cover with the design pattern matching the stones. Mumbling the words from the texture that says "The Heart of Atlantis lies in the eyes of her king."
The king's head falls as it concludes that the mad god had discovered the hidden clue. Yet before he could reach the stone platform, a fire ball and a pink orb shot him in the chest, sending him hurtling back to the throne. Groaning and yet unfazed by the attack, he and the others looked to the direction of the blast which was performed by the Winx, the keyblades and the young heroes standing by the door.
"Didn't anyone tell you that you're not invited, Cronus?"
They turned to find Taren along with the heroes and the Winx..
"Ah, Taren, is it? One of the three keybladers who foiled my first plan." He wasn't going to let them foil his plans again, not after coming this far to achieve his goal. Before they could do anything, he was quick to respond and held his scythe above the king. "Not so fast, one move and his highness will lose his head unless he tells me the whereabouts of the crystal."
"We won't let you do that." Jay narrows his stern glare at him.
Rather than waste anymore time talking, Cronus thought to let the Tsviets and his enforcers deal with them. "You know what to do."
Azul gave him a sinister smirk. "With pleasure."
Nero apparatus sprouted as he was ready for combat. "Don't get in my way, Azul." Manifestation of darkness swirled around him before he let out a chuckle. "Now… let the games begin!"
In a blink of an eye, Nero flew straight towards his first targets that were Layla and Bloom, Layla created a barrier that took the assault of the blades, yet they struck right through the shield and close to the startled fairy's face. Bloom came to her rescue and shot fireballs at him, yet they did little to hurt him. He turned into the black mist and pulled away from his first target.
Bloom was surprised by this. "Where did he go?" He looked around to find him when she was suddenly grabbed by a pair of cold metallic hands that restrained her in mid-air. "Ah! What the?"
"I got you now."
Bloom looked behind her and found the creepy guy in the straightjacket using the metal wings to restrain her, struggling to break free. "Let go of me!"
"Bloom!" Taren sees his girlfriend in danger and rushes to help her. "Let go of her you creep!" Runs towards him with his keyblade to tackle, but he didn't get close when suddenly a powerful force struck him from the side and was too slow to react when he saw a fist come right at him. Sending him straight into a stone wall and made an impact. He was fortunate to have an aura to protect him, yet it still hurt a lot but still able to move. A bit.
"Taren!" Bloom and Flora cried out for the boyfriend in fear of him being hurt.
"You should worry about yourself, little girl… when your life fades away." Nero says, watching her struggle and feels her energy drained but still putting up a fight. "Impressive, not many last this long. But you have to reach a limit."
"Let her go!" Several plane vines sprouted up and wrapped around the metallic limbs, pulling them hard enough for Bloom to be freed thanks to Flora while Layla shot a pink orb at him with Aqua blasting Lightning to at least hurt him to free their friend.
Nero grunted and shot a glare at them. "A big… mistake!"
"The mistake was hurting our friends, that's what." Aqua slashes her keyblade across, clashing against the sharp blades that blocked her path to attack him.
The one who did that was Azul with his fist struck forward. Cracking his knuckles and chuckles. "Think you and I have a little rematch, don't ya think, kiddo?"
The male Dragonflame user grunted, brushing off the debris and shot a glare at Azul. "Oh yeah, I'm eager for a payback!" He knew that maybe summoning Tatsurion in battle would help, but best to hold that for now unless they really needed backup. He made a backflip before a large fist came straight towards him and cracked the wall behind him with such force. Pulled his fist out of the crater and turned around.
Taren took some steps back and shot a series of rapid fire balls at him, but they harmlessly bounced off his broad shoulders and he slammed his keyblade down with great force. Azul stood chuckled, much to his surprise. "Okay, maybe this is gonna be harder than I thought."
Pulling out his heavy gun and prepped to fire. Drawing the attention of several of the heroes within firing range, the monster giants and the Ninja made themselves out of the way, Nero had no problem when beside his ally. "Take cover!" The Keybearers and the winx both created protected shields over their friends before being peppered in bullets, but taking more damage than they can.
Flora helped to create a magical wall of vines to replace Bloom's and for Layla to help. Made open to surround them before a black smoke shot out and slammed into the vines when intended to be for them. There was something about that smoke that seemed vaguely familiar to the fairy of nature, but couldn't tell where. This provided the chance for Ventus and Aqua to blast him with their Lightning, it only struck some of the ninja and one of the giants who got caught in the blast, and for Taren's Firaga do some damage. But what they did not expect to see, instead of Azul lying on the ground or burned, he was still standing, hardly ever flinched.
"No way! He didn't even flinched!" Flora could hardly believe it, yet she noticed something around his body shimmering.
"These guys are nothing like the Trix." Bloom grunted, then hearing a chuckle from the winged foe. They could be at a same level with Tezzeret and Kefka.
"The Trix? Don't make me laugh." Nero cackled as he continued to use the darkness to slam into them. The man in the straightjacket crouched down, spreading his metallic wings. "We are stronger and more ruthless!"
Azul smirks, barely felt a thing from the Lightning and Firaga spells that hit him. "They're nothing but insects to us! We're stronger and more experienced than those brats!"
Aqua used Gravity Break with her Rainfall bashing him several times in the shoulders and head, but to her astonishment, he was taking such a beaten without any damage to him. 'Just what is this guy made off?'.
"That all you got?" Smirks at her.
"Not, just this!" Taren's body engulfed in a flame-like aura as he gathered enough strength, projecting himself like a bullet with pulled back and hurled straight into into Azul's strong broad torso with fire. Giving it all he had and the fist struck him. Once again, Azul didn't seem to feel a thing, he noticed the sameshimmering light that a flickered whenever he took a blow, could it be some sort of personal shield?
Bloom couldn't believe it, he was still standing. "How is he so strong?"
Ventus didn't like it. "I don't know, Taren, get away from him now!"
Azul chuckled and looked down at him. "Was that suppose to hurt me? And I thought using that power of yours would entertain me!" Raising his hands together and was about to swing them down on Taren, but his smirk was replaced with surprise as both Aqua and Ventus came to his help with their key blades in form of hammer-like weapons came right at him. The impact sent him hurtling towards a large beam structure.
Jay swung his sword against the monster giants with Theresa beside her, they were able to outwit him and tagged teamed to overwhelm him with her martial art skills and his combat abilities. They find the Stlantean guards coming to their support. "We need to save the king!" Jay said, but knew it was easier said than done.
"Yeah, but we're a bit occupied here!" Theresa saw many they had to deal with, holding out her nunchaku.
Herry swung one of the giants after grabbing his ankle and used him as a bat while swatting against the other foes.
"Nice one, Herry" Atlanta joined him using her super speed to run through the Ninja that still standing. "What are they ninja?" They look like such but wearing modern armor and their weapons appear high-tech with their swords glowing. She dodged their swords and surprised one by launching a high kick and shooting a wrist gun with energy blasts, which gave a strong effect on one of them when it impacted their chest plate. Staggering for a moment until she clobbered him.
Impressed by the weapon. "Wow! That old guy knows his stuff."
"Did you think I came along for the ride?" Turning around to find Cid with his pole staff, swinging it in his gloved hands when facing off one of the giants. Thrusting it into the red skinned monster's stomach and swung it across his legs to throw him off his feet. "And quite calling me old! I'm still in my prime, kid!"
Cronus knew it was time to make his move before they can get to him, turns to the female Tsviet member who did not participate in the battle along with Agnon. "Rosso, bring the princess with us, can't let her out of our sight."
"Got it." Rosso drags the princess to keep close to her as Cronus makes his way to the stepping stones. Reaching the center of the stomping and stepping onto the platform hidden in the water, he felt the platform beginning to descend the moment he stepped on. Rosso steps in and pulls Kida, finally letting go of her while keeping her at a gunpoint to avoid doing anything.
"Agnon, you stay here and guard the entrance." Cronus commanded him, yet failed to see Ventus leaping towards them, swatting his keyblade at one giant and a boot towards the other, knocking them out cold. He find large hole and presumably where they were in with Kida. Using Flowmotion to jump from one side to another, descending to the bottom of the cavern and taken cover behind a boulder as he looks up to see several large stones suspended high above the water, each with a face carved into them and orbiting around what appears to be the Heart of Atlantis.
"At last, the Heart of Atlantis within reach." Cronus grins.
Kida was in awe as she recognised those faces. "The kings of our past!" She whispered with a tear running down her cheek as she weeped. Falling to the ground with her head bowing and began praying in her people's language.
"What is she doing?" Rosso raised an eyebrow with no idea of what was going on.
"Apparently these were the previous rulers of Atlantis before its demise." Cronus surmised and ignored the princess' praying. "We can't afford to waste time now that we found it."
"Then let's get that shiny rock." The crimson Tsviet member was making her way towards it until Cronsu stopped her.
"Wait" Cronus felt something wasn't right and all too easy. Decided to test his theory and kicks a pebble into the edge of the water in which triggered something to make the crystal turn from serene blue to crimson red, beams of red light scanned the cavern. "Any idea how we're gonna get it?" They were equipped with advance tech for the mission thanks to the Cyber Lord
"Hmmm." Cronus ponders, stroking his beard. "Perhaps… we should ask our spy hiding behind the rocks."
Rosso whirled around, cocking her gunblade to the direction of where she felt it. "Try anything and you'll find the girl in many holes."
Emerging from the hiding spot was Ventus, raising his hands up high as he knew he could not risk Kida's safety. Kida was surprised to find him here, but feared for him. "Seems you guys can't find a way to get the crystal." Maybe this could be a chance to stop them.
"I wouldn't be so confident if I were you, blondie." Rosso held her weapon pointed at him.
While the two were ready for a fight, Cronus was the only one who noticed the red glow turned back to blue and the beams of light settled on the Atlantean princess. Kida's eyes begin to glow blue and wide.
Ventus saw Kida approaching the water, he was going to reach out to her, yet Cronus reached into his pocket and threw a blue device sprung out tendrils and wrapped around the surprised Keyblade master, restraining his arms and legs. "Not so fast, I want to see what happens." More intrigued by what was happening when Kida spoke in Atlantean.
"All will be well, Ventus." Kida spoke, yet it sounded like more than one voice speaking at once. It was as if she was under a deep trance with the crystal hovering as she turned around to face them. "Be not afraid." Kida then walks on the water without falling in, as if it was solid to her. Reaching the center of the lake beneath the crystal, the stones ascend and beams of light converge on her as the crystal responds in a flash of light. Drawing her towards the Heart of Atlantis, once she was engulfed in the light, the stones surrounding the crystal began rapidly rotating during the process.
As they begin to slow down, the crystal takes form and merges with Kida, nothing more than a pure light of energy despite her form, yet lacks her physical features after the merge with the crystal.
Ventus was unable to do anything with his restraints holding him, watching as she descended to the watery surface, but an invisible barrier surrounding her made the water beneath her move a few feet from her presence. WIthout the crystal, rocks that were suspended in the air began falling around her, they no longer glowed without the power of the crystal. The water barely touched Kida as the spherical invisible force protected her until she reached the surface.
Several of the ninjas jump down and are stunned to see a blue glowing woman, one of them reaches out to grab her but Cronus stops him. "Do not touch her." The Mad God ordered him. "We have what we came for, now get the cage set up."
They immediately set to work and threw small spheres on the ground and began expanding around Kida, creating a human-sized container. "Containment secured."
Cronus was pleased to hear it. "Rosso, tell the others to fall back. We're about to leave."
"You won't... win, Cronus!" Ventus growls and tries to break free, only to receive a chuckle from the mad god.
"Oh, please and you're suppose to be the ones who saved the universe from falling into chaos? Hmph, frankly I'm a little disappointed. If you want your princess back, bring the helmet to us if you want to save what's left of this city." A portal manifested and swept through the area, engulfing everyone in its path, including the containment with Kida inside. Leaving behind the downcast blonde who failed in his attempt to save her and save Atlantis.
"Atlanta, watch out!"
The speedster hears Odie call out to her, turning around to see another high above and coming down with his katana sword to cut her. Dudging each swing until a Gargoyle flew in for a tackle with his foot out front, planted in the ribs and threw him into the lake.
"You okay?" Archie came to her side in worry, but relieved she was not hurt.
"Yeah, thanks to him." Atlanta recognised him as one of the Gargoyles from earlier, giving them a nod in approval. However they still had a battle to fight, Bloom jumped to their side and shoots out fire balls towards the man in the straight jacket, not doing much when avoiding the guns that came from his metal wings shooting her.
"Hang on, guys!" Mirta appeared before them, surprising the goons when she appeared out of nowhere, but replaced by a giant cobra as it hissed and snarled at them.
They seem startled and believe it was real, not realising it was an illusion created by Mirta. She was going to pull out her chakram to take them out, but was oblivious to see another ninja snuck up on her with a chain in his grip.
"Mirta behind you!" Theresa's warning came too late when the ninja whipped the chain to snare her wrist, catching her by surprise. She suddenly let out a cry of pain upon contact with it, clutching her arm and losing her control with her illusion. "No! It's...its iron!" Mirta desperately tries to pull it off her, but was too slow all of a sudden which gave the ninja who caught her by surprise to pounce on her and wrap it around her with one of the giant minions came over to grab her.
"Mirta!" Jay yelled out, his voice reached the others who heard and saw Mirat in distress. But uncertain what was going on. Layla blasted her foes away and Flora came as well when pulled away from the battle.
The giant even looked puzzled for a moment, yet didn't know of an angry Gatomon coming to her rescue. "Lightning Paw!" Her gloved paw clobbered him across the face and fell, the ninja drew out his sword to slash her when Taren came to her rescue, blocking it with his keyblade and used Strike Raid, hurtling his foe away and released the chain. Both him and Gato turned to see Mirta and were alarmed.
"Mirta!" Gatomon was greatly concerned for her friend.
Flora rushed over held her in her arms, cradling her friend in worry. "Mirta! Are you okay?" She looked how pale she was, almost as if in pain.
"Get these chains off her." Layla told her, it was at first thought the chains were enchanted, but they didn't have an affect on her or Flora when they touched it. Luckily they were loose and pulled them away.
"What's wrong with her?" Nightwing came over to them and saw one of their friends in pain.
"Th..The…chain… i-iron.." Mirta stammered as she could barely speak.
Taren realised what she was trying to say and something to do with the chain. "It's off now, you should be okay." He looked at her with worry and concern, he never seen Mirta like this before.
Suddenly, the mercenaries, ninja, giants and the Tsviets suddenly vanished in a sweeping red-black portal, surprising everyone of what just happened.
"What just happened?" Archie pondered and looked around.
"They vanished." Bloom noted, and didn't like it one moment.
"Captain Nightwing! The crystals!" One of the Gargoyles cried out and showed their crystals no longer glowing a bright light, the same for the guards as well.
Nightwing turned pale and realise what happened. "No... the Heart of Atlantis." He turned to see the king taken to his throne and was severely injured. "Your majesty!"
Aqua looked around for her friend. "Where's Ventus?"
"Right here." Ventus emerged from the hole, finally able to break free but with a saddened look. "They got the crystal... and Kida."
Okay, I really apologies for the delay as it took longer than I thought, especially the fights after introducing the Tsviets, had done a few changes, swapping paragraphs. Plus I was away on a vacation which was two weeks away and didn't have my laptop to avoid losing it on a cruise. other stuff to do like an art commission and work. plus, it was originally intended to be much longer but thought didn't want to delay and get this done, and also more reason for me to find some help of anyone open to co-write with me.
I also set up the polls and surprise by only four main choices if you seen it which tells a bit of what adventure the heroes of Fairy's Blade will take next: Treasure Planet, Gargoyles, My Hero Academia and Final Fantasy but there are other choices until then before setting up a new poll. Will get started on the next one to get started. Will the heroes stop Cronus and save Atlantis? Wait and find out. Any questions, criticism, etc leave a review!
