Chapter 7

Not Your Average Fairytale

A.N. Been awhile but sister agreed to play Kingdom Hearts if I updated so ya'll can thank her for the motivation.

After leaving Kabrock's shop, with an unhelpful map in hand, the group continued trying to find their way to Oma. This would've been easier if their map would just give straight directions but it seemed hellbent on leading them in large loops. While they followed at the back of the group Sora and his friends were attempting to make a plan on getting back to their proper world's and the journey they left behind. Though there planning was at a stand still due to two very important variables.

The first being the Gummi Ship. After the fight with Nox and learning they were in the future, twelve years apparently, they had no idea the condition the ship would be in when they found it and never actually looked for it before they followed behind Eva and Amalia. The second key variable is how would they repair it. The last time they saw it, the ship had been beyond repair and after twelve years it would be worse and they had no idea how to even get the tools or materials needed for any repairs.

As they were discussing their 'plans' or the start of their plans Sora noticed Percedal catch a piece of white fabric that appeared to be trimmed with delicate lace. The Iop help the square of fabric to his nose and inhaled a soft fragrance that the fabric seemed to be releasing.

"Who does this amazing aroma belong to?" Percedal said with his next exhale before inhaling the perfumed fabric again. It was at this time that they heard a call for help in the distance, and when they turned in the direction of the call they saw a tower standing in the far distance. The tower was just close enough that a red gloved hand could just barely be made out waving from the top most window with a silver crown just barely in view.

As the call for help ended with the mention of 'having lots of children' Percedal instantly took off running, claiming the voice clearly belonged to a princess in peril while the rest of their group stood for a moment and watched. In his head Sora turned over the words of the supposed 'princess' feeling a sense of dread and as he realized the call sounded extremely fake. Not wanting to leave Percedal in trouble on his own from not thinking things through Sora was quick to follow after him leaving the rest to watch as another of their group left them behind.

"Agh do those two never think things through!?" Amalia grumbled as the remainder of their group followed after the two, though at a slower pace. As they walked Donald and Goofy couldn't help but wonder the same thing as they watched their friend run to keep up with Percedal.

By the time Sora had finally caught up to Percedal there was already a thick rope of hair hanging that the Iop was already climbing to reach the top.

"Percedal, stop and think this through real quick why don't ya." Sora called up as he too grabbed ahold of the rope of hair.

Behind them Amalia cleared up some vines that clung to the bark of the trees lining the path to reveal old, worn out signs which seemed to have been nailed long ago. The symbols on the signs made little to no sense to the group, though Eva revealed that she was able to understand a bit of what they said and was stuck trying to translate what they said. While Eva translated the two climbing the tower, one trying to get in and the other trying to get the first to stop for a moment.

Eva gestured to one of the signs, pointing to some of the faded markings. "Keep away from the town." she turned to another sign this one with more symbols and markings on it. "Turn back now or risk a horrible death." As one the whole group turned to the tower, seeing their two companions were at least half way to the top, and began yelling at them to come back, climb back down.

By this point Percedal became determined to make it to the top and Sora and decided he wasn't coming down unless Percedal came down with him. So the two continued to climb until Percedal hefted himself through the window, Sora following so after.

Once standing Percedal gazed around the space and raced back out the window, nearly knocking Sora back out as he finally climbed over the ledge. Percedal honestly had little way to describe what he saw.

It looked like it could've been female, but it was hard to tell with the white hair that cascaded down to the floor, making it where their feet were hidden from view. The hair was tied off with multiple red ribbons and and what could only be described as a mustache covered their lower face. The only true indicators that this thing was even royalty were the small red gloves that adorned their visible hands and the silver crown resting atop their head.

Ignoring Percedal, Sora finally managed to pull himself into the room. Once he was off the ledge the window shut behind him, keeping the two of them trapped and effectively cornered by the individuals who inhabited the tower. The four inhabitants closed in and with a terrified yell Percedal and Sora were knocked out and brought to the 'guest room' located on a lower floor of the tower.

The remaining members of the group, having seen the window slam shut, raced towards the base of the tower and worked to find the way into the structure. The six stood in silence for a moment before Yugo moved. The youngest of their group jumped in front of the gate and began hitting his fists against the thick wood, his yells breaking the silence in the forest while also hopefully breaking through the thick walls to reach those in the tower.

"Hey! Give us back our friends!" In the window above them four individuals appeared, though some of their faces were obscured.

"Sorry but your friends are staying with us now." Stated one whose entire face and body was obscured by thick white hair.

The remaining five moved towards the door to try and find a way to break it down when they stopped again as a small panel opened. From the small opening a small blueish creature floated out.

To Donald and Goofy they only saw a small star shaped thing with round eyes and a wide mouth in the center. Though the remaining members of their group recognized it as a Gobgob, the main summon of any Osamodas.

"The Osamodas who cursed us but a spell on the door." explained the tallest of the four strange individuals still watching from the window. "The curse only allows ugly princesses to enter through the door."

With that information passed on the four above disappeared into the tower and the window was shut behind them, the princesses content in the knowledge that their recently obtained princes wouldn't be leaving with the six stuck outside.

As the four cursed princesses went further into the tower they could tell their princes were awake, if the shouting within the guest room was any indication. As one they took a steadying breath, released it, and entered the circular room remaining in step with one another. Hopefully these two would be the last and the four would finally be free of the curses that help them.

Immediately after their entrance the Iop began shouting in horror, stumbling over his words, while his Cra companion sat quietly, studying their appearances without a word.

Ignoring the criticizing words of the Iop, Princess Eenca introduced herself and her sisters to their two guests. The only indication that the other was still listening was a small nod towards each of them as they were introduced. Honestly he was different then any other they had housed within their tower.

After introductions, and a quick explanation of the curse, were done Eenca clapped her hands together. "So, valiant knights, the only way to break the curse on us is to receive a true kiss from a prince."

After the explanation was done, before the men had even a chance to respond, Lela went towards the Iop for a kiss before being pulled away by Jolene. Though Erpel intercepted Jolene's advances and the three ended up on the ground fighting over who would get the first kiss.

Eenca remained were she was, standing to the back having anticipated the fight, honestly the whole thing could have been avoided if they would've waited a moment to decide with Rock-Paper-Scissors or something like they usually did and with the two males there it would've been so much easier. As the fighting continued with Enka and their guests as an audience they missed as Erpel pulled herself away. They all only realized what was happening after it was too late as she grabbed ahold of the Cra's chin with her dry, bandaged hand, and pulled his face toward's her's, ignoring his struggling.

The fighting ceased and the room grew quiet as their lips met. Then as the princesses have seen many times before there was a thick cloud of smoke which quickly cleared to reveal another prancing Chimera sitting where a guest once sat. And like the rest there was a trinket of their's left behind, in this case the crown necklace the boy wore.

For a moment Sora shook his head, unsure of what happened, then gazed up at the five faces that stared down at him. Were they always this tall? He jolted when one of the princesses burst into angry shouts, crossing her arms in her frustration.

"Great, there goes one of our two chances because you just had to try and steal a kiss Erpel!" Erpel at least seemed apologetic as she hung her head and slouched forward. It was Eenca who intervened on behalf of her sister.

"Lela that's enough, you said your piece." She met the eyes of her sisters as she continued gesturing in Sora's direction. "This is why we must work together, we can't keep fighting like this." The sisters sat in silence, lost in their own thoughts or thinking over what Enka had said when a loud doorbell rang from the lower floors.

"Company?" The princesses said almost in unison before leaving the room, closing the door tight behind them and locking the door with a distinct 'Click' . Though considering Percedal was the only one likely to try and escape it didn't make much difference with how he was still chained.

Once the footsteps were no longer in earshot Percedal turned to the Prancing Chimera that sat were his friend was just sitting. Not knowing what else to do he simply asked in a quiet voice.

"Sora?" The Prancing Chimera croaked in reply and them gave the strangest look a creature of that kind could give.

Sora wasn't expecting that, why did he croak? And why was Percedal so much taller then him all of a sudden? Taking a moment he gazed around the room and saw the other frog like creatures that filled the room, and then the pieces fell into place.

He was one of those creatures?! His minor freakout was paused when he picked up on the voices out in the hall. One voice was Erpel's and he was able to recognize the voices of the 'company' as the rest of their group. The voices didn't linger long and before Percedal had a chance to call out they were already gone.

With the knowledge that their friends were there Percedal began pulling harder at his chains. "Gotta get out of here." He said through clenched teeth as he pulled harder. Sora watched with growing boredom, not able to help only left him with limited things to do, when the door opened again after who knows how long since the princesses had left them.

Princess Eenca entered, holding a glass of possibly water, and for some reason wrapped in a towel. She came down the few steps towards Percedal and kneeled, casting an apologetic glace towards Sora.

"I'm terribly sorry for what happened to your friend." Eenca said in a quiet tone as her grip tightened minutely on the glass. Percedal didn't reply and just turned his head away and grunted when Eenca placed her hand under his chin in her attempt to give him the water. Just as she was pulling her hand away Lela burst into the room, shaking the walls as the door slammed.

"Tell me what you're doing in here." She demanded of her younger sister. Enka stuttered for a second, placing the glass down next to her as Sora watched her hide her shaking hands in her lap. She tried to respond but her voice failed her, clearing her throat she tried again. " I... I was just getting him a glass of water."

That moment of stutter seemed to cement some kind of nefarious plan on Enka's part and Lela began yelling at her which resulted in Enka shouting back in her own defence. Watching them go it felt like they would've continued for hours if not for the shrill scream that interrupted them. Both Enka and Lela raced out of the room, slamming the door behind them, but this time there was not click of a lock.

Now left by themselves again Percedal released a breath and turned towards Chimera Sora, "Do you know what happened to you?"

At first Sora shook his head, he really only knew as much as Percedal did, Princess kissed him and he turned into this, but then he kinda tilted his head in his best approximation of a shrug. He's heard of curses from a few of the princesses he's met while traveling the different worlds, though ever one were the prince was affected by it like this as well. Maybe if he thought about it he could figure out a way to turn back.

Percedal sighed and the two sat in silence again. Though just as before it was broken when the door to their room opened once again. Lela and Eenca entered, and with little said to Percedal about what they were doing moved him from the chains keeping him by the wall and set him up on new chains that connected to the ground in front of a large chair. Sora was quick to follow, finding his gait strange as he tried to navigate with the hopping this form seemed limited to.

As Percedal was forced to sit Sora managed to make it to Percedal's lap just as the chair and the platform it was apparently on began to rise, bringing them to a new area. They found Lela and Enka, as well as their sisters were already waiting, though they were surprised and happy to see some of their group were already waiting for them, Sora wasn't fully surprised to see Donald and Goofy hadn't joined them.

This didn't seem to be their type of 'misadventure' as Donald liked to call them when it was revealed that the Princesses and their 'Company' would be hosting a Beauty Pageant. Percedal groaned at this name and muttered to Sora, loud enough for the princesses to hear "Ugh, more like Ugly Pageant."

Eenca visibly grimaced but shook it off and didn't miss another beat as she introduced the first portion of the pageant, pulling a lever on the wall next to her. For a moment the floor groaned and then shook as the stone moved and revealed lava with a plank that the princesses were to 'prance' across.

Erpel was introduced as the first 'contestant' and began skipping across the beam, she stopped about midway though and began sneezing horribly. Sora and Percedal had front row seats to watch as the sneezing had resulted in her loosing her teeth which ended up beating her to the other side of the lava pit where they landed perfectly at Percedal's feet.

The Iop rewarded the princess a large score of zero that sent her crying, while Sora gave a couple of croaking chuckles, laughing at his own joke of awarding the teeth a three for 'sticking the landing'. Percedal gave him a weird look and Sora knew he'd have to explain his joke to the other as soon as he could.

During this time the second contestant, or in this case contestants, stepped forward. Sora watched as Amalia and Yugo, disguised as a conjoined princess stepped toward the central plank and began making their way slowly across.

Sora ignored Percedal as he muttered to himself, paying attention to Amalia and Yugo crossing, realizing they weren't aware of the sabotage that had been put into place, sabotage that Erpel had managed to literally skip over during her run. It ended up being a slick trap as Yugo and Amalia both placed a foot down simultaneously and ended up sliding the remaining few feet down the plank before falling face first in front of Percedal.

Ignoring the fact that the two were their friends Percedal sent both aware with a zero, earning a glare from Amalia, and an unhappy kick in the arm from one of Sora's back legs.

As the pageant continued it quickly became clear that Percedal had already decided who was going to win, and as a result get the kiss, which angered the four 'true princesses'. Lela summoned the dresser that stood in the corner to attack, though Eva quickly dispatched it with an ice arrow, causing the piece of furniture to fall to the ground. Sora took a moment to hope that it wasn't a cursed servant like those with the Beast.

While Eva was fighting and acting as the distraction Ruel, still wearing his ribbons and wig, ran to where Percedal was still restrained and used his shovel to break the chains, easily releasing him.

"Now that you're free we just need to find Sora." The old Enutrof said as he blocked off another attack. Percedal turned back to the chair to grab his transformed friend and saw what could only be the Prancing Chimera equivalent of frustration playing across his face. Percedal was familiar with the feeling, as a fellow warrior, such as himself, it was most likely annoying Sora that he wasn't able to take part in the combat due to his current form's limits.

"Ruel we don't need to find Sora, just a way to turn him back see?" The Iop warrior said as he held Sora out for Ruel to see, and it was the fact that Sora still have his necklace that Ruel was actually willing to believe Percedal instead of writing him off like he would've done otherwise.

Ruel groaned as Percedal pulled Sora close again, keeping him out of harms way. "How do you think we oughta explain this to the other two?" Percedal perked up realizing he hadn't seen Donald or Goofy fighting.

"Where are they, I htought for sure they would've broken in to avenge their friend." Percedal asked as he dodged an incoming attack, ducking behind the chair as Ruel took care of the threat, Yugo appearing at their side.

"They said something about not wanting to impersonate Princesses," Yugo explained as he scanned the area for an opening. "Said something about it feeling 'rude and demeaning'."

From Percedal's hand's Sora nodded his hand, though it sounded more like something Donald would say then Goofy, but it could've also been to avoid possible blackmail material that Sora could've used.

The fight seemed to be nearing an end as Jolene and Erpel ended up tangled together, while Lela was trying to get her feet under her and looked ready to go Hercules on them. Eenca managed to gather a tangled Jolene and began dragging her towards the door.

"Quickly this way." she called to the group, continuing to drag her sister behind her and up the stairs, trying to avoid Lela should she manage to get up and follow them. With no other options the group ran after her, Sora hated the jostling as they ran but there wasn't much he was able to do about it right now.

Once everyone was upstairs Eenca threw the door shut and pushed vanity in front of it to block it and give them a bit more time should her remaining two sisters try to follow. After that she dragged Jolene the rest of the way into the room and to the window where she created a similar situation to what got Sora and Percedal in here in the first place.

Jolene continued to protest and call for Lela and Erpel to stop them but by then the group was already climbing down. When Eva left and it was just Percedal and Sora left, Eenca went back to the vanity and grabbed something from one of it's small drawers. When she returned she revealed a small clutch bag with a long strap.

"For your friend, I don't want to risk him falling she explained, hesitating before holding her hand out for Sora to climb into. Sora takes the offered hand and enters the small bag, trying to make himself comfortable, knowing it would be temporary.

"I meant what I said before, I truly and sorry for what happened to him." There was a banging on the door now as Lela and Erpel had finally managed to catch up to them. "You must go now before they catch you, I've had enough victims falling to our curse." As Percedal got the strap of the small clutch back comfortable on his shoulder and Sora situated with minimal jostling he moved to exit the tower.

As he was lowering himself down he heard the door to the room burst open and heard Eenca arguing above. Just as the hair that Percedal had been climbing down begins to move back up toward the window his feet touched solid ground and he released his hold, taking a moment to watch the hair fully retreat back into the window.

"What took you so long!?" Donald was immediately in Percedal's face anger showing in the place of his worry. "We were getting worried you took so long to leave the window... Did sora not making it out?" Goofy explained and then asked when he realized Sora still wasn't seen.

From the bag at his side came a loud croak and when Percedal removed Sora from it's confines Donald took Sora into his hands where he and Goofy were only able to stare. "Well, hmm, how do you think we tun him back?" Goofy asked. For a moment Donald and Goofy exchanged a quiet look, some kind of silent communication before Donald shook his head in answer to an unspoken question.

Behind them, the shouting from the tower quieted down and Percedal took a meaningful step back towards the tower of the cursed princesses.

"Oh I was such an Iop." He stated as he placed a closed hand above his heart and looked to the ground. "It's not the beauty of a princess that counts, it's what's in her heart that truly matters." With that he placed a kiss to his hand and blew it up towards the princesses in the tower. And similar to when Sora was kissed by one of the princesses there was a thick cloud of smoke that enveloped the tower. When it cleared it revealed it's true beauty once again to the world.

Simultaneously there was a similar cloud of smoke that enveloped the group and just before it cleared their was the sound of something crashing to the ground followed by muffled angry shouting. Once the smoke cleared from around the group it revealed Sora, returned to is true form climbing off a frustrated Donald while also getting hugged by Goofy, ending with the three in a collapsed pile on the ground.

Bringing their attention back to the tower was a shouted thank you from the princess who had also returned to their true, uncursed, beauty. Percedal upon seeing the beauty of the princesses made an attempt to race back up the tower but Eva managed to catch him by the back of his shirt and dragged him, kicking and screaming, behind the group and they left the tower behind them and continued on their way towards Oma.