Kingdom Hearts: The Dalmatian Bodyguard

Chapter 30: Parasite Cage

M5-BZ continued to salvage starship wreckages for the Ebon Hawk with Geppetto now assisting. Beezee exited a star freighter, dragging a human-sized droid with oval-shaped head going vertically. This was an IG-86 Sentinel Droid. Aside from absence of its entire right arm, it was in good shape. Meanwhile, Hawk Squadron was following Pinocchio deeper into Monstro while keeping the Heartless off him. Riku watched as Pinocchio ran past him.

Sora: Riku, what's the matter with you? What are you thinking? Don't you know what you're doing?

Dolly: Yeah, this place is dangerous.

Riku: I wasn't convinced Sora knew what he was doing. You only seem interested running around and showing off that Keyblade and your Lap Dog these days.

Dolly: (Growling) What did you call me?!

Riku: Do either of you want to save the girls?

Sora was stunned by what his best friend was asking him that. Something was wrong with Riku. Suddenly, everyone heard Pinocchio scream. Grabbing their weapons, everyone charged into the bowels of Monstro. They found Pinocchio trapped in a big, purple Heartless. Pinocchio was inside the torso mouth as two tendrils with pincher fingers were waving around. This was the Parasite Cage.

Riku: (Summoning Soul Eater) Think you all can handle it?

Sora: (As everyone got their weapon ready) No problem. Let's do it!

Everyone jumped down and charged at the Parasite Cage. Sparky jumped, turned into his electric form, and fired himself at the Parasite Cage. As it twitched and shook in pain, Stone grabbed the cage bars and started using Archan to try and cut Pinocchio free. The Parasite Cage pulled Sparky out and knocked Stone aside.

Donald: Thunder!

Donald blasted the Parasite with Lightning and it seemed to hurt it.

Goofy: Lightning! That's its weakness.

Dolly drew her Laser Lamp and set it to Thunder and started blasting the Parasite Cage.

Riku: (Slashing the Heartless) Interesting friends you got, Sora.

Sora: (Helping Riku) They can be your friends too.

The Parasite Cage pinned Sora down. As it was about to slammed its other tendril onto Sora, Dolly skidded in front of him and blocked it with Yubashiri. The Parasite Cage put every bit its weight against Dolly, forcing her to her left knee. Goofy raced to help but tripped and inadvertently threw his shield. His shield ricocheted of the nearby wall and knocked the tendril off Dolly.

Dolly: (Helping Sora) Thanks, Goofy.

Sora got up and had an idea.

Sora: Dolly, give me Yubashiri!

Dolly did so and Sora gripped Yubashiri firmly.

Dolly: Keep it away from Sora!

Dolly opened fire on the Parasite Cage as Sora rushed at it. Everyone kept the Parasite Cage's attention on them as Sora jumped. He spun in mid-air and slashed both weapons across the Parasite Cage's Heartless logo. The Parasite Cage climbed to the ceiling and spat Pinocchio out a hole which Riku jumped down after him. To everyone's confusion, the Heartless actually retreated deeper into Monstro.

Donald: It fled!

Sora: Never mind that, we need to save Pinocchio!

Everyone jumped down the hole to save him. To everyone's surprise, the hole brought them back to the mouth. They found Geppetto holding some salvage tools, looking at Riku who had an unconscious Pinocchio in his arms.

Geppetto: Pinocchio! Pinocchio! Please, give me back my son!

Dolly gently walked forward and for a split second, Pinocchio looked like her little brother, Deepak.

Riku: Sorry, old man. I have some unfinished business with this puppet.

Geppetto: He's no puppet! Pinocchio is my little boy!

Riku: He is unusual. Not many puppets have hearts.

Dolly had a bad feeling about this and slowly drew Yubashiri as a tear of sadness from her eye. This was the first time in days she missed her family. Donald saw this sadness but thought it best to address it later.

Riku: I'm not sure, but maybe he can help two who both lost theirs.

Sora: Wait a minute. Are you talking about Kairi and Roxy?

Riku: (In a spiteful tone) What do either of you care about them?

Dolly immediately pulled out Yubashiri, wanting answers if meant fighting Sora's friend, but Riku just walked away with Pinocchio. Dolly was about to race after him but saw a heartbroken Geppetto fall to his knees.

Dolly: (Catching him) We'll get him back.

Goofy: Yeah. (Walking to Geppetto) One father to another, I promise we'll bring Pinocchio back to you.

Geppetto smiled at their kindness and went back to the Ebon Hawk. Sora saw Stone draw his X-8 Night Sniper pistol.

Stone: All bets are off, sir. We're fighting our way to Pinocchio.

Sparky: Ih!

Everyone climbed the wreckages and followed Riku's path. They came to a chamber that led up. Climbing up, they found Riku with Pinocchio in a chamber with some kind of bright green fluid.

Sora: Hey, let Pinocchio go, Riku.

Riku turned and saw them coming.

Riku: A puppet that's lost its heart to the Heartless… Maybe it holds the key to helping Kairi and Roxy. How about it, Sora? Let's join forces to save her. We can do it together.

Sora stood ready to fight.

Riku: (Stunned) What? You'd rather fight me? Over a puppet that has no heart?

Sora: Heart or no heart, at least he still has a conscience.

Dolly: You seemed to be blind to yours.

Sora: (As Jiminy jumped from him and ran to Pinocchio) You might not hear it, but right now it's loud and clear. And it's telling all of us you're on the wrong side!

Riku: Then you leave me no choice.

Jiminy ran up to Pinocchio, hoping he was okay.

Jiminy: Pinocchio! Pinocchio!

Pinocchio: Jiminy… I'm not gonna make it.

Suddenly, to Jiminy's relief, Pinocchio's nose started growing. Pinocchio perked up at seeing he was going to be okay. Before anyone could do anything else, the Parasite Cage came back. Riku opened a portal through darkness and stepped through. Pinocchio fled for safety as the others stood ready to fight. Dolly rushed at the Parasite Cage but it knocked her into Donald and his staff was thrown into the liquid. The pair watch it dissolve in the liquid.

Donald: GAH! STOMACH ACID!

Sora and the others immediately moved away from it but the Parasite Cage put its tendrils into it. It drew on the acid and started launching it at the group. With nowhere to escape to, Sora got in front of the others and whacked them. The Three Wishes Keyblade was perfectly intact.

Goofy: We can't fight it here.

Dolly: (Getting Genie Summon Gem) Maybe Genie can help.

Sora kept whacking the Acid Balls away as Dolly used her Laser Lamp to activate it and Genie appeared looking like the Terminator holding a shotgun.

Sora: Ready, Genie?

Genie: (Cocking gun) Let's do this.

Genie poofed more platforms up and everyone was able to fight better. Donald couldn't do his spells since his staff was destroyed but was still determined to fight.

Dolly: (Throwing Laser Lamp) Donald, catch!

Donald caught it and Sparky jumped into it to give Donald ammo. Donald, Stone, and Genie fired at the Parasite cage as Sora spotted the slash mark.

Sora: Dolly, cover me! Goofy, throw me your shield!

Dolly got in front of Sora when the Parasite Cage started swinging at him. Dolly blocked strike after strike as Goofy threw his shield at Sora. Sora hit it and the shield nailed the slash mark.

Genie: Hasta la vista, baby.

Genie fired lightning at it and the Parasite Cage was destroyed. Sora and friends decided to head back to the Ebon Hawk. Meanwhile, aboard Captain Hook's ship, Riku looked at Kairi lying on a bed in the Captain's quarters while Roxy was set up by the wall.

Riku: So, these two are like lifeless puppets now?

Maleficent: Precisely.

Riku: (Upset over Kairi) And her heart?

Maleficent: Taken by the Heartless, no doubt.

Riku: Tell me! What can I do?!

Maleficent: There are seven maidens of the purest heart. We call them the Princesses of Heart. Gather them together, and a door will open to the Hearts of all Worlds. Within lies untold wisdom. There, you will surely find a way to recover Kairi's Heart. (Looking at Roxy) Unfortunately, we've confirmed that she's not one of them. The Light in her Heart is strong but not what we need.

Riku: She could still be useful leverage against Sora's bodyguard.

Maleficent: True, now I'll grant you a marvelous gift: The Power to control the Heartless!

Riku felt the energy surge through him like his very blood. Then he looked at Kairi.

Riku: Soon, Kairi. Soon.