Chapter Thirty: Ruthless

Ansem Report 16

Maleficent and others of her persuasion joined together quite well. Forging an alliance either through shrewd diplomacy or intimidation.

I must admit, some of them are as ruthless as myself.

Their primary obstacle to true dominance is how little they truly understand the machinations of the universe. Of course, that is knowledge I guard most carefully. They will only know as much as I allow them to. They might be quite useful if pointed in the right direction, but too much information and they might grow to become an obstacle.

Then again, if any of them dared challenge me, destroying them would be my pleasure.

Naminé knew what was coming next as she saw the trident appear next to Ansem. Whether Roxas did as well or had good instincts was hard to say. But either way, the two lept to try and catch the glowing weapon as it was tossed down to Ursula. Axel tried to toss his chakrams to knock the trident away, while Zexion tried to conjure images of false tridents.

But with a gesture from Ursula the cauldron erupted, blasting the two of them back and knocking Axel's weapons away. And even as Zexions' illusions rained down, one trident found its way to Ursula's hand and shined. As the golden glow enveloped her she cackled, "Yes! I've waited so long for this moment!" From the echo in her voice, it was clear she had claimed her prize.

Scowling as the cavern shook, Zexion picked Roxas up from the floor. "We need to leave! Now!"

Yet as he was being pulled back, Roxas dug in his heels. "Sora could stop her, couldn't he? So can we!"

Seeing Ansem disappear into shadows with a smirk, Naminé turned her attention to Ursula and noticed how she was using the power. "Roxas, she's growing bigger."

Ariel backed away and whispered, "How much bigger?"

Axel's eyes widened as Ursula had quickly grown as tall as the room and wasn't stopping. "Big enough that we need to get out of the cave!"

Grimacing as a piece of the ceiling fell near him, Roxas relented and followed Zexion's pull. The group made its way out of the cavern, oddly aided as the creatures on the floor almost seemed to push them further out. Whatever could be said for any of Ursula's other victims, they were desperate not to see others suffer under the sea witch.

Making their way out of the canyon, they all turned back to see Ursula towering over her old lair. She cackled as she raised the trident and summoned a crown of gold to her head. Axel tugged at his collar at the transformation and muttered, "Quick check. Was Sora strong enough to beat her when she was this big?"

As Ursula pointed her trident to Triton's palace, Naminé heard Ariel gasp in horror as magic began to gather to it.

And Roxas wasn't about to let the sea witch get away with it. "I don't care if he could or not," he answered as he ran towards some of the rising seabed. "I'm taking her on!"

Naminé couldn't help but smile and began to follow after him. "Sora could beat her even like this. And I know we can too." Perhaps it was Roxas' determination that was rubbing off on her, or the power of her own keyblade emboldening her. Maybe it was proving to herself that she could face the kinds of monsters Sora and his friends could, as if it could give her insight into stopping Marluxia and Larxene.

Either way, she wasn't going to back down.

From behind her, she heard Axel call out, "Alright Ariel, you might wanna step bac—"

"She's already joining them." Only for Zexion to reply, and Ariel to swim up beside her as Naminé leapt up the rising stones behind Roxas. Shrugging, Axel called on his chakrams and dashed to catch up as Zexion followed.

Roxas was first in the fray, leaping from one of the rocks to bash away at Ursula's slightly at the attacks, the witch looked down to see her assailant. "Oh? You really want to pick a fight with the new ruler of the seas?" With a rumbling chuckle, her tentacles swung towards him and everyone else approaching.

As strong as Roxas had become with the keyblade, his block couldn't keep the giant swing from knocking him away. Still, he was able to recover from his landing on one of the floating stones next to Axel. "We appreciate the confidence, but a big problem like this isn't a one person job." Spinning his chakram, he summoned a gout of flame to blast one of Ursula's tentacles away.

Looking from the vanishing flame to Axel, Roxas asked. "If we're underwater, how is your fire working?"

Axel smirked as he directed the blast into Ursula's side."As long as it still burns, I'm not questioning how!"

While Naminé was grateful that the illusion let the floating rocks serve as a slightly better vantage point against Ursula, she couldn't help a smidge of envy at how Ariel could dodge the swipes from Ursula by simply swimming. Still, she had gotten better at dodging blows, and soon moved to a better position to take shots at the sea witch with bolts of ice.

Yet as she did show, she saw on a distant rock a blur begin to take form. She paused in her spellcasting as she realized it was a spitting image of herself. But who…?

"A bit of misdirection can provide some good opportunities." Zexion was beside her as he placed his hand over his open tome. Soon, more illusions began to appear on the various debris the team was using to fight Ursula.

Watching as the tentacles became far less accurate as Ursula tried to swat down the illusions, Naminé couldn't help a smile. "It'd be nice to learn how to do that myself."

Zexion began to smile as he conjured fire from his spellbook. "You might be able to. These memories your cards make are rather close."

Ursula scowled as the magic assault began to wear away at her."Is that all? Let me show you real magic!"

The trident glowed as Ursula raised it up high, and Ariel's eyes widened and she cried out, "Get away!"

In a flash bolts of lightning came crashing down on the battlefield, and everyone scrambled to find cover. Zexions' illusions vanished under the magical assault, and the rocks were scattered to pieces. But even as their footing was destroyed Naminé realized that none of them were falling, in fact they were being pulled up.

Ursula was swallowing the ocean, pulling everyone in to try and devour them. The current dragged the group to her face, but before the witch could close the distance with a bite Roxas pulled back. With a toss, he threw his keyblade into Ursula's open maw, and she gagged on the weapon, gurgling out, "Vicious…little…brat!"

Seeing their chance, Ariel swam up behind Naminé and lifted her up. At the same time, Axel moved under Roxas and caught his feet. With a toss, the two were flung over Ursula as she recovered, glaring at them. But with a swing of their keyblades, the witch cried out and lost her grip on the trident. A cloud of shadow grew around Ursula and pulled her under, electricity surging even as she tried to hold onto her prize.

But eventually a pillar of light burst through the smog, the trident appearing before them as it dissipated. Ariel swam over and collected the staff as Roxas and Naminé floated to the seabed where Axel and Zexion had landed. As everyone caught their breaths, Ariel managed to smile. "We did it!"

"Yes. You've come along quite nicely." Ansem's voice brought an end to the semblance of cheer, as the group turned with weapons drawn to face him as he appeared from shadow.

As everyone was focused on Ansem, Roxas furrowed his brow. "Riku. You're Sora's friend, right?" Axel glanced over in confusion as Roxas continued to ask, "Would he want this?"

Ansem clenched his fist as he snapped back, "You think to reach one who is lost in—!"

But his voice caught, and Ansem staggered back clutching at his chest. When he spoke next, it wasn't the voice of the dark seeker, but the boy that the body truly belonged to.

"Sora wouldn't want any of this," Riku groaned as he looked at his hands. "Kairi wouldn't want any of this."

Axel watched the boy fighting his possession with bafflement, but didn't loosen his grip on his weapons. "Roxas, what did you do?"

Looking to the side, Roxas swallowed the lump in his throat as he explained, "Riku was pretty good friends with Sora. I thought that reminding him might get him to stop."

Grimacing, Riku clutched at his head as darkness gathered around him "But I betrayed them. All for my stupid pride! He's probably forgotten about me!"

Naminé's eyes widened. While she hadn't pried into Sora's memories too deeply lately, she knew one important detail.

"He's still looking for you!" At her cry, Riku looked at her with wide eyes. She tried to continue, taking a step forward. "Sora's still trying to find you. That's why he came here."

Slowly, a smile came to Riku's lips as he muttered, "Of course he is. Always such AAGH!"

As he stumbled back, Roxas and Naminé reached out and pleaded, "Riku!"

"NO! MORE! WORDS!"

The Dark Seeker's voice heralded a blast of shadow, everyone trying to shield themselves. When the dust cleared, Ansem in Riku's body was gone.

Dusting himself off, Zexion observed, "An unorthodox strategy to reach out to Riku's emotions, but Ansem seems to fear it."

Axel scratched the back of his head as he nodded, "Maybe it's why he's being so squirrely. Doesn't want to run into something that could cause Riku to break free."

Despite Ansem fleeing, Naminé was having a hard time considering it a victory. And judging from Roxas' grimace, he was sharing the sentiment. For a moment, it seemed as if Riku was untangling himself from the dark influence, only for Ansem to seize control. What would be enough to save him?

"Daddy! You're okay!"

Ariel's exclamation brought a stop to the pondering, as the rest of them turned to see the king swimming over. "I saw the fight on the way over. I'd say you've proven your good intentions." Placing his hands on the trident Ariel offered back, he glanced at Roxas and Naminé before asking, "What would you do if I told you how to get to the keyhole?"

At the very least, they knew that answer. "We'd seal it. Keep the Heartless from invading."

Roxas' reply was enough for Triton to let go. "Then take my trident to Ariel's grotto. It will open the way."

As they entered the grotto, Roxas was fascinated with everything lined on the shelf, reaching out to one of the small figurines yet holding back from picking it up. Glancing over to her, Naminé had to wonder what it was like for him seeing this. So many things Ariel kept and cherished. Glancing over to Ariel as she noticed the two of them looking around, Roxas asked "What's all this for?"

Floating over, Ariel picked up one of the ornaments with a smile. "It's everything from the world above."

Walking in with Axel, Zexion asked, "From the people above water?"

Nodding, Ariel glanced up towards the ceiling of the cavern, where the sun shined down like a spotlight. "I'd like to go there someday. Not sure how, but…" Though she trailed off, there was still a smile on Ariel's face. "Until then, I have this. Something I can think of, and remind myself why I want to go. To see it all for myself."

Clasping a hand to her chest, Naminé mused, "There's definitely nothing like seeing the real thing."Even if it was an illusion, Naminé couldn't help but marvel at Ariel's collection. So many trinkets and keepsakes that hinted at a world she wanted to visit. A world so close by yet worlds apart. Just like the memories Naminé had of Sora's journey and his home.

Part of her wondered if both of them could go back there someday. She wasn't sure if that familiar place might feel like home.

Axel crossed his arms as he realized that the mermaid was taking a little too long reminiscing on her keepsakes. "What's wrong Ariel? Aren't you going to unseal the keyhole?"

Setting down the trinket while her other hand gripped the trident, Ariel looked to Axel and gently pleaded, "Ursula said this isn't real. Is the real Atlantica going to be safe?"

Naminé couldn't help a flinch at the question. It made sense for Ariel to ask it, she wasn't incurious. Zexion glanced to Ariel, and then to Axel as he tapped his tome. If he was going to say anything, Naminé was fairly sure it would be, 'Well, you asked her what was wrong, you should answer.' But given how flippant Axel usually was, she had doubts it would end well.

Yet she saw no smirk, no shrug as he dismissed her concerns as an illusion. Instead he gripped his sleeves as he looked to the side, mulling the question over. Sighing, he nodded to Ariel and replied, "Yeah, it'll be safe."

Relaxing, Ariel pointed the trident to an engraved symbol in the cavern. "Then that's all I need to know." Shining a light to the outline of the trident's head, an image of a keyhole appeared. Roxas and Naminé pointed their keyblades toward it, and with a flash of light there was the sound of a door shutting. When their vision cleared the keyhole was gone, and Ariel was swimming out with the trident, calling back "I'd better bring this back to Daddy. Thank you for everything!"

Roxas and Naminé gave a wave to her as she left, with Zexion nodding. Though the hesitant wave from one other person in their party gave Roxas concern."Axel? Are you alright?"

Shaking his head with a sigh, Axel put his hands on his hips as he muttered, "Everything I know says that this isn't real. That none of it matters." Gesturing to the cave where Ariel had departed from, Axel asked, "So why couldn't I bring myself to point out that she wasn't not real?"

On the one hand, she knew Axel was right. Looking beyond the illusions and magic, these floors were just stories Naminé guiding as she went through them. Though being hands off with it means it sometimes went in places she didn't expect.

Yet even if it was a story, there was something to be said for seeing it play out yourself. Even if you knew roughly how it ended, it was still compelling. So maybe…

"Maybe it's helping you remember what it's like to care."

She blinked as she heard Roxas' voice join with hers. Of course, the whole idea of letting this floor be hands off was his idea to begin with. A fact that wasn't lost on Axel as he looked over to Roxas with a smile and shrugged, "I guess you're onto something."

Zexion crossed his arms as he admitted, "Perhaps you are. We rarely have interactions outside of what our mission allows, so these excursions have been rather refreshing. Though there is one thing I hope you keep in mind, Naminé." She perked up as his voice became grim. "When the time comes, please do not give Maleficent the intelligence to pierce these illusions."

Naminé agreed with a firm nod and a nervous chuckle. The last thing they needed was a recreated Maleficent causing more trouble.

On the one hand Kairi was thankful that the magic of this castle accounted for her not having a way to transform into a Mermaid. On the other, it would have been nice to go on a swim after fighting for floors on end. Still, that might have been cold comfort without her friends. Half the fun of going on a swim was being with them. Then again, Naminé didn't swim that often. She was always a bit shy about going in with Sora and Riku alone. But she was always willing to go when Kairi did.

Come to think of it, they really did a lot together.

Something was off about that, it tickled in the back of Kairi's memories.

But what?

"I suppose you think you're special, princess. Seeing that you've gotten this far."

The swirl of darkness and a haughty voice snapped Kairi from her musings. Seeing the shadows fade to reveal a blonde woman in one of the many black coats Kairi had seen in this castle. Kairi called on her keyblade and retorted, "You have a problem with that?"

Snapping her fingers, the woman scoffed as electricity crackled between them,"Yeah. The name's Larxene, and I'm here to remind you of an important lesson." With a flick of her wrist, Larxene tossed electric knives at Kairi. "Children shouldn't be poking around in things that don't concern them!"

Dodging the blades, Kairi swatted one of them away. "My friends are here, so it is my concern! Why do you care so much?"

Laughing, Larxene dashed closer, lightning arcing with every step. "Because all your friends are in trouble! So many bad guys want to use them and abuse them!" Kairi tried to get in a few shots of ice, clipping the black cloak once before blocking a fist full of charged knives. Larxene pushed against the keyblade and hissed, "Too bad for you I'm a bad guy." She pulled her other fist back and sent a punch to Kairi's head…

Only for Larxene to stumble forward as Kairi used the change in momentum against her, rolling away from the attack to send her to the side. Seizing the chance, Kairi leapt forward, infusing her keyblade with ice as she slashed Larxene. As the attack sent her opponent flying to the wall, Kairi tightened her grip and called out. "So if I beat you, that'll help me save them?"

From where she had come to a stop, Larxene stared for a moment. But soon her wide eyed shock turned to snarling rage."Don't get cocky, little princess!"