Chapter 26: Jailbreak
It was the dead of night when the Merry Men came to Prince John's castle. They snuck into the courtyard, narrowly avoiding the Heartless and Snipers. They found a scaffolding in the middle, Robin tensing as he had an idea who it was for.
They came to a small nook, where they could stop and plan things out.
"Alright, here's where we split up," Robin whispered. "Little John? You take Zidane, Becca, Joyex, and Lucy to go do a jailbreak. Sakuzy, Yozora, and I will go help ourselves to the royal treasure."
"Be careful," Joyex hissed.
"Hey, it's us, remember?" Sakuzy asked.
"I do. That's why I'm worried," Joyex murmured.
"What, you think I'll bring the castle down on us?" Yozora shot back. Joyex just gave him a withering glare. "The last two times were a one-off."
The two teams broke off, running in different directions. Robin's team went to the castle. Little John's party went to a large, stone tower. Robin's, meanwhile, went to the castle.
"Situation's dire, but...gotta say, this is..." Sakuzy whispered, trying to find the right words.
"Kinda fun?" Yozora asked. "Yeah, it is..."
"Careful lads," Robin playfully chided. "Almost sounds like you're getting a real taste for danger."
"Well, we've seen some stuff by now," Sakuzy replied.
They then came to a room. And it was filled with riches! Gold, silver, jewels, and chests and sacks full of other valuables and treasures. Robin eagerly grinned. Sakuzy began rubbing his hands together, but Yozora felt something was off. "Wait a sec-"
That was when a hooded figure stepped out from behind a tapestry.
"How predictable," Opal remarked.
"You're that Crystalli from the tournament," Sakuzy said, summoning his Keyblade.
"And you helped that big bully arrest Tuck!" Yozora added, pulling his bow.
"Which means you're on our list of enemies to defeat," Robin Hood said, nocking an arrow, himself.
"All those statements are accurate, but my shot is as well," Opal replied, sending bursts of lightning from her pistols to knock their weapons out of Robin and Yozora's hands. Sakuzy readied his Keyblade. "Now, from what I have observed, I believe that this shall elicit a response..."
She then reached up and lowered her hood. This revealed the face of a young woman, probably in her late teens with pale skin, dark hair styled in a short, pixie cut, and purplish blue eyes. Most prominent, however, was the sizable, egg-shaped crystal buried into her left cheek.
Much like earlier encounters with the Crystalli, Sakuzy yelled as he clutched his head. Yozora looked at his cohort in concern, wondering if he could help. But before he could do anything...
"Why's this gotta be so hard?" Sakuzy asked as he staggered through the halls with Amber and Emerald.
"You're telling me, I just started doodling," Amber replied.
"It's 'cuz they're trying to weed out the weak and inferior...and that means US," Emerald groaned.
They then realized that they were being watched. Sakuzy turned to see Opal observing them. Though her eyes were a pale shade of blue. She had her arms folded as she regarded them with a cold expression.
"Can I help you?" Sakuzy asked.
"Not from what I'm seeing," Opal replied. "The seed of the Wakened Warrior, dangling at the bottom of class with the other rejects."
"You're not nice!" Amber barked, pointing at Opal.
"Who are you and what do you say when we CAN'T hear?" Emerald asked.
"I'm just here to get an impression. And it seems he's right. You ARE pathetic," Opal snorted as she turned.
"Wait, you mean Hadri-"
"Hey, got a problem here?" Joyex asked as he walked over, bag over his shoulder and a dull expression.
"Everything makes sense now," Opal replied, giving Joyex an annoyed look. "The wasted potential spreading his influence to more wasted potential."
She turned and left. Joyex sighed and rubbed his face, "Why can't my ex just leave me alone?"
"You used to date THAT?" Sakuzy asked, pointing at Opal.
"Yep," Joyex replied.
"Scandalous~" Amber said.
"Pardon me if this is obvious, but WHY?" Emerald asked. "What did you see in her?!"
"I don't know, that's why we broke up," Joyex said. "Just watch out for Ice Princess-"
A blast of electricity knocked Sakuzy off his feet, sending him back to the door.
"And we're in checkmate here," Opal stated.
"I believe now is a time for a tactical-" before Robin could finish the sentence, the Sheriff burst in on the scene, flinging a torch around. This set fire to the castle around them, blocking their retreat.
"In case you're wondering," Opal said, flicking her fingers. Electric bars formed around the windows, halting that route as well. And a barrier of lightning formed around her. "I have, in fact, taken everything into account. Walking in here was like a fly crawling into a jar. And I've just closed the lid on you three, the people both my organization and the local authorities wish to see captured. Sakuzy, our main target. Robin Hood, Prince John's most wanted. And Yozora, the source of destruction that needed to be isolated."
"We gotcha now, is what the lady's sayin'," The Sheriff triumphantly proclaimed.
"But we're not alone," Sakuzy growled as he staggered to his feet. "Our friends are here and will save us!"
"I factored for that as well," Opal replied. "Your plan wasn't as air tight as you thought. Meaning, your friends have also walked straight into a trap."
That made Sakuzy stop. He realized that Joyex was absolutely correct.
POHPOHPOHPOHPOHPOH
"Alright, let's do this," Zidane said as Little John led them through the prison.
"Here we are, in the lion's den," Becca said.
"If that was a pun, I'm gonna throw you in one of these cells, myself," Joyex grunted.
"She's got the Keyblade. It wouldn't last," Lucy said.
"It'd make me FEEL better," Joyex replied.
"Hold your horses, kids," Little John said as they came to a door. He opened it to reveal Friar Tuck, chained to the wall with a look of hopelessness on his face.
Until he noticed the door was opened. Becca pointed her Keyblade at the chains, causing them to clatter to the ground.
"We're here to save the day," Lucy proclaimed.
"My prayers have been answered," Friar Tuck said in relief as they picked him up.
Joyex gave a suspicious look at the room, folking his arms as a dark look crossed his face. Becca helped Tuck to his feet before looking at Little John and Zidane, "You guys get him out of here. We'll check around for some more stuff, see if there's anything worth taking."
Without argument, the trio quickly made their exit, leaving Joyex, Becca, and Lucy behind. Lucy made to go, but Becca put a hand on her shoulder. She then looked at Joyex with a serious expression.
"What's up?" she asked.
"I don't like this," Joyex growled. "It's too easy. And, if Opal's involved, she'd try to cover as many bases as she could...I mean, just look at the tournament."
"Yeah, I know the feeling. This doesn't feel right to ME, either," Becca nodded.
"So, we find the trap and spring it. Give Kooz, Yoze, and Rob a little breathing room," Lucy said as she took off, going right for a chest that was outside of the cell. "Like see what's in HERE!"
"HOLD ON!" Joyex shouted, running after her and grabbing the chest. "That is a TERRIBLE idea! If you know it's a trap, the idea is to AVOID it, not go into-GAAAAAAH!"
The Nobody's reprimand was cut short as a Heartless symbol appeared on the chest, which then opened its lid, now a toothy maw, and grabbed Joyex with a long tongue. He yelled as he was shoved into the Heartless' mouth, his feet kicking around inside.
"I'M SORRY!" Lucy quickly apologized.
"HOLD ON!" Becca said, slashing at the Mimic, which dissolved, leaving a disgruntled Joyex.
The Nobody got to his feet, dusted himself, and put his hands on Becca's shoulders, "Becks, congratulations. You're no longer my LEAST favorite person here."
"Glad I've been promoted?" Becca replied, confused as she turned a little red.
"I said I was sorry!" Lucy whimpered.
"Guys, we gotta try and find what the trap is," Becca said as she began looking through the cells. She found a door and opened it...
"The trap has already been SPRUNG~" said Prince John with a cruel chuckle.
"I was expecting more," Joyex commented, readying his whip chain.
"What're you gonna do, suck your thumb?" Lucy asked, readying her sword.
"No, no, no," Prince John answered. "I shall crush YOU UNDER MY HEEL!"
As he said that, Heartless and Crystalli Snipers began to appear. The trio suddenly realized what was going on.
In a flurry of blasts, they were ejected from the window, landing in the courtyard. Then, the ground began to rumble as the tower turned into a shining, golden color...and the Heartless crest appeared on it. With an almighty CRASH, a fist of stone burst from the ground. Prince John cackled as he rose higher and higher as a throne was formed behind him.
"I would like to see you pitiful FOOLS rob me NOW!" he proclaimed as the Golden Fortress Heartless raised a hand.
"SCRAMBLE!" Becca yelled as the trio scattered, narrowly evading the colossal Heartless' attack.
"Don't worry, all we gotta do is take this sucker down," Lucy said, charging the Golden Fortress.
A barrage of lasers sent her flying back. All over the Golden Fortress, Crystalli Snipers were stationed, acting as safeguards.
"Went as well as expected," Lucy groaned from the ground as the Golden Fortress lifted its foot over her.
"Lucy!" Becca yelled, but a blast from a Sniper blocked her from getting close.
Lucy narrowly got out of the way before the Golden Fortress brought its foot smashing down on the cobblestones with a CRUNCH! She patted her chest, trying to get her heartbeat under control.
"Opal," Joyex snarled. He knew that this would happen. Now, they were pinned down and couldn't fight back against this towering Heartless tower.
"Oh, I just can't help it," Prince John giggled as his Heartless lifted its fists.
Prince John: It's good to be king,
And have the absolute authority,
All the attributes of divinity!
I'm a religion!
Look how they all worship me!
Joyex and Becca began running around, trying to evade the Snipers' blasting while the Golden Fortress prepared its next attack, pulling a fist back...
Prince John: Don't have to be good...
To be a good king!
Just gotta look...
Like you've got sympathy!
The Golden Fortress brought its fist crashing into the cobblestones, smashing through the ground and sending shrapnel flying everywhere, cutting and grazing the trio, even as they escaped.
Prince John: Then keep 'em rooked and suffering!
To maximize your profiting!
CRUNCH!
The Golden Fortress' fist pulled out a tower from the castle, which it then began to raise over its head. All the while, the Snipers kept firing off blasts, keeping the three from forming an effective counter. That was when the Fortress began to bring the tower down on them.
Prince John: Look how the peasants work down to the bone,
As I sit up high on my velvety throne!
Pulling the strings on the people below!
It's so stinking good to be king!
BOOM!
It hit like a meteor, scattering the trio across the courtyard.
Prince John: Mine is the kingdom!
Mine is the power!
Mine is the glory!
Forever...
More!
"Oh, this is so delightful fun," Prince John chuckled.
"Wh-what's the plan...?" Becca asked as she picked herself up, shaking the dust and rubble from her hair..
"Don't die," Joyex growled.
"Good plan," Lucy groaned.
Joyex cursed everything about this. If they could hit the thing or entangle the legs, this would be no problem. But those Snipers kept them from getting close. And their Gummi Ship was out of commission...
Joyex grit his teeth harder as he suddenly realized that it must have been that Crystalli General who stranded them in Nottingham to begin with. Opal had thought of everything...
As ALWAYS, he mentally cursed.
Prince John: It's good to be king,
And be the one who screams
"Off with his head!"
Or be the one who's deemed
Savior instead...
It's delicious,
To watch a man begging for his death~
"GATHER!" Joyex shouted in a desperate move. Magnetic forces gathered, pulling the Snipers away. Becca and Lucy jumped to attack...
Only for the Snipers to start shooting at THEM. The attack fell short as the two girls fell to the ground, next to Joyex. And the Golden Fortress was preparing its next attack, winding back a fistful of rubble like a baseball.
Prince John: I put in a knife and then give it a twist,
A smile opens up on my sinister lips!
The joy of the crown is too much to resist!
It's so stinking good to be king!
"I just LOVE IT!" Prince John laughed.
The Golden Fortress hurled the projectiles at the group, who couldn't do anything but take the bombardment as it came in.
Prince John: Mine is the kingdom!
Mine is the power!
Mine is the glory, forever more!
Forever more!
Forever more!
Prince John cackled at the trio of battered and broken outlaws at the feet of his new throne, a testament to his greed. His only comment?
"It's so stinking good to be king!"
Sakuzy, Yozora, and Robin Hood could only watch this unfold, helplessly, from the palace tower they were trapped in.
Hitchhiker Entries:
Opal:
The Crystalli General causing trouble in Nottingham by aiding Prince John. Comes off as detached and logical, preferring to catch her enemies in traps. Prefers to use Lightning magic and dual-wields pistols. She and Joyex apparently have SOME history together.
Mimic:
A form of Heartless that disguises itself as a treasure chest, attacking people who come too close.
Golden Fortress:
A terrifying Heartless that Prince John commands as the second prong in Opal's trap. A towering colossus that's safe-guarded with Snipers. Almost impossible to destroy due to its shields.