Agrabah – Cave of Wonders – Ritual Site – Moments Later
"And you're certain it's somewhere here?" Maleficent asked the vizier, who came with the unconscious princess and Genie in tow.
"I sense powerful magical energies in this place." Jafar answered. "I'm certain this is it."
"Are you certain?" Arfoire chuckled. "For all you know, it could just be another magical artifact native to your world"
Jafar scoffed at her. "I don't need any lip from one as deceitful as you!"
"Even though my little tussle caused that so-called street rat to drop his lamp for your little birdie to take" Arfoire shrugged. "Gratitude doesn't seem native to this world, it seems"
"Why you..." Jafar glared at the purple witch.
"Enough!" Maleficent scolded the two. "The more time we waste here, the more chances those children will have to find us. Now, Jafar, show us the Keyhole"
"Tch" Jafar produced the Genie's lamp and rubbed said lamp. "You heard her, Genie. This is my first wish! Show us the Keyhole!"
The Genie appeared and with a disinterested look, revealed the location of the Keyhole with a snap of his fingers.
"Well" Arfoire looked surprised. "Look at that"
The vizier's evil laughter boomed throughout the room, their plans one step closer to fruition.
Agrabah – Hideout
It was approaching evening in Agrabah. Despite the stillness of the night, not a single Heartless was reported in town. A sign that the evil vizier and his cohorts are nowhere in sight.
"We're back~!" Neptune chirped as she and IF entered the hideout. "And we're happy to report everything's nice and quiet out there!"
"Thanks to that, we managed to restock our inventory." the guild agent added as she distributed the purchased items around. "Are you all rested up now?"
"Yep!" Sora cheered. "We're all good."
"Thanks to Compa's treatments, no less" Goofy hooted.
The nurse giggled. "It was nothing. Not even being beaten down by scary Heartless will stop Compa!"
"That's our lovely nurse-to-be for ya!" Neptune cheered, ruffling the nurse's hair. "C'mere, you!"
"Hey, Nep-Nep!" Compa giggled at the treatment. "That tickles!"
"C'mon!" Donald yelled. "We should get going already!"
"Calm your feathers, ducky!" the girl in the jersey said cheekily. "No one's gonna nab the treasure from you!"
"I told you, I'm not interested in any treasure!" the duck fought back, but his aside glance told a different story.
"Suuuure you are~" Neptune replied back smoothly.
Despite the situation, Aladdin was smiling at the escalating scene. "Goes to show how tough those guys are, if they can still laugh around like that."
"Yeah..." CC2 said.
"You doing alright?" the street man looked to the cat-girl.
"More or less" she said with a sigh. "It wasn't easy bearin' all that to you guys, you know..."
"Channeling your rage to unleash your inner power..." Aladdin recalled.
"That doesn't seem like good news..." IF chimed in. "From what we observed, negative emotions like that can draw the darkness in. If you keep using that power, then you'll..."
"Yeah. I'll probably end up turned into one of those Heartless creeps" CC2 finished. "Even so, I'm not backing down what I said to Jasmine."
The guild agent smiled. "No one expects you to."
"Besides, you wanna save her just as much as we do, right?" Neptune butted in.
"Heck yeah!" the cat-girl shouted. "Jasmine's one of my first friends here. I'm not gonna let her down like this!"
"That makes two of us" Aladdin declared. "Besides, I still got a lot to say to her..."
"And we'll make sure you get that chance!" Donald said proudly, earning nods from the rest of the party.
Aladdin chuckled. "Alright! Let's head for the Cave of Wonders!"
Agrabah – Cave of Wonders - Entrance
The party, first consisting of Sora, IF, CC2 and Aladdin arrived at the supposed site of the ancient cave via the flying carpet. Once they have landed, the carpet rounded back to ferry the other half of the party over.
"You sure this is the place?" the cat-lady asked,
"Yep" Aladdin nodded, pointing to the rock formation around it. "Can't miss a detail like that around it"
"But I don't see a cave around here" Sora pointed out, looking around the area.
"That's because it's a special kind of cave" the street man said. "One which protects it's own treasures."
"It protects it's own treasures?" IF parroted.
"Yep..."
Just as Aladdin finished talking, the ground began to shake!
"What the...!?"
Out from the sand in front of them, a large, sandy, leopard head emerged from the depths, it's two eyes glowing with darkness.
"Grrrrrr..."
"Does it normally growl like that?" CC2 asked, bringing out her twin daggers.
"No! It usually speaks before even intruders!" Aladdin answered as he brought out his scimitar. "Jafar must've done something to him!"
CC2 grolwed. "Or that purple hag you've been telling me about..."
"Whatever the case is, seeing this means we're really on the right track..." IF said, unsheathing her qatars. "Let's find a way to pacify the Cave first! Then, we'll go in and stop Jafar."
Sora nodded, summoning his Keyblade. "Got it!"
The Cave made it's first move, unleashing slow moving beams from it's darkened eyes.
"Deflect those beams!" IF ordered the group. "Sora, we'll head up there and try to dispel the darkness!"
Sora nodded as he deflected one of the beams. "Gotcha!"
Just as they were about to head out, more Bandits emerged from the sands.
Aladdin groaned at the sight. "More of these guys!"
CC2 sliced down two nearby Bandits as more emerged from the ground. "Get goin'! We'll hold 'em off!"
Wasting no time, Sora and IF hopped up to the eyes of the Cave.
"So how do we do this?" Sora asked the guild agent.
"I wish I knew" IF prepped her qatars. "But when in doubt, just hit things until something happens!"
Sora laughed, taking a few whacks at the right eye. "That sounds like something Neptune would say..."
She sighed, dodging a beam coming out of the left eye. "Maybe she's starting to get to me too. Don't tell her I said that."
The boy raised his hand. "Keyblade wielder's honor!"
"Okay then..." IF took a step back while the moment is right. "...Ready, Sora?"
Sora nodded. It was time for their new Combination Skill!
"Let's dash through them!"
Empowering their weapons with wind magic, the two proceeded to dash through both the eyes a total of three times.
"DOUBLE RAVE!"
They performed one more dash...
"Feel the gusty winds!"
...leaving a small cyclone in the middle of the Cave's eyes, purging one of the eyes of the darkness, but the other eye still remains partially corrupted.
Sensing intruders near it, the giant head started to shake them off!
"Oh, it didn't like that!" Sora shouted as they hung on for dear life.
"Roll down!" IF ordered as they neared the ground.
The two of them did, rejoining with Aladdin and CC2, who dealt with most of the Heartless in the area.
"That was rough..." CC2 helped IF up. "You guys still good to go?"
The guild agent nodded. "There's still one more eye to go. We need to get back up there!"
After shaking it's head, the Cave spit out three Fat Bandits for the group to fight.
"He's bringing out the big guns!" Aladdin cried.
"Let's deal with them, Al!" Sora called out as the two boys charged against the Heartless.
"Then we'll go for the eye!" IF turned to the cat-girl. "You with me?"
CC2 gave her a thumbs up. "You got it!"
The two girls rushed past the increasing amount of eye breams and fireballs while jumping up to the Cave's corrupted eye and proceeded to attack it.
"Feel my gust of wind!" IF chanted, unleashing her Aero technique. "GUSTY STORM!"
The guild agent unleashed a small tornado right near the eye, dealing some damage to it...
"And now..."
...and also providing an improvised trampoline for CC2 to jump onto, sending her up in the air, primed with her own technique.
"...you're done! DEATH DROP!"
Slamming her twin daggers down from the air against the darkened eye, the Cave began to shake furiously again as the corruption dissipated from it.
"Did you guys get it?" Aladdin asked the girls who rejoined the guys.
"I think so" CC2 answered. "You guys?"
Sora blocked an incoming fireball from a Fat Bandit. An empowered and enraged Fat Bandit glowing in red. "Just one last guy to deal with, and he's pretty tough!"
IF clicked her tongue. "This looks bad. We gotta go he-"
"MOVE! MOVE MOVE MOVE!"
They suddenly heard someone yelling at the distance.
"Who the...?" the street man wondered.
"Is that...?" the cat-lady continued.
"Nep/tune!?" IF and Sora answered simultaneously.
"I'M GONNA CRASH! MOVEMOVEMOVE!"
IF immediately grabbed CC2 and dropped the both of them down to the sand, with Sora and Aladdin doing the same...
"HIIIIIYAH!"
...as a purple blur sliced through the last Fat Bandit and landed down in...less-than-spectacular style...
"Oh man..." Neptune complained. "I gotta work on my superhero landings next time..."
"Hey, fellas!"
"Are you all okay?"
The rest of the party turned to see Goofy, Compa and Donald coming down from the flying carpet.
"More or less" Aladdin nodded.
"Can't say the same for Neptune over there, though" CC2 pointed to the female Keyblade wielder submerged in the sand like a spear that was stuck on the ground.
Compa moaned. "This is why I think that wasn't a good idea..."
Donald sighed. "She clearly wanted to look cool with her 'cool' idea..."
"Hey, at least she got rid of the Heartless" Goofy looked on the bright side.
"And a pretty dangerous one at that." IF sighed as she approached the fallen Neptune on her right. "C'mon, let's help her out and start working our way in."
"Way ahead of you!" Sora agreed, going to the girl's left.
Once they recovered Neptune, the part of eight proceeded into the Cave of Wonders, determined to rescue Princess Jasmine and the Genie.
Agrabah – Cave of Wonders - Waterway
"Geez!" Neptune complained, half of her submerged in the water. "Why does this cave have like, backdoor switches underground!?"
"It's pretty common practice to put your switches where no one else can get to them" IF, who is swimming with her, explained. "and preferably, NOT out in the open"
"But at this rate, my jersey's gonna get all wet!" Neptune raged. "Not to mention Compa's sweater and your phones, Iffy!"
"Why do you think I asked Compa to stay back?" IF shook her head. "Not only is she our marker, she can keep herself and my babies safe while we work on these statues."
Near one of them, Sora, Donald and Goofy are busy activating one of the statues while keeping an eye out for others like it.
Neptune sighed. "I feel bad for Arty. She went out of her way to give me this and now it's all drenched..."
"Hey now" IF reacted. "If my guess is right, she likely bought that over by the moogles, and the outfits they sell tend to be waterproof."
"Really!?" Neptune's eye shone. "Wowee! Those floating pom-poms really thought of everything!"
"Yeah..." IF sighed. "From product lineups to haggling countermeasures, those little creatures thought of it all."
"I smell a dark dealing in the works here" Neptune commented.
"Like you would believe it..." IF shook her arms "Munny is hard to come by when the Heartless keeps spawning out in the streets and you don't have a Keyblade to keep them down..."
"Couldn't you just get the munny they drop?" the girl in the jersey wondered.
"Doesn't exactly work that way" the guild agent huffed. "You gotta beat them down with something like the Keyblade before those creeps drop anything..."
"Dang..."
"Hey guys!" Sora called out. "We got one of the nearby platforms down! Mind going over there?"
"Gotcha, buck-o!" Neptune answered. "C'mon. Ol' Nep here needs her circulation flowing!"
"C'mon, you're not that old..." IF snarked, but followed the girl with the key nonetheless.
In another area underground, Aladdin had Abu activate another statue nearby.
"Feelin' nervous?" CC2 asked the street man.
"Exploring this cave? Nah" Aladdin shook his head. "Meeting Jasmine again? Yeah..."
"C'mon now. Chin up!" CC2 told him. "You ever chatted with girls before?"
"Yeah, but I didn't think I could talk to her straight knowing that she's royalty now." Aladdin replied.
"Really?" CC2 crossed her arms. "Cuz from what she told me, you've been chatting her up fine when you first met her"
"That was before I knew she was a princess!" Aladdin protested. "When I first saw her, I was like, 'woah', then as we spent time together, I thought I found someone who had troubles in this world like I did. Not knowing where to fit in and all that. And then, I figured, if I can't stand by her as I am, I figured I'd at least change my standing so I can be with her when it counts..."
"So that's why your second wish is to become a prince..." CC2 figured.
"Yeah, but I can't go through with that now because she and Genie are in danger." the street man slapped his fist. "I can't afford to be selfish until the people I care about are safe and sound."
CC2 laughed.
"What's so funny?" Aladdin asked indignantly.
"Well, it's just..." CC2 started. "You've just proven to me why Jasmine says you're the right person as you are..."
"...What?" the street man asked, now confused. "What do you mean?"
"You'll have to take it up with her on that one" CC2 shrugged. "Just know that your second wish is gonna go to waste if that's the reason why you wanna be a prince."
"Geez, you too?" Aladdin shook his head. "Still, you must be quite close to her if you can speak about her like that."
"I wouldn't really say close, but..." the cat-lady shrugged. "I was willing to listen to her vent, and I didn't really care about her social standing. The important thing is, someone out there needed help and I couldn't just leave her like that. Besides, I don't know anyone else in this world..."
"Because you're a Drifter?" Aladdin said.
"That's what IF told me, yeah" CC2 answered. "Folks like us who came from another world and ended up in others cuz their home fell to darkness. Then there's special cases like us who can't really remember what their home world really is."
Meanwhile, Sora and the rest of the party (sans Compa) are approaching another trying to approach another statue to little avail thanks to the large distance between them and the destination, resulting in the party just falling straight to the waters below.
"LIKE A KANGA-NOOOOOOO!"
Just like Neptune attempted to do right there...
"Geez, why does platforming have to be so hard!?" Neptune complained as she fell into the water for the third time.
IF sighed as she took a few steps back. "You're rushing too soon. Here. I'll show you!"
She then dashed forward and hopped off without losing her speed, allowing her to land on the other side perfectly, leaving the rest of the party in awe.
"There. Easy" the guild agent boasted as she turned around. "Now just do like me and don't lost your momentum!"
"Just run like that and don't stop, right?" Sora said, doing some squats to prepare himself.
Neptune, in the meanwhile, took a deep breath and then slapped her own cheeks. "Okay, then, let's freaking do this!"
IF chuckled at her gusto. "You've got this, guys!"
Going back to the conversation...
"You don't?" Aladdin asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Not quite. I remember leavin' my hometown to go explore the world, tryin' out new delicacies, checkin' out the latest stories and maybe even more. But that's just all about I remember aside from my name and my skills." CC2 explained. "That's why I wanna make sure I savor every moment I get here, whether by myself or with others. It's all I got left livin' for here."
Aladdin looked up to see Sora managing to light up a statue, signifying the way forward has opened.
"Then let's make the most of what we have here."
CC2 looked up to the street man with a toothy smile.
"No one knows the streets of Agrabah better than me" Aladdin boasted. "I'll show you and Jasmine around once when we're done here. How about that?"
CC2 laughed again. "I've explored most of those streets already, but it can't hurt to have a local's expertise on the subject, so sure, I'll hold you to that, Al."
Aladdin grinned. "It's a promise, CC2!"
The two shook their hands, their resolve strengthened by the prospect of a promise.
Agrabah – Cave of Wonders – Treasure Room
"Treasure!" Neptune yelled as she ran to a pile of gold coins and sunk into it. "Gold! Jewels! Dabloons! This place's got it all!"
"Oh boy!" Donald said excitedly, jumping into another pile. "I'm rich!"
IF groaned at the sight. "Geez! Will you two get a grip already? That slimeball Jafar may be just ahead."
Neptune and Donald raised up from the piles they were just in. "Awwwwww..."
Aladdin chuckled. "I don't think it's a good idea to take stuff from here, anyway"
"Speaking from experience?" CC2 guessed.
"You could say that..." Aladdin turned to his simian companion, who was hiding his hat filled with gold coins as he smiled nervously.
IF facepalmed. "Greedy louts, I swear..."
"Better just leave the treasure alone" CC2 suggested. "Who knows? You might get yourself cut by a golden arrowhead and start manifesting an evil spirit or something?"
Neptune snickered. "Jokes on you, CC! I would actually prefer such an outcome!"
The guild agent groaned. "Can we please focus here? We still have people to rescue and bad guys to defeat, remember?"
The girl with the key sighed in defeat. "Okay, fine..."
"C'mon, fellas!" Goofy urged the group. "Let's go save Jasmine and the Genie!"
"You heard him" Sora agreed. "Let's get going!"
As the group charged forth, a barrier suddenly appeared, separating the boys from the girls still in the Treasure Room!
"What the nep!?" Neptune banged her hands against the barrier. "Why the heck would you appear now, IMB (Inconvenient Magic Barrier)!?"
"Haa-hahahahaha!"
The girls turned around to see a familiar face, one Neptune just saw a while ago, in fact.
"That evil laughter..." Neptune started. "It's you, Arfjord!"
"It's AR-FOIRE, you nitwit!" Arfoire complained. "At least get my name right!"
"What do you want, this time?" IF interrogated.
"Gonna send more of those scary minions at us?" Compa followed.
Arfoire smirked as she began to channel magic. "Nothing like that this time, I'm afraid. However..."
Her eyes turned to CC2, who began to bring out her twin daggers. "The heck you lookin' at me for!?"
"I wished to perform an experiment today..." She sneered as she waved her hand against the cat-like Drifter. "...And I know just the guinea pig for this one..."
IF, sensing danger, brought out her qatars. "Brace yourselves!"
"SYLHET SPEAR!"
As the witch unleashed numerous spears at the girls, who all proceeded to block them, Arfoire took the chance and got right behind CyberConnect2.
"Shoot!"
Leaving no chance to react, the witch grabbed the cat-lady by her neck as she began to exert dark energy against her.
"What in the-"
CC2 eventually started to scream in pain as her eyes began to shift from green to red.
"CC!" Compa called out.
"Hey hey hey!" Neptune shouted. "What are you doing to her!?"
"Oh no..." IF realized in dread.
"Haa-hahahaha!" the witch laughed. "Figured it out, simpletons? I happened to discover that this one here has an amazing power, and it would be such a waste to squander such marvels, now would it?"
"Ahhhhhhhhh!" CC2 continued to scream as she is losing control of herself, signified by her erratically shifting eye color. "This feeling...this...anger...!"
"This is bad..." IF shook her head. "She's forcing her to use her rage-induced powers against us!"
"That's no good!" Compa complained.
"Hey, Arforite!" Neptune called out as she pointed her Keyblade at her. "This is no way to make new friends! Force and subversion are NOT OK!"
Arfoire scoffed. "See if I care about that. All I care about is my goals, and I will use any means to get it!"
"G...Guys..." CC2 spoke weakly as her eyes are settling into their red color. "You gotta...forget about...me. Help Al...rescue Jasmine..."
Neptune shook her head. "Nuh-uh! No way! Temporary though this is, you're a member of our party, CC2!"
"And we never leave one of our own behind!" Compa said as she held her syringe tight, her face filled with determination.
"But..."
"You may as well give up on that" IF sighed but smiled. "We can get pretty stubborn when we want to"
"Besides" Neptune interrupted. "I'm sure Sora and his pals can handle a sleazeball like Mr. Snake Staff, no biggie! Let us worry about you for a change, CC2!"
"You guys..."
Arfoire chuckled. "How touching. It must be nice to have such wonderful traveling companions, DON'T YOU THINK!?"
She began to exert more energy against CC2, causing her to scream in anguish.
"Now, the only thing left in your heart is pure, unbridled anger! Rage indiscriminate!"
She then released her captive Drifter, who was hunched, but still standing while breathing heavily. A dark aura surrounds her very being, signifying that she has lost control.
"Enjoy your torment, fools!" Arfoire taunted as she vanished. "None of you will leave this Cave alive. Haa-hahahaha!"
CC2 slowly raised her head, her eyes fully reddened as her mouth growled in anger.
"Rage...Hatred...Destruction!"
"So, Iffy..." Neptune turned to her guild friend. "Any ideas?"
"Maybe..." IF answered. "For now, let's restrain her. Compa, get the treatment ready! We're counting on you!"
The nurse nodded as she placed some strange blue liquid into her syringe. "Right! Time for your treatment, CC!"
The enraged CC2 roared, charging against Neptune and IF, who proceeded to block her incoming attack.
"Destroy...DESTROY!"
"You, lady, need a time out!" Neptune charged her Keyblade with ice magic. "FROST CRUSHER!"
"Smite her anger, o thunderous gods..." IF chanted, her qatars brimming with lightning magic. "FURIOUS LIGHTNING!"
The two launched their magic attacks against the corrupted Drifter, which only served to anger her more.
"Fools..."
The angered cat-girl retaliated with a super high-speed double-bladed dance, sending Neptune and IF reeling back. This is her Peerless Wild Blade.
"Owie..." Neptune clutched her right arm. "Didn't feel this much pain before..."
"I got you all!"
Compa unfurled her Emergency Aid Kit and immediately treated her companion's wounds, keeping them in the fight.
"Whew! Now we're talking!" IF cheered as she got up, her wounds healed. "Thanks, Compa!"
The nurse giggled. "Don't mention it!"
The girl with the key groaned. "Still, how are you gonna get her to calm down, Compa?"
"I've got something prepped for that!" Compa answered, patting her syringe filled with the blue liquid that's now filling half of it. "But I need more time before this finishes and I can't help out in combat until then. Can you keep her busy?"
Neptune grinned as her Keyblade wreathed in wind magic. "Roger that! Now, taste my WIND SLICER!"
The girl with the key unleashed her magic attack, pushing the enraged Drifter back!
"GRRRRRRRR!"
CC2 growled again as she regained her offensive edge.
"Die! DIe! DIE!"
"Sheesh, tone down the violence, girl!" Neptune complained as she parried each of the frenzied girl's attacks, five of them to be exact. "Uncontrollable rage isn't the hot fashion these days, you know?"
"GRAH!"
But she landed a clean sixth hit, sending the Keyblade wielder crashing into a pile of jewels.
"Nep-Nep!"
Compa rushed to Neptune's side, her kit still in her hands.
Meanwhile, IF was preparing a spell to halt CC2's rampage.
"Okay, now you've done it!" she released her spell, unleashing a pillar of flame below the frenzied fighter. "DEMON FLAMES!"
"Raaaaahhhh!"
Not letting up, IF closes the distance and unleashes her close-quarter technique as well!
"CHAOS EDGE!"
Reeling back from the guild agent's strong overhead kick, the enraged CC2 roared, causing her aura to flare up with power.
"You...will...DIE!"
She continued her assault, causing IF to dodge the enraged fighter's moves with grace.
"She's tough, but without her mind to guide her moves, her attacks are easily telegraphed..." the guild agent thought aloud, never losing momentum. "But if we don't neutralize her, she'll burn herself out or be consumed by the darkness by the time her rampage is over, if it ever ends..."
At the corner of her eye, she sees Neptune getting up, her wounds patched up twice over by Compa, the nurse's syringe now nearly filled with the blue liquid.
"Just gotta wear her down a little more until it's ready, and then...Nep!"
"Already on it!"
Neptune immediately dashed straight at the rampaging CC2, taking the frenzied warrior by surprise as she's being flung up the air.
"GUSTY STORM!"
"CRITICAL EDGE!"
Being hit hard has caused her to land onto the ground in a loud thump!
"Did we get her?" Compa wondered as dust surrounded CC2's body.
"I don't know..." IF mused. "Keep that syringe up, Compa. We may not be done yet..."
Neptune, strangely, was clutching onto her chest tightly. No, it looked like she was holding something in her hand.
The dust around CC2, however, dispersed, as her aura flared up even more!
"No mercy! No forgiveness!"
"Oh no!" Compa cried. "She's going to use her ultimate technique!"
IF clicked her tongue. "The same one that took out that centipede Heartless in one move. This is bad..."
"PleaseworkPleaseworkPleasework!" Neptune pleaded as she held her chest tighter.
"No more games! BLACK FANG SOUL!"
"No, you don't!" IF stood in front of Compa, her arms braced as she readied to take the hit head on.
"IFFY!"
"HELP US, PLEASE!"
A bright light began to shine around Neptune, as the tip of her Keyblade shone.
"Yes! Time to summon!"
Spinning her Keyblade around and sending energy up to the air, a proud lion manifested near her.
"Is that..." IF's eyes widened.
"The lion summon we got!?" Compa reacted.
"Alright, Simba!" Neptune pointed to the enraged girl. "Sick 'er!"
Thinking fast, Simba immediately lunged at the angered cat-lady, causing the two to engage in a primal duel, with scratches, slices, roars and bites abound.
"You were holding on to that Summon Gem all this time, Nep?" IF wondered. "When did you have time to get that?"
"When we were getting out of the underground, of course!" Neptune boasted. "I wanted to give this summon thing a go, so I asked Sora for the gem."
"That's amazing, Nep-Nep!" Compa praised the Keyblade wielder.
"Whatever the reason, we managed to dodge a massive bullet here" IF looked on the duel, and it looked like Simba is losing ground. "But we can't rest yet. Compa, is it ready yet?"
The nurse nodded, her syringe now fully filled with the blue liquid. "Primed and ready, Iffy!"
"Alright. Once we get an opening, Nep and I will restrain her" IF told her companions. "Once we do, Compa, get in close and do your thing!"
Neptune and Compa nodded. "Right!"
Meanwhile, the wild scuffle between CC2 and Simba had just ended with the former biting on the latter's neck and then throwing him off her, allowing her to get up.
"Bothersome...gnat" CC2 primed her daggers right at Simba's neck, ready for the kill. "Time to die..."
"NOOOOOOOOOO!"
Before she could register what happened, CC2 found herself pinned to the floor, her daggers out of reach as she growled and howled haplessly.
"We got her!" IF shouted. "Now, Compa!"
"Time for your shots, CC!"
Plunging her giant syringe onto her back, CC2's screams began to lessen, her dark aura fading away as she loses consciousness.
"Is she down...?" IF breathed heavily, checking on the cat-lady's state. Judging by her slumped arms and unopened eyes, she has now lost consciousness. "Okay. Our plan worked."
"I'm glad we got her to stop..." Compa sat down in exhaustion. "Good thing I packed some Sleeping Agents, just in case..."
Neptune, meanwhile, approached the downed Simba and patted his head. "You did good, Lion King. You did good."
Simba faded away with a smile on his face, glad to fulfill his duty.
In the corner of her eye, Neptune noticed a magic force dissipating in the pathway ahead. "Hey, the IMB went down!"
"That's convenient" IF stood up, carrying CC2 on her back. "Anyway, let's go check up on Sora and the others. They may need our help!"
"Say no more, Iffy!" Compa got up, her drive returning to her step. "Let's go!"
Agrabah- Cave of Wonders – Ritual Site
"That's the Keyhole?" Sora asked as he looked upon the giant keyhole-shaped structure ahead of him.
Genie nodded. "Heart of this World and all that jazz. Gonna lock it up, buck-o?"
"We gotta!" Donald answered instead.
"Yup!" Goofy nodded. "Or else, Heartless'll come in and swallow this world up!"
"Can't believe Jafar's this close to destroying our world like that!" Aladdin remarked, watching over the unconscious Jasmine. "And why would he need Jasmine for, anyway?"
"That's under a World Order clause, Al" the blue man answered. "Can't exactly answer, lest the wizards and fairies get on my case."
"We are not done yet, you fools!"
The party looked at the middle of the room to see Jafar, on his last legs after his bout with Sora and his group.
"Get out!" Donald yelled at him.
"No more evil viziers!" Goofy yelled as well.
Aladdin chuckled. "I suppose with all that bluster, you still fell short, huh?"
"What was that!?" Jafar snapped back.
"I mean, c'mon" the street man shrugged. "You were quite tough with your magic and all that, but you couldn't find the Keyhole without Jasmine or Genie!"
"Uh, Al" Genie said, worried about what his preferred master is saying. "What are you saying?"
"Fact is," Aladdin continued, putting his hands on his hips. "you're not the most powerful being in the world. Genie here is, and you're not even half as good as he'll ever be! Why do you think we've been consciously avoiding his attacks and not engaging him in our fight?"
"Al, I dunno if I like where this is going..."
"You insolent, little...!"
Producing the golden lamp, the vile vizier, now surrounded in a dark aura, makes his final gambit. "Genie, my final wish! Make me into an all-powerful Genie!"
"This is not good for my resume..."
Covering his eyes with one of his hands, he shot magic at the vizier from his remaining free hand, causing smoke to rise from below him and his laughing figure.
"What the nep is going on here!?"
Neptune and her group arrived back in time to see the ground beneath Jafar disintegrating, the evil vizier nowhere in sight.
"Guess things just gone from bad to worse, huh?" IF snarked, then sighed.
"Is everyone alright?" Compa asked around, producing her aid kit.
"We could use some bandagin'" Goofy admitted, the bruises around his body visible for all to see.
"You tell us..." Donald followed as he sat down. "We nearly ran out of items trying to beat Jafar..."
"Only because you kept getting hit by his beams and icicles, Donald..." Aladdin pointed out.
"SO DID YOU!" the royal wizard shouted back before reeling back in pain.
"So, what happened with you guys?" Sora asked the girls. "Why is CC2 knocked out?"
"Get this! The evil witch came back and turned our pal against us!" Neptune summed up. "Can you believe the nerve of her!? Ugh!"
"Will she be okay?" Goofy asked, clearly worried.
"GAH! RAH! RAAAAHHH!"
CC2 suddenly started thrashing around, causing distress to her carrier IF.
"Hang on!"
Producing a smaller syringe, she injects CC2 with another Sleeping Agent, sending her back to the land of dreams.
"Good call to make backups like that, Compa" IF praised the nurse as she sets the downed Drifter next to Jasmine.
"Always keep spares in hand!" Compa quoted as she gave a thumbs up.
"Hmmmm."
Genie, now freed from his servitude to Jafar, inspects the downed CyberConnect2.
"Seems like your Drifter pal here's infected with a copious amount of injected darkness!"
"Injected?" Donald started.
"Darkness?" Goofy gulped.
"See this?" Genie produced a syringe filled with black substance in it's vial. "Now watch this!"
He produced another copy and injected said copy with the vial's contents, causing his muscles to expand as he howls loudly, his eyes turning red and a menacing red aura spreads across his entire being!
"Basically, anyone infected with this matter will turn anyone who has darkness in their core will gain immense strength and power, but they will lose their senses and become mindless creatures, set on destruction and chaos!"
The clone Genie immediately started wrecking the stands across the room, as he broke and threw bricks apart and across the room in it's rampage.
"Okay, okay!" Aladdin shook his hands. "I think we've seen enough!"
Genie immediately snapped his fingers and the clone is gone!
"So that witch infected her and turned her against you guys?" Sora asked with his arms crossed.
"Basically, yeah" IF crossed her arms as she spoke. "But also, that aura that she had when we fought her was similar to the Heartless Jafar sicced on us and even that giant armor from a few days ago."
"Does that mean that Ms. Witch had her sights set on us from back then, too?" Compa wondered as she was treating Donald's wounds.
"I think so" the boy answered. "Our other friends said they saw her when we were fighting that armored Heartless a few days ago..."
"Meaning that old hag has been watching us even before then..." the guild agent surmised.
"Hmmmmm, that witch lady sure knows her stuff about darkness" Genie guessed. "I'd keep a close eye on her. Never know what she may do next."
"Considering that we don't know her goal is and the fact that she's working with the bad guys we encountered, that's a safe bet as any" IF nodded as she distributed some Potions and Ethers around.
"Yeah" Aladdin stood up, looking at the crater in front of them. "But right now, we gotta deal with Jafar"
"Right!" Sora stood up, his Keyblade at the ready.
"We up for one more round, ladies and gents?" Neptune called out to the rest of the party, her Keyblade slung by her shoulder.
"Yeah!" Donald stood up, his staff on his hand.
"We goin' all the way in!" Goofy declared, his shield at the ready.
"This nurse's gonna work overtime for this!" Compa primed herself. "But I'm with you!"
"A genie as a final opponent?" IF smirked. "This'll be quite a tale to tell later, huh?"
"You can leave your princess and furry friend to me, Al!" Genie pounded his fist to his chest. "You still got two wishes left, after all!"
Aladdin chuckled. "Yeah, thanks Genie."
"You got a plan, Al?" IF asked the street man.
Aladdin winked. "Only the best one."
Hearing that made Neptune think of their short-for-a-time loner friend. "Hope you're doing okay out there, Noire..."
Agrabah – Cave of Wonders – Tiles of Judgement
Jumping down to the site below the crater filled with raising platforms, the party looked around for any sign of their mystical foe.
"If I were an ultra-powered evil genie, where would I be?" Neptune loudly wondered.
"Why ask?" a loud booming voice spoke
Rising from the nearby lava pool, a red genie with a sinister face rose to greet the party.
"When he's just around the corner!"
"Jafar!"
The party readied their weapons for a fight, only...
"Guys, how do we hit that guy from here?" Neptune pointed out the obvious.
"Melee is out of the question" IF analyzed. "Magic is the way to go!"
Meanwhile, the local street-man noticed a red bird flying frantically around the arena.
"Okay, keep them busy, guys!" Aladdin then called out to one of the party members. "Goofy, with me!"
"Sir, yes, sir!"
The royal captain saluted as he accompanied Aladdin and prepare for their plan.
"So, I will deal with five street rats today, hm?" Jafar declared. "How bothersome. You fools are nothing compared to my power!"
"We'll see about that! THUNDER!"
Sora called forth his Thunder magic against the evil genie, which barely damaged him.
"Don't forget about me! WIND SLICER!"
Neptune follows up the assault with a wind-enhanced slash, but Jafar casually flicks it away from him.
"You guys..." Donald channeled energy into his staff. "Here's how you do it! FIRE!"
Donald aims his Fira magic against the genie's belly, but it only nicked him!
"That barely tickled me!"
"Then have a taste of this! BLISTERING COLD!"
IF unleashed her Blizzard magic against Jafar, but it only felt like a breeze that blew against him...
"Is that all you mortals have?" Jafar boasted.
"Not yet!"
Compa aimed her syringe straight at Jafar's mouth, blasting a shot of purple against him.
"Have a Poisonous Agent, Mr. Evil Genie!"
But he swatted the shot away like it was nothing!
"Hmph, if that is all..."
The evil genie sank into the lava pool, and after a good four seconds, rose again, carrying a large boulder with him.
"Then meet your demise! Hahahahaha!"
He then threw the massive boulder against the party...
"RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"
...which caused everyone to run around, hoping the boulder or it's broken debris won't hit them, but in an arena with raising platforms like this, it proved difficult.
"This is bad..." IF mused. "These platforms will make it difficult to coordinate our moves."
"What do we do!?" Donald cried.
"Easy" Sora answered, getting up. "We keep going!"
"He's right!" Neptune rallied, using up an Ether. "Al and the Goofster need more time!"
"Then I'll keep going!" Compa said, arming her syringe again.
"Right!" the guild agent agreed. "Keep an eye out for his attacks and use up those Ethers like your lives depend on it! We need at least a few good licks in!"
"What good will your attacks do?" the evil genie gloated as he brought up more lava-coated rocks with his magic. "I can destroy you all with merely a thought!"
"Then go ahead and prove it, why don't ya!?" the girl in the jersey taunted.
"Why do that?" the evil genie extended his arms forth, sending the rocks against the party. "When I can take my time and watch you all squirm with my new power?"
"You see that?" Neptune quipped. "The whole 'take my time to crush my enemy' bit? That's what we in the hero industry call 'underestimating your foes'! Better watch out or we'll pull the rug under you!"
The evil genie scoffed. "As if you could!"
He then channeled thunder magic into his hands and zaps the whole area with lightning, causing the whole party to either roll away from the lightning or brace themselves as they were zapped.
"Ahahahahaha!" Jafar laughed. "Look at you! Scurrying away like the rats that you are! Nothing will stand in my way now!"
"This is bad!" IF distressed as lightning zapped across the arena. "At this rate, we're gonna be fried worse than Thanksgiving turkey!"
Donald looked around the area to assess the situation. Currently, Neptune and Compa are in one area, trying to take cover as they argued over a new plan of attack. Sora, meanwhile, is jumping from platform to platform, taking care to dodge incoming lightning as he continued to cast magic after magic against the evil genie, but he is noticeably running out of breath. IF, in the meanwhile, is continuing to channel her magic against her foe as well, but her dwindling Ether count means she can't last long either...
"Hmmmm..."
He looked to his own staff. In his days of training in the art of wizardry, he came across all kinds of spells, ranging from simple to complex to even the silliest ones.
And then, there's the forbidden spells. Ones that can, at worst, cost your life to use, or for a slightly better outcome, knock you out cold for days.
Only those with good magic capabilities can cast such spells. The less gifted, however, will end up burning themselves out before they could ever hope to cast such spells.
Donald is one of the wizards in the former category, and he has a certain spell in mind, one that could leave him bedridden for days if he does it right. At worst, he could be on death's door.
But against a being of phenomenal cosmic power like Jafar, he has little choice on the matter.
All he needs is...
"HEY!"
His thoughts snapped out when he noticed Neptune and Compa in the central platform approaching the genie.
"What do you want now?" the evil genie asked. "Do you wish for a quick end?"
"No, we just thought of giving you a peace offering!" Compa replied.
"After all, we can't do anything to a powerful, almighty being like you!" Neptune said with praise. This is clearly a diversion.
"Hmmmmm" Jafar contemplated. "I'm listening..."
"They're clearly distracting him" IF muttered. "I know Compa. She would never accept a slimeball like Jafar. And as crazy as Nep is..."
"She wouldn't just surrender to him like that, would she?"
They heard Sora approaching the two, tired and out of breath.
"You ok, Sora? "Donald inquired.
"Yeah...Just...Phew!" Sora wiped out the sweat from his forehead. "Didn't think doing a jumping marathon was on my to-do list when traveling words, but here we are!"
"At least your endurance will improve" IF commented. "What do you think those two are doing?"
"Maybe they're trying out a new Combination Skill?" Donald wondered.
"What would theirs look like, then?" the boy with the key asked.
"And that is why, we offer you our finest dessert!"
The two girls channeled energy into their hands and after a cute spin, the two posed.
"A HUGE PLATE OF PUDDING!"
"Say what?"
The evil genie looked stupefied by the declaration. But before he could call out their bluff, he noticed a growing shadow above him.
"What is-"
Sure enough, a huge plate fell on his head, and as the plate vanished, a large pudding fell on top of his head, smearing his face with pudding goodness!
"That's their Combination Skill?" Sora sweatdropped as his eyes widened into comical circles.
"Since when can they do that!?" Donald complained. "I couldn't even bring out a frog from a hat!"
"That move is so absurd..." IF sighed as she smiled. "But it's so like them that it couldn't be anything else..."
"So..." Compa started.
"How do you like it?" Neptune continued.
Jafar forcefully wiped the pudding from his face. "You dare make a fool out of me!? You shall pay for your insolence!"
"Eeeeep!"
The two girls embraced themselves for the worst.
"Welp..." Neptune started.
"At least we tried, guys..." Compa finished, bracing for the worst.
"Now, what do we do!?" Donald panicked.
"Is it a bad time to say we're out of items and MP again?" Sora chimed in.
IF sighed in resignation, eyeing her empty pockets. "Of course..."
Jafar began to channel more magical energy into his hands. "For your insolence, I shall smite you all to the Abyss for all eternity!"
"Not so fast!"
The evil genie looked to the source of the voice. From the far corner of the area, he sees Aladdin and Goofy, the latter holding onto Iago, who is attempting to spring himself free.
"Al!" Neptune called out.
"You're back!" Sora ran along with Neptune to rejoin their new friend.
"Ah, the original street rat returns!" Jafar shouted. "I never knew rats like you could develop solidarity!"
"It's what we learn from the streets, vizier!" Aladdin fought back. "We scrape by with whatever's around to survive! Even working together with fellows!"
"But what can you do?" the evil genie gloated as he spun his arms around, wielding the powers of the cosmos. "I have obtained the ultimate power! Soon, all the worlds will bow to me!"
"Yeah. You wished for the ultimate power..." Aladdin started, his eyes obscured by his hair. "...and you got it..."
The evil genie noticed the strange attitude Aladdin exuded.
"And everything that goes with it!"
He then produced a magic lamp from his back. A black lamp, not unlike the golden lamp that housed the blue and friendly Genie.
"N-No!" Jafar screamed. "How did you get it!? I made sure that bird-brain hid it somewhere where no one can find it!"
"Bird-brain, you say!?" Iago complained. "And after ALL I did for YOU!"
"Don't underestimate street rats!" Aladdin boasted. "We know where we hide our earnings. Honestly, you could do a lot better for a royal vizier."
"And now, it's time to go back to your lamp!" Goofy declared.
"No! Please!" Jafar begged. "I beg of you! You have my lamp now, right? That means you get three wishes! Your wish is my command!"
"Ugh!" Iago facepalmed. "Learn to beg right, you jerk-wad!"
"Yeaaaaahhhhh..."
Aladdin then raised the black lamp, which then proceeded to suck the evil genie in.
"No!"
"No! NO! Nonononononono!"
"And you know what they say!" Goofy started as the red bird is getting sucked in too!
"Wait, why am I getting sucked in, too!?"
"Nononononononononono!"
"Phenominal cosmic power!" Sora shouted.
"I didn't sign up for this!"
"NONONONONONONONO!"
"Itty bitty living space." Neptune finished.
And with that, Jafar and Iago are now sealed within the black lamp, cursed to be sealed away until an unlucky soul frees them and Agrabah would once again know terror from the evil genie.
But for now, the battle is won, not due to brute strength, but through the wittiness and cunning of one street man and his new comrades.
Agrabah – Hideout
"I'm sorry, Al..." Genie apologized. "I let her out of my sight for one split second due to someone throwing a PEBBLE at me, and then she was gone...like magic!"
"Don't worry about it, Mr. Genie" Compa comforted the big man. "We all slip up at times."
"Besides, if we're going with Nep's logic" IF butted in. "Jasmine's likely taken to the enemy's stronghold."
"Whose?" Aladdin asked.
"The ones that sleazy guy is working with." Neptune answered. "You know, like that Malnutrition and Yvoire!"
"Ya mean Maleficent and Arfoire!" Goofy corrected the girl.
"Yeah, them" the girl quickly nodded.
"Hey, Sora, Donald" Aladdin looked up to the boy with the key. "Do you think I could...?"
Sora, however figured what he was going to ask. "Well, um..."
"We'd love to do that, but that would be..." Goofy whispered.
"Meddling with the World Order" Donald continued a bit more loudly.
"So, I can't go because of some stupid order" Aladdin complained.
"Wha-" Donald tried to protest, but Goofy held him back and slammed his beak shut.
"Listen, Al, that World Order's been around for eons now, ever since that one war in that one world occurred." Genie explained as he turned into a history professor. "Now, because of that war, people in the background had to ensure the worlds remain unaware of each other's existence so they don't go causing trouble again and start another war that could recreate the universe!"
"That's...a lot of vague details there..." IF noticed. "But it's none of our concern right now, so we won't pry."
Genie wiped off the sweat from his forehead. "Thanks for the understanding, Iffy."
Aladdin, however slumped down as he sighed. Could he truly do anything to save Jasmine?
"Listen, Al" Sora started. "You can leave Jasmine to us!"
Donald nodded, breaking free from Goofy. "Yeah, we'll make sure she's back, safe and sound!"
"How about this, Al?" Genie proposed. "You still have two wishes, right? Use one to get Jasmine back and the last one to cure lil' CC here! Whaddaya say!?"
Aladdin opened his eyes. "I've made up my mind. Genie...my second wish is for CC2 to be cured..."
"Wish Numero Dos, GRANTED!"
He transformed into a doctor's outfit, with a clone wearing a nurse's outfit holding onto two shock devices as they approach CC2 lying on a hospital bed.
"Okay, time for the darkness purge operation!" the doctor Genie instructed.
"Yes, sir!" the nurse Genie agreed as he readied the devices on his hands.
"And...CLEAR!"
The nurse Genie slammed the devices onto CC2's chest, causing black smoke to rise from her mouth.
"And...CLEAR!"
Another slam, causing more of the dark aura to emerge from her.
"Oh, CC..." Compa cried with worry.
"One more, Doc?" the nurse Genie asked.
The doctor Genie nodded. "One more"
Charging up the devices once more, the nurse Genie slams them onto their patient, causing the dark aura to flare up even more...
"AND CLEAR!"
...and with one last jolt, the dark aura dispersed, leaving the cat-lady coughing.
"W...what was that?" CC2 said as she shook her head and raised herself up. "Felt like I was hit with a ton of bricks then slammed into an electric wall..."
"CC2!" Neptune cried happily.
"You're back!" Compa cried as well.
"Welcome back" IF greeted.
"Hey, guys." CC2 rubbed her head. "What...just happe-Oh."
She hung her head in shame. "I remember now. I attacked you guys. And after all I said about keepin' my anger in check, too..."
"Hey, don't feel too bad!" Neptune reassured. "We're all tough cookies here. Besides, it's R4-D2's fault that you went stir crazy to begin with!"
"Arfoire" IF quickly corrected.
"Yeah" Sora nodded. "There's nothing for you to apologize for. We're all friends here"
CC2 chuckled. "Thanks, guys..."
"And now," Aladdin continued. "for my final wish..."
"Alright, lemme get my tracking equipment and we'll get ourselves..."
"...I wish...for your freedom, Genie!"
"...a rescued princess, fresh from...say wha?"
Genie suddenly felt magic surging around him as his floating tail turned into humanoid legs and the braces on his wrists magically faded away, signifying his newfound freedom from genie servitude.
"Al...why?" Genie asked, clearly confused.
"I gave my word, Genie" Aladdin reassured. "I promised I'd free you and I did. Now you can go wherever you want. The worlds are your oysters."
"I know, but..." Genie sweated profusely. "This is so much to take in! So many to places to go! So many things to do!"
"But..." Aladdin interrupted his friend. "before that, could you help out Sora and Neptune and the others in finding Jasmine? I know this 'World Order' stuff means I can't go, but you can! Even help them out in the other worlds they go to, huh?"
"Hmmmm" Genie crossed his arms as he turned around. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm done taking orders from others."
"Genie..."
But the blue man turned around. "But a favor, though. I guess I could give it a try!"
Aladdin smiled. "Genie."
"Just leave it to me, Al!" Genie saluted. "I'll have your Princess delivered back to you and to Agrabah safe and sound!"
"And we'll make sure that will happen!" Neptune raised a fist to the Genie. "Right?"
"You bet'cha!" Genie returned the gesture in a fistbump.
Aladdin chuckled. "Thanks, guys"
Agrabah - Alleyway
After another moment of exchanges, Aladdin and CyberConnect2 waved the group goodbye.
"Man, I'm gonna miss 'em, y'know?" CC2 mused.
"Didn't IF gave you a way to contact them?" Aladdin raised an eyebrow.
"Yup" She then showed the street man a green cellphone. "Don't know how long these things'll last, so I better use them sparingly."
Aladdin chuckled. "How thrifty of you"
"Gotta have to be to survive on these streets" CC2 boasted.
Silence filled the atmosphere for a good seven seconds before the cat-lady spoke again.
"So, I heard what you guys been talking about while I was out cold" she confessed. "Gotta say, that was pretty gutsy of you, Al"
Aladdin raised an eyebrow again. "What is?"
"Y'know, staying behind" CC2 clarified.
"Oh, that" Aladdin rubbed the back of his head. "Well, I really wanted to go after Jasmine with them, I really do, but between all this talk of 'World Order' and the like, I realized that I can still do something here."
"Oh yeah?" CC2 wondered as she puts her hands behind her head. "And what's that?"
"I can keep this place safe, so Jasmine has a place to return home to"
Aladdin looked ahead, with a face of steeled resolve. "Keeping this world safe, means there will be places for us to explore, more secrets to uncover, more wonders to discover. I can't very well do that if the world is gone. Just because Sora and Neptune sealed this world's Keyhole, that doesn't mean all the Heartless are going away."
"I get ya" CC2 sighed. "So long as darkness exists in people's hearts, the Heartless will keep comin', huh?"
"That's what they told us, yeah" Aladdin nodded. "That's why I gotta make sure this place stays safe and sound, so Jasmine can travel with us without a worry in the world."
CC2 chuckled. "You're a real swell guy, you know that?"
Aladdin rubbed the back of his head. "C'mon, I'm a street rat. I'm not good."
The cat-lady laughed. "If kowtowing to a clearly oppressive power is good, then I prefer being a street rat any day of the week!"
"It's not an easy life, you know?" Aladdin shook his head.
CC2 shrugged. "Can't be that bad if we made it out of that Cave just fine. Twice even for you and Abu!"
Aladdin's pet monkey screeched in agreement, causing his owner to chuckle in turn. "You got us there."
CyberConnect2 stepped forward. "Say, I'm feeling parched from all that napping. Mind showing me a nice place to eat?"
Aladdin smirked. "Well, there is this one merchant..."
NEPSTATION
Neptune: We're coming in hot from Nepstation, and phoo-ey! Is it gettin' hot in here!?
CC2: Haha! You tell me! Good thing I packed light, huh?
Neptune: Oh yeah! A PSA for y'all! Be sure to pack what is necessary and study ahead what the place you're travelling to is. Don't wanna bring all those fur coats on the beach now, y'all!
CC2: That would be embarrassing...
Neptune: Yup-yup! Now, before we get to the news, I just want to say a little apology for not showing up earlier.
CC2: Whaddaya mean?
Neptune: You see, when Mr. Author splits these chapters up like that, it means we won't be going live until the end of the actual chapter. So if a chapter splits up into, say, 3 parts like 10.1, 10.5, and 10.9, we'll only get this broadcast after 10.9, so there.
CC2: Huh, I see.
Neptune: On behalf of Nepstation, I give our humblest apologies, but at least you goty some time with Mr. Author, right? Now then, my furry(?) co-host, shall we get actually to the news?
CC2: Sure thing!
*an image of a sleeping tiger comforted by a short old man, whose eyes are crossed out, is shown onscreen*
Neptune: Recently, we've heard reports of a crying tiger over at the palace grounds. The local guards say that the poor thing has been howling day and night since the disappearance of her owner...
CC2: It is said that the tiger's owner is actually the missing Princess herself. Ever since the disappearance of the princess and the royal vizier, the palace has been in an uproar.
Neptune: However, with the reveal of the vizier's treache—treache-BETRAYAL, the populace has been raising their complaints. The poor Sultan has been beside himself with not only that, but the loss of his only daughter. We here at Nepstation hope and pray that the princess is safe and be returned home safely.
CC2: I sure hope so too. No parent should ever experience outliving their own children...
Neptune: True, onto the next article...
*an image of a giant leopard head with it's mouth open, showing a group of bandits leaving the head, is shown onscreen*
CC2: Certain reports have cited that numerous thieves have been making away with numerous treasures from ancient burial sites and other such areas.
Neptune: It ain't just that. Apparently, some of them thought of spending those riches to build up their own territories, with hired guards and all! There are even whispers of some royal guards being bribed with hush munny to keep them away from their territories.
CC2: Only the few and the daring would actually consider raiding these misbegotten territories now, and with the people in an uproar, the number of crimes taking place across the world has skyrocketed. It's amazing that the populace hasn't fully rioted yet.
Neptune: Don't tempt fate there, my friend...
CC2: R-Right. Speaking of riches...
*an image of a moogle and a merchant being attacked by Heartless appears onscreen*
CC2: There have been reports of merchant caravans being assaulted by dark creatures, leaving broken carts and untold amounts of riches and supplies behind in the vast deserts. The moogles have levied their complaints as such. 'It's hard to do business in this heat, let alone against the Heartless, kupo!'
Neptune: Broken carts? Yikes, seems like an open gold mine for banditry right there! Someone should really get in on that!
*an image of a street man and a young woman in green, both of their faces blurred, giving food to poor children, is shown onscreen*
CC2: Well, if the royal guard won't do it, then it is up to us regular folks to do it ourselves! We gotta take that first step and fight for our right to survive in this harsh world!
Neptune: Okay, okay! Before you turn our show into a revolution gathering, we gotta end this program first.
CC2: Ah! Sorry again. I just...I can't help it if people are starving out there, y'know? Like the whole place has turned into a warzone...
Neptune: Hey, I feel ya. A good meal can turn a frown upside down. Heck, anything that can fill the little tank can do that! Maybe we can send some down your way if that helps.
CC2: You'd do that? Thanks a bunch!
Neptune: No problem! So, on that note, let's move on the reviews. Get over here, Sora!
Neptune: Okay, first up, we got a new review from our daily reviewer keybladelight!
Sora: So that means I don't get to read that one, huh?
Neptune: Well, his ideas tend to stretch beyond our current story, so yeah. Sorry, dude...
Sora: Well, what do you say about his ideas this time?
Neptune: Okay, first off, regarding the new Neptunia game, it's NOT the recently released one, it's the ANNOUNCEMENT TEASE for our new mainline game in a gaming magazine!
Sora: They announce stuff there? Seems kinda...underwhelming.
Neptune: Well, it is an announcement for an announcement. All the article said is that and look forward to our franchise's 15th Anniversary.
Sora: And when is that?
Neptune: August...
Sora: That's far!
Neptune: Yeah, don't expect our next big game to release this year, folks. This guy's next games are more likely to come out before ours after all.
Sora: For the record, I have no insider over what's going on, so...sorry about that!
Neptune: As for most of your ideas, dear reviewer, they are noted and don't worry about the wardrobe change! Mr. Author said he's got something in mind for that!
Sora: Okay. What else?
Neptune: As for the crossover fic he mentioned last time, well Mr. Author says he doesn't really know. That game's cast has over 100 characters that he can't really say who could end up with who. It's all a coin toss at this point.
Sora: Who...ends up with who?
Neptune: *chuckles* Don't worry your innocent little head about it, buck-o! Moving on...*snickers*
Sora: What's so funny?
Neptune: Hey, Histy! Mind pulling up THAT clip for me?
Histoire: Which one?
Neptune: The really absurd one! C'mon, pull it up! I wanna show Sora something!
Histoire: Okay then...
*shows a clip of Neptune yelling at a twin-tailed girl with green and blue eyes*
Neptune: YOU MADE HER CRY! ARE YOU SURE YOUR NAME IS SATURN!? I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S ACTUALLY SATAN~!
Sora: *laughs* What even is that!? Why were you yelling at her like that!?
Neptune: Oh, I was just messing with that poor girl at random! I literally dipped out of the scene as soon as I dipped in! Randomness is second nature for this Nep! Anyway, for your question regarding that, that's all up in the air, since that gal you just say and those like her aren't our property.
Sora: They're not?
Neptune: Nuh-uh! It was a game made because a bunch of people wanted more spinoffs featuring our characters, and the suits and devs decided to collab with gals like the one in the clip for that. So, TLDR, it's a big question mark for now.
Sora: Don't wanna get in legal trouble, huh?
Neptune: Eh, fanfic writers are generally ignored by the suits since they're not under red tape and NDA's and all that stuff. Anyway, as for my fit, well...Mr. Author said he's got something in mind for me in our next adventure, but he hasn't told me the specifics yet, so can't say anymore than that!
Sora: Anything else?
Neptune: Ooooooh, a pudding restaurant~! I sure wish I thought of that!
Sora: I doubt IF would let you have that...
Neptune: *sighs* I know. Still, it's nice to dream of good stuff. *sighs* Pudding...
Sora: Neptune, we still have reviews to look over!
Neptune: Ah, yes! Right! Here's another one from...*gasp* an Enemy Stand!
*a bunch of purple signs appeared around the hosts*
Sora: What are those?
Neptune: Just a little something we made whenever this one leaves a review. I'll get you caught up on what these references are whenever we got time!
Sora: S-Sure...
Neptune: Anyway, did you like the little Jojo reference we snuck in this part? It's not as obvious as most Jojo memes, but we hoped you liked it!
Sora: So, what do they have for us today?
Neptune: First off, we're glad you appreciate the small moments between our characters! Having the downtime to just settle down and think about like is just as important as reaching for the goal...or something!
Sora: It's nice to take breaks every once in a while, is what she's saying.
Neptune: Right! Second off, the jungle world's original progression is...kinda weird, even with the cutscenes telling you what's happening. Doesn't exactly help that this game was made in the early 2000's...
Sora: I remember some people saying they tend to get lost there. Like, I get it's part of getting lost in the wild, but some direction would have been nice...
Neptune: See? Even the man himself is complaining. And then, a question for us? How sweet!
Sora: What is it?
Neptune: Who's our favorite non-Drifter character? You go first, buck-o!
Sora: Me? Oh well, I can definitely say it's Herc!
*a picture of Hercules appears onscreen*
Sora: He's confident, strong and fearless! All hallmarks of a true hero!
Neptune: Gotta admire that muscle work and all that!
Sora: It ain't just about muscle! He's brave! Fearless! And everyone loves him! That's what makes him a hero and why I look up to him so much!
Neptune: That right? Well, as for mine, let this little number do it for ya! HIT IT!
*music starts playing*
Genie: You never...
Neptune: ...ever...
Genie: ...had a...
Neptune: ...friiieeeennnddd...
Genie & Neptune: ...LIKE MEEEEE~!
*music reaches it's end*
Genie & Neptune: You're never have a friend like me. YEAH!
*a flashing sign reaing Applause appears above the screen*
Sora: *clapping* Well, I think you made your point, Neptune!
Neptune: Well, what can I say? As fellow 4th wall-breakers with exciting personalities, we hit it off real quick!
Sora: I'll say! Welp, that's all we got for today!
Neptune: Before we end this program for realsies, if you folks got any donations to spare, send it to your nearest hungry neighbor who needs it, or over at us and we'll make sure to send them straight to those who need it! We're serious about this, promise!
Sora: Yup! So, from all of us here at Nepstation...
Neptune and Sora: See you next time!