So Sora's the son of Crown Prince Michael, Princess Jane is his sister, and he's the great-great-grandson of High Summoner Yuna; Tai is possibly the incarnation of the great hero Lord Zion, Terra's Olette's dad and Demyx is her brother's Nobody; and to really throw things into the deep end, Joey thinks Xehanort is getting stronger. With this in mind the gang heads to Atlantica after hearing none of the delegates or world leaders have shown up to the Federation in months. (PS. I'm going on a family vacation for a week so I won't get much work done on the next chapter, but I'll work on it as soon as I get home).
CHAPTER NINETEEN:
THE TIME STORM
SOMEWHERE NEAR ATLANTICA
“I can’t believe you’ve been traveling around without a Worlds Archive,” said Lyra (Jane) as she pulled out a large, old, leather bound book sealed shut with a buckle from her duffel bag, “I surprised you boys have lasted this long without it.”
“You didn’t steal it did you?” Donald asked, looking up from the controls.
“Of course not!” Lyra looked scandalized, “This has been in my family for generations.”
“So, what is a Worlds Archive again?” asked Lucy as she and Grace sat down on the floor with Lyra.
“It contains all the information of every world that was, is, and sometime, will be,” she replied, releasing the buckle of the book. The pages inside were thick like parchment but were blank. “English please,” Lyra said to the book. The pages started to shutter and on the first page, a table of contents in blank ink appeared as if by magic. “Find page: Atlantica,” Lyra ordered the book again. As if a wind had caught the pages, the book flipped somewhere in the middle of the spine. Ink erupted across the pages, only this time with more colors, revealing a map of the world, several paragraphs of text and facts, and many pictures.
“That’s incredible,” Sora said with amazement.
“Look,” Lucy pointed to the page, “The pictures move too.” As she said this, the picture of a landmark moved between the paragraphs of text rearranging itself in front of Lucy finger.
“Strahl to DCGummi ship!” Balthier’s voice echoed from the radio, but sounded static, “We should be coming up on Atlantica’s orbit path. Do you see anything?”
“I don’t see anything,” replied Donald, “But the radar says we should be able to see the world.”
“There’s nothing but clouds out there,” remarked Goofy.
“Clouds? What’s clouds?” Lyra asked, “I wasn’t aware there were nebulas near Atlantica.” She got off up the floor and stared out the window. “Oh no.”
“What is it?” asked Grace, as lightning flashed through the clouds ahead of them.
“It’s a time storm. It’s caused between a disruption in space and dark matter. Any world caught in it has either it’s time continuum slowed down or speed up,” explained Lyra, “But I’ve never seen one this huge before. Looks like we’re going to have to go through it if we want to reach Atlantica.”
“You’re crazy!” cried Donald.
“That storm has the world completely engulfed!” argued Lyra, “There’s no other way around it. Besides, the planet’s gravity well is about to pull us in.” The ship gave a sudden lurch and they could feel something pulling them downward. “The storm may throw us off course a bit, but we should be able to land, if you put up all the shields you got. I would make sure your seatbelts are on too; it’s going to get bumpy.”
“All right everybody,” Donald said as he flipped a few switches, “Hold tight!” He piloted the Gummi ship through the storm clouds.
The ship rocked back and forth as it went through the storm clouds. Lightning flashed all around them and thunder shook the ship even more. Lucy looked like she was going to vomit and Sora couldn’t blame her. There was a sharp cracking sound from beneath them and a warning alarm went off. “That last bolt got our right side engine!” cried Donald, “Someone needs to go down and shut it off before it explodes!”
Grace got out of her seat and Lucy got up as well to run to the bathroom. Grace climbed down into the hull, grabbing an oxygen mask just in case. The room was filled with smoke, but it was quickly escaping through a hole on the right side. The engine was dangle by only a few wires out of the hole. Grace wrapped her arm around the ladder so she wouldn’t be sucked out, and cried up to the cockpit, “The right side engine’s totaled! We need to get out of this storm!”
“I think I see the end!” Sora shouted as the clouds dispersed. As the clouds finally faded, they could see the world of blue, purple, and green in front of them, except they were already within the atmosphere and coming in too fast.
The ship shuttered and the engine finally flew off. The hole was finally open. Grace clung tighter to the ladder and slowly started to make her way back up to the cockpit. Suddenly, the ship started to rock again and Lucy tumbled out of the bathroom, knocking Grace off the ladder. Lucy screamed as she was thrown towards the hole, still determined to suck everything out of the hull. Grace grabbed Lucy arm at the last second and jammed her Keyblade into the hull’s metal floor, catching just as Lucy’s feet were trying to fly out the hole.
Sora and Lyra climbed down into the cockpit as Donald and Goofy tried to stabilize the ship, Sora jumping down on the floor to grab hold of Grace’s Keyblade as it slipped off the floor, sending Grace and Lucy a few inches closer to the hole. Lyra grabbed Sora’s legs and wrapped her own around the ladder, but the Keyblade was slipping out of Sora’s hands.
The ship gave another shutter and the teeth of the Keyblade slashed through Sora’s hands. As he cried out in pain, Grace and Lucy fell out of the ship into the clouds of the world below. “No!” Sora shouted, his hands filled with his own blood. Lyra pulled Sora back to the ladder.
“I’ll get them!” she shouted over the roar of the hole, and she let go of the ladder, allowing herself to be pulled into the hole.
“Jane!” he screamed, about ready to jump into the hole too, if Goofy didn’t grab him and pulled him back into the cockpit before Donald sealed it off.
Lyra turned face down and accelerated towards the two falling girls. She could see miles of ocean below but they wouldn’t soften their landing by much. Concentrating with all her strength, Lyra unleashed her Angelus powers, turning her hair to white and sprouting wings on her back. She used her wings to get closer to the girls, grabbing Grace’s arm. Then, with all the power she could muster, flapped her wings repeatedly to slow their descent. By Lyra’s calculations, she wouldn’t be able to pull up out of it but at least have something close to a soft landing in the water.
The three of them crashed into the sea within a matter of seconds. Lyra’s head popped out of the water back in her human form pulling both Grace and Lucy to the surface. Both Grace and Lucy were unconscious, the sudden fall through the planet’s atmosphere more than likely knocked the wind out of them, but they were still breathing fine. As Lyra tried to keep afloat with both girls in the water, she looked around the vast endless ocean. Where was the Gummi Ship? Then something caught her eyes.
Far to the east, streaming across the skies, was a smoking fireball. Lyra watched in horror as it went crashing into the ocean. But there were several more fireballs streaming across the skies; the Gummi Ship was breaking up as it made it’s way through the atmosphere. Lyra had to be sure. She pulled Grace up onto her shoulder so that she had a free arm. She reached out her hand for something invisible, and concentrating with what little of left of her powers for her bother’s Keyblade. As Sora’s sister, she could use his Keyblade if he allowed her, or if he was unconscious or dead. It did not come to her. Either she was too weak or Sora was still alive. She hoped for the later.
Time was short and Lyra was losing strength quick. “
Magnificent dragon of the heavens, guardian of Bevelle! I summon thee to my calling! Great aeon of might, Behamont!”
Thunder rumbled in the skies above her and she could see through the clouds, something coming towards her. The aeon Behamont flew down upon her, it’s great wings of red, orange, and gold shining across the waves. It was covered in a black scaly armor with a golden wheel floating behind its back. The aeon helped Lyra climbed on its back with Grace and Lucy. “Take us to the closest shore, somewhere safe,” she told the aeon. The aeon nodded and spread it’s large wings, speeding across the ocean. By that time Lyra had lost consciousness, but she knew that the aeon would take them as far to the shore, make sure they were save, and dismiss itself. Maybe Sora would be there waiting for them.
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SOMEWHERE NORTH OF THE BORDERS OF ATLANTICA
ATLANTICA
Undertow was very nervous, and it wasn’t because the water he was swimming in was just slightly above freezing. His mistress, the sea witch Morgana, was attempting to cast another spell on his to return him to his normal size. More than twelve years ago, Undertow had been a great shark, with lots of really sharp teeth. But one failed plan to take over the seas later, and he was now the size of a small pihrana with not so many sharp teeth. And it didn’t help either that since that failed plan, Morgana had them hiding out in the far north, far away from the warm water Undertow would have enjoyed.
“Trust me,” the sea witch reassured Undertow, raising her arms, the spell book resting in one of her many tentacles, “This time I’m sure I’ve got it right.”
“Yeah, that’s what you said last time, and I was sore for a week,” the fish rolled his eyes.
“Oh, stop your carping and stand still,” Morgana said, starting to cast the spell.
“This is gonna hurt,” Undertow closed his eyes, preparing for the worst. At first something happened. He could feel himself growing, going back to a shark.
“Yes! Yes!” Morgana rejoiced, but it was short lived. A flash of light later, and Undertow was back to his smaller self.
“Oh, it’s just no use,” sighed Morgana, “The power of the trident is just too strong for me to overcome.”
“I bet Ursula could’ve done it,” Undertow muttered under his breath.
“What was that you said?” Morgana’s eyes flashed.
“Nothin’,” Undertow caught himself. He knew how testy Morgana got if she heard her sister’s name. “I’m just sayin’...”
“Stop criticizing me!” the Sea Witch cried, raising her fist and a few of her tentacles, “That’s all my mother ever did was criticize me! It was always ‘Ursula this’ or ‘Ursula that’ or, ‘Morgana, why can’t you be more like your sister...Ursula!” She picked up a starfish from her collection and threw it at a picture of her sister hanging on the wall behind her.
“Well, it isn’t Ursula’s fault I got miniaturized. It’s yours!” Undertow shouted at Morgana.
“Is not!” she shouted back.
“Your fault that we had to hide out here for 12 frostbitten years!” Undertow pointed out.
“Is not!”
“Your fault that we can never show our faces in polite society again!” Undertow continued to argue.
Morgana opened her mouth to continue the argument but then said, “You’re really pushing it, small fry,” her eyes flashing.
“My, my, if this is how you treat your subordinates, I would hate to think how you would treat your enemies,” said a voice. Maleficent appeared in a wave of acid green and black flames, barely making a mark on the icy floor.
“Who are you? What are you doing in my domain?” asked Morgana.
“Your domain?” Maleficent gazed around the ice room, “Is this what you call your hiding place?”
“Say what you will,” Morgana folded her arms, her tentacles tightly curling, “I enjoy it.”
“Really,” Maleficent looked at Undertow for a brief second and he disappeared into the water, “I am Maleficent, witch of Darkness and soon to be ruler of all hearts. I had an alliance with your sister, Ursula, two years ago.”
“Liar!” Morgana said to Maleficent, “Ursula’s been dead for at least fourteen years.”
“Hmmm…it seems the time storm surrounding this world has accelerated time quickly here,” remarked Maleficent.
“A time storm?” Morgana looked surprised, “Here? But even I would have noticed something.”
“Apparently not. The time storm is so huge it is engulfing this world. No one, not even you with your powers of darkness could have sensed it,” explained Maleficent, “It is a problem, but not for now.”
“I was wondering where the days went,” remarked Morgana, “But why are you here?”
“I have some information that may aid you to get revenge for your sister. Are you interested?” asked Maleficent.
“I’m not all that keen on getting revenge for Ursula, but revenge on King Triton and that red-head daughter of his, is something else,” Morgana said thoughtfully, “All right; go on.”
“What do you know about the Keyblade Master?” asked Maleficent.
“Keyblade Master? Isn’t that brat Sora? I hoped he’d been killed off by Heartless by now,” said Morgana, “I also know he had a part to play in the death of my sister and he’s at the top of my list with Triton and Ariel for payback.”
“He’s here, along with the King’s foolish servants. If you can hand over his heart to the Heartless, I will be eternally grateful. I will bestow upon you the power to control the Heartless, if you agree,” said Maleficent.
Morgana turned away from Maleficent, deep in thought. Undertow watched, hiding from behind a piece of floating ice. Morgana turned back to Maleficent, with a smile. “We have a deal,” said Morgana, “Undertow! Shine up my crystal ball! Have it set to spy on Triton’s granddaughter!”
“Melody? What good will she do?” asked Undertow.
“She’s young, so gullible, so easy to deceive,” Morgana smiled evilly at him.
It was a smile that Undertow had not seen in years. It excited him. He gave a crooked smile back, “Right away!” He set off to shine up the crystal ball.
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“If they’re not with you, then where are they?”
The Strahl had picked up the scatter remains of the Gummi Ship. Thankfully, the cockpit had remained intact, allowing Sora, Donald, and Goofy to survive the crash in the ocean with just a few bumps and bruises, but the girls were no where to be found. Sora was relating how Grace and Lucy had fallen out during the landing, and how Lyra had jumped out to catch them. Sora, Donald, and Goofy were sitting out on the docking door as the Strahl was anchored to the ocean floor, resting above the waves as Riku, Matti, and Mitch pulled in what was left of the Gummi Ship.
“But they have to be alive, right?” asked Ling.
“Grace’s tracking signal says she’s still alive,” replied Balthier, “We saw what looked like a Summoning when we came down. Lyra may have called upon an aeon to help them. If so, then the aeon would have taken them to the nearest shore.”
“King Triton may know where they have gone,” said Fran, “He may be of some help. We also need to make sure nothing is wrong here and how much time has passed due to the time storm. That should be your priority.”
Sora nodded and got up with Donald and Goofy. “Ready?” asked Donald.
“Yeah,” said Sora, and the three of them jumped in the water. Using Donald’s magic, they each took on more suitable forms for the world beneath the ocean waters: Sora had the lower torso of a dolphin, Donald had the lower torso of an octopus, and Goofy had taken the form a turtle, but his head remained the same.
Kairi managed to giggle and she leaded over so that she and Sora were eye to eye. “Be careful down there. Give us a call if you need us,” she then reached up and kissed his forehead.
“Got it,” he smiled.
“We’ll be scanning the coast line for the girls. If we find them, we’ll send a message to Princess Ariel,” said Balthier, “If you see anything suspicious, alert us at once.”
“Sora, if you do find my sister, please bring her back,” said Tai.
“Don’t worry. I will,” reassured Sora, and he dove into the water, disappearing into its depths.
“I have admit though,” said Ling, “That was a pretty poor way of animal transfiguration.”
“Yeah, well to each his own,” remarked Joey.
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Grace woke up with the most peculiar smell filling her nostrils. It smelled oddly familiar and there was the roar of something behind her: the ocean. She got up at once almost knocking Lucy over who was sitting besides her. “Um…good morning,” said Lucy.
They were at a beach, a few yards away from the breaking waves.
“I think you mean good afternoon.” Lyra was nearby, drying out her shoes.
“What happened? Did the Gummi ship crash?” asked Grace.
“I don’t know,” Lyra shook her head, “I jumped out to get you guys and that was it. I do know that the ship was breaking up as it entered this world’s atmosphere, but Sora is still alive, that’s for sure.”
“But where are we?” asked Grace.
“About a couple miles east of…I have no idea,” sighed Lyra.
“And the Strahl?” asked Lucy.
“I haven’t seen it,” replied Lyra.
“This isn’t good; not good at all,” whined Lucy.
“Well we can’t stay here. Until we know where we are, we’re vulnerable,” said Grace.
“There’s a town up the shore,” Lyra pointed a little ways down the rocky coastline, “Maybe we can get some aid there.”
They walked south (or what they believed to be south) down the coastline as the sun started to sink low in the sky towards the sea. “What so special about this world anyway?” asked Grace, “We haven’t seen anything significant so far.”
“This world is home to the kingdom of Atlantica, domain of King Triton, ruler of the Merfolk,” explained Lyra.
“Merfolk? As in Mermaids, like sirens that would pull sailors into the water with their voices and drown them?” squealed Lucy.
“Um…not those kind of Mermaids,” explained Lyra, “But if you’re thinking of people with fins instead of legs, that’s it. The Merfolk here are the last of their kind. Years ago, different species of Merfolk were scattered in various worlds across the universe but they were wiped out by Xehanort in the last war. That is why Atlantica is so important to the Federation; if the Merfolk suffer another setback, they may not survive into the next century.”
“How do you know so much?” asked Grace.
“Uh…I read the Worlds Archive,” Lyra said quickly.
“Right…Princess Jane,” Grace grinned.
Lyra stopped walked and quickly looked at Grace. “How did you know?”
“You’re eyes. They’re exactly like Sora’s and I’m pretty sure I saw Angelus wings on your back before losing consciousness during the fall,” replied Grace, “But what’s with that birthmark on your cheek?” She pointed to a faint blue star on Jane’s right cheek.
“It marks me as an Angelus cross breed. Only females have it and it only appears in my human form. The star means I’m royalty,” explained Jane.
Grace was quiet for a second then asked, “Wait, if King Triton is ruler of the Merpeople, and Sora’s been running around with his daughter, does that mean he’s in full Mer-gear?”
“One would think,” replied Jane.
Grace started to snicker but then she started to laugh. “BWA HA HA HA! Are you serious? Oh man, when I see him next, I’m not be able to say anything to his face without- HA HA- laughing!”
“What’s so funny?” asked Lucy.
“Okay, image Sora. Now imagine him as Merman,” explained Grace.
It took Lucy a few seconds but finally she started to giggle. “Oh my gawd! You’re right!”
“Come on guys,” Jane interrupted their giggling fits, “Can we focus here?”
“We’re just trying to lighten the mood,” grinned Grace.
A large house was coming into view as they continued down the shore. It was a beautiful piece of architecture, made of white marble and the roofs decorated in red tile, but it looked like a fortress with a large white wall closing it off from the sea. The only entrance in and out was a metal gate sealed up tight and the water drains from the house.
“Maybe there’s someone in there that can help us,” suggested Grace.
“If we can get through,” added Lucy.
Something then caught Grace’s eye. It was a girl with dark hair, swimming out in the water near a bunch of rocks. “Excuse me!” Grace called to the girl.
The girl looked up and dove behind the nearest rock to hide. “We won’t hurt you,” said Jane, “We’re just very lost.”
“Lost?” the girl peaked her head over the rock.
“We fell off our ship in a storm,” explained Lucy, “We’re just trying to get some help.”
“I guess I can take you up to my house when I’m finished,” said the girl.
“That’s your house?” asked Grace.
“You guys aren’t really from around here, are you?” asked the girl, “That’s the palace, home of King Eric and Queen Ariel, and I’m their daughter, Melody.”
“You’re a princess? What’s princess doing out here alone?” asked Lucy.
“Don’t tell them anything Melody,” said a voice, “I don’t think you should be-”
“I’m actually not suppose to be out here,” said Melody, “I’m forbidden to go into the sea.”
“Why? Is it filled with e-coli?” asked Lucy.
“What’s e-coli?” asked Melody.
“Ignore her,” said Grace, “Why won’t your parents let you out into the sea?”
“I’m not sure,” Melody shook her head, “They say it’s dangerous but, I don’t see what’s so wrong about it.”
“What do you do out here?” asked Lucy.
“I look for treasures,” Melody grinned, and she pulled out from her leather bag a large perfectly intact conch shell.
“Melody!” called a voice. A large seagull was flying towards them. The bird was aiming towards the rock near Melody but missed it by a long shot and landed lopsided on the next rock.
“Hey, Scuttle,” Melody greeted the bird, “What’s kickin’?”
“Uh, what’s kickin’?” the seagull asked, screwing up his eyes to think, “Hmm. L-Let me see. Don’t rush me.”
“Ha! You know perfectly well what’s kicking!” said a red crab on the rock Grace hadn’t notice before, “Now, come along. You gonna be late for the-”
Melody jumped back into the water, accidentally splashing the crab. “Sorry, Sebastian,” she said as she surfaced, noticing she had got him covered in water.
The crab scowled as Melody broke surface next to him, splashing him with seawater. “Melody, child, how many times do I have to tell you?” said Sebastian. Melody rolled her eyes and started mouthing word for word Sebastian’s continued lecture, “It is expressly forbidden for you to be swimming beyond the safety of the sea wall.” Now Melody was mimicking his words with her own version of his voice, “Any such swimmin’ is a reckless disregard of da rules don’t ya know?”
Sebastian caught her mimicking him. “Stop dat,” he frowned.
Melody smiled, “Oh, Sebastian, I can’t help it. I just love the sea!” She jumped back into to the water, causing a large splash that not only covered Sebastian with water, but sprayed the girls as well.
“Hey! Come back here!” called Sebastian but Melody was already gone, “You’re just like...like your mother,” he sighed.
“So, Ariel is Melody’s mom, right? She doesn’t know that her mom is bit…fishy?” asked Grace.
“How do ya know dat?” asked Sebastian, looking around to make sure Melody was no where near them.
“Sora’s my brother,” replied Jane.
“Ah, dat would explain it,” Sebastian gave a sigh of relief, “But keep you’re voices down! Melody isn’t suppose to know about dat stuff!”
“Why not?” asked Grace.
“Twelve years ago, da sea witch’s crazy sister, Morgana, almost kidnapped poor Melody when she was a baby! King Triton managed to keep her away but she disappeared, and no one’s been able to find her since. Queen Ariel fears dat if Melody went into da sea, Morgana would take her again! Dat’s why Melody can never know of her mother’s lineage, it would only tempt her!” explained Sebastian, “We could really use Sora’s help though. Where is the lad dese days?”
“He’s on his way,” replied Jane, “I hope. But we have another mission. You’re close to King Triton?”
“I was his advisor and court musician years ago,” said Sebastian.
“We’re from the Galactic Federation. Do you understand what that means?” asked Jane.
Sebastian glanced at Scuttle who was still trying to figure out what he couldn’t remember, and said to Jane in a whisper, “Yes, I understand. But on what reason?”
“King Triton hasn’t been to the counsel’s sessions in several months. They’re worried something may have happened,” explained Jane.
“I would go and tell him you’re here,” said Sebastian, “But I’ve got another job to do that requires my full attention,” he looked off to where Melody had disappeared, “You could go to Ariel though. Since she’s Queen she has full rights as a delegate by now.”
“Thank you,” bowed Jane.
“It isn’t easy keeping up with Melody, is it?” asked Lucy.
Sebastian sighed again. “A crab my age should be retired, getting a tan, playing sea golf, sipping a tuna colada! Not baby-sitting another teenager.”
Grace was about to point out that Melody wasn’t quite a teenager yet, when Melody came up from her swim. But the bulge in her bag, Melody had found something very heavy. “Melody, please. If your mother ever found out you’d been swimming out here-” Sebastian started to say but Melody cut him off.
“I know, I know,” sighed Melody, “She’d flip.”
“I had a thought here,” Scuttle was still thinking, picking up a small rock and looking underneath it, “Now, where’d it go?”
“Hey, Sebastian? What’s my mom got against the ocean anyway?” asked Melody, as she floating in the water on her back, “I mean, how could there be anything wrong with something so...wonderful?”
Sebastian couldn’t think of anything to reply.
“Maybe you’re mom was attacked by sharks when she was younger,” suggested Grace. Sebastian gave her a warning look.
“Maybe she’s just concerned about your safety,” suggested Lucy, “She worries about you. It’s only natural.”
“I know that,” said Melody, “But what I don’t know is her reason for it. It has to be more than just my safety. But you know what?” she started to grin, “Sometimes I even pretend I have fins.”
Sebastian’s mouth dropped and Melody dove into the water once more, breaking the surface a few minutes later. “I wish I could tell my mom how I feel,” Melody said sadly, “But she’d never understand. I can talk to crabs, but not to her.”
“You’re talking to us,” Grace pointed out.
Melody smiled weakly, “Yeah. You guys are the only ones besides Sebastian and Scuttle that are nice to me. The other kids think I’m weird or something. Maybe I should tell my mom about that too.”
“Wait a minute. It just hit me,” Scuttle said after the rock he was looking at dropped on his head, “How ‘bout you tell Ariel how you really feel?”
“Oh yes, by all means,” said Sebastian, “Just waltz right in and tell her you been out here...swimming in the ocean!” he started to shout, “We could all just have a big party!”
“The party! Oww!” Melody cried and grabbed her bag.
“Say, that reminds me of somethin’,” Scuttle scratched his head.
“What party?” asked Grace.
“My birthday party,” groaned Melody, “I should have been back an hour ago. Come on!” she urged the girls to follow her, “It will be quicker if you just follow me.”
Grace, Lucy, and Jane followed Melody back into the water towards the palace. “Uh…correct me if I’m wrong,” Grace said to Jane in an undertone so that Melody couldn’t hear, “But I thought Ariel was a mermaid.”
“She’s human now, or at least ever since she got hitch to some cute human prince guy,” explained Jane, “So Melody is really more human than Mermaid, but she shows some traits of her heritage, like talking to creatures of the sea.”
“But we could talk to them,” said Grace.
“Angelus power, duh,” said Jane, “Besides, she didn’t see us talking, did she?” She looked away from Grace, a little worried.
“Something wrong?” asked Grace.
“When we last heard news from Atlantica, Ariel was just married. She was just seventeen and she wasn’t even pregnant yet. The time storm has accelerated this world’s time continuum by at least thirteen years,” explained Jane, “You’re run of the mill time storm only speed up a world time continuum by a few months. This isn’t natural.”
“How do we fix it?” asked Grace.
“I have to get my Summoner’s stuff. I can use a spell to correct the time flow, but I left most of my stuff on the ship,” sighed Jane.
They had reached the palace walls. Melody dived under for a few seconds and when she resurfaced, motioned the girls to follow her under. Grace held her breath and dove under the water. Grace squinted and saw that Melody had removed one of the bars to the storm drain and was crawling through the space she had made. Grace was barely able to squeeze through and was almost out of breath when they broke surface on the other side of the wall. They had came up on the backside of palace. It was an decorative patio courtyards with elaborate windows from the ballroom. Grace managed a few peeks inside before Melody smuggled them crouch-like through the door just after Sebastian jumped in her bag; the ballroom was being fitted out from top to bottom for a large birthday party. They sneaked inside the hallway but right before the stairs was another entrance to the ballroom which was already starting to fill with guests. Melody darted up towards the stairs first, Grace about to go behind her when someone called out, “Oh, Your-Your Highness.”
Melody almost ran into a boy walking into the ballroom with a group of friends. Grace grabbed hold of Lucy to keep her from moving. Grace risked a peak into the ballroom. The kids were all upper class but the look of their apparel and were all surly looking to boot. A few of them were quiet surprised to see Melody dripping wet and in her undergarments. A girl struggled very hard to stop herself from laughing.
“Sorry,” said Melody, slowly backing away from the kids, “My fault. I gotta go. Can’t go to the party without shoes.” Melody took off up the stairs, giving the girls a look that said follow her when they could.
Grace peaked from the archway again and waited until the kids disappeared. “If you ask me, she’s a little strange,” said a girl.
“I heard she actually talks to fish,” said another boy and they kids started to laugh.
Grace made a fist but waited until they were gone to start going up the stairs. Melody was waiting at the top and when they got there Jane asked, “Melody are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she said, “They’re always like that. This way,” Melody waved her hand to follow her to her bedroom. A pink light dress was already laid out for Melody to wear but she went to her closet and pulled out a few dresses. “My parents are probably really busy right now and won’t have time to speak with you until after the party. But that doesn’t mean you guys can’t have fun. These should fit,” she laid out a few dresses on her bed and started to change into hers.
Lucy looked a little worried.
“What is it?” asked Grace.
“It’s just what if the Commander’s here? What if he’s the one behind the time storm?” she asked.
“The Commander doesn’t have that kind of power. I doubt even the Chasers do,” remarked Jane, “But you do have a point, Lucy; this sort of thing is just what the Commander would be attracted to. He could have spies around.”
“Then what should we do?” asked Lucy.
Something caught Grace’s eye from Melody’s accessory trunk. “No one said we couldn’t wear these.” She pulled out a Masquerade mask of black and gold decorated with red and white feathers and silver beads.
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Queen Ariel managed to slip away from the party just in time. It was starting to get noisy in the ballroom and a breath of fresh air was just what she needed. She strolled out into the patio and walked across the yard to the tiny shore of waves that penetrated this side of the wall. Ariel looked up and saw the last rays of the setting sun, the roar of the ocean waves from the other side of the wall, and the cry of the sea gulls above. She sighed and said sadly as if speaking to someone in front of her, “I miss you, Daddy. I wish you could be here with us.”
Ariel looked around to make sure no one was look and she took off her shoes and soaked her feet in the water, lifting up her dress. She smiled as she felt the water pass over them; the waves washed around her feet gently, as if telling her the sea missed her, as if it wanted her back.
“Ariel?”
She quickly jumped back in her shoes and looked around. Who had called her name? Was it someone from inside?
“Ariel!” the voice called again.
Ariel looked across the water and she found the source at once but almost couldn’t believe her eyes. It was Sora, Donald, and Goofy, hiding in the darkest part of the water. Ariel checked once more to make sure there still wasn’t anyone around and rushed over towards them. “SHH! What are you doing here?” she asked, “How did-?” She stopped when she got a good look at Sora’s face. “You haven’t aged a day,” she whispered.
“What?” Sora asked and she hissed at him to be quiet.
“It’s just that, since we’ve last met, you don’t seem to have changed,” Ariel explained.
“You don’t look that different either Ariel,” smiled Sora.
“Except you got legs now,” Donald added.
Ariel smiled and lifted up her dress, showing off her legs, “I do, don’t I? But what are you doing here?”
“Well, we were on our way to King Triton’s palace but the funny thing is-” Sora started to laugh weakly.
“We got lost,” replied Goofy. Sora shot him a look. “Nothing looks familiar in the sea,” Goofy went on, “It’s all kinda changed.”
“Really?” Ariel asked sadly, “I haven’t been in the sea in such a long time. Not since my daughter was born.”
“Your daughter?!” Sora, Donald, and Goofy gasped at once.
Ariel nodded. “Remember Ursula? She has a sister, named Morgana. The day my Melody was born, Morgana tried kidnapping her to get my father to hand over his trident. She almost succeeded. Since that day, I’ve forbidden Melody to go into the sea. She doesn’t know about Atlantica or Merpeople or that I was a Mermaid. She’s been a handful though,” she smiled, “Today’s her twelfth birthday.”
Sora opened his mouth but decided not to say anything. He looked at Donald and Goofy who both looked worried. They remembered what Jane had said about the time storm and how it could accelerated time on a world.
“I have a hard time trying to talk to Melody,” Ariel continued, “I had hoped maybe the next time you came to visit, you could talk to her. She doesn’t have many friends her age. Would you do that for me, Sora?”
Sora looked at Donald. “I have enough magic to transform you back, but that’s about it,” said Donald, “But maybe if we got something to eat…”
“Of course,” said Ariel, “I’ll bring you something out when I get the chance-”
“Mother? What are you doing?”
Sora, Donald, and Goofy disappeared back into the water just as Ariel looked around to spot the source of the voice. She looked and saw Melody looking down at her, in her dress but with a towel wrapped around her head.
“Uh, nothing,” Ariel lied, “I’ll be right up!”
She waited until Melody disappeared from the balcony to start talking again to Sora, Donald, and Goofy. “The party is about to start. You better come with me quick,” she said.
“All right,” nodded Sora, “Donald?”
Donald pulled out his mage’s staff and used what was left of his magic to transform Sora back into his human form. Ariel pulled him from the water and dragged him inside. She studied his attire and shook her head. “Looks like we’re going to have to get you something nicer to wear. I pretty sure there’s some old clothes of Eric’s that might fit you. You can change while I check on Melody,” she said, leading Sora up the stairs.
************************************************************************
A few moments earlier, Melody was showing the girls what she had found out in the ocean. She pulled out a large clam shaped seashell with a piece of leather tied around the end like a necklace. “Isn’t it beautiful?” she asked.
“It’s really pretty,” admitted Lucy as she fastened her Masquerade mask on.
“Yeah, but it won’t open,” said Melody.
Grace examined the shell. “It looks like the sand got in there and glued it shut. Maybe if you took a knife or something and picked away the sand…”
Melody had wandered over towards her balcony window. “What is she doing?” she asked herself, then called down to someone below, “Mother? What are you doing?”
They heard a female voice reply, “Uh, nothing.” There was a pause. “I’ll be right up!”
“Oh no!” panicked Melody, “I’m not ready!” She threw off the towel around her head, grabbed her shoes, and tied her bow in the back, not realizing Sebastian was caught in it as he attempted to help her.
“Uh Melody…” Jane tried to point Sebastian out but Melody went to her door.
“She’s coming!” she squealed, “Quick! In the closet!” she pushed the girls inside, closing the door, but leaving it just a crack opened. She placed her tiara on her head just as the bedroom door opened.
“Melody?”
“I’m ready,” Melody curtsied but as she did, her tiara fell, hanging on her head lopsided.
Someone chuckled and entered the room. “Here. Let me help.”
Melody’s mother, Queen Ariel was quite beautiful. Her hair was a fiery red and her eyes were bluish-green like Melody’s, but she had a glowing radiance that Grace found was equal to her mother’s. She had Melody sit down, took off the tiara, and started to comb her hair out.
“So, we’re having a bad hair day.” Melody’s father had walked into the bedroom as well. His hair was as dark as Melody’s but his eyes were bluer than Melody’s or Ariel’s.
“If we were, you wouldn’t be helping, would you?” smiled Ariel.
“Well, I’m just here to let you know there are a lot of people downstairs,” said King Eric.
“Oh, we’ll be right down,” Ariel reassured him, “Give us two minutes.”
“Right, two,” muttered Eric with a grin, “Now where have I heard that before?”
When he was gone, Melody looked up to her mother in the mirror, “Mom, put down the brush. It’s hopeless.”
“Oh. You look beautiful,” Ariel smiled pulling Melody’s hair back in a ponytail.
“Do I have to do this?” asked Melody, “Everybody thinks I’m weird.”
“Oh, honey, everyone has trouble fitting in at your age,” explained Ariel, “I know I did. I was a regular fish out of water.”
“No kidding,” whispered Jane.
“Shh!” Grace hissed.
“You?” Melody looked surprised, “No way. I’m just so afraid I’m gonna make a total fool of myself,” she sighed.
Ariel studied her daughter’s expression. “Melody, this isn’t just about the party…is it? Is there something you want to talk about?” she asked, “You know you can always tell me anything.”
Melody looked at her mother. “Well, okay. I mean, it’s kind of crazy and sort of impossible,” she admitted, “Now, don’t freak, but what I dream about...more than anything in the whole world-”
“How’s it coming?” Eric had returned to the room, “Oh, Melody. Is that you?
You look beautiful.”
“He’s right,” Ariel started to get up, “Now, we’ll talk later. You’re going to have a wonderful time tonight,” she reassured Melody, “Trust me.”
Melody got up and followed her mother. As she passed the closet, she motioned her head for the girls to follow her down. Grace opened the closet door.
“Oh! They got so close to actually talking!” whined Lucy.
“It can’t be help,” said Jane.
“Well? Why don’t we enjoy ourselves?” asked Grace with a smile.
The girls followed Melody and her parents downstairs but were careful to keep their distance and took a separate staircase down. The ballroom was filled with people in very high end classy dress attire. There were children and grownups alike, most of them looking bored or impatient for the party to start.
“See any cute boys?” Jane asked standing on the tips of her toes.
“Yeah but they’re all younger than me,” remarked Grace.
“May I present Her Royal Highness...Princess Melody.” The orchestra started to play and there was a general applause from the guests as Melody walked down the grand staircase.
“Oh, she looks really nervous,” whispered Lucy as she and the girls started to clap.
“Oh, yeah,” Melody said to herself as she climbed down the stairs, hoping not to trip on the dress’s hem, “Mom’s right. I can do this.”
When Melody reached the bottom of the stairs, a boy held out his hand, though Grace could have sworn Ariel pushed the boy forward. “Hey, doesn’t that kid look like Sora if you really pressed his spikes down?” Grace asked.
“I guess,” replied Lucy, “But it can’t be him, can it?”
“How about we snag him after Melody’s done with him?” smiled Jane.
“Aw look. He’s asking Melody to dance,” said Lucy.
Grace saw Melody look back at her mom, who then encouraged her to go dance. Melody nodded and took the boy’s hand and the orchestra started to play.
“Well, you guys can keep an eye on Melody. I’m going to check on the competition,” Jane started to walk off.
“Where are you going?” Grace asked with her hands on her hips, but stopped eyeing Jane when a red rose appeared in her face. She looked up.
There was a man a good five to ten years older than Grace was standing in front of the girls with light reddish-purple hair and deep blue eyes with a charming smile. He was dressed as elegant as the guests around him but his eyes were solely on Grace. “I must apologize. I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful you were from the other side of the room. Would you accept my offer to dance as my apology?” he bowed.
Lucy pushed Grace forward. “Apology accepted,” Grace took the man’s hand and started to join other couples on the dance floor.
“She’s so lucky,” sighed Lucy dreamily.
“There’s something familiar about that guy,” Jane said thoughtfully, “I think I’ve seen him before.”
As Grace and the man danced around the ballroom, they passed Melody and her partner. Grace winked at her and Melody gave a small smile back. Grace’s partner and Melody’s partner, Sora, caught each other’s eyes. As they passed, Sora felt an ominous presence from the man but had failed to recognize Grace. When Grace and her partner were halfway around the room again, something flashed on the man’s wrist. He made a face and bowed to Grace. “Would you excuse me? Something has come up that requires my attention,” and he took off towards the nearest exit.
Lucy and Jane rushed over to Grace. “He better have a good excuse!” Lucy shook her fist, “It’s rude for the gentlemen to not finish the dance.”
“Oh my gosh!” Jane put her hand over her mouth, “I just realized who that was! That was Marluxia!”
“Who?” asked Grace.
“Marluxia! The Graceful Assassin! Number Eleven in the Organization!” hissed Jane, “He was the Lord of Castle Oblivion and was the one who had Sora’s memories mixed up! Except Sora was suppose to have killed him off…he must’ve sensed your Keyblade! We need to get out of here!”
“And go where?” asked Grace.
“Grace, you don’t understand! Marluxia was as powerful as Xemnas at the height of his power. That’s why he was put in charge of Castle Oblivion. But we need to at least get out of this crowd,” said Jane and she led the girls back to the staircase but they stopped when Queen Ariel walked in front of them.
“Oh, excuse me,” she said and started to walk away but Jane called her back.
“Your Majesty, I am her Imperial Highness, Princess Jane Magdalene of the Angelus,” Jane bowed, “This is Lady Grace Porter, the Keyblade Master’s Apprentice, and her Royal Highness, Princess Lucy. We’ve been sent by the Galactic Federation to speak with your father.”
Ariel looked around to make sure no one was within earshot and said to Jane. “You’re from the World Order?” asked Ariel.
“Yes,” nodded Jane.
“You must understand, I haven’t seen or spoken to my father in twelve years,” said Ariel.
“We know,” said Grace.
“We also are aware of a very dangerous enemy that is-”
There was a sudden cry from the ballroom. “Oh, no!”
Ariel and the girls rushed back into the ballroom. Everyone had stopped dancing and were now focusing on what had caused the disruption. The boy Melody had been dancing with was holding his right hand in pain.
“That’s it,” Grace heard a voice call out in frustration, “I’m booking meself on a cruise.”
“Sebastian!” whispered Jane, “I forgot he was tied behind Melody’s bow. He must’ve pinched Melody’s partner.”
“I’m so sorry,” Melody apologized to her partner, then turned to Sebastian who was sitting on the table of food, “Are you okay, Sebastian?”
Those closest to Melody started to whisper:
“Who is she talking to?”
“She’s talking to a crab!”
The guest started to laugh just as the royal chief walked out from the kitchen and spotted Sebastian. “You!” the chief drew a menacing cutting knife, “Saboteur! You’re going in ze bouillabaisse!”
“No, Louis!” cried Sebastian as the knife got closer, “You don’t wanna do this, man!” he pleaded, “I’m old! I’m not tender any more!” Sebastian took cover behind Melody’s several layer birthday cake, just as the chief raised the knife and jumped on top of the cake.
The crowd of people laughed as cake went everywhere but Melody lost in a bout of shock and confusing, thinking the laughing was aimed at her, took off up the stairs.
“Melody!” Ariel called and followed her up the stairs.
The chief emerged from the remains of the cake, knife still in hand, screaming, “Death to the crab!” until a maid, took the knife from him and hit him across the head.
“Oh, Louis!” she sighed.
“C’mon,” Grace said to Jane and Lucy following the Queen and Princess to Melody’s bedroom. They stood outside the door and Grace looked between the crack between the door hinges to see inside.
Melody had thrown off her pink dress, wearing her undergarments, her shoes laying on their sides several feet from another. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry,” said Ariel sitting on the bed, trying to get Melody to sit next to her.
“What’s wrong with me?” asked Melody.
“Nothing’s wrong with you,” Ariel reassured.
“Mom, I’m the princess of disaster,” Melody sat down on her bed frustrated.
“Being a teenager i-is hard, and, uh...” Ariel tried to find the words, “all kids your age feel...a-awkward. And, um...Melody?”
Melody wasn’t paying attention. Instead, she pulled out the sea shell necklace from her bed she had found earlier and was examining it. “What is this?” she rubbed some of the sand off the shell, “My name’s on here.” She pried opened the shell and a melody started to play, but it wasn’t just playing a song. A ball of light glowed from the shell, showing a moving picture of an undersea palace and two Merfolk swimming around the palace. “That song. Where have I heard it?” Melody asked herself then studied the moving picture, “It’s Atlantica. With merpeople and everything,” she looked up at Ariel, “Mother, you always said it was just an old fish tale.”
Ariel took the necklace from Melody, “Where did you get this?”
Melody looked away and hugged her knees, rocking back and forth. “I found it,” she said quietly.
“You went over the wall, didn’t you?” Ariel asked, her voice rising.
“Actually, I went under it. I hate that stupid wall,” Melody added.
“Melody, you know you’re not allowed in the sea,” said Ariel standing up now.
“But why?” asked Melody, “And why does that necklace have my name on it?”
“Melody, listen to me-”
“You’re hiding something from me,” Melody suddenly said, catching Ariel off guard.
It took Ariel a second to recover. “Y-You deliberately disobeyed me! I never want you going out there again!” Ariel said fiercely, “Do you hear me? It’s dangerous in the sea!”
“How would you know?” Melody shouted, sobbing, “You’ve never even been in it!” Melody then stormed out of the room, grabbing the necklace from her mother as well as the bag of clothes that belonged to Grace, Lucy, and Jane. “C’mon,” she said when she saw them outside her door, “She isn’t going to understand me.”
Grace looked back to Jane and Lucy and they both nodded, agreeing to follow Melody. Once they disappeared down the stairs, Eric entered Melody’s bedroom, to comfort his distressed wife.
“Ariel, darling...” he sat down next to her on Melody’s bed, “We knew this day would come.”
“Oh, Eric,” Ariel snuffled, then said, “You’re right. It’s time I trusted her with the truth.”
Several floors below, outside of the great wall, Melody was starting to get a small boat together, while Grace, Lucy, and Jane changed out of their dresses. Sebastian was trying to comfort Melody after his escape from the crab-crazed chief and after what Melody had told him about what happened between her and her mom. “Oh, now, child,” he reassured her, “it’s gonna be okay. You know, when I was a teenager you couldn’t get me out of my shell for nothin’. I had this high, squeaky voice and these itty-bitty little pincers. And then one day, boom! I sound like Caruso and these whoppers pop out!” he grinned.
“You’re not helping,” Grace told him as she climbed into the boat with Melody.
“Girls, just where do you think you’re going?” Sebastian asked as they started to push away from the shore.
“I’ve gotta figure this out,” Melody rowed away from the shore, “This necklace means something and if no one’s gonna tell me, I’m gonna find out myself.”
“Melody, please!” begged Sebastian, “You’re making a big mistake!”
But Melody either wasn’t listening or didn’t care, and continued to row away. “Melody?” asked Grace, “Are you sure you want to do this?”
She looked fiercely at Grace and nodded.
“The question is, are we sure we want to do this?” remarked Jane.
“Don’t you remember? Marluxia is out there!” hissed Lucy, “We’re probably saver with Melody then we are back there.
“Besides, we got to protect Melody if she gets into trouble,” added Grace.
“Good points,” admitted Jane.
The shore behind them was disappearing as they headed further out to sea, not knowing someone was watching their every move.
************************************************************************
Morgana was in a very good mood; Undertow hadn’t seen her this happy in years. She squealed with delight about once every five minutes as she watched her crystal ball. Finally she had enough and said, “Oh, this is delicious. This is divine!” She gave a menacing laugh. She snapped her fingers.
“Hurry, Undertow,” she ordered, “There’s a little girl out there who needs our help.”
Undertow grinned and took off. Morgana snapped her fingers again and a group of scuba Heartless appeared. “Make sure no one else interferes! And take care of that Key brat while you’re at it!”
The Heartless hissed with acknowledgement and took off behind Undertow. Morgan turned back to her crystal ball looking to see if any more drama would unfold.
************************************************************************
Sora waited by the small manmade pond of sea water with Donald and Goofy for Ariel to return as they ate a few left overs from the party. Ariel walked out looking very shaken. “Are you okay?” asked Sora.
“I’m fine, it’s just that…” she broke off but said, “I’m going to have to tell Melody the truth. Have you seen Melody? Her she took off a while ago.”
The three of them shook her head and Ariel, looking worried, took off to speak to Eric who had just walked outside. As Sora tended to his sore finger, he heard someone nearby say, “All right, Sebastian, you must remain calm. This is not your fault. All you have to do is go in there and calmly explain...that Melody has run away.”
Sora looked around; he had recognized the voice. His suspicions were confirmed when he saw a red crab pacing back and forth on the beach.
“No reason to lose your head,” Sebastian continued to tell himself, “Whatever you do...you absitively, positutely...must not panic.”
At that moment, Ariel called, “Melody!” and Sebastian started to cry.
“Melody’s gone! Melody’s gone!” shouted Sebastian as he crawled towards Ariel. “Melody’s gone!”
“Sebastian? Well, what are you doing here?” asked Ariel.
“All my fault! I tried to stop her!” Sebastian grabbed the hem of Ariel’s dress, “I don’t deserve to live!”
“Gone?” asked Ariel, panic rising in her voice, “Gone where?”
“Out. Out to the sea,” Sebastian took a deep breath, waving one of his pinchers toward the wall, “With those other girls who showed up des afternoon.”
“Wait a minute!” Sora jumped up, “What other girls? How many were there?”
“T-three,” replied Sebastian, “Two with black hair and da other with short brown hair. They wanted to speak with King Triton.”
“Those girls at the party,” Ariel said slowly, “They asked me about Daddy.”
“Did they mention their names?” asked Sora.
“I believe it was Princess Jane, Grace, and Princess Lucy,” replied Ariel, “Do you know them?”
“Yeah,” said Sora, looking away, “One of them was my sister. But,” he added quickly when he saw Ariel’s worried look, “They probably went with Melody to make sure she would be okay.”
“But where could they be going?” asked Ariel.
************************************************************************
“To Morgana’s,” said Undertow.
“And she can tell me what this locket means, why it has my name on it?” asked Melody.
They were far away from the shore when the fish called Undertow appeared asking the girls what they were doing all the way out from the shore. Grace and the others were listening, not saying anything.
“Oh, sure, kid,” Undertow reassured her, “Morgana’s the best. She’ll help ya.”
Melody looked back at the others. “We’ll hear what Morgana has to say. If she can’t help you, then we’ll try some thing else,” said Grace.
“Okay,” Melody turned back to Undertow, “Then let’s go.”
As the two sting rays with Undertow grabbed hold of the boat’s oars, Lucy whispered to Grace, “Isn’t Morgana the one Sebastian told us that was after Melody?”
“Yeah, but it’s best not to mention anything to Melody just yet,” replied Grace, “If Morgana does try anything, we’ll be there to make sure Melody gets out of it okay. Besides, I think we can handle a Sea Witch over an extremely powerful Nobody any day.”
“That’s true,” nodded Lucy.
“And if Morgana is as powerful as piranha face says, we might be able to ‘persuade’ her to locate Sora and the others,” added Jane.
A fog was dropping over them, becoming so thick Grace couldn’t see the stars above them or five feet in front of her. She reached for a blanket as the air got colder and colder. Before drifting off to sleep with the others, she wondered: were they getting closer to finding Sora or were they only getting farther away?
*And now it's time for part two of figure out the secret boss. Your first clue was:"This character is not from the Disney or Square-Enix universe (that includes Kingdom Hearts, Valkyrie Tales (?) front Mission, Dragon Quest, and Star Ocean), but is well known to gamers."
Second clue is:" it's a he."
Remember once you figure out who it is, come with a strategy to beat this boss! Best one will be posted in the chapter in which the boss appears.