EDIT:
I like it so far, I'm curious see Sora's reaction if he finds Kairi. And I feel your pain about the text editor
Thank you for the response! As for how Sora will respond, that's coming up... after Atlantica and Pleasure Island. C: I'll try and get those posted soon.
Anyway, time for Traverse Town 2. At this point, things are going to get pretty different!
---
[FONT="]Chapter 12: Reunited[/FONT]
[FONT="]When Riku returned to Traverse Town, the last thing he expected was to bump into an old friend. As he stepped through the entrance with Donald and Goofy at his side, he slowly and reluctantly headed towards the Accessory Shop. All they really had to do was talk to Cid, get their ship patched up, and they’d take off again. It’d be a quick, easy, and probably boring trip overall, but maybe they’d find some answers while they were at it.
That’s what he thought, anyway, until he heard a sudden and, more importantly,
familiar voice from behind.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Riku!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Riku came to a grinding halt, as did Donald and Goofy. That sounded just like
Sora. But could it really be him? It took a moment for Riku to turn around, but when he did, his suspicions were confirmed. There he was, hurrying straight for him with the most ridiculous grin on his face. Talk about pleasant surprises.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Sora reached Riku pretty fast, and he stopped just a few feet away to catch his breath. It figured that he would get overly excited. Even if it’d been a while since they last saw each other, nothing changed. Forget about shock and surprise, Riku waltzed right up to Sora with a great big smirk.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“What’s the big rush about?” he said, leaning forward with his eyes locked on Sora.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Donald looked at both of the boys and raised a brow. He circled around Sora and groaned. “Hey, who’s this kid?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Sora perked up right away, looking at Donald with a wide, open smile. Knowing him, he was probably stoked to see a duo of dumb, talking animals.
“My name’s Sora!”
He looked Donald and Goofy over for a few seconds, and then he darted right up to Riku. Once he came close enough, he grabbed onto Riku’s cheeks and gave them a nice, firm, tug.
“Sora, what are you—” Riku squirmed, pushing Sora’s hands away. “Cut it out!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]At first Sora gave a sheepish laugh, stepping away from Riku. “Sorry about that! I guess I kinda got carried away…” It took a few more seconds for him to continue, “But it’s really you, right?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“No, I’m really Tidus.” Rolling his eyes, Riku nudged Sora with his elbow. “Of course it’s me.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]This time, Goofy stepped forward. “Gawrsh, Riku, is this one of yer pals?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Before Riku could answer, Sora said, “You bet! Me and Riku are best friends!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Best friends?” Donald crossed his arms and circled Sora briefly, coming to a stop right back where he started. “In that case, maybe you could try and talk some sense into him. Riku’s been causing a load of trouble lately.” He paused, taking another step towards the Accessory Shop. “But that’ll have to wait. There’s something we’ve gotta take care of first.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“You guys go ahead,” Riku said, shaking his head. “I’ll be right behind you.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Donald sighed. “Well, alright, but don’t go wandering off. Once we get this Gummi checked out, we oughta get moving.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Despite his reluctant tone, Donald headed for the shop without another word and Goofy followed, although he stopped briefly to wave at Sora with a soft chuckle.
“Nice meetin’ ya, Sora!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]When both Donald and Goofy disappeared from sight, Sora turned back to Riku, tilting his head. “Hey, who were those guys? New friends?” [/FONT]
[FONT="]“Friends?” Riku laughed. “Sora… they’re not my friends. Not even
close.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Really?” Frowning, Sora leaned to the side to get a quick glimpse at the shop in the distance. “But if they’re not your friends, how come you’re traveling with them?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Why? Riku groaned. He could go on and on about the reasons. Their mission, fighting the Heartless, and his own choice to go and see other worlds… But that could all wait for now. Sora was here, and there was no way he’d miss a chance to catch up with him.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Tell you what,” he said. “Let’s ditch this place; I’ll tell you more on the way.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Are you sure, Riku? I thought that duck said not to take off…”
Riku shook his head. “Doesn’t matter.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Donald and Goofy were both inside, so it wasn’t like they’d
see if he and Sora wandered off. Besides, this was the first time he’d seen Sora since the islands disappeared. Why waste that chance by talking to a geezer in a shop when he could hang out with his best friend? If they got upset, it’s not like they’d do anything drastic. After all, they were the ones who dragged him along…[/FONT]
[FONT="]Riku pointed towards the steps leading to the shop. “C’mon, Sora. Let’s go to the Second District. It’s not as busy out there.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“All right. Lead the way, Riku!”
He took off without a moment’s hesitation, watching as Sora slowly trailed behind him. On the way, he kept getting distracted by all the buildings, barrels, and mail boxes. He couldn’t have been in town long if those things were like eye candy to him. Still, Sora had a tendency to get wrapped up in the littlest things, as long as they were cool to him. Shrugging, Riku showed him the way to the Second District’s entrance, and then he pushed the doors wide open. After boggling at the doors for a few seconds, Sora followed him inside.[/FONT]
[FONT="]No Heartless appeared this time, and the whole place looked deserted. Overall, the District remained cool and quiet, and once he and Sora made it past the door, Riku leaned up against one of the shops with a shrug. Meanwhile, Sora stepped over to the nearby railing, peering down towards the fountain and the benches below. He took a good look at the lower area before turning to look at the shops across the way, specifically the hat shop. The more Sora soaked in his surroundings, the more he grinned.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Riku,” he said, “This place is so cool! I bet there’s all kinds of stuff in those shops, and—look—” – He turned to the gizmo shop, pointing to the very top—“A real clock tower!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“It’s not bad.” Riku shrugged. “But compared to the other worlds I’ve seen, this town’s pretty plain.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Really?” Sora tilted his head. “So where’ve you been all this time?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Where haven’t I been?” Gazing out into the center of the district, Riku continued, “After we got separated, I showed up here. It’s where I bumped into those idiots… Been stuck with them ever since.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“How come?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Because,” Riku said, “it turns out I’m some kind of ‘chosen one’. Remember that Key?”
Sora nodded. “Yeah, definitely! You used that to fight the Heartless.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Exactly[/FONT][FONT="].” Riku smirked. “Apparently they got some kind of mission from their King, and it’s got everything to do with me. They said my Keyblade’s ‘the key to their survival’.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Sora gasped, looking Riku over in awe. “Whoa… So you’re a hero now!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Once again, Riku shrugged. “More like a ‘Junior Hero’, according to
someone I met.”
“Junior hero?” Oddly, Sora didn’t laugh, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to get back at him for all the teasing he’d done over the years. But instead, he pulled out a wing-shaped sword and held it high. [/FONT]
[FONT="]“I guess that makes me a ‘Junior Hero’, too!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]The sword was definitely new. Black and menacing, it completely clashed with Sora’s personality. The weapon was definitely
cool, and it was good to know that Sora had a way to defend himself, but a Junior Hero…?
“You sure you’ve got what it takes?” Riku’s smirk widened, and he pointed up at Sora’s sword. “Sure, you’ve got a fancy weapon, but what makes you think you can pull off being a hero?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Hey!” Sora puffed out his chest, narrowing his eyes with a pout. “I’ve done all kinds of stuff, Riku! I rescued Alice, and I’m learning how to use magic—”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Alice. So Sora was in Wonderland, too? Before he could continue, Riku interrupted.
“Hold it, Sora.
You’re the one who took Alice?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Frowning, Sora lowered his sword with a nod. “Yeah, but I didn’t just take her, Riku! I rescued her from the—hey, wait a sec! How’d you know about Alice?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]So the Cheshire Cat was right all along. Another boy— talk about ironic.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“I know about her because I was
there.” Stepping away from the shop, Riku moved towards the railing. From there he turned to look back at Sora, his expression stern. “Wonderland was the first world we visited. If I’dve known you were there, I would’ve ditched those guys ages ago.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“But how come? Don’t they need you?”
Need him? Probably, but that was hardly a reason to go on and on about the world order, meddling, and keeping him on such a tight leash. Those two had done barely anything to win his favor.[/FONT]
[FONT="]He let out a quiet groan. “Maybe they
do need me, but I sure don’t need them. The only reason I agreed to tag along was so I could get to other worlds.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Well…” Sora hesitated. “Maybe you can come with me, Riku! There’s this lady named Maleficent, and she’s the one who helped me get here. I bet she’d let you stay with us instead.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Maleficent, huh?” Riku’s eyes narrowed. So Sora had his own ‘traveling buddy’… “And who is she?”
“Well, uh.” Sora paused, scratching his cheek. “She’s this lady who lives in a place called Hollow Bastion! When I met her, she wanted to help me right away, and all I had to do was save Alice.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Hollow Bastion… It had to be another world. And from the sound of it, this ‘Maleficent’ wanted Alice for some reason. Could she really be trusted? Given Sora’s vague description, it was hard to say, and it took Riku a few moments to think things through before he responded. On one hand, he’d be traveling with Sora, leaving only Kairi to be found, and, provided Maleficent was less uptight than
Donald, he wouldn’t have to worry about meddling or some mysterious king. But on the other hand, could she be trusted? Something seemed vaguely fishy about all this…[/FONT]
[FONT="]Nevertheless, Riku nodded. “Well, we’ll see. I’d have to meet her myself.” He placed his hand against the edge of the railing, giving it a light tap. “By the way, you seen Kairi?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Before Riku could even blink, Sora let out a sigh. “Not yet.” Scratching his head, he added, “But Maleficent promised to find her, so I’m sure we’ll be together in no time!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“You never know, Sora.” Stepping away from the edge, Riku gave Sora a light push. “Maybe she’ll beat us to the punch. This
is Kairi we’re talking about.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“You really think so?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Not just think, Sora.” He shook his head and tucked both of his hands into his pockets. “I know. Besides, someone has to pick up your slack.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Letting out a soft groan, Sora straightened his shoulders and flung his arms to the side. “Hey, I’m not a slacker! I’ve been really busy since we left home.”
Riku held up his hand and prepared to speak when a sudden
CREAK from behind caught him by surprise. The sound of footsteps followed, accompanied by mutters and an all too familiar squawking. Donald and Goofy must’ve caught on. This wouldn’t end well.
He sighed, turning to face them as they stomped right up to him. Donald grimaced and groaned as he approached, while Goofy looked over what appeared to be some kind of tattered, old book.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Once Donald got close enough, he came to a stop, tapping his foot with his scowl still in place. “What’s the big idea, Riku? You said you’d be—”
“Gawrsh,” said Goofy, scratching at the side of his head, “I don’t think Riku did anything wrong. Why, I’ll bet he just wanted to catch up with his friend!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Sora nodded, hesitantly moving towards Donald. “Yeah, we didn’t mean to upset you guys. Riku just wanted to catch up with me, and I guess we got a little distracted…”[/FONT]
[FONT="]After a moment’s pause, Donald’s expression softened, and he let out an exasperated sigh. “Well, alright. I guess that’s okay—but just this once. If we make too many stops, then we’ll never get to the King in time!” He pointed to the book that Goofy held in his hands. “Anyway, Cid’s gonna install the Gummi Block, but he asked us to bring this book to the Third District. You coming or what?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Sora gasped. “Hey, wait—the Third District? I haven’t seen that part of town yet!”
“Hey, I've got an idea!” Clapping both his hands together, Goofy smiled warmly at Donald and Sora. “Since you ‘n Riku are pals and all, why don’t ya come with us? The Third District ain’t too far, and I’m sure Riku’d love to have ya along.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Donald’s head snapped back in Goofy’s direction, and he let out a startled squawk. “Hey! Who said you get to decide?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Well, uh.” Frowning, Goofy rubbed at the tip of his nose. “Maybe if we let Sora tag along for a little while, then Riku won’t hafta run off. Could it hurt ya guys to get along for a little while?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Goofy’s right.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Stepping forward, Riku peered down at Donald with both hands on his hips. The fact that he actually
agreed with Goofy for a change was crazy in its own right, but, for once, he had a point.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“If you want me to cooperate, you’ll have to do more than push me around. So far you haven’t given me a reason to care about you
or your so-called ‘mission’.” He looked over to Sora, who quietly observed their debate, occasionally shifting in place. “Besides, I haven’t seen Sora since the Islands
.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Well…” Donald paused, bringing a hand to his beak. He looked off to the side for a few seconds and let out a quiet sigh. A few moments later, he nodded. “Alright. But only until we leave, okay?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Somehow, that went smoother than expected. Nevertheless, Riku smirked, giving a nod in return. What they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Fair enough.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]With that out of the way, Sora finally stepped forward, taking his place right next to Riku. Despite a few scuffles here and there, everything seemed to be working out perfectly.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Thanks a lot, guys!” he said, lacing both hands behind his head. “I’ll try not to cause any trouble on the way.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Forget about trouble. Just try not to fall behind!” Huffing, Donald turned towards the direction of the hat and shoe shops, pointing a finger at the path before them. “The quickest way to the Third District’s this way, so we’d better get going. Merlin’s waiting for us to bring him the book!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Then what are we waiting for?” Riku groaned and slowly took a few steps in front of Donald. “You’re the one who’s in a hurry.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Scowling, Donald trudged past Riku and slowly headed down the path. “I’m getting there!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Together, Sora and Riku followed Donald and Goofy into the lower part of the District. On the way, they passed several buildings, and Sora kept slowing down in order to take in his surroundings. Riku had to keep pushing him along in order to keep up with Donald. They could save the sightseeing for later.
Eventually, they came across a dark alleyway. While numerous bright lights and signs decorated the rest of the district, the only notable features in the alley were the lights shining through the windows of the neighboring buildings. A single set of double doors sat at the very end, and the sign above it marked the entrance to the Third District. Before they knew it, they’d slipped on through. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Just like with the Second District, it didn’t take long for Sora to frantically look around the immediate area. However, while he took in the sights and sounds, Riku skimmed the area with a scowl. Something seemed… odd. The last time he entered the Third District was when the Guard Armor attacked, and while he and the others defeated it, the fact that no Heartless appeared made no sense. It wasn’t just the Third District, either. Back in the Second District, it was the same exact thing…[/FONT]
[FONT="]Shaking his head, Riku said, “Something’s been bugging me for a while.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Huh?” Sora quickly turned toward his friend, scratching his head. “What d’you mean, Riku?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Well, just think about it.” He took a few steps forward, glancing over to the other entrance. “Ever since we got here, I haven’t seen one Heartless.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Donald’s brow furrowed, and he nodded. “Hey, you’re right!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Before he could say anything else, Goofy interrupted. “Maybe Leon and the others already took care of ‘em!”
Maybe that was it. Leon and the gang
were pretty strong; it wouldn’t be hard to wipe out any remaining Heartless, but at the same time, Riku was the Keybearer. Weren’t the Heartless supposed to
fear his weapon and come out of nowhere? It was almost like the Heartless were avoiding them on purpose. But why…?[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Well, no need to get worked up over it.” Riku took a quick look around. If the Heartless weren’t going to show up, it wasn’t a huge loss. They had other things to worry about, anyway. “So, where exactly do we bring that book? Place looks deserted.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Goofy leaned forward and squinted. “Well, Cid said there’s this old house around here somewhere. All we’ve gotta do is look for a fire sign!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Hey, look!” Facing the far left corner of the district, Sora pointed towards the opening to another alley. “Maybe we should look in there! It’s gotta be worth a shot, right?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Donald nodded. “Good thinking!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]The group made their way for the dark alley within a matter of seconds. This particular alley was almost entirely empty, save for a red door at the end. On the door appeared a cloth with the image of a flame on it; if this wasn’t the ‘fire sign’, then
nothing was. Unfortunately, the door lacked any knob or handle. If anything, it was just an obnoxious barrier. Though Donald tried tapping and knocking, the door wouldn’t budge, and before long he stepped back with an aggravated sigh.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Looks like we’ll have to use magic to get through,” he said, pulling out his staff.[/FONT]
[FONT="]But before Donald could act, a small fire spell flew from the tip of Riku’s Keyblade, and the door immediately slid up and out of sight. With that out of the way, he dismissed his weapon and looked down at Donald with a smirk. Meanwhile, Sora stared with his mouth wide open, and Goofy chuckled. Donald, however, rolled his eyes as he entered through the doorway. Naturally, the others followed suit.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Inside, they found a large, dark chamber filled with water. A small island floated in the distance, with an odd, hat-shaped house on top of it. In the dark, it was hard to make out all the details, but Riku caught a glimpse of some purples and other colors. Fortunately, a path of floating rocks led the way to this house, making it a cinch to reach their destination. All they had to do was hop from stone to stone, and before long they made it to the old house with ease.[/FONT]
[FONT="]But there was just one little problem: there was no door! At least, none on that side. It took another minute or so for them to circle the house, until they came across a cracked opening in the wall large enough for them to slip through.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Just like the chamber outside, the inside of the house was pitch black. Not only that, but the whole place looked completely empty, other than some dust and cobwebs in the corners. As the four of them entered, Goofy let out a soft moan, slowly twiddling his thumbs, and it took a soft push from Donald to get him all the way in. The two of them moved towards the center of the room, while Sora and Riku stayed close to the entrance.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“You sure this is the right place?” Folding his arms, Riku looked at his surroundings with little interest. Between all the damage done to the place and its emptiness, it sure didn’t seem like the kind of place
anyone would live in. Was Cid playing them the whole time?[/FONT]
[FONT="]Donald shook his head, continuing to look for any signs of life. “It’s gotta be! Remember the sign?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]
He remembered, alright, but that didn’t change the fact that the place was a total wreck.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“So, what? We just wait until someone shows up? I thought you were in a hurry.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Our mission’s important, but Cid’s going out of his way to fix our Gummi ship.” Scowling, Donald hopped up onto the platform in the center of the room to get a better look. “It’s the least we can do to thank him.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Well, go ahead and wait. Just don’t expect me to stick around.” Riku turned to Sora and added, “C’mon, let’s go wait outs—”[/FONT]
[FONT="]But Sora didn’t respond. Instead, he stared at one of the walls with a look of horror on his face.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Kairi?”
He walked towards one of the walls with his eyes wide open, and he reached out his hand. And did he just say… Kairi? But why? The whole place was empty, and it’s not like she could turn invisible. Something wasn’t right about this, and Riku quickly clasped a hand on Sora’s shoulder, giving him a firm shake. [/FONT]
[FONT="]“Hello? Earth to Sora.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Riku shook his shoulder one more time before Sora finally calmed down. Rubbing at one of his eyes, he sighed.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Sorry about that. I could’ve sworn I saw—”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Kairi?” Riku laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. If Kairi was here, I think we’d
all know.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“If anyone was here,” Donald said, “we’d know by now. I just hope whoever lives here shows up soon.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Grumbling with each step he took, Donald circled the center platform with both hands behind his back. Occasionally he’d stop, tap his foot, and take another look around the room, but so far nothing changed. Similarly, Goofy looked left and right, shuffling back and forth on the platform, but like Donald, he found nothing. Even the sound of footsteps didn’t throw them off.[/FONT]
[FONT="]No, it took the sound of a strange, new voice to catch the entire group off guard, Riku included.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Well, this is interesting! I knew that I’d be encountering three of you, but a fourth as well? How peculiar.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Immediately, they all turned towards the source of the voice. A tall, old man stepped into the room with a large bag in one hand and a magic wand in another. This man, clad in a light blue cloak and a matching hat, approached the center platform with a smile, placing his bag right next to it.[/FONT]
[FONT="]But everyone else looked at the man with varied expressions. Donald and Goofy gawked at this man, and as he drew closer, they shuffled for the book. Meanwhile, Riku pushed himself away from the wall, stepping further into the room with a deadpan look on his face. If this was the guy they were waiting for, the least he could do was apologize for taking so long. But nope, here he was, acting like
they were early.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Hold it, old man,” he said, stopping just a few feet from the platform. “You said that like you
knew we’d show up.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Of course!” The man chuckled, giving his wand an idle flick. “You see, I knew from the very beginning that there would be visitors. You two especially.” He pointed his wand at Donald and Goofy, who both looked at the man with puzzled expressions.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Goofy scratched the side of his head. “But how’d ya know?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Snickering under his breath, Riku turned to Goofy with a smirk. “Who knows? Maybe he’s a
Heartless.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“A Heartless?” For a brief moment, the man’s eyes went wide, before he shook his head and smiled once more. “Oh, no. Far from it, my boy!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Then who are you?” Sora moved closer to the others, holding one hand to his chin. “You’re dressed kinda funny, and you’ve got a wand… Does that mean you’re a wizard?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]With a soft chuckle, the man gave his wand another flick, and the room instantly lit up.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“You’re very close! I’d prefer the term sorcerer, but indeed, whether you call me a wizard, a magician, or something as dreadful as a ‘warlock’, I possess many skills in the art of magic.” He paused briefly, turning his attention back to Donald and Goofy. “I’m often traveling to far off worlds, which is why I wasn’t here sooner. But here I am, ready to serve you, as your King requested.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Hey, wait a sec!” Donald leaned forward with his staff still in hand. “You know King Mickey?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Right you are, Donald. And you...” Looking over to Goofy, the man stroked his beard. “You must be Goofy.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Yup, that’s me!” With a bright smile, Goofy slid down from the platform’s edge, tucking the book under his arm. “By the way, mister sorcerer, sir, Cid told us to bring this book to ya!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Now, now. No need for such formalities.” Again, the man chuckled. “Just call me Merlin. As for that book, I had a feeling I’d be seeing it again. Do hold onto it for a moment, please. There’s still so much to do and much to explain. Now then,” he whirled around, looking back at Riku, “who might you be, young man?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Name’s Riku.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Riku… I see!” Merlin nodded, leaning to the side with his eyes on Sora. “And you there, who are you?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Who, me?” Sora pointed at himself, tilting his head. “Well, uh. My name’s Sora, and I’m Riku’s best friend!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Splendid! In times like these, it’s important to stay close to your friends; it’s far too easy to get separated, thanks to those infernal Heartless.” Stroking his beard, the man remained quiet for a few seconds. “Now then, one which of you is the Keybearer?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Rolling his eyes, Riku held out his hand, as the Keyblade appeared. “That’d be me.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Ah, good! With that out of the way, I believe we can get started.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Donald hopped off of the platform, moving right next to Goofy. “So what’d the King ask you to do?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“One moment, please.” Scooping up his suitcase, Merlin stepped up onto the middle of the platform. Once there, he opened the suitcase and placed it in front of him, readying his wand in his other hand. With a brisk wave of the wand, he began to chant, “
Higitus Figitus migitus mum… Pres-ti-dig-i-ton-i-um!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Following the chant, several objects flew straight out of the bag, one after another. A table and its cloth, several tea cups and a sugar jar, and a multitude of books all bounced through the air in a single file line, organizing themselves throughout the empty room. And as the objects danced through the air, Sora, Donald, and Goofy quietly gasped in awe of this unusual spectacle. Even Riku had to blink twice to ensure that this was all
real, as more books, a grandfather clock, and even a
bed emerged from the suitcase.[/FONT]
[FONT="]A minute passed before Merlin gave one last wave of his wand, and the suitcase snapped shut. The entire room remained quiet for a few brief seconds before Sora started clapping. Donald and Goofy looked at each other briefly before they, too, gave Merlin a round of applause. With a groan, Riku joined in, though his applause lacked the enthusiasm of the others’. Nevertheless, Merlin gave another chuckle, followed by a bow.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Anyway,” he said, “your King asked me to train you in the art of magic. We can begin at any time, of course, though I imagine you all have business to attend to. The worlds are quite busy, and your journey is just as important as your skills.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Riku shrugged. “Never hurts to pick up new tricks.”
“Yeah, exactly!” Sora grinned, propping his sword against his shoulder. “I mean, I’m gonna be learning magic soon, too. I bet it’ll be a blast!”
“Are you now?” Merlin squinted, eying the sword, and then he stroked his beard. “Well, if you’re ever in need of my expertise, I would gladly extend a hand to the Keybearer’s friend.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Meanwhile, Goofy stepped over to the platform’s edge, holding out the book again. “So, Merlin, what do ya want us to do about this book?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Ah, yes!” Taking the book, Merlin quickly brushed one hand against the cover. He opened it briefly, flipping through the pages, and then he placed it down on the table. “This book has been in my possession for quite some time now. Years ago, I found it buried beneath my belongings, and it’s been with me ever since. It was such a curious book, but over the years it’s suffered quite a bit of wear and tear, which is why I asked Cid to repair it.” Glancing down at the table, Merlin frowned. “Unfortunately, many of the pages are missing, and unless they’re found, this book’s secret shall remain a mystery. Until then, feel free to take a look at it whenever you like.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Gotcha, Merlin!” Donald nodded. “So what do we do now?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Well,” said Merlin, looking over to the exit, “I suggest you and your friends speak with Cid at once. After all, you wouldn’t want to keep him waiting now, would you?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Goofy frowned. “But what about that trainin’ you talked about?” [/FONT]
[FONT="]“Never fear. I’ll gladly assist you on your journey, but there’s a time and a place for everything. For now, I suggest you head to the small house on the other side of the District, where you’ll doubtlessly find Cid and the others.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Well, you heard what he said.” Stepping away from the room’s center, Donald pointed towards the hole in the wall “We’d better go see what Cid’s up to. For all we know, he could’ve finished fixing the Gummi Ship.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Works for me.” Without any hesitation, Riku slipped through the hole. “C’mon, Sora. Let’s get going.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Uh, right.” On his way out, Sora gave Merlin a little wave. “Bye, it was nice meeting you!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Once Donald and Goofy left the old house, the group immediately headed back outside, hopping across the many stones. They continued onward until they reached the center of the Third District, where Donald and Goofy began to look around for the house Merlin mentioned. Across the way, they spotted a balcony with some buildings just above it. Surely one of them had to be the place. The closest building even had a small door in plain sight, and getting there would take a minute or two tops.[/FONT]
[FONT="]With a huge, silly smile, Goofy pointed towards the top of the balcony. “Well, I guess we oughta head that-a-way!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Riku shrugged. “Lead the way, I guess.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]With that, Donald and Goofy headed towards the small balcony, where they spotted a flight of stairs. While Riku stayed fairly close to the duo, he stopped a few times to look back at Sora, who moved a bit hesitantly. It was pretty strange, considering his enthusiasm just minutes ago. Was something wrong? While Donald and Goofy reached the top of the stairs, Riku stopped halfway, heading back to where his friend stood.[/FONT]
[FONT="]But Sora paid no attention to Riku. Instead, he kept his eyes fixed on the larger balcony close by. It looked like he was staring at something or some
one, but who could it possibly be? Raising a brow, Riku marched right up to Sora and tapped him on the shoulder. Then, he pointed at the small house. [/FONT]
[FONT="]“What’s the hold up, Sora? Aren’t you coming?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Sora hesitated. “I really wanna go with you, Riku, but there’s something I’ve gotta do!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“What are you talking about?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“It’s about Maleficent. Look, she’s right up—” Sora pointed up at the other balcony, but there was nobody there. Was he going crazy or something? Drooping, Sora shook his head and continued, “Well, she
was there. Anyway, I should probably check up on her, but I swear I’ll make it quick! You go see Cid, and I’ll be back in a bit.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]That was… odd. Sora
did mention Maleficent earlier, but for her to show up out of the blue… Whoever she was, chances are she had some pretty strange priorities. Just letting Sora walk off wouldn’t do. He had to get to the bottom of this.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Here’s a better idea,” he said. “Why don’t I tag along? Might as well meet this friend of yours.”
“Well, I—” Sora turned to the balcony again, scratching his head. “I don’t know, Riku. I mean, Merlin said it’s really important to go talk to Cid, and we could always catch up later!”
He crossed his arms and gave Sora a deadpan look. Something
really was off about this. Why the heck was Sora acting so nervous? What could possibly be the problem? Riku sighed.
“I still don’t see the big deal. Besides, if we don’t go now, Donald might catch on, and I don’t want to be
stuck with them.”
“Just give me a little time okay?” Sora frowned. “I just wanna double check a few things, and then I’ll be right back. I promise!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Leaning forward, Riku looked Sora straight in the eye. He stared at him for a few seconds, and then he sighed. “Just make it quick. Donald’s probably gonna want to take off after this, and I don’t want to miss my chance.”
He looked away, bringing a hand to his chest. “Don’t worry, Riku! I’ll be really quick about it.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Got it. I’ll see you later, Sora.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]The two boys parted ways, each of them heading for their appropriate destinations. While Riku headed up the stairs, where Donald and Goofy waited for him, Sora left through the door leading into the Second District. With his best friend off in another part of town, Riku saw no reason to linger, instead slipping through the door of the small house without so much as a word. Inside, he spotted Leon, Cid, and Aerith amidst many cardboard boxes and crates lining the walls.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Right as they entered, Cid greeted them with a smirk. Unlike Leon and Aerith, who were both in their twenties, Cid was an older man, dressed in a plain, white shirt, blue, baggy pants, and a pair of goggles resting on his head. A small toothpick rested in his mouth, which, combined with his muscular stature and the few hairs on his chin, gave him a rugged appearance.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“I’ve been wonderin’ when you’d show up,” he said, placing his hands against his hips.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Donald huffed. “Hey, it’s not our fault that Merlin was late.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Simmer down, will ya?” Shaking his head, Cid glanced out the window. “I figured you’d take care of that old book, but right now there’s somethin’ else we ought to talk about.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Gawrsh.” Goofy tilted his head and rubbed at the tip of his nose. “What do ya mean, Cid?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]This time, Leon spoke, eying the trio sternly. “It’s about Maleficent.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Maleficent? Riku’s eyes went wide at the familiar name. So these guys knew about her, too? From the sound of it, they weren’t too happy about her, either. Still, maybe they’d be able to explain who she was, something that even Sora seemed vague about.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Maleficent, huh?” Opting to act clueless, Riku stepped forward, folding his arms over his chest. “And who’s that?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Cid scowled, and he looked directly at Riku and said, “She’s a witch, man, and a nasty one at that.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Nasty’s an understatement.” Leon shook his head. “She’s the reason this town is full of Heartless. And not just this town…”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“So, wait a minute.” Frowning, Goofy stroked his chin, paying close attention to what Cid and Leon both said. “Are ya sayin’ that she’s controllin’ all the Heartless?”
So she was the one in control of the Heartless… But, if that was true, then what about everything Sora said? When they talked about her before, he made it seem like she had good intentions. Saving someone like Alice hardly sounded like the work of a
witch, unless there was more to it. Then again, Leon and Cid wouldn’t lie about this. Thus, as they continued to explain their situation, Riku grew more and more anxious until…
“But Sora’s been with Maleficent this whole time!” he said, wincing. “He told me that she’s been
helping him.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Immediately, the room became quiet. Leon and Aerith looked to each other silently, while Donald and Goofy turned to Riku with a look of surprise planted on their faces. The idea that someone as friendly as Sora had been staying with a witch was a lot to grasp. Even Cid, who probably didn't
know Sora, looked shocked, and overall, not a single person in the room looked calm or collected about Riku’s revelation. Maybe he shouldn’t have opened his big mouth, but at the same time, he
had to know what was going on. If this was the only way, then so be it.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Eventually, Leon stepped away from the wall and walked right up to Riku. “So, Sora’s been with Maleficent. If that’s true, then she probably tricked him.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Cid nodded. “Wouldn’t surprise me. That old witch ain’t above usin’ others for her dirty work.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Frowning, Donald looked up at Riku, but this time he didn’t scowl or sneer. “Riku, what’s goin’ on here?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Look, I don’t know.” Riku sighed. “All he said was that Maleficent helped him get here, and I guess he’s the one who took Alice from Wonderland.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Gawrsh, I wonder why that is…”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Leon placed a hand to his face. “Why don’t you tell us what happened in ‘Wonderland’? It might help us get to the bottom of this.”
TO BE CONTINUED[/FONT]