Chapter 8: Meeting a Beast.....
Jackson and the others continued on their way, flying threw space on the Gummi Ship. Approaching another planet, Jackson called for his pals. "Guys, wakey wakey!"
The two snored heavily.
Jackson smiled. "I guess they’re tired." He landed the ship in a large forest. Stepping out, it began to rain. "Ah man......" Jackson noticed a large castle. "Sweet....." He ran up to it and pulled open the door. "Hello?" He walked inside. "Is anyone here?" All of a sudden, some Morning Stars and Dragoons appeared. Jackson called his keyblade. "I guess so.... Bring it!" he cried, slashing threw them quickly. Quickly nailing them with a Gravity spell, they were nailed to the floor. After a few slashes destroying them, Jackson heard a great roar. "Maybe I should go...." Almost wetting his pants, he turned to the door and began to move quietly. He was quickly tackled by someone and was turned in the air to come face-to-face with a hairy beast.
"Who are you?" The Beast roared. "Why are you here? Oh, I know. You've come to stare at the Beast, haven't you!?"
"I... I came..." Jackson shuddered.
"I'm going to throw you into the dungeon." The Beast picked up Jackson and began to drag him.
"HELP!!!!!" Jackson called towards the door.
Lulu yawned as she awoken. "Jackson?" She noticed his chair empty, the door cracked, and a set of footprints leading towards a castle. "Jim! Wake up!"
Jim groaned. "5 more minutes....." He turned over.
Lulu cast a Water spell at Jim, awakening him with a start. "Jackson is gone. I think he went exploring without us...."
Jackson screamed as he hit the wall of the dungeon. Jumping to his feet, he ran to the door to have it slammed in his face. "Let me out! Let me out please!" But the Beast ignored him as it walked away.
Jackson sat on the floor when he heard a cry. Looking around, he saw a young woman. "Hey, are you okay?"
She began to cry. "I thought after Sora saved the rose, he was done with this...."
"SORA?!" Jackson ran over to her. "You've seen him?! When?!" Then he calmed. "Sorry. I just got caught up. What's going on here? What is that creature?"
Lulu and Jim ran up to the castle. "Jackson, where are you?" They cried out.
A hooded figure looked down on them. "Looks like my next challenge is set......."
Jackson sat contently. "So you're saying the Beast was once a man turned into a monster due to a stubborn heart. You and he are in love, but for about 3 days or so, he has been acting strange."
"That's true." said Belle. "I don't know what happened."
"I'll help you, but first we need to get out of here." He walked up to the door and used his Keyblade to unlock to door. The door swung open. All of a sudden, some Gargoyles, Gargoyle Warriors, and Gargoyle Knights appeared. Jackson reached into his pocket. "I'm beginning to tire, so I think it's time to call some pals." He reached for his Duel Charm. "I call on you, Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer!" The deck began to glow and from the stack arose a pale man with a half of a creepy mask. "Ghost Destroying Blast!" The man smiled as he shot energy bombs, stunning the Gargoyles. Jackson then freed them while they were frozen, destroying them. After they were gone, the ghostly man vanished back into the cards.
Belle walked up behind him. "Who was that?"
Jackson grinned. "A friend."
Belle lead Jackson threw the castle, until they entered a large room in the west wing. This new room Belle had lead him to was completely trashed, but in the middle lay the true wonder. It was a beautiful rose with a magic pink glow. However, next to it lay one of pure black.
"This pink one is the beasts, but the other is a mystery." Belle explained.
"I think I got it!" Jackson grinned. "That wasn't the real thing!"
"Huh?"
"Follow me!" Jackson led Belle back to the main hall. "So you see, the beast we see at the moment, the one who threw us in the dungeon, is just a clone."
"I understand now..." Belle sighed. "I believe the imposter is just inside."
Jackson opened the door to the ballroom to find it strangely silent. He entered with Belle close behind. Then, from behind a pillar, appeared the Beast. "Stay back!" Jackson cried, calling his keyblade.
The Beast fell to the floor. Startled, Belle ran over. "Jackson, it's him! This is the real Beast!" She ran over and helped him to his feet.
The Beast groaned. "Belle....."
All of a sudden, another figure appeared at the other side. “So, you won't stay in the dungeon, huh?" The other Beast appeared. "Then I'll have to DESTROY YOU!" The creature's fur turned black, his eyes yellow, and on his chest materialized a Heatless symbol. "Now PARISH!"
A Lighting bolt flew at it, nailing it into the wall. Jackson turned and grinned. "Lulu! Jim! Took you long enough...." he sighed. "That Thing is an evil clone of this princess’s boyfriend."
The Heartless roared. "Friends of his? Then you shall die as well...."
"Let's get him!" Jackson ran at the new creature and his blade began to glow, becoming the Divine Rose keyblade.
The evil beast charged at him and slashed him.
Jim followed up behind, delivering a powerful blow to the thing's head. Lulu began to cast Demi spells, nailing the large creature.
The Beast roared an explosion of dark energy. "Heads up!" called Jackson, casting Aero on himself.
The Heartless Beast laughed. "Foolish humans, I will defeat you all!"
All of a sudden, the real Beast tackled him. "I won't allow you to harm Belle!" The two began a head-to-head fight.
Jackson ran up to attack when a few Shadow Heartless appear. "Oh please..." He slashed threw them easily.
The Heartless Beast threw the normal to the ground. He laughed as some Shadows, 2 Morning Stars and a Wizard appeared. "Get them!" he cried.
Lulu called a Demi spell to absorb the Shadows while Jim began to slash the Wizard. "Get him!" Lulu called.
Leaping over a Morning Star, Jackson ran up to the Heartless Beast. "This ends now!" He nailed the Heartless Beast in the stomach.
The fake Beast roared in anger as it disappeared. Its heart floated towards the heavens. From its corpse, a red orb appeared. Touching it, Jackson felt stronger.
*Jackson learned Firega*
Jackson turn to the Beast. "You okay?"
"Yes..." The beast tried to get to his feet, but fell. He glanced toward Belle. "At least I got to see you one... last...time."
Belle ran over and pulls Beast's paw up to her cheek. She held it there for a second, and then drops it. His head fell back, and his eyes closed.
Belle began to cry. "No, no! Please! Please! Please don't leave me! I love you!"
Jackson begins to tear. "No...."
Belle cried when all of a sudden, a bright light shone on the Beast. Moments later, a human was there. "Belle! It's me!"
Belle continues to look at him skeptically, but then she sees his blue eyes, and instantly knows it is him. "It is you!"
The two kiss. A fireworks display explodes around them. The gloom surrounding the castle disappears, revealing a blue sky. The castle is transformed, with the gargoyles changing into cherubs. Jackson begins to jump for joy as the servants hop out to meet the Prince and Belle. One by one, they are transformed back to their original human conditions.
The Prince smiles. "Lumiere! Cogsworth! Oh, Mrs. Potts! Look at us!" They all cheer.
Finally, the Prince turns to Jackson, Lulu and Jim. "Thank you."
"No problem." Jackson grinned.
Jim smiles. "It was our pleaser."
The new prince bowed. "Take the keychains, Divine Rose and Rumble Rose."
All of a sudden, the enchanted rose floated up and the sky turned black. A keyhole appeared and Jackson sealed it.
Jackson grinned. "Thanks. Just one thing, have you seen Sora?"
The Beast smiled. "I guess you're a friend." He laughed. "He keeps moving ahead, trying to protect worlds. The last time I saw him, he had helped protect my rose from Xalidin."
"Xalidin?"
"A member of Organization XIII." He placed his hand gently on Jackson's shoulder. "You'll catch up, just keep going."
"Thanks." Jackson yelled. They headed for the door. "See ya." Lulu and Jim followed. "So, did you two sleep well enough?"
Lulu sighed. "I'm sorry. We should have guarded you better."
Jackson smiled. "It's fine. Not every day did you have to run from an avalanche. I could see why....." Jackson leapt onto the ship. "Just don't do it again...."
Lulu and Jim climbed on and the ship took off.