(Thanks so much, here's another chapter for everyone. ZeldaFan, I'm adding you to my Buddy/Readers List.)
Chapter Seven: Back in Traverse Town
“Whatever lies beyond this morning is a little later on.”
Joshua awoke in the Green Room of Traverse Town’s Second District Hotel. He rolled over in the soft plushy bed still wearing his full green garb minus his shoes which he had placed neatly on the floor with his gloves inside them. He promptly put on his shoes and gloves and walked to the door connecting his room to the Red Room where the girls were staying. He wrapped his gloved hands lightly against the door.
“Come on in Joshua,” Clarissa said from within. Joshua opened the door gently and found Clarissa sitting on the edge of the huge four-post bed where Kaethe was still resting, murmuring as she fully awoke. Ritz was standing against the wall in front of Joshua when he came through the door. She looked a little sleepy.
“How are you Joshua? Did you sleep well?” Kaethe asked through a yawn.
“I slept fine, how about you three?” Joshua questioned his female companions.
“I don’t think Ritz slept as well as Clarissa and I, but we had a pretty good sleep over anyway.” Kaethe giggled.
“We did, we stayed up for a couple of hours telling stories about places we’ve been and people we’ve met.” Ritz added sleepily.
“You still seem a little tired Ritz. Will you be okay?” Joshua asked.
“Oh, me, I’m always sleepy when I wake up. I’ll be fine after a good breakfast though.”
“Me too,” Kaethe agreed cheerily now standing against one of the bed posts.
“How about we go to that café again?” Clarissa asked.
“That sounds good to me.” Joshua replied. The four departed from the hotel leaving 160 gil for the owner on their way out. The second district was as ebony and starlit as ever before. The hat shop sparkled in the eternal night as they crossed the area into the First District. They walked past Gepetto’s now vacant home and crossed the First District plaza to the Café.
When they arrived there Joshua and Clarissa noticed the young Goron they had seen sitting with the black haired girl Jenny last time. He was sitting at the far table looking quite upset with Opal across the table from him comforting him.
“Hey you two,” Opal said, looking up when Joshua and the others approached, “who are the new ones?”
“This is our new friend Ritz and this is our friend we were looking for, Kaethe.” Joshua explained.
“Ah, I see, well Gergo is quite upset about a friend of his who went missing.” Opal told Joshua.
“It wouldn’t happen to be that girl who was here last time with the long black hair would it?” Joshua asked.
“Yes, that’s her, Jenny, do you know if she’s alright?” Gergo asked.
“Yes, she’s fine we saved her from the Twilight Base and she is now safe with Queen Minnie in Disney Castle.” Joshua replied.
“See,” Opal said, “I told you it would work out alright in the end.”
“Oh, thank you friend, thank you. I just hope I can see her again when all this is over.”
“I’m sure you will.” Joshua smiled.
“Please, friends, stay and dine with us.” Gergo pleaded.
“We’d be happy to.” Clarissa interjected. The quartet pulled four chairs up to the small table where the waitress and the Goron were currently seated. Opal wordlessly got up and went into the café’s interior to prepare breakfast. Joshua and the others waited patiently talking idly for several minutes until Opal returned with two huge platters of eggs, bacon and bagels with cream cheese. Everyone ate hungrily and discussed many things. When the meal was finished the group of four said their goodbyes and left Opal and Gergo for the safe house paying Opal generously in rupees again.
When they reached the Third District they stumbled almost immediately upon a group of Neo Shadows as Joshua and Clarissa had previously. This time there were only six Neo Shadows. All three thought this was quite strange that there were only six.
Regardless, the battle commenced. Joshua charged at the closest Neo Shadow, side stepping its assault and crashing into it with the Diamond Dust. Kaethe jumped into the air and spun into the same Neo Shadow with her Elephant Blade outstretched. She rotated speedily, piercing the Heartless’s spongy ebony flesh multiple times.
Clarissa started on a different one. She bludgeoned it on the head going between downward and straight strokes and dodging its onslaught between strikes. She performed a dodge roll to get behind the Heartless and smashed it across the back. The creature went up in a implosion of blackness and dribbled out orbs of every variety. Clarissa felt the air fly past her right cheek as she narrowly avoided the attack of another Neo Shadow behind her. She turned in time to deflect its second assail with the Rod of Seasons which she had placed horizontally between her hands. Clarissa shuddered with the powerful blow from the monster. She was forced back a few feet, but that didn’t shake her resolve. Not in the least, for she thrust her arm back and threw it forward releasing her rod in the Heartless’s direction. The rod struck the Neo Shadow in the abdomen. It penetrated into the dark being and it collapsed just as its brethren had in a showing of orbs tumbling to the ground like confetti.
The first Neo Shadow slashed at Kaethe, tearing out several dozen blonde strands of hair, but otherwise leaving her unharmed. She spun the Elephant Blade upside down and flipped over the Neo Shadow which was rushing her now. She smashed the golden spike into the nape of its neck while in mid-air. As Kaethe landed on the stone paved ground of the Third district, the Heartless gave in to its demise showering her turned back with health and drive orbs.
Ritz shot a barrage of arrows at a fourth Neo Shadow. Of the two dozen arrows she loosed, twenty-two stuck into the Heartless and after a few pained steps it collapsed to the ground in a puff of surrendered darkness.
Kaethe grabbed a pokéball out of her pink rucksack, and released her Jolteon who cried her name and charged into battle. Jolteon needed no instruction, the pokémon ran up to the remaining two heartless and once she was close to them she released a powerful blitz of electrical energy in the form of thunderbolt. The two black creatures sizzled when hit by Jolteon’s attack. They burst and went up in a plume of dark smoke. Sparks ran along the stone and Jolteon seemed a little surprised at her own strength.
“That was great everybody.” Kaethe cried.
“Jolt!” Jolteon agreed in her harsh tone.
“I wonder why there are so few Heartless. Normally there’d be many more after this, but it seems as if this is it.” Clarissa added in a concerned tone.
“Huh,” Kaethe said, her smile fading to an annoyed frown.
“I just mean, it’s a little strange.” Clarissa added.
“Okay, whatever, but we defeated them didn’t we?” Kaethe replied, trying to not let Clarissa’s speculation bother her.
“You did, but she’s right.” A voice interjected.
“Leon.” Kaethe said turning around to see the familiar face who’d stepped from the shadows with his Gunblade at his side.
“I see you made it safely out of Twilight Town. Who’s this knew girl with the pink hair and skirt?” Leon asked.
“My name is Ritz.”
“So, were you captive there as well?” Leon asked.
“Yes, I was, but the Queen requested I stay with these three, so here I am.”
“Well, we need you four to come right away and read the newest letter we received form the king since you were last here.”
“A new letter?” Joshua asked.
“Yes, it explains a lot more of what might be going on. You’ll see how Clarissa is right about what she said, it is strange, and strange things tend to have some kind of explanation. That’s some of what the king explains, so let’s go read it.” Leon said turning back to the tiny safe house.
The five friends strode to the little house and let themselves inside. Aerith, Yuffie, and Cloud were again waiting for them.
“Here’s the letter.” Aerith said, handing them the message. The four gathered around and read together.
Dear Leon,
There’s some major trouble brewing. I believe that Ganondorf and Maleficent have begun putting their plot into motion. Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Riku have discovered many worlds stricken by girls that have been spirited away. Obviously they are trying to find as many of the princesses of heart as possible. I don’t yet know what they are planning to use these girls for, but it may be some kind of weapon. Have you noticed how the number of heartless has greatly diminished? I think it must have to do with the oncoming war. Maleficent and Ganondorf must be conserving the Heartless until the war so they’ll have more power to exploit. I’ve caught word from the underground that Maleficent is forming an army called the Dark Coalition. I have yet to find out more, but be on the lookout for evildoers being recruited to the coalition. I just hope Sora and Joshua can stop some of these atrocities before it’s too late. I want Joshua and his companions to go to Destiny Islands. There they’ll meet Kairi. I need Joshua to take Kairi with him to make sure she stays safe. I’ve sent word of my plans to Sora, so just let Joshua know, and give him my letter as proof of his allegiances since Joshua and Kairi have not seen one another in a few years. Good luck to all of you.
Mickey Mouse
“We’d better be going then,” Joshua said.
“We’ll see you again Joshua.” Leon replied with a tone of understanding in his voice.
“I’m sorry we must leave so soon, but you know we must.”
“It’s okay,” Aerith said. “We weren’t expecting you to stay long after reading that.”
“Alright, well thank you, and goodbye.” Joshua replied.
“Goodbye.” Aerith replied. The group walked briskly out of the safe house and left Traverse Town aboard the Red Bud once again, with the king’s letter in hand.