The Year Between [Alpha Draft] - Pt 22;

[keybearer]

Chapter 22: An Impromptu Reunion

The clock tower’s exterior masked the true wonder inside. Just one step through the door, and Kairi gawked at the giant gears slowly spinning away. A staircase to her left wound up toward a balcony that stretched across three of the glowing clock faces. To her right, she spotted a stovetop lined with cast iron pans and a white refrigerator marred with dirty smudges along its door. The murmur of a woman’s voice drew her attention past the fridge and toward a red recliner, where Hudson sat, hunched forward with a remote in his hand.

“…tonight marks yet another attack by the shadowy menace,” said the newscaster. “Experts remain uncertain as to the creatures’ origins, but the police have advised citizens to remain indoors after nightfall.”

Just nightfall? That seemed a little odd… Odd enough to draw Kairi towards the television, where she flopped down by Hudson’s side. “What’s all this about?”

“Ah, lass!” He scooted to the edge of his seat. “I’m afraid there’s little to it. Another night of attacks, another report. By this point, I fear they’ve grown redundant.”

“You got that right.” Brooklyn snorted, planting himself down in front of the TV. The others huddled around Hudson’s chair, while the camera shifted to a broad-shouldered man with a blue suit and short black hair.

“This is Travis Marshall reporting live from Times Square, home to an alleged gargoyle sighting.” The view flashed to a grainy image of the Coke billboard, with a greenish blob Kairi assumed was the Windstorm, joined by some other floating specks, no doubt the clan. “Get a look at this, ladies and gentlemen. It appears that these gargoyles and the shadow monsters are at odds with one another, though their motives remain unclear.”

Brooklyn dragged his hand across his face. “Gee. You’d think they’d have figured it out by now.”

“No kidding.” Donald sneered. “What’ve they got against you?”

Lexington flexed his claws and looked back at his tail. “Well, we do look different. Most humans who see us call us monsters.”

“Yeah,” said Brooklyn. “And that’s if they say anything. Most of the time they’re too busy screaming their lungs out.”

“Right, Hudson mentioned that before.” Kairi folded her hands, and then a thought popped into her head. “But if it makes you feel better, you’re not the scariest people I’ve seen. You should see the people in Halloween town—that place has living skeleton, and even he’s not a bad guy.”

Broadway’s eyes widened. “Whoa, you mean there’s a whole place based on Halloween? Is it like one of those fancy theme parks?”

She bit her lip, fighting back a smile. It didn’t work. “Actually, it’s one of the worlds we’ve visited. I can tell you more in a little bit.” But first, they needed to focus on the TV.

The man continued, “Eyewitnesses report seeing… get this, folks, a talking duck and dog among the fray, along with a girl wielding a giant key. Normally I’d dismiss these claims as fear-induced hallucinations, but when the streets run wild with living cars, you start to believe everything. Stay tuned tomorrow night, as we delve further into this mystery.” With the click of the remote, the screen went black, and Kairi’s head bonked into the arm of Hudson’s chair.

At the same time, Donald’s face went through a range of expressions. First he stared at the TV with his beak hanging open. Then his brow bunched up and he started sputtering, growling, and flailing his staff. After Goofy lumbered over to him and wrapped his fingers around its tip, Donald stopped, slumped, and heaved a heavy sigh.

“Aw, phooey! Now everyone in this city’s gonna have their eyes out for us. How’re we gonna find the Keyhole if they’re all hunting us down?”

“The… Keyhole?” said Goliath. “But there are many keyholes in this city. Is there a particular door you wish to enter?”

“Yeah, I don’t get it.” Broadway scratched his head, right behind one of his webbed ears. “Are you trying to get into a locked building or something?”

Kairi slapped a hand over her lips, giggling. “Not exactly, Broadway. The Keyhole we’re looking for is a bit more important.”

“Aye, you said it will protect us from those beasts, correct?”

“That’s the idea, but there’s no way of knowing where the Keyhole’s hidden until you’re standing right in front of it. All we can do until then is guess, and in a city this big, that’s not always easy.”

Goliath’s eyes slid shut, and he exhaled through his nose. “No, I imagine it would be difficult for someone so new to Manhattan. Still, are there no signs? No other ways to distinguish its presence?”

“Well, we got a few ideas,” said Goofy. “Most of the time, the Keyholes are hidin’ somewhere super important. That’s why we came here first, ‘cause a big ol’ clock tower like this stands out next to all them skyscrapers!”

Lexington frowned. “But it’s not, right? If it were, then you guys wouldn’t have to search in the first place.”

“Yeah, just our luck.” A wry smile crossed Kairi’s face, and she shook her head. “There’s a few other places we might check, but we were kind of hoping that Elisa would—”

The sound of Elisa’s laughter and a thudding door pulled Kairi’s focus away from the group and back towards the entrance. “You called?”

Grinning, Broadway scrambled over to her. “Hey, Elisa! How’d it go out there?”

“The news crew didn’t give you too much trouble, right?” It was the first thing that popped into Kairi’s head. After all, things looked kinda hectic out there with all those cop cars…

But she waved it off with another laugh, as if it was no big deal. “I got off easy tonight. If Matt hadn’t come and bailed me out, I’d still be out there dealing with questions about ducks.”

“Why me?” Donald pointed his thumb up at Goofy. “What about Goofy? He’s the giant, talking dog! And he’s clumsy, too.”

Brooklyn snickered.“Sure, but at least we can understand him.”

“Why you…!”

“Enough,” said Goliath. “We will solve nothing by bickering like children. What matters is that Elisa has returned to us. Perhaps we can now get to the bottom of this.”

On her way toward the others, she placed a hand against Goliath’s arm. “That’s what I’m hoping for.” She paused, turning towards Kairi. “Maybe we can start by hearing your side of the story.”

“Well, what do you want to know?”

“I’ve got a whole list, but let’s start with the basics: where are you from, and how do you know so much about those monsters?”

That was… to the point. Before opening her mouth, Kairi scooted back and leaned into the side of the chair. Dropping both her hands in her lap, she looked to Donald.“Can I tell her?”

“Oh, why not? Hudson already knows.”

“Good. That’ll make this a bit easier.” So, where to start… “I guess the most important thing you should know is that we’re not from this city—we’re not even from this world.”

All but Hudson, Donald, and Goofy let out a collective, “What?!” Their eyes became round as quarters, and Elisa stepped back, holding up both her hands.

“Hold up. Last I checked, space travel hasn’t advanced far enough to reach other planets. You expect me to believe you’re from some far off world, where dogs where pants and ducks do magic tricks?”

“But what about their ship?” said Lexington. “Maybe it’s like in science fiction movies, and they can fly at light speed!”

Broadway nodded. “Yeah, it could be like that Kirk guy, and they’re on some kind of mission to explore other worlds and protect the galaxy. Wouldn’t that be cool?”

“So it’s like the Enterprise if it was made of colored blocks…” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Fine, say you’re telling the truth. That still doesn’t explain why you’re here and where those monsters came from.”

“That’s an easy one. First of all, we’re here to stop the Heartless. And as for where they come from…” Her fingers drummed against her knees. “Actually, they come from all kinds of places, but if I had to guess, these Heartless either came here to eat this world’s heart, or this group called the Organization sent them.”

“Yup! They’re these shady fellers with black coats. You folks seen any of ‘em?”

“Guys with black coats…” Brooklyn reached over and poked Broadway’s arm. “Hey, what about that weirdo in the park a few weeks back?”

“Oh yeah! He had this funny instrument, kinda like a guitar, but it made this weird twangy sound…”

Donald huffed and started tapping his foot.“Did he do anything suspicious?”

“Besides making a lot of noise? Nah.” Brooklyn shrugged. “Honestly, he looked pretty jumpy. Bet a tap on the shoulder would’ve given him a heart attack.”

“But Nobodies don’t have hearts!” said Goofy.

“No hearts?” Elisa groaned. “Please tell me you’re exaggerating.”

“Nope! They really don’t, and DiZ says that means they can’t feel anything, either.” Goofy reached for his chin. “Gawrsh, makes ya wonder what he was so jumpy about, ‘specially since he and his buddies are controllin’ the Heartless.”

“What?!” Goliath roared, baring all of his jagged teeth. “Then these Nobodies are the ones responsible for all of the attacks? They are the ones who threaten the city?!”

Kairi’s head drooped, and she pulled her arms over her chest. “If nothing else, they started it. From there, it’s hard to say. Maybe they’ve found somebody to manipulate or maybe they’re still pulling the strings. It really depends…” Tucking some hair behind her ear, she peered up at Elisa. “Can you think of anyone who might want to use the Heartless’ power?”

“Oh, I can think of plenty. Dracon, the Pack, even your run of the mill street thugs. I wouldn’t even put it past Xanatos.”

“Xanatos…” Goliath’s claws dug into his fists, and his back lurched forward. “What if he is using them the same way he used his Steel Clan robots? The citizens are already wary of us, and some of those creatures even look like gargoyles.”

Come to think of it, hadn’t Hudson mentioned him before? They weren’t going to get anywhere unless they were all on the same page, so…

“Could you tell us more about Xanatos? We’re still too new to have an impression. All we’ve really got is a name.”

“Lucky you.” Elisa rolled her eyes. “Trust me, he’s not the kind of guy you want to meet in a dark alley. He looks all charming and suave at first, but he’s practically the prince of darkness.”

“Yes… And it is because of Xanatos, that we lost our ancestral home. He used us and betrayed us, all in the pursuit of his own selfish goals!” His wings flew wide open, and his tail swished from side to side. Wrinkles formed across his forehead and below his eyes, and his breathing intensified.

One thing was certain: just the thought of Xanatos was enough to light Goliath’s fuse. But even so, what’d he mean by ancestral home? And just what sort of goals did Goliath mean? Cracking her mouth open, Kairi raised her index finger and tried to speak, but Hudson blew past her before she got the chance, placing a hand on Goliath’s back.

“Now, lad, don’t forget that our guests have yet to witness his treachery. They may not understand the importance of us losing our castle, let alone how Xanatos has used us.”

“You’re right, Hudson.” Goliath’s posture grew slack, arms dangling at his sides. “It’s a long story, but suffice it to say, my clan and I have not always dwelled within this clock tower. For generations, we protected a castle—the one now seated atop Xanatos’ headquarters.”

“And he took it away from you?” Kairi squeezed her necklace, wincing at the mere thought. Did he rip the castle out of its original location and force the gargoyles to flee? Was there more to it?

“It’s complicated,” said Brooklyn. “I mean, Xanatos is the guy who broke the curse on us, so moving the castle wasn’t the problem. No, the real problem’s the way he treated us like toys until he got bored, whipped up those metal heads, and nearly killed us once we wised up.”

“Yes… And he betrayed our trust by having us steal technology for him, putting innocent lives in the crossfire…” Goliath looked down at his hands. “He had his own men attack us—attack Elisa, and all for the sake of a calculated ruse.”

“And let’s not forget the way he’s using my brother.” Elisa scoffed, gripping at the sleeves of her jacket. “Do you see what we’re getting at?”

Yes, of course she did. With every word, Kairi felt tiny pins pierce her skin. Her once loose posture tightened, shoulders hunching, brow furrowing, and her lips stretching into a straight line. “He’d fit in perfectly with the Organization…”

Brooklyn slapped his palm over his eyes. “Great, so they’re basically an army of mini Xanatoses… Just what we needed.”

“Well, look on the bright side,” said Lexington. “There’s a chance we could find the Keyhole at the castle. If you ask me, we should at least investigate in case—”

A fit of barking drowned out Lexington’s words. Paws scuffled across the brick steps behind them, and Bronx barged into the room, teeth bared and eyes glowing white. Instantly, Kairi hopped to her feet and whipped up her Keyblade. While Donald and Goofy hurried to her side, Brooklyn dashed towards the entrance with the others close behind.

“Hey, what’s wrong, boy? Is something going on out there?”

Another bark, and Bronx stormed outside, forcing the whole group to follow. They barely made it onto the balcony before the temperatures skyrocketed, giving cause to Bronx’s alarm. Flying in from the left, Kairi caught a glimpse of something orange. Whipping around, she twirled her Keyblade. A spiral of air swished around the whole group, deflecting flames the size of soccer balls. Something green zipped past them, with a tail coated in spikes. When three more fireballs whizzed in from the right, Goofy lunged into their path and threw up his shield. Another green figure swooped at them, and Donald thrust his staff forward, blasting its snout with ice.

Wheezing, the dragon flew backwards, crashing into its fellow Heartless. With the air temporarily clear, Goliath leaped onto the railing and shouted to the others.

“There’s no room to fight up here! Broadway, Lexington, keep these Heartless away from the tower. The rest of you, stay alert.”

“Roger that!” Already, Broadway had dived over the edge, gliding around the two dragons and down onto a nearby roof.

Though Brooklyn hopped onto the rail and spread out his wings, he stopped for a second to look down below. Not even a second passed before he shuddered and pointed at the street. “We got a bigger problem, Goliath.”

“Gawrsh, ya mean more Heartless?” Goofy leaned over the edge and yelped. “Yikes! What is that thing?!”

Swallowing hard, Kairi dashed next to Goofy, gripping the rail with her free hand. A number of things stood out right away: smoke coiling up toward the sky. Hordes of black Behemoths smashing cars with their feet, and red-armored Defenders freezing fleeing citizens. Yet all these Heartless faded out of focus at the sight of red lasers flying through the air, shot from the arm of a shining, silver figure. A figure with wings, claws, and a muscular figure not unlike Goliath’s.

“No!” Goliath roared, diving away from his perch. “We mustn’t let that robot see us here!”

“Then we just have to destroy it before it finds you.” Kairi reached for the Gummi Ship’s door, yanking it open. “C’mon, guys! There’s no way it’ll see us coming.”

“I like your thinking, Kairi.” Brooklyn gave her a thumbs up. “Just try not to get too close, okay? Last thing we need’s to become barbequed gargoyle.”

“I suppose that leaves me and Bronx to protect the tower.” Chuckling, Hudson scratched behind Bronx’s ears. “And what about you, Elisa?”

“Why don’t ya come with us?” said Goofy. “Sure beats havin’ to hold onto your buddies while they’re fightin’.”

“Well, it’s not like I’ve got wings.”

“Then come on. There’s plenty of room inside.” Slipping into the ship, Kairi motioned toward the back. When she plopped down in the driver’s seat, Donald huffed, but sat down next to her, leaving Goofy off to the right. While the three of them buckled in, Elisa peered over the back of Kairi’s chair.

“You are old enough to drive, right?”

“Um…” Not exactly, but was there time to argue logistics? Smiling sheepishly, Kairi mimicked what she’d seen Donald do countless times, and cranked one of the levers all the way back. The ship’s engine hummed, and with a spin of the wheel, it shot into the sky, diving down over the streets.

Good thing she’d done this before. Though at first Kairi clung to the wheel, she soon loosened her hold and gave it another spin, making it glide over the tops of the Behemoth’s heads instead of smashing into their backs. Through the window, she saw Broadway and Lexington throwing metal disks at the two Tailbunker’s tails—parts of tires, maybe? Rubbing his hands together, Donald bashed one of the buttons, unleashing a flurry of red blasts at their already tattered wings.

Their wings blackened, and they spiraled towards the road. Just before they crashed, a silver blur rocketed up, grabbing the dragons by their tails. Once it stopped moving, Kairi recognized it as the robot. Was it actually helping the Heartless? Whether it was or not, Kairi and Donald pounded more buttons, sending lasers whizzing towards its torso. A roar alerted her to Goliath’s presence, and she saw both him and Brooklyn rushing in from opposite sides. Releasing the dragons’ tails, the robot rocketed upward, and Goliath and Brooklyn crashed into each other before plummeting towards the ground.

Lucky for them, Broadway and Lexington dove down, grabbing the two gargoyles by the arms. Four more Tailbunkers circled around the group, but another round of laser fire made them scatter in all directions. The robot hovered over a nearby roof, a cannon emerging from its arm. Just when Kairi thought it’d attack, though, it turned the other way and blasted off towards the castle. Even stranger, the remaining Tailbunkers followed its lead.

“Well, that confirms it,” said Elisa. “You might as well put up a red, flashing sign that says ‘Xanatos did it.’”

“We’ll just have to give him a piece of our mind!” Before Kairi could even turn the wheel, Donald reached over and gave it a spin. Stopping her foot down on one of the pedals, Kairi sent the Highwind zooming after both the dragons and robot. Lasers met fireballs, filling the air with puffs of smoke. Above the cockpit, Brooklyn and Goliath dived onto the dragon’s backs, kicked off, and lunged at the ‘bot. It spun around and revealed its cannon, but just as it launched its attack, the two gargoyles forked off and out of the way, passing the robot’s sides and latching onto its wings. Rearing their heads back, the front two Tailbunkers coughed fireballs at the gargoyles and, in turn, their robot ally.

Breathing in, Kairi closed her eyes tight and slapped her hand over the laser button again. From outside the cockpit, she heard a resounding BOOM. When she finally looked out the window again, two things stood out. First, a smoking crater now appeared in the robot’s chest, and second, both Goliath and Brooklyn were nowhere to be seen. Breathing a sigh of relief, she fell back in her chair and wiped a hand across her forehead. Though the robot lifted its canon arm, its body soon grew limp, and it dropped like an anchor in the sea.

“Yippee!” Goofy threw up both his hands, grinning from ear to ear. “We did it! That mean ol’ robot’s history!”

Elisa shook her head. “Don’t get too excited. This is probably just a taste of what he’s got planned for us.”

She had a point. Besides, one look out the window proved that the fun had only started. After all, four Tailbunkers continued flapping towards the castle, spitting out flames, and swinging their spiked tails whenever the gargoyles passed by. Though a few lasers to the back made two dragons erupt in smoke, the constant back and forth movements from Goliath and Brooklyn forced Kairi to hold fire for minutes at a time. When Brooklyn finally ripped through the third dragon’s back and lasers incinerated the fourth, Kairi thought that’d be the end. Then something smashed into the side of the ship, and the cockpit started whirling about. Both Kairi and Donald clung to the wheel, turning it in the opposite direction.

When two minty green figures brushed past them, Kairi struck her left knee and grimaced. Windstorms, at a time like this? The one blessing came in the form of the stone towers rising up ahead of them and the dim lights shining down below them. It’d be crazy to fight those things from the air, but with the castle within their grasp, they could turn this all around. They just had to land first.

Coincidentally, the Windstorms turned tail on the ship and flapped their way over the castle’s outer wall. With the air once again steady, Kairi pulled the ship down onto a patch of grass lit by a lamppost. Unsnapping her seatbelt, she nudged the door open with an elbow and tumbled outside, sprinting out onto the pavement. Keyblade in hand, she charged at the dragons, who perched themselves atop a nearby wall, just above a doorway.

Lightning flickered and struck the Windstorms’ snouts, knocking them backwards and down to the other side of the door. Charging ahead, Kairi sliced across their chests, while more lightning crashed over their heads. Hearts burst from their fading bodies, and she stopped just long enough to catch her breath. From above, she saw streaks of red and purple, which landed two yards away. Brushing off one of his shoulders, Brooklyn approached her.

“Sheesh, way to lay out the welcome mat…” He sighed, dragging his claws through his hair. “So, Kairi, you doing okay?”

“Yeah, it’s all right.” She shook her head and straightened her back. “Besides, we weren’t the ones dealing with the robot directly. How’re you two holding up?”

“Well, other than nearly getting fried, I can’t complain. Helps that we had you guys as backup.”

“Yes, but now we must find Xanatos…” Goliath turned around, folding his wings like a cape. “Come, we must hurry, and do not let your guards down. There is no doubt in my mind that Xanatos planned to lead us here.”

Donald bumped a fist against his chest. “Don’t worry about that! We’re experienced. Whatever Xanatos is planning, we can handle it.”

“Yup!” Goofy chuckled. “’Cause we’re Junior Heroes!”

“Junior Heroes?” Elisa slowly raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you’re not selling yourselves short?”

“Yeah, you make it sound like you’re the sidekicks.” Brooklyn snorted. “But I guess that’s not too far off the mark, right, Kairi?”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. Donald and Goofy started fighting way before I ever picked up a sword. It’s not really fair to call them sidekicks.” She flashed a smile at them and stepped through the doorway. To her right, another set of doors appeared, marked by two glowing lights on each side. The windows up above gave off a dim, yellow glow. Given the way Goliath stomped towards those doors and pried them open with his claws, she suspected they were getting close.

Following the gargoyles and Elisa, Kairi squeezed her Keyblade and took two deep breaths. Once she passed through the doors, her heart froze, and she nearly dropped her weapon. A number of things stood out, grabbing her attention, shaking it, and refusing to let go. A beautiful glass chandelier hung over the tiled floor, casting light across the chamber and onto the beautiful tapestries depicting mythical creatures and warriors dangling along the walls. Beneath the chandelier sat a long, white table, and to the right, a table topped with a black computer, its monitor completely blank. The brick walls clashed with the metallic doors at the back, the coat of arms that rested between them contrasted with the electric lights…

But none of that mattered as much as who she saw up ahead, slashing through Gargoyle Heartless with glowing green claws. Even with his body zipping around at lightning speed, Kairi’d never miss his shadowy form, his bright, glowing eyes, every inch of it set off warning bells in her mind. His partner barely registered by comparison, save for the blue hair atop her head, and even then, her focus remained fixed to Sora’s familiar face.

Brooklyn and Goliath’s eyes lit up at the sight of him, and they bolted at him on all fours. Elisa ripped her gun out of its holster and trailed close behind. Dragged back to reality, Kairi’s once frozen heart accelerated, and she tore across the floor, rolling into their path and spreading out her arms. Donald and Goofy lunged in from the left and the right.

The gargoyles skidded to a stop, and Elisa lowered her gun. A gasp from behind pulled Kairi’s gaze toward Sora’s partner, and only then did she notice the silver Keyblade in her grasp.

And then, as if things hadn’t gotten strange enough, Donald and Goofy’s weapons hit the floor.

“Aqua?!”

They both shouted her name at once. They both stared with wide, unblinking eyes and mouths dangling open. Somehow, some way, they recognized her.

Just what was going on?

x.x.x

It happened so fast. When the doors slammed shut, he thought it might’ve been Xanatos coming in to check on them. Maybe Owen or some robot helpers. So, initially, he kept his eyes on the twirling, slashing, and kicking Gargoyle Heartless. He kept tossing fireballs into their jagged jaws and ripping through their purple bellies, paying no mind to the entrance. Then he heard three sets of footsteps, all charging in at lightning speed. They lacked the tinny sound of metal, and their smells didn’t match up with anyone they’d seen… Something wasn’t right, so he stopped just long enough to take a look.

What he saw made his heart jump, and he skittered back into the wall, grasping at his head. His legs shook—heck, his whole body trembled. It didn’t even dawn on him to sink into the floor until three figures skidded out in front of the gargoyles, forming a wall in their path. He heard a gasp—no doubt Aqua, but with his eyes glued shut, he couldn’t see. But he still felt a strange… warmth a few yards away, which beckoned him away from the wall. Step by step, he stumbled closer to the heat until a hand grabbed his shoulder and held him in place.

When his eyes finally opened, he fell back on his rump, staring slack-jawed at the trio in front of him. Donald and Goofy stood out like sore thumbs next to the two gargoyles, but they weren’t the ones who really grabbed his attention. No, it was the girl in the middle, with red hair just barely reaching her shoulders, a white zip up jacket instead of a tank top and purple pants in place of a skirt. She stood taller than he remembered but he’d recognize that Keyblade anywhere. He’d recognize that light.

And so Sora shakily got back on his feet, rubbing the back of his neck and looking at the floor. He reached for the top of his head, then lifted his arm a few inches, and… yup, she was taller all right. Taller than him. Then again, Kairi wasn’t stuck as a Heartless. Gazing down at his feet, he reached his pocket, but he didn’t pull out the notepad just yet. What would he even say if he did? What was he even supposed to do at a time like this?

Kairi’s voice shattered his focus altogether. “Wait, you guys know her?”

That’s right. Donald and Goofy called Aqua’s name, didn’t they? It was enough to pull Sora’s eyes up off the floor, and he looked between Aqua and the others, all while scratching his cheek.

Goofy nodded, cupping his chin in his hand. “Well, ‘course we know her! Aqua’s one of them Keyblade Masters, and she was pals with King Mickey.”

“So is this where you were all this time?” Donald crossed his arms. “We could’ve used your help, you know.”

Aqua averted her eyes. “I would have liked to help you, but there was no way I could. Not from inside the Realm of Darkness.” She patted Sora on the head. “I’m lucky Sora came and found me, otherwise I wouldn’t be here at all.”

Aw, shucks. He wasn’t that special. All the same, he smiled up at her—tight lipped to hide his teeth. Now that the situation had calmed down a bit, he pulled out his notepad and wrote, ‘Sorry I didn’t tell you guys… I’ll understand if you’re mad. I mean—’

“Sora…” Kairi stared flatly at him and brought her free hand to her hip. Her brow arched, and she strode closer, making him back up a few steps.

He tucked his pen back into his pocket, bracing himself for the worst. Some kinda scolding, maybe even yelling. Of all of them , Kairi had the best reason to hold this against him. He probably got her hopes up by telling her he’d come back, and then—

His thoughts came to a halt when Kairi grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into a hug.

“You dummy… Do you know how worried I was? You could’ve at least left us a note!”

“You know, she’s got a point…”

Not now, Ven. He heaved a sigh, freezing up for a second. What was he supposed to do? Everyone was probably staring at them. And what would Aqua think? He kinda neglected to mention Kairi by name, let alone her Keyblade. Chewing at the side of his mouth, he slowly raised one of his arms, curled his claws against his palm, and returned the hug for a second or two. Then he stepped back and fiddled with his notepad, blowing out a puff of air.

The red gargoyle with the beak squinted. “Okay, can somebody fill us in? I feel like we’re outta the loop here.”

“I could ask the same thing.” Aqua moved over to Kairi, one hand hovering above her lips. “Your light… it’s so familiar to me, and that Keyblade, too…”

“It is?” Kairi blinked, giving her weapon a small flick. “But that can’t be right. I never met any Keybearers before Riku…”

“So there’s more of you?” said the woman with the gun.

“Of course,” said Xanatos.

At the sound of his voice, Sora whirled towards the entrance, where he saw him strutting their way with his head held high, like none of this even fazed him.

“Xanatos!” The purple Gargoyle snarled and charged, but Xanatos sidestepped him. When he charged once again, Aqua dived into his path.

“Wait! Don’t hurt him. Xanatos has done nothing wrong.”

Xanatos crossed his arms and smirked. “She’s right, Goliath. Believe it or not, I know better than to dabble with darkness. It’s just not good for your health.”

“Oh yeah?” The other woman marched up to him, waving a finger. “Then explain why your robot was out there with the Heartless.”

What? Then Xanatos really did use his robots to help the city?

Whatever the case, he shrugged his shoulders, still wearing that same smirk. “Simple, Detective. I wanted to see what would happen if your friends met another Keybearer. And to think that you’re already so close...”

Goliath growled, shoulders shaking and tail thrashing. “But the Heartless came here, to the castle! How can we be certain that you weren’t controlling them?”

“Well, if you’re going to point fingers, we won’t get anywhere. I’d say it’s more likely that the Heartless came here for the Keyhole than anything else—that, and with Aqua doing a little pest control, her Keyblade was like a homing beacon.”

Donald rattled his staff, face beet red. “But that doesn’t explain what do you did to the gargoyles! We heard all about the way you tricked ‘em.”

“And the way ya took their home away from ‘em! How do ya explain that?”

Sora’s eyes bulged, and he scribbled into his notepad. ‘They’re not serious, right?’

Xanatos waved one of his hands. “Technically, I purchased this castle, and in doing so, broke the curse that reduced them to statues. I won’t deny that I made a few mistakes along the way, but I’d say that’s all behind us now.”

“Yeah, sure.” The red gargoyle rolled his eyes. “And that’s exactly why you keep making those robots, right? Because that’ll really win us over…”

“Believe it or not, the robots have their practical uses. Given the amount of Heartless attacking the city, I think it pays to keep the castle protected.”

“And Coldstone?” said Goliath. “Because of you, one of my rookery brothers nearly turned against us, and now he is gone!”

Once again, Xanatos shrugged. “I thought you’d be happy to see a former clan mate restored. That Demona tried to kill you and that he fell into the river are both unfortunate circumstances, but I assure you that they weren’t part of my plan.”

This was getting… confusing. As the gargoyles, the detective, and Xanatos bickered, Sora kept looking back and forth and fidgeting with his pen. What was he supposed to think about all this? From what Xanatos told them, Demona was a mutual enemy, so why’d it sound like she and Xanatos worked together sometimes? The more they argued, the faster Sora’s head spun until finally their words all blurred together.

“That’s enough!” Kairi’s voice pierced through the others’, and she and Aqua stomped toward the group. “Look, we aren’t getting anywhere like this. I don’t trust Xanatos either, but I think we should at least hear him out.”

Aqua nodded. “Please. We have every reason to believe that someone else is behind the attacks—someone far worse.”

“And besides all that, one of your little Nobody friends is here,” said Xanatos. “I think you’d be better off directing your anger at him.”

“Someone else?” The red gargoyle paused, looking up at Goliath. “You don’t think…?”

“Mm…” He shut his eyes. “If there is even a slight possibility, then we have no choice. Tell us what you know, Xanatos.”

From there, Xanatos told them everything. He mentioned Zexion’s appearance, the way he tried tricking Xanatos into using darkness, and his suspicions about Demona. Just the mention of her name made the red gargoyle glower, the lips of his beak peeling back to reveal all his fangs.

“Demona…” He shook one of his fists before smashing it against the floor. “Then what’re we standing around here for?! We’ve gotta go find her, and—”

Goliath squeezed his shoulder. “Calm yourself, Brooklyn. It would be foolish to pursue her without the others. What’s more, it sounds as if this Zexion is a sorcerer… If we wish to save our city, then we must first understand his abilities. His strengths and weaknesses.”

“Maybe that won’t be as difficult as you think,” said the detective. “I hate to say it, but Xanatos, do you think you can find out more about him? As long as he thinks you’re on his side, you’ll have him in the palm of your hand.”

“Perhaps,” he said, “but Sora’s already shared what he’s capable of. In fact, why don’t you show them your note?”

Well, it wouldn’t hurt. Flipping through his notebook, Sora stopped on the page about Zexion and held it up for the others to see.

Both of Goofy’s hands flew over his mouth. “Gawrsh! If he can make illusions, then what’s stoppin’ him from changin’ how he looks? He could be anywhere, or worse: he could try usin’ those powers to mess with our heads!”

Nodding, Sora turned to a new page. ‘That’s what he did to me. If that’s not bad enough, if he sucks you into his bock, you gotta hunt down the right one and beat the snot outta him! And even if you do get out, nothing’s stopping him from copying your powers. The only reason I got away from him was because I hit him with a Sleep spell.’

“Sora, why didn’t you tell me this sooner?” Aqua frowned, casting a glance at her Keyblade. “If Zexion can mimic us, then it’s going to take more than brute strength to beat him. What if he tried to use all our skills against us?”

‘Well, he might have limits.’ Sora twirled his pen, crossing out the first sentence and writing some more. ‘I fought Zexion by myself, technically, so if we all go up against him together, that might give us an edge. Worth a shot, right?’

“I think you’ll have plenty of time to work out a plan. After all, it’s almost sunrise.” Xanatos gestured to one of the windows. Sure enough, a few faint glimmers shined down on the floor. “A bit late to return to your hideout, Goliath, but if you stay here, I can at least guarantee your protection. It’s that, or you try gliding home and become a heap of pebbles on the road.”

The detective winced, fidgeting with her holster. She glanced at the window, then approached Goliath. “Are you sure about this? I can’t spend all day here protecting you.”

“I’m afraid Xanatos is right, Elisa. It would be foolish to leave now…” He turned to Xanatos and stretched to his full height. “But do not think that we trust you. This momentary truce is for the sake of the city, not for you or your heart.”

“I’ll take what I can get. After all, this is bigger than all of us… Good to see that even you acknowledge that.”

Neither gargoyle said another word. As the sunbeams stretched further across the floor, their bodies grew stiff. Color faded from their skin, which shifted to a light grey. Their smooth, toned flesh became hard stone—stone with a sandpapery texture, Sora soon discovered when he placed his hand on one of Brooklyn’s arms.

Elisa sighed, tucking both her hands into her pockets and shaking her head. “You better not try anything while I’m gone, Xanatos. You got that?”

“Wait, you’re leaving?” said Kairi.

“I have to. If I don’t report back to the precinct, they might think something happened to me. And besides all that…” She yawned. “I’m gonna need some sleep, especially if we’re chasing after Demona.”

“Hmm…” Goofy tapped his chin. “Well, how ‘bout we stay here, Elisa? As long as we’re watchin’ the gargoyles, there’s no way Xanatos’ll be able to hurt ‘em.”

“Yeah!” Donald twirled his staff. “He’d have to go through us first.”

“Go ahead,” said Xanatos. “It’ll save me a few robots if the Heartless return.”

Kairi lifted her weapon level with her chest. “But what about the Keyhole?”

“Don’t worry,” said Aqua. “I already sealed it before you and your friends arrived. It won’t stop Demona or Zexion, but at least it’ll buy us more time.”

“Then do you think we could go outside for a minute? There’s a lot I still don’t understand, and I’d like to fix that.” She turned to Sora. “And don’t think you’re getting out of this, either.”

Sora gulped, scratching the side of his neck. He knew better than to slink away from Kairi; even if he tried, she’d probably hunt him down. She’d pull him out of the shadows whether he liked it or not. Not only that, but this was Kairi, one of his best friends. Sure, just standing here made him want to sink into the floor, and the fact that he’d broken his promise still stung, but on the other hand, she was right. It’d been way too long. Besides, Aqua’s reaction to her left a lot of lingering questions.

‘Guess I’ve got no choice.’ He smiled wryly and moved towards the entrance. Both Kairi and Aqua followed his lead, and together, they shoved the doors wide open, soaking in the morning sun.

x.x.x

Perhaps if the group had paid closer attention, they would have noticed a figure lurking in the shadows. Of course, who was Zexion to complain? This revelation certainly turned the tides in his favor, and as the two Keybearers and Sora strode outside, his lips curled up, and he chuckled at the sight. His body sank back into the darkness’ cold grasp, and the light of the Grand Hall faded to black. Once again, he was all alone.

So they wished to face him, did they? And to think, even Xanatos had uncovered his true motives… A slight inconvenience, to be sure, but Zexion was nothing if not adaptable. Besides, two Keybearers meant twice the allotment of hearts. His Superior certainly wouldn’t want him to waste an opportunity.

“No, I think this will turn out perfectly. Especially for you, Sora…”

TO BE CONTINUED