All That's Left [Alpha Draft] - Pt 21;

[keybearer]

Chapter 21: A Brand New Groove

Once they reached Yzma’s lab, the gang stumbled on a pleasant surprise. Well, almost pleasant, anyway. On one hand, Kuzco was standing right in the middle of the room. Unfortunately, a whole mob of guards surrounded them, aiming spears, axes, and maces at his long, shaggy neck. Yzma watched the whole thing with a sickening smirk, while Kronk fidgeted in place, keeping his eyes off the others. Though the guards made no moves, Kuzco squirmed all the same.

“Guys, come on! You gotta at least recognize my voice.”

Yzma laced her fingers together, striding over to the guards. “It’s no use, you treasonous worm! The kingdom has long since moved on since the emperor’s death, but your cruel murder shall not go unpunished!”

Pools of darkness formed around her feet, and golden, clawed hands dragged armored bodies out of the floor. With Yzma still focused on Kuzco, she must not’ve noticed the others, but Kronk seemed to catch on, as he immediately tapped her shoulder.

“Uh, Yzma, you might wanna turn around.”

She swatted his hand away, scowling. “Not now, Kronk! Can’t you see that I’m busy?”

“Well, yeah, but—”

Cupping a hand over his mouth, Goofy whispered to the others. “Say, fellers, ya think we oughta tell ‘em?”

“Nah,” said Riku, eying a shelf full of glass vials. “But since she still hasn’t caught on…”

Donald rubbed his hands together and then tip toed across the floor. Grinning, Sora flattened himself and hurried ahead, while Pacha tucked his hands behind his back and crept at Donald’s tail. All the guards kept glowering at Kuzco even with the three of them passing by, but Kuzco gave them a quick look, a smirk sliding across his snout. It faded fast, though, and he went right back to whining.

“Okay, I admit it! I should’ve treated you better, but do you really wanna turn me into a Heartless?”

She snickered, leaning close. “Let’s just say you’re being let go, that your life’s going in a different direction, and your body is part of a permanent outplacement.”

Once again, Kronk tapped her shoulder. “Seriously, you might wanna see this.”

Snarling, Yzma slowly turned her head. Gasping, Pacha rummaged through the shelves, glancing across all the little labels, from lions, to tigers, to bears. Popping out of the floor, Sora skimmed the bottom shelf, while Donald grabbed the vials one by one, gave them a quick glance, and shoved them back into place. Bracing himself, Riku lifted his Keyblade, while Goofy leveled his shield with the circle of guards and Kairi gripped her necklace with both hands. Finally, Yzma’s eyes fell on the gang, and while Riku fully expected her to break into a furious outburst, she instead stepped away from the guards, straightened her back, and greeted them all with a hideous, wrinkled smile.

“Well, it’s about time you showed yourselves! I was beginning to think you’d abandoned him.” Reaching behind her back, she cackled. “Oh, and by the way, I believe this is what you’re looking for!”

Donald froze, dropping one of the potions. “But I thought you didn’t have the antidote!”

She rubbed the vial between her thumb and index finger. “Did you honestly believe I’d leave it behind?”

Goofy covered his mouth, chuckling. “Well, ya shoulda kept it hidden!” He launched his shield at Yzma’s waist, then shouted across the room. “Heads up, fellers!”

The shield struck her in the side, sending her staggering, while the vial flew through the air. Eyes wide, Sora lunged across the floor and snatched the tube before it hit the ground, but the circle of guards broke away from Kuzco and came rushing at him straight away. They didn’t get far before pillars of light streaked across the lab, ramming their backs and knocking them off their feet. The Sun Warriors, once idle, leaped into action, scampering at Riku until Goofy slammed his shield over their heads.

One of the guards climbed back to his feet and swung his axe at Sora’s chest. Leaping back, he stuck out his tongue, but Kronk rushed in from behind.

“Don’t worry, Yzma! I got this.” He tackled Sora, sending the tube flying once more, and Kuzco leaped at the opportunity, snapping his jaws in an attempt to catch it. However, two Sun Warriors threw themselves onto his back, pinning him down while Yzma scooped up the vial once again.

When Donald and Riku both bolted her way, Yzma whistled to the guards, who formed a wall around her and began swinging their weapons blindly. Fireballs flew at their feet and sent them scattering, while a slow ticking reduced them to human slugs. A chorus of bleats made them collapse in a heap, and Sora zipped over to a lever, dropping those guards through a trap door. Once he finished, he dashed over to Kairi and gave her a high five, but their victory ended when several bubbling bottles flew their way.

A barrier flashed around them, and the bottles shattered. Purple and green fumes filled the air with a sour stench, but Yzma was hardly deterred. While more Sun Warriors charged across the lab, Yzma grabbed several beakers and test tubes and hurled them straight at Riku. He ducked and rolled across the floor, and the bottles smashed into the Heartless, transforming them into a parrot, a donkey, and a bullfrog respectively. He spent a few seconds dashing between the crazy creatures, but with their armor gone, Oblivion’s teeth sliced straight through them.

Now that the Heartless numbers had dwindled, Riku, Kairi, and Sora all charged at Yzma, joined by Donald and Goofy within moments. With a face like a wrinkled prune, she dived behind one of the tables and hurled more potions, but while they leaped off in different directions and evaded the bottles directly, the potions exploded all over the floor, filling the air with smoke, fire, and sharks of broken glass. Once again, a barrier wrapped around them, saving them from some nasty cuts.

But it seemed Yzma still had some tricks up her sleeves. By the time the barrier vanished, she’d scrambled all the way across the room and latched onto another lever. Teeth clenched, Riku waited for her to crank it before he sprung backwards and tossed his weapon at her waist. The Keyblade smacked her against the wall, but she skittered across the door and pulled several more levers.

Trap doors began opening one after the other, forcing the gang to hop across the tiles in a crazy game of hopscotch. After leaping onto a solid chunk of the floor, Kairi twirled her Keyblade, casting a wide ring of energy. It spread to several of the gaps in the floor, pulling the trap doors shut.

With that, the group rushed at Yzma, weapons drawn and claws raised. Gulping, she bolted across the floor, but her efforts were thwarted when Pacha rammed into her back, once again knocking the potion out of her clutches. Sadly, Kronk swept it up on its way down. A nice save, but stupid on his part, because now he was a walking target. As a matter of fact, Donald launched himself at the big brute, and Kuzco and Sora came barreling behind.

Riku stayed still, not wanting to break the vial, but the others soon had him up against a wall.

“Y’know, I’m starting to think this was a bad idea.” He bit his lip, then eyed the shelf, then eyed the vial. Just as the three came within reach, he slammed his shoulder into the shelf and dropped the vial into the pile. Sora, Donald, and Pacha all skidded to a stop, and everyone in the room but Kronk gawked at the pile of potions.

“Well, I had to do something…”

Yzma raised her index finger, then tapped her chin. “Actually, that was rather clever…”

“Oh man!” Kuzco dashed for the vials, sifting through them one by one. “Would it have killed you to use labels? I can’t work with this!”

“That’s the point,” said Yzma, but Pacha pushed right past her, kneeling near the pile.

“We’ll just have to take them all!”

“Oh, I think not.” Yzma reached under her dress, whipping out a large, jagged knife and tossing it to Kronk. “Now, put that muscle of yours to use and finish them!”

Riku set his free hand on his hip, cocking his head to the side. “You do know you’re outnumbered, right?”

“He’s got a point,” said Kronk. “It’s, like, seven to two. Not the best odds.”

Yzma grumbled and snapped her fingers, and a whole new squad of Sun Warriors sprung out of the floor. “Does this help?”

The Heartless were quick to charge at both Kuzco and Pacha, launching their spears at the back of their necks. Shrieking, Kuzco dropped all the potions he’d grabbed and darted across the floor. At the same time, Pacha ducked behind the shelf, missing the spears by a hair. It was a close call, but one of Kairi’s Magnega spells swelled near the ceiling, scooping up the Heartless and Yzma along with them.

“Do something, you imbecile!”

Goofy sat a hand down on Kronk’s shoulder. “Ya know, maybe ya oughta stop listenin’ to her!”

Nodding, Sora lifted a new note. ‘Aren’t you tired of getting bullied around?’

“Now that you mention it…” Kronk gazed down at the knife, then up at the ceiling. “Hey, uh. You guys might wanna stand back.”

A quick glance up revealed the reason for his warning; a large chandelier dangled high above their heads, suspended by a single rope. When Kronk charged at said rope, Riku immediately jumped back, and Kairi and Donald swiftly followed suit. The three of them joined Kuzco and Pacha near the potions just in time to watch the Magnega fizzle out and drop Yzma back on the floor.

Gritting her teeth, she dusted off her dress and then stuffed a hand down her pocket. “I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this, but you’ve left me no choice. It was silly of me to trust you in the first place, Kronk, when you have the intellectual capacity of a shrew…” Another cackle slipped out of her as she revealed a bubbling, black vial. “But with this, I’ll be unstoppable! Invincible! You will all rue the day you—”

CRASH.

The chandelier struck the floor, shaking the entire room, but despite Kronk’s efforts, Yzma remained in one piece. She fit through the hole in the very middle, but as the light came down, she stumbled, and her precious potion slipped from her grasp. It sailed through the air, and while the others rushed to catch it, a white figure zipped across the floor and scooped it up in its tiny hands.

It wore a loose, white robe with an orange mushroom hat, and though the Heartless emblem on its belly caught Riku’s attention, the little guy made no sudden moves. Instead, it looked at the bottle, made a squeaky giggle, and took off in a sudden sprint.

“W-what? Get back here!” Yzma hurried behind it, cranking a lever on her way across the floor. The ground beneath Kronk opened into a trap door, and he dropped before their eyes. Fortunately, Sora launched himself down the hole, and seconds later, both he and Kronk reappeared in a twist of black smoke. By then, both Yzma and the Heartless had already vanished down the hall, and Pacha scooped up the last of the potions in his arms before turning to the others.

“Shouldn’t we go after her?”

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea,” said Kronk. “Not too sure what that potion does, but if it’s bubbling and black, I’d say it’s pure evil.”

“Ugh, as if she wasn’t scary enough.” Kuzco’s tone was dry, and his face flat. “Well, fine. We can sort through these potions later.”

At first Pacha blinked, and then he gave a hearty guffaw. “Wow, you really don’t mind waiting?”

“Uh, yeah? Yzma kinda takes priority here.” He paused, taking a glimpse on the floor, but just as he turned toward the hallway, more dark corridors swirled into view. Was it Xigbar’s doing? Well, whatever the case, Kuzco soon took off like a bullet. “Uh, on second thought, maybe we should try ‘em on the way!”

The others followed suit, though not without launching some attacks. Strips of glowing dots lined the floor. Green, orange, and blue flames flew like cannonballs, and the wind surrounding the group whipped up in a giant whirlwind, deflecting all incoming spears. Feathered serpents hissed and dived, firing off lightning with each beat of their wings. While the wind weakened the strikes, sparks still scattered behind them, forcing Goofy to take up the back and shield them from sudden shocks.

Along the way, Pacha passed Kuzco various potions. While the wind continued whipping and lightning continued to crash, Kuzco changed from a turtle, to a parrot, and to a humungous sperm whale. His sudden weight from that last transformation made the ground beneath them crumble, and they all splashed into a stream down below, their falls cushioned by repeated blasts of Aeroga magic aimed below their feet.

Strike Raids sliced Sun Warriors in two, and Magnega spells flung the flying serpents in circles. Slashes from Riku’s Dark Splicer attack froze the straggling Heartless in midair, and he, Kairi, and Sora all climbed onto Kuzco’s back, launching a combined barrage of green fireballs, glowing white orbs, and smoky black bullets at their foes. When the Heartless faded, they leaped down onto solid ground, and with another swig, Kuzco poofed back into a llama, splashing the water with glee.

“Yay, I’m a llama again!” He paused. “Wait…”

While Riku was about to comment, he heard something crack. The stench of gunpowder drifted through the air, and he whirled around.

“Oh, so you’re back for more?”

There was no response, save for a loud screech, and the water in the canal started seeping away, dragging Kuzco and the others with them. Shoving thoughts of Xigbar aside, Riku hurried after his friends, grabbing Kairi and Goofy’s wrists, while Sora tugged Kuzco and Pacha to the ledge. The temperature abruptly dropped, and the water hardened to ice, allowing Donald to slide across its surface and meet the others on the pavement. Though the current froze, a large gap formed in what Riku assumed was a drainage system. Nearby, he could hear the sounds of Yzma’s shouting.

“For the last time, give me the vial!”

Waving his hand, Riku led the others toward the hole. Yzma’s shrill screams continued from above, but how were they supposed to get there? Moving ahead of the others, Sora slipped through the gap, and when Riku followed, Sora latched onto his wrist. Digging his claws into the solid gold nose, he tipped his head up, and Riku snapped his fingers, flickering onto the ledge up above. Soon, Sora hauled Kairi through another portal, and the others drifted up inside transparent spheres.

Once they’d all hit the ground, Pacha held up the last two potions. “All right. It’s gotta be one of these…”

“Well, that just means I’ll have to finish you here!” said Yzma, pinning the Heartless’ robe with her heel. Though it squirmed, she paid it no mind, reaching down for the bottle. Watching her, Riku braced himself for the worst and raised his weapon at her chest, but to his surprise, Kuzco passed one of the vials back to Pacha and brushed right past him.

After giving the potions a dumbfounded look, Pacha trailed close behind. “What are you doing, Kuzco?”

“I’m about to blow your mind.” And after stretching out his neck, Kuzco threw himself at Yzma like a rushing train.

But at the last second, she stepped away, and Kuzco instead crashed into the Heartless and sent it and the bottle toppling over the ledge. At that moment, everything froze. Nobody made a sound, and they all stared at the empty space where the White Mushroom once stood. There was no thud, just the sound of something shattering, followed by an explosive boom and an eruption of black smoke.

Slow, heavy wing beats sounded from below, growing faster and faster. Mere moments later, a monstrous black figure emerged, with large pointed ears, a pig-like snout, sharp tusks jutting out of its lips, taloned feet, and leathery wings tipped with trails of black mist. A hulking bat, this new Heartless’ face wrinkled up, and it reared its head back. Before anyone got a chance to move, it unleashed a deafening screech.

Said screech launched rings of black energy, which blasted the group against the gold wall. The ledge trembled violently, and the potions sailed through the air. Gasping, Kuzco bolted after the bottles with Pacha right behind him, but Yzma broke into wild laughter.

“Perfect! The formula actually worked!” She rubbed her hands together and pointed toward Kuzco. “Now go, Camazotz, and rip out his heart!”

The Heartless dived downward, but Donald rushed to the edge of the ledge. “Oh, no you don’t!” Sparks swirled around his staff, and a surge of lightning struck the beast’s back. It whipped back around, baring its fangs, and rammed right at Donald with its mouth open wide.

Shoving him aside, Goofy flung his shield into its eyes, and the Heartless reeled back, shrieking in pain. Seeing this, Yzma hissed and flung herself down from the ledge. She slid down a curved slope and leaped onto a smaller platform, hopping after the feeling Kuzco and Pacha.

The Heartless grunted, then descended after her. A yelp from below told Riku that it’d swiped up its target, and soon it arose with Kuzco gripped in its talons. A rough predicament, to say the least, since one wrong move risked dropping Kuzco to his death. Granted, Riku was far from the type to back down from a challenge. Eyes locked on the Heartless, he took off in a sprint, but just as he prepared to leap off the ledge, another blast of sound waves sent him flying backwards. Luckily, Kairi caught him in her arms and pushed him back on his feet.

“Careful, Riku. We don’t have much space.”

“But that’s about to change.” Aiming his Keyblade at the sky, he shouted for Tink, and the little pixie came fluttering down in a matter of seconds. Her pixie dust showered the gang, and Riku kicked off the ground, soaring around the Heartless and slamming into its back.

The blow knocked the beast closer to the ledge, and Kairi dived at its talons, hurling her Keyblade at its ankle. Hissing, the Heartless loosened its grip, allowing Kairi to scoop Kuzco up in her arms and carry him back down to Pacha. Stubborn, the Heartless swooped after her, but Riku crashed on top of his head, kicked off, crashed again, and sprung back into the air. He followed this up with a blast of Dark Firaga, stalling it long enough for Sora to dive onto its wing and start shredding the leathery membrane.

Down below, Yzma and Pacha tussled atop a smaller ledge. Glowering, Yzma jabbed Pacha with her elbow, making him drop the two vials, but as she reached down to grab them, Kuzco dived down from a higher ledge and delivered a kick to her back. On her way down, she crashed into Pacha, sending him teetering over the ledge. Her face crashed into one of the vials, and black smoke swallowed her from head to toe, and when it faded, she was replaced with a fluffy, purple kitten.

What might’ve made Riku laugh barely registered when he caught Pacha clutching onto the ledge. Though he dived towards him, the Heartless, lunged into his path, beating its wings and shaking off Sora in the process.

Cackling, Yzma scooped up the vial and dangled it over the ledge. “Looking for this?” Her voice came out about as squeaky as Chip’s or Dale’s, and she paused, blinking. “Is that my voice? Is that my voice?” She shrugged. “Oh well.”

Whatever came next was drowned out by the sounds of the Heartless’ screeching, and Riku and Sora both took off in the opposite direction, while Kairi wrapped herself, Donald, and Goofy inside a large barrier, deflecting those obnoxious sound waves. The blast blew back in the Heartless face, and it squirmed and writhed in agony. A wall of white pillars rammed into its chest, and Kairi dived down from her perch. Swooping down, she scooped up Yzma, but Yzma fumbled the potion and started clawing at her face.

Something inside Riku snapped, and he hurled himself at that obnoxious cat, grabbing her by the tail. Before she could claw him up, he tossed her back onto the ledge, and Goofy grabbed her like a football, arms wrapped around her belly.

“Now, why don’t ya sit down and think about what you’ve done?”

“Never!” she hissed, digging her claws into his sleeves. “Now let go of me, you buffoon!”

Goofy’s grip loosened, but as Yzma dropped toward the ground, Donald slid in and banged his staff on her head. Her eyes whirled about, and she fell onto her belly with actual stars and dancing around her head. Riku decided not to question it. He didn’t have time, what with that stupid bat Heartless flying at his face.

I got this, Riku! Sora crashed onto its shoulder and started tearing into its wing again. It kicked and screamed as his claws left long gashes, and Sora dashed onto its other wing. More lightning bolts pierced its skull, and Donald twirled his staff with a smirk. Leaving Yzma behind, Goofy landed on its back and bashed his shield over the back of its head.

“Kuzco, help!”

With Yzma out cold, Kuzco swept his hooves at a ledge up above, where the potion lay perfectly still. His eyes kept darting between the vial and Pacha, who steadily slipped closer and closer away. How could they have forgotten about this?

Forgoing another attack, Riku made a mad dash for the ledge. He extended his arm, ready to take Pacha’s hand, when Kuzco clamped his jaw on the back of his shirt and pulled him back up.

He cocked an eyebrow and cracked a smug grin. “Thanks, but I got it covered.”

“Well, you’re still gonna need a lift.” Riku whistled, and Tink came fluttering back down, squinting at the two strangers. Riku pointed at the duo, then floated away. “Hey, can you hit these guys, too? They’re gonna need it.”

As Tink sprinkled her dust, Kuzco sneezed, and once he noticed her, his jaw dropped. But Tink just huffed and floated back into the sky.

Snickering, Riku said, “Just think happy thoughts, and you’ll be fine.”

By the time Riku made it back to the Heartless, both its wings were littered with jagged holes, and it wobbled about, fluttering its wings in a feeble attempt to stay aloft. Brow creased and eyes narrow, Riku flew circles around it, letting black beads of energy surround Oblivion’s tip. The Heartless swiped its talons at his back, and he took an abrupt dive, throwing himself back on the ledge and waving his Keyblade in a mocking gesture.

Gurgling and growling, the Heartless charged, but the onslaught of Dark Volley reduced its wings to Swiss Cheese. Kairi, Sora, and Donald all skidded next to him, with Goofy thundering in from the left. Still fluttering, the Heartless sluggishly moved closer, but its body swayed from side to side, and it whimpered with each flap. Nonetheless, it reared its head back one last time, no doubt ready to launch a final assault.

In the split second before it attacked, the group exchanged a glance and then rushed their flying foe. Goofy’s shield smashed its jaw shut. Orange and green fireballs pelted its whole body and lit its fur ablaze. To top it all off, Riku and Kairi crossed Keyblades, then thrust their weapons forward all at once. Black and white orbs swirled around each other, then joined to form a single blast.

The combined assault reduced the Heartless to dust, leaving only a large heart in its place. Though the group lingered for a few more seconds, they soon made their way back to the ledge to find Kuzco and Pacha staring slack-jawed at the whole display.

But Kuzco shook it off fairly fast, clearing his throat and waving the vial. “Okay, I’ll admit it. That was pretty sweet.”

“Are you kidding?” said Pacha. “It was amazing! I’ve never seen anything so… well, I’m still not sure how to describe it.”

“Take it easy,” said Riku, wiping the sweat off his face. “I’m just glad it’s all over.”

“And the potion’s still in one piece!” Kairi added. “So are you ready to change back?”

“Technically, I was ready two days ago.” But he popped off the cork, grinning at the others. “But, hey, this was fun. Not sure I’m eager for any more danger, but the flying was so worth it.”

Pacha patted Kuzco on the back, giving a deep, rumbling chuckle. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you wanted to stay a llama.”

“Yeah, no. I’d kinda like to get my thumbs back.” He furrowed his brow, tugging at the cork with his jaw, but the thing refused to budge, and Pacha plucked it out of his grip.

“Here, let me get that for you.” He popped off the cork, then passed it back to Kuzco.

“Well, see you on the other side!”

The potion worked like a charm. In seconds, Kuzco transformed from a shaggy mess of fur to a tall, lanky young man with a narrow face and pointed chin. His red robes returned, along with a fanned, golden headdress and huge, round earrings. And once they finally made it back inside, and after they’d passed Yzma to Kronk, Kuzco asked the group to take them out to the village. Just what was he planning this time?

Well, to Riku’s pleasant surprise, he brought no guards, no soldiers, just Pacha and the others. He led them up the hill without a word, and along the way, Riku noticed a distinct lack of Heartless. A few black smudges dotted the grass, and a few of the roofs bore dents and holes, but when they got within a few yards of Pacha’s home, Riku blew a huge sigh of relief. Like the others, the home stood squarely in place without a single dent or scrape.

Once they reached the front porch, both Chicha and Tiz slipped outside, and while Tiz scowled at the sight of the emperor, Chicha extended her arm in front of him, meeting him halfway.

“So, I heard you want to destroy our village. Care to explain?”

Kuzco chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. “What’s there left to explain?”

“Wait a sec!” said Donald. “Are you…?”

“Hey, I think I’ve ruffled enough feathers for a lifetime.”

“So what changed?” said Tiz. “You seemed pretty sure of yourself before.”

Kuzco set one hand on his hip, gesturing at the hill with the other. “Pacha lied. He said that when the sun hits this ridge just right, these hills sing.” He turned to Pacha, poking his chest. “Well, pal, I’ve been dragged all over these hills, and I didn’t hear any singing, so I’ll be building my summer home on a more ‘magical’ hill.”

Pacha rubbed his chin. “Couldn’t pull the wool over your eyes, huh?”

Kuzco waved his finger. “No, no, I’m sharp. I’m on it.” He turned to Chicha and Tiz. “Looks like you guys are stuck on this tuneless hilltop forever.”

Chicha cracked a wry smile, folding her arms. “We’ll survive, but thanks for your concern.”

“Oh, but I’m not done yet. See, Riku told me that you had a little run-in with the Heartless, so I figure I could maybe send some guards your way. A little extra protection, no strings attached. I’d say it’s a pretty sweet deal.”

Pacha’s eyes popped wide open, and he let out an airy laugh. “Wow. You really have changed. Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” He reached for Kuzco’s forehead, but Kuzco batted his hand away.

“No touchy!”

That one outburst made the others all laugh, and Goofy patted him on the back. “I’m real proud of ya, Kuzco! Now that you’re shapin’ up, I think you’ll be a swell emperor.”

“Hey! What’d I just say?”

“Whoops. Sorry ‘bout that!”

Riku was about to comment when the clouds passed over their heads, and the sun’s warm rays caressed the grassy hill. Though he heard no singing, his and Kairi’s Keyblades flashed into their clutches, and Sora bolted ahead, waving a hand. With the others close behind, they moved to the other side of the house. A Keyhole appeared just below it, nestled in the grass, and twin beams of light shot into the gap, sealing it with a click.

Kneeling down, Chicha brushed her hand over the grass. “Okay, could someone explain what just happened?”

Kairi beamed, crouching beside her. “We sealed the Keyhole, so now your world really will be safe.”

A light frown tugged at Tiz’s lips, and he cupped his chin in his hand. “Then it won’t disappear?”

“Nope! The Heartless might still attack sometimes, but they’ll never make it to this world’s heart. And now that Yzma’s out of the way, maybe the people here can live in peace.”

“Yeah. Once we leave, Xigbar won’t have a reason to stick around.” Riku turned to Kuzco. “I mean, it’s not like you’re dripping in darkness anymore.”

“Heh. Was there ever any doubt?” The few seconds of silence that followed served to answer Kuzco’s question, and he faked a small cough. “But anyway, it’s too bad you guys can’t stick around. I was just starting to get used to you.”

Kairi giggled. “Well, maybe we’ll be back some day. And if not, there’s a whole village of people here just waiting to get to know you.”

Scratching his head, Goofy moseyed over to Tiz. “So, ya thought about comin’ with us?”

A light frown tugged at his lips, and he gazed between Chicha and Pacha. “Well, I suppose I can trust the emperor with the village, but I’d hate to leave you all behind.”

“It’s all right,” said Chicha. “You should go find your friends.”

Pacha nodded. “I’m sure the kids’ll understand.”

Sora stood up straight, bumping his chest with a fist. ‘C’mon, it’ll be great! You’ll get to ride in a rocket, see the stars…’

A soft chuckle escaped him. “That does sound pretty promising.”

‘And just wait’ll you see Ringabel again! He’s in for a huge surprise.’

Just watching Sora scribble those notes filled Riku’s heart with warmth. It was good to see him so cheerful. So excited, and even better knowing that Tiz would finally see a friend again, and that they’d helped Kuzco overcome his own greed. Sure, this trip took longer than he expected, but between the shimmering sunlight and the smiles all around him, he knew it was all worth it in the end.

So they said their goodbyes and parted ways, cramming into the ship with a new friend on board. As the Highwind blasted through the atmosphere, they waved goodbye to Pacha’s village and to the glistening gold palace beyond the jungle.

Yet in spite of their victory, a nagging doubt crept into Riku’s mind. Between Xemnas, Luxord, and now Xigbar, a cold dread began to coil around him. Just what was the point of stalking him? Was Xigbar just bored, or was there some ulterior motive involved?

x.x.x

The last time Sora’d visited Grandship, it’d sat stationary, parked just outside Traverse Town. The stars hung overhead, glittering but still. Now they blazed by, as if flying backwards through the sky. He could feel the planks vibrating under his feet, though no engines roared. Below, he heard the sound of a slow banjo playing, and a soft, soothing voice sang about some kinda ‘Rainbow Connection.’ Smoke crept out of the chimneys of the nearby shops, and light shone from all the scattered windows, from the Inn to the shops to the windows up above.

Sora crept along the deck with a huge grin glued to his lips, but Tiz lagged behind, turning in a circle with wide-eyed wonder. He stared at the weapon shop, gazed up at the winding stairway, and poked his head over the rail as if this was all totally new.

“I can’t believe it,” he said. “It’s exactly the way I remember it.” He stepped back, looking to Sora. “Well, almost the same. I don’t think it was ever this busy before…”

Sora’s grin grew, and he felt his chest shake with what would’ve been laughter if it weren’t for his current condition. ‘It was Ringabel’s idea. Ever since you guys lost your home, he’s been picking up all sorts of people whose worlds got taken by the darkness.’

Tiz’s eyes widened. “And he’s been doing that all by himself?”

Sora nodded, standing up straight and puffing out his chest. ‘Tons of people get separated when their worlds disappear, so he’s been working super hard to help those people and get ‘em back with the people they care about.’

“I don’t suppose he’s been flirting with them…”

Leaning forward, Sora blew a small sigh. ‘Yep. You should’ve seen him around Aqua. He kept calling her all these fancy names and asking her out on dates. Guy’s way too shameless.’

Tiz laughed. “That’s Ringabel for you.”

But where’d he go? Sora expected to see him on deck. Was he busy piloting? That’d explain the movement. Just as Sora started creeping around the deck, he heard the thumping of footsteps and the smell of black coffee. Coffee, and a deep, almost bloody smell mixed with smoke. When he looked up and saw a familiar pompadour, he leaned onto his hands and squinted. Was Ringabel feeling okay? He must’ve been in a daze because he moved right past Sora and Tiz and leaned over the vine-coated rail, taking a sip of his coffee with bags under his eyes.

Sora heard Tiz gasp, but brought a claw to his lips. Why ruin the surprise? After tucking his pen into the rings of his notepad, Sora crept up behind Ringabel and tapped his shoulder, prompting another gasp on his end.

“Ah, Sora! What a pleasant surprise.” He let out a shaky laugh, turning sideways. “Is Aqua not joining us tonight?”

‘I got someone even better.’ He rose to his full height, pointing his thumb over his shoulder. At first, Ringabel’s eyebrows flew up, then they drew close together, and he reached for his chin. He followed Sora as he turned around, but as soon as he saw Tiz, he stumbled back, fumbled his cup, and started gawking at his friend.

“Tiz?!”

Tiz held up one of his hands, giving a small wave. “Hey, Ringabel.”

“I… You’re…” Ringabel gestured at Tiz, then stared at Sora. A second later, he cleared his throat and flipped his hair. “Good to see you’re still in one piece, though I expected nothing less.” Though he grinned, his words came out with a hint of forced bravado, sounding just a little shaky.

But Tiz didn’t seem to mind. He moved closer to Ringabel and Sora, lips curling up just a teensy bit. “You don’t have to put on a front for my sake. If you want to cry, then cry.”

“But who said anything about crying?” He shook his head, bringing his free hand over his heart. “This is a joyous occasion, and one worth celebrating.” He glanced down the walkway, then gave Tiz a bright smile. “I’ll see to it that the Proprietress prepares the meal of your life. And I’ll have to inform Zatz as well.” He slung his arm over Tiz’s shoulders, gesturing with his coffee cup. “And just wait until you meet Grandship’s latest inhabitants. You’re in for a real treat.”

Tiz deflated, reaching for his neck. “It sounds great, but maybe we should take it slow.”

“A bit overwhelming, hm? Well, fair enough, though you’ll have to tell me all about your escapades this past year.”

“Er… I’m not sure I’d call them escapades.”

It was good to see him so excited, even with those baggy eyes. Sora knew from experience how rough it was to be separated from the people who mattered, but even as a Heartless, he’d at least kept tabs on everybody. These two didn’t have that luxury. So, instead of butting in, he let the two talk and turned away with his head held high. He was gonna sneak through a portal when a hand clamped down on his shoulder, and he found Ringabel staring down at him.

“Sora, thank you. I truly do appreciate it. Just knowing that Tiz is safe means there’s a chance that Edea and Agnès are out there waiting for us, and for that I’m extremely grateful.”

“Me too,” said Tiz. “And I’ll do whatever I can to help protect the worlds. I want to make sure nobody else suffers the way that we have!”

‘Well, I’m not gonna give up looking for your friends, either. Who knows? Maybe next week, you’ll all be back together again!’

It was tough to say, but there was always room for hope.

x.x.x

A quick stroll through Ansem’s study revealed an alarming change. Books that once cluttered the floor now sat in orderly stacks, sorted by their subject matter. Experiments, project proposals, historic records, the sheer level of organization came as an unusual surprise. And yet, perhaps not so unexpected; the Replica had joined with the heroes of light, and that so-called ‘Restoration Committee’ was near and dear to Riku’s heart. Their efforts were certainly commendable, but times like these made Zexion grateful that they’d purged the study of all its compromising material.

Now he stood before the computer terminal, brushing his fingers across the keys. “I see, so they’re desperate to unravel our schemes. Your report is most appreciated, Master Control.”

Though the room appeared vacant, a deep voice burst from the speakers. There’s more. These Users seek to probe my systems and have sought outside assistance.

Zexion’s eyebrows quirked, and he idly stroked his chin. “Hmm… Any idea who it is?”

They referred to him as DiZ. Records are limited and sealed within the DTD.

“Ah, and I assume you wish to access it.” He chuckled, leaning over the screen. “Regrettably, I cannot risk compromising the data. What little remains is for our eyes only.” Still, this was troublesome. After such a humiliating defeat, it was doubtful that DiZ had the drive to persist, and yet he’d seen Aqua in Twilight Town. That alone suggested they were serious about an alliance.

His thoughts screeched to a halt when the MCP spoke up again. Access is required in order to overtake the defenses.

“All in good time. We’re still investigating some unique programs in another world, and I suspect they’ll be of use to you.” He turned his back on the monitor, gazing out the glass window. “An associate claims they have the power to absorb whatever it is they devour. With the proper modifications, they’d make a fascinating virus…”

Acknowledged. It is also worth noting that the User “Cloud Strife” has shown repeated interest in the User “Zack Fair.”

“Ah, now there’s a name I haven’t heard in quite some time…” Yet the memory remained pristine, untarnished by time. He still recalled the way he’d been flung into the basement hall, clad in a ridiculous suit of armor. He’d gone missing for a year, whisked away to parts unknown, only to return bruised and disheveled, slung over Sephiroth’s shoulder. “No matter. As I recall, Zack hasn’t been seen in quite some time, so unless he discovers our existence, he’s of little concern to us.”

Then I have nothing else to report. End of line.

The audio feed cut out with the buzz of static, but while Zexion began a short walk toward the study, the sound of heavy footsteps froze him in place. Moments later, Lexaeus slipped into the room, his face as stone cold as ever.

Still, his presence was appreciated, and Zexion greeted him with a smile. “Well, how did it go?”

“Our suspicions were correct. The entire town is nearly impenetrable by Heartless.”

“Deplorable… The Cornerstone of Light is problematic enough, but the Keybearers have powerful allies here. For them to turn this town into a safe zone…”

Lexaeus’ brow wrinkled ever so slightly. “That may be their next move, now that we’ve disposed of Twilight Town.”

“Hmm, true. The Mysterious Tower is a safe haven, but resources are extremely limited. It stands to reason that they’d seek out alternatives…”

“All the more reason to prepare our next move.”

“Well, we can leave the brunt of the work to our mole.” His lips curled into a smirk. “And to think he was so reluctant to help us at first. My, how times change.”

Lexaeus nodded and folded his arms. “I’m not surprised. Fortune telling isn’t the most lucrative career path.”

“Well, let’s RTC for the time being. I suspect Syndrome is eager for your input, and I need to consult Saïx about this ‘game’ world.” Continuing toward the door, took one last peek at the monitor. “That the people of Disney Town seem clueless is a point in our favor, but we need to plan this mission carefully.”

After all, this it would require a return to enemy territory and, above all else, subtlety.

TO BE CONTINUED