Fan Fiction ❯ Black Orchid ❯ Of Theives and Princes ( Chapter 21 )

Asokonate, sumimasen: Yeah, I've really gotten hammered by finals and such… 4 MORE DAYS! JUST 4 MORE DAYS! Yeah… I think Desert World's going to span 3 chapters maybe…. Or just two. Who knows. Anyways, I can practically guarantee that the mysterious dude that Elias is after will be named in the next chapter. Then, after this world… we got some stuff… 2 more chaps of T-town and Coliseum. Then, we get to THE COOL WORLD WHERE I TURN YOUR VIEWS INSIDE OUT! Oh, yeah! The same world with two of our favorite FF blonde guys! And they're not Tidus! But… I'm getting ahead of myself… that won't be for at least 4 or 5 chaps. Anyways, R&R!

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The three walked into the harsh, desert town purposefully. Only one thing was on these heroes' minds.

"It's so hot!"

Things could be worse, of course. They just couldn't imagine it. In the sweltering, dry, arid heat, their clothes were all feeling uncomfortably hot. Arc had abandoned his black shirt back in the Gummi Ship, and was now wearing his white trench coat loosely over his bare, well-muscled chest, which was shiny with sweat. Similarly, Orchid had left her sweatshirt and its sleeves in the ship also, and now staggered through the dusty streets in her baggy shorts and short white tank top. Montblanc still wore his green jacket, and seemed to ignore the heat, which surprised Orchid, considering his fur.

Despite the temperature, the marketplace they had entered bustled with activity. People jostled through the crowds to get to the various stalls and stands where merchants and hawkers cried their wares out to the masses. Noise filled the air as nobles and commoners alike bustled about the town square of Agrabah

"Perfect place for pickpockets…" muttered Arc, as he once again wiped sweat from his forehead with his left. He felt someone bump into him, and a hurried apology. He decided not to accept it and rounded on the man who had knocked into him, causing the man to fall onto the ground. "That's why I tie my munny bag to a loop."

The man stared at them for a moment. He had somewhat mussed black hair, a handsome face, and wore a fez, a simple vest, and the baggy white pants common to the populace. From their dirty state, he appeared to be some kind of beggar or thief. Arc stared back, then suddenly blinked as the man smirked at them. "And that's why I'm glad Abu has quick hands."

The trio turned from looking at the man only just in time to see a monkey, wearing a vest and fez similar to the man's, dash between Arc's legs to the man with Arc's bag of munny in its greedy little hands.

"See ya!" said the man, then ran off, the monkey and the munny riding on his shoulders as he nimbly dodged through the crowds.

"Get back here!" raged Arc, waving his arms and causing everyone nearby to clear out of his way as he ran after the pickpocket.

"Thief, kupo!" yelled Montblanc, but no one seemed eager to help.

"Come on!" Orchid shouted at the moogle as she ran off after the furious Arc. They ran through the squares and plazas after the thief, doing their best to avoid running into people, although Arc bowled over quite a number of market goers. They saw him run down a back alley, and quickly chased after him.

"That's it, you're done, punk!" fumed Arc, but turned the corner only to find an empty dead end surrounded by high walls. "Where?"

Orchid looked up as a clinking object came falling down, hitting the unsuspecting Arc hard on the head. She caught just a glimpse as the man disappeared across the rooftops. She sighed and looked back down as Montblanc caught up with them and Arc picked up his regained bag of munny.

"Well, you don't have to worry, Montblanc," assured Orchid. "We got our munny back."

"That's not why I'm so flustered, kupo!" squeaked the agitated white animal. "There's Heartless back in the bazaar!"

"Ah, damn, I guess they don't melt in the heat," cursed Arc, pushing up his yellow shades, the sun glaring balefully off of the lenses. Turning with a swish of his trench coat, he walked back out into the square, his muscles gleaming in the light. They looked around the square, which was empty save for several menacing creatures.

These heartless had also taken to their surroundings. There were several Heartless with white turbans enwrapping their entire heads, only letting their yellow eyes glare out at them as they swung their scimitars about dangerously. In the middle of their group was a fat bandit, huge and similar to a large body, though instead of the soldier livery, it wore an orange vest and a turban.

"They don't look too tough," grinned Arc, as he rubbed his stony fist and prepared to fight. Before Orchid could give her opinion, the bandits had leapt at them.

"Ha!" yelled Orchid as she parried and counter attacked with Nearbloom. The large bud at the end smashed into the Heartless, which burst into particles, then was sucked back into the keyblade. Feeling it shimmer with power, Orchid turned and smashed another Heartless. Nearby, three of the bandits were being decimated by Montblanc's magical arsenal as he called down lightning, wind, and water upon them.

"Come on, big guy, let's go!" grinned Arc, staring up at the fat bandit's ponderous face through a tinted view. The obese Heartless looked down at him, then brought up a jug that it was holding in one hand to its mouth, or where its mouth would be. 'I didn't know Heartless drank…' thought Arc. Then he found out the fat bandit's purpose; it spewed out a stream of fire at Arc, almost catching him as he quickly dodged out of the way. "That wasn't nice!"

Arc leapt into the air and prepared to smash down on the fat bandit with his giant stone gauntlet, but it saw him coming. Its large hand smashed into him, sending him flying back into the air above it.

"Fine then," said Arc, twisting in the air to take aim at the Heartless below him again. "Planet Diver!"

Unnatural fire burst out all across Arc, and he smashed down upon the fat bandit with the power, speed, and force of a burning meteor. The Heartless burst into billions of inky particles, which dispersed in the desert air. Arc stood up from his landing crouch, and looked around, his trench coat flapping in the wind from the aftershock. Montblanc was casting Cure on Orchid just as she finished off the last bandit, and the square was now empty of everyone but them and one other.

Slow clapping filled the silent air as they turned to look at the man. From how he was dressed, decked out with scimitar and spear, he looked to be some sort of guard. Judging from some of the gold linings on his uniform, he was probably some sort of captain or other high-ranking officer. He walked slowly up to them, his step confident and unflinching, even as the three of them took up wary fighting positions against him.

"No need to fight, my friends," he said, raising his hands up in a symbol of peace. "I come from the palace, as captain of the Royal Guards."

"What do you want with us?" asked Arc suspiciously.

"He already said he came in peace, kupo," chided Montblanc.

"Right. I came because, as you can see, we have been having these creatures attacking people lately," continued the man. "This had happened before, about four years ago. I was told by my lord, the prince, to be on the look out for someone wielding a large, key-like object," he said, pointing at the keyblade in Orchid's hand, "and if I saw them, to bring them to the palace immediately. We are in great need of your help."

At this, the man kneeled before them, as if entreating them for divine aid. Orchid flushed at this, Arc stared smugly, and Montblanc quickly interjected before Arc could start making unreasonable demands.

"Okay, kupo. Just lead the way," said the moogle, and followed the guard as he got up, brushed himself off, and quickly headed towards the palace. Orchid followed quickly, occasionally looking around at the now emptied streets and squares as Arc grumbled along behind them, cursing the heat and the fact that they missed a chance to extort some profit. Soon they came to the palace gates.

"Whoa," breathed the awed Orchid, looking at the humongous and grandeur palace. It had high white walls, with golden roofs on the towers and domes. Even Arc was amazed into silence be it.

"Well, come on," said the guard as the gates opened and he walked in. They took one last look out, then followed him in as the gates closed behind them. After walking through beautiful gardens and extensive hallways, the trio was finally led to a large, emblazoned and highly ornate set of doors which they took to be the entrance to the throne room, and they were quickly confirmed in this as the captain of the guards announced their presence as the doors opened, seemingly of their own accord. "My lord Aladdin, I have brought the heroes that you said would save us."

A handsome young man strode out, hurriedly adjusting his royal clothes as if he had just changed into them. Not looking up as he shifted his sash, he started talking to them as the trio stared, waiting to see his face before they decided. "Ah yes, I was expecting you sooner, Sora-"

He looked up and all four of them got the same shocked and stunned looks on their faces. Their jaws dropped and the trio pointed at him while he pointed back at them.

"It's you!" they all shouted simultaneously. Sure enough, the Prince Aladdin was the same street rat that had jokingly robbed them earlier.

"Where's Sora?" shouted Aladdin.

"What are you-" started Arc.
"-doing here?" finished Orchid.

"Kupopopo… what's going on?" sighed Montblanc, utterly confused by the fast turn of events. There would be a lot of explaining to do.

-!-

"So you need us to reseal your world?" asked Orchid.

"Yeah. As you've seen, the Heartless are back," said Aladdin in a resigned voice. "We've done our best to control them and maintain order, but we've only just barely been able to do that. And we suspect that it'll just get worse. That's why me and Jasmine have been awaiting for Sora to return."

"Well, Sora's not available, so Orchid here will just have to do," pointed out Arc, as if daring the prince to make any complaints.

"I know, I'm just surprised that the keyblade's changed hands. I'll just be glad when all of this Heartless mess is cleared up."

"Well, that's what we're here for, kupo," consoled Montblanc, patting the dejected prince on the back.

"Hey, Aladdin," said Orchid, staring out a window. "Is it normal for blue clouds with sparks to fly through the air around here?"

"Of course not…" started Aladdin, stopping when he thought of something. His eyes lit up and his face looked ready to break into a smile. "Unless…"

They all ran to the open balcony and stared as a swirling blue cloud came spiraling erratically, leaving a trail of sparks and stars.

"It's him!" said Aladdin, grinning wildly.
"Who?" asked the other three in unison.

Their question was quickly answered when the swirling mass of magic reached them. There was a poof of smoke and a flash of light, and when they opened their eyes, a large, blue, djinn-like figure was standing there, wearing a Hawaiian shirt and board shorts. He was also toting a large, overstuffed suitcase, several bags and packages, and had a Goofy cap on his head.

"I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAACK!" he announced grandly.

"Genie!" shouted Aladdin, running up to him.

"Al!" exclaimed the genie, throwing his arms up as his baggage and hat disappeared. His shirt and shorts were replaced by a vest and white pants similar to the ones Aladdin had been wearing earlier. "Oh, Al, you wouldn't believe the places I've seen. Like, this one time, at band camp…"

"Who's this?" asked Arc bluntly, stopping Genie from starting a long-winded story. He stared at the wish-granting being, clearly not as amazed by him as Orchid and Montblanc seemed to be as they grinned at the large blue fellow.

"Arc, this is Genie," introduced Aladdin, waving at the magical being, then motioning at the other three. "Genie, this is Arc, Montblanc, and the new Keyblade Master, Orchid."

"Nice to meet you all!" exclaimed Genie, shaking hands with Orchid. "So, Sora quit the job?"

"Well, not really," said Orchid as her arm almost fell off from the enthusiastic shaking.

"And you, my, aren't you the best-looking moogle around, eh?" complimented Genie, shaking Montblanc's hand, and the rest of him, up and down enthusiastically. Much to the moogle's relief, Genie soon let go and turned to Arc. "And how 'bout a handshake here, big guy? I bet you got a killer grip there, right?"

Arc glared at the genie indifferently.

"Aw, somebody needs a hug!" cooed Genie, grabbing Arc in the world's largest bear hug before the man could react.

"Ack! Get him offa me!" shouted Arc as he struggled to escape Genie's grasp.

The other three laughed at his predicament, though their laughter was cut short when a guard came running in.

"Your majesty!" panted the guard, obviously out of breath from running. "Princess Jasmine has been kidnapped!"