Kingdom Hearts Fan Fiction ❯ A Fragmented Tale ❯ The New Quest ( Chapter 5 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

A/N: I made changes, changing the main character's name to Aleron and changed the names of Riku's weapons. Thanks to Swordstuff!
 
A Fragmented Tale by cursed_l0ve
 
Chapter Five: The New Quest
 
Sora!
Sora!
Help us, Sora!
We're stuck!
Sora!
"What?" the said brunette groaned as he pushed himself off the ground. He sat on his legs and rubbed his eyes. He gave a big yawn.
Sora!
He blinked and stared off at the direction of the forest. The voices were coming from it. They seemed distant.
Sora, get off your lazy ass and rescue us!
"Riku? Aleron?" he whispered, puzzled for a moment. Then he remembered. Riku had dragged him here, chasing after Aleron. They were in trouble!
"I'm coming!" he shouted, jumping up and running into the forest. Light formed his Kingdom Key in hand.
 
"SORA!" Riku and Aleron both shouted.
Riku sighed, "We've been yelling for the past five minutes! He better have heard us 'cause I'm not yelling again!"
"Yeah, me too," Aleron said in agreement. She kept her eyes closed since the sun was still bothering her. She heard footfalls coming closer. "Hey, I hear something..."
Riku was staring at the ground, but at hearing what Aleron said, he snapped up at the sound of footfalls.
"Guys! I'm here!" Sora yelled, arriving at the area. He stopped and blinked first at Aleron, then at Riku. "Whoa... What happened?"
"Just let us free! Then I'll tell you!" Riku hissed, getting frustrated.
"Riku, would you relax?" he sighed, walking over to the tree, which his friend was tied at. He cast Firaga at the ropes binding him and it broke free, falling to the ground in ashes.
Riku hopped off, turning around to allow Sora to slash the blade through the bindings on his wrists and his feet. Soon, he was free. He rubbed his bruised wrists and patted Sora on the shoulder.
"Thanks, Sora!" he said, grinning.
"That's what friends are for, you know!" Sora answered, flashing one of his most infamous grins. He approached the stump where Aleron was placed. "Hey Aleron, are you all right?"
"Yeah... I'm seriously in need to stretch, please get me out of here!" she whined, squinting her eyes.
"Of course, hang on!" Sora said, cutting through the ropes tying her to the four poles around the stump. When she was free from that, he tore apart the rest knotted around her wrists and feet.
Riku reached for her hand and pulled her to sit up. She opened her eyes, now able to see normally. She smiled at the boys as she rubbed her wrists and legs. She stood up and stretched. She gave a yawn.
"Geez... What did they do to me? I feel like all of my energy was stripped off," she shook her head as she slumped to her knees on the ground.
"C'mon, let's go back to the house. We can talk then. Kairi'll be mad if she's left out again, you know," Sora announced, looking at Riku and giving Aleron a hand. Riku gave a nod.
She looked up at Sora, then at his hand. She sighed and grabbed it and stood up again. "Alright..."
On their walk back, it didn't look too good. Aleron looked delirious. Riku didn't seem like himself.
 
"I wonder what I was the key for..." Aleron mumbled, dragging her feet along the dirt.
"I have no idea..." Riku shrugged. "They never said. All we know is you already unlocked something. And I mentioned it didn't seem good."
She sighed, "Yeah..."
Sora stared down at his feet as he walked, thinking. 'What was going on? If she was the key, could she have been the one to open the door in the Secret Place those years ago? Probably...' He stopped and turned around.
"Hey Aleron... Do you know why you were here before? I was thinking that since you were a key, maybe you could have been the one that opened the door in our secret place... 'Cause after that, you disappeared the next day and Kairi appeared a year later..." Sora explained curiously.
"Me? Well..." Aleron shifted nervously. "I don't really remember anything... But it could be possible... Maybe they brainwashed me, that'd be the reason I wouldn't remember?"
"Yeah... That makes sense..." Sora stated, nodding. "Well, lets go check on Kairi. Then we can talk more."
With that, he jogged off. Aleron frowned at his retreating form. She plopped on the ground, feeling wiped out. Riku rolled his eyes.
"C'mon Aleron, let's follow him. Once we get there, we have a better chance of resting..." he said, picking up her arm and wrapped it around his neck.
Aleron groaned and sighed, struggling to keep on walking. Riku wrapped his right arm around her waist to hold her up and held her left hand with his left. They tried to walk a little faster to catch up with Sora.
They finally arrived after an hour. Kairi was sitting on her front porch waiting for any sign of them. When she saw them approaching from up street, she jumped out of her seat and ran up to Sora.
"Where the hell did you guys go?" Kairi yelled at him, furrowing her eyebrows and resting her fists on her hips.
"Let's sit down and we can talk," Sora said, calming Kairi down.
They all went inside Kairi's house and sat around the table in the Kitchen. Aleron slumped down in her seat with a breath of relief. She leaned over the table, and rested her chin on her folded arms.
"Don't fall asleep Aleron," Riku said, watching her carefully. He was slumped in his seat as well, with his arms crossed over his chest.
Aleron sighed and looked over at Sora. He began telling Kairi what happened, and then they decided to draw up a plan.
Kairi shot up when she remembered something once Sora mentioned they should call for King Mickey, Donald, and Goofy to help them on this.
"Wait a minute!" Kairi yelled, standing up from her seat and ran upstairs to her bedroom. She searched around for the object she was looking for and found the glass bottle hidden under a pile of clothes. She took it and rushed back downstairs with it in hand.
Sora and Riku took recognition of it immediately as it came in their view. Inside the bottle was a rolled up note. King Mickey's warning.
Riku grabbed for it, but Sora beat him to it. He hit the bottle to release the paper out. Sora unrolled it and read it out loud, remembering the words.
 
---------------------------------------------------------
Sora, Riku, and Kairi-
Thank you for your help saving the worlds once again. Yes, you all may rest now; but I am afraid that you three must take caution that there is a possibility of another plot in the near future. It will involve a certain girl and she is a key. There will be black hooded figures involved, but they are not a part of any Organization related. If any danger like this happens, be aware to come to me, so that I can explain to you in person better and tell you what to do. Once you come, you three will lose something of a deep value.
Enjoy being at home. I will see you again in the near future. Do not forget.
 
-King Mickey
---------------------------------------------------------
 
"Shit... We should have gone when Aleron got here!" Riku shouted, banging a fist on the table. Aleron flinched and jumped up in her seat from her comfortable position. At least now she was wide-awake.
"We have to go," Sora said, grabbing Kairi. "Now!"
Riku grabbed Aleron's arm and dragged her to the forest. Sora and Kairi ran ahead in front of them.
"And I was finally getting some of my energy back..." Aleron whined.
"Sorry," Riku said, as they took a different path from the one they went on.
This path led to a bigger clearing, and in the middle of it was a ship. Aleron's mouth fell.
"This is called a Gummi Ship. It allows us to travel to other worlds," Sora explained, catching the look on Aleron's face.
Aleron shook out of it once she heard Sora, and Riku pushed Aleron's chin up. She closed her mouth and giggled.
They all boarded the orange and yellow, block-shaped Gummi. Once they were all strapped in, Sora turned it on, set it to take-off.
"Taking off... 3... 2... 1..." Sora yelled, then pressed the red button.
The ship lunged and hovered above the ground. Sora moved the steering down and the ship's front faced upward. He stepped on the gas and it launched, sending a roar of flames pushing them to the sky.
Once they arrived to the outer space, Sora set the location to the Disney Kingdom, and the ship darted towards it.
 
The mouse sat on his throne in the Disney Castle, with Queen Minnie beside him. He was expecting the islanders to arrive any minute now. His beady stare rested on the majestic doors of the Throne Room. Outside, the Colonnade stretched out, with extraordinary high ceilings and countless marble pillars that surrounded the garden. In the middle of the garden was a sculpted bush, which had a door that led down to the Hangar.
The Court Wizard, Donald Duck sat grumpily on the bottom step as he waited for the Gummi that was due to arrive. Goofy, the Captain leaned awkwardly against the wall, constantly giving out a large yawn and rubbing his olive-shaped tip of a nose.
"Gawsh, Look here, Donald. Here they come!" the Cap'n pointed up at the descending ship.
"'Bout time!" the duck quacked, standing upright from his seat and tapped his webbed foot.
Chip and Dale scrambled about inside the control room, preparing for the ship's landing.
Once the ship was safely tied up, the cockpit door opened and out walked the two boys and two girls.
"Sora!" Donald quacked loudly, leaping up a good 5 feet in the air, unable to keep up his moody reverie. He rushed to leap on the spiky haired boy.
"Donald!" Sora grinned, catching him as he jumped. He looked yonder and saw Goofy. "Goofy!"
The dog ran, stretching out his long limbs and hugged his favorite hero.
"How have you guys been?" the boy asked, allowing Donald down.
"It's boring not being around you! Nothing ever happens around here," the duck quacked, peering up at the boy.
"Yeah! I've been gettin' a good snooze now and then!" the dog said.
"Well, you won't be bored any longer. If King Mickey lets you two come with us for this one," Riku said, giving a grin.
"Riku! Long time no see!" Donald yelled. He peered over and caught a glimpse of the burgundy haired girl. "Kairi!"
Kairi giggled and waved, "Hey guys!"
Aleron stood there, with her mouth gape. Sora wasn't lying when he said Donald and Goofy were real. In her world, they were just cartoons. Imaginary ones.
"Whose that girl you've got there, Sora?" Goofy asked, pointing to the dirty blonde standing a bit away from Riku.
Sora looked at the area where his old friend was pointing at and saw who he had meant, "Oh, sorry! Almost forgot... Donald and Goofy, this is Aleron. Aleron, this is Donald and Goofy."
"Hey there, Aleron!" Donald greeted.
"Nice to meetcha, Aleron!" Goody said, giving her one of his silly grins as he waved his hand.
"Hi," she answered, grinning back.
 
The two companions led the teens up the stairs and out to the garden. There were different sculptures trimmed here and there, mostly surrounded against the walls of the castle. A door opened in the corner, and the duck led them through. The Colonnade left Riku, Kairi, and Aleron gaping. It wasn't new to Sora since he had been there before. Finally, they arrived at the majestic doors that led to the room King Mickey and Queen Minnie were currently in.
Donald Duck cleared his throat, knocked a couple times in rhythm, and a much smaller door opened in front of them. It was half of the teens' size, which they had to duck to squeeze in. Once they were all on the other side, the three had their mouths open again. The room was HUGE.
"Sora, Riku!" a voice squeaked out from the back of the room.
"King Mickey!" Sora grinned. He kept it plastered across his face as he made his way down the red carpet towards the throne.
Riku kept a smirk once they'd arrived and King Mickey leaped at Sora to give him a hug. The mouse looked over at the silver haired boy.
"Riku! How are things for you in the Realm of Light?" he squeaked jumping from Sora's arms to the said boy's. Riku caught him and twirled him in the air before hugging the King.
Riku's smirk shifted to a full on smile. He put the mouse down and crossed his arms.
"It's been pretty good for me," he answered.
"Good. Now let's get to business," the King said, seriously now. He went to sit in his chair again. "Now... what has happened?"
Sora sighed as he flopped down on the floor cross-legged, " Well, a lot has happened. We actually forgot about the letter you sent us, until it was sorta too late. It was Kairi who remembered."
Mickey shook his head, "Welp. We are in a great danger. And we have the Key in our possession. They'll be coming after her again, so keep her protected." He looked over at Aleron, who was standing beside Kairi. Aleron shifted her footing nervously, glancing down at her hands.
"So, you know that she has already unlocked something? Do you know what it is?" Sora asked.
"Yup. It isn't good. She unlocked a graveyard."
Riku looked at the mouse in puzzlement, "A graveyard? What are they trying to do, set free zombies?" He had to chuckle at that remark.
King Mickey shook his head, "It is a Keyblade Graveyard."
"What! There's one like that?" Sora shouted in surprise. "Wow! I've gotta see it!"
"It isn't there for amusement, Sora. It is dangerous to have it opened like that. I suspect those two figures have something up their sleeves. I am not sure what they will use Aleron for next, so we have to be careful..."
"So, what do we do?" Riku asked.
King Mickey hopped off, "All four of you will go to the graveyard. There is only one way to go in, the clearing of the forest in which Aleron was bound. Although, once you enter, your keyblades will be taken away."
"WHAT?" Sora and Riku shouted.
"No way! I need my keyblade to fight! What am I supposed to do without it?" Sora yelled, clenching his weapon against his chest after having drawn it out.
"At least I've got my Souleater," Riku said in relief. Sora shot him a glare, then looked at the King.
"Merlin has a sword for you to use. It is called Excalibur. King Arthur has granted permission for you to use it in this time of need," King Mickey explained.
As if called, Merlin appeared beside the King in a puff of blue smoke. "Hello Sora, nice to see you again!"
"Merlin will also tell you of the graveyard. It is important that you remember what lies within," Mickey said.
Merlin approached the group of teenagers that were currently sitting on the marble floor. He conjured his huge stuffed red chair and sat in it.
"I'm sure he has already told you that your keyblades will be taken away, correct?" Merlin inquired towards the two boys.
Sora and Riku both nodded.
The wizard lay back in his seat as he twirled his long beard, "Alright, so Sora, you know I will be giving you the Excalibur. It is an extraordinary sword wielded by King Arthur. I remember the day well, when he was just a young lad, he pulled it out of the stone! Only one person would be able to do that. Does it interest you?"
Sora looked a bit sad, "Well, I love feeling the power of the keyblade. I haven been honored to have been chosen as the wielder. But... in that case, I wouldn't mind having to use the Excalibur if it is an extraordinary sword like you said."
Merlin snapped his fingers in the air and a light blinded them for a moment. Something long and silver shone, reflecting the light off its steel blade. The hilt was comfortably designed for the wielder, decorated with jewels. He sent the sword to Sora.
Sora gaped at it for a moment, captivated by its beauty. He reached for it, taking the hilt in his right hand. It fit his needs perfectly. He felt power surging through him, almost like the keyblade's. He gave Merlin a nod of approval.
"So it suits you well?" the wizard said.
"Yes, thank you," Sora said, putting it in the sheathe that Merlin had conjured for him.
"Now, about the graveyard," Merlin said, twirling his beard again. "It is far dangerous to bring the girl with you, but to close it again, she is the only key that has the power to do so."
Riku cut in before the wizard could continue on, "But isn't there any other way to stop them? Without putting anyone in danger?" He didn't want to suffer through another separation if there would be one. Twice was enough.
"Ah, but there isn't. I'm sorry, Riku. Don't worry though, if you four stay together, things will turn out for the better."
Riku sighed, falling on his back, with his hands behind his head. He stared up at the ceiling as he listened to what the old wizard had to say.
"Um, why am I the Key?" Aleron piped in.
"Because you were born one. You were from a world not far from here, created by a powerful Mother and Father. When you were but a baby, you were sent to the world you currently reside in. When you were older, Xehanort brought you back here. We found out the demise too late, Kerri and Donovan were using you, following you to see if you would find the heart of the island and open the door, which you did. To protect you further, Kerri returned you to your world, wiping out your memory of locking and unlocking doors. Now, you have returned because Xehanort's plans of submerging all worlds to darkness failed."
"Kerri and Donovan brewed sleeping draught and caused it to snow, putting everyone on the island to sleep. With that done, they were able to capture you and perform a ritual in which the Keyblade Graveyard was opened. They are now inside, searching for the one keyblade that would bring all worlds into chaos and ruin," Merlin explained.
The teens listened with great care and surprise. Aleron fell silent. How dare they use her for dark purposes?
"So... we have to go in there and destroy that keyblade?" Sora asked.
"No, see... There is a legend-"
Riku cut in, "Kerri told me..." He looked at Sora. "Ansem wrote in one of his reports, that the legend said the wielder was to save the worlds, but another said that he brought chaos and ruin upon it."
"W-wh-what?" Sora yelled. "So, you're telling me that I'll turn against all of you and destroy everything I've sweated so hard to save? Telling me that I'll forget I searched all worlds for my FRIENDS, ending up making new ones on the way, and I'll destroy them, betraying them? You're telling me that I'll snoop that low to fall for a dark power like that when I fought to stay within the light? You are MAD!" He stood up, spun around, and crossed his arms with his eyebrows tightly furrowed.
"Well, you could prove the legend wrong, you know," Riku said, encouraging his best friend.
"Hmph."
"Sora... We'll be there with you," Kairi said.
"Yeah? Well, it'll probably happen when your backs are turned on me!"
"You sound like you are actually considering betraying everyone," Riku said disbelieving.
"WHAT?" Sora shouted, spinning around to face him again. "NO WAY! I wouldn't EVER do that!"
"Then think otherwise!" the silver haired teen hissed.
"Hmph."
"Since Aleron is the Key, Kerri and Donovan will wait for the right moment to snatch her again and unleash the beast that sleeps within," Merlin said, deciding it was a good moment to continue on.
"A beast?" Kairi asked nervously.
"I can defeat it, no problem..." Sora scoffed, still in a mood.
"Not without that keyblade, you can't."
"WHAT?" the boys yelled.
"I'm speaking of YOUR Kingdom Key, Sora."
"Oh... but if you said our keyblades will be taken away, then how the hell am I supposed to use it?" Sora hissed, glaring at the wizard.
"The Kingdom Key, Way to Dawn, and The Oathkeeper, will all be there. You will come to it on the way and will be able to retrieve it. Only then, you can use it to fight the beast."
Sighing, Sora gave a nod.
"What about the dark one?" Riku asked.
"Sora WILL be manipulated by it, but only you three can stop him. There is one moment when it is used, that is when a light cylinder appears. At that time, Aleron must jump in to save before anything is lost, or... we are in annihilation."
"What happens when I jump?" Aleron asked.
"I don't have the answer for that... We will just have to find out. But I can only say that it is a huge risk, a life and death risk," Merlin answered.
"You mean... I might die?" Aleron said in a small voice.
"You might, or you might not."
"NO!" Riku yelled, silencing the room. "This is stupid! Making her a sacrifice! I won't accept this!"
"This is the only way," Merlin said, standing up. His red chair disappeared. "Now, I have to go. But before I do... There are three people you will meet, and on this quest, please find something for me, the memory of Xehanort." With that, the wizard disappeared.
"I can't believe this..." Riku hissed, shaking his head with his hands tangled in his hair.
Aleron looked at him sadly before glancing at everyone else in the room. She sighed.
"I'm sorry guys," King Mickey squeaked. "This is the final quest, I promise. I feel victory in my veins. My heart tells me this will work out for the best."
Sora gave the King a small smile, gripping the sheathe with the Excalibur safely sealed. He placed it on his back, with the strap down his right shoulder to his left hip. Riku stood with his arms crossed and eyes cast down, hidden under his long silvery bangs. Kairi stood, but soon moved closer to Sora, holding his arm in her hands.
Aleron stood alone, apart from the others. She was a key, nothing more. She was probably going to die, so why should she get attached to the people in front of her?
"You better had get going before it's far too late," King Mickey said, motioning them to leave. "Good luck!"
Donald, Goofy, King Mickey, Queen Minnie, and Lady Daisy, who had appeared moments before, all waved as the distraught teens turned to leave. They ducked under the small door and appeared at the Colonnade. Once they made it down to the Gummi Hangar, they sighed and boarded their ship without a word.
Sora counted down quietly and launched the Gummi into the blue sky, back towards the islands.