Fellowship & Fairydust

That did it. I mustered all the power I could and with a cry, I blasted him back with my magic. I also heard a sickening snap, and realized in my rage I broke some of his fingers. Because she had been behind him my friend was also blasted back by my attack. With a roar, the dark warrior charged at me, but I parried his blow. Channeling more magic I pushed him back and used a blast of my powers to send him flying. As he landed I propelled myself forward and pinned him to the ground. 

Bringing my Keyblade up I prepared to drive it into his chest when I paused. What had I done? I had just attacked him in aggression. And some of my attacks… they were dark in color. Oh, no. I had gotten angry, and let that drive me. I had given in to my darkness and almost took life as a result. Falling backward, my weapon vanished as I backed away from Mortem. My friend got between me and him in case he tried something.

Instead, all he did was dust his shoulder off. “So, you can fight.” His eye narrowed. “And still you didn’t kill me when you had the chance. Just goes to show that as long as you fight for others you are only holding yourself down.”

“No, Mortem. She stopped herself before she did something she would have regretted.” My friend defended me. “And fighting for others gives me a purpose. If you go through your life focusing on yourself then you’re not going anywhere.”

“Kairi, please,” I told my friend. “I-I need to stand for me.” Forcing myself back up, I glared at Mortem. “Maybe I should’ve ended you if all you’re going to be is a self-important jerk.” My words felt empty as I thought about what I had done. My actions had been those of darkness, something I had not wanted to use. How different was I from the person who I was facing?

Before anything else could be said, an insect wearing a blue sweater flew up to us. Mortem’s eyes widened with recognition. “Evinrude? It’s about time you showed up. What kept you?” The insect gave a series of buzzes that somehow we all understood. “What? What do you mean the boat won’t start?” Turning to me, he said, “Looks like you get to live after all, kid. But next time you challenge me don’t expect to walk away unless you are willing to take a life.” He’s dropping our fight just like that? What made him do that all of a sudden?

 

MORTEM’S POV

As I leaped down to the boat we were supposed to escape on, I was reunited with Leroy. “The trap worked.” He told me with a smile. “They were shocked, nice and good.” Then I heard familiar whistling as fireworks flew everywhere. “And the show is going to go on.” 

“How did you… nevermind. The boat won’t start.” I told him as the two of us landed on the boat. Some other critters were trying to help, the reinforcements no doubt. As I landed I looked at Bernard. “What’s wrong? Why is this boat still here?” 

“We’re not getting any gas,” Bernard said as he looked down a valve. A couple of thuds told me the two I had just been fighting arrived as well. 

“What do we need to do?” The princess asked me.

With a shrug, I said, “Something to make this rustbucket go.” 

“Stand back.” Moving over to the valve, she gathered orbs of light in between her hands. With a cry, she shoved them down into the gas tank, and with a puff, the boat roared to life. However, just as we were moving, Medusa leaped out of the mess and grabbed onto a rope. With a look of greed, she pulled herself up to the edge where the teddy was.

Snarling, I frowned, “Oh, no you don’t!” With that, I stabbed my weapon into her hand. With a cry, she fell backward, though she ended up grabbing the end of the rope before we could get too far ahead. Pulling herself up, she looked like she was trying to ski on the water’s surface. It would be amusing if she didn’t try to keep pulling herself to our escape craft. I knew I should’ve killed her when I had the chance. 

As if sensing my anger and frustration my Keyblade transformed into its bazooka mode. As I aimed, I fired a steady stream of dark blasts to keep her at bay. If I missed I found she would get further up on the rope, but every time I hit her she fell backward. Strangely, this was kind of fun. I mean it was enough to make me smile with pleasure. As I did there, a loud explosion shook the bayou prompting us to look to see the riverboat was now on fire with a pillar of smoke rising up into the air. Something ended up splashing in front of us. The gators. Guess the explosion freed them, but our boat ended up missing them. However, Medusa ended up crashing into them, riding them like a pair of scaly skis. As she saw her new mode of transportation, she began whipping them mercilessly. Did she think that would make her go faster?

As we got closer to the riverboat, Penny did a u-turn that was so sharp the rope Medusa was using snapped in two, sending her and her pets flying into one of the smokestacks. Well, just Medusa. The two reptiles continued to fly forward, and I was sure I saw Snoops paddling away on a makeshift raft. Sorry, but you’re not getting off that easy. Turning to him, I fired a massive blast that sent a column of water flying up to where Snoops was. Failing to sense his darkness I settled the fact that he was no more. 

“Happy now? Or do you still want Medusa dead?” Kairi asked me while everyone else celebrated escaping the woman. 

Turning back to the riverboat, I saw her clinging to dear life while her former pets snapped at her from beneath. Guess she lost their loyalty. “Nah. I wouldn’t want to deprive her pets of their next meal.” 

“Goodness gracious.” Bianca’s words gave me a reason to turn around. The Devil’s Eye hidden in the teddy bear was glowing and shot a beam of light into the sky which produced a Keyhole. Summoning her Keyblade the princess pointed it at the Keyhole and a beam of light shot from her Keyblade that entered the Keyhole. As that happened, the light faded. 

Looking at us, Penny asked, “What just happened?” 

“That’s our cue that it’s time to go.” She answered the kid. 

“Do you have to?”
“I’m afraid so, Penny. But we’ll still be with you. Our hearts are connected now. And true friendships never end.” 

Oh, brother. Well, I guess it was time for business. “Now that we’ve rescued Penny, our truce is at an end.” Calling forth my Keyblade, I pointed it at her. “Now I will take what I want.” 

“What’s going on?” Bernard asked. “What’s the meaning of all this?” 

Glaring at him, I ordered, “Stay out of this rat. This is personal.” 

“Rat?!” 

“What are you doing? I thought we were all friends.” Penny said

“You thought wrong. I’m not friends with anyone because I don’t want or need them. I work alone, just me.” 

“Yeah. Just us.” Leroy added, and I chose not to correct him. 

Holding her weapon in defense, the Keyblade Princess told me, “So you do a good deed and you proceed to destroy that image? You were a hero to her.” 

I couldn’t help but chuckle pitifully at that statement before glaring at her. “Am I? Do you honestly think I am hero material?! DO YOU?!”

“I know you are.” As she said those words, her appearance changed again. In her place was the silver-haired woman that I had seen before, and all desire to take her heart left me. Why was I feeling this way?

I grunted in frustration as I lowered my weapon. “I am no hero. All I’ve ever been and will ever be is a demon!” Why was I getting a sense of deja vu? And why did I feel ashamed to admit that? With a growl, I just opened a corridor of darkness. “You know what? I’ve had enough of this stupid swamp and only being a few inches tall. I’m getting out of here, and next time we meet you had better be prepared to do what needs to be done.” With that Leroy and I stepped into the corridor and left this world behind. 

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