Chapter 4: The Fairest in the Land
The castle that had once belonged to the Evil Queen was a dreary place. Vines and cobwebs had sprung up in places that were once fraught with people and things going on. Kairi took notice of this as she walked through the vine covered gates and began to search for the specter that had threatened Snow White. According to the dwarfs, Kairi thought to herself, the Queen disappeared a long time ago. But how can she be brought back, unless Maleficent wanted to turn her into a Heartless? Kairi gulped nervously as the next thought crept into her head. Or worse. What if Xehanort was the one who sent her out?
Kairi looked up towards one of the castle's tallest towers, specifically towards the tower where a balcony jutted out from. She peered above and thought she could see a woman standing over her, glaring at the young warrior as she studied the situation. But when Kairi blinked, the woman had vanished. "I must be losing it. The Queen has got to be a Heartless. Didn't Sora say that the ghost of Scar was just another Heartless?" Spying a tunnel deep in the corner of the courtyard, Kairi hurried along inside.
No sooner had she entered into the tunnel that she found herself surrounded by more Heartless. "I guess the Heartless have been busy of late."
Defeat All of the Heartless!
As Kairi finished off the final Shadow, she turned down the dungeon path and found a gated door, from which behind the gate, she saw stairs leading likely to her destination. "Ugh! How do I get inside? There isn't a Keyhole, anywhere." She looked and saw a gate wench connected to a series of pulley cables. "Great. I didn't expect the Queen to make it easy to get to her." Kairi walked over to the pulleys and put away her Keyblade.
Open the Gates with the Pulley System!
The final pulley rope slid up and out of Kairi's sight, finally bringing the gates up to their natural position. Kairi nodded, content with herself, and dashed up the stairs and into the next part of the castle. Kairi opened a door to her left and found a secret lab full of potions, spell books, and all sorts of alchemic and sorcery tools and devices. Kairi walked over to the tomes that were the least dust covered, which sat atop a desk along with a few test tubes and vials. The first tome was opened to a page that spoke about the creation of an old hag disguise. The second spoke of a poisoned apple that could make someone fall into a sleep like death.
Kairi turned towards another doorway that led to a winding staircase. "This has got to be the way into the Queen's Chambers!" Determined more than ever to protect her new friends, Kairi vaulted up the steps.
Kairi soon found herself in a chamber with drawn curtains that showed cosmic shapes and patterns, such as stars and moons. To the center of the vast and empty marble chamber, was a jewel encrusted mirror. The young warrior felt herself drawn to the mirror. She ascended two steps and stood in front of the mirror, at first only able to see herself. But, after a brief moment of just staring, the mirror flashed with a bolt of lightning and from within a wall of flame, A face appeared within the mirror. But not a human face. The face looked like a mask, without eyes or virtually any other visible human features.
"What wouldst thou now, my child?" the specter asked.
"What are you?" Kairi asked, too stunned to summon her Keyblade.
"To the child that stands before me now, I answer questions, this I vow" the spirit spoke in a very ominous tone. "To the Queen of this castle, of whom I once served, objects of greater beauty, I was forced to observe."
"So, you will answer any question I want to know?" Kairi asked.
The mirror simply looked at the girl, it's melancholy mood unwavering.
Kairi took a deep breath. "Where are my friends, Sora and Riku?"
"If it is Riku you seek, you needn't threat or shove, for his journey takes him to the stars above. Though Sora's journey started out nice, he now faces danger in a kingdom of ice."
Kairi nodded. "At least they're okay. Now, what exactly is the Queen?"
"The specter you seek, take my words drawn to mark, is nothing but a creature, made all from the dark. A shadow bent to disrupt and bring plight, upon the Princess of Heart, Snow White. He appeared from the shadows, my words he wouldn't heed, for this man had in his mind a most wicked deed. To vanquish the Princess this much is true, but now not Snow White, his new target is you!"
Kairi gasped. "What?" Before Kairi could react, the Magic Mirror shined brightly and absorbed her powers within. The Spirit of the Mirror vanished and revealed the face of the Wicked Queen, who cackled violently as she followed Kairi into the darkness.
Kairi found herself in a dark dimension and surrounded by nothing but an empty void. Kairi stared towards the center of the void and found the specter of the Queen, who glared at her with almost as much contempt as she did Snow White before. "You are indeed of the same ilk as Snow White. That man from the shadows spoke of your arrival. A heart of your kind of light is not needed in my kingdom! Away with you!"
Kairi summoned her Keyblade and prepared for her offensive. "I don't know or care who sent you! I'm just here to make sure you never bother anyone in my world ever again!" Kairi lunged forward as the Queen summoned her legions of Heartless.
Boss Battle: The Evil Queen
HP: 200
NOTE: Keep your focus on the Queen. Don't bother with her Heartless lackeys.
Battle Music: Vim and Vigor
GET BONUS:
Kairi: +5 HP
The Queen's specter vanished into the shadows. But before Kairi could celebrate her victory, her heartless horde joined with her, revealing the Queen to have been nothing more than another Heartless. A huge Wyvern-like Heartless emerged from the shadows and roared a terrifying roar. With it's roar, the room shook violently and several cracks appeared in the chamber. Kairi noticed the glass in the mirror beginning to crack.
"If I can't beat this thing, I'll never make it back to the real world!" Kairi exclaimed as she stared down the dragon monster that roared above her. Kairi lunged forward as the beast prepared it's onslaught.
Boss Battle: Giga Wyvern
HP: 350
NOTE: Use Thunder attacks to defeat this aerial opponent!
Battle Music: Desire for All That is Lost
GET BONUS:
Kairi Learned Energy Ball
Kairi Obtained the Fire Element
The chamber shined once more with light as it allowed Kairi to tumble out of the Magic Mirror. Before Kairi could brace for her Heartless adversary to follow her, the Magic Mirror cracked and shattered. A gust of powerful wind knocked her back as the mirror's shattered glass shards vanished into the darkness. The young Keyblade warrior rose to her feet as she realized she was finally alone. She didn't feel as content as she had before. She felt fatigued and tired. I guess this is how Sora and Riku feel after completing missions. But I can rest later! I have to check on Snow White and the others. Kairi allowed the light to absorb her Keyblade as she dashed back out towards the Courtyard.
Kairi Obtained the Diamond's Crest Keychain
STR: 0
MAG: +4
Ability:
Drastically Raises Defense in a Pinch
Kairi walked out of the tunnel, far happier to see the sun than she'd ever thought she would be. The dark and dank dungeons of the Queen had given her farm more to worry about than she'd hoped for. As had the appearance of an unexpected friend, who stood near the entrance to the Courtyard.
"Snow White?" Kairi asked as she hurried towards the princess.
Snow White turned and clasped her hands together happily as she saw Kairi running to her in one piece. "I'm so happy you're alright" she exclaimed. "When we hadn't heard from you, the others started to worry. But I am glad I was the one who came to see you."
"You came by yourself?" Kairi asked.
The princess nodded. "My friends said we could have our little reunion when all of this had passed. And with you being here in one piece, I guess that gives us the opportunity to reschedule our party. You are more than welcome to join us, if you wish."
Kairi sighed. "That's a tempting offer, but I have to keep going. Sora and the King are counting on me to keep the light in all of our worlds safe. And with you and your friends safe, I guess that closes the chapter on my need to be here." Kairi looked down towards her hand. The Keyblade appeared in her hands and created a portal of light in the sky above the two Princesses of Heart. Kairi felt herself being pulled in to the portal. Snow White reached for her, but she too was pulled into the light. "What's going on?"
"Don't worry, Kairi" a sprightly voice called to her. "We've got the situation under control." Kairi and Snow White nodded as the portal carried them away from the Dwarf Woodlands.
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