#i think when the first em of time stole the power from cloud kingdom

[nyaskitten]

I can imagine a scenario during the war where Wu, Acronix, and the previous EM of Ice are all meant to be the seers of the Elemental Alliance, and they're all huddled around a bunch of Spirit Smoke, trying to trigger any possible future outcomes/visions.

[atomic-taco-muffin]

The Lost Princess Chapter 32

Warnings: Same as the other chapters

Rating: SFW

You and the trio had exited the Eighth Floor world entrance and had entered the world of Atlantica. 

“Gawrsh! This looks like the bottom of the sea,” Goofy said. 

“It sure does. So how come we can breathe?” Sora said. 

“Hmm... Beats me! Maybe someone cast a spell on us?” 

“It's just like breathing air!” you said.

“But it's not air. See? Someone's swimming this way!” Donald said. Ariel appeared and swam over to the four of you, holding a trident.

“If anyone asks, you didn't see me!” she said. 

“What?” Donald asked. 

“Sorry, I don't have time to explain. Just promise you won't tell!”

“Hey, what's that sparkling thingy you got there?” Goofy asked. 

“Oh, nothing---nothing at all! Remember, you didn't see me!” She swam away leaving you and the trio confused. 

“What was that all about?” you asked. 

“Well. Looked like she was in a hurry,” Donald said. 

“She was hiding something,” Sora said.

“I wonder what it was?” You, Sora, Donald, and Goofy entered the throne room of King Triton, and met a crab named Sebastian.

“Oh, woe is me...” Sebastian said. 

“Is something wrong?” Sora asked. 

“Someone stole the king's magic trident. Atlantica is defenseless! And to top it off, Princess Ariel has disappeared! King Triton's worried sick. He won't leave his chambers.” 

“Ariel? She disappeared?” you asked. 

“Ariel's friend Flounder would know where she is, but now he's gone, too.” Sora turned to you, Donald, and Goofy.

“Wait a sec... Didn't we just see Ariel?” he asked. 

“Yep. But she didn't look real happy to see US! Hey, wasn't she carrying something when we saw her?” Goofy said.

“You don't think that was the trident?” you asked. Jiminy hopped down.

“You know, maybe it was,” he said. 

“Wak? But that means Ariel stole it!” Donald said. 

“There must be some explanation.” Sebastian was talking to himself while the five of you were talking.

“Ariel! Where did you swim off to this time? If anything happens to you... The king will think it's all my fault! He told me to keep an eye on her, and now this! What if she ran away because of something I said?! King Triton will banish me forever!” he said.

“He'll pop his shell if we tell him Ariel took the trident,” you said to the trio.

“Guess we'll have to get to the bottom of this ourselves!” Goofy said. You and the trio left the throne room. You, Sora, Donald, and Goofy found Ariel and the trident in her grotto.

“There she is!” Sora said. 

“This is all my fault. I wish I'd never taken Daddy's trident. I should've known things would turn out this way,” Ariel said to herself. 

“She DID take it!” Donald said. 

“Pipe down! Somebody's comin'!” Goofy said. 

“No need to worry, child. You did the right thing,” someone said. Suddenly, Ursula appeared in a cloud of black smoke.

“Why, I'm sure you'd do anything in the world to help your little friend. Poor Flounder has been swept away to the human world. No place for a little fish. Why, if we don't hurry, you might not have a friend to save---” she said. 

“No!” Ariel said. 

“Besides, you're not GIVING me the trident, dear---just letting me borrow it for a bit. You can save Flounder! Lend me the trident, and I'll help you!” 

“I know. But Daddy needs the trident to defend Atlantica. I need time to think.”

“Well, it's all the same to me. Just remember, your little friend is dodging fishhooks while you twiddle your fins. Well, you can come see me once you've made up your mind.” Ursula disappeared in a cloud of black smoke. 

“What am I going to do?” Ariel asked. You, Sora, Donald, and Goofy walked up to Ariel.

“Don't trust HER, that's for sure,” you said. 

“How long have you been listening?” Ariel asked. 

“Oh, long enough,” Sora said. 

“It doesn't matter. (Y/N)'s right! Don't trust that sea witch! She's up to no good. You can see it in her face!” Donald said.

“Then we all agree! The problem is, I don't have any idea where Flounder is. And she's the only one who can help,” Ariel said. 

“What about us? C'mon. Let's go talk to her. You shouldn't have to do this by yourself,” Sora said. 

“Really? You'll come with me?”

“You bet! Sora and I know how it feels to have friends in trouble. Let's get going!” you said. You, Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Ariel entered Ursula's lair. Ursula came out of the shell at the end of the room and down to the ground.

“My, so many guests! Have you made up your mind, my dear?” she said. 

“I'll do anything for Flounder. But I need proof I can trust you. You said we could save Flounder if I gave you the trident. Well, prove it!” Ariel said. 

“But of course! See?” Ursula waved her hand, and Flounder appeared in a shroud of darkness.

“Ariel!” Flounder said. 

“I knew something was fishy!” Donald said. 

“There you have it. If you want your precious Flounder back, give me the trident!” Ursula said. The trident glowed and levitated over to Ursula.

“Ha ha! Mine at last! Now I'm ruler of all the seas!” she said. 

“Let Flounder go!” Ariel said.

“But of course! I'm feeling generous.” Ursula let Flounder go and he swam over to Ariel.

“Which reminds me... You always wanted to see other worlds, didn't you? Well, dear, I know just the world to send you to! Unfortunately, this will be a one-way trip!” Ursula said. She created a strike of lightning with the trident. You and Sora was transported to a single platform. Ursula, who had grown gigantic with the power of the trident, slammed her tentacles down.

“The sea and all its denizens shall grovel before me!” she said. You and Sora fought and defeated Ursula. Everyone was back in Ursula's lair afterwards.

“Please don't be mad, Ariel. That ol' witch tricked me,” Flounder said. 

“Flounder, as long as you're safe, nothing else matters. Now all we have to do is return the trident and everything will be okay,” Ariel said.

“But what if the king finds out you're the one who took it in the first place?” you asked. 

“I'll be grounded forever...” Sebastian's voice was heard somewhere in the area.

“Ariel! Ariel! Where are you, girl? If you can hear me, please answer!” he said. 

“It's Sebastian! He came all this way just to find me,” Ariel said. 

“Yep, and when he does, you're gonna get it!” Goofy said. 

“Hey, I know! Why don't you just say the sea witch stole the trident? And you got it back all by yourself! Then there's no way you'll get in trouble!” Sora said. 

“I just had the same idea! But...I can't do that. I don't want to get in trouble, but I can't lie. Not about this. I know I haven't made the best decisions lately. It was a mistake to take the trident. But I made that mistake because I wanted to help you, Flounder. I'm proud of that. Blaming someone else would mean giving those feelings up. So, I'm going to tell the truth,” Ariel said. 

“She's right, Sora! Honesty is the best policy,” Jiminy said. 

“Hey, I was just kidding! Great, now I'M the one in hot water!” Sora said. You and the gang soon left Atlantica and entered the Eighth Floor Exit Hall. You and Sora saw Riku walking to the next floor and gasped. The two of you then ran to Riku.

“Take the hint... I told you two to go home,” Riku said. 

“Not until we rescue you 'n Naminé,” Sora said. 

“I don't remember ever asking you two to rescue me.”

“Did you forget? Kairi's there---waiting for us to come home,” you said. 

“You're the one who forgot. I told you at Kingdom Hearts when we closed the door... ‘Take care of Kairi.’” You and Sora gasped and looked down.

“Give it up. I'm not going back to the islands---for anything,” Riku said. 

“It's not just for Kairi! What about the rest?” you said. 

“You can have those losers. Already forgot 'em.”

“That's enough!” Sora said as he summoned his keyblade and you with your dagger. 

“What about you, guys? Do you actually remember what they all look like?” Riku asked.

“Of course we rememb---” Sora said. Sora looked down causing Riku to laugh.

“Don't feel bad. That's what this castle does to you---after a while. It's good. You forget all the useless stuff and remember for the first time what really matters. I remembered it. I now know the one thing that is most important to me. Protecting Naminé. Nothing else matters---not a thing,” Riku said. You and Sora looked at Riku and remembered when the three of you used to fight using wooden swords as children.

“Hey...Riku... I think I'll jog your memory,” you said. Sora readied his Keyblade while you readied your dagger. Riku snickered and raised his Soul Eater.

“Go ahead and try,” he said. You, Sora, and Riku battle. After the battle, Riku laid on foot on the ground, defeated. He used his weapon to get up.

“Hmph. Too bad, you two. You can fight me all you want, but I still won't remember a thing,” he said.

“C'mon, Riku... Let's quit fighting---let's go help Naminé,” Sora said. 

“Together---right. So like you... ...Sora, (Y/N)---you're always trying to worm your way into my heart!” He held his weapon to you and Sora in a hostile manner.

“Hold on! When did we ever do that?” you said. 

“Hmph, you forgot that, too? You two never cared. It never mattered to you!” Riku said. He ran away into the next floor.

“You won't push us away,” Sora said. You and the gang left the Exit Hall. Meanwhile, the girl was still in the white room. Axel appeared and walked over to her.

“Does it hurt, Naminé? Watching your three childhood friends fight all because of you? You have my sympathies. From the heart,” he said. Naminé picked her head up and looked angrily at Axel.

“But don't waste your time. We Nobodies can never hope to be somebodies,” Axel said. 

~~~~

You, Sora, Donald, and Goofy entered the Ninth Floor. Sora sighed and you put your head down while Donald and Goofy looked at each other, worried.

“I don't get it. Riku and I---we both want the same thing. Both of us want to help Naminé out. How come we're fighting each other? I mean, Riku and I have argued about stuff in the past, but...” Sora said. 

“I know. But he was always so kind around me. What happened to him?” you said. 

“Could be 'cause ya care what happens to each other,” Goofy said. Donald nodded in agreement.

“Hm... I really thought so, too, but...maybe Riku doesn't...” Sora said.

“You can't give up. You're friends---tied together. (Y/N), Sora, Riku, and... and... What was her name?” Donald said. Goofy thought but came up with nothing.

“Hm. It seems our memories are fading mighty fast. Sora, (Y/N), we gotta hurry. I bet Riku will come around if you just talk to him,” Jiminy said. 

“You're right. We three were never apart. Me, Sora, 'n Riku... ...and Naminé,” you said. You and Sora held up the next card at the Ninth Floor world entrance, and entered to the next world.

To be continued...