In the back of yet another carriage, Sora grimaces as he adjusts his bowtie. The tie itself isn't the problem, though honestly he's always preferred the straight variety, on the skinnier side. Rather it's the fact that he's still wearing his adventuring clothes underneath the coat and grey suit. He's hot, despite the chill of this world's late fall weather.

There's another reason for his discomfort as well, more personal and emotional. The last time Sora was dressed this nicely, it had been for the Radiant Garden Restoration Ball. He had been with Kairi. He can still clearly remember the way she'd approached him in their room before the party, the look in her eye at the sight of him.

Sora forces that thought away, his focus returning to reality. He turns to Azlyn, sitting next to him in a blue dress. It's a far cry from the slinkier numbers she usually prefers, with long sleeves and a big hoop skirt.

Freya sits on the bench across from him, dressed in her apparent signature color: red. The Keybearer can see that she looks even more melancholy than him. He leans forward, remembering how good it had felt to help Elsa.

"We're gonna get to the bottom of this," he says, loud enough to startle Freya from her thoughts. She looks at him steadily, silently asking him to convince her. "We will! The plan is in place, and everyone is going to do their best. If Basil is as great a detective as everybody seems to think, he'll find out the truth about the kidnappings in no time. He's got Riku and Telary with him too, and I'm sure they're both nearly as smart."

"And you've got me," Azlyn chimes in, grinning. "I bet I could detective that Basil guy under the table, any day of the week."

Sora nods. "Yeah, you've got Azlyn. Who is, if nothing else, just great at drawing attention to herself."

"Ye...Hey!" Once the knight realizes she's been insulted, she reaches over to smack Sora on the arm. He sits there and takes it, giggling.

Freya does look a little more chipper, Sora decides. Still, maybe there's a way he can put her even more at ease. "Okay, so… what's the deal with you and this Sir Fratley, anyway? You said that you two are partners, but how did you meet and stuff?"

"And when did you get the hots for him?" Azlyn inquires. Now it's Sora's turn to give her a punch.

"Before I met Fratley, I worked in the city's underworld," Freya explains, her expression going distant as she gazes off into the past. "As a bounty hunter, tracking down criminals even the constables could not find. It is not ego to say that I was the best in the business, my name whispered in fear wherever criminals gathered."

"Sounds kinda awesome," Azlyn says, eyes wide.

Freya nods, a small grin forming on her lips. "It was… At least, I thought so then. But even though I was fighting for justice in my own way, it always seemed as if it was all for naught. The kind of people I hunted down, their crimes were not so great in the scheme of things. Oftentimes they were swiftly set free. It began to seem as if I were catching the same criminals every few weeks. The challenge began to wear off, my spirit for the work started dying.

"And then, I met him. It was a rather routine hunt, my prey a notorious con artist and embezzler. Normally he plied his trade on the poor, but I suppose it was becoming so that was not enough for him any more. I tracked him down to a gentleman's club, a place where he knew I, a woman, could not follow him."

"But you didn't let that stop you, did you?" Sora says, eagerly leaning forward. Both he and Azlyn are practically falling off their seat.

"Of course not," the woman answers with a smirk. "I got my man. Well, Fratley had been at the club that night, dragged there by some friend of his. He must have followed me to the police station, waiting for me outside. When he realized I was a woman… Well, I am happy to say that it did not matter to him. In fact, he knew my reputation. He told me that he'd always had a fascination with the law, and then asked me a question no ever had before.

"He wanted to know why, with all of my skill and cunning, did I content myself with such lowly criminals? Surely, he told me, I could be tracking down much larger prey. He said he wished to help me do just that. And so, we began to work together. One of our cases must have gotten back to the queen, because she had her justice minister meet with us directly and ask us to join the secret service."

"I see," Sora says, content to lean back once again. "And the, uh, part Azlyn asked? The hots part?"

"I can't say that I am entirely sure," Freya responds without embarrassment. "Love isn't often like the stories make it out to be. It mostly happens gradually, unexpectedly. But it wasn't long into our collaboration that we both knew what was happening between us. Once it was clear, there was no use denying it."

Azlyn nods. "I know what you mean."

"Yeah, right," Sora adds, amused. "Before you and Tel got together, you were both so deep in denial that…" Any further commentary is cut off by a hard shove from the knight. "Uh, whatever. I know what you mean too, Freya. I know how it feels to be suddenly separated from the person you love too. I promise you, I'll make sure it doesn't last."

The carriage reaches their destination a minute later, a row of three houses at the end of a street. According to Freya, the party's hosts own all three houses. Light shows through the last house in the row, a pair of silhouettes visible from the street. The second, larger townhouse is lit as well, but the first in line shows no signs of being currently in use.

Another carriage is already stopped in front, a well-dressed mouse couple emerging from it. As they wait their turn, Freya regards Azlyn and Sora seriously.

"One last time, then," the rat woman says. She focuses on Azlyn. "You are…?"

"Fratley's cousin from the country," Azlyn rattles off. "On his mother's side. I live on a farm outside of Hampton, with his aunt and uncle. Martha and Reginald. I'm sixteen, and this is my first time in the city."

Freya nods. "Good. And you, Sora?"

"Uh, yeah," the Keybearer replies, sitting up straight. "I'm a friend, I work in a bookshop on Lawson Street. This is a first date setup for Azlyn." He grins at his partner. "She's totally in love with me already."

"Yeah, right," the knight replies with a snort. A quick glance from Freya tells her that there should be no more snorting until the night is through.

"Well, I suppose I'll have to trust the two of you," the rat woman says as their carriage pulls up to the disembarking point. She doesn't have time for anything else, as a burly footman dressed in purple and gold opens the carriage door. Freya takes his offered hand to help her step down, smiling demurely.

Once she's down, it's Azlyn's turn. She smiles when she takes the hand as well, though Sora can tell it's uneasy. Once the knight is out, he waits with his hand held out at the ready. After a few moments, Freya coughs indiscreetly, quickly alerting the Keybearer that the footman isn't going to offer him the same courtesy as he did the ladies. Fighting back a miffed frown, Sora exits the carriage without assistance.

"Smooth," Azlyn whispers to him as he takes his place by her side. There's a few heartbeats where no one is looking at them, and the Keybearer takes that opportunity to stick his tongue out at his escort. He quickly clams up once he hears Freya knock on the door.

It opens promptly, yet another large manservant stepping aside to reveal the party's hosts. Lord Bastion is about a head taller than Sora, comfortably plump with graying fur. He wears a high-collared, double-breasted coat with golden buttons. It and his trousers keeps with the servants' primarily purple color scheme, or rather the servants' outfits are based around their employers. The Lady Bastion, her fur a healthy brown, wears a purple dress, black gloves on her hands. Large golden hoop earrings hang from her ears, a golden chain with a purple crystal medallion around her throat.

"Lady Freya!" Lady Bastion enthusiastically exclaims, clapping her hands together in apparent excitement. "This is something of a surprise, I must say. I would have thought that with Sir Fratley… Well, being missing, that you would not be gracing us with your presence."

"Well, I couldn't simply dismiss the invitation," Freya replies. "Fratley may be… elsewhere at the moment, but his cousin just arrived today. This, Lord and Lady, is Azlyn."

"I feel terrible that Uncle is missing," Azlyn chimes in, mimicking the local accent. "But, well, I have never been to a city party before. I just begged Lady Freya to let me come. It's what Fratley would have wanted, really."

"Well," Lord Bastion says, straightening his back so he can better look down his nose at his guests, "we're certainly honored that you would see fit to grace our humble home. Especially in what must be such… trying times."

"I must put my faith in the constables," Freya says, obviously fighting to contain her emotions. Sora can tell it's a put on, but the way Lady Bastion's expression softens tells him that it's working on her. "Until they find something, I must agree with Azlyn. Fratley would want me to be here."

Lady Bastion smiles, a glint in her eye. "Well, come along in then." She takes Freya by the hand, pulling her into the foyer. A long hall extends back towards a closed door that probably leads to the kitchen, a wooden staircase running parallel. To the left is another closed door, most likely leading to the next townhouse in the row, the right wall opening up into a modestly sized parlor. Guests, all of them mice, mingle together talking as servants walk through the room with appetizers and glasses of dark purple wine.

"Oh, how lovely!" Azlyn declares, practically twittering. She moves into the room without hesitation, walking up to the first person she sees and beginning a conversation.

"She certainly is eager," Lord Bastion comments stiffly.

His wife shakes her head at him. "Oh, lighten up My Lord. I remember when I was that age, and I'd already been to several parties by then. Let her enjoy the experience."

"Yes, of course," the lord replies, Sora easily detecting his disapproval. "And who are you, young man?"

"Uh, hello," Sora says, after taking a moment to realize that the mouse is indeed addressing him. "I'm Sora. Uh, I work in a bookstore in town, and I've been tapped to be Azlyn's escort for tonight's party."

"Glad to have you!" Lady Bastion says with her apparently ever-present cheer. "A bookshop, you say? You'll have to tell me all about it, once everyone has arrived and I'm free to chat."

Sora's reply is cut off by a sudden peal of laughter from Azlyn, obviously much louder than is proper. The Keybearer offers the evening's hosts only a short nod before moving to his friend's side.

Freya watches the offworlders for a moment, before being shocked back to reality by a polite cough from Lord Bastion. She turns to see the high class mouse regarding her steadily.

"Are you quite sure," he says, "obligations aside, that this is the best place for you to be in what must be such trying times?"

Before Freya can answer, Lady Bastion scoffs at her husband. "Now now, my lord, don't overstep," she says, smiling at her guest. "Of course this is the right place for Freya. Why, I believe her presence here is going to simply make the whole event!"

KH-KH-KH

As "rough parts of town" go, the dockside area of the city that Basil leads Riku and Telary to really isn't that terrible. People's clothes are a bit shabby, a few vagrants sit leaning up against buildings, and a mild fog seems to cover everything.

"It's no Tortuga," Telary whispers to Riku, shuddering at his memory of the pirates' paradise. The pair and Dr. Dawson, dressed in a striped shirt and a red bandanna on his head, follow Basil down the street. The mouse detective's disguise is slightly more elaborate than Dawson's, complete with a black patch over his left eye.

"I'd definitely rather be here than at some party," Riku agrees. "Though to be honest, seeing Azlyn try to hob nob with a bunch of stuffy rich people would be pretty entertaining. When you two are king and queen, Tel, make sure you're the guy handling diplomacy."

The wizard frowns. "Oh, she'll do alright. As long as nobody says anything that upsets her. Or she doesn't get bored, or hungry. Or…"

"Well," Riku interrupts, "at least Sora's with her." After thinking on that statement for a moment, he sighs. "That Freya lady seemed smart. And of course, they're supposed to be distractions anyway."

"At the moment, gentlemen," Basil snaps over his shoulder, "all they are serving to distract is the pair of you."

"Now, now," Dawson chides his partner. "They've a right to be worried for their friends, Basil."

The detective gets a dark look on his face, and is just about to give Dawson a talking to on the importance of maintaining a disguise and alias, when he looks up and realizes they've reached his intended destination. Basil immediately calms, though he does put on a theatrical scowl.

"Alright, lads," the mouse detective growls in a rough accent. "This be our spot. The informant we're lookin' fer drinks here on the regular. Follow my lead, all. Aye?"

"Oh, aye aye captain," Riku replies in a flat voice. Telary rolls his eyes at the silver-haired young man's seemingly obligatory insubordination. The wizard keeps a hand on Riku's back as they enter the tavern.

Just like the district it'ss in, as drinking holes for rogues go, Telary must admit that he's seen worse. The wizard counts ten tables, all but one occupied, arranged in front of a stage that sits just a few feet higher than the floor. A few more patrons sit on stools in front of the bar, where a respectable-looking mouse draws ale from the taps and a robust rat waitress in a low cut gown moves with surprising grace as she goes out to deliver a platter full of cups.

There's no way that the room could be described as clean, but the dirtiness seems almost intentional. Everything is just shabby enough to indicate its lower class. Telary gets the vibe that this tavern and its patrons enjoy the fact that there's no need to get everything spotless, to put on airs. Mice and rodents make up most of the population, but a few lizards and bats sit just as comfortably as anyone else.

Except for one bat, sitting at the bar and nursing a pint. He looks over his shoulder, eyes finding the party as they enter, and immediately twitches in an obvious nervous spasm. The bat's wing knocks into his pint, knocking it to the floor where it lands with a loud thump. He doesn't lose a beat, already running across the pub floor to a back door. The movement is more stumping than running, though, his wooden peg leg making thumps louder than the fallen pint as he goes.

"Well," Basil declares, frowning, "I suppose it's a good thing I designed this disguise with such care."

"Should we run after him?" Telary asks, making a half step toward the fleeing bat. He's almost reached the back door, but a trio of loudly singing mice block his way.

"I shouldn't think we need to exert ourselves overmuch," Basil replies, heading toward the back door with his hands in his pockets.

Either the bat hears him, or the universe is being especially ironic today, as he quickly jumps and begins to flap his wings. He just barely clears his cacophonous obstacle, landing a pair of steps from the back door.

Basil says something, but Riku doesn't hear it. The silver-furred young man is already in the air himself. He flies over almost the entirety of the pub, the movement surprisingly graceful for his first time. The landing is a bit rougher, but luckily his clumsy stumble puts Riku through the back door at good speed.

The alley behind the tavern doesn't carry any of the building's "proudly grubby" vibe. It's just messy, loose bits of paper and other trash blowing in a stiff breeze. The fleeing bat is already airborne, though with the air current fighting against him he's having trouble making liftoff. Riku doesn't bother trying to get airborne, just rushing over and grabbing his quarry by the peg leg.

The bat doesn't react well to being pulled, slashing his clawed toes at Riku's arm. The Keyblade wielder lets go before the claws can make contact, the bat quickly moving a few feet out of his reach. Riku scowls, kicking at the alley wall in frustration as he watches his catch make good on their escape.

Until suddenly the wind blowing through the alley picks up, forming into a cyclone with the escaping bat in the center. He lets out a cry of surprise, which only gets louder when the swirling winds fling him back into the alley.

Riku turns, seeing Telary standing at the pub's door just as he expected. Dawson stands behind him, looking absolutely flabbergasted by the magic he's just witnessed. Basil doesn't waste a moment in awe, stalking over to the disoriented bat with purposeful strides.

"A valiant effort, dear Fidget," the detective says, looming over the bat with his arms crossed. "And interesting as well, considering the former deficiency of your wing."

"A-a-adrenaline," Fidget replies, the word coming out like he'd gargled it in his throat before releasing it into the world. "Guess there's still a bit of life left in the ol' boy."

"Indeed," Basil says, quite unimpressed. "Unfortunately, it seems you used up all of your good fortune in surviving Ratigan throwing you from his blimp. When I first heard talk of your being seen about town, I hardly believed it."

"Ranted quite at length over the improbability of it all," Dawson chimes in with a nod.

"I assume, from what else I've heard, that you haven't taken your small miracle as a sign to turn over a new leaf?" Basil asks. "Still have an ear in the criminal subculture, eh what?"

Fidget shrugs. "Well, I know what I know, detective. Besides, surviving Ratigan did no small wonders for my reputation around town, know what I mean?"

"Then I guess you're the guy getting all the juicy stuff first," Riku says, leaning in closer. "The disappearances around town. What do you know about them? The word 'Heartless' ring a bell?"

Fidget's eyes go wide, nervously flitting from Riku to Basil. "That's bad business, even for me. No clue what this 'Heartless' you're talking about is, though."

"Is that so?" Basil asks, tilting his head. "Why such a reaction, then? Don't waste the breath on lies, Fidget, you know I'll see through them."

"And if he says you're lying," Riku adds, his voice dropping lower, "I'll be pretty upset. You won't like me when I get upset."

"Y-you really won't," Telary agrees. "Trust me, been there done that. Not pleasant."

Basil frowns at the offworld pair for a moment, before turning back to Fidget. "Now then, if you please…?"

"Mmm," Fidget grumbles, still moving his gaze from one interrogator to the other. "All right, all right then. I've heard something, I have! Last week, I was down closer to narrows, at a little tavern where the brew's good enough to risk the danger. Group came in, seemed jolly about something. Mentioned some big score, and I mighta heard 'em say something about 'Heartless'."

"Any idea of who this group was?" Basil asks, his head tilting even further. Beside the detective, Riku presses his hand to the wall right beside Fidget's face.

The bat nods jerkily. "Asked the bartender about 'em. Called 'em Tantalus, some west side gang I guess. Small fries, until lately."

"By 'lately', I assume you mean since the disappearances began?" Telary says, not as threateningly as Basil or Riku would have.

"I can't say nothing more specific than I have," Fidget declares, shaking his head with finality. "Only asked the one question, didn't wanna get caught up in west side business. They're not so friendly over there, my reputation or no."

"You're over-explaining," Basil says, narrowing his eyes. "A sure sign of deception."

Riku sighs, shaking his head and moving his hand just a little closer to Fidget. "Oh, I don't like the sound of that."

For a few moments, Fidget just stares up at his interrogators and shivers. Finally, he grunts. "Alright, alright. I went over to 'em, asked what was going so well. Thought I might join in on the action. Didn't tell me anything more about disappearances or Heartless. Said something about a new player on the street, a munny guy. Called him Alleyway Jack."

"Alleyway Jack," Telary repeats. "Well, that's certainly colorful."

"I assume you inquired about contacting this Jack?" Basil asks.

"I did, I did," Fidget answers, nodding. "They were playing a joke on me, turns out. Tried to ask more about Alleyway Jack, they just started feeding me stories."

"I like stories," Riku says. "Why don't you tell me one?" Beside him, Telary stifles a groan at his companion's exaggerated drama.

"Indeed," Basil agrees with the silver-furred Keyblade wielder.

Fidget seems to debate something for a moment, but he quickly gives up. "Told me this Alleyway Jack came from another world entirely. Said he had four arms. Can you believe it?"

"No, no I suppose I wouldn't," Basil says, chuckling.

"I would," Riku declares, looking up at the detective seriously. He holds the look a moment before turning back to Fidget. "It just so happens me and my friend here might know this Alleyway Jack, under a different name though."

"You know a man with four arms?" Dawson asks, frowning.

"I wish we didn't," Telary answers, shaking his head. "Though to be honest, I prefer him to Pete. Something about the way he carries himself, maybe…"

"If you want to go chasing tall tales, be my guest," Fidget says, using the alley wall to push himself to his feet. The bat brushes at his grey vest, removing some of the alley's detritus. "Told you all I know, and I got nothing else."

"One more thing," Riku says, also standing. With both bats on their feet, it reduces his height advantage to a scant few centimeters, not quite enough difference to allow for effective looming. So the Keyblade wielder lets his eyes do the talking. "You got anything on these Tantalus guys' location? A hideout or something?"

"Yeah, yeah," Fidget replies, noticeably less intimidated. "Some abandoned theater, over on Benedict Street. Can't miss it."

"We shall be sure not to," Basil says, nodding again. "Well, I suppose you'll want to be back to the bar, then. Would be a shame to have spilled your beverage and not gone back to offer to clean it up, wouldn't it?"

Fidget snorts, and for a second it's clear he's about to turn and head right out of the alley, never mind the literal mess he's left behind. But a quick look at Riku, and the scowl he wears, seems to change the peg-legged bat's mind. With a last nearly respectful nod to Basil, he goes stumping toward the door back into the bar.

"Well, what a delightful stroke of luck!" Dawson declares as the group starts moving out of the alley. He looks to Riku specifically, a grin on his face, "Though I generally disapprove of such overt harshness, you certainly knew the trick to getting our man to talk."

"He's got a talent for it," Telary agrees. "That was him barely trying, wasn't it Riku?"

The silver-furred young man doesn't reply, looking to Basil instead. "Something about that bother you, too?"

"Indeed," the detective agrees, stroking his chin. "Though not about the information itself, that we'll most likely find to be accurate. It's Fidget himself that has me bothered. He moved with a grace I've not seen him exhibit before."

"Well, he did have that fall," Dawson points out. "Perhaps his survival is a matter of surgical means, a side effect of which was more fluid movement?"

Basil is silent a moment, then shrugs. "You may have a point, Doctor. You are, after all, a more qualified expert in such matters than I. Is it true, about the four-armed man, this Alleyway Jack?"

"Yeah," Riku replies. "Real name's Gilgamesh. He works for some bad people, and would definitely be capable of guiding Heartless to kidnap all those people. Not quite sure what he'd need some thief group for. He's not the kind of guy to let someone else do his work."

"So, are we going to this theatre, or not?" Telary asks, pointing down the street back to the carriage station they arrived at. A few yards away, two ladies in purple dresses with enormous matching hats loiter on the empty sidewalk.

"I believe an investigation may be worthwhile," Basil says. "Over half of the abductions have been perpetrated on the east end, which is an interesting enough correlation. Add this 'Gilgamesh' connection, and I suppose it's enough to go on."

The quartet begins its walk down the street, but as they pass an alleyway Riku suddenly stops. The others continue a few paces until Telary notices. That catches Basil's attention, and the mouse detective stops his partner with a hand on the shoulder.

"I know that look," Telary says, already focusing magical energy into his hands. "You're smelling something."

"Don't use that term for it," Riku snaps. "But, yeah. There are Heartless around."

Basil frowns, reaching into his pocket. "The abducting creatures?" He pulls out a golden pocket watch, flipping it open to check the time. "It's hardly the usual hour for them to be about."

Riku's about to reply when he turns toward the dark alley, Way to Dawn flashing in his hands as he raises an arm. Just in time, too, as a whirling figure in a brown coat and top hat leaps from the shadows. An arm emerges from the coat, holding a silver knife.

The figure, obviously some new kind of Heartless, keeps spinning as a second arm and knife emerge from its cloak. Riku steps back, the Heartless coming at him like a top. Inspired by the analogy, Telary lets loose a burst of wind like he'd use against Fidget, hurling the creature away.

It lands at the alley's mouth, two more Heartless just like it emerging to stand by its side. The Rippers face Riku and Telary full-on for the first time, revealing shadowy faces and glowing yellow eyes beneath the brims of their Heartless symbol displaying hats.

Riku is just about to advise that Basil and Dawson flee, but a quick look from the corner of his eye shows that the pair are already bolting. A heartbeat later, the Rippers surge forward.

It's like being attacked by a knife-wielding tornado, and Riku slips aside two Heartless instead of chancing a head-on confrontation. The nearest Ripper smoothly changes direction and advances, but the other is stuck behind its comrade. With only one opponent, Riku thrusts his Keyblade into the dangerous whirl, bracing his arm to hold it steady.

The whirling Heartless finds its spin stopped, disorienting the creature and leaving it vulnerable. Riku works quickly, pulling his blade back and slashing through its torso. The Ripper fades, which has the unfortunate side effect of giving its comrade a clear path. The Heartless leaps at Riku, spinning.

A few feet away, Telary releases the energy of his shield spell, pushing the Reaper that had been after him back. Before it can get moving towards him again, the wizard calls down a trio of lightning bolts that turn it into cinders. He allows himself a smile, moving towards Riku, when he suddenly hears a disgruntled yell from behind. He turns to see Basil and Dawson, backing away from the well-dressed ladies.

Except now Telary can see that these are no ladies. Like the Rippers from the alley, their faces of black shadow and glowing eyes mark them as Heartless. Each of them produce a pink parasol, which Telary immediately deduces is not just a simple fashion statement. Light begins sparking at their tips, pointed directly at Basil and Dawson.

Telary grits his teeth, thrusting his hand forward and hoping he can pull off what he wants to. A shield of light forms around the two mice, protecting them from the Heartless's twin lasers. The beams bounce off the shield and hit buildings on either side of the alley, gouging out chips of stone.

"Separate!" Telary yells, running towards Dawson and Basil. The shield in front of them fades as the mice execute the command, each one stepping to one side. A blast of cold energy flies from Telary's outstretched hand, exploding into long skewers of ice that run the Parasol Beauties through.

He turns around, just in time to see Riku dodge an incoming Ripper. The Heartless hits a brick wall, arresting its spinning momentum. Once its knives are no longer offering it protecting, Riku steps forward and skewers the Ripper on his Keyblade.

"Well," Basil says nonchalantly, brushing his hands off on his coat as he approaches the offworlders, "I suppose it's too much the expect that these ruffians stick to a proper, set schedule."

"J-jolly good work, lads," Dawson adds, bowing his head respectfully. "Basil and I had thought those… things were ladies, and we were hoping to get them to safety."

"You may have been pulled in by their act," the detective haughtily reprimands his partner. "I saw through their disguise immediately. I simply couldn't have predicted the swiftness of their reaction, and thus was mildly startled. Nothing more."

Riku chuckles quietly. "Yeah, alright. Sure thing, Basil." He starts towards the end of the street, still grinning. "C'mon guys, let's catch that coach to the theater. I'd hate to miss the curtain call."

"A curtain call," Basil declares as he turns to follow the Keyblade wielder, "occurs at the end of a production, not the beginning. The appropriate metaphor, I believe, would be…"

KH-KH-KH

"I never thought I'd say this," Sora tells Azlyn, approaching the knight where she stands by the wall, "but I am totally an hors d'oeuvres person. Have you had this peanut butter stuff? Oh man, it really…"

She slugs him in the arm, hard enough that the Keybearer almost drops the snack he's so wild about. It's not a terribly ladylike thing to do, but that hardly matters at the moment. Absolutely no one at this party is sparing them even a glance.

"Rude," Sora mutters, quickly stuffing all his treats in his mouth. After swallowing most of the food, he gives his partner a quizzical look. "What's with you? Is it starting to tire you out, holding this wall up like you've been for the last ten minutes?"

"Ha, ha," she replies in complete deadpan. Across the room, a group of women laugh at something. Freya stands with them, a strained smile one her face. "We're not exactly the hit of the night over here. I've been doing everything right, too. Lied about all sorts of high and mighty stuff, actually used the word 'commoners'. No dice."

The Keybearer nods. "Well, these people are kinda… Well, I'm sure most of them are plenty nice, but they don't exactly seem like the type of people who get jazzed about newcomers into the circle."

"They seem to like Freya," Azlyn points out. Indeed, the former bounty hunter is the hit of the night. "And she like, blatantly doesn't know what the hell she's doing. Meanwhile, I'm working everything I got, and it's just… Aaargh!"

This is certainly more emotion than Sora had expected to get from Azlyn in their current scenario. "I'm guessing there's some kind of real issue underneath all this."

The statement earns Sora a glare, but he just silently stares right back. "Gee, you've gotta go and make a federal case out of everything," Azlyn says with a sigh. "Fine, you win. If I'm supposed to be a queen, I can't be so crap at the nicey nice social event stuff. People are supposed to like their queen."

"I like my queen just fine," Sora assures her. "And besides, people in Disney Castle and Mouseburg know you. As long as you don't physically harm or cuss them out, they'll know you're trying your best."

Azlyn takes a minute with that, seemingly thinking it over. She shrugs. "Yeah, I guess. Besides, Tel's great at this kinda stuff. I'll just leave, y'know, all the conversation stuff to him. What's the point of marriage if you can't make your husband do the stuff you don't want to?"

"I think I just set a new record for solving emotional problems," Sora says, smiling. "Remind me to make myself some kind of certificate."

"Doesn't solve the problem of the moment, though," Azlyn points out. "We were supposed to keep all the attention on us, and instead they're all over Freya. I mean, at this point she might as well be the…"

Sora and Azlyn turn to look at each other, instantly receiving confirmation of their converging thought processes. After a quick glance around the room, including a nod at Freya that they hope only the secret agent catches, the pair slip away into the entrance hall. More people loiter about there, hardly paying attention as Sora and Azlyn slip through in between them.

They're in the next townhouse within a minute, walking across another entrance hall to where more groups converse in a smaller sitting room. An open pair of doors in the back wall leads to the dining room, just a few servants still getting things in order. Doing their best not to disturb the workers, Azlyn and Sora slip into the kitchen. There are two chefs inside, thankfully focused on dinner. Azlyn and Sora make their way to the room's other door as quickly and quietly as they can.

The side hall is empty, chatter filtering in from the sitting room. As in the last townhouse, the wall ends halfway down then hall. A few long strides take the duo to the edge of the opening into the parlor. Sora peeks over, spotting just a trio of mice standing where they could spot him and Azlyn moving for the door. They look engaged in their conversation, but it's still a risk.

Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Sora slides back into full cover. Azlyn holds up a hand, something held in her fingers. It's a very tiny spoon, probably made for some kind of fancy pudding or something. He looks at the knight for a few moments in utter puzzlement, before he goes back over what he'd just seen and remembers what was behind the guests in the parlor: a small cabinet with picture frames and a mid-size vase. Azlyn's plan becomes immediately apparent, then.

The pair switch places, Sora preparing himself for a quick dash at the door. It's only a step or so away, and he summons the Keyblade in case it's locked. He feels Azlyn's arm moving, and a moment later a loud crash sounds from the sitting room. Everyone gasps, and Sora is about to make his move when he feels Azlyn's hand on his shoulder. It lingers for just a second, and after a quick squeeze the knight releases him.

They move together, the tip of Kingdom Key tapping the door just a heartbeat before Azlyn is able to reach out and open it. Shutting the door again, both quickly and quietly, isn't quite as easy, but Sora is pretty sure they've managed. If not, they'll probably know soon.

The third house is dark, the only light coming from beneath the door and through the front windows. There's yet another parlor across the hall, and further down leads to a more intimate dining space, with probably a kitchenette attached.

Whatever it is Sora and Azlyn are going to find, heading upstairs is their best bet. They make sure to be as quiet as possible, on the off chance that someone else might be around. Sora focuses on his own relative stealth, while Azlyn keeps her ears open.

The upstairs hall is even darker, only a faint bit of outside lamplight coming in from a small window at the hall's far end. Three doors line the right side, two more on the left. Azlyn opens her mouth to ask which door they should investigate first, but Sora is already turning the knob on the closest. The door opens easily. Frowning, the Keybearer swings it shut again.

"Check them all," he says quietly. "The one that's locked is probably our guy."

The last door on the left resists, so Sora taps it with the Keyblade and enters. It's a study, a desk made of thick black wood sitting in front of a cabinet/bookshelf. There's another cabinet on the right wall, and light filters in through the hazy curtains covering the left wall window.

"What's up with this?" Azlyn asks, pulling the matching chair away from the desk. She hops up on it with one foot, tippy-toeing herself high enough to grab a small figurine off of the shelf's top. She tosses it down to Sora, who has to do a bit of scrambling to catch it.

The stone statuette depicts a figure that's becoming all too common around the Realm of Light for Sora's taste. Carved directly out of a thick pedestal is a humanoid torso, powerful arms crossed over its chest. Two batlike wings grow from the creature's back, and an ugly reptilian face looks back at Sora with a scowl.

"This is like the carving in the monkey temple," he says. "And did you see that scroll Telary got from underneath Pacha's hill? Three different worlds, but they all seem to share this common figure."

"Do we know this thing is from this world?" Azlyn asks. "Could be that Maleficent brought it here. And I did see Tel's scroll, but that picture didn't look that much like this thing and the temple carving."

Sora shrugs, setting the figure down on the desk. "Maybe you're right, but I still think this is important somehow. Enough at least that I'm thinking Freya was right about these people being connected to the abductions."

"One weird statue may be enough for us," Azlyn says, turning back to the bookshelf, "but I think the constable or whatever around here is gonna need more than that. And with that statue in a room full of books, I'm guessing at least one of them talks about it. If your theory is correct, anyway." She kicks at the bookshelf/cabinet unit's closed bottom doors. "I'm gonna take a look at what's on that other shelf, you unlock this cabinet and see if there's anything inside we can use."

Sora nods, quickly following orders as his partner crosses the room. The cabinet unlocks and opens easily, two shelves hidden within. On the top one sits what is probably an accounts ledger of some sorts, but the bottom holds a number of black candles set into bronze bases. A quick, silent count confirms there are exactly seven.

"Got something," Azlyn calls, and when Sora turns to her he sees a book in her hand, bound in black. "This one's cover isn't made of the same stuff as any of the rest, and its pages are black with white writing. Total evil giveaway. It was on the top shelf too, and there's less dust in front of it, which means they pull it out plenty."

"Did you read any of the writing?" Sora asks, going to stand at his friend's side and leaving the cabinet doors open. Looking over her shoulder, he can guess the answer. Whatever language is written on the black pages, it's not one the Keybearer knows how to read.

"Obviously not," Azlyn answers, frowning. "But there's something familiar about this language though… Oh, yeah! It sort of looks like what's written in some of Master Donald and Telary's older spell books. I've seen this character in one of them, but it looked different. This one is less ridged, the edges not as sharply defined."

Sora spares a moment to give the knight a speculative look. "You paid that much attention to a book that wasn't about murder?"

"Yeah, yeah," she replies rolling her eyes. "Actually, I think it was the fact that I couldn't read the words that made me so interested. Nothing motivates me like a challenge. Well, except for…"

"I know, I know," Sora interrupts, holding up a hand. "Alright, so this is something else interesting. Not really incriminating, though."

Azlyn nods, handing him the tome. "Still, it might be important to us, or whatever it is they're doing with the kidnapped people." She reaches for the bodice of her gown, quickly loosening the tight strings. When Sora raises an eyebrow, she explains. "I think we can get it stuffed in here. I won't be comfortable, but it'll be somewhere I can keep it close without anyone seeing."

"Uh, yeah," the Keybearer agrees, his partner's logic not making him any more comfortable with the actual act. When she pulls the bodice away from her chest and points down the hole, he feels even less certain. Luckily, the undershirt of her traveling clothes is underneath, allowing the Keybearer to relax.

All relaxation fades as he hears a loud creak from outside the library's closed door. The floor begins shaking just faintly, more noises accompanying it. Sora grimaces at his partner, who shakes her bodice urgently. There's no time for finesse, so he just attempts to shove the book in. It catches the fabric's edge, and he has to pull back for another attempt just as he hears the doorknob turning.

As the Keybearer tries again to get the book down Azlyn's dress, she grabs the front of his shirt and pulls him hard against her. They fall to the floor, making impact just as the door swings open.

"I say!"

Sora doesn't let himself react to Lord Bastion's voice, continuing his mission to conceal the book he's holding. Azlyn helps, letting out a little cry of what sounds like pleasure as he gets his hands down her dress.

A large hand grabs the fabric at the back of his jacket, hauling the Keybearer into the air. He winces looking down at Azlyn, the book's top still sticking out from her bodice. Sora's captor whirls him around, so he's facing a large manservant and the very perturbed Lord Bastion.

"The two of you," Bastion practically spits. "Yes, I should have known. The accomplices of Fratley's whore. I never should have allowed you to step foot in my home."

The manservant at his side's eyes go wide. "Martin, behind…"

Before he can finish warning his comrade, Azlyn is already pouncing. She brings the book, pulled free from her dress, down against the back of the mouse holding Sora. His grip on the Keybearer loosens, allowing him to shake free.

Sora steps toward the butler beside Bastion, swinging down at his torso. He hits the bruiser in the stomach, who doubles over with a loud grunt. That puts his head in reach, and Sora gives it a hard tap that sends him all the way to the ground. Now all that's left is Bastion, who shouldn't be any trouble.

Except for the fact that Sora is suddenly hit in the chest with what feels like a cannonball. The impact lifts him off his feet, sending him on a short journey that ends with his back hitting the study's wall. Dazed, he looks up to see Lord Bastion standing with one hand out. Wisps of familiar energy surround it, the same kind Riku employs in his balls of dark fire.

In that moment, the Keybearer realizes that the bruiser butlers are the least of his concerns.

Azlyn is so taken aback by the nature of Bastion's attack that her punch loses speed, allowing her opponent to wrap his larger hand around her fist. The thug's free hand lashes out in a punch of his own, and she joins Sora in a seated position.

"Honestly," Bastion says, shaking his head. His arm moves behind his back, his hands clasped together as he continues his imperious staring. "Tonight, of all the nights. I told the others to simply kill Fratley and leave his body on her doorstep, but they had to try and lure her here as well. As if the ritual lives or dies on one inferior heart."

"So, that is a spell book," Sora declares, pointing to the black-bound tome currently in one of the manservant's possession. "What are you trying to do? Why all the kidnapping? What do you mean by 'inferior heart'? Can I get that peanut butter hors d'oeuvres recipe?"

"Sora!" Azlyn exclaims, elbowing him in the side.

"I'm afraid I'm not in the habit of answering the inquiries of low-class thieves," Lord Bastion replies, returning his hands to his sides. "Luckily for you, all will be revealed once Lord Blackpaw arrives. You have two options: die now, or die in an hour."

"Gee," Azlyn deadpans, "you sure are a masterful deal maker."

"If it helps," the mouse lord says with a hint of a smile, "the latter option gives your death at least some meaning in a greater purpose."

Sora has had enough of this chit chat. He gets his feet underneath him lightning fast, launching himself at Bastion as he stands. The closest butler tries to grab him, but he twists away from the reaching hand. The motion costs him barely any forward momentum, but it's delay enough for Lord Bastion. He shoots off another blast of dark fire, taking the Keybearer again in the chest.

This energy must be more powerful, as Sora flies back with twice the speed of before, consequently hitting the wall much harder. He can feel the back of his head making contact with the hard surface, and then he blacks out.

KH-KH-KH

Riku peers around the corner of a brick building, studying the theater entrance down the block. The building is wider from end to end than the others on the street, but even the tallest point of its glass dome is at least a hundred feet shorter. A dozen or so stone steps lead up to its entrance, Parasol Beauty Heartless loitering on them as sentries.

"Could you lads take them, if we charged?" Dawson asks. Riku pulls back from his recon, returning his focus to the party.

"Yeah, I think so," Telary confirms. "If I spread a Thundaga wide enough, it'll at least put a dent in them, maybe a little disorientation. From there, Riku can close the distance, and of course I'll still have a spell or two left."

Basil grunts negatively, shaking his head. "Too much noise, my good man. Unless this Tantalus is actually using this theatre to conduct their choral practice at the moment, they'll certainly hear. Even at our fastest, they'll most likely still have ample time to bolt."

"Basil's got it right," Riku agrees. "A place like that must have a dozen ways to leave quietly, all they need is a stage door to slip out of. Full frontal isn't the way to go on this."

"But," Dawson says, scratching his chin thoughtfully, "what is an advantage for them could be one for us as well. Any stage door they can use to slip out, we can easily slip in."

"Yeah, that sounds smart," Telary says. "Guess I was just thinking with my magic. So, let's circle the block and see if we can find any alleyways leading to a back entrance."

It takes fifteen minutes to do so with what Riku considers appropriate stealth and caution. When they do reach an alley coming out of the theatre, Telary just has to stun a pair of Ripper guards so Riku can put them down. Way to Dawn takes care of the door, and the quartet has successfully infiltrated.

They go quietly up a dark corridor, toward a light up ahead coming from around a corner. Riku stays in the lead, Basil only a step behind and clearly looking to overtake the Keyblade wielder. Every attempt he makes to get around him, Riku counters. Steps behind, Dawson fights off a sigh at his partner's antics.

They stop at the corner, voices coming from up ahead. The speakers pay no mind to volume, their words clear.

"You might need to pick up the pace on that crossing, Ruby," someone says, his voice rough in a pleasantly roguish way. "Lightning fast, or it won't work. Remember, you're just holding attention until Marcus can get into place."

"I know, Baku," a feminine voice replies, clearly exasperated. "We've done this maneuver a hundred times in rehearsal. Every eye will be on me, as it should be."

"Yes, yes, didn't mean to insult you," Baku, the first voice, says. "You should know by now how it sounds when I do mean to. Well, that's my last note. Another two practice runs or so, to get the technical aspects just perfect, I think we've got it down."

"This really is exciting," a third person, perhaps Marcus, chimes in, his tone smooth. "It's gonna be our biggest hit yet! No job we've pulled before can even compare. All we need to do is lure in enough captives, and the show'll do the rest."

"Can't hardly believe I'm about to head up a production this big," Baku says, sounding quite proud of himself. "And all thanks to Alleyway Jack. You were right about us trusting him after all, Marcus. We'll be set after this operation!"

Riku feels a tap at his shoulder. He turns around to find puzzled looks on all of his companions' faces.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Telary whispers.

"Their wording so far hasn't provided many clues," Basil agrees. "Though they did speak of 'captives'. And this Gilgamesh fellow, if he is indeed using the Alleyway Jack alias, is involved. Perhaps we've not overheard enough to convict, but…"

The detective is cut off by a loud creak from the end of the hall they just came up, a fresh air current tickling the party's ears. Everyone looks back to see a mouse entering through the same door they just did.

He isn't much taller than Dawson, though his tan-furred body looks to be all muscle. He wears a brown sleeveless vest with bare arms poking out, black briefs, and gloves and boots of dark leather. A bandanna covers his eyes, and for a moment Riku thinks they might be safe. Until he registers the way the newcomer's body stiffens, likely in preparation for combat.

"What are you doing here?" He reaches behind and grabs a sword, settling into a battle ready stance. "Marcus, Baku! We've got trespassers!"

Riku steps aside his comrades, Way to Dawn appearing in his hand in a flash. "Go get the others, I'll take him!" His command given, the Keyblade wielder springs forward to attack.

"Say what?" Baku's voice calls from the other hall. "That you, Blank? Hey, who are you people! This theater is…!"

Riku doesn't hear the rest, already clashing swords with the mouse called Blank. The Tantalus member's blocking form is excellent, and he smoothly slides his sword away to prepare for a strike of his own. The sound of the blades sliding against each other isn't as sharp as he's used to, the Keyblade wielder notes.

Basil, meanwhile, leads Telary and Dawson around the corner. The three of them face down another trio, two men and a woman. One man is tall and broad, some kind of badger. A long beard covers the bottom of his face, eyes narrowing at the trespassers. The other man is a slim otter, dressed in clothes that remind Telary of the pirate Jack Sparrow. Last in line is the woman, a pretty mouse wearing a low-cut white blouse and blue pedal-pushers. She is the first to take a battle stance, holding out an umbrella like it's a sword.

Telary quickly realizes that, even numbers or not, the narrow corridor they're in isn't going to be an ideal place for a brawl. So he once again calls upon the power of wind, thrusting out his hand as a horizontal cyclone forms in the palm. The Tantalus troupe members all go flying, tumbling towards a more open area, well-lit. That must be the theater's main stage.

At the alley door, Riku lets Blank drive him back, taking long strides behind him as he deflects the mouse's sword. His skill is even more evident now, the swings crisp and precise. A stab gets around Riku's guard, stopping up against his adamantite-toughened clothing. It's probably a trick of the light, but Riku swears he can see Blank's sword bend slightly as it makes contact. Riku stumbles back for real, just barely noting that he's going to have to turn down the hall before he finds himself against a wall.

Blank doesn't press his attack, almost like he's giving Riku the time he needs to turn the corner. Once the silver-furred bat is steadied again, he starts moving in again. In a weird way, Riku's almost having fun with this fight.

On stage, Basil charges Baku, his fists out and ready. The big badger lets him come, blocking the detective's first punch with his forearm. He slips around Basil's next strike, backhanding him in the face.

Telary sees Basil stagger back, but he's in no position to help as Marcus rushes him, broadsword held high. The wizard can't get a shield up in time, the flat of the blade smacking him on the side of the head. He's momentarily worried he'll get his artery sliced, but the sword's edge apparently isn't sharp enough.

The wizard pulls a move his wife taught him, one of the few physical attacks in his repertoire. The heel of his hand strikes Marcus in the chest, forcing a breath out of the swordsman as he stumbles back. With his already open hand, Telary casts a simple magnet spell, set only to attract metal. Marcus's sword doesn't budge, though two buttons come flying off of his shirt and his belt buckle forces him a pair of steps forward.

"Are you using a wooden sword?" Telary blurts.

Marcus regards the wizard with puzzlement. "It's what I had on hand. It's not like we're in the habit of using actual metal swords for props."

"Props?"

Riku and Blank's fight reaches the stage at that moment, Riku no longer letting himself be pushed backwards. He circles around his opponent, swinging for the mouse's back. Blank barely pirouettes away from the strike, his foot coming up to kick Riku in the stomach.

Basil knows now he can't afford to let Baku get another hit on him, bobbing and weaving as quickly as he can. He goes for quick jabs to the badger's face, figuring that in this fight quantity is his friend over quality. It helps that his larger opponent is significantly slower, his thrusts and swings simple things to dodge.

It doesn't take long for Baku to get frustrated. He lunges forward with his arms outstretched, giving Basil a fantastic opportunity to thrust his hardest blow into the badger's ample stomach. Baku lets out a cry of pain, falling to his butt on the stage floor. Basil steps forward, ready to apply the same force to his dazed opponent's head.

"HOLD ON A MINUTE!"

Telary's loud cry pulls everyone out of their fight, all eyes pivoting to look at the wizard. He stands tall, arms outstretched and head held high. Marcus is next to him, sword held relaxed at his side.

"Thank you," Telary says, smiling nervously. "Now, if we can all just calm down, then…" He's suddenly distracted, looking around the stage. "Uh, where are Dawson and the girl?"

"I got him, boys!" Ruby declares, stomping in from the wings with her umbrella held against her shoulder. Her free hand is wrapped up in Dawson's collar, dragging the dazed mouse along like an unruly pet. After a moment of reveling, she takes in the current situation. "What's everybody stopped for?"

"Yeah, Tel," Riku agrees. "What's up?"

"I think there's been something of a misunderstanding," Telary replies, shaking his head. "Or worse, we've been deliberately misled."

"Must be one hell of a story," Baku declares, struggling to rise to his feet. In the interest of courtesy, Basil holds out an arm to help him up. "For you to trespass in our theater on our last night of rehearsal!"

"The procedure of the criminal mind always manages to astound me," Basil chimes in. "Jolly good foresight and planning. Thieves rehearsing their crime!"

"We're not thieves," Marcus says, crossing his arms and giving the mouse detective a stern glare. "We're performers. A theater troupe!"

Riku frowns. "So, you're all just actors? How does a theater troupe get mixed up with kidnapping, and the Heartless?"

"Kidnapping?" Baku sputter, shaking his head. "That's not our business, young man. Unless you refer to our capturing the hearts of our audiences!"

"And especially that of the ladies," Blank adds with a smooth smile.

"So, Fidget must have lied to us," Basil concludes with a scowl. "Tricked by that wobbling thug, I've never been so embarrassed." The detective looks to Riku and Telary. "It must have been your influence."

"You did mention Alleyway Jack, though," Telary says. "I'll ask you just to confirm this, but how many arms does he have?"

Ruby raises her parasol high. "Four! And they're all real, I gave them each a poke to check."

"He provided the munny necessary for us to rent this theater," Marcus adds. "Plus make our sets, build these prop swords. He's been a real asset."

"How nice for you," Riku says. "And you're sure that munny is all that he's offered you? Not dark powers or anything like that?'

"Most certainly not," Baku replies. "And even if he did offer such things, I think we've all put on Faustus enough times to know to say no!"

"Then what the hell are we doing here!" Riku rages, kicking at a nearby pulley. "Did we really fall for some wild goose chase diversion?"

"Indeed," Basil agrees, sighing. "If only I'd trusted my own instincts, we'd have picked up the real trail already!"

"I think we've still got a chance," Telary says, looking at each of the Tantalus members. "So, this Alleyway Jack, whose real name is Gilgamesh by the way, invested in your play here. Did you ever meet him anywhere, somewhere that could have been his lair?"

"Indeed we did," Baku answers, nodding rapidly. "I did, anyway. Coming to think of it now, I had wondered why a big munny investor would be running his office out of an underground cave."

Basil quietly gasps, focusing fully on Baku. "A cavern underground, did you say? There was a building within this cavern, yes? Overly lavishly appointed, a champagne fountain flowing in the middle of the room?"

Baku nods. "Indeed it was. What business of yours did old Jack invest in?"

"I've not had the pleasure," the detective answers, a dark look on his face. "But I do know of where you speak, and I'm beginning to develop a theory…"

"Develop it on the road," Riku orders. He nods to Telary, who walks across the stage to help Dawson to his feet. The doctor is looking considerably more lucid, able to stand on his own after a moment. "We're out of here."

"Do you have to go straight out?" Ruby asks, innocently twirling her parasol. "It wouldn't be possible for y'all to stick around for just the first act?"

"She's right," Marcus says, nodding. "There are a few points that seem to be missing something, and perhaps an outside perspective would help us work it out?"

"Not to be rude, or anything," Telary says, scratching the back of his neck, "but no, I don't think we've got the time."

"Nor the inclination," Basil adds. "I prefer the opera to pantomime, myself."

Though it isn't the best of terms to depart on, the quartet nonetheless leave the theater far more peaceably than they entered. The Heartless once on the front steps are gone, apparently nothing more than a lure.

"If you've drawn the conclusion I think you have, Basil," Dawson is saying as they make their way back to the carriage depot, "I'll remind you what happened the last time we rushed into this place headlong."

"A fair point, my dear Dawson," the detective admits, his smug grin not abating. "I will remind you, however, how it was we escaped our predicament: by making sure to spring the trap on our schedule, at precisely the right time."

KH-KH-KH

Azlyn kicks as hard as she can. Not the big thug who currently has her slung over his shoulder, that's probably not going to help any. Instead, she aims for the currently unconscious Keybearer on the other shoulder.

Sora's eyes shoot open as he lets out a startled yelp. Annoyed to have his ear screamed in, the manservant viciously bumps his shoulder against his captive's stomach. Sora just swallows the grunt that gets out of him.

He's about to try and turn some serious silent scolding on Azlyn, until the thug carrying him stops. Sora does his best to twist his head around and see what's going on, only getting to where he can see what's ahead from the corner of his eye. Lord Bastion's manservant reaches out to open a door that is completely ordinary in every way. He'd noticed it on he and Azlyn's initial arrival in the house, but had dismissed it as a simple broom closet under the stairs.

It seems he was wrong. The plain door opens to reveal a stone staircase leading underground. A few steps down, the walls go from wood and plaster to brick and mortar. He figures it must be the townhouse's cellar, but as his captor begins his descent, he realizes he's wrong. The stairs lead far further into the earth than any simple cellar would go.

They open up into an enormous cavern, the stairs now just twisting around a stone column. Sora examines the cavern by torchlight as they make their was down, first noting two large cages up against the farthest wall. At least a dozen people sit in each one, probably the city's missing people. Freya's hunch was right, after all.

Moving on from the cages, Sora notes that the floor of the cavern is painted with an elaborately design. It's mostly a large circle, separated into three layers. The two outer layers have more designs painted into the floor, and Sora immediately notes the similarity to the characters within the black book's pages. In the middle circle sits a medium sized table, carved from black stone. The Keybearer can't see its surface very well, but he'd imagine there are more symbols painted or carved on its surface.

Sora looks at Azlyn to see the knight examining the room as well, probably coming to the same conclusions as he did. She looks back at him with fire in her eyes, tilting her head towards the manservant carrying them. Sora shakes his head, silently indicating that they'd have quite a fall if the break away from their captor now. Best to wait until there's solid ground beneath them, which should be only a few seconds.

Several prisoners from the nearest cage stand up and step towards the staircase, holding loosely onto the bars in front of them. Something glitters on each of their necks in the torchlight, though Sora's too far away to confidently categorize what the objects are.

The manservant carrying Sora and Azlyn finally reaches the cavern floor, and Azlyn immediately springs to action. The knight twists hard, putting her in position to aim a kick at the back of the thug's head. He grunts loudly, stumbling forward a step and loosening his grip on Azlyn's body. She twists again, successfully breaking free from the hold.

The manservant turns to face her, but Sora twists around as he does, curbing the momentum. By the time the thug is facing Azlyn, she's already got her next kick ready to go. She snaps her heel into the mouse's stomach, drawing out another pained grunt and loosening the grip on Sora enough that he too can twist free.

He summons Kingdom Key in a flash of light, already pulling it back for a swing. Arms grab at him suddenly from behind, doubtless another of the Bastions' bruisers. Sora flips the Keyblade up, hoping to connect its teeth with the manservant's head. No luck, but he does get him in the shoulder.

It doesn't matter much, in the end. The manservant releases the Keybearer, pushing his out of his arms and toward the circle. As soon as Sora's foot breaches the painted line, he feels a massive spike of pain hit him hard. It goes through his whole body in an instant, and he drops Kingdom Key from his hands before stumbling back.

He's too disoriented to know what happens next. When the Keybearer's head finally clears, he finds that he's been put in one of the cavern's cages. He sits up with a groan, the pain clinging to him like a bad memory for a moment, then disappearing as if it never existed.

"Are you sure you're fine to sit up, son?"

Sora looks to his left, where a white-furred mouse sits just a few feet away. He's dressed in a fine red suit, considerably rumpled and dirty from his time in captivity. What Sora could only vaguely see against the prisoners' necks from the stairs is better visible now, though still confusing. A blue metal orb. The Keybearer ignores that again for the moment, as a second's glance has already identified this man to Sora.

"Are you Sir Fratley?" he asks.

The mouse reacts with clear shock. "I am, yes. How do you…?" He's silent for a long moment before finally figuring things out for himself. "Freya sent you, didn't she?"

"Yep, she did," Azlyn calls out from behind the bars of the other cage. She leans against them casually, looking almost bored. Her party dress lies discarded on the floor, leaving her dressed for battle. "Can you just Keyblade these cages already so we can get outta here and punch some bad guys?"

Sora frowns, staring at his hand. His body only reacted once he'd stepped into the circle, so probably he'll be alright summoning Kingdom Key in this cage. Just as he's about to call the blade, the sound of footsteps and quiet chatter filter in from up the staircase.

All the captives gather at the far edges of their cages, watching as who Sora presumes is the evening's party guests descend into the cavern. The entire procession is dressed in robes of black, uncomfortably reminding the Keybearer of Organization XIII. After watching for a few moments, Sora hears Fratley gasp.

Looking up, the Keybearer's eyes find the last figure in the party, the only one not dressed in the same uniform as the rest. It's Pete, who returns Sora's look with a smug smile the boy knows well. Flung almost carelessly over his shoulder is the seemingly unconscious form of Freya, her hands and feet bound together with thick black rope.

Two chapters in one month, not bad! I didn't expect this one to get so long, but there you go! Not a lot to say here, but I'm glad to hear there's some enthusiasm for the conclusion of this movie. Of course, the story of this world doesn't have much to do with the actual movie, but whatever!

Shoutouts to Bezerker21 and DJ Scales for their reviews of this chapter. Until next time, when we find out just what it is this wealthy mouse cult is up to, and who is behind Lord Blackpaw's hood! Assuming anyone hasn't already figured that second one out.