Kingdom Hearts III Chapter 3

Kingdom Hearts III
Dimensional Crisis
Chapter 3: Secrets and Schemes



William had finally finished his training, though it hadn't been without difficulty. For one thing, he still hadn't got full control over his lion form. He had kept on falling quite often and he had had a really tough time getting used to holding and swinging the Keyblade in his mouth. However, he had also made many new friends. He was especially good friends with Rafiki, the mandrill shaman since they were both a bit loony. As a matter of fact, they were currently sitting for themselves and laughing at each others corny jokes.

Sora on the other hand, was deep in a serious conversation with Simba.

''How can Scar possibly be back? He turned into a Heartless and we defeated him.''

''You're right Sora,'' said Simba. ''If he turned into a Heartless, he would'nt be able to come back.''

''That's not quite true,'' said William, who had been listening even as he told a joke to Rafiki about a lion, a hyena and a palm tree. ''Did you forget, Sora? When Scar was turned into a Heartless, a Nobody must have been created too.''

''So it must be Scar's Nobody that's been creeping around the Pride Lands recently!'' exclaimed Sora.

Simba looked puzzled. ''What's a Nobody?''

''A Nobody is the body and soul left behind when someone with a strong heart turns into a Heartless,'' answered William.

''And since Scar turned into a Heartless the last time I was here, it's logical to assume that it's his Nobody that has appeared,'' continued Sora.

''I guess you're right,'' said Simba.

''And in that case,'' said William, ''we'd better hurry up and beat him. Nobodies are very dangerous.''

''Indeed,'' sighed Sora. ''And if Scar is just half as powerful now as he was when he was a Heartless, he will be difficult to defeat.''

''Well, you did beat him before, Sora,'' said William as he got to his feet and walked over to Sora and Simba. ''And if you beat him once, you can do it again.''

''That's true,'' said Sora, ''but we don't know where he is. He could be anywhere in the Pride Lands. Where do you suppose we should start looking?''

''Ah, that answer is easy to find.''

Rafiki had decided to drop in on the conversation.

''To find an enemy one must look at the most likely places that he might be. After all, even Scar can not take over the Pride Lands by himself.''

''Okay....'' said Sora. ''Rafiki, would you be so kind as to repeat that so we can understand it, please?''

''Oh, come on Sora,'' said William in disbelief. ''Don't tell me that you did not understand what he meant.''

''Wait, you mean you understood that?'' said Sora with surprise.

''Of course I did,'' said William. ''I speak 'loon' flawlessly. He said that Scar would probably be somewhere, where he could find some 'henchmen', if one can call them that here.''

''That means he's got to be at the Elephant Graveyard!'' exclaimed Sora.

''Then let's go get him before he causes more trouble,'' said Simba.

''Lead the way, Simba,'' said William.

''Wait,'' said Sora. ''Don't you think we should tell Zazu were we are going? Otherwise he might have a tantrum.''

''You have a good point there, Sora,'' said Simba and then added, with a smirk: ''Although, Zazu does have such a temper, that if as much as a twig is missing he will make an uproar.''

''Yes, indeed,'' said William smiling and sat down on something soft. ''But where is Zazu? I haven't seen him since we arrived here.''

''It's not surprising that you haven't seen me, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU KEEP SITTING ON ME!'' sounded the muffled voice of Zazu... from where William was sitting! He quickly stood up and moved out of the way, so that the ruffled (and quite grumpy) bird could get up.

''Sorry,'' William apologised to the angry advisor.

''Sorry is not going to cut it,'' raged Zazu as he dusted himself off. ''But I did hear what you were saying, in spite of you sitting on me and I think I should tell you, that it is not a good idea that you go to the Elephant Graveyard. Those hyenas will eat you for breakfeast. Litterally.''

''Oh, really?'' said William sarcastically. ''Are you saying that because you are worried about what happens to us, or is it because you are too scared to go with us, Banana Beak?''

Several things happened after that comment. Simba started to laugh like crazy, Sora looked confused at Simba, while Zazu's eyes went wide open in shock and surprise, before he had a tantrum and directed it at William.

''WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?!?!'' bellowed Zazu so loud, that every lion at Pride Rock looked at him.

''Relax, Zazu. It was just meant as a little joke.'' said William, grinning.

''Well, I didn't think it was very funny!'' yelled Zazu. ''And with an attitude like that, you are certain to get into trouble!  So I guess I had better come with you to make sure you don't end up dead.''

''Sometimes you just have to press the right buttons,'' said William with a chuckle.

''That was a good one, William,'' said Simba, still laughing.

''Well,'' smirked William, ''It worked fine when you told it to him when you were little, so I just thought I would repeat the success.''

Simba stopped laughing. ''How did you know that?'' he asked.

''Yeah, how did you know?'' said Sora, with a very puzzled expression on his face.

William quickly put a hand (well, paw) over his mouth, as people do when they have said too much.

''The king asked you a question,'' said Zazu, with a distinct amount of suspiction in his voice. ''You would do very well in answering him.''

William removed his paw from his mouth and tried to look like he didn't have a clue what they where talking about, but it didn't work. They kept on insisting that he told them how he knew. Finally he sighed and said: ''I can't tell you anything. I wish that I could, but I can't. It's a secret and I don't want to talk more about it.''

Simba looked as though he was about to force the truth out of William, but he changed his attitude almost instantly. He smiled a genuine smile and said: ''Ok, William. I understand. You have a secret that you do not want to share and that's fine. Though I am puzzled as to how you know of this, I know that everyone has something that they want to keep a secret from everyone else.'' He turned towards the savanna. ''Now, didn't we have someplace to go to?''

William immediatly started to follow Simba, while Zazu and Sora just stared at them. Then they turned to each other, shrugged and joined the others.


Harbringer sat on his Dark Throne in deep thought. His special device known as an Illuminating Orb was pulsating with a dark glow as he placed it on the table before him, letting out an evil chuckle as he did so. Harbringer used the Illuminating Orb as a way to spy on his enemies, without risk of being detected and he had just used it to spy on Sora, William and Simba. He had heard every word that had been said. All that was left to do, was to make use of what he had observed.

''Xagem,'' he called,''I want to talk to you!''

A Dark Corridor formed behind Harbringer and a cloaked and hooded figure came out of it.

''What is it, my lord?'' said the cloaked person. Harbringer smiled an evil smile as he listened to the voice of Xagem, his second-in-command and his most powerful accociate.

''The Orb has proved to be even better at spying, with all those modifications you added,'' said Harbringer.

''Thank you,'' answered Xagem. ''But I doubt that that was all you wanted to talk to me about.''

''As always, you are correct,'' said Harbringer with a chuckle. ''I also want to know if that special Heartless that I asked for is ready.''

''Indeed it is,'' Xagem answered, ''And I have also taken care of those other matters that we discussed.''

''Really?'' Harbringer sounded sceptical. ''I don't usually doubt your abillities, but it is a crucial part of the plan.''

''Do not worry,'' Xagem said, ''Everything went according to plan. The three would-be traitors have been disposed of. Malefor was dragged into a dark cube, Waternoose is in jail; and I guess one could say that Rourke went all to pieces. Literally.''

''And the two Keybearers will dispose of Scar,'' said Harbringer, with a wicked smile. ''And then the plan can move to Phase Two. By the way,'' he quickly added, ''did you manage to bring our 'surprise guests' here as well?''

''Oh, yes,'' said Xagem and gave an evil chuckle. ''Their starship made it through the Dimensional Portal, as you planned. They didn't even see it coming. That furry little hero and his companions are now stranded here; wich means that we can take care of him, in whatever nasty way we want. And speaking of nasty, I found someone in that other Dimension, who was more than willing to join us. May I introduce you...''

Harbringer used his powers over shadow to levitate his Dark Throne around, so that he faced Xagem and the Dark Corridor. Out of the Dark Corridor came a human-like being, but it was not human at all. It was a robot; tall, sinister, with three fingers/claws on each hand and a green, transculent dome on it's head. Behind him came another robot; this one looking more like a butler than anything else.

''My lord,'' said Xagem in a dramatic voice, ''This is Dr. Nefarious!''


Back in the Pride Lands, Sora, William, Simba and Zazu had just left Pride Rock. Simba and Zazu were talking, Sora admired the scenery and William was deep in thought. So many things had happened to him in the past few days and he was still having a hard time sorting it all out.

'It's not a coincidence that I ended up in this place,' he thought. 'But I can't tell Sora about where I come from. Not yet. If I told him now, it's certain that he would not believe me. I just hope that he will belive Master Yen Sid.' He sighed. 'Oh, well. No use in worrying about that now. We have to find Scar, before he does something...'

''What's the matter, William?''

William was shaken out of his thoughts, when he heard Sora talking to him.

''What are you talking about?''

''Well, I heard you sigh. Is something wrong?'' asked Sora.

''No, no, nothing's wrong,'' said William a bit too fast for it to be completely believeable.

''I don't belive that,'' said Sora.

William looked very nervous, but he did not say anything.

''Come on,'' pleaded Sora. ''You can tell me.''

''No, I can't,'' answered William. ''It's a secret. One that I can not tell you.''

''Why not?''

''Because you wouldn't believe me.''

''And why would that be?''

''I CAN'T TELL YOU!!!'' yelled William, his voice full of anger and so loud, that Simba and Zazu both jumped from shock. Sora just stood there, horror-struck. William looked at the expression on Sora's face and instantly calmed down again. ''I'm sorry, Sora. I should not have yelled at you, but you see...''

''No, it's okay,'' said Sora. ''It's me that should be sorry. You didn't want to tell me and I just pushed the issue. I was too curious.''

''Yes, well, that may be,'' said Zazu dryly, ''but as they say: 'curiosity killed the cat', and right now there is three of you. I propose that we go back to Pride Rock right now and forget about all of this.''

''Too late for that!'' yelled Simba. ''Look!''

A whole swarm of Heartless had suddenly appeared. They had surrounded the heroes and were closing in fast.

''Alright,'' said William and summoned his Keyblade. ''Time for some action!''