KHF: Chapter 88

Chapter LXXXVIII: Goin' onto the Groovin Empire Part II

Running down the path that lay in the jungle, darting past draping vines and dodging the odd tree roots, Nozomi, Cait sith on her shoulder and Pacha were making their way into its very centre.
Breathing fast as they sped down Nozomi asked, "where do you think that emperor guy is in here?" As she turned to look at her adult companion.
Hearing her Pacha told her a little breathless, " I don't know? But where ever he's got to, it won't be-"
Suddenly then the two of them stopped as now before them was a crossroads that divided left to right, both were just as ominous looking as the shadows and darkness coursed from each.
Not liking the look of either choice Nozomi was quiet as she looked on, but then Cait sith spoke up, "well this makes things great don't it?" Obviously just as displeased.
Replying at these words Pacha spoke, "… this is gonna be tricky, both of those paths are bad news! We gotta move fast if we want to stop him from doing anything stupid."
Nodding as she heard these words Nozomi turned to him and said, "Yeah that's true… well then why don't we check both paths?"
Hearing her Pacha looked her as he repeated puzzled, "check them both?"
Cait sith nodded as he then climbed up and sat on Nozomi's head and said, "She's right mate! That means we gotta split up and go down 'em both!"
Hearing this Pacha was surprised as he paused for a moment before saying, "but I can't let you do that! You don't know the jungle and if you get lost what are we supposed to-"
But then Nozomi interrupted him as she said, "we can make a fire signal or something like that and then we can meet up again, okay? I don't think it's good to argue right now, we got to use every second we got, right?"
Pacha was silent as he heard these words but then he acknowledged her as he nodded quickly remembering their urgency as he told her, "yeah, it is, okay I'll take the left and you take the right! Then make that signal if you find him."
Nodding at these words with a smile Nozomi replied, "right! Take care Pacha!" With that both of them departed down the crossroads as they went to pursue and find the llama emperor.

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After running for a while Nozomi had now slowed down to a walking pace, as she hadn't seen any sign of Kuzco and Cait sith was still sitting upon her head watching out for any signs of a smoke signal, it was beginning to become tiring as they trekked through the jungle.
Sighing from her tiredness Nozomi looked up to the night sky as the moon was shining, looking at it she decided to speak, "man, this search is taking longer than I thought it would."
Hearing her stopping his search for a moment as he removed his gloved paw from his eyes Cait Sith replied to her, "yep that it is lass, doesn't help with it being this late either."
Nodding a little slightly Nozomi then asked another question that had been on her mind for a while, "yeah… hey Cait sith?"
Listening to her he replied, "yeah?"
Then she asked, "How long was I out for this time?"
Hearing this annoyed Cait sith replied to her dryly, "ya don't wanna know lass."
At this reply she asked him puzzled, "why not?"
He then told her, "cause ya don't."
Getting irritated at his unhelpfulness she then told him, "Cait sith! Just tell me! It's not going to make any difference now is it!"
Hearing her displeased tone he then told her becoming angered himself, "all right fine then! Ya wanna know you zoned out for this time? Six hours!"
At this answer Nozomi halted as she turned her eyes to look at him, "six hours!" She then looked down shocked as she then spoke aloud, "man I must have been real exhausted…"
Cait sith then told her slapping her head again mad, "lass ya're just a right lazy bones! Ya gotta learn to get back up on yer feet more!"
Appalled she then argued back to him, "I don't need to hear that from you! It's only natural I was tired after what happened! And you should be grateful that I-"
But then suddenly beside them a couple of bushes of tall leaves began to rustle, hearing it Nozomi and Cait sith turned around and looked at them, on guard in moments she called the 'Starseeker' to her side as she asked, "what's that?" Cait sith was silent as he simply held onto her hair tightly as his own fur was bristling with agitation.
The rumbling from the bushes was getting louder and louder as Nozomi gripped the keyblade tighter and tighter. Her pulse was beating faster and faster, and then suddenly at once something emerged making her and Cait sith gasp.
It was a squirrel.
Seeing this Nozomi and him paused… then at once a huge sigh of relief echoed from her as she collapsed onto her knees with a funny look on her face, "Oh whoa… of all the things that it could've been." She then laughed a little at the hilarity of the situation.
Cait sith hearing her then spoke as he calmed down, "ya telling me lass! I had the heebie geebies!"
Laughing a little more at this comment Nozomi then finally looked at the squirrel more closely, it was a light brown creature with a happy expression on his toothy face with a big bushy tail behind him as he gazed up at the two of them.
Looking at him Nozomi spoke to him, "hi there Mr Squirrel?" As she waved her hand at him in greeting.
Seeing her greeting him the squirrel brightened more as it then scurried over to her and Cait sith as he then climbed up onto Nozomi's knee tickling her slightly, he then uttered some gibberish squirrel language as he reached something out to her.
Curious Nozomi blinked at what was being reached out to her, it was a small round gem of some kind bright yellow in colour as it shone slightly in the moonlight. Looking at it she was surprised that a small creature like this was showing something precious like this to her.
Looking at it not knowing what it was doing Nozomi spoke with a smile, "um, well that's nice, its very pretty Mr squirrel."
However at these words the squirrel gibbered a little more as he reached his paws up to her more the gem still there, Nozomi seeing the way he was holding the gem then got what it was he was doing, so lifting her right hand up she took the gem from the squirrels paws as she then looked at it closely.
Seeing its gleam Nozomi was amazed then looking at the squirrel again she saw it looking at her smiling still, silent for a moment she then spoke again really chuffed, "wow, thanks a bunch Mr squirrel it's fantastic."
Then looking at this with pleased eyes himself, he then threw his arms forward as he then put them behind his back acting modestly as though it was nothing at all.
Really amazed of the kindness of these otherworldly animals Nozomi was caught in the happy mood for some moments when suddenly it dawned on her, "uh, hey Mr squirrel?"
Looking at her the squirrel gibbered inquisitively as she asked, "um have you seen a weird animal come by here? Um a weird sheep-"
"Llama," interrupted Cait sith knowing the silliness that was about to come out of her mouth.
Nodding at this Nozomi spoke on, "ah yeah, yeah! That's it! Llama a black and brown coloured one? He's kind of a bit rude and arrogant, have you seen him?"
At this question the squirrel then began to answer as it waved its arms to and throw in all directions reiterating something to her, then as it finished Nozomi looked on with a blank expression as she stared at the squirrel quietly, Cait sith looking at this little scene then asked, "uh lass?"
Then Nozomi spoke as she said with a baffled look on her face, "I don't get it!" At this both the squirrel and Cait sith looked at her weirdly as then he asked," what don't ya get ya daft?"
Looking at the squirrel still on her knee Nozomi looked at it really apologetic as she said, " I don't speak squirrel! Oh man… I've just been so used to speaking animals that I thought I'd know right away and… awwww!" She spoke depressed and annoyed at her idiocy.
Seeing this Cait sith then smacked her head again as he said, "ya really are one daft banshee aren't ya?"
Annoyed she then responded, "I don't need you adding salt to this!"
Hearing her Cait sith replied with a sigh, "well luckily for ya lass I understand animal languages of all sorts!"
Blinking at this Nozomi then looked up at Cait sith as she asked, "What you can?"
At this he responded, "of course."
Then Nozomi became aggravated as she asked, "well why didn't you tell me that in the first place!"
Cait sith then replied simply, "well ya seemed in control of things at that time and I didn't wanna be crampin yer style."
Gritting her teeth more annoyed Nozomi was silent, but then Cait sith spoke on again, "well then, let me be the one to get the lay down from the squirrel," with that Cait sith then asked him, "so tell me ya furry lad what were ya sayin before?"
Hearing Cait sith ask the squirrel was more than happy to repeat again the story, so looking in between them both as they nattered away with each other Nozomi was quiet until the conversation had ended between the two animals. So looking up she asked, "so what's the news Cait sith?"
He then told her, "Well it looks like that llama lad did come through here and squirrel boy here met up with him."
At this Nozomi spoke again, "he did? Well then where is he?"
Hearing her ask Cait sith then went on, "well that dumb llama fella was a mighty rude to this poor little lad, he hit him with the stone he gave ya and then wandered off."
Hearing this Nozomi replied, "Well that's not so surprising regarding the kind of guy he is."
Cait sith then continued on, "Yup, then he tells me that he suddenly fell through a hole a little further up, woke up a whole flood of black things that started to chase after 'em at full speed."
"Ah I see," it then took a moment for the info to sink in, but as it did, "What!? What black things!"
Cait sith hearing her outburst then said calmly, "Well from what I can gather from the squirrel lad said they had quiverin' antenna and strange markings on some of 'em."
At this brief description Nozomi knew what they were in moments, "heartless!" The squirrel not understanding then felt Nozomi move and as she did he quickly hopped off of her knee as he looked up to her, Nozomi looked down at him and said, "thanks for the info Mr squirrel, we gotta go now, so bye!" With that she sped quickly on her way towards the hole as the squirrel then watched her jump through it.

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Running through the undergrowth that was there Nozomi was running at full pelt as she dodged under vines and other things as she made her way through, as she ran she talked to Cait sith again, "darn it all! Why didn't you react when you knew they were heartless chasing that guy!"
Cait sith hearing her acted coolly as he replied, "well them antenna ones there aren't that much ta worry about and he's an animal anyway, so he's got good chances, don't cha think?"
At this Nozomi was a little wary of the chill in his voice as she told him, "Cait Sith you're a scary cat at times."
Then suddenly as she said these words in the distance there was a shout, "NOOOOOO!!!"
Recognising that voice in moment Nozomi cried out, "That's him! Kuzco!"
Hearing her Cait sith spoke out pointing ahead, "right ya are there lass! And a flood of heartless dead ahead!"
Then indeed there they all were flooding on top one of another as they all thundered forwards as a vague brown and black shape jumped up and down here and there.
Seeing Kuzco in a panicked state as the heartless continued their onslaught Nozomi gritted her teeth as she spoke, "man! He really knows how to make a girls life difficult!" With that she pressed herself forwards all the more faster.
Running fast catching up to the heartless quickly in their endless flood Nozomi drew out her keyblade in moments as she then cried out smashing into them, "one side! One side! Let a girl get through!"
With one strike after another the heartless were sent into the air disappearing left and right into thin air at Nozomi's power, however there was still a huge quarry of them as they all festered together making it difficult for her to change her direction as she ran.
Nozomi spoke out frustrated, "darn it all! Why do these ones have to be so difficult! Man if the guys were here with me then I could-"
But then Cait sith interrupted her as he spoke, "lass that emperor guys made a hard left!"
At this Nozomi cried, "What!" It was true as she was carried away by the sea of heartless as he darted down another dark path in the jungle undergrowth, irritated she cried out mad, "that stupid animal!!!"
Smashing her keyblade more and more into the flood that was around her she began to make a small space between her and them making a safe inner circle of some type, but Cait sith upon her head noticed something disastrous, "lass cliff edge ahead!"
"Huh!?" At once turning her head Nozomi saw the very dangerous cliff impending closer and closer, a worried expression on her face she then spoke out, "I'm not taking this one way ticket!"
Cait sith began to ask, "lass what're ya gonna-"
But he was stopped in mid sentence for though it was difficult against the flood around her, Nozomi aimed her keyblade down as she cried out, "Firaga!" At once the powerful fiery spell escaped from the end of it as it exploded powerfully and thus sent them both flying into the air like a rocket.
Cait sith shouted out, "hey whoa! Jeez lass!"
Then gaining her way in the air Nozomi's wings came out in moments as she and Cait sith watched on as the flood of heartless all fell off the edge of the cliff in moments like lemmings.
Looking at this odd sight Nozomi spoke with relief, "well that was close. "
On her shoulder now breathless from the sudden crisis Cait sith spoke, "yeah it was there, I thought that-" but then Cait sith stopped as he looked up and saw something.
Silent Nozomi sighed as she began to say, "Well now we better go and-"
But then Cait sith spoke up, "lass he's there!"
Hearing him and then seeing where he was pointing to Nozomi then too saw what he did, there indeed was Kuzco. He was surrounded on the edge of another cliff, he stood petrified with a whole mess of heartless surrounding him as they all began to approach in their eerie creeping manner, he continued to back away as slow and cautiously as he could.  
Seeing them approach the helpless llama emperor Nozomi acted at once as she cried out, "oh no!" She then quickly sped forwards fast as her wings quickly carried her through the air.
Kuzco at the very edge of the cliff stared at the heartless petrified as they all came slithering towards him slowly, looking at them he breathed, "you're all killer-" but then he stopped as he saw that he couldn't move back anymore as a single rock fell from the deafening height.
Looking at their haunting yellow alien eyes Kuzco thought right there and then that he was at his end as he gazed on with absolute terror, then suddenly before he knew it he was snatched up by the scruff of his neck.
Gazing down he saw the vastness of the jungle below him; he then started to yell hysterically, "Aaaagggghhhh!!"
Wincing as he shouted out loud Nozomi spoke harshly, "will you shut it idiot! I just rescued you from-"
However, " not yet you haven't lass!" Cait sith cried as he looked from behind them.
Hearing this Nozomi was far from pleased as she turned and saw what he'd seen, it was a huge batch of bat heartless as they all flew in towards them at full pelt.
Seeing them Nozomi spoke annoyed, "oh give me a break!" Turning was difficult for her to fight back as she had to hold onto Kuzco with her right hand, which meant she only had her left one to fight with.
Realising this she spoke, "of all the nuisances!" With that she began to try her best to use her magic with her other hand, "Thundera!" At her cry lightning bolts appeared in the air as they then struck a group of the flying squad.
However as these one fell from the air others appeared in moments from clouds of darkness undeterred, annoyed she breathed out, "tch, darn it!" With that she tried again, "Thundera!" Then again, "Thundera!" And again, "Thundera!"
Unfortunately these heartless were a little smarter than the smaller ones before, they now only darted left and right when she cast the spell making her hit only a few each time.
"Oh this isn't working!" She spoke out in a desperate annoyed voice; Kuzco continued to cry out in alarm that also didn't help her out in the slightest, this in turn made Cait sith all the more irritated as he shouted out, "will ya shut yer trap! Ya stupid-" but then Cait sith noticed something else from behind them.
Quickly he then shouted out, "lass! Look behind ya there's a vine!"
Hearing him Nozomi asked, "Vine?" Then turning her head she too then saw it, quickly she had an idea! Though it was rash it was the best thing she could think of right there and then.
Kuzco still shouting in the meantime stopped for a moment as he felt himself being spun around in a fast circle and then quickly in a matter of moments was propelled forwards as Nozomi had thrown him like an Olympic hammer throw.
Seeing where he was heading he shouted loudly again, "AAAAGGGGGHHHH!" As he flew over the bat heartless in seconds, seeing their intended target propelling away from them they changed direction and quickly began to fly in Kuzco's direction.
Taking the time they were distracted Nozomi grabbed onto the vine and then swung it around as she propelled forwards her right hand finally free! Taking careful aim she summoned her keyblade as she pointed it ahead and then cried out, "Swift Star Rays!"
At once the comets of light emerged in seconds as they launched forwards and struck all of the bat heartless there, then the few that were left Nozomi slashed into the lot of them destroying them all finally.
Then quickly as Kuzco was still hurtling through the air screaming, he stopped fast as he felt himself being grabbed again though this time by the neck, looking down finally he saw Nozomi had grabbed onto him and held him tightly as they swung forwards.
Looking down at her startled he heard her say smiling up cheekily, "so you've finally decided to shut up huh?"
Glad for the small victory they had achieved Cait sith smiled himself but then once again he noticed something alarmed as he began to shout, "lass look out-"
However it was too late as suddenly the vine struck into a tree spinning them around and around in a fast ring before finally stopping leaving them all tied tightly upon it as it snapped off leaving them in an awkward extremely awkward position. With Nozomi on the top with Cait sith stuck next to her and at the bottom facing the impending doom below was Kuzco.
Tired from the amount of dangerous exhilaration he'd been through he asked in a rhetorical tone, "hey new guys? Maybe I'm just new to this whole rescuing thing, but this to me might be considered kinda a step backwards, wouldn't ya say?" He asked looking at them annoyed.
Nozomi hearing this as she looked at him dumbfounded tied from her own position replied, "uh… yeah? Can't argue with you there but um, I think we can get out of this still, right Cait sith?" She asked as she turned to him.
Hearing her he replied, "Sure I can lass, if I can just get out of this darn vine trap."
From him saying this Nozomi brightened as she said, "great! I'll try and make some jostle room then." With that she began wriggling hard and tried lifting her back off of the tree and slamming back into it to move back.
However unfortunately this violent set of movements made the weakened trunk crack making it bend downwards making them all freeze in seconds, Kuzco sensing what was going to happen after his moment of shock said, "you know what? I hate you guys already."
Then suddenly the tree snapped entirely making them all fall into the depths below making them all scream, "aaaaaggggggghhhhhhh!!!!"
The tree smacked into rocks left and right until rolling onto a ledge of some kind that propelled them forwards into the water of the river. Everyone else spouted bubbles of air while Nozomi was holding her breath hard as she felt panicked being in water, her one dire weakness as she felt it's turbulent depths against her bound form.
Twisting in its depths they finally broke the surface again as they breathed hard all spluttering out water that had got into their mouths, however it wasn't over yet as then suddenly they rushed down the current of the water, they smacked into more rocks right and left then right again before being flipped over once more down a small waterfall into another small pool of water.
Coughing and spluttering more at their little exhilarating experience everyone at last had the chance to recover themselves, they all breathed hard from exhaustion as the log spun them around slowly.
Kuzco still in his dampened annoyed mood spoke again, "I don't know about you guys, but I'm getting all funned out."
Cait sith hearing then coughed a little before licking his lips and said, "for once I agree with ya there llama boy."
Nozomi was just glad that their watery escapade was over as she recovered herself but then looking up she saw something that made her go, "oh no!" In a quivering anxious voice.
Hearing her Cait sith looked forward and saw to his dismay the same thing she did, Kuzco though strangely unphased asked, "don't tell me, we're about to go over a huge waterfall."
Nozomi still looking on with widened eyes of terror said nothing as Cait sith did the reply instead as he said with a sigh, "'fraid so lad."
Then Kuzco asked again, "sharp rocks at the bottom?"
Petrified Nozomi was quiet still as Cait sith replied instead, "dunno but probably yeah."
A stoic expression still on his face Kuzco replied, "Bring it on!"
Then at once before they toppled Nozomi shouted out despairingly, "this is not fair!!!!"
While Kuzco yelled out, "BOOOOUUUUYAAAAAHHHHH! WOOOO!" As the tree fell from the waterfall and crashed into the bottom of the grand spectacle and down into the depths below.