ML C10, P17- "Bad Liar"

"Bad Liar" is the seventeenth Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's last Chapter. It was released on 16.06.2020.
== Plot ==
During the conversation between Jared and Xehanort, the old tyrant promises him that he will let him see his mother and uncle... for a price.
However, the price will not be something that Jared will be able to pay that easily.
== Story ==
Jared draws his weapon and points it at Xehanort.
"Wait a minute!"- He yells- "I just came here to talk!"
Jared stares at him, his cold stare piercing through the old man's soul.
"How can I be sure that you are not here to simply kill us all?"- He says.
Xehanort smiles.
"Well, for example I'm not attacking you yet, am I?"
Jared shrugs.
"I... guess?"
Xehanort smiles again.
"Now, if you could please lower that weapon of yours, that would be wonderful."
Jared puts his weapon. However, he is still very suspicious, watching every move that Xehanort makes.
He knows that there is something wrong here, but he can't quite put his finger on it yet. Xehanort is here. The real Xehanort. And... he wants to talk?
This won't end well.
"Alright."- Jared says- "What do you want? Say your piece."
Xehanort nods.
"I heard that you lost both your mother and your uncle recently. Correct?"
Jared nods.
"You still miss them, don't you?"
Jared shrugs.
"What are you implying by saying that?"- He says, suspicious of his enemy's friendly attitude.
Xehanort smiles.
"Judging from your stare, you are indeed missing them."- He says- "And I can grant you one wish."
Jared looks back at John. He looks down.
"A wish?"- He asks Xehanort- "What could you possibly do for me? We're enemies!"
The old man smiles.
"Well. For example, I can let you see your family again. For a price, of course."
Jared keeps his right hand close to his weapon.
"You better not be lying about this, Xehanort."- He replies- "Or there will be terrible consequences for both you and your army."
Xehanort shakes his head.
"Oh, this is no lie. This is not a lie at all. I promise."- He says- "Now, would you like to be taken to them or not?"
Jared sighs. He realizes that he has no other choice in this matter than to accept and hope for the best.
"What would you like me to do?"- He mutters.
Xehanort smiles.
"It's simple!"- He responds- "You just need to close your eyes and you will be taken there."
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"I just have to close my eyes and... I will meet them again?"- He says to himself- "What kind of strange sorcery is this?"
"Still, this is the only choice that I have, so... I hope that everything will go well."
Once he makes sure that Jared's eyes are fully closed, Xehanort begins to cast a spell.
After completing it, he casts it on him.
He smiles.
"Sweet dreams, hero."- He mutters.
Jared opens his eyes and realizes that he has been tricked.
"Xehanort! You-- "
However, before he can finish the sentence, his speech suddenly halts.
Something comes out of Jared's chest and goes into Xehanort's hand.
Suddenly, Jared falls to the ground, unresponsive.
John rushes to his side.
"Jared! Jared, buddy!"- He says- "What happened? Are you okay?"
He turns to Xehanort.
"You! What have you done to my friend?!"- He yells.
Xehanort smiles.
"Oh, nothing that would endanger his life. Not too much, anyway."- He responds.
John realizes what the true price is.
"The price you were talking about earlier... "- He continues- "You just wanted to take Jared's soul, didn't you? You just wanted to take him away from us!"
Xehanort smiles and shakes his head.
"Well, this is the cost for seeing someone's dead family."- He says- "The price for doing so... is your soul!"
He smiles as he stares at a corner behind him.
"And now that he's out of the picture, it is time for my forces to take all of you down."- "My loyal servants, slay them!"
Suddenly, Xehanort's warriors come out of their hiding spots. Only a few at first, they quickly grow in numbers and surround the helpless citizens.
Paris's defenders quickly rush to their allies' help and start to take down their enemies.
John stares at Xehanort coldly.
"You dirty rat!"- He yells- "First, you take my best friend's soul. Then, you hide your warriors in our city and send them out when we're weak and unable to fight back! Don't you have any remorse in that dark, corrupted soul of yours?! Don't you care about how much we suffered to be here?!"
Xehanort laughs.
"Remorse?"- He says- "I threw away the ability to feel anything long ago."
"Now, I fight to destroy my enemies. Starting with you!"
John draws his blade. His soul burns with desire to avenge his fallen friend.
He points it at him.
"I'm only doing this because Jared wants me to be a more merciful person."- He says- "I will give you a second chance. You may leave this city. We won't hunt you down. We will leave you and your army be. Just leave us alone."
"I won't ask this again. Do you accept or not?"
Xehanort shakes his head.
"Leave? After you killed all of my loyal servants at Castle Armageddon?"- He says angrily- "You can only dream about it, Braveheart."
John gets very angry.
"That's it!"- He screams- "I am done with giving second chances to dirty traitors like you!"
He points his sword at him.
"I will make you pay for taking my best friend away. For Jared!"
He charges towards him with a clear intent to avenge his friend.
Meanwhile, in an alternate universe far, far away, Jared wakes up.
"Where... where am I?"- He says- "Where did this old traitor take me?"
He stares intently at his surroundings. Everything around him is dark.
There is no Past. No Future. Just the Present, a realm of pure darkness.
"Not again!"- Jared says.
He sighs.
"Well, if he wants me to complete a challenge, I am ready."
He stares at what is above him.
"Did you hear that, Xehanort?!"- He yells- "I will defeat anything that you throw my way! You will never defeat me and my allies!"
He stares at the darkness ahead.
"And now, it is time for me to find my family and get out of here."
After walking forward for a few minutes, Jared stops. He listens to something in the distance.
"Wait a minute."- He says- "This voice... sounds familiar. Very familiar."
What he hears ahead is the gentle humming of a woman. Jared realizes that this might be someone he knows.
However, there is also a good chance that this is a simple illusion and not a real person. And there is also a chance that this illusion won't be just a harmless image of someone that he desires to see again...
Jared steps forward, not afraid of who (or what) he might meet, knowing that a true hero will never back down, no matter if he has to fight a friend. Or foe.
His eyes clear for a moment and he sees who the humming person is.
Suddenly, Jared's eyes light up.
"Goodness Gracious!"- He exclaims- "This... this cannot be!"