DISCLAIMER: Kingdom Hearts and all related characters do not belong to me. This concept technically belongs to Leixand, as do Cassie and kinda-sorta "Alpha" (who might count as a Square-Enix character, I don't know). The only character I actually own in this fic is Dominic. ..Well, Joseph too, but he's only mentioned a few times.
Prologue- Part One
I've been having these weird thoughts lately...
Like... is any of this for real..
...or not?
So much to do...
so little time...
Take your time.
Don't be afraid.
A young brunette boy looks around himself in shock and wonder. There's nothing around him but a black void, but under his feet is a magnificent stained glass platform illustrating a girl he doesn't recognize. Was this a dream? He tried to recall the past few moments, but can't seem to focus.
The door is still shut.
Now, step forward.
Can you do it?
The boy doesn't look that out of place at first. A loose black hoodie and orange capris are his attire, a chain dangling in a loop from his belt. A golden crown emblem is on each sleeve- an emblem he always felt a small connection to. Then, on closer inspection, it is revealed that he's not entirely human. A long, lion-like tail stops short of brushing against the "ground"; his hands are pawlike and his ears also bear a strong resemblance to a feline's. His hair spikes out, drooping slightly against the force of gravity; the back of it is black instead of the dark brown the rest of his hair is. A small red collar is around his neck. There's a scant moment of hesitation as the boy searches for the source of the strange voice, then he obeys.
His footsteps echo across the great expanse. Again he can't help but look around; the constant question of "is this a dream?" pinging around in his head. Suddenly a bright light appears to his left. He turns in surprise; a stone pedestal rises up, a black shield with a red trim and an oddly familiar symbol, also in red, hovering above it.
Power sleeps within you.
Another pedestal rises up to his right, a green and blue staff appearing.
If you give it form...
A third, and final, pedestal appears before him. A magnificent sword with a blue and gold hilt is the treasure this time.
It will give you strength.
Choose well.
Each step weighing him down with purpose, he approaches the sword and picks it up. It feels heavy in his hands, and the voice speaks again.
The power of the warrior.
Invincible courage.
A sword of terrible destruction.
Is this the power you seek?
As soon as the thought flitted through his mind, the sword exploded in light, a glimmering blue star remaining in his hand for a short moment. The voice sounds almost.. regretful.
Your path is set.
Now, what will you give up in exchange?
The boy turns to look at the remaining pedestals- the shield and the staff. Indecision strikes him, and he hesitates. He reaches out for the shield, then stops himself before choosing the staff.
You have chosen the power of the warrior.
You have given up the power of the mystic.
Is this the form you choose?
He doesn't need to say anything. His decision is made. The pedestals suddenly collapse, startling him. He hears a noise and turns to see the platform shattering underneath him; the golden shards vanish as he plummets into the abyss. His hair is blown back as he enters freefall. Yet.. the brunette isn't afraid. Another stained glass platform rushes up to meet him, the muted purples and blues depicting yet another beautiful girl that he doesn't recognize. The sword appears in his hands with a glimmer in his hand.
You've gained the power to fight.
Gripping the sword tightly, the boy stumbles forward.
All right! You've got it!
Use this power to protect yourself and others.
Would I really use it for anything else? he thinks. A chill suddenly runs down his spine and he sees a shadow cast across. A shadow cast by nothing. As always so far- or had it been his entire life?- the gentle voice speaks to him.
There will be times you have to fight.
The boy stifles a scream as another shadow appears and.. the impossible happens. They rise up, becoming three dimensional; humanoid creatures with round, soulless yellow eyes that seem to stare right through him. Yet his fear is negated by the soothing voice.
Keep your light burning strong.
Two more of the creatures appear. The lion boy jumps up over the nearest one, whacking it with the blade. It stumbles back and he swipes again, managing to hit the other ones approaching him. A third strike and the first creature falls, dissolving back into a shadow and vanishing without a trace. The others follow suit, almost as if out of fear. He relaxes, his tail twitching just the slightest as he stands up. He suddenly hears a cry-
Behind you!
-and he spins around to see that one had sneaked up behind him. He destroys it in three strikes, then turns to face the remaining enemies closing in on him. Three, then two, then one... then none. The final one disappears in an irregular 'hole'. The boy gasps as the stained glass platform is suddenly engulfed in shadow. It surrounds him, trapping him, and he stifles another scream as he feels it pulling at him, dragging him down. He struggles with all his might, terrified. Despite his best efforts, the darkness closes over his head and he sinks down into the abyss.
A light breaks through the darkness. The boy wriggles around in panic before his senses return, and he gets to his feet. This platform is... different. He starts to search around, taking everything in, then he spots an ornate door on the far end. Curiosity overrides curiosity, and he strides towards it. Yet as he reaches towards it, he stops. 'I can't open this.' The door is translucent on closer inspection, much to his dismay. Not to be deterred, he reaches one hand out and grips one of the handles. It feels warm in his hand. He blinks and the door solidifies before him. The boy tugs gently, then lets go with a quick gesture and hurries back. The door cracks open, a bright light striking him and causing him to close one eye in slight pain. The light engulfs him, and he's whisked away to.. where?
Hold on.
The door won't open just yet.
First, tell me more about yourself.
This... this is his home. No, not his home. The mists of the dream continue to hide his true memories from him, confusing him. He was on a wooden structure above the ocean. His friend... what was her name.. he struggled to remember, then gave up. He'd remember later. His friend looked at him with inquisitive green eyes, brushing a strand of brown hair out of her face as she straightened her yellow dress with the other, sitting on the wooden railing. Her expression was uncanny and.. kind of terrifying; her voice was familiar yet had an otherworldly echo to it.
"What's most important to you?"
He doesn't need to think before answering; the word slips out before he has a chance. "Friendship." The girl smiles at him in an unnerving fashion, and he finds himself too busy trying not to show any visible signs of distress that he doesn't hear what she says in reply. Nearly tripping over his tail as he hastens away, he bumps into his second friend. The brunette takes a moment to notice his companion's odd uneven pant legs before the other boy spoke.
"What are you so afraid of?"
A tense moment. "...Being indecisive." The other boy raises an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Being indecisive? Is that really so scary?"
Hiding his embarrassment under his overlong bangs, the brunette trudges away in silence. A third friend, a firey redhead toying around with a familiar ball, glances up as he approaches.
"What do you want outta life?"
"To see rare sights." Before the reply comes, the inner voice echoes through him.
You value friendship.
You're afraid of being indecisive.
You want to see rare sights.
Your adventure begins at dawn.
As long as the sun is shining,
your journey should be a pleasant one.
The day you will open the door is both far off
and very near.
Everything erupts around him in a white light, and he's whisked away back to the abyss. A stained glass platform depicting a girl surrounded by thorns awaits him. His stride now more confident, he walks to the middle. An unearthly chill settles upon him and he's suddenly surrounded by the black creatures from before. His furious attacks defeat one or two, but the others twist around him, slipping back into two-dimensional shadows or leaping up over his head. Fear threatens to overpower him, but he perseveres. Soon his opponents have all fallen and he's the only one still standing, the rush of battle leaving him panting in its wake. A glimmering circle appears not too far from where he's standing. As he steps on it, the exhaustion seems to fade away, and the memories of the past few moments of this strange dream flash through his mind. A ring of sunlight drifts from his position over to the far edge. Stained glass stairsteps appear in the murky darkness, as if inviting him to go on. A tower of sorts- the supports of the next platform- can be seen as he dashes up the steps, drawing nearer with each moment. Somehow... somehow, he can tell that the dream is nearing to a close.
The closer you get to light,
the greater your shadow becomes.
Blinking in surprise at the cryptic message, the boy is struck by a sudden feeling of dread. His shadow stretches out behind him.. then turns to face him, rising up like the odd creatures. The lion boy cries out in shock but no sound comes forth. He stumbles backwards, the inky black copy of himself advancing, the replica's tail swishing from side to side in the manner of a predator stalking its prey before attack.
But don't be afraid.
The shadow changes, starting to tower over him.
And don't forget...
He tries to scream as the monster, now easily three times the original size, reaches out. The boy tries to run but meets only the abyss, nearly losing his balance. He takes a couple of deep breaths, stepping back and turning around as the sword appears in his hand once more. Blinding steel meets solidified shadow; it plunges its hand into the platform, the glass turning into rippling darkness. The smaller creatures the boy fought before rise up out of it to meet his blade. The beast withdraws, but not fast enough. The boy strikes fast, gouges appearing in the creature's hands and feet but 'healing' just as fast.
It's a leap of faith- leap after leap after leap. It blends into the abyss around them, the lighting provided by the platform- now depicting yet another girl in a sunny-colored ballroom gown- not enough to illuminate his target. And yet, strike after strike, the brunette's own strength is waning. With a final yell, he plunges the sword into the beast's arm. The weapon disappears and he jumps back to avoid being crushed as the dark being advances. He is nothing but a brightly-colored insect to it. A dark portal opens up underneath him as he falls on his rear.
-But don't be afraid.
The darkness seeps up around his legs, clawing at him and trying to drag him under. The beast looms over him, awaiting his destruction.. hastening it.
You hold the mightiest weapon of all.
The boy screams and struggles as he's pulled down, the inky darkness already up to his shoulders and reaching up higher. Like deadly quicksand it engulfs him slowly, rendering the boy powerless against his own fear.
So don't forget:
A final yell as his doom approaches, memory and thought fading as he's lost in the darkness. There is no sight, no sound, no feeling. The brunette boy gives in, feeling the last shreds of his consciousness disappear like everything else.
You are the one who will open the door.
This is something I'm.. experimenting with. How many people here know about Sora's beta design? Anyone? ..Guess who's the main star of this. This is an AU Kingdom Hearts fanfic, and it crosses over into Leixand and I's RP universe. This should be an interesting ride- as soon as I get the introductions out of the way.
