Okay, here's the second Chapter of this crossover! Hope you enjoy it!
Luxfere991: That's it?
Me: That and that neither Kingdom Hearts nor Pokémon is owned by either of us…
As night fell upon Route 14 of the Kalos region, the group of teens was camping out under the stars…all except Setsu. He sat holding his knees close to his chest, gazing into the blazing campfire with his azure iris, a lot on his mind. So much had happened in just the past few hours...it was just so much for him to process all at once.
Keyblades?
Heartless?
The Heart of all Worlds?
What was all of this about? And why of all people were he and his friends involved?
The next morning he was to take his Mark of Mastery Exam along Sarecus and Souren. The ice-haired Champion sighs and shakes his head. He heard a rustling a looked back to see the red-headed girl waking up.
Her name's...Kairi right? Cute named for a cute girl. Wait...did I just really think that?
Setsu didn't notice that Kairi was watching him. She stretched her arms and yawned, seeing the boy sitting alone, and sat next to him.
"Hey, Setsu. You okay? You should be resting to regain your strength for tomorrow," she whispered, careful not to awaken the others.
"Yeah I'm fine. Just...there's so much going on at once..." Setsu sighed.
"I know what you mean. Believe me when Riku came to me back home and told me I had to start training to become a master when I had barely touched a Keyblade...I was so scared," she explained, "I bet you're scared too, huh?"
"Yes...I'm terrified. With this new threat here in our world...what if we aren't enough? What if I'm not enough?" he whispers, looking deep into the fire.
Kairi looked at him with worry, and noticed that he was shaking a little, whether it is from cold or fear, she didn't know. She scooted close to him, their bodies now touching and his shivers stopped cold. Setsu blushed and turns his head to face her, his cheek flushed a little as he looked at her. She giggled quietly and put a hand on his right hand.
"You don't need to be afraid, Setsu. You have us. You have us, your friends," she assured wholeheartedly.
Setsu smiled as he eyed Sarecus and Souren snoozing, as well as Sora, Riku, Ven, Aqua, and Terra.
"Thanks Kairi...it means a lot," Setsu smiled.
"Glad to be of some help! Now…let's get some sleep," Kairi smiled, "We have a big day ahead of us…"
The pair went to sleep without a hitch, and Setsu had good dreams that night. At dawn the morning sun bathed the gang in the glorious light of day, waking them from their peaceful slumber for the day of the Exam to begin. Souren, Sarecus and Setsu all got lined up for Yen Sid, who had returned, to explain the test to them. The elder sorcerer stood before them and began to speak.
"Setsu-Sarecus-Souren. I hope you are prepared. For today will be the day you are tested to become our newest Keyblade Masters. Equipped with a Master's power...you will be able to best even Xehanort in combat," he explains.
"The test you will be taking is not an evaluation of skill or power or magic. This exam is designed to test the strength of your heart and the determination of your spirit," Aqua added.
"You will be thrust into the deepest darkest pits of your hearts where you will face you're darkest fears," Riku explained, "Each test is different to compliment your qualities and if you overcome your darkness, be it by blade or by heart, you will be blessed by the Mark of Mastery."
"Do you understand?" Yen Sid asked.
The three fledgling Keyblade users looked at each other and nodded, ready to start.
"Souren, you will be the first to go," Yen Sid said.
Souren stepped forth and summoned his evolved Keyblade, Oblivion Flames, and nodded to the master.
"I am ready, Master Yen Sid," he states proudly, radiating with confidence.
Yen Sid nodded and opened up a corridor to darkness.
"This is your test…Good luck," Riku smiled.
-Souren's Exam-
Darkness… It surrounded, entangled, and saturated the void in which Souren found himself. He struggled in it, gasping for breath that he couldn't seem to grasp, until he felt around for the floor. The teen stood up and took a step forward, only for the floor to radiate with blinding light, and revealing itself to be made of stained glass. When he looked down, he gasped at the design.
It's…me!
In the glass he was asleep looking as if he was surrounded by fire. While he was distracted by his amazement, a dark figure was conjured behind him. Once he sensed the evil presence, Souren jumped back and summoned his Keyblade, getting in his battle stance.
"Who are you?!" he barks at the figure.
"I...am fear. I am darkness. I am YOUR darkness...and I am truth," the shadow hisses.
"So I have to conquer you..." Souren growls lowly, ready to attack.
The Shadow Souren laughed at Souren as he prepared his Shadow Oblivion Flames.
"Aha…a Keyblade that matches the fiery spirit of its user! But let me ask…Do you know what fire does, Souren?" Shadow Souren smiled, "Fire destroys! Fire burns! The flames do nothing but consume! Do you understand you foolish child?! FIRE IS NOTHING BUT DESTRUCTION!"
Those words were sharp, and Souren shook in fear as he knelt down, dropping the Oblivion Flames onto the ground.
"Do you honestly think you can control fire? Fire has no master you fool! Fire is darkness. It spreads out and conquers anything in sight! FIRE DOES NOT CREATE!" Shadow Souren roared.
Souren felt the sting of his darkness' voice and began to cower in fear.
Maybe he is right. Would I ever harness fire? Would I ever harness the Keyblade?
Souren looked at his Keyblade, and something inside burned brighter than ever before…and it wasn't a flame.
"You're wrong! Fire doesn't just destroy! If it's harnessed...and if used by a good heart...fire can create! And do you know what fire creates?!"Souren shouted.
Souren's body starting to glow and a white hot flame surrounded his Keyblade.
"Wha-?! You! Stop it! You c-can't harness fire! Fire can only destroy!" Shadow Souren whimpered.
His body shook in fear as his empty pupils minimized by Souren's bright light.
"I might be afraid of darkness. But I have the flames that will burn the darkness away! The flame...that brightens the darkness!" Souren claims heroically.
Souren then charged his blade and rushed toward his shadow self. Shadow Souren tried to block the attack, but failed as Souren used Zantetsuken to take it out.
"NOOOO!" Shadow Souren roared.
-Exit Souren's Exam-
With that, the darkness dissipated and faded away as the light was returned and Souren was brought back into the real world, surrounded by his friends and the others of the group. Ven and Terra put a hand out each to help him up.
"Wow...that was intense...did I pass, Master Yen Sid?" Souren asked, a proud smile on his face.
Yen Sid turned to face him and shot him a fatherly smile, answering Souren's question slightly.
"Souren. You have performed admirably. And I will give you my answer when Setsu and Sarecus have taken their tests," Yen Sid smiled.
"Thank you, Master," Souren smiled.
Sarecus was the next to take his test, readying his Keyblade and nodding to Yen Sid, signaling him that he was ready, only for the elder to take his Keyblade from him and shook his head.
"No, Sarecus. This will be different. This is a test of your mind. You see...Souren's exam was a test of courage. Your test will be one of your wisdom and your mind," he explained, "Now...sit on that stump and close your eyes"
He did as told, sitting cross legged and focusing his mind. All he heard was the sounds of Kalos nature: Fletchlings chirping, Rattatas scurrying in the grass (*laughing at the irony*), and the buzzes of several Bug types. Then when he had attained peace of mind from the serene surroundings, it was replaced by an empty silence. When Sarecus noticed the change in atmosphere, he opened his eyes to see himself sitting on a stained glass circular floor.
-Sarecus' Exam-
"Huh? Where am I?" he asks himself, hearing a faint echo.
He looked at the floor to notice a portrait of himself, with other smaller portraits of his Pokémon: Shade, Sasha, and Larxene.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" a voice asks.
Sarecus jumped when he heard the voice.
"Who's there?" Sarecus asked.
"Look behind you…"
Sarecus looked behind him to see the voice's owner: himself.
The doppelgänger chuckled and stepped forward, standing across from him. Sarecus cautiously studied him, and stood still.
"Who are you?" Sarecus asked.
"I am truth. I am wisdom. I am you," Shadow Sarecus explained, "I am here...to test your wisdom"
"Well…okay. Test me," he said.
"Ah but that's just it. Wise choices are made from a combination of the heart, the mind, and the spirit. Now let's give you a scenario. Let's say you're thirsty. A kind woman offers you lemonade and a water bottle. Which do you choose? Remember. Ask your heart, mind AND spirit," Shadow Sarecus said.
Sarecus dwelled on it, looking at the floor and back at the copy of himself.
Which one…
Eventually, Sarecus found his answer.
"Water…is my answer," Sarecus breathed.
Shadow Sarecus cracked a smile at his original as he continued.
"Why is that?" Shadow Sarecus asked.
"My heart wants the lemonade because it tastes sweet. My mind wants the water because it's healthier," Sarecus explained, "And my spirit wants whatever it can use to keep it going longer. So I choose the water."
"Good. Now here's one more scenario," the doppelgänger chuckled.
Shadow Sarecus smiled as he stand up and summons three doors, all identical in every way and begins to explain.
"Each of these doors leads back to your friends and thus, the end of your exam. Now let's pretend that there are three roads leading to these doors. The left road is the one you know rather well and it is safe without any darkness, thus this is the road to light. The right road is dark and scary, with creatures of darkness and foul people along the way whose sinful ways and dark tactics may corrupt you. Now the middle road-The road here is a perfect balance between light and dark. The road...as Riku put it...to dawn. Choose wisely, Sarecus," Shadow Sarecus smiled.
Now this one should have been a no brainer.
Road to light!
No! Road to darkness!
Now his heart...was conflicted. The path of light was safe, but not a challenge. The path of darkness was much too overwhelming. Sarecus didn't like things that were too easy, but knew that even he had his limits to what he could do, so his decision was clear.
"I walk the road to dawn", he said proudly, summoning his King Spear Keyblade.
"Good lad...Riku said the same thing. Now go...the Mark of Mastery awaits you," Shadow Sarecus finishes before fading back into the void.
Sarecus opened the door with his Keyblade and the light that came forth was not bright, not a shadow...but was a glorious sunrise.
"The road...to dawn", Sarecus smiled and walked through the door.
-Sarecus' Exam End-
"Look Souren! He's waking up!" a familiar voice said.
"Back up you dumbass! Give the guy some room!" Souren snaps.
"Oops! Yeah good idea..." Setsu laughed as he stepped away.
The silver haired teen opened his eyes and saw all of his friends, old and knew, with Yen Sid in the middle all smiling proudly at him.
"Congratulations Sarecus. You have tested your wisdom and you performed admirably indeed," he states in his usual gruff voice.
"Thank you, Master Yen Sid," Sarecus smiled.
He bowed and steps off of the stump, standing next to everyone.
"Is it my turn sir?" Setsu asked carefully, not wanting to sound in a rush.
Yen Sid turned to the last trainer who had yet to take his test, nodding slowly before conjuring a glass throne, having Setsu sit down.
"Setsu your test is a little different. You will go into the deepest part of your dreams...and face your past," he explains in a grave tone.
Setsu's blue eye widened at the memory of his past, nodding slowly before placing his arms on the arm rests, closing his eyes as Yen Sid used his magic to put him into the test…
-Setsu's Exam-
"Huh…" Setsu hummed.
He was at his own Station of Awakening and looked at the stained glass floor, seeing his sleeping form along with Clair, his mother and father.
"Setsu…" a voice hummed.
Setsu turned around and saw that a shadowy version of himself was standing there.
"What do you want?" Setsu asked.
"Setsu…your exam requires you to go into your deepest dream and conquer the darkness," Shadow Setsu smiled.
"Well…let's do it," Setsu smiled.
He sat down and closed his eyes, mediating on his dream. Suddenly, a pang of pain rushed through his head.
"Argh!" Setsu groaned.
"Setsu…don't think that you will stop me…"
"Get out…get out of my head!" Setsu roared.
"Feel the anger…as you do…I'm going to have some fun with your friends…"
Setsu's eyes widen when he fully recognized the voice and tried to move, but felt that he was immobilized.
"No! Leave them alone!" Setsu yelled.
"This will be fun…"
About an hour passed, and Setsu had not stirred, all of his friends surrounding him to watch him, observing him. He was taking a lot longer than Souren and Sarecus. Kairi seemed more worried than any of the other guys, kneeling by the throne and having a hand over his. Suddenly Yen Sid woke from his meditation with his eyes widen like dinner plates.
"Kairi! Get away from there!" he shouts.
Yen Sid rushed to the throne as Kairi moved aside; he put a hand on his forehead and closed his eyes.
"It is like when Xehanort trapped Sora! Some strange darkness I have never seen before…and it has locked Setsu inside his exam!" he gasps.
Souren heard this, putting the pieces together he went to Sarecus who was napping by a tree and shaking him awake.
"Dude what the hell?!" Sarecus growled, pushing him off.
"Dude-call Xentus and Nightmare over here, pronto! We have a problem!" he says gravely.
"What?! You can't mean-" Sarecus graved.
"I do! It's a Darkrai! And this one is the one Setsu knows all too well!" Souren said.
Before any of them could move; a Hyper Beam blast through the air and headed toward Sarecus and Souren.
"What the…Sasha, use Aura Sphere!" Sarecus growled.
He released his Lucario, who created a sphere of aura and launched it against the Hyper Beam, cancelling it out.
"Where'd that come from?" Souren asked.
The answer to Souren's question came in the form of three Pokémon that growled at them. When they saw it, Riku and Terra unleashed their Keyblades, ready to attack.
"What are they?" Riku asked.
"Pokémon…they're creatures that are indigenous to this world," Souren explained.
"Let us handle it…you guys cancel out Lucretia's damn Dark Void!" Sarecus growled.
As much as Riku and Terra wanted to help stop those…Pokémon, they knew that they didn't know what they were dealing with. Riku un-summoned his Keyblade and walked over to where Setsu was still in sleep.
"We need to dive into his dream," Riku said.
"How?" Terra asked.
Sora answered Terra's question as he aimed his End of Pain at Setsu, light building at the tip of the blade.
"What are you doing?" Ven asked.
"Giving him some light," Sora smiled.
A beam of light unleashed from the Keyblade and hit Setsu at his heart, enveloping him in light.
Setsu was still grasping his head, feeling the pressure that Lucretia was applying on him.
"Just give up and fall to the darkness…it's full of bliss," Lucretia purred.
"No! I won't fall! I won't fail!" Setsu roared.
Suddenly, light enveloped Setsu as it gave him the power to move and summon his blades. He twirled his blades and pointed forward, causing light to erupt from the Keyblades. The twin beams of light fused together and hit the shadows, causing a door to appear.
"Hmm…so you can fight…this shall be exciting," Lucretia smiled.
She disappeared from his psyche without another word, laughing at Setsu.
"That bitch…what does she want?" Setsu growled.
Soon, his shadow self, along with Shadow Clair, Shadow Mother, and Shadow Father stood in front of the door, looking at him.
"Setsu…your trial was interrupted due to Lucretia's curse," Shadow Setsu said.
"But you handled yourself with courage…a quality for a Keyblade Master," Shadow Clair smiled.
"As such, we can grant you the power of your second magic nature," Shadow Mother said.
"Now go…and battle against the darkness," Shadow Father smiled.
The Shadows disappeared, leaving Setsu with the door.
"IF she is involved…that means…" Setsu thought.
He shook his head and evolved his Keyblades from Oathkeeper and Oblivion into Crystal Shard and Chrono Breaker. He then ran into the door of light, ready to battle…
-Setsu's Exam Exit-
Setsu awoke to see Kairi, Sora, Ven, and Aqua surrounding him while Terra was speaking to Yen Sid. He then sat up to see Sarecus and Souren battling against the Shadow Pokémon that he never saw before.
"What happened to those Pokémon?" Setsu asked.
"Don't know…but it seems that a normal Keyblade can take it away," Aqua said.
Setsu nodded as he got out of the throne and rushed toward the battle. When he arrived, he saw Sasha use Close Combat on the Hydriegon and Souren's Haxorus -Maylene- use Dragon Claw on the Houndoom. The attacks hit their mark, but it didn't look like it caused damage. Suddenly, Shadow Scrafty leaped from his hiding place, a smile plastered on his face.
"Ushio, use Razor Slash!" Setsu roared.
He released his Samurott, who immediately slashed at the Scrafty, cancelling his attack. Sarecus and Souren turned to see Setsu and his Samurott running up to them.
"How do you feel?" Souren asked.
"Okay…just a slight headache," Setsu groaned.
"Good that you're back…now let's end this fight!" Sarecus growled.
The Shadow Pokémon growled as Sasha, Maylene, and Ushio took their stand.
"Sasha, use Aura Blast!" Sarecus roared.
"Maylene, use Dragon Soul!" Souren smiled.
"Ushio, use Hydro Slash!" Setsu commanded.
The three Pokémon unleashed their attacks, causing a large explosion that consumed the Shadow Pokémon. However, when the dust settled, they couldn't believe that the Pokémon were still standing.
"How?! That was so powerful!" Souren growled.
"Lucretia must've amplified their power, endurance, and speed…what to do?" Setsu asked.
Sarecus looked at the Shadow Pokémon, supremely pissed off. He unconsciously summoned his Keyblade and roared to the sky.
"Keyblade BURST!" Sarecus howled.
Suddenly, a blue energy burst surrounded Sarecus and Sasha, blowing Souren and Setsu away from him.
"What's happening?" Souren asked.
Setsu got up and revealed Chrono Breaker and Crystal Shard and pointed them at the Shadow Pokémon, a smile on his face.
"Don't know…but let's try it," Setsu said, "Keyblade BURST!"
Setsu was engulfed by a black energy burst, along with Ushio, his power rising. Souren saw his two friends engulfed by energy and sighed.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do," Souren smiled, "Keyblade BURST!"
When he shouted the incantation, a red energy burst surrounded him and Maylene, causing shock and amazement to be written on Souren's face. After a minute of being engulfed, the energy barriers dropped and revealed three new Keyblade masters. Sarecus was now wearing a long flowing aqua blue cloak with the kanji 音蘭(Aura) and his hair changed from silver gray to a dark blue. His Keyblade was now a thinner version of Fenrir with a slanted blade that made cutting through darkness a breeze. Setsu was wearing a black cloak that had the kanji 時(Time) and his hair turned midnight black. His Keyblades had become a fusion of light and dark and took the appearance of scythes. Souren's transformation had him wearing a fiery cloak with the kanji 火(Fire) and that his hair looked like flames and that his Keyblade had split into twin Chakrams that were surrounded in pure blue flames.
"Whoa…what happened to them?" Terra asked.
Yen Sid sat in the throne and watched the three teens with interest.
They found it…the smart devils…
Setsu rushed forward first and tossed his scythe Keyblades at the Shadow Hydriegon, ripping the shadow off of the Pokémon. Once the shadow got off, it formed into a Neoshadow and it rushed at Setsu. Setsu flashed a smile as his weapons returned to his hand and cut the Neoshadow down in a blink of an eye. Sarecus then placed a guard when the Shadow Scrafty unleashed a Shadow Hi Jump Kick onto him. When the kick collided with the blade, Sarecus pushed the Scrafty off and pulled a Shot lock 'Aura Blitz' and tore the shadow off of the Scrafty and, like Setsu, cut the renewed Neoshadow in one quick motion. Souren looked at the Shadow Houndoom and tossed one of his chakrams at the Pokémon, tearing the shadow off the Pokémon and bringing it back to him. Once the Neoshadow returned to him, he slammed the remaining chakram to the ground, swallowing the Neoshadow in a plume of flames. Once the shadows disappeared, the Pokémon woke up and looked at the Burst Keyblade Masters and fainted. The three teens turned to Yen Sid and the six masters and bowed before the energy evaporated and released the teens and their Pokémon.
"…" Setsu said.
"…" Souren said.
"…" Sarecus said.
The three teens, along with their Pokémon, fainted and fell to the ground, tired from using up too much energy. Terra, Riku, and Sora lifted their friends off the ground while Kairi, Aqua, and Ven helped the Pokémon. As they moved their friends, Yen Sid smiled as he got off the throne and walked over to where the teens were…
-Isle of Darkness-
Xehanort was, to say the least, pissed. It took a lot to get under his skin, but seeing that his Heartless, along with the Pokémon, defeated like nothing gave him an itching to destroy.
"Calm, Xehanort…" Lucretia smiled.
"Why?!" Xehanort growled.
"Because…I got some juicy details that will help me," Lucretia smiled.
Another Cliffhanger! I figured that I would keep it up, egging you to continue reading! Anyway…this took me a day to finish this, even with the help of my collaborator, Luxferre991.
Luxferre991: I basically gave you the whole page. Was there more to work with?
Me: …you actually have a point…
Luxferre991: I know I do.
Me: Whatever!
Next Chapter: Revelations!
BlitzSarecus is taking the TMV!