I couldn't leave it where it was, wanted to finish another one as quick as I could.
Blaze777: Yeah nah I get it, it's fine I wasn't entirely happy with what was done with the previous one I wrote especially the middle part I normally reread it at least eight times before it goes up I didn't have that luxury, just going to put this out there. Yeah, she did cry and I should've expressed that it wasn't a great time to do it but I should've used a different way of expressing it but still keeping the emotional moment. It's not because of Kairi I can tell you that. Or emotions of the heart. Was gonna explain that this chapter kind of. I was basing her emotions off of people around that age instead of thinking about it from a story perspective. (I know girls who act like that it makes me cringe) I'll clean it up. You stuck around and you're reviewing so. Thanks, and the reason I responded as such was because of the way it came off. I realize you aren't a bad person so don't sweat it
A heads up did this on my phone next chapter i'll be home for so sorry if its lacking.
With that out of the way…let's continue
"Orange, they…came together? Into one conscious?"Blake was marveling at the enemy
"Less – whatever it is you're doing more fighting!" Sora charged first Ruby looked on ahead that feeling in her chest again lowering to her stomach settling in a pit. Was she worried?
Sora cleanly ripped through the only one ahead as two came from both his left and right, he jumped into the air sending his keyblade down in a strike raid like fashion. Killing them as hearts left them.
"Even if they fused they aren't strong" He looked back to see his team struggle with the other two. They were faster than them fighting at an average speed.
They were easy for him because he was so used to fighting Heartless it was second nature – they weren't used to the unorthodox ways they fought. Sora sliced through them quickly looking to the group.
"if you need help tell me, these things fight similar to Heartless." rubbed his chin
"Then we'll leave fighting them to you, Sora"
Silence for a moment.
"Wait, what!" Weiss shouted
"Anything with orange or yellow eyes are yours to deal with, Sora" To say he was flabbergasted would be an understatement he didn't let it deter him however
"Alright, fine then" Sora turned away from the group his weapon at the ready
"Wait, you can't be serious, you can't fight everything alone" Sora huffed
"I can do this!" Grimm came running at the vigorous battle cry he made leaving the four girls enemies to focus on – stood back and watched curious about how his students would fare.
Sora charged further ahead of the group to keep the orange eyed monsters away from them, intent on taking him more than anyone else, they went into the ground below similar to Shadows leaping out of the ground and toward the teen. He rammed his keyblade through the snout of one jumping back and recalling his blade slicing through another's legs, jumping high into the air he slammed another into the earth. The last one stood back growling ready to attack. Sora stood waiting in stance, it began to give off an aura and it's eyes deepening to a purple hue it lunged in a mass of purple energy slamming into Sora's gut.
"What?!" He landed in a heap after a moment or two he stood shaking his head
"You not win" He swore he was going crazy at this moment it sounded close to Xehanort but in broken speech
"You – it can talk?!" Flabbergasted
It refused to speak again, something told him Xehanort had something to do with its speech, he looked back to the girls noting them faring well he turned his attention to the beast before him was already readying a dark fire spell. He flinched not expecting it, tried to ready reflect in time.
He received burns but managed to do it, running past his spell into the open mouth of the beast he threw his keyblade towards its mouth, speeding up to grab a hold of the blade rending it through.
"Yang, why do you want to be a huntress" It was a simple question
"To see my sisters dream through – I thought it'd be fun so –" shook his head
"Why do you want to be a huntress" He repeated
"I'm a thrill seeker fighting day by day and adventure at every turn, being a huntress just fit the bill on that sort of life" The man said nothing but pressed on
"More will come be ready" Sora inhaled deep trying to catch his breath as he jogged to catch up
Boarbatusks came along the Beowolves more of them with orange eyes
"It seems the deeper we continue the more of the fused ones we'll find, Sora?" Instead of responding he swapped Oblivion for Fenrir, using Sonic-raid and jumping high into the air after the last strike; casting lightning taking out several more.
"Weiss, you have your fathers' dust industry to fall back on with a cushy job, why all of this huntress business?" asked
"To prove myself, I don't need his approval I can earn the Schnee name on my own strength – to show that we aren't what the world perceives us to be." gave a quick jolt on some paper earning him an ire filled look from Weiss.
Ruby glanced at the man in confusion as they began walking once again. Finding a simple building Blake was the first to enter, noticing the bat like Grimm were quickly dispatched by her, the only reprieve Sora received since the first wave.
"If you're going to ask, my reason is simple. I won't stand for more corruption by the White Fang, I won't stand by and let someone else get hurt if I can help it. I must atone" had his mouth open but promptly shut it. Writing things down again.
Ruby and I will scout ahead you four check the surrounding for more so we can setup camp.
"What? Can't you see he's done enough?" Weiss defended much to her dislike of the teen her disdain of seeing him worked to the bone was more than she could bare
"It's ok, Weiss I asked for this" Sora slowly walked past her "If these Grimm best me, what good am I against Xehanort?" He smiled through his exhausted state running ahead
"He's going to get hurt, we have to fight with him!" Blake charged forward
As if knowing the future he got scratched up pretty bad but played it off as nonchalantly as possible
Xehanort couldn't help but laugh to himself at this rate he'd have what he wanted. Worst case he could find a back up or two. He managed to track this worlds underground populace in Cinder Fall and her group. Who weren't too keen on helping the elderly man. After taking the three of them down relatively quickly without much effort. They subjugated themselves.
"With my power, you might become actual threats to society" Cinder glared but was reluctant to speak out
"That hatred, the fire in your belly is strong you could easily gain what you seek through my guidance – what do you say?" As reluctant as she was she had a plan.
"I will follow you, along with my subordinates" Mercury and Emerald gave looks of shock but she looked back with a smirk
"You will come to embrace the darkness and power you have my word a taste of my power ill unleash at behest of your charge, the orange...one be sure to get a good seat"
That night Ruby was on first watch Blake, Yang and Weiss had time to rest but chose to talk about why the Dr chose to speak to them. Exceptions being Sora and Ruby respectively.
"Did he ever speak to you, Sora?" Yang turned her head to the brunette's location tending to his wounds to the best of his ability, seeing this, Weiss sat up and walked over.
"You fought too much on your own this what you had coming" Sora smiled
"But the rest of you are okay. That's all that matters" Weiss glared
"Don't be so selfless that's a sign of someone so eager to die. Have some self worth you have as much of a reason to live as the rest of us. You could've died, you know." Sora pouted as Weiss used her ice to lessen the pain. Sora could've used magic but he didn't know if he could recover his mana pool with there being little to no magic in the air. He sighed to himself.
"I'm sorry, Weiss" The heiress smiled
"It's alright but we're working together you can afford to lean on us you know." He nodded after a once over she nodded at her handy work and went back to her bed.
Sora stayed up a bit longer mowing over everything that happened. He figured if he was going into the heart of the negativity here he'd see Xehanort again soon. He stood up and made way to Ruby's location she looked up for a brief moment before returning to look out at Zwei
"Holding up alright?" He leaned against a broken piece of the building the inhabited.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" She responded he laughed at this.
"I'll be fine, fighting a lot is no big deal" He shrugged taking a seat
She felt that pit again but ignored it
"Who is Kairi?" The words caused Sora to jump in his seat
"You talk in your sleep" She mumbled
Sora assumed she asked for a reason but sighed to himself
"She's someone I risked my life for, someone I fought to the death to get back, she's someone dear to me" Sora recalled his feelings for his long time friend he wasn't going to lie to Ruby about these things.
Instead of feeling pain and heartache she felt perplexed. She felt that she might have some feeling toward him but after this. What exactly did she feel? She wasn't sure. She wanted more time to be around him but something kept her from asking that.
"I should've said something, I think. I'm not great with girls and when I got here It seemed as though I might be able to find time to think over those feelings and take time to think about other more important things" He scratched his cheek
"After meeting you four. I think I found more time to laugh and smile than I have in two days than I have in weeks, thank you" Sora smiled at her. She returned it but something inside her felt unsure of if she was smiling for his words or something else.
She looked back to her puppy, Zwei decided to run off to the bathroom, Ruby panicked and ran off.
"Zwei we're at a wasteland you can literally do that anywhere!" Ruby called after him Sora after a few moments gave chase.
"Seems she's over the initial meeting we had, but I feel like I should've chosen better words" He shook his head and charged further. Noticing she stopped near an abandoned building she grabbed him and brought him close.
"Ruby what are-" Using her index finger pointed toward two men in white armor and masks similar to Grimm.
"White Fang" Ruby moved closer to the edge of the building
"You want to tail them don't you?" Ruby looked back with a nod the brunette huffed
He couldn't let her go alone
Following for a few blocks they ran into a open street. They had to be close. They entered a building and Ruby was hot on them she was so focused she didn't notice the ground starting to give way.
"Ruby!" Sora shouted he ran after her grabbing the end of her scythe. Luckily she got a hold of Zwei before they fell too far down. A fall this far would mean sudden death for the pup.
She threw him toward the ground above.
"Just hang on I got you, Ruby!" Sora winced as blood started to drip from his hands from the position he held the scythe
"Sora. Let me go, just – tell the others" He grimaced
"No way can I do that and you know that!" her grip was loosening
"Climb up I can keep this steady, c'mon!" Sora shouted Zwei was already gone obviously toward the camp. Sora heard shouting behind him more soldiers.
"You can't fend them off and pull me up, let me go!" He glared at the girl
He had no intention of doing that as cold metal met his flesh he winced and cried out as he moved forward causing the scythe to move lower and her to sink lower into the pit.
"Just – let me go! I don't need you I'll be fine on my own!" With eyes closed and grit teeth she spoke she didn't hear anything.
"Do you really mean that?" it was a whisper
"I don't want to be protected by you, I can protect myself!" She screamed a shot grazed his shoulder but it was enough to shake Ruby from her scythe. She fell
She knew why now. She knew why she was so upset. Why she felt uneasy.
She felt weak. When he saved her she felt it then. She cried at her own weakness she was embarrassed because she felt like that.
If she was stronger if they were stronger maybe her mother - Yang's mom would still be here. She was envious of his strength. He was so much more than she felt she'd ever be and it made her emotional.
"I wish i would've been strong enough to keep you here, mom."
Tears fell from her eyes
Sora turned back absolutely livid. Without even giving them a chance to fire again sliced their weapons apart and knocked them out.
"You're manipulating her emotions?" Roman asked skeptical of the elder man as he ordered his men to move compartments of dust to the train he stationed
"She channled her aura through a keychain I gave her, even if she no longer holds it her aura signature is still engraved in on it. I can effect how she feels to an extent and the more she gives into those emotions the stronger of a hold I will have. With that I can seep dark emotions and change her opinion of things on a whim. I prefer the direct approach but this works just fine seeing Sora try so hard for someone when they can't even bare to look out him without feeling jealous, deep in her head she wants power like Sora and misses her dear mother that was lost so early, just bringing them to the forefront." Xehanort smiled eagerly
"This will..." Roman threw up his hands in hopes to egg him on
"The more these emotions are at the forefront of her mind the easier it is to see darkness as an alternative power source, I can't let Sora be the only egg in my basket. You aren't very smart are you?" Roman with mouth agape glared
"For an old man you sure are rude" Roman huffed
"For someone so young you don't look at all possibilities. Fool"
Sora ran back to the camp huffing behind Zwei he began barking like crazy Yang and the others rushed toward the commotion ready to fight.
"Ruby - she" Yang ran up faster than Sora could blink red eyes glaring instead of the normal violet
"What happened to Ruby, if anything happened to her i swear i'll-" placed a hand on his charge
"His hands are bloody and his shoulder as well, it's clear whatever happened Sora tried his hardest to protect her, please tell us what happened" After a moment of deciding Yang dropped the teen
"We have to hurry, We got cornered tailing White Fang members, Ruby fell in a hole, I tried to save her but i got hit and she fell she -" He held a crestfallen look about him
"She didn't want my help, she told me she would be fine on her own" Yang gave a skeptical look
"Ruby, would never say something like that, why should we believe you? You could easily be working with the enemy by saying something like that!" Sora stood up and glared
"Believe it or not, that's what happened and your sister despite her words needs us if you don't believe me? Fine i'll go save her on my own!" Sora marched off in a huff truth be told, he was afraid to go alone but he couldn't afford to be scared he had to help Ruby, Zwei barked behind the brunette chasing after him.
"You know, what she said could've been a means to get him to come tell us she was in trouble, I doubt Sora would leave her if he could help it" Yang glared
"What makes you so quick to defend him, Blake? Because we saved him that he can do no wrong? We'll follow him but if this is a trap and Ruby gets hurt, its on you!" Yang marched off after the brunette
"You have a sense for good people, Blake, I'm sure she's just fine" Weiss reassured as they walked on behind the brunette.
They made it back to the hole and Sora picked up Zwei intent on jumping down
"Wait, woah woah you can't jump down there by yourself, you'll get hurt!" Sora put Zwei in Yang's arms using wind magic of Aero around everyone's feet except his own
"Not much more left, maybe one or two more spells for the time being"
"You'll be fine, come on!" Sora jumped down the hole feeling reluctant Weiss and Yang looked to each other, Yang shrugged but jumped first. When Weiss and Blake didn't hear any horrible screams they went next Dr. Oobleck last. Sora found more heartless and a few White Fang members, signaled for the girls to take down the fang while Sora took down the heartless. In a flash of light the heartless were gone and the White Fang members couldn't move, they looked down to find themselves encased waist down in ice Yang and Blake taking them down silently. Sora didn't waste a moment.
"We're on the way, Ruby!"
"So, wait, lemme get this straight, you're going to use this power of yours as a back up? How many of these eggs do you have?" Xehanort gave him a knowing smile
"That would reveal too much now wouldn't it? That boy is too simple for his own good, he'd go to any extent to protect his friends. If he can manage to get through the trials I have in mind then I have others to use. Speaking of" In the Distance he saw a group coming this way
"Are you done toying with that girl? She has no weapon either tie her up or knock her out but do something, I grow tired of seeing you mess around Roman" Xehanort glared
"Hey this is my sting you don't have to be here and you know that" Roman shoved Ruby in the dirt. She tried to fight off the two White fang members she came across earlier but was defeated and dragged along to this encampment and toyed around with for amusement the man near Roman she saw before, Xehanort the man Sora was after she felt darkness radiating off of him. The odd thing was it didn't exactly feel like it was as evil as she expected. Still she had to escape and find her team.
"Roman, this is how its going to play out if I leave, you'll get cocky because you have Ruby under wraps, Sora is going to defeat your men, and the blonde one is going to punch you in the face a couple times and they'll call it a day. With me here you actually have a chance of doing well" Roman's shoulders sunk
"Do you really have that little faith in me?" Xehanort snorted
"As if i could have any faith in a man who can't actually kill children" Let us prepare they are nearing us.
Sora and the others got there in time to see Ruby tied at the wrists. She couldn't fight she was a sitting duck. Her words before she fell irked him but he wanted to help her.
"Trying to play hero even after they spit everything you do back in your face boy? You are too naive it's almost comical" Sora pouted
Xehanort floated down with a sickening smile
"Everyone harbors darkness my boy everyone" An orb of darkness formed in his hand, it floated higher in the sky before pulsing out around the area effecting everyone. Body parts turning into shadows of the former parts Weiss' torso Blake's legs Yang's arms looking past all of the turned White Fang members, and half of Ruby's face was taken.
"Envy. Pride. Anger. Loneliness. All of these emotions are just gateways to darkness I chose you Sora, but if you don't make it that girl her lust for strength and envy of yours is enough-" A flash of light interrupted him
"Defiant until the end of course" Xehanort smiled pointing his hand toward the teen voices flooded into his mind
I'll fix what I broke no matter what!
If only I had his power mother would be...
It only I had that strength my father -
With that power, Ruby's dream would be -
With that weapon I could fix everything!
Sora kneeled as the girls voices entered his mind they became a jumbled mess. He looked to Xehanort, his face contorted into a laughing fit. He looked to Ruby - tears streaming as she almost pleaded with him not to look at her.
None of them could get up, strength was seemingly sapped from them in favor of the shadows attached to them.
"I can't let this define me, I'll - save my little sister!" Yang grit her teeth as she tried to stand
"The only one who can make it - I have to put all of my faith in you for now, Sora"
"I'll save you all!" The turned White fang made way toward him he stood shakily, Bond of Flame in hand. A hand reached out to stop him, Yang looked ahead with red tinted eyes.
"These guys we can't bust em up right?" Sora nodded Yang glared reluctantly.
"I'll follow your lead then if my power can save Ruby in anyway, i'll do what i have to, let's go Sora!" She grit her teeth
"No baldy is going to use my sisters dream against me!" Sora eyes opened to mimic Yang's equally determined glare and his key blade morphed into that of gauntlets.
Link: Ember celica.
He dashed forward sending blasts of white fire toward the White Fang members erasing the darkness from them as they fell unconscious. Sora finally slammed his off hand into the ground clearing the darkness away from his team. He ran ahead as the leader from what he could gather ran toward a train with Ruby In tow. Sora ran after them dispelling any darkness he could see.
"The train hurry!" He commanded. They filed in above the train
He's likely toward the front of the train you children go ahead I'll deal with the White Fang" Sora looked on head cocked to the side as Dr. Oobleck's mug shifted into a weapon.
"Hurry children, we can't let them take miss Rose" The girls already made way inside. Sora was a bit reluctant
"I don't need you I'm strong enough to do things on my own!"
"If only I had your power my mother would be-" Sora clenched his fists he couldn't let her go he had to work this out. Running above the train he made way toward the lead car noting before he left that each one was falling away causing Grimm to appear. He pulled his arm back focusing on the spot crushed through the top of the locomotive with a single punch. He pulled back on the locomotive until it was big enough for him to get through. He jumped down sending a wave of light through his hands dispelling the darkness inside the train itself as Blake using the comotion to finish off the aforementioned leader, Roman.
"C'mon kitty don't do this you and I are too much alike and you know it you can't end me." Roman huddled in on himself
Sora looked to his left Ruby was huddled in a corner sobbing to herself. Sora ran over placing his hands on her shoulders
"Don't look at me!" She shouted
"She's still holding onto her feelings"
"If you don't let go of those negative emotions I can't help you!" She glared through her tears
"I've never wanted help I've been just fine on my own I just - wanted - to prove to everyone I wasn't someone to be looked down on! It was hard to make friends, It was hard to be accepted as a leader, but ever since you came it's been even harder to be seen as someone strong!" Sora placed his head against hers with a smile
"You don't need to try to prove anything, we're friends you, me, Weiss, Blake and Yang and everyone else back at Beacon." Ruby gasped
"You're stronger than I will ever be. I didn't earn this power. It was pawned off on me. But I wouldn't change it now that I have it. I didn't know you then but I do now. I'm here and I will do anything I can to help you, that's what friends do." Light erupted and the darkness vanished from Ruby's face her tears wouldn't go away as she embraced him for a moment.
Roman wasn't looking to give up on that train floor he reached for his cane shooting off a single clip into Sora's back causing him to hunch over and for Ruby to scream. Blake grabbed a hold of the injured teen and forced Ruby despite her concerned and shaking figure up the only latter available.
"You won't get away kids, I'll make sure of that" Roman pressed a button and a bright light erupted and explosions went off.
Above they all huddled together
"He's been hurt" Blake stated checking over the wound
"It's my fault, if I wasn't if I didn't-" Yang made her sister face her
"You know he doesn't think Ill of you Ruby and he wouldn't want you to either!" The brunette shakily stood, Sora's keyblade pointed toward the sky as a dome of clear magic formed around them. As the explosion came and went.
The next time they saw each other they had to fight off Grimm in town square. They dragged Sora to as safe a place as they could find and began taking out as many Grimm as they could.
Other teams such as JNPR and CFVY. came into help slay Ursai and Beowolves. Sora, after finding enough strength to move used what magic he could to get magnet to pull the bullet through his body causing more harm than good he figured.
"I think leaving that in was keeping me from bleeding out" He hissed he shakily stood up to see the forming of a Darkside. All the negativity caused it to show. He kneeled to the ground.
Did he have enough strength to take it down? Would he survive? The Darkside In a vacuum like manor started to absorb the Grimm. Yang and Ruby charged forward punching an slashing at the hulk of darkness but the armor from the Grimm it absorbed protected it. it's yellow eyes turned orange with a roar it knocked everyone away. Ruby and the group landed close to Sora with out too much damage. Yang grabbed a hold of the teen.
"I know may not have the best opinion of us right now but, we need you, we have to defeat this thing or else the city's going to be taken over!" Sora winced but nodded standing up, his body hurt he was tired but he had no choice here, he was the only one.
He began to take on a red hue
"You're pretty brave to let go of your own inhibitions to let someone else have the spotlight, Yang" Sora's eyes took on a red tint and his clothing followed the color scheme of black and red. With the added power he swapped over to Fenrir as his keyblade morphed again into a longer wider blade similar in length to the X-blade. White flames licked the blade and he couldn't help but feel cocky.
"Let's go!" Sora dashed forward jumping into the air and sending a wave of white flame toward the hulk of darkness. It launched the blast away roaring at the teen.
He wasn't deterred. Vanishing In a blur of red he severed one of its arms. It roared and shot purple flames, he brought his blade up to defend himself easily. When the barrage stopped he summoned more white flames around his body and brought them into his blade.
Way of the samurai; Twister!
A low spin was all he needed as he shot a tornado of white flame toward the dark giant setting it ablaze. It's eyes never left his until it vanished completely. Hoisting the blade on his shoulder he landed in the middle of the town.
As Ruby looked on she understood why she was envious of his strength. As he looked back toward her and smiled he held out his hand for her. He was so much stronger than anyone she met and she wanted to be that strong, if she was things could've been different for her, maybe. She took his hand and stood next to him realizing her feelings shifted. He was her friend, and she needed to show that.
And she maybe realized she liked him a bit.
They never found Xehanort, Roman was taken into custody.
When they got back to beacon after a long day of another hospital visit for the brunette he sat in the room he shared with team RWBY. Opening the letter with the famous King Mickey insignia he sighed and prepared for the worst.
"Dear Sora, if you're reading this, then that means we've found your location and we've found you haven't cleared the world of it's darkness yet. Riku has expressed concern for your safety as has Kairi, they almost lost you on your last trial and this one - they share similar concerns. Simply put, because this is a test of your own abilites we will give you a few weeks to finish things up. If you fail one of us will come for you and return you by force, this is for the best in all of our interests, Sora"
Signed king Mickey.
They were concerned.
He couldn't help but feel that in a way they were worried for no reason.
He recalled what they told him after the mark of mastery exam and he closed in on himself.
They didn't want him to get taken by the darkness, at times like this he felt that would probably be the best situation and laugh at himself for thinking like that.
He couldn't leave and let that man sink his claws deeper into this world. He just couldn't help but feel that ball of insecurity in his ability.
His friends still trusted him to carry out his mission right?
The door opened as Sora found a second note encased into the first one, He opened the letter noting it from Kairi as Ruby came into the room
"Reading the letter you got?" Ruby asked as she came closer Sora crumbled the first one as he read the second one.
"Is that from Kairi?" Sora nodded
"You must really like her" When she received no response she got closer
"She's really lucky you know, to have someone go so far just to save them it- must be nice to -" Sora looked toward her with a glint of warmth in his eyes.
"I'd go that far for anyone who needed it."Ruby looked at him perplexed
"Wait, you like Kairi don't you?" Sora cocked his head to the side
"Of course I do she's my friend" Ruby huffed
"No, like, you want to tell her you like her and you know, k-kiss her and stuff" Sora looked off to the side in thought he was fond of the girl he knew that, but did he really think that far into the future?
"Do you have someone you like, Ruby?" The girl jumped facing the teen
"N-No I don't" Sora's eyes never left hers as she spoke
"But I think one day I might and all I can do is hope they reach" She stood up stretching
"Hm, I think, no matter what, if Kairi is happy, i'm happy. If she feels that way, great if not then i can't do much more but hope for the best" Ruby looked down at the letter
"Can I see it? The letter I mean, I don't know her but I'd like to see what she wrote you, if you don't mind?" Sora reached up and handed her the letter.
"Dear Sora, are you doing okay? It's been awhile since we spoke but Riku and I have been worried, I've been getting better with the keyblade even Riku is impressed I hope to hear from you soon, and don't forget ok? No matter where you are, I know you'll come back and even if you are dealing with things, we all share the same sky, I know we'll see each other soon.
Kairi.
That pit that feeling of jealousy came back and this time it wasn't directed at Sora.
So, just so people don't misunderstand I waant things with Kairi addressed. The feelings those two have weren't exactly addressed but hinted at. So i'll use whats next to sway it one way or the other. Tried cleaning up the odd reactions from Ruby a bit because they didnt feel right unless they had an actual motive form an outside source. As of how she felt at the end of the chapter? Her own feelings.
