Chapter IV

Ghosts

When faced with an impossible task, one should consider all possibilities before truly giving up. Be this looking outside the box or putting one's self in another person's shoes, the sky was the limit to what could be done. But as far as Sora could see, there was no box to look out of and if there had been one in the first place it was extremely difficult to navigate. If there was a way to put himself into another person's shoes, that would also be difficult considering he was having troubles trying to find his own body. For now, he was just a phantom, wondering in the dark, a lingering sentiment without a body to touch or a tongue with which to taste. The only sense which currently pervaded his mind were those of sight and sound, for even the smell of nothingness could hardly be considered a smell at all.

Riku had himself taken the time to learn to hone his senses in these particular times, with his keen sense of smell to indicate the darkness nearby and to whom it belonged. Sora had nothing like that. Perhaps, he decided as he walked down the empty white passage ways of contemplation, he should, if given a second chance, pursue such a helpful and effective ability. As the darkness closed in ever more and the walls closed around him, perhaps the only true way to find the end of this nightmare, this box, was to develop those skills of picking up darkness. The problem being Riku had not come to develop his pinpoint accurate nose by just training it. He had at one point been one with the darkness and to sense the darkness was to understand the element itself. Unlike Riku, Sora was not willing to do that especially when it could leave him so exposed to Xehanort.

This was, of course, if he could even find his body, but nothing down these passages even suggested his shell was anywhere nearby. The patterns on the wall themselves were sharp and clearly defined showing the Nobody symbol every few inches away from one another. Was that really the case for him? Even Nobodies existed after all to think was to be and Nobodies could certainly do so. But for Sora, he did not even have a body, only this peculiar armor surrounding his spirit to keep it protected from the perversion of darkness. Take that away and what was he to a being of nothing? He wasn't even sure if his thoughts were coherent to him for they were scrambled and the empty whiteness surrounding him did nothing to better that.

But if he had to wonder here for eternity then so be it. It was better than staying in pitch black darkness and at least there was some sense of reality here. Even though he could not touch he knew these walls were opaque and cold, though just as devoid of life as he current were. Even though he could not taste he breathed in the fresh cool air and felt as it rolled off his tongue. Yes. That was reason enough to believe he existed. Now it was just a question of getting his body back and assimilating the pieces.

He turned his mind to more positive thoughts. At the end of the day, that was who he was and it was absolutely essential that he not forget that. Even if he was facing a peril which bored its claws and threatened to tear him apart, he would never stop thinking about what was truly important and no Xehanort or voice in his head could convince him otherwise.

He turned to thoughts of the islands, their exotic trees and glimmering orange and yellow reflected seas under the evening sun… oh, how he would give anything to return to his paradise. Were he not doing the mark of mastery, he would be battling with Riku on the beach or probably would be teased by Kairi. But his friends only brought up worrying and questioning thoughts. What were they doing now? Were they trying to think of a way to find and rescue him or were they too busy moving on with their lives and hardly in need of his presence? Was he just nothing but smoke, some distant memory that dispersed until whatever traces of its existence were gone?

He returned to his happy place and greatly profited from staying there, remembering memories of old and using them to convince himself that his friends would never give up on him. As long as he didn't give up on finding his own body he could also believe that his friends would not give up on finding him because they shared something precious that Xehanort could not break.

Sora breathed a sigh of relief when he had at last found a single double door in the hall of madness as he called it. Not really giving much thought as to what was behind it, he desperately pushed open the door and stepped back into The Room Where Nothing Gathers.

He could not believe it. Had he just gone around in circles? Had he not started here and continued down the corridor? He certainly had not felt himself looping around the building at all, in fact it had been very much a straightforward path until now. It was a round room, though if it was to symbolise equality amongst Nobodies it certainly didn't feel like it. In fact, in terms of hierarchal structure, it was rather paternalistic in its approach. He gathered this from the thirteen seats around the room, all raised on different levels of position to no doubt assert who was the dominant one. The person sitting on the tallest chair inhabiting the room would also be in effect undermining the others as he looked down upon them. If Xehanort was willing to start a Keyblade War to make everyone just like him, he had a funny way of showing it because it seemed that he wasn't even fair with himself.

But other than that, the room was empty, or at least on initial appearance. Sora located the chair in which his body was sat upon. He had not be conscious to be there himself but he could just feel it, as he took his place and observed the room, that something of his had once been on this very seat. But now where his body should be, was instead a moving piece of armor very much aware and susceptible to the world around it. The chair, he found, was surprisingly comfortable for something that looked the very opposite. He even amused himself by trying out different poses for a while.

That was when he saw it. By the door and outside in the passage, very briefly but noticeably, he saw the shadow of a human. It was quick, almost like a blur and seemed in a hurry but it definitely was humanoid in its characteristics. Little did it cross his mind that the figure may be one of danger. All he knew was that he had to follow it. He pushed any hesitation to the back of his mind, jumped off of the low chair and left the room taking a right down the hallway.

He admitted it was an otherworldly experience. Here he was, chasing this figure and whilst he wanted so desperately to call out for it to stop in its tracks, he could not do so for he had no voice for which to speak with. And yet, this lack of voice had seemed to heighten some other sense in him. He could feel a vibration reverberating against the back of his eardrum and hitting against the walls of the area. He was sure it belonged to the other's presence he was chasing it. It was why he knew exactly where to go as the passage split into to two. He took the left without a moment's agitation and continued his sprint for the finish line to catch this voice the vibration belonged to. The only problem was, he was sure that no one was speaking and he was sure that he had not lost any sense of hearing either because he could hear his own loud footsteps underneath him as he ran.

Finally he had nowhere left to run. He had stumbled into a large room with an amazing view of the world itself from the large picture window at the back of the room extending from one side of the wall to the other. He walked over to the window and looked outside to gain some perspective on where he was. He definitely seemed to still reside in the castle judging by the long distance he was from the city. Buildings erected in tall structure stared back at them but he hardly knew the purpose of these buildings. Was he even in the real world anyway or was he still in the realm of sleep? There had hardly been any difference between the two he had found which scared him even more that no matter what he did, he would be forever trapped in eternal slumber. But there was a chance, which was, if Riku made it out then it was likely that he could also make it out.

The loud sound of a door closing came from behind him and he spun away in time to jump out of the way of what appeared to be fast-approaching black smoke. It smashed through the windows allowing the cold air to fill the room before returning once again aiming straight at Sora. He made an attempt to jump out of the way once again but this time the dark smoke grabbed onto his leg and swung him. Pain associated itself quickly with his spine as his back hit against the wall, an unnatural feeling forming considering he had no body with which to feel yet still somehow still felt the stimuli and the reactions coupled with it.

"Well if it isn't my other self. I can't imagine it's wonderful for you having to see me in your body but if it helps calm you down I am taking great care of it." The boy in question who spoke shared similarities with Sora's body all except for the golden piercing iris' and two pointy ears.

It doesn't, not when you're using my body like this. Sora pressed his hand against the wall and used it as support to help himself up. He slowly extended his hand resulting in a flash of silver and the appearance of the Kingdom Key, his Kingdom Key for whatever Keyblade his dark self was holding was not his own. Though its shape would appear similar the coloration was marginally off having a much darker hue on its blade and handle.

"Can't talk? No matter, your opinion isn't worth much anyway. That's why you can't leave this hallway. Did you find it odd how it looped until you saw me? It's because it caters most to those who are nothing, ironically enough trapping them in an endless cycle. Most Nobodies have to use corridors of darkness to exit the room or otherwise face being lost. But you can't bring yourself to use the darkness can you? Because you're weak!" Xehanort-Sora spat in disgust, "Your body belongs to Xehanort and soon… very soon… this world and the others like it will become one under him. Can you imagine that, one ideology, no differences in the way we think, no conflicts. Don't you get it? We're going to start a war that will end all wars. Any future conflict will cease to exist and the perfect equilibrium will be created between light and darkness. Isn't that what you want?"

Sora ignored his other and charged in to attack. Metal clashed against metal as the two wielders exchanged attacks while jumping around and building speed to take the other out. Neither would relent for the Lingering Will of Sora battled to take back what was rightfully his while the shadow was very much resilient and unwilling to let this new body go back to its original owner.

The blades hit against one another once again with Xehanort-Sora's Kingdom Key on top threatening to cut through Sora's defense and with it his armor. He wasn't even sure where the armor had come from but he knew that if he stopped to ponder it then and there it would be over for him. He held his guard with both his hands pushing upwards to keep his body's blade away from him.

"Don't you see yet? I am you, the darkness in your heart incarnate and the one you could only wish to be. Friends? Heh, who needs 'em? What have they done for you? Where are they now? These aren't simply questions you can ignore, because the truth is you know exactly where they are. Just search your heart and you'll find the answer," With a smile, Xehanort-Sora relaxed his strength and jumped back, "It's so much easier to let go. Then you'll see everything for what it was and what it's truly meant to be. When you're alone, there's no one to betray you… and you aren't putting anyone in harm's way by being their friend."

You know what, at this point… I don't even care whether my friends betrayed me. I just want you out of my body Xehanort. Sora rushed forward and slammed in his Keyblade into his body sending it hurtling backwards. Catching up to him, he used Faith magic, creating beams of light extending past his armor aiming for and successfully attacking Xehanort-Sora.

Sora had only a few ideas as to how to retrieve his body from Xehanort's clutches. He feared the slightest strike, the slightest means of aggression would harm his shell. If it came to the last resort, his darkness could very easily take his shell out with him and then the entire thing would be pointless. But whatever other choice did he have? Any form of communication was out of the question, not just because he could not speak but also it was unlikely that the slightly tanned Sora staring back at him would accommodate if he asked nicely.

It came to him almost like a spark, a burst of inspiration. This epiphany had not been his own, or at least it could not have possibly been his own for it had been completely random and unrelated to the situation at hand. In his mind he had seen his younger self holding up the Kingdom Key to seal the Keyhole in Agrabah. Was his mind trying to somehow relate it to a similar moment? If so then it was possible that he had finally found his solution to the puzzle.

He aimed his Keyblade at his body similarly to how he had done so in his vision. "What? Stop, you don't know what you're doing!" Xehanort-Sora hissed but it was too late. The beam trapped them both in a paralyzed state. The conscious armor could only hold onto the Keyblade as it vibrated violently while his other's eyes fell into a cloudy state. The next thing he knew, he was surrounded in darkness and falling.

Oh, how many times he had visited this place. Its warmth gave a protecting contrast to the darkness surrounding it. He knew very much without having to look at the magnificent stained glass platform below him that he was home. He blinked once. Twice. As many times as he realised that he could feel his own skin, that he could curl and grind his tongue against his teeth and that he could make out his own nose just underneath his eyes. He grabbed at his hair and pinched himself with enthusiasm almost as if he were a child going to school on his first day. He was back—but then again, his other was there along with him.

"I have my body so why are you still here?" Sora questioned. Even after hearing his voice, he quickly treasured it moving his hand over his larynx and rubbing the skin sheltering it.

"I guess this battle between who gets control over your body. This is a waiting place, one of judgement where people are tested for what they truly are. In the end you either rise into the light, or you fall into the deepest depths of darkness. You may be my other," Dark Sora shook his head unimpressed before summoning his Keyblade, "But that does not mean I have to respect you."

"If you're my darkness then I want you back in my body. I guess it explains while I feel lighter but it doesn't mean I should just be thankful that I have no darkness in my heart. I'm taking back my body, so it doesn't matter whether you respect me or not." Sora gritted his teeth and ran forward with the Kingdom Key in hand. Dark Sora's body melted into the floor as it swept under Sora's feet and popped up from the other side of the platform, its body had transformed to form a fluid liquid black ink which flew towards Sora. Sora raised his Keyblade in a defensive position just in time to guard the Dark Sora's Keyblade. As he pushed back, the Keyblade wielder could feel his own weapon melting and becoming one with his other's weapon.

Once again in his liquid form, the phantom circled Sora in motions which reminded him of soft silk floating gently in the breeze. Such was its mesmerising status that Sora was almost distracted as it came rushing towards him once again. He rolled out of the way several times as the ghostly apparition flew back and forth in an effort to attack him. Sora's body grew a brilliant bright light as he jumped and clashed with his dark half in the air. Their Keyblades battled for dominance as the blades spun and knocked against each other creating spits and hisses as light clashed against darkness.

As he looked into the eyes of his counterpart he wondered how someone could have such uncaring and cold eyes. These golden eyes staring back at him were soulless and lacked much emotion from them. He would never let this man, who had ruined so many lives, some who he didn't even know but supposedly were connected to him, to take over his body or get what he wanted.

Mustering up all his strength he pushed back fiercely with determination. For the next few seconds, it was as if time had passed slowly for Sora but quickly for his other. Sora sliced through the blade of his opponent cutting it into two before he continued to mercilessly beat on him using his Trinity Limit. Slash after slash cut through and eventually he finished off with a burst of light pulling Dark Sora in like a magnet and watched as the Keyblade did the rest of the work. The beam which had attached itself to Dark Sora eventually expanded and a light filled the station.

Sora opened his eyes. Here he was once again in the room before he had been paralyzed by his attack. The remnants of the shattered window remained but Xehanort-Sora was nowhere to be seen. The increase of something familiar in his heart seemed to confirm it to him. He had managed to subdue his own darkness while Xehanort's had disappeared. Moving his hands to his ears were also all he needed to know that his body had returned to its original state.

I suppose you feel that you are happy now that you have retained your body in its original physical state?

Sora jumped startled and looked around, "Wait a minute? You aren't Xehanort… you're that other voice I've been hearing. You've been unusually quiet now that I think about it. Get a good night's sleep while I've been gone?"

I do not care much for your jokes. Only that I've come to tell you what you think is normal isn't simply so. That darkness still very much resides in your heart willing to battle you when the time comes.

Sora frowned with indignation, "And why exactly should I believe you now? I don't feel any different. But I understand, people like you only really want something for others when it benefits for you. So cough it up and explain who you are and why you are inside my head."

There was a protracted period of silence in the air and for the longest time Sora was afraid that he had scared the voice away, not that it would have mattered to him. Right now he wanted to concentrate on getting out of this world and finding his friends.

Then the voice said, I'll show you who I am, that is— if you're interested in finding me. A dark corridor opened up, its appearance ostensibly threatening Sora's confidence. He very much wanted to find out who was behind this if only to put an end to the voice inside his head. A part of him considered leaving it alone in hopes that it would go away but once again the other side of his conscience told him that hope alone would not stop the evasive presence. If he wanted to end it he would have to meet face to face with the underlying problem and worst come to worst, he was sure he could handle anything thrown at him.

Remembering everything he had learnt from first stepping into the sleeping worlds, he breathed in and out deeply before stepping into the darkness.

So this is essentially where Sora starts to become his new alter ego. How that will affect the relationship with his friends? It's an interesting concept to play and experiment with I imagine because he won't know at first that he's becoming this Ghost Rider but he'll learn to master it eventually. From who? You'll have to wait and see.

So I went to see Thor: The Dark World and Gravity, not on the same day, but both movies are certainly up there as my favorite movies of the year. Loki steals the show but the overall cast is still very good. A major disappointment this year in superhero movies was Man of Steel for me. It's kind of a prime example of disjointed narrative with it throwing in flashback after flashback which breaks up the pace of the movie. I will say however that it hold some of the best comic book action in any superhero movie I've seen to date and its definitely worth trying to incorporate that similar style into action scenes for this and DD.

In general I think this is the story I'm going to be most experimenting with ideas that I've gotten from other novels or movies. It does give me more room to breathe with by going for a more comic book style approach since I get to read a lot of comics for research. So until next time, catch you all later and please R&R.