Summary: AU; Spoilers; Violence. After reflecting on recent events, Sora's heart gives rise to more than just self-doubt. Now he must conquer is most powerful nemesis of all, but when no one can help him, where can he turn?

Setting: Before final battle, so this will be somewhat AU.

Seeking Redemption

By FlikFreak

Chapter Seven: Tranquility Beyond the Waterfall

It had been at least a year since Sora had gone to the Deep Jungle. The world itself was an odd one; it had not been threatened by the heartless until a certain hunter had lost his temper with someone. Nearly all other worlds had some big nasty allied with Maleficent that called up the heartless, but not this place. Because of that, the jungle was very peaceful in comparison.

He landed in a small alcove near the treehouse, recognizable by its small space and hollow log. If he jumped down it, he'd be able to surf down the tree branches into the jungle below, but Sora decided against it. As fun as it was, he knew why he was here, and if something went wrong he didn't want to land anywhere where he could hurt someone.

After a lot of climbing, shimmying down long vines and swimming across the hippo's lagoon, Sora finally made it to the campsite. He passed quietly through, hoping not to bother Jane, and headed quietly to the bamboo thicket. He knew it wasn't the most peaceful place in the jungle, but he had to pass through it. When he did, he found two familiar faces there.

"It does remind me of Golmore…but no, I do not think it is here."

Sora blinked. "Fran? Balthier?"

The duo turned at his call, to which the gun-wielding gentlemen smirked. "Ah, Sora. What brings you here? Looking for something?"

When the keyblade master didn't answer, Fran gave him one of her calculating looks. "You are still troubled. Do you know what you must do?"

"How do you still know…?" Sora asked.

Balthier shrugged. "Fran's always been good at that."

Fran shot her partner a sharp look and muttered something about 'mist,' but otherwise said nothing. Sora rubbed his head sheepishly and decided to help break the ice. "Um…Yen Sid showed up after you guys left…he said to check the Cave of Wonders in Agrabah or something."

"Impressive," Balthier commented. "He knew what we were coming for before we even spoke to him."

"Did he say anything else?" Fran asked.

Sora nodded. "He said to watch out for traps and be polite when you enter."

Balthier nodded. "Valuable information. Thank you, Sora. I believe we'll have to check that place as well."

"What exactly are you looking for?" Sora asked. "Treasure or something?"

"Something along those lines," the man replied. "Come, Fran."

Fran, however, shook her head. "One moment, Balthier." She stepped toward Sora and looked downward at him, her gaze narrow and somehow intimidating. "You know that solving this problem of yours is something you alone must do, no one else. In order to do that, you must find a place of utmost peace. Such a place is always closer than you think."

"A place of utmost peace?" Sora echoed, tilting his head.

"Yes," Fran replied. "There, I can guarantee you will know what the next step is in ridding yourself of the darkness."

Before Sora could even thank the woman, she strode off. Balthier gave a short wave to Sora and followed her out. Maybe she's always like that, Sora thought. But if a place to find a way to fight the darkness in my heart is closer than I'd think…where would I find such a place?

After a moment of contemplation, Sora felt an idea go off in his mind and he jogged off for the cliffs. Pleased to find that there was no one (and no thing) waiting for him, he climbed nimbly up to the ledge above and headed into the caverns behind the waterfall.

"He's not on the other side either," Valor reported. "I don't think we're ever going to find him."

Wisdom glared at the sea as though it were the cause of all their problems. "Well, we had better find him quickly. It's a lucky thing that the darkness didn't rise in Anti's absence. Who knows what atrocity could have befallen us."

Master winced. "I'd rather not think about that," he said. "I went to ask Final if he had seen him, but he's gone, too."

Valor sneered. "Why am I not surprised?" he grumbled.

"Enough of that," Wisdom scolded. "As much as I know you hate him, Valor, Final is as much a part of Sora as you and I are. I will agree that his methods are questionable, but now is not the time for grudges. We must find Anti before Sora's heart goes out of control again."

But we can't do anything, Master felt like saying, and he knew it was right. Final said that even he couldn't help. But if we can't help Sora, he's on his own. How is he going to get rid of this darkness…?

He hated feeling helpless.

The Cavern of the Heart, as he had come to call it, was the place where Sora had sealed the keyhole to the jungle. If anything, he'd find peace here. For a while, he sat on the ground, staring upward through the opening at the very top of the cavern. He closed his eyes, hearing the waterfall's crashing lullaby echo into the room.

A few minutes went by before Sora sighed. "This isn't getting me anywhere," he grumbled. "Where's this place I have to go, Fran? You could have told me!"

Still looking, huh?

Sora blinked. Had that voice…just spoken to his mind? "Who's there?" he demanded, leaping to his feet.

Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you. Not like I'm capable, anyway.

"Not capable?" Sora echoed. "What's going on?"

You want a place to fight against the darkness in your heart, right? Well, I know of a place where you can do it, but it'll be tricky getting there.

There was hesitation for a moment. Could this person, whoever he was, know where Sora had to go? But then again, could he be trustworthy? "Please, tell me where to go!"

The same place where you've had those dreams, and you know where dreams come from.

"Where dreams come from?" Sora echoed.

Look, I can't say anything else. Good luck, Sora.

Sora began to call out to the voice, but it had faded away again. Sighing, he stared at the ground in defeat. The voice had really left him, and he was left with yet another riddle. To make matters even more confusing, the keyblade chose then to appear in his hands. Sora stared at the weapon and quirked an eyebrow. "You know what's going on, don't you?" he said.

The keyblade pulsed briefly. Sora smiled. "So you do know. Can you tell me where I'm supposed to go?"

This time, there was no response. Sighing, Sora held the weapon in front of him with both hands and stared at it. "You were right there with me the whole time…when I gave myself up to save Kairi, when I beat Xehanort's Heartless, and…well, every time, you were there. I've lost confidence in myself, you know that. I'm really not sure if some of the things I've done are right, or if they ever meant anything. There are so many things I've gone through that I probably shouldn't have, but I did anyway. You know something I don't about this mess. I know I have to do this on my own, and I want to end this so no one gets hurt, but I don't know where to start. You've been trying to speak to me this whole time, I know you were. What are you trying to tell me?"

Sora's answer came in an odd form. He felt the light of the keyblade spread from his heart to his limbs, but rather than comforting him, it seized control. Frightened, he tried to fight back, but instead found himself standing and walking to the center of the room. "What are you doing?!" he cried. "Let me go!"

But the keyblade did not. Once Sora was standing upright, the keyblade jerked him back around to face the tree trunk where the keyhole had been, and tore itself out of his hand. The hold on Sora's body released, and he watched the keyblade hover in the air in horror. "You're not leaving again, are you?" he asked.

No answer came. Sora mentally searched his heart, finding that the keyblade still remained with him, but he was not relieved; only confused. An ethereal wind rose around him, blowing a few stray leaves about and kicking up dust. A light emanated from the Oathkeeper, growing brighter and brighter until finally Sora could no longer look. But rather than shielding his eyes, Sora had clutched his chest as his heart jerked violently. He fell to his knees, using one hand to support himself and the other hand to keep his heart steady, though it wasn't working. The keyblade, however, still had a hold on him, and forced him back upright. Sora could only cry out as the keyblade pointed its tip at him, then rushed forward, stabbing him in the chest. The weapon then vanished, leaving behind a resounding click of something becoming unlocked.

A burst of light accompanied the keyblade returning to his heart, and Sora fell to his hands again, gasping for breath. Whatever had just happened had taken much out of him. His breath echoed on the stone walls as he managed to gather himself again, but there was an odd echoing in the cave…one much akin to a shimmering light whenever the keyblade was summoned. He hadn't the time to look up and find its source, as his vision went white and he fell to the ground with a soft thud.

In case you're wondering, no, Sora's NOT dead.