Chapter 7: Dreary Town
Sky blue eyes stared at the person – if one could describe them as such – who had an irate look on their face while the group became closer as they prepared for a potential attack. The person before them, resembled an overly large, bipedal feline with black fur, and dark, beady eyes. They wore attire that was mainly dark blue from his shoes, to the armor on his hands and shoulders. However, his shirt, under the large blue X shape at his chest, was red and white lined. Sora frowned a bit as he felt the sensation of Darkness around the other, and took into account the sudden look of anger and shock upon Donald and Goofy's faces, letting him know that they knew the person.
"What are you doing here?!" declared Donald as he stepped in front of Sora, Riku, and Kairi alongside Goofy.
"Why, I just came here to see if the rumors were true!"
"What rumors?" asked Goofy.
"That DiZ had captured a Keyblade Wielder! Judging from those three behind you… I'd say that there's some truth to dat!" dark eyes examined the scrapes across the walls.
"Pete! You got about six seconds to get out of here before – "the other laughed at Donald's outburst.
"Before what? You sic your magic and shield on me? Or are those three kinds gonna do something?" the now identified Pete stated.
"What's stopping us?" Riku's voice echoed out, and the cat laughed again.
"I'll tell you what! My Heartless! You see, I sent some of my lackeys inside to see if the man of this here laboratory's as big and tough as they say. I also thought of getting the Keyblade Bearer as well… and with DiZ as a Heartless he'd be the perfect body guard for me. So, once he's a Heartless, he'll do as I say!" Pete stated.
"I hate to break it too you… but DiZ isn't here… and we've already gotten rid of the Heartless in this lab… so…" Sora's tone caused the others to look at him in questioning as he sent a bored expression towards Pete who gawked at them.
"W-W WHAT?!" Donald and Goofy frowned.
"How did you get out of that void prison that the King put you in?" Goofy questioned as Pete narrowed his eyes.
"So, you got rid of the Heartless? Fine! And as for how I got out, Maleficent, that's how! And soon, your world… no, no, no, all the worlds! Are gonna belong to yours truly. Cause Maleficent's gonna help me conquer'em!" Pete stated.
Suddenly, there was a loud laugh from behind Donald and Goofy. The large cat looked behind them, as Riku and Kairi stared at the laughing brunette, who was doing his best not to be too loud. Sora couldn't help but continue laughing as he heard what Pete said. Maleficent may have gotten him out, but he couldn't see her messing around with anyone for a long time, and if she was able to finally come back, she wouldn't be as strong as she previously was.
"Hey! What are you laughing about?!" asked the feline.
"Maleficent can't do anything!" Sora stepped forward a bit as he continued to laugh.
"What?!" questioned Pete, as he glared at the smaller teen.
"She's toast!" Donald and Goofy looked at the brunette in knowing, while Pete gaped at the boy.
"What do you mean… wait….IT WAS YOU! YOU'RE THE ONE THAT DID IT!" declared Pete as he pointed an accusing finger at the laughing boy.
"Well… we might have had something to do with that…" Sora put his hands behind his head with a coy smirk upon his face.
Riku and Kairi gaped onwards in shock at the statement from the other. Sora's voice had sounded almost cocky, and a bit impish in almost upfront stating that he was the one who had done something to Maleficent. Sky-blue eyes gleamed in a vindictive fashion momentarily, before Pete glared at the boy. Sora crossed his arms over his chest and watched the cat as he stomped his foot and growled at him as he contemplated what to do at this news.
"You killed Maleficent! You're the one that did it! You're the one that killed her!" Pete snarled.
"What? That's surprising to you?" Sora's tone was laced with sarcasm as he watched the feline.
"Then…wait… it's not that silver-haired brat? Or the red-haired girl? Damn, you sure are tiny for a Keyblade wielder." Sora felt a tick develop in his eyebrow.
"Tiny?" he asked.
"Then you must be the Keyblade wielder who lost all his memories!" sky-blue eyes narrowed a bit.
"I have my memories back, thank you very much," he stated. Sora took in a faintly deep breath as Pete looked him over.
"Since when did da King pick such a munchkin, and a twelve-year-old, to wield the Keyblade?" Riku felt, rather than saw, the anger in Sora at the statement.
"I AM FIFTEEN, DAMMIT!" Kairi felt her eyes grow wide as Sora gritted his teeth to reign in the sudden flair of aggression.
"Well, how was I supposed to know? You look like a glass doll, compared to those other Keyblade wielders I've heard about," Pete stated.
"Yea well… the Keyblade chose me! Not the other way around…" Pete blinked in surprise.
"The Kingdom Key chose you? Wait, then… you're the chosen one. You have the silver Kingdom Key….and that means…" Pete narrowed his eyes as he looked at Sora.
"Wait… what are you talking about?" Sora asked.
"The one destined to do in the Master! And the one who… oh… this isn't good… you gotta be related to him, then…." Sky-blue eyes narrowed.
"Who in the hell are you talking about?" asked the brunette.
Pete looked him over momentarily, as Kairi and Riku tried to gather a firm grasp on what was happening. It was clear that Sora hadn't heard about any of these details, and while it was news to them, what startled the duo even more was Sora's sudden series of swear words he had been letting slip. Kairi was stunned to see Sora actually angry, and Riku was dumbfounded at the boy's swearing. It sounded unnatural coming from someone as sweet-tempered as Sora, of all people. However, judging by Donald and Goofy's battle stances, they both knew it was something serious, and even more so was Pete's sudden statement of a relation to someone.
"I see it now… you look just like him! Ooh… the Master and Maleficent aren't going to like this! To think you're his offspring… and your appearance… you must have their blood in your veins… to think one of them is still alive…" Pete moved to leave, and Sora drew the Kingdom Key in a lightning fast motion.
Kairi and Riku hardly had the time to see it happen, before he had Pete halted complete with the Kingdom Key at his throat. Pete stepped back as he looked into sky-blue eyes, before backing up further until he was cornered by Donald and Goofy. Kairi heard the faint hum of a Keyblade being summoned, as Way to the Dawn was formed in Riku's hand and he moved forward to help. Taking in a deep breath, Kairi drew Destiny's Embrace and stepped in place next to Sora with her Keyblade pointed towards Pete, who was now circled entirely.
"Care to explain who you are referring to?" asked Riku.
"I don't have a reason to talk to ya! No, I won't! The Master will do in the precious Hikari of the King soon enough." Pete felt a cold sensation seep into his feet, and the others jumped back as a black mass swallowed him whole.
"What… just happened?" asked Kairi.
"Someone opened a door to darkness…" Sora vanished his Keyblade and looked to the others.
"Nice to see you can use your Keyblade still," said Donald.
"Of course, I can use it! I'm not an invalid just because I was sleeping for a year!" sky-blue eyes gleamed playfully.
"Alright, what do we do now?" Sora eyed the others.
"We need to go into the town, it's freezing and I'm sure night will be here before we know it," Sora stated.
"That's probably a good idea. Come on…"
{St. Petersburg: 2:45pm}
The snow crunched and cracked beneath the feet of the five people as they walked into the bustling city of St. Petersburg. The place was busy with people rushing about, working or shopping as the group walked through the area, making sure to stay close to one another as people spoke in rushed tones around them in the icy air, while the worn, slick cobblestone streets were making it slightly difficult to walk while they searched for a place to stay and hopefully get something to eat.
"It's so busy," stated Donald.
"Yea, it's really crazy here…" Sora looked around the place trying to read the signs on the buildings.
"Donald, can you cast a language spell? I don't think I have the energy to do that," he said as the duck nodded.
"Alright…" with a wave of his staff, the strange words that had filtered in the air, became clearer and more prominent as the group finally found themselves able to understand the language spoken in this world.
"I can understand them," Kairi stated.
"Donald casted a language spell so we can ask them about where an Inn and a place to eat is. Donald? Goofy? Did you guys bring munny?" the two nodded.
"King Mickey gave us plenty of munny incase we needed it. So, it's not a problem, and I already cast the exchange spell so that it'll turn into the currency used in this world." Sora nodded.
"Okay, so… um excuse me sir!" the boy rushed forward, making sure to keep the hood of his coat on his head as he approached the man in a uniform.
"Yes, what can I do for you child?" he inquired.
"My friends and I are travelers, we've never been to St. Petersburg before, and we haven't been able to find an Inn and a place to get food for ourselves." The man looked him over.
"Where are you from?" he asked him.
"Warmer lands, we came here to learn…" the man hummed, eyeing the group.
"Strange travelers. And why the girl?" the boy swallowed nervously.
"She's my fiancé. Can you please tell us where an Inn and place to get something to eat is?" the other sighed.
"Down the street and to the left is a hotel and two taverns. You and your companions should be warm and well fed there," he stated.
"Thank you, sir." Sora walked away, and the man rose an eyebrow at him.
"What an unusual boy," he muttered.
It was some fifteen minutes later, that the group had managed to maneuver through the crowds and towards the hotel and two taverns. Donald and Goofy split up at that point, Sora sticking with Kairi and Captain of the Knights while Riku and Donald went to secure them a room to share for the next two days to be safe. From there, the group of five directed themselves into the nearest tavern, being quick to order a hearty stew and hot cups of coffee to warm themselves up as they sat by the fire. Their food arrived a few moments after they'd sat down, and the group had quickly dug in, being thankful that the meal was surprisingly good, and for Sora, it was especially good, seeing as it hadn't actually eaten anything in roughly a year.
Riku glanced at the boy as he took his time, noticing how he was taking his time in eating, and breaking to take sips of the coffee offered to them as he ate his own food while Donald and Goofy did the same, glancing around them as a small old lady sat nearby, her gaze on them in a slightly unnerving unmoving state. It didn't take long for the others to realize they were being watched by the woman, at which point, Sora glanced her way and she bowed her head, causing great confusion to overcome the five of them as she raised her hand, placing the tip of her first finger to the center of her forehead as she closed her eyes, almost as though she was about to draw a cross over herself, but she never did.
"Can we help you?" asked Donald.
"Donald! Don't be rude!" the Court Magician frowned as the elderly woman smiled.
"No need child, I am much accustomed to such behavior from strangers," she stated as Sora frowned.
"I'm sorry about him, he's overly protective, and tends to not know when to apply the filter between his brain and mouth…" sky-blue eyes glanced to Donald pointedly and the magical duck huffed.
"You have lovely eyes child, pure and true," the woman stated as Sora turned to look to her.
"Hmm? Oh, um… thank you…" she shook her head.
"No need, I am one who can see a person's true self. It is a gift of mine… what I see within you is great power… however, I also sense much turmoil and pain… from things you have experienced, and fears you harbor. In this, I witness the future before you… and it is both incredibly wonderous, and terrifying. Fraught with suffering and pain, but guided by light, and a power that will not lose…" the group tensed.
"What do you mean by all of that?" asked Kairi.
"Ignore her, she's a fake." The woman frowned, and Sora looked her over.
"No… she's not. You're a witch or something akin to that, aren't you?" he inquired as she smiled.
"Indeed, I am. The things that I said are the truth… a nigh unbelievable mixture of many things reside within you, and in your future, you will be faced with the mirror of yourself, and the two reflections shall decide what the worlds will become… that is what I see in you boy." Sora blinked, taking in the information, even though deep within himself, he wanted desperately to doubt her words, but he knew he couldn't.
"Are you sure? I'm just a normal person," he mentioned.
"Child, I am old, not foolish… I have seen your kind before… Bearer of the Keyblade. One of seven chosen to guide the way… you are not the first I have witnessed." Donald and Goofy went on guard.
"How did you know about the Keyblade?" they asked.
"All I can suggest to you, children… is to guard your hearts… one may never know when it will be the defining thing that will spare your life." With that, she placed a coin on the table, got up, and walked away.
"Okay… I'm not keen on the eerie old ladies," Kairi admitted.
"You and me both… what do you think she meant by all that?" Riku glanced to Sora.
"Who knows, but I would be careful all the same… someone in this world knows we have the Keyblade, that's enough to tell us we need to be careful," he stated.
"Yea… I can agree with you there."
{Hotel Room: 7:00pm}
Laying their coats down near the fireplace to dry alongside their socks and shoes after walking in the snow for so long, the group of five began to prepare themselves for the night ahead, Donald deciding the send a message to King Mickey to inform him that Sora was safe, and they would need assistance in departing due to the Gummi Ship having been destroyed in the crash landing. Riku was sitting near the window, Kairi on the bed while Sora was lying stretched out near the fireplace, arms folded behind his head as he propped one of his legs on top of the other, eyes closed as he remained relaxed, soaking in the heat of the fire while Goofy went to the small sofa to lay down, tired from the long day like the rest of them were. Cyan eyes glanced towards the chestnut-haired teenager, his expression slightly confused as he eyed Sora's form.
The boy was wearing a black tank top which had been folded into the deep blue shirt he had been wearing earlier, his gloves were gone, laying near his coat alongside his scarf long sleeve shirt and boots, while he still wore the black jeans he'd had on since they'd left the laboratory. As Riku eyed him, he took in the boy's relaxed state, and also the slight muscular form of his arms and body. Sora had always been scrawny, lithe, and gangly; however, the last year and a half had clearly done wonders for him, because it didn't take much to realize that Sora was still tiny as always, but most certainly had lither muscular form. Laughing a bit, Riku was met with confusion from the others, and then saw the chestnut- haired boy glance to him, sky-blue eyes glowing in the firelight.
"What's so funny?" asked Kairi as Riku shook his head.
"How much has changed. Look at us… we're so different." Sora hummed, stretching out a bit before returning to his prior pose.
"Not really… I mean… we're a bit older, and have more experience with how the universe works… but not much else has changed," he mentioned as Riku looked him over.
"That's so untrue its not even funny." Sky-blue met cyan.
"What are you talking about?" he questioned, tilting his head just a bit as the silver-haired teenager eyed him.
"Sora, you've changed a lot." The boy sat up, raising an eyebrow.
"Huh?" Kairi, Donald, and Goofy remained silent as Riku sighed.
"Physically you're stronger, I can see that all that fighting built your body up some, your voice is different, you're taller, your hair color even changed, not to mention your personality did as well," Riku pointed out as Sora frowned, folding his arms across his chest.
"Well… yea, I'm a bit stronger and of course I built up some muscle through all that fighting, who wouldn't? I'm almost sixteen, so my voice changing isn't too farfetched, same for me being taller." Kairi looked him over.
"Your hair color isn't that chocolate shade anymore either, it's a chestnut shade now, reddish brown with blonde and orange tones in it… and your personality is different," she informed him. Sora huffed, falling back onto the ground as he took in a deep breath.
"A lot happened… the entire thing from when we were split up once the islands were destroyed… that was one thing, I mean… hell, we were like what? Thirteen and fourteen years old? Castle Oblivion was a nightmare… what I remember of it at least… and each world had a different struggle too… it wasn't easy… so of course I changed… I had too so I could survive, and find you guys." Riku frowned.
"What happened? Can you talk to us about it?" he asked as Sora took in a deep breath, thinking about how to discuss the information of that first adventure.
"Things were difficult… even in Traverse Town… I got pretty beaten up, but thankfully some of our friends healed me… Wonderland was where I learned that Keyblade Bearers aren't well received in all worlds… Deep Jungle… that was one of the worst though… well… before I got to the other ones at least, and they had their own troubles." Kairi looked him over.
"What happened in Deep Jungle?" she asked as Sora frowned.
"The better question would be what didn't happen? We got split up, I got shot, we were constantly attacked, and I ended up having to kill someone…" the boy kept his eyes on the ceiling, sensing the dread and shock his two friends felt at that information.
"Back up! You were shot?" Riku probed as the boy got himself up and pulled his shirt up a fraction, showing them the scar on his abdomen, and the black star-like mark as well.
"Yea, and it wasn't a clean shot unfortunately… it hurt like hell… but thanks to Doctor Porter, I recovered in no time… after that, Clayton, the man who shot me, was possessed by a Heartless, and I had to kill him… technically he was already dead though…" Sora sat back down, tugging at the hem of his tank top for a moment as Riku looked him over.
"Its hard to imagine someone like you killing another person. I mean, you come from a family of doctors and medical professionals… you were taught to try and save someone before ever giving up, but…" Sora shrugged.
"Sometimes there's not enough time or its impossible and you have to make a judgment call. I didn't want to do it, and it messed me up for a long time… but I've had to kill people since then… its stopped bothering me for the most part by now," he admitted as Kairi looked down.
"You shouldn't be used to it though… that's not who you are Sora." Sky-blue eyes glanced to the side.
"I'm not who I used to be… Kairi… I'm not that kid you knew from the islands anymore… that part of me isn't really there…. because I had to choose if I was going to be weak, or if I was going to fight and accept my fate as a Keyblade Bearer…" Riku turned his attention to his friend.
"You chose to become a Keyblade Bearer, and stomach things you didn't agree with," he stated as Sora nodded.
"I did it because I wanted to protect the ones I love… Riku… Kairi… the two of you are on the same path I am now… you'll have to choose what to do when faced with things you don't agree with as well… things that will hurt you, make you question yourself, and cause you a lot of grief and doubt… but now that you've chosen to become Keyblade Wielders… there's nothing to be done about it. You have to accept your fate…" Riku nodded.
"We know that… so don't worry about it. We're in this together, whether you like it or not," he stated as Sora sent them a small smile.
"It's not going to be easy… so… just prepare yourself." Kairi moved off the bed and sat down next to Sora.
"Maybe, but you're not alone… so that's a bonus, right?" Sora smiled.
"Yea, thanks guys."
{…}
I'll come back, when you call me…
{….}
Author's Note: Dear sweet lord! I am so sorry guys, I've been super busy, and I've been trying to get to a breaking point with Millennium World: Midnight Script because that story is nearly 200 chapters. I'll try to do some randomized updates here and there, but I won't be doing any for a few more weeks as I'm about to go on vacation, and will have to do catch-up writing for several stories. Wish me luck and tell me what you think!
Sincerely,
ShadowDragon94.
