So much to think about, so little time. Eventually, the whole truth with the mysterious swordsman will be revealed in due time, but not just yet. It's a long ways to go before it even happens. For now, enjoy the story!
~Sora's POV~
After saying goodbye to Ariel, I was wondering why she was blushing whenever she looked at Jared. Almost like she's in love with him. Just like my crush on Kairi. I had to get my heads out of the clouds as I see the Gummi Ship moving through space.
"So," I said. "Where do we go now?"
"Well," Goofy said, steering the Gummi Ship. "There's been talk of a world near here. I suppose we could investigate it." I nodded at him as I sat down and brought out my Keyblade with a flash of light.
Jared's seen this, and no doubt he'll be curious about it. In my dream, I heard that voice, saying that I had a guardian who wields a sword. I didn't expect him to have a longsword, though. Maybe he is my guardian.
"Here it is!" Goofy called out. I dismissed my Keyblade and looked out, to see a sinister-looking world, with a castle.
"Looks different." I told him and we landed. I looked at Goofy as he looked up.
"Gawrsh," he said, "look at that." I looked where he pointed and saw that same castle before we landed. Looks like we have some exploring to do.
We climbed up the place to reach the castle, when we saw a person and some kind of purple cloaked big creature. I saw that it was Riku and Beast!
"No vessel," Riku said to Beast, "no help from the Heartless. So tell me… how you got here?"
"I simply believed," he slightly growled. "Nothing more to it. When our world fell to darkness, Belle was taken from me. I vowed that I'd find her again no matter the cost. I believed that I would find her. So here I am, so she must be here. I will have her back!"
He shouted out that last bit, then charged at Riku, only for him to do a backflip and slashed at Beast, having him down. I came up to Riku, Keyblade out. "STOP!"
"So," he said, "you finally made it. About time because I've been waiting for you. We've always been rivals, haven't we? You've always pushed me as I've always pushed you. But it all ends here, because there can't be two Keyblade masters."
"What are you talking about?" I wanted to know what's going on, but Riku just held out his hand, saying that the Keyblade should choose its own master. The Keyblade I'm holding started shaking!
I tried to prevent it from getting to Riku, but it disappeared in my hands, then reappeared in his hands. "Maleficent is right. You don't have what it takes to save Kairi. It's up to me. Only a Keyblade master can open the secret door and change the world."
That was impossible! How could Riku have my Keyblade when I've used it all along? It just came to him. I would've known myself because I wouldn't had it from the beginning. "I fought my whole way with that Keyblade!"
"You were just the delivery boy." WHAT?! I saw him pull out a wooden sword and tossed it to me. "You're part's over now. Play hero with this." I got down on my knees as tears started forming in my eyes.
"Come on, Goofy." Donald said. "We have a mission."
"I don't know. Even though the King told us to follow the key, but…" I heard them walking away, no doubt to follow Riku.
I got back up and picked up the wooden sword, then Beast decided to travel with me, just to find Belle.
~Jared's POV~
Some things are more mysterious than others. First off, me, Maci and Kairi landed somewhere that seems familiar, but not sure what. Secondly, I felt something tug at my heart. I usually get that whenever a friendship is broken.
"We should get going." I told them. They nodded, and we traveled up. I thought I'd known this before, so I pull Kairi from Maci and told her that we should rest a bit, gather up our strength.
She agreed, and I pulled Kairi away from a sleeping Maci as I led her to a different area, but still be close to Maci at first sign of trouble. "How're you holding up, Kairi?"
"Pretty good, although this place is familiar, I just don't know."
"Because this is part of my dream. One where all three of us fell through the floor when there were cracks at our feet, on the floor. Careful where you step, okay?" She nodded and said that she'll take first watch.
Our sleep turned out to be perfect, with no encounter from Heartless. I guess it was easier than I thought. At first sign of Heartless, everyone should be up and fighting for their life. After picking our things up, we traveled back through the path we needed to go, not being encountered by any Heartless. I'm suspecting that something's up!
We reached the castle, but I've realized this is far too similar. "I'm not sure, Jared," Kairi spoke. "She may be more powerful than we expected, from what was described about her."
"Maleficent?" Maci asked. "That witch will never expect us coming."
"Look lively, you two. We need to explore this castle and see if she's around here." We entered in the castle to the Main Entrance, and we got encountered by Heartless: five Shadows, four Green Requiem's, three Wizard's, two Defenders, and an Invisible.
"Kairi," I ordered, "stay back and handle the Shadows! Maci, take on the Wizard's and the Invisible. I'll take on the Defenders and Green Requiems!" After preparing our positions, we faced off against the Heartless!
~Maci's POV~
After Jared gave out his strategy, I went over to the Wizards first thing and dispatched them using Blizzara, which will prevent them from doing anything. Once they are immobilized, I focused my magic on the Invisible, making sure that it doesn't get too close to me. Whenever I'm low on magic, I made use to have High-Ethers to keep my magic high for consumption! Afterwards, I kept a close eye on Kairi every now and then, making sure that no Wizard got to her. I kept switching my focus between the Invisible and the Wizards.
~Kairi's POV~
When Jared informed of his strategy, I stepped back far enough away from them because I could do little damage to the Heartless, except for the Shadows around here. Once one of them start slowing down, I raised my staff while shouting out, "Cura!" And then they get back in the fight. Normally, I'd take care of a Shadow with one swing of my staff, but it took about two or three, because I got their attention after the first swing. When the fifth Shadow was gone, I stayed back, making sure to keep an eye on both Jared and Maci, as well as the Heartless, just to make sure I don't get attacked by one of them, because I have too much doubt that I'd survive the first hit.
~Jared's POV~
Everyone followed according to strategy, and it was down to the two Defenders. They have shields up on the front, protecting them from there. How could I defeat them? "From behind." There's that voice telling me.
I jumped over a Defender and slashed it gone after two. I turned my attention to the other, and I got blasted back from fire magic.
I got back up and saw the Defender was gone. "I took care of it!" I was surprised it came from Kairi. "Maci helped me a little by freezing it with Blizzara, though." I smiled, then she said, "Cura." I got back up without any more support.
"Seems that, judging from their strength," Maci guessed, "and their endurance, I take it they were part of Maleficent's elite army."
"No wonder they were harder." I said. "They were an elite. I noticed it myself when Kairi didn't finish off those Shadows with one hit each. She had to do three. But still, we have a mission to do. And that's to finish things off with Maleficent!"
We traveled through the corridors of the castle, eventually getting to a familiar place. I heard Maci breath out, "Great Hall." It doesn't sound so… inviting. We saw six girls around, and three are who I know: Alice, Ariel and Jasmine.
"Now," I said, "who would've thought about this. I hope we're not too late." We rushed up the stairs, but we saw Donald and Goofy at the top of the stairs. "Donald? Goofy?" They turned to see us, and were glad. "Where's Sora?!"
They pointed. I looked and see Sora fighting Riku! I mean, holy moly! Sora's fighting Riku alone! Although, why aren't Goofy and Donald helping him? I tried to get to him, but it feels like I've hit an invisible wall. Guess he really is on his own.
I just sat down, waiting for Sora to finish. While I was waiting, Donald came to me. "How long have you known Sora for?" I looked up and was surprised for him to ask me that question.
"I've known Sora since I was a kid, Donald. At one point, I called a different world home. Since that one was lost, I ended up in Destiny Islands, where I met Sora. You heard him say something about Kairi, right?"
He nodded. "Well, that Kairi was my childhood friend. We both ended up on Sora's homeworld. And that's how I met him. We've been friends ever since." Then I noticed something else: No fighting is being heard.
I rushed to the area where I saw them fighting, and it turns out it's over. I see a giant key on the floor, but not Sora's. I looked up, and I saw Sora with his own and pointing at what looks like a heart symbol I kept seeing.
Sora slowly lowered his weapon. "Why isn't it working? It should work like all other times." I looked down to the weapon on the floor, walked over to it, and picked it up.
"Sora." I said softly. He looked at me, then saw what I have. "I think I have a better idea."
"Be careful, Jared! That Keyblade opens hearts." Which is why the idea was formed perfectly upon hearing about this Keyblade.
"Exactly. That's why… I need to do this." I slowly approached Sora, Keyblade ready to stab him. "For this to work, you'll need to be… sacrificed." All five gasped. "I know, but it seems the only way, Sora."
He looked over someplace. I did, and I see Kairi, unconscious. "It's the only way, Sora. If what I think is true, then your's and Kairi's hearts are connected."
Sora looked at me, dismissed his Keyblade, then faced me. "Okay, Jared. You made your point." Then he looked over at our friends, his and mine. "I'll be missing you guys." Then he looked back at me. "Do what you need to do."
I prepared the Keyblade, then stabbed it at where his heart is! The Keyblade disappeared in my hand as light surrounded Sora. When the Keyblade disappeared, six orbs of light appeared, then traveled behind me on their way to where they belong.
Then his heart came out and traveled a certain way. I looked and saw that it landed on Kairi's chest. She started opening her eyes and, getting up and looking, I looked in the same direction and see Sora lightly falling.
"Sora!" Kairi shouted and came to him to try and catch him. But all that happened is that another flash of light happening and he's gone. What I also notice is that Kairi is crying. I came over to her and place an arm around her for comfort.
"Kairi," I told her. "He did what he had to do. He wanted you back."
"He did all this… traveled far and wide… just to reach me." She continued to cry and I held her. But it wasn't long before I felt a presence nearby. A dark one.
"Jared!" Maci shouted out. "Behind you!" I looked and I jumped back, holding Kairi. I saw the man that I'd never forgive myself of. From what I know, this man must be Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, who controls the Heartless.
"You have awaken at last, Princess." He said. This guy would get on my nerves right from the get-go. "The Keyhole is now complete. You have served your purpose. But now, it's over." He started approaching me and Kairi.
I pulled out my longsword, ready to fight him, until I see a different kind of flash. Ansem stopped, and started shaking his arms. From what I see, this is Riku's resistance. "I won't," Riku said as he became more visible, "let you use me for this!"
"Riku." He looked up and saw us all.
"You've gotta run! Heartless are coming!" And when he said that, Shadows surround us.
"Let's go!" I grabbed Kairi's hand, and we all fled the Heartless, ignoring Goofy about the Keyhole. "Just keep moving!"
We eventually made it to the Main Entrance of the castle, and we stopped to catch our breath. "Without Sora, the Keyhole can't be locked."
"What about the sword?" Donald said, noting my longsword.
I looked at it, then back at Donald. "I'm sorry, Donald, but I'm just the guardian of the Key. There's nothing I can do about it, other than helping you take on Ansem." Then I felt that we weren't alone. I turn around, and see a Shadow, but not planning on attacking.
"What's this one doing here?" I readied my longsword, because past experience led me to believe that this Shadow would be doing an attack by surprise, and I'd be ready when it does. Then I felt something else. I felt… a certain connection with it. I slowly lowered my sword. "Sora?"
"Uh-oh!" Goofy called out. I looked around, and there's Shadows surrounding us!
"Just great! Kairi, stay back with Kairi!" The cleric got to Kairi, then notified her that she should be moving with her, but refused and said that she'd stay with Sora.
I slashed off a Shadow, then looked behind me to see more Shadows, and it looks like I couldn't find Kairi. "Kairi!" I shouted out, then a flash of light occurred as the Shadows were gone, and I see Sora and Kairi hugging!
I couldn't believe my eyes! Sora's back. "Sora!" Sora looked up and sees me. Then he smiled. How I missed that smile from him. Then Heartless are everywhere! "Sora!"
Shadows are around us, then we all heard a roar, then a Thump! I looked behind me and saw Beast. "Get going!" He said. "The Heartless are coming, but I'm not leaving without Belle!"
"Stay safe, Beast." I told him as I grabbed Kairi, then the seven of us fled from the castle and inside the Gummi Ship as we rode away from Hallow Bastion in space.
