Kingdom hearts : Part 2: Rising Dreams

By: Cauryn Val

Chapter Nine: Final Fight

I do not own any Disney or Final Fantasy or Kingdom Hearts characters.

Part 2: Sora's nightmare has become reality when he wakes from the explosion. He is forced to continue alone, but he's not the only one with problems. Each member of the group had landed somewhere different, One in the grasp of Shinya, another in the waiting arms of the Guardian. To reach his friends again, Sora must fight his way to them, and find the strength inside that he didn't know he had.


"STEWART!?" the group on the ground yelled in surprise, Matt being the only exception.

"Yup! Stewart Hammilton, at your service, or rather you're at MY disposal." The freckled teenager smirked.

"Stewart, I know you have Kay's book, give it to me, it'll be your death." Matt told the other teen. Stewart laughed.

"Yeah right! Why should I listen to a psycho ghost hunter?"

"He knows what he's talking about." Sora said, holding his Keyblade up in a defensive position.

"I hardly believe that." Stewart laughed again as he made his way down the tree. "And I was warned all about you. You wont be leaving this world alive." Sora swore inwardly at this, so Shinya HAD known he was here…

"Stewart! You hand that book over now!" Anna demanded. Stewart looked at her, obviously checking her out.

"You're kinda hot like that. You should stick with me."

"Shut up, you pig!" Nathanial snarled, sending a fire spell at Stewart.

"I'm not going to listen to a homo like you." He sneered. Nathanial growled again, his knuckles turning white he was gripping his staff so hard. "Too bad my predecessor took out your man, I would've enjoyed seeing you fall apart."

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Nathanial yelled, but it was obvious Stewart had hit a nerve, and a painful memory.

"Don't you say another word!" Matt ground out.

"Oh ho! Seems I've hit a nerve!" Stewart cackled. "Were you dating the fag too?" Matt took careful aim and whipped a stone in Stewart's direction, succeeding in hitting his shoulder. Stewart cried out in pain and held his arm, glaring at Matt.

"Don't you dare imply that!" Matt snapped.

"You fool." Stewart growled. "You're all going down tonight!" He opened the sack that was hanging over his shoulder and withdrew a skull. This he held in his hand and lifted it as far as he could, bathing it in moonlight. He began to chant a spell, making Gurgi scramble onto Sora's shoulder and cower.

"It's scary, Sora…" He whispered. Sora nodded briefly, watching their surroundings carefully. Once Stewart finished his spell, the roots at the bottom of the tree began to move again, making everyone groan. Sora hurried over to Matt, and leaned close to the hunter.

"Matt, help Anna and Nathaniel, you three can handle the horse and rider perfectly fine. Gurgi and I will go for Stewart. The horseman needs his head to break the spell, right?"

"Good observation." Matt said, watching the bottom of the tree. " It's worth a shot. Be careful though,"

"I will." Sora broke off from the group a bit, him and Gurgi getting ready for the next fight.

The horseman broke from the tree roots once again in a spray of blood. Anna, Nathaniel, and Matt charged the newly summoned heartless, while Sora dodge-rolled around it and charged at Stewart.

"Gurgi! Go!" Sora said.

"Yes! Gurgi will do a good job!" Gurgi said happily, and dropped off of Sora's shoulder, vanishing into the night. Stewart had to dodge out of the way as Sora swung the blunt side of the Keyblade at him. He grabbed a stick, and used it to block the next swing. Sora hoped it wouldn't take long for Gurgi to complete his task, Sora didn't want to hurt Stewart, but the horseman was proving stronger than before, and it kept trying to reach him. Sora was surprised by the strength that the skinny Stewart held, as they were now immobilized, their arms shaking as they struggled to keep their weapons steady. Sora kept his eyes on Stewarts movements while he tried to keep part of his attention on the danger behind him.

Stewart froze suddenly as Sora saw the material of his jacket move, and then Gurgi was flying in the opposite direction.

"Gurgi! Gurgi are you okay?' Sora yelled in concern. The little creature nodded as he moved to his feet. Sora glared at Stewart, adding pressure to his advance.

"That was a smart move, but I'm to smart for you to try and trick me like that." Stewart smirked as he said this, matching Sora's strength again. Sora growled, glaring at Stewart. This strength was unnatural, he knew that much.

It's a copy spell.

Sora almost faltered in his guard at the echoing voice. He kept his gaze on Stewart, although he really just want to do look around to see where the voice had come from.

Use the power we share, Sora.

This time, the Keyblade Master saw tiny shimmers run up the blade of the key. It looked like a tiny fire.

"Who are you?"

Your inner strength. I have been with you from the beginning, though you did not know how to summon me. Say the word, and I can help you.

"My inner strength…" Sora wondered. He thought for a second, then he nodded. He immediately felt something spread from his heart like wild fire. He was able to fling Stewart from him, grabbing for the bag slung over the other teens shoulder. Stewart saw Sora's plan, and grabbed for it also as Sora took a hold of the rope holding it shut.

The result was the bag flying towards the horseman, making the fight stop. Everyone stood panting for a few minutes, staring at the bag and at each other. Matt was finally the one to move for the bag and gently remove the skull from it. Sora watched in apprehension as Matt held the skull up to the horseman, who accepted it and placed it back onto his neck. Matt moved a way slowly, motioning for Sora to do the same. Sora left a frozen Stewart, glancing between him and the horseman.

What happened next took only a few seconds. The Horseman kicked the sides of the black stallion he was seated on, charging Stewart. Moments later, Sora froze in mid stride to get the other teen out of harms way, and the horseman's sword was plunged into Stewart's heart. Stewart looked up at the heartless, his eyes wide in shock, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Anna hid her face in Nathanial's shoulder, who in turn put his arm around her. Matt looked at Stewart sadly, his eyes saying 'I told you so.' Sora stood straight, his shoulders slumped, as he watched Stewart disintegrate into swirls of darkness. Yet another heartless was born. The horse man then returned to the trees roots, and Matt placed a seal on it.

"Lets go back." He said. Sora and Nathaniel nodded, and were led back by Gurgi.

;*;

Sora placed the last bag he had dared to pack into the back of the three man Gummi Ship he had be able to make. Gurgi sat in subdued silence at the base of his tree, watching the preparations quietly. Sora had told Anna's parents he was getting ready to move on, now that he was able. He told them he was leaving to see if anything outside of Elder Town could spark his memory. They had accepted this excuse, and Sora had switched back to the clothes the fairy godmothers had given him, feeling comfortable. He had not had any more conversations with the phoenix, although he wanted to.

"Sora!"

Sora turned, watching as Anna, Nathaniel, and Matt came running towards him. They all stopped, panting, before him.

"What is it you guys?" Sora asked.

"You're leaving now, aren't you?" Matt asked. Sora nodded, wondering what his friends could be up to. "Then we want to give you something." Anna stepped forward and held out her hands. In it was a keychain. It was a bell with the number thirteen carved into it instead of the usual holes bells had. When Sora shook it, it had an eerie ring to it.

"Wasn't this what the cat was wearing?" He asked. Matt shook his head.

"That's from all of us. We had the bell cut like that. Don't forget about us, okay?"

"I couldn't forget your guys if I tried." Sora grinned. Anna hugged Sora tightly, obviously trying not to cry.

"You go help your girlfriend, okay? She' probably really lonely without you." She said, acting like she was scolding him.

"I will." Sora laughed. He shook hands with Nathaniel and Matt, then held out his hand to Gurgi. The little creature came over slowly, and allowed himself to be picked up. "Have you packed?" Sora asked.

"Pack?" Gurgi tilted his head.

"You don't belong here anymore than me. Why should you have to stay as well?" Gurgi giggled, hugged Sora, and then ran down his hole. He emerged with holding little more than a small hat. "This is Fluters hat!" he said happily. "He would be mad if I didn't return it!"

"Okay." Sora grinned. Gurgi leapt onto his shoulder. "You three be careful, okay?"

"We will. And Sora…" Matt said. "The Phoenix, get to know him. Don't be afraid to fight beside him, okay?"

"I wont." Sora smiled. He entered the ship and the three still outside backed up. Inside, Sora gave them a thumbs up and a grin before the ship took off, sealing their last memory of his face.

"I'm gonna miss him…" Anna whispered sadly. Matt put his arm around her and kissed her head.

"I know."


YES! Sora was in Elder Town for 9 freaking chapters! I REALLY didn't mean for that! But it came out AWESOME! I do feel kind of bad for killing Stewart like that, but… okay, never mind. I have no good excuse ^^; And yes, for those of you who read The Legend of Kingdom Hearts, Exodous is going to be in here a little... okay, maybe a lot. For those of you who did not, don't worry. Exodous is the name of the Phoenix who sealed himself inside the Keyblade when he died. In short, he's Sora's familiar. There are more characters from the Legend of Kingdom Hearts that I may bring into the main fic, but I'm still debating it. If you like the idea, tell me who you would like to see!

And again, thankx so much for continuing to read this story! I hope you will stay around to figure out what happens next!