This is almost half of the challenge! This fic is a bit special, but you won't understand why before, let's say, a couple of days ;)
Set at the end of KHIII [therefore... no spoilers as I can hardly spoil a game that isn't out yet]
Song : I'm still standing - Elton John
The fight was over. Finally. After all these years, it was over. Sora closed his eyes, lifting his face to feel the sun. It was over.
You could never know what it's like
Your blood like winter freezes just like ice
And there's a cold lonely light that shines from you
You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use
He smiled as he let out a sigh. It wasn't something Xehanort could ever have understood. True happiness of being alive, of being with the ones he loved. His opponent never knew what a positive feeling was like. If he had a heart, it was made of stone, cold, unable to love. He used fear to lead people. Sora chose to use trust.
And did you think this fool could never win
Well, look at me, I'm a-coming back again
I got a taste of love in a simple way
And if you need to know while I'm still standing you just fade away
He felt some arms wrapping around him. He opened his eyes to see Kairi, in tears, holding him tighter than she ever did before. Riku was there, too, slightly awkward. Sora held out his hand and Riku joined the hug. Xehanort never believed he could be beaten by teenagers. To be fair, Sora could hardly believe it either. But the power of his friends, the love he had for them - thanks to that, he was the one standing, and Xehanort was nothing but a bad memory now.
Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
And I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
Sora felt so much stronger now. He felt complete. But now that this was all over, he also felt younger. As if the three last years of his life had been but a dream, nice at moments, scary at others, but with a happy end - and now he would just resume his normal life, hug his parents and go back to school. Did he even remember what a normal life was? Probably not.
I'm still standing. Yeah, yeah, yeah
There were laughters, explosions of happiness around him. Crying, too. He was still too much in shock to cry, but he felt it wouldn't be long before the tears came. They all made it. Alive.
Once I never could hope to win
You're starting down the road leaving me again
The threats you made were meant to cut me down
And if our love was just a circus you'd be a clown by now
So many times had he doubted. Could he win? Who was he, to lead people, to have the right to ask them to risk their lives in his name? He had doubted, he had been scared, he had wanted to give it all up and hide somewhere. That was quite a weight for the slender shoulders of a teenager. But he had not given up. He couldn't. He had no right to ask people to die for him. But he had the duty to fight for them. For all they already had sacrificed, for their chaotic lives, usually because of him. It was his responsibility. So no matter how much Xehanort had tried to hurt him, it never worked.
You know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
He glanced around, looking at the lives that were now safe. Aqua was crying and laughing, hysterical, hugging Ven and kissing Terra. Ventus was laughing too, not letting go of their hands, and Terra was pretty much immobile, either still trying to realize that they won, or to realize Aqua's lips had been on his less than two seconds ago.
Axel was holding Roxas and Xion in an embrace so tight they probably couldn't breathe anymore, his head buried in their hair. Roxas was striking his red hair, a peaceful smile on his face, his head resting on his friend's chest. Xion was patting Axel's back and holding Roxas's hand.
Donald and Goofy were in an intense discussion with King Mickey, probably congratulating one another for such attack, for such healing.
Kairi was blabbering some nonsense, simply relieved she still had people to talk to. Riku looked five years younger, just as if he was ready to challenge Sora for a race and then lose on purpose.
I'm still standing. Yeah, yeah, yeah
And there was Sora. Standing in the middle of the battlefield. Remembering those who had perished for the Light, and finally shedding tears for them. But more importantly, standing proud, for they had saved the world from the darkness.
Standing victorious.
Don't we all hope III ends that way? [well in my opinion it lacks of Vanitas though XD ]
Next song : Nightmare- Arshad
