Chapter 9
Sora and Riku searched desperately for Kairi. There was no sign of her.
"You said they came out of nowhere?" Riku asked. "They just…appeared?"
"Yeah…one attacked Kairi, and then another one knocked me out…" Sora said, still frantically moving things aside. "Then they were gone!"
Riku shook his head sadly. "If they're gone…we'll have to find them again before we can see Kairi. They'll have kidnapped her, if they're anything like the people we've fought before…"
"We have to save her!" Sora cried, beginning to run towards the exit.
"Calm down, Sora! We have no leads, and if the Heartless are back at these men's behest, then all the worlds could be in danger."
Sora stopped, realizing this was true. Jack…Ariel…Pooh…Mulan…Beast…all of them could be in need of his help against the Heartless. If he could find clues of his enemy's location by helping them, that's what he'd do.
"Right…we should run a patrol through all the worlds. That'll probably let us know what's going on."
Zidane walked in, followed by Vivi. Donald and Goofy entered from another door.
"Nothing, Sora. She's long gone…" Zidane said, shaking his head. Sora nodded sadly.
"Riku, Donald, Goofy, and I are going to see if the other worlds are okay…what are you two gonna do?"
"We're going back to Radiant Gardens…we'll be able to support you if you need any help." Zidane said. Seeing Sora's distress, he put a hand on Sora's shoulder.
"Don't worry about it, ok? You're the key of destiny; it'll all work out." Sora nodded. Zidane turned and led Vivi to his ship. He gave the Quartet a thumbs-up, before the ship took off. Sora opened up the Highwind.
"C'mon."
A small planet hung alone in space. It was a dry, dead-looking world, with a magnificent cathedral rising out of it. There were no other planets for miles, but the building shone with a light that could be seen from a great distance. The rock the planet was made of practically sang with power.
The group of dark-garbed people stood in the hold of a massive ship, looking down on the planet. Kuja and Sephiroth were with them.
"So…this is the planet you've been looking for?" Kuja asked interestedly.
"Yes…this world's heart is powerful beyond belief…" The Leader said. Another shuddered.
"Such power…it's almost…intoxicating…"
"Do not strike at the heart of this world until we have the treasure of that cathedral. Is everyone clear on that?"
"Yes, sir." All of them replied.
The raid on the planet was a short and bloody affair. The once-grand cathedral, left unguarded by anything but vast distances from unfriendly eyes, was desecrated and razed by the invading force, all of its unique treasures plundered with no remorse.
The leader looked over at one of his companions.
"Report?"
"It's just as we suspected…we took everything in there…but sir…"
"What? Is something wrong?"
"One's…missing, sir. Those clever little punks must have hidden it."
"It matters little…do you have what I requested?"
"Here it is, sir." Several stones were handed over to the Leader.
"Come. It's time to show Sora that we are not to be trifled with."
Sora piloted the Highwind towards Traverse Town. This was one of the two worlds that swayed precariously between light and darkness. It was the home of the castaways from worlds destroyed by Heartless. Sora was relieved that there was no damage to it. Suddenly, however, a burst of static came from the communications console. A hooded face appeared in the view screen.
"You didn't heed our warnings, Sora. But I'm a forgiving person…I'm giving you one more chance to bow out of this show." The tone was unmistakable; this was not an offer, it was a threat.
"Where's Kairi? I know you were behind her kidnapping!" Sora shouted.
"You'll have a lot more to worry about than your lost friend if you don't surrender immediately."
"I'll fight you to my last breath." Sora spat. "You're a coward, trying to kidnap my friends to manipulate me!"
"…Then I cannot change your mind?" The man asked. One of his glowing yellow eyes appeared. He seemed…excited?
"Never." Sora said grimly. He was the Keyblade Master. He could never give in…otherwise something horrible would happen.
"Very well, brat." The reply came, a malicious laugh accompanying it. "I have tried to be reasonable, but you forced my hand. It's time for you to see just what we're capable of!" Sora saw the man appear in space, standing atop a small black platform. He was looking down at Traverse Town!
"WAIT! What are you doing?" Sora cried, horror drenching him.
"You have made an enemy of me, and therefore I will show you what that means. You will pay for your pride with the lives of a world." The man raised an arm, which began to glow with energy.
"WAIT! STOP!" Sora shouted, piloting his ship in.
"Too late, child. ETERNAL…" A blinding light shone forth, and the man's arm descended, pointing at the world with a decisive action.
"—BREATH!" The light solidified into an unspeakably large creature. Words failed to describe its terrible form.
"That's…a guardian force…it's Eden…" Riku said, numb with horror.
Eden looked down at Traverse town, and extended one of its massive arms.
Traverse Town didn't explode slowly or be torn apart; it was simply replaced instantly with an explosion similar to a tiny supernova.
The catastrophic explosion, and the knowledge that hundreds, if not thousands, of people had been on the planet when it exploded, would haunt Sora's dreams for many nights to come. There were no tears; tears couldn't express the enormity of this horror.
"Why?" He asked, his voice broken and weak. He shook uncontrollably. "Why did you do this?" The man snapped his fingers, and Eden vanished.
"This is my message to you. You are my enemy now. And in doing so, you have made all worlds that do not submit to my will my enemies as well. I will destroy anything and anyone that stands against me. Get in my way, and you'll see that this is but a taste of what I'm capable of." The man vanished into thin air. Sora slumped out of his seat, a broken sob escaping him. Riku and the others could only look in horror at the empty void where Traverse Town had been.
