Chapter 10
Goodbye
Previously..
After leaving the Deep Space world, the trio head to the Wasteland to fight Maleficent and Thalus one last time, in an attempt to rescue Ami. However, Ami was under the control of Maleficent. Ami and Ayako manage to destroy the force that was trying to absorb Ami's power. Yuro manages to defeat Dragon Maleficent. Phantom was heavily injured during his fight with Thalus, his Keyblade shattered because of his weakened heart. As Ami, Ayako, and Yuro regroup with Phantom, Thalus is seen in the distance ready to try and steal Phantom's power a second time. Phantom remembers the words of Ayako and stands up to face Thalus. Gusts of wind are heard in the distance, as the two Keyblade Wielders are about to face off.
Phantom's POV
I gripped tighter on my new Keyblade, this Two Become One Keyblade, seeing how it has evolved throughout my journey. I believed this Keyblade shows how much I've grown throughout my life. "Good luck, buddy. Just remember you bond with us and you'll be okay!" Yuro reassured. I looked back at them; I smiled and replied: "Got it, I won't forget." I turned back to Thalus.
"Heh, I hope you are strong enough to show me more interesting things." I stood in my battle stance, preparing my mind for the unexpected.
I charged after him, preparing a strike with my Keyblade, only land a complete miss. He jumped into the air and landed several feet behind me. "Good, you still have your fighting spirit." Thalus said. He tried to entrap me in a claw Keyblade Transformation, I managed to escape it by sidestepping out of the way. "That trick won't work again." I disarmed him by aiming for his wrist, causing his Keyblade to drop to the ground. I took this opportunity to finish him off; he casted some defense shield to stop my strike. This caught me off guard, so I back stepped and waited for the shield to disappear. "No too bright are you?" Thalus teased. I transformed my Keyblade into a gauntlet and uppercutted him into the air. "Is that so?" I responded. He regained his balance and teleported, he rematerialized on the ground. He dashed towards me; preparing to strike, I blocked his attack, causing our Keyblades to clash again. This caused a huge shockwave to occur, damaging the environment around us, including the earth underneath my feet.
Yuro's POV
"We should help." Ayako said. Ami held her arm and stopped her. "Phantom said that this is his battle, we shouldn't interfere." Ami argued. Ayako shook her arm away from her grip and replied: "Fine, but don't be complaining if he gets killed." I began to laugh after listening on their conversation, Ayako noticed this and said, "What's so funny, Yuro?" I stopped laughing and blinked a few times before speaking, "C'mon, you don't have any trust in Phantom?" Ayako put an angry look on her face and yelled: "Last time we let him fight his own battle, he almost got his own ass killed!" I started to laugh again,I stopped after a few seconds and looked at Phantom, "He's going to be fine." I silently said.
I was jealous of Phantom, he was able to grow stronger at a faster rate than me. It angered me a bit, causing the darkness in my heart to grow. Well, it cannot be helped, I just have to get stronger myself, then one day, I'll be at even odds with him. I thought.
Ayako's POV
I sighed, "If you say so." I crossed my arms and looked at Phantom, who was still fighting Thalus. "Honestly, he's an idiot. One time he is as carefree as Yuro, then he's suddenly really serious." I annoyingly said.
Although, he has grown stronger since the the first time I met him in Traverse Town. He's still an idiot though. I thought.
Phantom's POV
I continued fighting Thalus, like last time, we were continually clashing blades with each other, viciously trying to gain the upper hand. "Go for it! Phantom!" I heard Ami yell. I broke off our clashing Keyblades and looked at the direction her voice came from. My friends were wishing me good luck, "I will." I replied. I gathered up my remaining mana to cast Blizzaga towards Thalus. He dodged out of the way and retaliated with his own Blizzaga spell. I blocked it with my Keyblade, then I charged towards Thalus at full speed, ramming into him. I quickly turned around and clashed blades with him once again. "You know.. this is really getting old." I said. Thalus laughed, "It won't be old when I take your powers." We broke off our blades; I slid on the ground behind him to begin my counterattack. I transformed my Keyblade into a Gauntlet and punched him several times before he retaliated by hitting me back with his Shield Transformation. "Ugh.. heh.." I was breathing heavily, since I tired from all this movement. I tightened my grip on my Keyblade.
Thalus sped towards me, his movements suggested that he was preparing a head-on attack with his Keyblade. I saw the direction he was about to strike in, I partied his attacks one by one. He was relentless in his attack, whenever one would be parried, he would quickly pull his blade back and go for another fast strike. I was lucky that I could hold off his strikes for a while. In the middle of his attack, I noticed an opening, I swung my Keyblade at his side, causing him to end his onslaught of attacks. "It's over." I conjured a jet-black rune under my feet, I stood in the center of the patterns. I gathered up the my energy; I transformed my Keyblade into a giant cannon. "You're not finishing me off!" He ran after me and tried to stop my Keyblade Cannon from firing. I fired the cannon at the last second, it shot rays of light and darkness, homing onto the target. "No..!" I barraged him with the rays, he fell onto the ground and hid within the smoke created from the blasts of the cannon. Thalus emerged from the surrounding smoke; heavily swinging his Keyblade in my direction. I blocked it with my Keyblade. Sparks were occurring from the impact of our Keyblades. "If you think that I'm going down easily, you got another thing coming." He started putting more force into his Keyblade, trying to push me down. "Is that so?" I teased. I sidestepped, causing him to trip on his feet a little because of the extra force he applied with his Keyblade. I transformed my Keyblade into one heavy greave around my right leg, it covered all the way up to my knee. I tripped Thalus using this Keyblade Transformation. He fell down and tried to get back up, I kicked him several meters to the right. "Had enough yet…?" I reverted my greave back to a Keyblade. He got back up and held his hand out. "Try to escape this." He conjured an orb of light and tossed it towards me, it broke open and I was trapped by mysterious glowing chains. "What the-?"I tried to escape the chains, but no luck. I was completely trapped, unable to move. "I got you now.." He summoned his Keyblade again and pointed it towards me, a faint glow of light appeared at the tip. He shot a beam of light from his Keyblade. I closed my eyes.
"Like hell this is going to happen!" I heard Yuro's voice. I opened my eyes, Yuro blocked the beam of light with his Keyblade. "Yuro! Why are you here?" I asked. "We're friends aren't we? We help each other out!" Yuro answered. I looked to my left, and saw Ayako and Ami running to me. "I knew this would happen." Ayako annoyingly said as she cut the chains. I landed on the ground, and summoned my Keyblade. "Looks like the rest of you are here." Thalus said. "I didn't expect Phantom here to rely on his friends yet again." He continued. I walked forward and threw my Keyblade like a boomerang at him. He sidestepped to dodge it, "Phantom, I know you said you were going to finish this yourself… But it doesn't hurt to have company right?" Ami tried to cheer me up. I nodded at her and said: "You're right about that. I guess I was wrong about things having to be settled on my own." We charged after Thalus with our Keyblades in hand, ready to beat him.
1 hour and 11 minutes later…
"Uahhh!" I screamed. I was sent flying from his attack, I landed onto the ground near my friends. "Tch.." Ayako gripped harder on her Keyblade and tried to stand up. "Enough. I admit that you gave a good fight, but in the end, you are unable to defeat me." He slowly walked towards us, his Keyblade still in hand, waving it back and forth as he walked. How… how did we lose…? I thought. "I assumed your combined strength would be able to beat me. However, that isn't the case. I admire you will to fight, even if you were weakened by that witch." He continued. "So.. what.." Yuro jumped up from the ground and went for a diving striking strike towards him. However, it was useless. He dodged the attack bashed my best friend back to us. "You will… is amazing. Too bad it might be the last time I'll ever see such an act." He held out his Keyblade, pointed it towards me. A glimmer of light sparked around the tip of his Keyblade, I couldn't move my body at all. I was tossed to the side, I stood back up. I could hear voices in my head, it sounded like my other selves calling out to me. I don't know how they could talk to me, since Thalus shattered them and weakened my heart. But, my heart feels like nothing like that has happened.
Phantom's Mind
"Huh..?" I opened my eyes and looked around, I was in a room, entirely made of white. I didn't see any kind of wall or anything, as if the room went on forever. I took a slight step forward and hear a click sound. I saw seven of my other versions materialize before my eyes.
"What? But.. weren't you guys destroyed by Thalus? I felt it.. in my heart." I questioned.
"Let me explain." #6 said. "The reason why we are here now, is because of your memory of us inside your heart and the emotions we harbor recreated us. In summary, as long as you remember us, and have the emotion we need to be created. We won't leave you." He continued.
"Just as he explained. We'll stay with you no matter what, so don't do anything to fuck it up." #2 coldly said.
"I'm sure you have your friends to worry about as well, don't let them down." #3 said.
"Never forget." #5 said.
I nodded my head. "I won't." I was about to leave but #4 and #7 stopped me.
"I swear, if you screw this up, I'll be the one to end you." #4 angrily said. I couldn't tell if he was actually helping me, or is trying to threaten me. I thought.
"As your best friend Yuro would say, 'Put 'em on ice!'" #7 cheered me up by using one of Yuro's infamous puns.
Before I could say anything, a bright light blinded me.
Back at the Wasteland
"Hey Phantom!" I heard Yuro yelled. "Get up man!" I shot my eyes wide open and lifted my back off the ground, rubbing my eyes. "Phantom, you know what's going to happen now right?" Thalus asked me in the distance. I got back up on my feet and summoned my Keyblade. "Time to finish this fight." I pointed my Keyblade at him, charging up an attack. "I'll extract your power soon enough." He pointed his Keyblade towards me and released a beam of light from the tip. At the same time, I released a beam infused with light and darkness to collide with his.
The beams came in contact with each other, I was trying to overpower his strength with mine. I saw Thalus reach his hand out towards me and released some sort of mysterious energy. It materialized as a rod, he threw it at me, I couldn't move because of the beam. "Take this!" He yelled. The bolt struck my chest, the shock from with caused my to stumble back, my attack disappeared and Thalus's beam of light knocked me off my feet. I was rolling on the ground, my skin skidding on the rocky surface. I was stopped by hitting a spiky rock formation. The rod was still attached to my chest, I could feel my mind fading away. "What is this? Impossible!" He yelled in disbelief. I felt my strength leaving me, but it stopped. I got back up, hunching my back. "Ugggh.." I groaned from the pain. I lifted my head to look at Thalus, he had a shocked look on his face, a look of fear and disbelief.
He took a step back, eyes wide open. "You... damn brats.." He face transitioned from disbelief to anger. "You think you could trick me with a fake act!?" He had a huge grin on his face. "Thalus! Give up! You've lost!" Yuro yelled. Thalus turned to Yuro, "I lost? Stop spewing nonsense! This is just the beginning!" He held his left arm and started laughing.
Thalus's POV: 2 minutes ago
I was almost through the last barrier of Phantom's heart. "At last, this overwhelming power.. to think it was held by a mere child. Potential that has been wasted will soon be mine." I reached for it inside the dark void of Phantom's mind. Suddenly, a sharp electrifying pain coursed throughout my body. I pulled my hand away; stepping back a few feet. "What the hell?" That surprised me. I focused my vision on his heart, there were four black pillars surrounding it. Strange, they weren't there before. I thought. I tried to walk towards it again, but I feel some kind of invisible force pushing me back. I concentrated on the yellow orb in the center, which was his heart.
Mysterious silhouettes appeared, I couldn't make out the appearance of each of them. There were three in total. "Out of the way." I ordered. They didn't move an inch, I opened my mouth to repeat it, but I was interrupted: "You are not welcome here." I heard a female voice call out, sounded like that girl Ayako. "Just what are you three?" A bright light flashed before my eyes. I regained my vision a few seconds later, I could see who the three silhouettes were. "You three?! How are you even here?" I was shocked. I couldn't believe that his friends followed me here. "We aren't actually here. We are visions of them, here because of Phantom's bond with all of us." Yuro explained. I took a step back, "Bond? Don't screw with me! He shouldn't have a bond, his heart is shattered!" I angrily yelled. "Not true, because of his other selves, sharing a piece of his heart. It is possible to share a bond." Ami said. I summoned my Keyblade and lunged at them, I was knocked back by the same mysterious force. "It's useless, you can't take anything from here as long we are here." Ayako said. I shot an angry look at them, "What utter nonsense. Bonds, friendship, how are those getting in my way." I had a crazy smile on my face, This… is impossible. Just how am I going to succeed? I thought. I felt like I'm going crazy. "Just give up, you have lost." They said at once. At this point, I was losing my mind, my sense of sanity. "No, that's impossible. It's my destiny, to be a God. Someone that rules over all worlds, all I needed was this. But to be defeated like this.." I held my head my both of hands, attempting to regain my sanity. "No, you are corrupted by your obsession over power." I started laughing maniacally, taking small steps back. "Leave now." They said at the same time, raising their palms at me. A strong force forced me out of Phantom's mind.
Wasteland: Current time
I was laughing, holding my arm and swaying side to side on my feet. "Your mind games won't work on me.." I said. Phantom made a confused look and asked: "What do you mean by mind games?" I held out my hand, summoning my Keyblade. "If I can't take out of you… Then I'll kill you to make sure no one else could take it either!" I lunged at him, swinging at him from side to side, slamming my Keyblade on the ground creating small shockwaves. Eventually tiring myself out. "You…" I was gasping for air. I gripped tighter on my Keyblade, staring at Phantom. "I WON'T LOSE!" I screamed and dash at light speed towards him, connecting our blades. We were facing at each other, our Keyblades between us. I saw something in the palm of his left hand, I tried to get away, but I couldn't. A bright flash of light appeared between us. "LIGHT!" He yelled.
THIRD PERSON POV
When the light subsided, Thalus is seen disappearing, bits of his body dissolving into light. "What the…? What did you do?!" He yelled in anger. Phantom had a serious look on his face and explained: "You lose, Thalus." Thalus's eyes widened after hearing his words. "No.. impossible!" He denied. Ayako, Ami, and Yuro walked over to Phantom's side to explain further. "Your greed, caused you to lose." Ayako said. Then Ami stepped up to continue, "Also, you invaded Phantom's mind, and lost yours in the process." Ami said. Yuro stepped to finish it: "Ultimately causing your downfall."
"No… no…" Phantom, Yuro, Ayako, and Ami summoned their Keyblades. Two Become One, Starlight, Oathkeeper, and Star Seeker. "It's over." The four young Keyblade Wielders slashed Thalus, killing him. "Uahhh!" He screamed as he disappeared into particles of light.
Phantom fell on his knees. "It's.. finally over.. for now." The four Keyblade Wielders put away their Keyblades. "We still have to find Maleficent, to make sure she still isn't up anything." Ayako said. Phantom got up and looked at his friends. "Well, we pulled through at least." Yuro said. They walked closer and Phantom pulled his hand out in the middle of everyone "Whatever happens.." Phantom started. Yuro put his hand in the middle and continued: "We will be friends.." Ayako pulled her hand out in the middle, continuing: "Together…" Ami put her hand in the middle and finished: "Forever." The four smiled, ending with Phantom looking up at the sky.
END OF CHAPTER 10
Preview
Phantom: "It's been three years since our fight against Thalus. Me, Yuro, Ayako, and Ami were living in Radiant Garden, helping out the Radiant Garden Restoration Committee with anything regarding Heartless attacks. One day, the Heartless appearance rates have increased, along with the appearances of Nobodies. Just what is going on?"
Next Time:
Broken Truths
Author's Notes: Yay! We are finally here at the end! Sorry if the ending leading up to this wasn't great. But I tried my best. Anyways, yes, there is going to be a sequel to Phantom's Journey. It'll be more detailed than this one, if you noticed, I have given the characters their Keyblade names, those will be present in the sequel: [Kingdom Hearts] Broken Truths. I'll be adding characters from Kingdom Hearts/Final Fantasy to the sequel as well (Cid, Aerith, Leon/Squall, Yuffie, etc). You could've already guessed it from the preview mention of the Radiant Garden Restoration Committee. I'll be working on some original stories on Wattpad (If you don't know, this is copy/pasted from ). Look forward to the new stories in the next few weeks! Bye-bye for now!