Here's the next chapter. Enjoy
Dawn will always rise chapter ten: Aqua
The next day Sora had been made the unofficial hero of the Varden. Unofficial because they knew he would not remain. He was sitting in front of his and Kairi's tent enjoying the sun and Kairi's company when a messenger approached him. Sora looked at the messenger and waited for the message. "Warrior of Light, lady Arya has sent me to deliver a message to you. It is as follows. 'Sora, Eragon will arrive within the hour. Wait at the entrance to the Varden's tent and welcome him. It is expected from both you and Kairi. I will meet you there. Arya.' That is the message. Good day sir." And he left. Sora closed his eyes again and sighed. He sat for another five minutes before he began a slow trek to the entrance to the Varden's camp. He arrived with twenty minutes to spare and found Arya already waiting. He approached her and saw Kairi sitting on the ground beside her. He approached them and stood beside Arya. "We'll be leaving today. We want to say goodbye to you and Eragon. We leave at dusk." Arya nodded and stood in silence, Kairi however sniffed and started to cry. Arya crouched down beside Kairi and took her hand. Kairi nodded and wrapped her arms around Arya, Arya hesitated for a second and did the same.
When Eragon appeared on the horizon the majority of the Varden appeared. They cheered and celebrated for Eragon had conquered two cities taken over by the Empire. These cities had been guarded by the soldiers Sora had killed so all he had had to do was kill the small regiment commanding each city. When Eragon landed he was greeted by all. When the initial excitement faded away he headed to his tent with Sora, Kairi and Arya. When they were within the tent Eragon lost the smile he had been wearing and collapsed in on himself. He sat down on the bed and breathed heavily. He explained that he hadn't slept since he left the Varden, and that he hadn't eaten or drank something from that time too. Sora and Kairi told him that they were leaving at dusk and left. They sent the few belongings they had brought with them back to Disney Castle and went to eat a meal. They walked toward the tent erected as the kitchen and dining area and sat down. A portly man approached them and asked what they wanted. Sora looked at the man and shrugged. "Bring us anything. We don't really want something specific so just bring us something fresh." The man nodded and rushed away. He returned within two minutes and laid their food down on the table. He rushed away and brought them a drink. Sora thanked him and the man rushed away to the next customer. They ate in silence and watched the cooks prepare the next meal for the Varden. Before long Eragon joined them, ordered a meal and rum and watched the animals being slaughtered. Each time an animal was killed for food Sora could feel a rush of energy enter Eragon. Eragon devoured his meal and downed his drink and went back to his tent for sleep after he told them he will be in front of their tent at dusk.
Sora and Kairi walked out of their tent and into the fading light of dusk. Arya and Eragon stood before them, with looks of regret and sadness on their faces. Sora walked over to Eragon and grasped his forearm. "We'll be back. Maybe next time we can stay a while longer." Eragon smirked and looked at Kairi, who was wrapped in Arya's gentle arms. Tears ran down Kairi's face and Sora could swear he could see Arya's eyes moisten for a second. Kairi drew away and said her farewell. Sora hugged Arya gently and drew back, he said goodbye to Arya and Eragon one last time before he opened a Dragons Tear. Kairi walked through but Sora hesitated. He looked at Eragon and smiled. "You haven't met Thorn, my dragon, have you?" Eragon's eyes widened in surprise and Sora took that as a no. Sora chuckled and called Thorn, the dragon replied by roaring and rushing out of Sora's body. Thorn floated in the air and looked at Arya and Eragon with respect. He inclined his head and Eragon bowed while Arya just inclined her head in return. "We will return. In this life or the next, we will return. Farewell." Thorn merged back with Sora and he walked through the Dragons Tear.
Sora walked out of the Dragons Tear and into the library. Kairi was already seated in front of Mickey's desk, looking uncomfortable. Sora walked forward and sat down, he looked up at Mickey and saw the mouse's face darken in anger. "What?" Mickey slammed his fist onto his desk and the monitor appeared with Sora, Kairi, Arya and Eragon on the screen "We fight the Empire separately, not breaking the rules. If Mickey asks how it went I'll just say we fought the Empire for our own safety, the Varden just happened to fight them too. He can't do anything about it, I mean what does he want us to do? Kill and live or surrender and die? I'm gonna go check out the area, destroy all the Heartless I find. I'll be back in twenty minutes, and in that time I don't want you helping them Kairi." Sora winked and walked out of the tent." Mickey looked at Sora and his colour deepened even more.
"Oh that. Well nothing to do about it now. What's our next mission?" Mickey stared at Sora and shook his head.
With anger in his voice and his skin still a ruddy red he looked at them. "There is no mission. I haven't gotten any new information from Riku so I can't send you anywhere. There's no point. Come back tomorrow. Leave." Sora and Kairi nodded in relief and walked out of the library, looks of accomplishment on their faces.
Sora and Kairi left the library under Mickey's cold glare and went to their room to change. When they were changed Sora opened a Dragons Tear and Kairi stepped through. Sora followed and walked into Merlin's house on Radiant Garden. Everyone in the house turned towards them and readied their weapons, when they saw it was Sora they greeted him warmly. Yuffie bounded across the room and tackled both Sora and Kairi to the ground. She wrapped her arms around their necks and hugged them both. Everyone in the room chuckled except for Yuffie, Sora and Kairi. Everyone felt a small surge of Darkness enter the room and an envelope appeared. Sora tried to react but Yuffie was still on top of him. Sora strained to move his arm from out beneath Yuffie's body but the Darkness just phased out again. Leon walked over to the spot and picked up a small envelope, he looked at it and looked at Sora. "It's for you." Sora lifted himself into the air along with Kairi and Yuffie and drifted over, seeing that Leon clutched a letter in his hand. He took it from Leon and opened it, when he read the first sentence he pushed both Kairi and Yuffie away from him and read it in silence.
Sora
I need to speak with you urgently.
I have been to the King and he agrees with me.
Come to the Dark Realm and I will explain further.
I will be waiting.
Ansem the Wise.
Sora reread the letter twice and looked towards Kairi. She was speaking joyfully with Yuffie and Aerith, when he looked at her she turned and smiled at him before returning to her conversation. Sora considered what he must do and came to a very abrupt decision. He snapped his fingers and six Assassin Nobodies appeared, they saluted him and awaited further orders. Everyone in the room tensed when the Nobodies appeared except for Aerith, Kairi and Merlin. Everyone watched in anticipation while Sora just looked at the Nobodies. "Protect Kairi. Take her back to Disney Castle when she wishes to return. In the meanwhile, follow her out of sight. Go." The Nobodies bowed and sank into the floor. Sora turned to Kairi and dropped the message to the floor. He opened a Dragons Tear behind him and he stepped through, he stepped into the Dark Realm and wandered around, looking for Ansem. He wandered for hours, following the shoreline. As Sora walked he saw a great assortment of people chained to the sand and rocks, moaning and screaming for release.
Sora wandered along the coast of the Dark Realm and happened across a woman sitting on the sand, looking out to sea. Sora recognised her from somewhere and approached her. She turned her face to Sora and Ventus rose in his mind. 'Aqua.' Sora looked into Aqua's face and opened his mouth to speak but she beat him too it. "Who are you? What do you want?" Sora crouched beside her and opened his mouth. "Sora. You have come, good." Sora turned around and saw Ansem the Wise standing behind him with a sack slung over his shoulder. "I see you have found the reason I called you. This is Aqua." Aqua looked up at Ansem with her big, blue eyes and smiled at him. "Ansem, good to see you again. Who is this? He looks familiar but I don't know him." Sora sat down beside her and Ansem stood behind them both. Ansem dropped the sack in Aqua's lap, Sora heard the clatter of metal scrapping together. Aqua opened the sack and pulled out blue and silver plate armour. She looked at it closely and stuck her hand into the sack again. She pulled out a fragile, blue keyblade. She looked at the keyblade and tears formed in her eyes.
Sora watched Aqua stand up after she went over every piece of her armour. Once she found her feet she summoned her keyblade and another one appeared in her hand. It was like a normal key, one that you would use for your house. It was grey and dull, perfectly normal. She transferred it to her left hand and picked up the other, blue and intricate, blade in her right hand. She pointed her blue blade towards the armour and a blue light bathed the armour with its light. The armour melted and reformed into a single, small badge which Aqua placed on her shoulder. She dismissed her keyblades and stood tall and proud. She looked at Ansem and bowed her head. "Thank you my friend, for returning my precious keyblade to me. Now..." Aqua turned to Sora and stared intently at him. "Now I remember. You're the little boy I saw on that small Island. But now, you look like someone I feared long ago. A warrior of Darkness." Sora nodded and stepped back, he pushed Vanitas from his body. Aqua jumped back and summoned her keyblade, she pointed it at Vanitas with a look of hatred and fear on her face. "You. Why are you here? Ventus destroyed you, you have no right to exist." Vanitas stood with his head bowed and his shoulders slumped. He backed away and looked at Sora. "Show her." Sora nodded and pushed Ventus from his body.
Ventus walked towards Aqua and looked at her. Aqua threw her arms around him and jumped back when she first touched him. She looked down at her hands and shuddered. "You're so cold. Ven what happened to you?" Ven stepped towards her and took her hand. "I fought and defeated Vanitas but that wasn't enough. I lost my heart, the small sliver of Light Sora had given me protected me from the Darkness and pulled me into Sora's body. Vanitas followed me and we both merged with Sora. Neither of us really have a body, just our hearts. So we don't age, staying the same for all time. Our hearts becoming stronger as we live." Ventus stepped back from Aqua and looked at Vanitas, he looked at Vanitas for a second before stepping back into Sora's body. Vanitas followed him and Aqua stared at Sora in amazement. "Three hearts in one body. I never thought that was possible." Sora smiled and closed his eyes. He drew upon his power and pushed all the hearts sleeping within him out of his body. Roxas stood beside him with narrowed eyes, Oblivion and Oathkeeper clutched in his hands, looking around cautiously. Ventus was next, followed closely by Vanitas. They both stood in front of Aqua, giving her a good view of Sora. A roar echoed across the Dark Realm and Thorn appeared behind Sora, floating in midair. Aqua looked at the five figures in front of her with wide eyes and smirked. "I guess a lot of time has passed. Ansem, where's Terra? Did I save him by sending him to Radiant Garden?" Ansem got a guarded look on his face. "Terra? No, no Terra arrived at Radiant Garden. Instead a young man who called himself Xehanort. He became my apprentice and betrayed me. He threw me out of my castle and stole my name. He corrupted my associates and they all were lost to Darkness. Ansem became a Heartless, he commanded all Heartless with a human form. Xemnas was Xehanort's Nobody. He became the leader of Organisation XIII, causing havoc with his new-found power. The power of the Nothingness. Sora here however was able to stop Xehanort, both Ansem and Xemnas. He is a true warrior of Light."
Sora looked at Ansem as he praised him and shook his head. "No. I'm no warrior of Light. A warrior of Light is pure and righteous. I am cruel and filled with hate. I am a warrior of Chaos. Pure and true, one who wields a dragons soul." Sora began glowing with a bloody red glow. His eyes turned crimson and he summoned Dragonslayer. Dragonslayer pulsed with dark might, spewing great waves of black and red into the air. Ansem and Aqua backed away from him, looks of fear on their faces. Sora looked at them and reigned in his emotions. His eyes paled to silver, he stopped pulsing and Dragonslayer vanished in a shower of black sparks."No. Power is nothing without love. Without love I would never have lived so long. Light is my way, shadowed with Darkness and lit with Inferno."
Ansem smiled grimly at Sora and chuckled. "You continue to amaze. First Riku chooses the middle road to Dawn, delves himself completely in Darkness yet retained his heart. Now you walk the path to Light with Darkness as your companion and Inferno your guide. Truly amazing." Sora watched Ansem turn and begin to walk away. "Sora. I will not be going with you. I am still to pay for my crimes. But I will see you again. Become the guide Aqua needs to live in this new world. She will be of great importance in the future. She is one of the two remaining true masters of the keyblade. Farewell." Sora watched as Ansem was consumed by the shadows, walking away slowly. Sora looked back at Aqua and she looked at him mutely. Sora held his hand out towards her and she hesitantly raised her hand to her mouth. She stuck her hand out towards him and she slowly put her hand into his. Sora opened a Dragons Tear and she hesitated in stepping through. Sora looked at her, she straightened her spine and walked through. Sora followed her and stepped into Merlin's house.
Aqua looked around at the strange house and it reminded her of something. She saw an old man with a white beard and blue wizard's robes and she suddenly remembered. "The old man who awakened my sleeping power." Merlin greeted her and excused himself. He vanished with a flash of blue light. Aqua looked around further and saw the other people in the room staring at her, or rather at her and Sora's joined hands. Especially a girl with red hair and blue eyes. Aqua looked at the girls face and remembered her as well. "I know you. I saved you from the Unversed when you were a little girl."
Kairi stared blankly at her and brightened slightly. "Yeah I remember you. Thank you again for saving me. I'm Kairi." She stuck her hand out toward Aqua and Aqua stiffened. Kairi drew back slightly and looked at Sora. An unspoken message was passed between them and Kairi stepped back. Sora excused himself and gently pulled Aqua toward the door. Aqua stepped into the bright sunlight and she closed her eyes tightly. She stumbled and Kairi caught her, she helped Aqua and saw that she couldn't see. "Sora?" Aqua heard fabric being pressed to her eyes and she tried opening them. She saw true Darkness, no light coming through the blindfold. She stepped back and bumped into the wall, she heard Sora walk forward and draw her back to her feet. "First thing you need to learn to do, hide your power. Riku taught me and I taught Kairi. It also helps to see without your eyes. Now do you want to learn?" Aqua nodded and Sora cleared his throat.
"Good. Now first lesson: find the basis of your strength. Is it from Light or Darkness?" Aqua thought back on her training and soon found her answer. "My power comes from the Light. I've never used Darkness. My master taught me that it was evil and should be destroyed. So my power is Light."
Sora inhaled and went to the next lesson. "Correct. Now you must see without your eyes. Look for the Light that exists in all things. If you begin to see focus. Focus even more on the Light surrounding you and try finding the source, a person will shine from within. Heartless suck the Light from the room and Nobodies shine with a grey light. Users of Dawn shine with golden-black light. Unversed shine with blue light and suck the Light from the room." Sora watched Aqua concentrate and immediately clench her teeth. "Don't draw away. Embrace it and it will pass faster. Embrace the Light and see." Aqua flinched and sucked in a deep breath. She turned her head from side to side and looked at her hands. "That's it. Now you see. Now look at us. Kairi's heart is from pure Light and mine is a mix of different powers. Powers from the different hearts within me." Aqua turned her sightless eyes upon Sora and Kairi and opened her mouth in amazement. She looked at them for about a minute before she looked away. Sora walked forward and slowly pulled the blindfold from her eyes.
Aqua blinked at the bright light of day and looked around her with narrowed eyes. She quickly adapted to the light and her face relaxed. She smiled and looked at Sora and Kairi. "It's beautiful. Radiant Garden has changed but it's still beautiful." Sora nodded and opened another corridor of Inferno. She looked at it in fear and drew away. Sora looked at her in understanding and closed it again. "Inferno is just another power. Like Darkness but different. It comes from Thorn's soul. A power not determined by Darkness or Light. It can protect as well as destroy. Now let's go see Mickey." Aqua nodded and Sora opened another Dragons Tear. He stepped through with Aqua's hand in his with Kairi close behind them.
Sora stepped into the courtyard of Disney Castle and began walking towards the library. Aqua followed close to his side, looking around cautiously with wide eyes. When they reached the library Sora swung the door open and stepped through. "Your Majesty. We have returned with someone special." Sora saw Mickey look up from his paperwork and see Aqua. He literally bounded across his desk and jumped towards Aqua. She caught him and hugged him to her chest.
They spun in a circle and Aqua set him back down. "Mickey. It's so good to see you again." Mickey said the same to her and went back to his desk. He sat down and summoned three chairs. Sora, Aqua and Kairi sat down and watched Mickey writhe in excitement. Sora opened his mouth to speak but Mickey cut him off. "Sora. I need you to help Aqua adjust to this new time and fill her in on all that's happened. Come back in two days for your next mission. If Aqua wishes to join you she may but if she wishes to go her own way she can." Sora nodded, stood up and led Aqua out of the library and towards his and Kairi's room. He realised Mickey hadn't told him where Aqua would sleep and let her go ahead with Kairi.
Sora walked back into the library and opened his mouth to speak when he saw a silhouette of Riku on the monitor. He stopped and listened to the words Riku spoke. "The Brotherhood has doubled in number the last three days. Sora and Kairi need to become stronger, we need them to deal with the leaders while I deal with the Heartless and lower members. Mickey you need to send them to help me, I fear the Brotherhood suspects me. If I get caught I will go into hiding within the castle and keep sending you information. Hurry with Sora and Kairi's training. Riku, out." The silhouette disappeared and Mickey sighed in worry. Sora knocked on the door and Mickey jumped up. "Sorry your Majesty. I just came back to find out where Aqua's room is." Mickey nodded and summoned a servant. "Prepare the room beside Sora's for another guest. Same as Sora and Kairi's. Go." The servant nodded and rushed out. Mickey looked at Sora and shrugged. "There you go. See ya."
Sora headed to his room, considering what he'd heard. 'What does Riku know that we don't? And why doesn't the king send us to help him? Is he trying to slow us down? Or is he afraid about what might happen if we died?' Sora considered what Mickey was doing and walked into his room. Aqua and Kairi were standing in the middle of the room with their arms crossed, with their backs to each other. When he walked in Aqua smiled and took his hand again, he felt her heart rate rise and he narrowed his eyes. He closed his eyes and looked at Aqua's heart. He saw her emotions; jealousy, pain, fear, passion, joy and anger. Sora smiled in secret and walked forward. He walked toward Kairi and she pulled him back slightly, he shrugged and turned back to her. "Why don't we go into town? You need new clothes, you can't walk around wearing the same clothes all day. And after that I'll take you to dinner. How's that sound?" Aqua agreed and Sora asked Kairi if she wanted to come along, winking as he did so. She saw his wink and declined to go with them. "Oh, too bad. See you later Kairi." And he left with Aqua close beside him.
When Sora left the room Kairi sat down on the bed and clenched her eyes tightly to suppress her emotions. But she failed, tears raised to her eyes and she wiped them away. She opened her mouth slightly and laughed. She laughed and laughed in anticipation. She wondered briefly what Sora would tell Aqua and laughed some more. She stopped laughing and took a shower. She got into bed and promptly fell asleep with a smile on her face.
Sora and Kairi went through Disney Town, going into every shop Aqua wanted too. Sora bought Aqua all the clothes she wanted and sent them back to the castle to the library. When he got the chance he wrote a note to Mickey.
King Mickey.
Send clothes to Aqua's room.
Thanks.
Sora.
When Aqua was satisfied with her clothes Sora took her to the restaurant he had taken Kairi the first night, where the waitress had tried to kill him with Thallium. A new waitress took them to a private room and Sora ordered the special again. Along with that he ordered chai tea with honey. Aqua ordered plain water, sipping it slowly. When the food arrived Sora ate slowly and watched Aqua. Even though Aqua ate slowly she took big bites, when she was done with her plate she piled more from the platter in front of her. She ate most of the food on the platter and swallowed her water when she was done. When they were done Sora payed and they walked around the town, looking at the people and shops around them. Sora walked to a small lake and looked out at the water, leaning on the stone railing with Aqua beside him. They talked in hushed tones, Sora listening intently to Aqua's answers as they seemed to radiate wisdom. When they were about to head back Aqua grabbed Sora and dragged him closer to her. Her lips neared his and he merely looked in her eyes, not protesting but not actually agreeing either. Aqua brushed her lips against Sora's and drew away. She watched Sora with wide eyes, blushing intensely. She opened her mouth to speak but Sora laid his finger over her lips. He opened his mouth to speak. "Aqua, no."
Aqua watched Sora as he spoke. "We can't be together. I'm with Kairi. I love her, and she loves me." Aqua could feel her heart throb at those words. "Love isn't everything. And besides, you can't love her yet. The two of you haven't been together long enough for that. Right now it's just a crush. One that will end. I know what love is. You don't." And she drew closer to him again but found something pushing her away. "No Aqua. I love her. We'll be together, always. I don't love you. I never will, you're my student. So no. We will never be together. And don't cry. We would never have been so crying won't fix anything." Aqua sniffed anyway, tears leaked from her eyes and she clutched Sora to her. She held him but he made no response, he just stood there. Aqua drew back and saw pity on his face. Aqua felt rage enter her heart and she drew her keyblade, she slashed at him but he didn't move. Her blade slid across his skin, not cutting into the flesh. His expression stayed the same so she tried again, with much more strength behind her swing. And he was gone, nowhere in sight. Aqua looked around and felt a hand grab her from behind. She was lifted into the air, her feet kicking slightly.
Sora lifted Aqua into the air and pushed her away, she spun in midair and turned. She faced him and charged again. Sora dodged her swings without any difficulty. "Come now Aqua. That's not the strength you used against Vanitas, use it. Kill me." Aqua growled and swung her keyblade faster and with much more force. Sora summoned his keyblade and deflected her blows, barely using any of his strength. "More power. More." Aqua became stronger with each blow Sora blocked. Before he knew what was happening Aqua had cut through his guard and into his shoulder. Sora flinched and drew his shoulder away. He cupped his hand and a sphere of Inferno appeared in his hand. He launched it towards her and she cut it in half, she continued on her way and slashed at Sora with bone-shattering power. He jumped back and drew his blindfold from his pocket. He wrapped it around his eyes and released his inner Darkness. He rushed forward horizontally to the ground and summoned Chain Gear. He slashed at Aqua and his keyblade cut through her defences. He slashed open her shoulder and pushed her away. He jumped into the air and threw a shower of dark thunderbolts toward Aqua. She dodged them and launched herself into the air. Sora flew forward and held out his arm in front of him, when he was within striking distance he pushed Aqua to the ground. She crashed into the ground, bleeding and unconscious.
Aqua charged Sora in midair and slashed her keyblade through the air. Sora lifted his arm in front of himself and wave of power crashed into Aqua. Her flesh tore and she began to bleed. She fell to the floor and passed out before she hit the ground.
Sora sighed and flooded his heart with Light. The Darkness he had used faded away, leaving him sore and tired. He took off his blindfold and stuffed it into his pocket. He sighed and ducked down to his knees beside Aqua. He held his hand above her and healed her. He slipped his arms under her knees and neck and got back to his feet. He lifted himself into the air and flew slowly towards the castle. He floated to his room and opened the door, he settled down onto his feet and heard Kairi breathing in the bedroom. He headed back out of the room and headed to the room beside his. He opened the door and walked into Aqua's bedroom. He laid her down on the bed and covered her with a blanket. He walked back to his room and went into the shower. When he was done he crawled into bed and fell asleep.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Next chapter: Pleasant surprise
Review. Please?