Forgive Me
Sora tossed and turned the night before he planned to search for Ren. Images of her chained to a wall plagued his mind. She looked so helpless. Sora had never seen her look like this. She'd always been so strong, and now she looked like a scared child. It seemed Zexion's power over her was stronger than even Sora imagined. Another image flashed in his mind, Ren, lying motionless in front of a throne. Xemnas was standing over her laughing alongside Luxord.
"She never learns does she?" Xemnas mused. "Zexion did a wonderful job." Sora sat up in his bed, sweat dripping down his face. He walked over to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. He had to lean on the sink to keep himself from shaking.
Am I strong enough for this? He wondered. Or am I going to let her down again? Sora quietly changed out of his pajamas, grabbed the Keyblade and headed for the door. He was about to enter the launch site for the Gummi ship when he felt someone's hand on his shoulder. Sora turned quickly, expecting a Heartless or Organization member, only to see Riku smiling at him.
"You didn't think I was going to let you go at this all by yourself did you?" He said with a laugh. "I'm your best friend. I can't let you find your dream girl without me." Sora smiled at his friend.
"We're coming too." Mickey walked up next to Riku and Donald and Goofy followed. Sora's heart swelled with emotion. It was great to know that even if they didn't believe in what he was doing, they were still going to stand by him no matter what. They all piled into a newly equipped Gummi ship and Donald took the wheel. Riku sat next to Sora, and couldn't help but wonder if his friend was going the right thing.
"Are you sure she's worth it?" Riku asked. Sora bowed his head.
"I can only hope. It's strange though, that the girl who seems to understand my life is made out of the exact opposite stuff I am. I mean I'm light, and she's dark. I'm not even sure things would work out between us, and if they don't...I might have ruined any chance with Kairi I ever had." He sighed, "But Ren's a friend of mine, and I'm not going to let her rot under Xemnas' control."
Riku let out a small chuckle, "Yeah, you wouldn't leave me in the dark so why should I expect you to let a cute girl spend the rest of her days there, whether she has a heart or not." He put his hand on Sora's forearm, "Remember though, not everyone can be saved. Just...try not to do anything stupid okay?" Sora nodded, though he didn't want to think about that alternative. He'd worked so hard to be everyone's savior, it just seemed wrong to be unable to help someone.
Riku sat back and tried not to let his true worry show. He kept replaying memories in his mind from when he'd immersed himself in the darkness. There was something that he felt he needed to remember, but whenever he thought he came close to the answer, his mind would draw a blank.
"We should be at the World that Never Was within the hour." Goofy told everyone. The king nodded and began handing out armor and other magical items that might come in handy once they reached their destination. Once they landed, everyone put on their game faces and walked into the town. It was eerily quiet. There wasn't a single Heartless or Nobody that came to attack them. That one fact made everyone that much more on edge. It was as though someone was expecting them, and every other being in the town had hidden, not wanting to endure someone's wrath.
Suddenly Sora began hearing a voice, a beautiful, melodic voice that seemed to arise out of thin air.
Don't tell me why
I'm so near to commit a crime
When I stay alone here in front of you
(I'm here)
Illusion falls when you're not honest about the way I feel
I know I need only your voice
Sora stopped dead in his tracks and looked left and right. He didn't see anyone. Riku turned to him with a questioning look. Was Sora the only one that heard the voice? It wouldn't be the first time, but it just sounded so familiar.
Saving all my words only for you
Forgive me
"Didn't you guys hear that?!" Sora exclaimed. He began running towards the Castle. He recognized that voice. It was Ren. She was singing to him, though he didn't know why he was the only one hearing it.
"Sora what are you talking about?!" Riku shouted running after his friend. They entered the castle and came to a complete halt upon entry. It seemed that the Organization had done a little redecorating since their last visit.
There's a limit to defy
With the vision of the future at my feet
(I'm here)
For some reason Sora took the passage to the left. The voice seemed to be coming from there and he was determined to find Ren. If what he'd seen in his dream was real, then Ren was barely living.
"Ren's here somewhere." He panted, making a quick turn to the right. The voice became louder.
The night embrace me while
This picture simply blows me away
I feel I'll need only your voice
"Sora you can't just go running in there!" Mickey exclaimed. "It could be a trap! You can't expect us to just rush in here unnoticed." Sora stopped in his tracks.
"If you all are just going to try and stop me from finding Ren, then leave. She's here I know it! I can hear her voice!" Sora argued. Riku sighed, there was no way they were going to get Sora to think clearly. Sora began moving again and found himself standing in front of a very large door.
And I'm lonely here inside of me
Deep inside of me
Believe in the light in me
This was the room where Sora was positive Ren was in. Her voice was radiating out of it. There was no way Sora was going to leave without her this time. His hands were shaking as he moved to open the door. If Mickey was right, then Xemnas could be on the other side of this door, but then again, so could Ren. Slowly he opened the door and gasped when he saw the same throne room he'd pictured in his dream. It was dark and gothic looking. The room glowed with the light from a few candles and the moon. Lying in front of the throne was a cloaked figure. Sora walked carefully towards the motionless body. With a nervous breath, he pulled back the cloak. Long black hair covered the girl's face. Sora moved the stray locks and Ren's face appeared. Sora gasped. What had happened to her?
Suddenly her eyes shot open, but they weren't the beautiful green color they once were, they were a dark brown. Ren grabbed Sora's arm before he could do anything and pulled him down to her.
"Wrong move Keybearer." She said with a harsh whisper. She pushed him back and moved to stand next to the throne. Xemnas appeared in a dark orb and stood in front of the chair while Zexion stood on the other side.
"You've done well my dear." Xemnas said with a dark smile. "He just couldn't resist trying to convert you to the light."
"He always was a very trusting person." Ren responded without a single hint of emotion in her voice.
"Why don't we show them your full transformation?" Xemnas suggested. Ren nodded and untied her cloak to reveal a warrior's outfit that had a tight black and red short corset top with a pair of black leather pants. Her weapons were sheathed in their regular positions.
"Wait a second!" Riku exclaimed in awe. Everyone turned to look at him. "You...You're the one who..."
"The one who led you into darkness?" Ren suggested with a smirk walking towards him. "You were too easy of a subject." She began circling Riku, looking him up and down in the process. "I mean what young man, looking for a way to save his friend wouldn't trust a girl who promised to help find the solution? What reason did you have not to trust me? But you see, you were merely a tool in my master's plan. I willingly engulfed you in darkness Riku, just as I'd been ordered. Every single event has led to this one moment."
"So you had me fooled last year." Sora said looking her in the eye. "You led me to believe that I could trust you, that I could help you." He couldn't believe he'd been tricked so easily.
"That's where you're mistaken." Zexion interrupted before Ren could answer. She bowed her head and walked back next to Zexion.
"Renata had no clue that her escape was part of Xemnas' plan. But she understands now. She understands her place now."
"Oh really?" Sora said firmly. That meant that everything Ren did wasn't planned. She really had cared about him. "And what exactly is her place?" Ren turned her head and looked at Sora.
"I am powerful, I am immortal, I can do anything, I am cursed, I am the Darkness." She responded, repeating the words that were written on her arm. Xemnas put a hand on her shoulder and brushed her hair behind her. Anger pulsed through Sora's veins.
"When Renata first spoke the incantation, she changed into this lovely vision of darkness you see before you. And Riku, I'm sure you remember what she's capable of."
"You're more than welcome to come back to us." Ren offered. "You were a fun puppet."
"Like hell I'll ever rely on darkness again!" Riku shouted pulling out his sword. Sora and the others followed. Xemnas rolled his eyes, put up a boundary so Riku and the others couldn't join the fight and nodded to Ren who walked slowly towards Sora. She gave him a once over and pulled out her sword.
"It's too bad you followed your heart. I might actually feel bad finishing you off." She said tilting her head as she pointed her sword at Sora. "Too bad I'm incapable of such an emotion." She lunged towards him and Sora dodged the blow.
"Ren I'm not going to fight you." Ren attacked again, and Sora had to duck and roll in order to dodge it. Ren laughed out loud.
"Come on Keybearer!" She taunted, "Put up some form of fight. I'd hate to have to finish you off so easily."
"I won't hurt you Ren! I could never hurt you!"
"Can't say the same for you." She responded lunging at him. Sora blocked with the Keyblade, but couldn't hold up against her strength. He was forced to his knees. His arms began shaking under the pressure. It had to be the darkness that was making her so strong.
"Ren, come on! Think back to when you were traveling with me!" Sora pleaded. "Remember when I took you flying? Or when we sparred on the beach! You can't say you didn't feel anything when you were with me! I saw it in your eyes! You felt it in your heart! I know you did!"
"I'm a creature of darkness." She answered, putting more pressure on his sword, "I have no heart."
"Yes you do Ren! Xemnas has kept you in darkness to make you think you couldn't feel anything! You have a heart Ren or else you would have killed me by now!" She focused on her sword and pushed harder.
"Silence!" Xemnas shouted. "You don't know what you're talking about!"
Sora used all the strength he could muster to push Ren away from him. Ren quickly regained her balance and pointed her sword at Sora another time. With almost unnatural moves, Ren kicked Sora in the head and he fell to the ground. She moved to strike, but Xemnas ordered her to stop. This was the final part of his plan, and not even Zexion knew about it.
"Do not harm him just yet." He ordered. Ren looked at him sharply before obeying the command. Xemnas turned his head to Sora. "What would you do to save her?" He asked with slight amusement. Sora cocked an eyebrow and Ren turned to face her creator.
"Sir, I don't understand." Ren stated, thoroughly confused. Why would Xemnas want Sora to save her?
"Well my dear, the boy feels that your life is at risk. He obviously feels something for you, and I'm curious to see where he draws the line."
"Bit Sir-"
"Anything!" Sora exclaimed, bending down on one knee, leaning on his sword for a little support.
"Then you will hand the Keyblade over to Renata." Xemnas ordered. Sora hesitated for a moment. "Come now Keybearer, what's more important? The girl? Or the weapon?" Ren walked towards Sora and held out her hand for the blade. For a moment Sora wondered if she was really worth it. After all, he didn't even know if Ren remembered him or the times they shared. It was a risk he was willing to take. Slowly, Sora lifted his head and looked Ren straight in the eye. She stared back as he put the sword in her hand. Dark brown met blue and for a moment they just looked at each other intently. With a smirk, she took the blade, twirled it, and pointed it at Sora.
"Sora NO!" Riku shouted. No girl was worth this. Sora was risking everything he'd ever worked towards in hopes that Ren would remember who he was.
"And now, Keybearer, are you willing to die for her? Are you willing to let her have your heart?" Xemnas mused. If Sora sacrificed himself for her, then he wouldn't be a liability anymore and Ren could have the Heartless take over the worlds. Sora bowed his head, waiting for Ren to finish him. Ren looked at Xemnas who nodded. She gave him a small bow before raising the Keyblade above her head, preparing to give him what he deserved. Goofy turned his head when she began to strike.
Sora heard the whooshing sound of the blade coming down and his eyes opened wide when the sword crashed to the ground, falling a mere inch from his head.
"I told you Xemnas, I won't help you. Do your own dirty work." Ren said sternly. Sora looked up at her in shock. Her eyes were a little lighter, though not the green they'd once been, but they weren't a foreboding brown either. She remembered him.
"Renata!" Xemnas shouted. "What do you think you're doing?!" Ren turned to face him. She took out her sai and held them at her sides.
"I'm not letting you use me any longer. I've killed how many people just to please you? Never again Xemnas!" She told him. Xemnas laughed.
"I would hardly call what I'm doing using you." He said calmly walking towards her. "I'm merely putting your strengths into something more useful than your creator's purpose." Ren stared at him, trying to figure out if this was all true.
"What are you talking about?" Sora demanded, standing next to Ren.
"Renata is a creature manifested out of darkness. Now, I will not deny that I was the one who created her, but it was under Ansem the Wise's orders that I did so. He wished to use her to control the Heartless and Nobodies, to study them and eventually make them disappear from our world. She does have that power. The moment she was created I saw the use she could be for my plans to create Kingdom Hearts and I bound her powers, making sure that she never knew her true strength, her true calling. I hid her from Ansem, telling him that the experiment had failed. He never knew otherwise."
Ren dropped her sai, completely confused by the information being fed to her. Was this true? Was she really created to stop all this? Was she really a creature of light?
"But, alas, time is of the essence, and you, Keybearer, must be eliminated." He nodded towards Zexion who began chanting an incantation. Ren knew those words and looked from Sora to Xemnas. Xemnas was watching her moves carefully. If he still had some form of control over her, then she'd do as planned, but if not, things could become complicated. Ren turned Sora away from Zexion so that he was facing her. Over his shoulder, she could see a rather large dark orb forming in front of Zexion.
"Sora look I...well I don't know how to put this..." Ren saw the orb shooting towards them. Zexion had a rather evil smirk on his face.
"Ren it's-"
"Forgive me!" She exclaimed before pushing Sora aside and taking the orb straight to her stomach. Ren closed her eyes and allowed the orb to be absorbed into her body. She didn't even try to stop it. Beams of darkness shot out of her in every direction. She fell to the ground moments later completely unconscious.
Sora looked up at Xemnas and Zexion, anger evident in his face. The two men looked a little startled by Ren's actions. Zexion even looked somewhat upset. Without taking another moment to think, Sora rushed towards them, sword blazing. His body began to emanate a white light and Riku and the others had to turn away it was so bright. When the light subsided, Sora stood alone in the center of the room. Xemnas and Zexion were gone.
That's it for Chapter 10!!! Please R/R. Next chapter is the last one!
Preview of Final Chapter!
"I'm going to stay here a little longer."
Just the sight of her made his hands shake, but he felt the need to look in on her.
"We're their darkness."
"What...what was that?"