CHAPTER TEN
~RIKU~
I made my way into the Round Room inside Organization XIII's castle. I looked around at the empty chairs, each set at a different height than the other; I figured it symbolized the member's rank. As my eyes fell on the thirteenth chair, I gasped.
"Sora!" I cried when I saw him sitting in that chair. His shoulders and head were slumped forward; he was sleeping.
I jumped down from the platform and ran towards him, but a corridor of darkness appeared in front of me, and the silver-haired boy emerged from it. With a smirk, he flicked his wrist at me. A force shoved me in the chest, and I cried out as I rocketed up into the sky, landing on the platform. I groaned and propped myself up with my arms.
"Hands off my new vessel." the silver-haired boy said as he floated onto the platform.
"Vessel?" I said.
"Yes. We originally had our sights set on you. But, you developed a certain... resistance to darkness. Before you, my older self tried to claim another during her upbringing, but it seems destiny has different things in store for her. Nevertheless, we didn't lose heart. We did what the Keyblade did, and moved down the list." the silver-haired boy said. I climbed to my feet. "We found potential in two worthy candidates: Roxas and Callum. We focused more on Roxas, since we were reminded of how densely destiny had an influence on Callum as well. But, unfortunately, they became too aware, and they returned to Sora and Hallie. Organization XIII's true goal is to divide Xehanort's heart among thirteen vessels. Thanks to you, Hallie, and Sora, we learned not all our candidates were fit for the task. But, we managed to make up the difference. We couldn't touch you or Hallie, but Sora easily fell right into our hands. And now, Sora, the thirteenth vessel, is within our grasp."
"I already know about Xehanort's plan. That's why I'm here: to stop it!" I said. A strange warping noise filled the air, and I looked up and gasped as the empty seats around me were filled. "What is...?!"
Many of the faces of the cloaked people were hidden. Of the ones I recognized were Xigbar, Xemnas, and Ansem, Seeker of Darkness.
"The real Organization XIII." the silver-haired boy said.
"The Organization?" I said.
"I am Xehanort from the most distant past. My future self gave me a task- to visit the splintered versions of myself in many worlds, and ensure they gathered here today."
"From the past?"
"There are restrictions to movement through time. First, you must leave your body behind to do it. Then, there must be a version of you waiting at the destination. Upon arrival, you can only move forward as per the laws of time. And you cannot rewrite the events that are destined to happen."
My mind spun from how confusing it all sounded. It all summarized to one thing: not good. "What have you done?"
"My most future self will arrive soon." Young Xehanort gestured to the highest chair in the room, which churned with darkness. A person was beginning to take form. "Then, time for all of us will return to normal, and I will go back to my era to live the life fate has in store. He can vouch for that."
As I looked at the churning darkness, I gasped when I saw a glimmer of light flash on the ceiling. A pillar of light crashed down, sending Young Xehanort back.
"Stopza!" King Mickey raised his Keyblade, and time froze. He turned to me. "Are you okay, Riku?" Mickey said.
"Yeah. Thanks, Mickey." I said.
The dark barrier of Stopza and Young Xehanort disappeared. As we looked around, Mickey gasped as he looked up at the highest chair.
"Master Xehanort!" he cried. "We were right about you!"
I looked up to see an elderly man with dark skin, yellow eyes, and a gray goatee. So, this was Master Xehanort. Just the sight of him gave me the creeps as I imagined all the horrible stuff that happened from his hands. He looked down at us and smiled.
"All of this was decided. My twelve selves would welcome me here on this day, when I would return a complete person. It is the future which lies beyond my sight." Xehanort said.
"Why are you doing this?" Mickey cried.
"In ancient times, people believe that light was a gift from an unseen land by the name of Kingdom Hearts. But Kingdom Hearts was safeguard by its counterpart, the χ-blade. Warriors vied for that precious light, thus beginning the "Keyblade War." The violent clash shattered the χ-blade into twenty pieces— seven of light, and thirteen of darkness. And the only real Kingdom Hearts was swallowed by the darkness, never to surface again." Xehanort crossed his legs and leaned his cheek on his fist casually. "I once tried to create my own pure light and darkness to forge the χ-blade, but the attempt ended in failure. In my eagerness, I had lost sight of the correct way to achieve my goal. I acted rashly. I can admit that now."
Mickey clenched his fists and pointed accusingly at Xehanort.
"What you did back then- your mistakes- changed the destinies of three of my friends!" he cried.
"Ah, but destiny is never left to chance. I merely guided them to their proper places. The broken boy who failed to be the blade... the misguided master who sacrificed herself for a friend... and the feckless youth who became my new vessel." Xehanort said.
"I couldn't find a way to save 'em. But I wanted to believe that their sacrifice stopped you for good. Why? How was I so blind? I should've seen it, as soon as Maleficent started gathering the seven princesses of heart."
"Yes. They were all my doing. I used the evil fairy to find seven pure lights for me, just as I prepared thirteen vessels to fill with pure darkness."
"But you failed. Sora and Hallie stopped you in your tracks on both counts." I said.
"Yes, they did. That dull, ordinary boy- a Keyblade wielder so unlike any I have ever seen. And oh, how long has it been since I've seen the face of my beloved granddaughter. I had an interest in turning her into a vessel of darkness, but a protection spell and a destiny stronger than steel safeguarded her heart from even the strongest of darkness."
"Granddaughter?" I cried. My eyes grew as wide as Mickey's ears and we momentarily glanced at each other in shock. "Hallie is your granddaughter?!"
Xehanort chuckled and straightened his posture.
"However, I have not abandoned my ambitions- the seven guardians of light and the thirteen seekers of darkness."
"Seven guardians of light? Well for Keyblade wielders, there's me, Sora, Riku, and Hallie, and my three friends... that... that makes seven!" Mickey gasped and looked around the room. "That means... the thirteen seekers of darkness..."
"Yes, little king. Perceptive." Xehanort said. "But despite my failed attempt with Hallie, Sora and another on your list belong to me now. And that puts you two guardians short. But worry not. All of the pieces are destined to appear. Your seven lights just like my thirteen darknesses, whose final clash will beget the prize I seek..."
"The χ-blade!" Xehanort and Mickey said at the same time.
Xehanort stood up in his chair and summoned his Keyblade.
"But first, the thirteen darknesses shall be united. All the seats have been filled. And now the last vessel shall bear my heart like the rest!"
Xehanort waved his hand and the chair where Sora sat rose up in the air until it leveled with him.
"No!" Mickey cried.
We ran forward. As Mickey jumped up to the chair, Xemnas grabbed him and slammed him into the side of another chair.
"Mickey!" I cried.
Suddenly, I was shoved to the ground by Ansem, who hovered over me, pushing my head to the ground.
"No! Sora!"
~HALLIE~
I opened my eyes and scrambled to my feet. I looked down and laughed in relief at the sight of my dream self.
"It worked." I said.
A corridor of darkness appeared in front of me. A man in a black coat with red spiky hair and emerald green eyes emerged from the portal. My jaw dropped.
"Axel?" I said, but my statement sounded more like a question. It seemed as if something inside me told me that it wasn't the same person. "Or...?"
"Close, but not quite." he said. "My name is Lea. Got it memorized?"
"Lea? How did you get into Sora's dreams?"
"Master Yen Sid sent me. You know, you've been a real pain for your friends in the real world. But I must say, being able to travel into the world of sleep without any magic? Impressive."
"Uh... thanks..."
"Well, I'm glad you're here. I could use your help. Sora's in trouble. We need to hurry."
"Already ahead of you." I said.
I followed him into the portal.
~TPPOV~
Xehanort waved his glowing hand over his Keyblade, chuckling to himself. He raised his Keyblade and pointed it at Sora. A ball of yellow light shot through the air towards Sora.
"No!" Riku cried.
A red chakram cut through the air and destroyed the light. Sora was engulfed in fiery smoke.
"He made it!" Mickey cried.
"You!" Xemnas cried.
Emerging from the smoke, a Keyblade zoomed through the air: Ultima Weapon.
"That Keyblade!" Mickey gasped.
The Keyblade zoomed towards Xehanort. He scowled and swiped his Keyblade, knocking Ultima Weapon aside. As it spiraled to the ground, it disappeared suddenly. The smoke disappeared as Lea and Hallie stood on the Organization chair, either side of Sora. Ultima Weapon appeared back at Hallie's side.
"Hallie!" Riku and Mickey cried.
"Axel?!" Xigbar cried.
"Axel? Please. The name's Lea. Got it memorized?" Lea said, holding a chakram in one arm and sleeping Sora in the other.
"You're not supposed to be here!" Xigbar's gaze of rage shifted to Hallie. "And YOU. How many times do you have to stick your nose where it doesn't belong?!"
"Funny. I should say the same for you, Braig." Hallie hissed. Xigbar growled.
"I got promises to keep. I'll always be there to get my friends back." Lea said. "What, bad timing? You had your perfect little script, but you kinda forgot to write the sequel."
"And, sorry to break it to you, but this ending isn't going to be a happy one for you!" Hallie said.
Xigbar pounded his fist against his chair. "What now, you old coot?!" he said to Xehanort. "Our time is up!"
Xehanort smiled. One member stood up on his chair and leaped towards Lea and Hallie. He summoned a berserker axe and swung at them. Lea and Hallie blocked his attack with their weapons. The impact caused the man's hood to fall off, revealing long blue hair, amber eyes, and an X shaped scar across the bridge of his nose and glabella.
"Isa!" Lea gasped.
He stared at Lea with a blank expression as he weighed his axe down more. Lea and Hallie slipped away from underneath Isa's axe and jumped through the air with Sora, landing on the ground beside Mickey and Riku. Mickey summoned his Keyblade and slashed at Xemnas. He disappeared. Riku flipped his Keyblade around and slashed at Ansem, who disappeared as well. As Xemnas and Ansem floated at Xehanort's side, Mickey, Hallie, Riku, and Lea struck their battle stances.
"Hallie, what the heck are you doing here?!" Riku said. "I told you to stay with the others!"
"Sorry, but I have better things to do than talk to a lifeless puppet..." Hallie said. "Besides, if it weren't for us, Sora would be a vessel of darkness by now, so you're welcome."
Riku grumbled. "Okay, then. Why are you here, Axel?"
"No, I told you my name's-" Lea said. He sighed. "Agh, whatever, Axel, fine. Now let's get outta here!"
Ansem summoned his Guardian and it shot forward and grabbed Riku and Mickey.
"Riku! Mickey!" Hallie cried.
As the two struggled to break free, the sound of squawking filled the air. Donald and Goofy fell from the sky and landed on the Guardian, bouncing off and crashing to the ground. It melted away and Riku and Mickey landed on the ground.
"Were we supposed to do that?" Donald groaned.
"I think so." Goofy said.
"Goofy, Donald! You saved us!" Mickey said.
Hallie looked up at Xehanort and scowled.
"Hello... Grandpa Norty." Hallie said. The words, once full of innocence, tasted repulsive in her mouth.
"WHA?!" Donald and Goofy cried.
"Ah, Hallie, my beloved granddaughter." Xehanort said. "How nice to see you. You've grown so much. You look just like your mother..."
Hallie growled and gripped her Keyblade. Xemnas, Ansem, and the other cloaked Organization members began to fade.
"We are out of time. Neither the union of light nor darkness has been achieved, and we must all return whence we came. But, the gathering of the seven and thirteen is nigh. Let us finish this at the fated place, once your lights and my darknesses have joined together!" Xehanort said.
Hallie glared at him as he and his other vessels faded away.
"Seven lights, thirteen darknesses... Master Xehanort has been busy." Yen Sid said after the group had returned to the real world and told him what happened.
"Aw, Sora. Don't tell me your heart's sleeping, too." Mickey said to Sora as he continued to sleep.
"No, Mickey. This affliction is not the same." Yen Sid said.
"Can we do anything for him?" Riku said.
Donald and Goofy looked at Yen Sid with hope sparkling in their eyes. Lea, who leaned against a bookshelf with his arms crossed, looked up.
"In your Mark of Mastery exam, you were to unlock seven Sleeping Keyholes. By doing so, you would awaken those worlds from their prison of slumber, and also acquire the power to free a heart from its sleep. Riku, you unlocked those Keyholes within Sora's dreams. Therefore, it stands to reason that you now have the power to awaken Sora's heart." Yen Sid said.
"You want him to dive back into Sora's sleep? Again?" Mickey said. "But Master, Sora's heart is down in the darkest abyss. If Riku's not careful, he might just get trapped down there with him. No... I'll go instead."
Yen Sid stood up and approached the group.
"And perhaps you may even succeed, Mickey." Yen Sid said. "But there is no denying Riku stands the better chance, having dived into Sora's heart as long as he has. Besides, he will not be alone."
Everyone look at him quizzically, then looked around the room.
"Hallie!" Riku cried. He sighed. "She's still sleeping, isn't she?"
Yen Sid nodded.
"But her body's not here. Where did she go?" Donald said.
"I believe that when she plunged into the realm of sleep a second time, her body was taken to a place where an old friend called out to her." Yen Sid said. "She will return, but for now, she knows that her mission is not yet complete, and she remains in the realm of sleep so that she can wake Sora up."
Riku looked over at Sora's sleeping body and smiled.
"Mickey... I really appreciate it. But... I'll go wake Sora up." Riku said.
"Riku..." Mickey said. They turned to Sora.
"Look at his face. Sleeping like nothing's wrong- like there's nothing to even worry about. He's always been like that. The three of us would agree to work on the raft, and then this guy would go take a nap on the beach." Riku said. "You see, it's my job to keep him on his toes. Besides, what kind of Keyblade Master sleeps through his test? I'm doing it for me, too. Sora saved me once. And... I heard him call my name. Hallie's too. He needs us."
"There's something real strong that binds us to each other. Even in the darkness, you can reach him." Mickey said. "All you gotta do is follow that connection!"
"Gee, we're all connected to Sora." Goofy said.
"And you mustn't forget the one who makes such connections possible." Yen Sid said.
"Right. Hallie." Riku said. "Sora's the connection... and Hallie's the pathway that chains it all together."
"You said it!" Donald said, pumping his fist in the air.
"And if the darkness gets ya, I promise I'll bail you out." Lea said. ""Dark Rescue" is my middle name."
Riku stood up.
"Guys, thank you." he said. "Sora, Hallie, and I will be back soon."
He turned to Yen Sid and bowed to him. Once again, he summoned his Keyblade and pointed it at Sora. A portal opened and Riku was sucked inside.
~HALLIE~
I took a deep breath as I stepped onto the Dive to the Heart platform. It was of Sora, with pictures of Riku, Kairi, Donald, Goofy, and me behind him. Destiny Island was the background.
"How did I get here?" I said to myself. "Hellooo?!"
"You mind keeping the volume down?" a voice said. "You're gonna give me a headache."
I gasped as I saw a corridor of darkness open before me. The boy walked out, dressed in his black and red organic bodysuit. His black spiky hair cut into the air and his yellow eyes cut into my soul.
"Vanitas." I growled. I summoned my Keyblade and struck my battle stance.
Vanitas held up his hand. I relaxed, staring at him curiously.
"She's resting inside you." Vanitas said. "But this time, she'll be able to break free when she pleases."
"She?" I said, laying a hand on my heart. "You mean Ahllixe, don't you?"
Vanitas nodded and and the look of pain on his face morphed into a bitter smirk.
"Poor Sora." Vanitas said, crossing his arms. "How broken his heart will be when he finds out the truth about you."
"What, you mean me being a spawn of Xehanort?" I said.
Vanitas shook his head. "No. I meant when he finds out who your heart truly claimed."
"What are you rambling on about? Sora is the one I want to be with. I love him!"
"Careful, your ignorance is showing. Fine, go ahead and not believe me. But what I say is true. Destiny is a funny thing, but you cannot rewrite it. Even Xehanort knows that, and he learned his lesson when he tried to turn you into his vessel of darkness. You are destined as guardian of the Light... but that precious heart of yours has belonged to another since long before you met Sora." Vanitas chuckled.
I raised my eyebrow. What in the world was he talking about?! His yellow eyes and sinister smile made my stomach churn nervously. Or were those butterflies? Did my heart just flutter? Wait a minute, what am I saying?! This isn't me... He must be toying with me or playing mind games to psych me out. At least, I hoped he was.
Vanitas held up his hand and a corridor of darkness opened up beside him. "He's awake. You can break the news to him when you see him."
"Hey, wait a minute!"
I ran forward, but Vanitas disappeared. I clenched my fist, but immediately unclenched it.
Sora's awake. I smiled.
I took Ultima Weapon and pointed it in front of me. A Keyhole appeared and a beam of light shot out from my Keyblade into the Keyhole. I was bathed in light.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Riku and Hallie had made their way back into the realm of sleep to save Sora and stop Xehanort from turning him into his thirteenth vessel. Riku is confronted with the silver-haired boy, who reveals himself to be Master Xehanort when he was younger. The real Organization XIII is revealed, and Master Xehanort appears in front of Riku and King Mickey, who entered the realm of sleep to help Riku. Meanwhile, Hallie and Lea team up to save the day. And just in the nick of time, too, for they step in right before Xehanort can turn Sora into a vessel of darkness. Xehanort and his vessels disappear with a promise of the inevitable events that must take place with the thirteen darknesses clashing with seven lights. The gang returns to the realm of light, only to see that Sora is still asleep. Riku agrees to once again go back into the realm of sleep to help Sora. Yen Sid tells Riku he won't be alone, for Hallie is still sleeping as well. However, according to Yen Sid, her body was taken to a place where "an old friend called out to her". Hallie wakes up in Sora's Dive to the Heart, where she gets an unexpected visit from Vanitas. He refuses to fight her because Ahllixe is inside her, but she is able to free herself when she pleases. Vanitas shares some unusual things with Hallie about her heart before he disappears, telling her that Sora is awake. In a hurry, Hallie transports herself out of the Dive to the Heart.
But what was Vanitas talking about concerning Hallie's heart? What else could have claimed it before Sora? Could this make things more difficult for Hallie and Sora?
Stay tuned, and thanks for reading!