Act XII

death and continue

Sora stared up at Mulan, who was holding the Emporer hostage with her sword at his throat. All of the soldiers had come to a stand-still. Even Mushu, curled up at the very top of one of the pillars, wasn't moving.

"Don't come any closer!" Mulan shouted. Her voice sounded terrified and authoritative at the same time. "Emporer – I need you to tell me. Why did you release that bounty? Didn't I help?" she asked. At the last question, her voice seemed to soften and her eyes lowered in worry.

"Because ... I told him to," hissed a voice behind her.

Sora gasped audibly; a man had just emerged from behind Mulan. He was big and broad-shouldered, with long, black hair and dark eyes. He was hunched over and dressed in many layers of black and white clothes, as though he had come from the far north. In one hand was a sword. The air around him was a wispy and there appeared to be black tendrils emerging from his body. Sora knew it immediately – he had become a Heartless.

Mulan just about dropped her sword. "Shan-Yu!" she gasped.

"Emporer ... tell the guards to leave," Shan-Yu hissed over to the Emporer.

"I want all the guards to leave," said the Emporer almost immediately.

"But -," protested the Captain, but the Emporer held up his withered hand. The Soldiers began to file up as the Captain shouted orders to his team. "You heard him! Everybody leave! It's a wonder how no one is so badly hurt," Sora heard the Captain say the last part to himself. Sora's intent had never been to kill any of the Soldiers – fake or not, they were simply following orders.

While the doors went wide open, Shan-Yu was busy dealing with the pair. He unleashed his sword and Mulan tumbled down the stairs, blood flowing freely from a wicked gash in her right arm.

"Mulan!" Sora shouted and dashed over to her. The black-haired woman tumbled all the way down, gasping audibly in pain. He caught her at the bottom, holding onto her torso to help her into a halfway-sitting position.

"My arm ..." Mulan gasped. "It's bleeding," she said, although Sora was already aware of that. Her fingers clutched tightly over the wound, and soon, the clotting blood began to trickle between her fingers and down the back of her hand. Her sword glinted at the top of the stairs.

"Why have you come here?" the Emporer asked them suddenly. He hadn't moved an inch since Shan-Yu had appeared, despite the fact that Shan-Yu should have been dead. "To atone for your sins?"

Sora looked up at him. "What sins?" he asked.

"Your sins," the Emporer said, "she is guilty of them. Of deceit, trickery and lying. Her heart is black; and yours is too. I can see it," his white eyes opened once again. Sora got the guilty feeling that the Emporer could see straight into his heart. "your guilt and your sin. You've lied about yourself before, haven't you? And you are guilty of the highest sin."

"It doesn't matter what I'm guilty of!" Sora demanded. "I didn't want to lie back then ... but I won't lie now! I know I'm guilty of sin and I'm not pure, but that won't stop me from fighting!" he shouted back.

"Really?" said Shan-Yu with an air of interest. He smirked down at Sora, holding up his sword.

"So ... ra ..." Mulan gasped. She struggled to get back to her feet. It was difficult to tell whether the bleeding of her wound had slowed or stopped, there was so much blood on her hand.

"Mulan," Sora said quickly, a form of protest.

But she ignored him. With difficulty, Mulan struggled back to her feet and flicked the blood off her hand. "Please, Sora ... I've got to do this," Mulan said. Her gaze was on Shan-Yu. "Let me fight him – alone."

"Demo -"

"Bu shi!" Mulan retorted quickly, casting a sharp glance over her shoulder. Then, her features softened. "Please," she said again.

Sora didn't like it, but he backed away with the Keyblade in hand. His face was a frown, objecting everything that she was saying. Even Mushu said, "What're you doing, Mulan!? You can't face him like that alone!"

Mulan began to walk up the stairs by then. Shan-Yu stood there, watching every step she took. When she reached the top stair, she kept her gaze full with Shan-Yu's. "I won't let you keep doing this ... to the Emporer," she said and bent down for her sword.

With her motion, her face tilted to the floor and didn't see Shan-Yu raise his sword-arm.

"Mulan!" Sora shouted.

Clink!

The battle had started; Mulan stood there with her sword underneath Shan-Yu's, holding off his attack. She flicked the blade back and stepped fully beside the Emporer, who had yet to move. With heavy but awkward sword strokes, Mulan pushed him back further and further. It was only then that Sora realized she was holding her sword in her left hand – but Mulan was right-handed. Her clumsy strokes flailed through the air, and Shan-Yu was able to fend them off easily.

He brought his sword up heavily when there was a break in her attacks. Mulan staggered backwards, now bleeding from her leg. There were many rips and tears in her dress now, but Mulan's painted face stayed firm. She dashed forward again, clashing her sword against his. Shan-Yu parried and flicked it backwards, then hopped backwards onto a section of the raised floor. Mulan quickly followed him. She brought up her sword and struck it against his, forcing him to parry and not letting him go. Shan-Yu tensed and stepped backwards, behind the great tapestry behind the Emporer.

Sora's heart raced; he could hear sword-strokes clash behind the tapestry. But he could not see either of them. "Mulan? Mulan!" his voice quickly raised. He was ready to dash in there when the tapestry suddenly split in two – a tear running horizontally across the middle – and then Mulan burst through it in a flourish of lavish cloth and bright colors. She landed halfway down the stairs and whirled around, Shan-Yu right behind her. They clashed swords again. Shan-Yu raised his and swung it downwards; Mulan ducked low to the ground and stuck her leg out.

The attempted trip didn't work as Shan-Yu stepped over her leg and brought his own up, ready to crush hers. Mulan stood up and stepped backwards. The paint was melting off her face in sweat, blood stained her clothes. Mulan attacked again, dashing forward again. When they locked blades, she leapt up, momentarily balanced on his sword. She propelled herself high into the air while Shan-Yu braced himself for impact. She stuck her leg out as she fell, trying to slam it into his body. He grabbed her foot – which suddenly seemed so small in his hand – and threw her down the stairs, taking her shoe off as she went.

Mulan tumbled down the stairs for a second time. "Mulan!" Sora shouted, but Mulan raised her hand to him. She stood back up and kicked off her other shoe, leaving only on her white stockings. She tore off the bottom hem of her dress and discarded the light blue fabric, revealing bits of her pants underneath. She dashed up the stairs once again. Shan-Yu raced down to meet her in the middle, where their swords clashed one final time. Much to Sora's horror, Mulan's sword was sent flying through the air.

"I got it, I got it!" Mushu cried, leaping from the top of the pillar to catch her sword. He crumpled to the ground feebly, but the sword was in his grasp.

Sora looked up the stairs as Mulan tried to defend herself, weaponless, against more of Shan-Yu's sword strokes. She dodged quickly, flicking blood everywhere, but there was no way for her to attack. Her foot missed one of the stairs and she fell backwards. Sora could almost see it in slow motion – the comb flying from her hair, the paint melted from her face, the blood drenched on her clothes – as she fell to the stairs above him. Shan-Yu raised his sword again, preparing for a fatal strike. He lowered it and -

Clink!

Another sound of metal on metal. This time, it was Shan-Yu's sword against Sora's Keyblade. He stood there, suddenly between Shan-Yu and Mulan, holding the Kingdom Key up. He seemed to have forgotten all about the constricting dress he wore over his clothes. "You would attack an unarmed woman while she was down?" Sora asked.

"She attacked me," Shan-Yu growled.

"You attacked each other," Sora defended.

He thrust Shan-Yu's sword back and then launched another set of attacks on Shan-Yu. Sora heard Mushu shout, "Mulan! Catch!" and the sound of silver metal being sent through the air. He was too busy attacking Shan-Yu to ever hear if she caught it or not. All else was blurred colors, even the emotionless Emporer, to Sora. He swung the Keyblade up, where Shan-Yu parried it. Locked in a struggle of strength, Sora and Shan-Yu forcibly pushed against the other's weapons, trying to get them to step down. Sora felt his heels drag backwards under the dress, stepping over the cloth. At the last second, he moved his weapon and dropped the ground, swinging at Shan-Yu's knees.

Shan-Yu fell to the ground, tumbling backwards. He recovered quickly, but above Sora came a flash of bright colors – Mulan! She had recovered and was now attacking Shan-Yu. Sora jumped in to join her. Mulan swung downwards but Shan-Yu parried. Sora flipped the Keyblade over in his hand and jabbed the guard as deeply as he could into Shan-Yu's armor. His hand stung; but Shan-Yu didn't go down. He grinned at Sora, who had a flash of confusion on his face. Shan-Yu freed one hand and shoved it to Sora's face, forcing the boy to fall backwards.

Mulan lowered her weapon and jumped backwards. She landed on the lower portion of the stairs next to Sora. "Are you alright?" she asked worriedly.

"Fine!" Sora replied quickly and got to his feet.

In an instant, Shan-Yu was on the both of him. With one heavy sword-stroke, both of them were sent flying into the wall. Mushu screamed aloud in terror and fear.

Sora crumpled against the wall. Feeling painless, he got to his feet again and said, "It's no use! We can't fight him in this!" and grabbed his dress. He disliked the fact that there were so many layers, but he forcibly tore them all up and threw them upon the ground, revealing his former black-and-colors outfit.

Mulan pulled the dress over her head and threw it to the ground, revealing her gray and green clothes. "But, Sora," she said hesitantly, "you're bleeding so bad."

"I am?" Sora asked and touched his forehead. She was right, he felt blood. "I'll be fine!" he said quickly.

Shan-Yu began to walk slowly down the stairs. Sora and Mulan tensed, their weapons in front of them. Sora wiped his glove over his face and wiped the make-up off, then smeared it onto his pants. Mulan did the same.

"Mulan?" Sora asked.

"Shi?" Mulan replied, her eyes on Shan-Yu.

"Let's go to the roof," Sora whispered to her. Mulan looked at him with a perplexed expression, and then she nodded in agreement.

-xxx-

"What's going on in there?"

"What should we do?"

"There's not a whole lot we can do."

"Soldier! What is going on here!?" demanded Li Shang as he and his troops came walking through the gates. He and his soldiers wearily eyed the Heartless that surrounded the area. They twitched nervously at the thought of the delicious hearts that beat around them.

"Sir!" the soldier Captain Shang had addressed immediately jumped to attention. "There's a fight inside the Emporer's throne room! Three invaders snuck in and attacked the Emporer!" he said.

Captain Shang fell quiet for a long time, when he heard Ling shout from behind him, "C-Captain! The Heartless ...!" the man whirled around to find that the Heartless could no longer stand it. The Assault Riders and Soldiers began to advance on every human being they could get close to, their eyes greedy for hearts.

"They aren't supposed to be attacking!" cried out one of the soldiers. "Shan-Yu said ...!"

"Shan-Yu?" Shang asked. "Agh! Soldiers! Forget what Shan-Yu has told you! He is a Hun, and will forever be one in life or death!" he brandished his sword and held it above him. "The Heartless are against our Emporer and view us all the same! We should slay them now for their treachery," he said and attacked the nearest Heartless.

Before any other soldier or Heartless could do a thing, the great doors of the palace burst open. Fleeing through came Sora and Mulan, dashing out into open view. Behind them, Mushu crawled along the wall and when he reached the door – jumped from it and landed safely on Mulan's shoulder. Following the whole group closely came Mushu.

The soldiers were at a stand still in shock. "Nothing to see here!" Sora shouted hesitantly.

"Soldiers! Attack!" Shang repeated his command to the Imperial Army and began the battle against the Heartless. Soon, the whole area was alive with the shouts and screams of battle.

Meanwhile, Mulan, Mushu and Sora stood with their backs to a pillar. "What do we do now?" Sora asked.

"Climb!" Mulan said quickly. She dug her heels into the pillar and began to climb. With Shan-Yu rapidly approaching them, Sora had no choice but to comply. He scrambled to the other side of the pillar and began to climb as well. He grunted and gasped as he climbed higher and higher as quickly as he could. Sora never thought climbing trees in Destiny Islands would ever be so helpful, but he was glad he had done it. All he could see of Mulan were her hands, deftly pulling herself higher and higher with him.

On the other side, Mushu shouted, "Faster! Faster! Shan-Yu's coming!" only seconds before a huge thud shook the whole pillar.

Sora glanced down; Shan-Yu dug his sword into the pillar and used it as leverage to pull himself higher beneath them. His heart raced and he began to climb faster. Mulan reached the roof before Sora did and quickly pulled herself up. Sora could hear each thud! from Shan-Yu's sword and it made him nervous. When he reached the top, he tightened his knees around the pillar and reached for the roof.

Another thud! and Sora began to fall backwards.

"Whoa – oof!" Sora exclaimed when he suddenly stopped. He looked up and saw Mulan had a hold of his hand with both of her own. He blushed and grinned, "Looks like it was your time to save me."

"I don't get it," Mulan said in reply but pulled him up nonetheless. They both ran to the farthest part of the roof, where they had a great view of the fight that was going on down below. Seconds later and Shan-Yu heaved himself up to the roof, seething.

"Ready?" Mulan asked.

"Hai!" Sora nodded.

"For China!" Mulan shouted and both bolted back to Shan-Yu.

Shan-Yu deftly parried Sora's Keyblade with ease. He side-stepped Mulan's attack and threw Sora backwards. Sora landed hard on the ground, while Mulan rushed in for another attack. Shan-Yu blocked her attack and flicked her sword-hand backwards, forcing her to raise her hand high in the air and leave herself wide open. Shan-Yu dashed in for another attack, this time to attack her torso, when Sora intervened and popped up in the middle of them. He brought up his leg and kicked Shan-Yu as hard as he possibly could. Shan-Yu staggered backwards, and nearly fell off the roof.

He swayed while Sora and Mulan watched. Somehow, the Hun kept his balance and ran around them, centering himself on the roof. Mulan frowned; her face was pale and she bled more than ever. "Mulan, you don't look so good," Sora muttered to her. She swallowed but didn't answer. Shan-Yu came at them before either could and swung heavily at both of them. Sora threw himself into the beginning of the attack and hit the sword with his Kingdom Key. Both weapons went flying. Sora's blue eyes widened and he stood there stupidly, unsure of what to do next.

But Shan-Yu recovered faster and doubled up his gloved fist. There was a shout of, "Mushu!" and then a burst of red and yellow. Fire lit off from the small dragon and burst all around Sora, who was pulled to the ground at the last second. He felt the warm air swarm past him and engulf Shan-Yu completely. Mulan dashed past him and slid on the ground, throwing her whole weight into tripping him. Shan-Yu coughed and didn't have time to react. There were loud thuds as he fell and rolled down from the roof. He caught himself at the last second, his clothes lit on fire. He dangled there, yellow eyes wide in terror. Mulan rushed forward to pull him back up, but his fingers slipped.

Sora and Mulan watched as he fell ... fell ... and then he hit the ground. And didn't move again.

The Heartless were defeated by the Army. Shan-Yu's body disappeared into Darkness. And for a long time, everything was quiet.

-xxx-

Bandaged but sore, Mulan, Sora and Shang all stood before the Emporer. The grave ash of his features had lifted, making the old man look younger than Sora had ever seen him. He smiled at them. "A shadow has passed over me, but it was thanks to the kindness of youth that it was ever listed again. I thank you, with all my gratitude," he said warmly.

Sora chuckled. Mulan and Shang both bowed respectively, Shang pulling Sora down with him. When they raised again, Mulan asked, "So ... Shan-Yu was a Heartless who possessed you, Emporer?"

The Emporer nodded.

"Sir, ano, Emporer-sama," Sora said, which sounded extremely bizarre to him, "I mean ... could you possibly lift the bounty on Mulan? We all know now that it was never her behind the Heartless attack. It was Shan-Yu. And ... I don't think he's coming back again."

The Emporer nodded. "That is the least that I can do. Captain Li, if you could, please spread the word of Shan-Yu and the story that has unfolded here to your troops. I do think that we should prepare for the Heartless, should they ever come again. It is too much to ask the same young man to save us time and time again." he chuckled.

"'Again'?" Mulan repeated.

Sora's heart swelled. "You ... remember?"

The Emporer shook his head. "Bu shi, but your heart does the remembering for us. I do believe you have been told that before. Aah, but you would like a reward, wouldn't you?"

"Really, that's not at all necessary -" both protested but the Emporer raised a hand, silencing them.

"Fa Mulan. China's bravest woman. Would you like to come back and serve me once again?" the Emporer asked. "Unfortunately, I cannot give you a vacation. But your family is welcome here to see you are well."

Mulan quickly nodded and then blushed. She bowed again. "Of course, Emporer," she said and straightened up.

"But you, you need something materialistic," the Emporer beckoned one of the soldiers to bring forth a tiny treasure box.

"Iie, really, there's no need -," Sora protested but the Emporer handed him the tiny box.

"You should leave and continue your own journey of the heart," the Emporer told him.

Sora nodded and opened the box. He pulled out a tiny golden key, identical to the one he found in the Tyme of the Radiant Garden. "Domo arigatou, sir," Sora said and quickly bowed. "But before I leave, about what you said earlier ... about sin ..."

"Sin is in us all," the Emporer said wisely and opened his eyes, they were now black instead of white as they had been before, "but it is not something to fear. It is what makes us human. Now, go. There are people who wait on you."

"You're leaving?" Mulan asked.

Sora nodded. Mulan looked overcome with emotion and ran forward to embrace him. "Th-thank you!" she said and then stepped back, smiling. Sora grinned and then walked over to the doors leading out of the throne room. He stuck the key into the lock and twisted it, then shoved the door open. All the others could see was a hallway, but for Sora, it was a way back into the Clocktower ...


Next Chapter: Sora reappears in the Clocktower, and gratefully proceeds to the next level. His gratitude stops there when he meets the greedy, fast-talking and quick-witted Avaritia, who prevents him from getting to the next level without a fight. Avaritia is eager to push Sora to the limits, willing to disrupt his once-innocent childhood to show him what it's like to "kill". He's even got a few choice words that disturb Sora all the way down to his heart. Can Sora fight him - and his words - off?

Next time!