Chapter 25: Demona
Pale blue light reached through the stained glass windows, stretching over the short flight of steps, down to the stone floor. It cast deep shadows beneath pillars that towered high into the sky. In the darkness of the cathedral, the figure's form looked pitch black, save for her gleaming red eyes and shining white teeth. Her tail flicked and her claws wrapped around the handle of a gun, at least three feet long, with a pipe-like barrel. What Kairi thought was a cape split down the middle, spreading out into two leathery wings.
"Demona…" She whispered the name to herself, eyes becoming tiny slits. Squeezing her Keyblade, she drew in a deep breath and bent her knees, awaiting Demona's first move. Her eyes stung, her head felt as if it'd been beaten like a drum. Her chest heaved in and out. The truth was, she'd barely given herself room to breathe, but with a dangerous foe up ahead, she had to stand tall. There was no choice but to face danger head-on.
Behind her, she heard Goofy whimper and Donald growl. Aqua's footsteps thumped on the concrete floor, and Sora hopped out in front of Kairi, visible only because of his glowing eyes. She heard something scrape at the ground, probably his claws. Purple sparks flickered in and out of sight, revealing the shape of his hands for an instant and filling Kairi's vision with colored spots. She winced and shook her head, but the afterimages still danced around the darkness.
Demona merely laughed, cold and dry. She moved away from the altar and strutted down the steps with a sneer. "Look at you all, backed into a corner like the helpless prey that you are. To think that a child and her pets were able to interfere with my plans... And here I thought the Keyblade only chose those who are strong."
"Hey, who're you calling pets?!" said Donald. It was hard to make out his face in the dark, but his squawky voice echoed over their heads, words exploding out of him like firecrackers.
Unfortunately, his chatter only squeezed more laughter out of the gargoyle, which reverberated off the ceiling and walls, like a chorus of cackling banshees. "You serve a human. Your ability to speak and to fight means nothing when you shackle yourself to such traitorous vermin."
Aqua slipped into the moonlight, chin up and posture straight. Her Keyblade hung at her side, but she made no other moves. "There's something you seem to have forgotten, Demona." She took one step forward and placed a hand over her chest. "Appearances are meaningless. All our strength comes from our hearts. It's what allows Kairi and me to wield our Keyblades, and it's what's pushed us this far, even in the face of darkness."
"You sentimental fool." Demona beat her wings and swished her tail left and right. "You may claim to possess strength of heart, but will that save you when the inevitable exhaustion overwhelms your ability to fight?"
Kairi cringed, wiping a hand across her forehead. After all, Demona had a point—they'd been fighting for so long without rest. With her words, reality started to sink in. She felt her arms and legs twinge, her lungs heave and her head throb. Though she tried to keep her mouth shut tight, a yawn escaped her, a blatant sign of her lack of sleep. And now here they were, staring down Demona, trapped like caged birds. After pushing themselves so hard, could they really stand a chance?
Her eyes drifted around the room, and she barely made out the others' figures. Donald crouched near the floor and pulled back his staff. Goofy ducked behind his shield, and green sparks shot up the tips of Sora's claws. Despite her heavy breaths, Aqua stood firmly in place and lifted her Keyblade.
A smile spread across Kairi's lips. Truth be told, there was little point in talking back. Any words she said would probably fall on deaf ears. Still, she slipped her free hand into her pocket and turned her back on the gargoyle. Her fingers wrapped around a golden bottle, and she glanced over her shoulder.
"Well, you've already trapped us here, so it's not like we have a choice." Looking away, she brought the bottle up to her lips and took a swig. A slight tingle coursed down her spin and all the way to her fingertips, though her feet still felt like bricks and another yawn worked its way out of her. "I guess we'll just have to prove our strength, right, guys?"
A squawk-like cackle was the only response, followed by a bright flash to her left. Shielding her eyes, Kairi whipped around right as a lightning bolt struck Demona's tiara and knocked her back toward the stairs. Hissing, she rubbed the top of her head and pushed herself back to her feet. A toothy grin wormed its way across her face, and she waved her free hand.
"Very clever…"
Before Kairi or the others got a chance to move, a red flash lit up the room, heat coursing towards Kairi's face. Choking back a gasp, the tumbled to the side, hurling her Keyblade at Demona's waist. At the same time, two yellow eyes popped up behind her, and trails of green light streaked through the air. Demona crouched low, kicked up off the floor, and coasted to the right. The two fireballs whizzed at Kairi, and she heard a CLANG followed by a CRASH! Clenching her teeth, she ducked just as the fireballs neared her cheeks, then rushed toward her Keyblade on its way back. Her fingers snapped around the handle, and she lunged at those yellow eyes, knowing well where they came from.
"Sora!"
She seized his hand and yanked him to his feet, but before she let go, a sharp edge sliced across her back. Biting her lip, she flipped around, bashing her Keyblade against her attacker. Her weapon struck something solid, and the creature shrieked. Only its beady yellow eyes stood out in the darkness, though the sound of slow wing beats painted a picture in her mind. The creature moved backwards, and Kairi rolled into the shadows beneath one stone column. Another dark figure rushed at her from the left, and she clutched her necklace, lighting up the surrounding area. White pillars spiraled out, smashing one dark green figure against the left side of the arch and a mint green figure into the right. Once more, specks and splotches flickered throughout her line of sight, forcing her to shut her eyes. With a swish of her Keyblade, she coated the floor with mines and jumped back right as she heard a loud BANG!
Red, green, blue, and yellow streaks pulled her attention across the chamber, where she spotted one tiny figure barreling forward with his staff glowing bright orange. Leaning forward, Kairi sprinted toward the center of the floor, ducking when another red blast flew at her from the side. The laser flew past her, and in the corner of her eye, she saw another flash. She squinted to try and block out some of the light and noticed a glassy dome form around one of the figures—probably Aqua. Before she got a better look, something smacked the back of her legs, shoving her off her feet and down towards the floor. Slamming her eyes shut, she stretched out her arms. The skin of her palms scraped against the cement, and her lungs inflated with air as she tried to restrain another scream.
Leaning onto her right elbow, she flipped back on to her feet just in time to come face to face with two blood red eyes.
"Where's your strength now, human?"
Kairi shook her head, thrusting her Keyblade toward the ceiling. "It's right here!"
A sphere swelled over her head, casting dim light on the floor. Gasping, Demona dug her claws into the cement, but the magnetic pull ripped her into the air, tossing her around in circles. Screeches echoed throughout the cathedral as five more figures flew toward the sphere. Tattered wings fluttered. Spiked tails swished. Three purple lightning bolts shot down over the sphere, striking Demona's chest, a Tailbunker's snout, and a Windstorm's exposed belly. The lights bombarded Kairi's eyes, flooding her vision and forcing her to look away. Drawing in a breath, she squeezed her eyes shut and leaped up, bashing her weapon against one of her targets. A roar blasted her ears, bouncing off of her surroundings. Cringing, she jumped again, striking something soft. The target groaned—no doubt Demona, given the feminine voice—but just when Kairi leaped up a third time, something snagged her Keyblade, stopping it in its tracks.
Kairi's eyes popped open just in time to get a look into Demona's eyes. A look that lasted less than a second before Demona flung her aside, Keyblade and all. Metal clanking drew in from behind, or maybe the left, or the right? The sounds ricocheted off the walls, ringing like chapel bells. Two arms wrapped around her waist, and she slowed, skidding along with Aqua across the floor. When they finally stopped, she let go, allowing Kairi to slide to her feet.
Panting, she looked up at Aqua and squinted, but it was still hard to make out her features beyond a vague silhouette. "Sorry about that, Aqua."
"Don't apologize," she said. "Just stick close to me, all right? I'm used to fighting in the dark."
Kairi opened her mouth, but when the air around her suddenly warmed and she caught a blue blur rushing towards her, she gasped, hopped up, and launched her Keyblade toward the flames. She heard a THUNK, then caught something flying towards her cheek. Before it reached her, Aqua slid into its path and smashed her weapon against their attacker's torso. Lightning streaked down from the ceiling, illuminating the room for a split-second, in which Kairi noticed the Heartless' ragged purple sleeves, gangly fingers, and zigzagging horns. The image burned itself into her vision when the darkness resumed, Gargoyle Heartless flashing in and out of sight.
More warmth brushed against her cheeks. Orange swallowed the blackness around her. Something or something shoved her aside, and when she turned around, she spotted Aqua dashing toward three whirling fireballs.
x.x.x
In the face of the flames, Aqua gripped her weapon tight, envisioning glittering snowflakes and soft, soothing winds. A chill whipped through the air, caressing her cheek as she kicked off of the floor and swept her Keyblade at the flames. The tip shone blue, and she flicked it once, twice, thrice, blinking out the flames one by one. A low gurgle overhead and the beating of wings alerted her to her attacker. Twirling her weapon, she performed a midair jump. A dim, blue aura raced down to her fingertips, and the air around her moistened and twirled, sending shivers down her spine. The Heartless moaned, and despite the darkness, she noticed ice crystals swallowing the Tailbunker's wings, chest, and jaws. Its body exploded soon after, and a heart rose toward the sky.
No doubt another part of Zexion's plan, but where was he? And for that matter, where were his illusions?
When Aqua landed, she dusted off the front of her clothes and squinted. Never before would she have considered her time in the darkness a gift, but now that they'd been locked within the cathedral with little to no light, perhaps her struggles gave her a slight advantage. Even in near blackness, Aqua made out the faint shapes of six more winged figures with hooked tails and forward facing horns. Two yards to her right, Kairi stumbled to her feet and hobbled towards her.
The tip of her Keyblade shone a dull white, and she pointed it up at the ceiling, shuddering as her light revealed the Windstorms' gaping maws. The draconic Heartless bellowed, bodies glowing pale green. They rocketed at the girls like gigantic torpedoes. After eying the Heartless, Aqua and Kairi exchanged glances, nodded, and swept their Keyblades overhead.
The air buzzed. Two pillars of lightning surged across the floor, crashing into the Windstorms' snouts. They twitched and whimpered, wings flailing and legs kicking. Two more of the Windstorms split off, one to the left and one to the right. Grabbing Kairi's wrist, Aqua bolted across the floor. As she ran, a cacophony of squawks resonated throughout the chamber, assaulting her eardrums. Another bolt pierced the skull of an incoming Windstorm, which collapsed on the floor only to flutter up a few feet and smash its feet against the concrete. The ground rumbled and a mint green shockwave flew at the girls' feet. Eyes narrowing, Aqua dashed toward the shockwave, cloaking her body in translucent hexagons and crashing into the dragon's chest. A sharp CLANG sounded from behind, and the Heartless exploded into smoke.
"That'll teach ya to mess with our pals!" Goofy beamed, catching his shield. "Is everything okay, Aqua?"
"Well, I'm—" Before she could finish, a breeze blew her off her feet, sending her flying at Kairi. Gasping, she flipped forward and kicked herself into the air, hurling her Keyblade at the Windstorm's left wing. It tipped sideways, and a greenish dome dragged it toward the floor and onto a bed of glowing dots.
BANG!
Aqua peered over her shoulder and spotted Kairi hunched over and panting. A shadowed figure swooped in from behind her, and Aqua jerked forward.
"Look out!"
She started to turn when claws raked across Kairi's back, knocking her forward with a scream. On her way down, Kairi shoved her Keyblade against her attacker's waist, sending Demona wobbling backwards. Snarling, she whipped her tail, but Aqua skidded into her path, retaliating with a blast of fire. The flames seared her face, and Demona hissed. Her claws lashed at Aqua's forearm, tearing through her right sleeve and digging into her skin. White pillars crashed into Demona's back and, biting back a scream, Aqua smacked her Keyblade against the gargoyle's ribs. Something clattered to the ground, and Demona wobbled back once again. Shooting a look at Kairi, Aqua pointed her weapon toward one of the archways and took off running. Kairi trailed behind her, though she moved with heavy footsteps.
Together, the two dived beneath the arch and into the shadows. Once there, Kairi leaned into one of the pillars, gasping for breath. A frown crossed Aqua's lips, and she leaned over her.
"Kairi, you shouldn't push yourself so hard."
"But what choice do we have?" She shook her head, shoving a hand into her pocket. "If we slow down, Demona will try to kill us!"
Something clicked, and a red light whizzed towards the top of the arch. Chunks of stone rained down, and both Kairi and Aqua lunged out of the way right as the debris crashed into the floor. A plume of dust rose, and Aqua slapped her hand over her mouth to muffle a cough. When another red blast soared their way, Aqua pushed her palm forward and gritted her teeth. A barrier wrapped around the duo, knocking the laser back at Demona's chest. The impact threw her across the floor and slammed her against one of the arches. Her fell to the ground, and two glowing green hands snatched it up. Pushing off of the pillar, Demona charged at Sora, who hopped up, flipped backwards, and vanished.
Seconds later, something flew down from high above and landed with a CLANG. Demona scrambled over to the object and scooped it up with both hands—her gun, by the looks of it, though the barrel now bent backwards. The insides of the weapon rattled, and a sneer crawled across her face. Crushing the holster with her claws, she flung the gun over her shoulders.
"I suppose that's what I get for using human technology." She swept her arms out to her side and bent her knees. When two yellow eyes popped up behind her, she spun around, wrapping her tail around Sora's ankles and smacking him against the floor. Blue flames slid up her claws, and she slashed at his back, making him shiver and squirm.
For a moment, Aqua's heart stopped. Her eyes bulged, her teeth clenched, and she felt the hilt of her Keyblade digging into her glove. Breathing out a low growl, she charged, diving head first at Demona. The tip of her Keyblade flared with bright orange flames. Demona grinned at the sight, forming an X with her arms and then sweeping her claws out in an arc. Fire whirled out of Aqua's weapon and towards Demona's face while a bright blue wave of energy shot across the floor. Skidding to a halt, Aqua threw up another barrier and pushed back at Demona's attack. Sweat trickled down her cheeks, and she shut her eyes, keeping her mind fixed on maintaining the barrier. On shielding the others. She had to buy them some time!
Behind, she heard a muddled blend of yelps, squawks, and shouts. Demona's laughter fluttered through the air.
"And now for phase two…"
Opening her eyes, Aqua half expected to spot Demona rushing at her for a more direct attack. Instead, she saw nothing but vacant space. Vacant space and yellow eyes closing in. A Defender dragged its feet towards Aqua, stopping and glancing at the others. A Wizard twirled its staff while an Angel Star fluttered its four metallic wings. Lastly, Soldier Heartless crawled closer on all fours.
And then, in the blink of an eye, the Defender thundered towards her, drew back its arm, and tossed his Dog-faced shield toward her waist. Eyes widening, Aqua cart wheeled out of the shield's path only for the Soldier to dive at her and clap its clawed hands. A purple bolt of lightning surged towards her head, and she flipped backwards and smacked the Soldier with her key. It retaliated by swinging glowing green claws while the Wizard spewed flames at its back. Once more, Aqua cart wheeled away, missing the Soldier's strike by a hair. The Wizard's flames knocked the Soldier face-down into the floor and, rather than pursue Aqua, it flung itself back on its feet and clapped its hands once more.
The sound of bleating set off alarm bells in Aqua's head. The ringing only intensified when the Angel Starr flapped all four of its wings, and the ground lit up with a circle of mines. When the Defender's shied twirled in from the side, Aqua ducked, rolled, and sprinted beneath an archway. Breathing heavily, she pressed her palm against the stone and watched the Heartless with half open eyes. Despite their shadowy appearances, Aqua felt glimmers of light within each of them. In fact, looking at the Angel Star, she felt warmth not unlike sunbeams brushing against her skin. Pure light, impossible for a Heartless to obtain.
That confirmed it, then. Zexion had to be within the cathedral. Chuckling to herself, Aqua dashed out of the shadows. The Wizard and Angel Star charged at her, but in the blink of an eye, their bodies transformed. In place of a glassy, winged Heartless, Aqua spotted Kairi, stumbling at her with her Keyblade in both hands. In place of the Wizard's pointed hat and loose robes, she saw Donald wobbling from foot to foot with his beak hanging open. Breathing in, Aqua stopped, waiting for the two to draw closer. The two swung their weapons at her, but another barrier flickered around her just long enough to deflect their attacks.
"Kairi, Donald, you have to stop! This isn't real."
Donald huffed, slapping his staff against his palm. "Aw, pipe down, Demona! I bet you're just trying to mess with our heads!"
"Demona?" Aqua gasped, shaking her head frantically. "No, it's Aqua! What you see is just an illusion."
"An illusion?" Kairi looked to Donald, covering her mouth with her hand. "Then all the Heartless we're seeing right now…"
"They've gotta be fake!" said the Defender, whose body rippled, revealing Goofy. "Gawrsh, I was startin' to wonder why a Soldier was flingin' fire and stuff! It just didn't feel right."
"Aw, but if you're Aqua, then where's the real Demona?" Donald groaned, turning around in a circle. "I can't see a thing in all this darkness!"
As if to answer Donald's question, temperatures once again spiked and a shower of blue flames rained down from up above. With a sharp quack, Donald rattled his staff, but the air around him barely twitched. The same occurred when Kairi waved her Keyblade. Worse, the fire persisted, drawing closer and closer without pause. Briefly, Aqua considered throwing up another barrier, but was it worth expending her magic further? What if that was Demona's plan all along? She had mentioned before how exhaustion would render them weak. Perhaps she was playing the part of the predator and waiting for their foundations to crack.
Whatever the case, there was no time to deliberate. With the flames nearing the tops of their heads, Aqua latched onto Kairi and Donald's wrists and tore across the floor, eyes fixed on the nearest archway. Yet, as she ran, the floor trembled beneath hear feet. The parallel arches wiggled, sliding closer, tipping on their sides, swirling like a whirlpool. Aqua shook her head violently, trying to retain focus, but her feet sank through the cement like quicksand, and her sprint slowed to trudge. Claws snapped at her sides, making her jerk left and right. She jabbed her elbows at her attackers, but passed through them like mist.
Breath hitching, she tried to pick up the pace, to run despite the heaviness overtaking her legs, weighing them down like anvils. Laughter bombarded her ears. Claws like knives ripped through the skin of her back. If she screamed, she certainly couldn't hear it over the unending cackles drowning out her senses. Another slash shredded her left sleeve, and she relinquished her hold on her friends, pushing them forward. Her eyes snapped shut, and she slammed her Keyblade against her attacker, ending the laughter abruptly.
"This isn't real," she muttered. "None of this is real…"
She gulped, opened her eyes, and watched a clawed hand slide toward her waist. The weights in her legs crumbled to dust. The quicksand in the floor hardened back into cement, and Aqua, despite her fatigue, bounded up off the floor, heat surging down from her head to her toes.
She'd had enough.
Her body burst into orange light, casting shadows all across the floor. Three flaming pillars shot up from those shadows, whirling into Demona's face and rocking her from side to side. She wailed, crossing her arms over her torso. She beat at the fire with her wings, but the flames continued their dance, fueled by the rage bubbling within Aqua's heart. Blue fireballs flew at the pillars, only fueling the fire that smothered Demona's skin. The echoes of her roars created a haunting melody. Her eyes lit up in red once more, and she leaped back and away from the raging storm. Despite Aqua's best efforts, the pillars started wavering. The light dimmed, and in seconds, the light blinked out altogether, casting the group in darkness once more.
Aqua's legs wobbled, and she collapsed on her knees, panting. Gasping. Sweat oozing down her entire body. Her eyes stung, her mouth dried, and a dim red aura coated her skin, a small blessing after such a tremendous attack. Demona's claws scraped against the floor. Her hands lit up in blue, and her lips pulled back into a toothy grin.
"See? It's just as I told you humans: you cannot keep fighting forever." Her voice sounded hoarser than before, and she moved with a slight limp. Perhaps there was still a chance…
With fire swirling around her Keyblade's tip, Aqua charged. Demona followed suit. Blue fire met red. Claw met Keyblade, and the two bashed, slashed, and hammered at one another, filling the air with sparks.
But how long could one Command Style hold her? How much more heat could she possibly take?
x.x.x
Sora watched the fighting with wide, unblinking eyes. Despite the way her chest heaved and the way she kept stopping to catch her breath, Aqua continued lashing out at Demona. Demona retaliated with claw swipes across the front of Aqua's shirt. Her Dark Firaga blackened Aqua's crisscrossing straps. Her tail whipped at her legs, knocking her down to her knees, but Aqua pushed herself back up, spewing fire at Demona's clawed feet.
Gulping, Sora glanced around the room, eyes darting across the floor. Pressed up against the back of one of the pews, Kairi knelt on the ground and wiped a hand across her forehead. Her Keyblade rested at her knees. Down on the bottom of the steps, Goofy tugged Donald back on his feet and held out a small bottle, which he slurped up in one swig. He scooped up his staff and blue light pooled at its tip. Was it an Ether that helped him? An Elixir? Whatever the case, he stomped towards Demona and Aqua, legs wobbling with each step.
Leaning against the pew, Kairi stood up once more, but despite gulping down a bottle of her own, she dragged her feet back into the fray. The tip of her Keyblade shimmered with white light, but was that really enough? After smashing Demona in the side, Aqua rose high above the ground, slashed horizontally, and blasted the floor with a blanket of flames that made Demona hiss and leap to the side. Aqua collapsed again, shakily pushing herself up with her arms.
I can't take this anymore!
Teeth bared, Sora zigzagged across the floor, tackling Demona from behind and dragging his claws down her spine. She fell forward, catching herself on her palms. Her tail coiled around Sora's legs again, and she hurled him at one of the arches. Just before crashing, Sora sank into the darkness, reappearing at Aqua's side. He snapped his fingers, and green light washed over her, closing the gashes that lined her shoulder and back. She shivered and groaned, cracking a tiny smile.
"Thank you."
He nodded and extended a hand when the sound of roaring caught his ear. Spinning back around, he spotted Demona swooping at Kairi. His eyes darted between the two girls. Much as he wanted to help Aqua, he knew she could handle herself. After the way he hurt Kairi before, he couldn't afford to let Demona do the same, so he flipped backwards and plunged into the darkness again.
When he reappeared, he watched three light pillars bash Demona from the front. Grinning, Sora drove a flaming fist down at her back, but before he made contact, he felt the weight of an avalanche smash against his back. Heat burned through his clothes. His face struck the concrete, and chunks of rock pounded against his spine. A dusty scent crept up his nose, and his face twisted into a glare.
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Sora."
He flattened himself, slithered out from beneath the rocks, and popped back on his feet, squinting at his surroundings. Zexion's voice sounded so close, but where'd it come from? A tap on the shoulder made him jump, and he whipped around to find a single blue eye boring into his. One look into that eye, and Sora snapped forward, swiping his claws at the front of Zexion's coat. Just like before, he passed through thin air, and something blunt smacked his back. Snarling, Sora turned around, tossing two green fireballs at a nearby, floating book.
Another blow to the back and Sora glared over his shoulder. The sound of Zexion's chuckling made his hair stand on end, but no matter where he looked, he saw nothing but empty space.
"You know, as much as I'd love a proper rematch, I'd rather not steal Demona's spotlight."
Oh yeah? I didn't know you were a coward!
"A coward? Hardly. I consider this a tactical advantage." Two more books flew at Sora's face. Hissing, Sora flattened himself, dodging the blow, and sprung back up. Zexion's odor once again overwhelmed his senses, leaving him with a sour taste on the tip of his tongue.
Two more objects flew in on both his sides and Sora jumped up, dodging an explosion of pages. On his way back down, something grabbed the hood of his jacket and yanked him back. Grimacing, Sora thrust his elbow back, but it once again passed through air. The grip on his hood released, making him fall back on his rump.
"I appreciate the effort, but I think this game of cat and mouse is merely delaying the inevitable…"
Sora heard a snap and his body froze. His eyes dilated, then narrowed. Amidst the darkness, he saw tiny specks of light skidding around. Flying through the air. Crashing into pews and pillars.
"Go, Sora. Chase the light…"
He took one step forward, then stopped, digging his claws into his hair. He remembered a scream. Red hair. Claws scraping skin. Oily black tears. He was… Stronger…
I can't… He shook his head. I won't!
"Must you be so stubborn?" Another snap, and Sora felt something squeeze at his neck. His eyes once again dilated, and he took another step.
"Now, go. Fight your friends until the air bursts from your lungs and your entire body grows numb!"
His claws twitched. He took two more steps, then three, moving from a slow trudge to a sprint. His arms and legs carried him closer to the lights. To the red-haired girl from before. To the blue-haired woman swinging a giant key at a monster with wings. He moved faster, faster, and faster, toward the girl with the red hair. Towards his target.
The girl looked up. Her eyes widened. She squeezed that awful Key and stumbled straight into his path. Teeth bared, he leaped at her, but the girl threw up her Key, then grabbed him by the wrist. He pulled back his other hand, ready to swipe, but she nudged it away with the tip of her weapon and then squeezed his other wrist.
"Sora, enough. This isn't you at all. I don't want to see you hurt again, so please, just stop."
Sora. That's right. He was Sora…
"C'mon, I know you're stronger than this! Are you really gonna let yourself stay Zexion's puppet?"
He—Sora hissed. He jerked his hands free, sprung backwards, and crouched low to the floor. But this wasn't him, was it? Zexion's slave. His pawn. Just a marionette on strings, obeying every stupid thing that came out of his mouth… Sure, the words he uttered flowed through Sora's ears like soft silk. And sure, the sight of that Keyblade left his throat itching and his chest tight. But once again that scream repeated in his head, like nails on a chalkboard. Like a record scratch. It penetrated the haze of his mind, cut through the leash and the strings.
Sora took off running again. He charged at Kairi and Aqua, now standing back to back. His claws lit up in purple, and he pulled his lips into a smirk. Just as he reached a yard's length from the two, he swerved to the side and scraped his claws across Demona's legs. A purple ring struck her, bubbles forming over her skin. She dragged her claws across his cheek, and for the millionth time, Sora sank down below.
And he followed that scent clear across the floor. He scuttled beneath one of the arches, popped out of his shadow, and ripped his claws across the back of Zexion's coat. The blow knocked him out of the shadows and down on his knees, and he gasped, flickering out of sight. Rubbing his hands together, Sora jumped back into a swirling dark corridor and crashed down in front of Kairi and Aqua.
Go ahead, Zexion. Just try controlling me again! I don't care what you tell me to do; I'm done following orders, and I'm done hurting people.
Demona glowered, tail thrashing left and right. "I thought you said that you'd have him under control, Zexion!"
"Unfortunately, it would seem his will is still too strong." He heaved an airy sigh, still out of sight. "And look at you, Demona. You've become sluggish, your attacks have lost their ferocity, and now you've been poisoned. Today just isn't working in your favor, is it?"
"Oh yeah?" Donald scoffed. "Then why don't you come out and help her? We can take you bo—"
Kairi pinched his beak shut. "Don't push it, Donald. Demona's not the only one running out of steam."
"But unlike you, I can't die by your hand." She shuddered and lunged at Kairi, who threw up her Keyblade to block. Another swing sent her weapon rattling to the floor, and Demona pulled her hands back for a third swipe. Aqua's Keyblade struck her in the side just as her talons neared Kairi's neck, and with a snap of Sora's claws, a purple bolt nailed her in the skull. Demona lumbered backwards, forming an X with her arms like before. Another shimmering shockwave shot out in an arc, and Kairi, Aqua, Donald, and Goofy scattered across the floor. Fists clenched, Sora barreled at Demona. As he drew closer, the air heated up and orange light trails plunged down from the ceiling.
And then something strange happened.
Just as the meteors drew over the group's heads, Sora heard a loud CRASH. Shards of glass filled the air. Red lights flew at the meteors, blasting them into smoking pebbles. Three silvery figures glittered in the moonlight, hovering high above the floor. Three more winged figures dived down, and Sora soon felt his feet leave the ground.
At first he struggled, but then he noticed his carrier's broad chin and muscular frame.
Goliath…?
In mere seconds, Sora's feet touched the top of the stairs. Goliath released him and stomped down the steps, wings open wide.
Across the room, Brooklyn dived at Demona and tackled her into the ground. "Go ahead, Demona! Just try using another one of your spells…"
"As you wish." She grabbed his shoulders with hands burning bright blue. Blurting out a scream, Brooklyn lurched back and Demona rolled back on her feet.
A third gargoyle crashed down on top of her, big, bulky, and blue and with spikes running down the top of his head. He cracked his knuckles, and his eyes glowed white. After brushing off his shoulder, Brooklyn barreled straight at her, and Goliath trudged in from the right.
The three gargoyles loomed over her, and even though she squirmed and flailed, the three of them kept her pinned to the ground for a few seconds. A swing of her tail knocked the blue one aside, and she yanked her arms free from the others' grip, but the other gargoyles followed her, backing her against the leg of an arch.
Both her hands snapped into fists, and her legs trembled. "How did you find us?!"
"Oh, we have our ways," said another voice. It sounded tinnier than usual, but there was no mistaking Xanatos. But then, where was he? Craning his neck up at the ceiling, Sora noticed one of the robots' red armor.
"Your timing is perfect." Aqua laughed between breaths. "Perhaps now we can end this fight."
"I'd argue that we've already put them in checkmate." Xanatos folded his arms. "If Zexion pulls up another illusion, my robots will see straight through it. If Demona tries another attack, there are three angry gargoyles, all at full strength. Frankly, I think it would be in your best interest to end this charade."
Demona's back arched. "And you would side with Goliath?"
"A temporary alliance, I assure you." He hovered closer to her, stopping above her head. "The fact is, your little romp with the Heartless has been nothing short of irritating. Had you actually succeeded in sending this world into the darkness, then I would have lost everything I've worked so hard to obtain. All in all, it would have been terribly inconvenient."
The other robots swooped down behind her, and each one latched onto one of her shoulders. They raised their other arms parallel to the floor, and two cannons popped up above their wrists. Just watching the way they all surrounded her brought a smile to Sora's face. Snickering silently, he zipped over to join in the mob. Demona wasn't getting out of this that easily! Soon he heard clanking and pounds echoing throughout the room—the others were probably close behind.
"So this is what it comes to." Demona sent the others a fiery glare and slapped her palm against the arch. Her hand sank into the stone, and with a flick of her tail, she knocked away one of the robots' hands. Grinning, she pressed her side into the arch, sinking deeper and deeper. Darkness swirled around her, and soon she was gone.
With Demona gone, the robots' engines hummed, and they floated back into the air. Brooklyn's fists struck the floor, and Goliath placed a hand on his back.
"We did what we could, Brooklyn. For now, we should be grateful that this fight has ended." He gestured to the others. "Our friends are safe, and that is all that really matters."
No Heartless popped up to rain on their parade, and that dusty, sour stench faded altogether. With the air clear and silence hanging overhead, Sora let out a huge sigh and plopped down on the floor. Kairi, Aqua, Donald, and Goofy all huddled around him. Goliath and the other gargoyles turned toward the shattered window and strode up the steps and soon, they all left the cathedral behind. The battle was done, and now they could finally get some well-deserved rest.
After a while, they returned to the castle courtyard. There, Sora made his way up the stairs and back to the top of one of the walls. His claws wrapped around the railing, and he looked way down at the city streets. Instead of screams, he heard the honking of car horns. Instead of fleeing crowds, he saw people emerging from buildings. From this high up, they looked like a bunch of little ants, skittering back and forth. Sometimes stopping and turning, probably looking out for the Heartless.
He heard laughter from behind and zipped to the other side of the wall. Looking down, he spotted Kairi, Donald, and Goofy standing in the grass with Brooklyn and that blue guy close by.
x.x.x
"Man, it sounds like you guys got to have all the fun!" Brooklyn slumped and shook his head. "Makes me wish we would've gotten there sooner."
"Aw, cheer up, Brooklyn!" Broadway patted him on the back. "At least you got to make a cool entrance."
"Well, sure, but if we'd have shown up just a few minutes earlier, we could've beaten her so hard she'd have to think twice about using those Heartless again." He emphasized this by punching the air and beating his wings, an act that made Kairi burst out laughing, along with Broadway.
"At least Kairi and the others were there." Broadway grinned, tipping his head back. "I bet they wiped the floor with her with all those cool spells they've got."
"Well, maybe a little…" Kairi let out a shaky laugh, tucking some hair behind her ear. "But it was a lot tougher than I thought it'd be. I never even realized how hard it is fighting in the dark until my own spells started blinding me." But then, flash a bunch of lights in a dark room, and of course she'd get dazed. It was no better than flicking a light switch on and off; even now, her eyes still stung.
Donald huffed, rubbing his eyes. "And I've still got a headache from it, too. Why'd she have to trap us in that lousy cathedral?"
"Because it gave her the upper hand," said Brooklyn. "I hate to say it, but Demona's no idiot. She probably knew she'd be up against some tough competition, so she picked a spot that'd give her an edge."
"And Zexion sure didn't help." Kairi sighed, but Brooklyn's words came as no surprise. After all, they'd faced plenty of cunning foes in the past, and if one thing stayed consistent, it was their manipulative streaks. Of course Demona wouldn't play fair. "Still, at least we won. It might've been tough, but now I know what to work on the next time I train."
Aqua nodded, reaching for her left shoulder. "Just pace yourself, all right? I spent years fighting through the darkness, and it still took some time to adapt."
"I know. Believe me, I'm not about to run myself dry after tonight." She put a hand on her hip. "If I have to, I'll just use a blindfold sometimes. That should at least sharpen my other senses."
"Gawrsh, maybe I oughta give that a try!" said Goofy.
"No way." Donald rolled his eyes. "You're already clumsy enough. Why would you wanna make it worse?"
Covering her mouth, Aqua giggled and pulled Kairi aside. "I think that's a great idea. And you know, even if we haven't spent that much time together, I'm amazed at how far you've already come."
"You are?" But Aqua was a Master. Surely Kairi's skills couldn't compare to years of training.
But to Kairi's surprise, she nodded. "The last time I met you, you were so small, and I thought that someday you'd need someone to protect you. Now that I've seen you fight, I see that's no longer necessary." She looked up at the sky with a wistful sort of smile. "You're brave, persistent, and you've already mastered a number of difficult spells. In fact, if you keep your light shining strong and continue your training, perhaps you'll be able to earn the Mark of Mastery someday. You're already off to a great start."
"Aqua, I don't know what to say." She let out another quiet, shaky laugh, wrapping her fingers around her necklace. The idea of mastery never once crossed Kairi's mind before. As it was, the whole hero routine was still too new. Sealing Keyholes and traversing the worlds by itself already carried mountains of pressure. She couldn't imagine how Aqua handled that on top of all the responsibilities that came with her title. But all the same, she had to say something.
"Thank you. I'll try my best to get stronger, even if it takes a while."
"There's no need to hurry," said Aqua. "Just do your best, and if you ever falter, remember that you have friends willing to support you every step of the way." She reached behind her back and pulled out her Wayfinder. "Our bonds are unbreakable, held together by invisible chains. Never forget that, Kairi."
"I won't." She folded her hands together and turned her eyes on the others. "And that goes double for you guys, too."
"Man, it sucks that you guys have to leave so soon." Broadway's head drooped, and he kicked at the dirt. "I was kinda hoping you'd stay for a while."
Brooklyn looked down, and he blew out some air. "Yeah. I mean, it's great having Elisa around, but she's our only other friend outside the clan."
"Aw, but we'll still be pals!" said Goofy. "It's just like Aqua said: we've got invisible chains tyin' us together, so even though we gotta help the rest of the worlds, there's no way we'll forget you fellers!"
"I guess that's not so bad." Broadway looked up, scratching the back of his head. "At least we know some people don't see us as monsters."
"And maybe others will understand someday, too." It was then that Kairi finally noticed the two yellow eyes peering down from high above. Had Sora been watching the whole time? Just listening in instead of joining his friends? Well, that sure wouldn't do.
After shooting a glance to her friends, Kairi flung her shoulders back, took a deep breath, and marched up the stairs and straight towards Sora. He wasn't getting out of this that easily.
x.x.x
When he caught Kairi approaching the stairs, Sora jumped back and gulped. Maybe he overreacted a little bit. After all, it was just Kairi, and it wasn't like he'd hurt her again. But still, something made his heart plummet to the pit of his stomach. What if she was mad that he'd kept his distance? Was she gonna drag him down to the others? In the time he spent fussing over possibilities, he barely noticed the soft, thudding steps or the hand waving in front of his face.
"Hello? Earth to Sora…"
He shot up like a beanpole, nodding frantically. When Kairi started laughing, he huffed and dug through his pocket. 'Hey, Kairi.'
"Hey yourself." She giggled, leaning back against the wall. "You know, you don't have to be shy. I'm sure the others want to see you just as much as I do."
'I know, and believe me, I'm not trying to hide. I guess I just needed some space.' He paced back and forth, looking to the sky. 'It's been a really long night, and it still feels like we could've done more.'
When she reached for his back, Sora tensed. "We did what we could. Isn't that what counts? Sure, Zexion's still out there, but at least we saved this place."
'Yeah, I guess so.' He squeezed his pen, and then a thought hit him. Something that brought a smile back to his face. 'You know, I bet he was just scared he'd get beat up by a girl! You and Aqua'd probably turn him into a great big punching bag the second he crawled outta the shadows.' After all, he did try controlling Sora a second time. He might as well have painted a great big target on his chest with neon lights that said 'hit me'.
More laughter bubbled out of her, and she held up a fist. "That's right. Anybody who messes with my friends has to answer to me." She puffed out her chest and smacked her fist against her other palm."That did look threatening, right?"
Sora snorted, doodling a smiley face on the page. 'Well, I know I wouldn't wanna get on your bad side. Those Nobodies better watch out!'
"Yep." Though after a few seconds, her smile wavered, and she looked over the edge of the wall. "So, Sora, what are you gonna do now?"
He looked the other way, scuffling his shoe on the ground. The truth was, he didn't really know. It'd be easy enough to hop in the Gummi Ship with Kairi and the others. They could even take Aqua along for the ride, train together just like Aqua said, and maybe they'd find just the strength they needed to really wreck the Organization's plans. Together they'd be an unstoppable force. After all, Aqua was a Master, Kairi'd become a powerhouse herself, and Donald and Goofy just added more fuel to their fire. For a second, Sora even thought about taking that route. He pressed his pen against the paper, grinned, and started to write.
But before he got down even a single letter, his arms dropped to his sides. After all, it just wasn't that simple. Tons of worlds still needed help. If they all traveled together, wouldn't that limit the ground they'd cover? If they traveled separately, Aqua could close one Keyhole while Kairi took care of another. Wasn't that the better route to take?
When he picked up his writing gear again, he kept his eyes on the paper and away from her face. 'I can't leave Aqua behind. We still don't know how to control the Star Shard, and if things get outta hand, I wanna be there for her.'
"I thought you'd say that." When Sora looked up, Kairi watched him with her hands behind her back. "And it's okay. I won't stop you."
Sora scratched the back of his head, chewing on the side of his mouth. 'You sure? I don't want you to start worrying again.'
"I'm gonna worry no matter what, you dork." She shrugged and leaned right in his face. "But you better come visit, or I might have to hunt you down myself."
Sora flinched. Boy, how could he say no to that? He'd already physically hurt Kairi once. No way was he gonna upset her on top of all that.
Instead, he tucked his pen in the rings of his notepad and held extended his little finger. When Kairi saw it, she snickered.
"A pinky promise?" She tapped her chin and then curled her pinky around his. "Then I'll see you soon, okay?"
He scratched his cheek with a claw, chuckling silently. 'Yep. And this time, I'm sure we'll be together again soon. Just you wait.'
He could have left it at that. When he looked over the edge of the wall, he spotted Aqua gazing back at up at him; she probably wanted to leave soon, which meant their time was running out. Soon he and Kairi'd part ways again. They'd go off on their own adventures. Who knew when they'd see each other after that? With Riku still stuck inside a computer, it could take weeks. Maybe even months.
His lips curled up just a little bit, and he fiddled with his pen. As a thought took root in his head, he exhaled softly and shut his eyes. If this really was goodbye for now, then maybe it was time to clue her in. To let her know what he already knew this whole time. After all, the look on her face earlier revealed the answer clear as day.
'You know, Riku's really lucky he's got you, Kairi.'
"What—" She blinked, stepping back into the wall. "Sora, what're you…?"
He shook his head, scribbling another message. 'Keep him outta trouble, okay? You know how dumb he gets sometimes.'
"I…" She averted her eyes, probably trying to hide the redness creeping across her cheeks. For a couple of seconds, she just stood there, and then a tiny laugh blew out of her. "He really is a bonehead, isn't he?" She finally looked back at him, cheeks just a tiny bit pink. "I can't even imagine what kind of trouble he's gotten into inside that computer, so I guess it's up to me to find out."
'Hey, if anyone can do it, it's you!'
"Yeah… " She slid closer and before Sora could even blink, her arms wrapped around his middle, gripping him in an airtight hug. "But promise me you'll stay out of trouble, too. And if anything happens, you can always come to us for help."
He froze, looking down at his hands. A lump the size of a yarn ball formed in his throat, and his pen rolled out of his grip. Stepping back, Kairi scooped it back up and watched him with a raised eyebrow.
"Well?"
Taking his pen back, Sora forced another nod. 'Don't worry. I'll be fine. As long as I've got friends like you, Riku, Aqua, and Ven, I can handle whatever trouble that Organization throws at me!'
"Then good luck out there, Sora. And don't worry; I'll tell Riku you're doing okay."
x.x.x
By the time Kairi made it back to the ship, she collapsed in her seat, sinking down into the cushions. Her eyelids felt like bricks, and they kept sliding shut against her will. Though she tried to hold it in, a yawn burst out of her. Now that she'd finally stopped fighting, stopped running, and returned to the comfort of the cockpit, her exhaustion must have finally caught up with her. She didn't even have the energy to really think about what she promised she'd do. Entering the simulation sounded easy enough on paper, but would DiZ even allow it? That was ignoring everything that Sora said, a topic better saved for another day, when she didn't have hundreds of other worries piling up on her back.
"Gee, Kairi, ya feelin' all right?"
"Huh?" She perked up, rubbing one of her eyes. Shifting sideways, she spotted Goofy watching her with his head tipped to the side. "Oh, I'm okay. There's just a lot going through my head right now. Maybe a little too much."
"Well, it sounds to me like you had quite the adventure," said Jiminy, hopping up on the back of her seat. He held his journal in one hand and a pen in the other. "I don't think anyone would blame you if you got some rest."
"Probably." She slid down the back of her seat, arms plopping in her lap. "There's something I need to do when we get back, but I won't get anywhere if I can't keep my eyes open."
Goofy rubbed his eyes and smacked his lips. With a loud and bellowing yawn, he stomped on one of the pedals and fiddled with the buttons. The ship shuddered and lifted away from the castle grounds.
"Well, at least we'll be able to get a good, long nap once we get back to Twilight Town." He yawned again, squinting at the radar screen. "Ya think we'll bump into trouble on the way back?"
Donald grumbled, scooting forward with his arms crossed. "We will if you can't stay awake."
"Aw, don't worry 'bout me! I'll just see if Chip 'n Dale can whip up some coffee."
"Or we could speed things up and use the Warp Drive." Donald snickered and rubbed his hands together. "We'd just have to push a button, and—"
Kairi shot up in her seat. "Wait! Didn't Gyro say not to mess with the Warp Drive? It hasn't even been tested yet."
Goofy narrowed his eyes and covered the button with his hand. "She's right! And we don't know what'd happen if we used it, anyway."
"Oh, what's the worst that could happen?" Donald pushed his hand aside. "If it hasn't been tested before, we'll just have to test it now!"
"Donald, hold on! I still don't think that's a good—"
Too late. With a great big grin on his beak, Donald bashed the button. The ship gave an abrupt jerk forward and then spiraled through space, pushing Kairi, Donald, and Goofy all against the backs of their seats.
x.x.x
Lost in the twinkling stars, Zexion clasped his hands behind his back. Behind, he heard Demona's pants, her growls. No doubt she was still brooding over her untimely defeat. Still wearing his disguise, he flapped his illusionary wings and peered over his shoulder.
"You know, throwing a temper tantrum won't change what transpired. I suggest you accept your defeat and rethink your strategy for the future."
"We could have won, Zexion. If you had done more than hide like a cowardly fool—"
"But don't you see?" He smirked. "The Keybearers will surely be leaving soon. When they do, peace will resume. The gargoyles will be left without crucial allies, and you can begin your plan anew…"
Demona stood silently, fists shaking. She breathed out through her nose and turned her eyes on the glowing moon. "Who says I need to start over? You gave me a wonderful gift; even if I have to change my approach, the Heartless will still hasten my plans. It's all just a matter of time before humanity meets its end…"
"See? In the end, you've still won. They simply won't realize it until it's too late." Or so she'd believe. Ultimately, he doubted she'd succeed. Her arrogance blinded her otherwise brilliant mind, and it wasn't as if the gargoyles were her only foes. Macbeth, perhaps even Xanatos would now face her with scorn. "Though it truly is a shame we couldn't claim Xanatos' heart. He would have made a remarkable asset as a Nobody."
But why fret over such a minor loss? With the flick of his wrist, Zexion called forth a corridor, which bulged straight out of the rooftop. He lifted his foot and prepared to slink inside, when something most peculiar raced across the skyline.
A red beam of light blazed past stars and through clouds. Had Kairi's little cloaking system finally failed?
Perhaps a change of plan was in order. After all, that light had to lead somewhere.
TO BE CONTINUED