A/N: Another three worlds have pasted, now it's time to continue on with the story. I bet you guys can imagine what'll happen in this. If it's where I now rescue Aqua...you are mostly wrong. The next chapter of the story is going to be shocking.
World: Destiny Islands
Three days have pasted.
I'm not having any luck with finding a way into the Realm of Darkness to rescue Aqua. With every minute I waste in the between worlds, a piece of Aqua's life is taken away by the Shadowmoon.
After my journey in Atlantis, I did visit Radiant Garden to check on Terra.
[Flashback]
Terra is still asleep on the bed. Ventus is sitting on a chair beside the bed, watching over Terra. I start to worry for the kid. It's been days since I freed Terra from Xehanort's possession. I have a gut feeling the kid has no left Terras side since.
Terra starts moaning in his sleep, which puts Ven on alert. He eyes start to open. Ventus is excited to see his friend waking up. "Terra! You're finally awake!"
Terra puts a hand on his head, moaning quietly. "Oh...my head." Terra slowly sits up. He takes a moment to adjust, his vision and his head. Once it's clear, he looks at Ventus. "Ven..." Ventus nods. "Hey...what happened?"
"You were being possessed by Xehanort." I say.
Terra looks at me, surprised to hear that. "What? ...Oh, right. I remember."
"You feeling okay?" Ventus asks.
"I think so...just a bit of a headache." Terra says. "How did I break free from his control."
"Your will and mind called us to you and Xehanort. I fought Xehanort to free you from his control." I say.
"Well...I guess that explains the soreness I'm feeling." Terra looks up at me. "Thanks for the rescue. Who are you anyways."
"You know who I am." I say.
Terra is confused to hear that. "What?" Terra looks at me. At first, he didn't get it. But then he notices the wayfinder around my neck. Now he's completely shocked. "I...I don't believe it. Patrick? Is that you?"
I chuckle a little then speak. "Nice to see you again, Uncle Terra."
[Flashback ends]
Terra was speechless after hearing what happened, and that it was 15 years later. What he couldn't believe the most is that, for an instant to his eyes, I went from that scared, harmless shy little boy into a highly-trained hard core Keyblade Master.
I leave Terra in the hands of Serah and Ventus. They explain everything to Terra. I just hope they don't explain Aqua's situation without me around, I at least want to tell Terra how hard I'm trying to save her from the darkness. Although I do wonder if he remembers battling her in that city before he was driven into the Realm of Darkness.
Guess all that really matters is that Terra is back.
The bell rings, which signals that school is now over. All the students are just leaving the school. Kairi is just leaving as well. She starts heading into town up until the Heartless appears, surrounding her. Kairi is alert then she summons her Keyblade: Destiny's Embrace. The Shadows approach to her. Kairi fights the Heartless, only her fighting skills are...let's call it beyond rusty.
The girl isn't use to fighting.
Kairi backs away until she is cornered. The Shadows crawls towards her, but Kairi still stands her ground. For an instant, all of the Heartless are destroyed in a single swing.
Kairi was confused, she didn't make that swing. She looks ahead to see, beyond the dark mists of the Shadow's remains, I stand there with my Keyblade held out. I'm the one who defeated those Heartless.
I just stand there in silence, so does Kairi. After a moment, my Keyblade vanishes and I approach Kairi. "You all right?"
"Ye...yeah." Kairi's Keyblade vanishes as well. "Thank you for saving me."
"It was nothing." I say. "So, what are you doing out here?"
"Oh...well, I was just on my way to the island to meet Sora and Riku. Then those Heartless attacked me." Kairi says.
"Not easy being a Princess of Heart is it?" I say, making Kairi laugh.
"Certainly is not. I'm with Sora and Riku all the time and I still feel unsafe from the darkness." Kairi says.
"Fighting for yourself doesn't seem to put that nerve to ease as well." I say.
Kairi looks offended. "Hey, I can fight! I'm just...not as skilled as you are."
"I never expect you to be." I turn to the road leaving to the Town Plaza. "There are probably most of them out there. Let me escort you..." I give Kairi a respectful bow. "Fair princess."
Kairi laughs at my little joke, then she gives a curtsy. "Thank you, kind sir."
We start making our way across the main island. When we enter the Town Plaza, a circular area with a fountain in the middle, that's when we start being attack by the Heartless. I do most of the fight. Kairi also fights, but only doing so little, it feels like I'm really the only one fighting. Every Heartless battle, she does only a total of two or three swings.
The disappointment with the Heartless in this world is that the Heartless are Darkballs, Shadows, Crescendo, Tornado Step, and Bookmaster. The Bookmasters are no problem, but the Crescendo's are annoying with their healing and resurrection abilities. The Darkballs and Shadows are also no help with their hiding abilities, turning to mist or sinking into the ground.
I cast Magnega, which captures all of the Heartless, then do Sonic Blade on them. The Shadows are defeated and then I enter Fever Pitch. As the Heartless are defeated, more appears. Even Kairi starts to become attacked by them. I rush to her side and protect her with Holy Shield. When the Heartless are done striking I counter attack with Counter Aura. I continue attacking the Heartless, then I enter Black Maelstrom.
My dark, vicious attacks did critical against the Heartless. Soon enough, the area is clear and we continue on ahead.
We arrive in Tropical Street, which is a road in a middle of line of houses. The Heartless make another appearance here. "They're everywhere aren't they?" Kairi asks.
"Name a place or world when they're not." I say.
I gather them all with Magnega, then I reach my full power and unleash Black Maelstrom. The Heartless were quickly defeated in the end of that Command Style. Kairi and I move onward, then more Heartless appears.
I activate my D-linking with the Kida Charm. My arms turn to crystal, crystal shards pop out of my shoulder blades and my body glowing in blue light. I attack the Heartless with my heavy hits, then I cast Quakja, causing countless boulders within fifteen yards all around me, to raise out of the ground. All of the Heartless are knocked into the air. When they're on the ground, I use Crystal Breaker on the group of a Defender and two Bookmasters that lay on the ground.
I put all of my force into the Keyblade and slam it on the ground in front of me, causing a wave of crystals to raise out of the ground. That destroyed the Defender and Bookmasters there. The rest of the Heartless gets back on their feet, then I continue attacking them. Kairi is making some progress with her attacks as well.
I do Heavy Slam, leap high and slam my Keyblade on the ground on the Heartless, causing crystals to raise around me. After that, I kill a Darkball with Lava Burst, shooting a ball of molten lava at it. The Darkballs starts attacking me and Kairi. The hits were hard, Kairi starts to weaken even.
when I recover, I heal us with Curaga. "Heal!"
I continue attacking the Heartless, until I reach my full power and unleash Atlantan Heart. I launch a Lava Burst on a Darkball, it sticks on it instead of hurting. I rush towards it, grab it and toss it to the air, then I leap towards it. When I reach it, I use my Keyblade to launch it. It crushes from the ground and lava crystals burst out of the ground in all directions from the impact.
That finished off the Heartless.
Kairi and I start walking down the road outside of town, heading towards the shore. "So, how's your search going?" Kairi looks at me. "Sora told me what happened."
I stop in place hearing that, then Kairi stops and turns looking back at me. "My search is very slim. I'm having no luck finding Aqua."
Kairi approaches me. "Why is she so important to you?"
I'm surprised Sora left that logic out. "Aqua was like a mother to me. I was helpless and scared when I was found, so she took me in."
"She sounds like a very kind person." I nod. "I get how you feel. I usually miss and sometimes worry for Sora and Riku when they leave on their little journeys." Kairi crosses her arms. "It's not fair if you ask me. They go out and have the time of their life while I'm stuck here having a normal life."
"In their defense, you are a Princess of Heart. You should be kept safe and out of danger." Like I can even say that, given to I've brought Belle into such dangers, even through the whole end was meant to be cause of Beast.
"If that's true, then why would they leave me behind all alone where the Heartless can attack me while they're gone?" Kairi points out.
I was about to speak, but I have nothing to say. She's right and I know it. "You may have a point there."
Kairi and I keep on walking until we arrive the Seashore. We just stand at the edge of the beach, looking at the island uphead. "It feels like a lifetime when I was last here." I say.
Kairi looks surprised at me. "Really? When?"
"Fifteen years ago, when Aqua brought me here on my birthday." I say. "Well...it wasn't my actual birthday, I don't really remember my actual birthday, but it was a year after I was found and taken in. For a present, Aqua passed down part of my power into me."
"That sounds very special." Kairi says with a smile.
"Back then, coming here was pretty painful. Cause...well, you know." Kairi nods a little. "Anyway, let's get going."
We walk to the side, heading for the docks, but we stopped when the ground suddenly starts rumbling. "What was that?" Kairi asks, startled.
"That sounds like..."
Something huge bursts out of the water. It rains down upon us. When it stops, we look at the ocean. In the water is a giant hermit crab. It faces use with it's giant two claws and four tentacle legs, with the Heartless emblem on its stomach.
Abyssal Jaws.
"That." I say. I summon my Keyblade then Kairi does as well. "I hope you're ready to fight a Heartless that size!"
Abyssal Jaws starts off by slamming its tentacles on the sand. I avoiding the attacks, but Kairi wasn't so lucky. I attack the Heartless right in the head, throwing a couple of hits then I cast Sparkja. I channel a light orb above me, it divides into five orbs, then launch them at the Heartless. The orbs explode upon impact and rings of light are left in their wake.
Kairi recovers then joins me on the attack. Abyssal Jaws casts Bubblebeam. It breaths many bubbles on us. I block with Holy Shield protecting Kairi and myself. After defending, I attack until I enter Star Surge. I deliver a couple of hits. Abyssal Jaws digs its tentacles into the ground, that's when it starts up its powerful attack.
Kairi and I gather and we channel Holy Barrier, making the tips of our Keyblades touch each other and a light barrier protects us. The tentacles starts piercing out of the sand, impaling at the barrier. Kairi and I channel light magic, gaining power up.
"Strength of the heart." I say.
"Though the power of the holy light." Kairi adds.
We unleash Radiant Light. Light bursts right out of the barrier and it all blasts onto the Abyssal Jaws from above.
The Heartless is knocked out.
Kairi and I continue attacking it, I do Hurricane Flare, then I reach my full power and unleash Star Surge. Kairi's fighting starts to improve, she's throwing my attacks then she usually does on the way here. I cast Stargleam, channeling twilight energy. Three stars appears above my head and shoulders and I launch them directly at Abyssal Jaws.
Abyssal Jaws regains conscious and continues attacking us with its giant claws. The one claw grabs Kairi and I block the other one with my Keyblade. I start sliding back for the sand isn't exactly solid ground I can use to stand my ground. I leap forward, standing on the claw then do a Strike Raid. After that, I cast Firaja, shooting a barrage of fireballs at the Heartless. They stick onto it and then explodes.
The Abyssal Jaws staggers in agony, even released Kairi from its grip. I enter Spell Weaver, attacking the Heartless. Abyssal Jaws does Freeze Beam, casting beams of ice from its tentacles. I freeze from one of them, Kairi was able to avoid them. Abyssal Jaws slams its claw on me. I break free from the ice but the impact hurt twice as much as it normally world.
I cast Curaga to heal myself. "Heal!" I attack Abyssal Jaws with Shadow Dash. "Too slow." That seems to have finish it off.
The Abyssal Jaws is splashing all around as it falls back into the waters. Kairi and I stand in place, positioned to either strike or defend ourselves. Once the Heartless is completely submerged, light glows within the waters then a massive heart is released.
Kairi pants in exhaustion. Her Keyblade vanishes then she collapses on her hands and knees. Clearly that fight worn her out.
"Kairi!" Kairi and I look ahead hearing that. Sora and Riku are arriving on a boat. Once they hit shore, they rush to her side. Sora kneels down and helps her stand up. "You okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine." Kairi says. "What are you guys doing here?"
"We saw that giant Heartless and thought you were in trouble." Riku says.
"She's all right. It was nothing I can't handle." I say.
"Man...fighting's hard. I don't know how you and Riku do this." Kairi says.
"Takes lots of practice. Me and Sora are always fighting with toy swords when we were little while you were watching us." Riku says.
"So what I'm getting at is she's...inexperienced." I say.
Sora and Riku laughs, but Kairi seems offended, even though it's true.
On the island, Sora and Riku are having a spar, while Kairi is sitting by watching. Sora makes a charge with a yell, but Riku steps out of the way dodging. Sora stumbles forward and falls onto the sand.
"Giving up all ready?" Sora turns, laying on his bottom. "Come on, Sora. I thought you were stronger then that."
Sora gets back on his feet. "I'll show you." He says with a cocky smirk.
Sora charges at Riku. This time, Riku doesn't dodge. He blocks Soras attack with his Keyblade. They hold this position, then Sora jumps back and does a rush strike on Riku. Riku leaps overs Sora to avoid the attack. Sora was surprise to see that. Riku launches and does a sweep strike, knocking Sora back.
"Looks like I win again." Riku says.
"No fair!" Sora complains.
Kairi laughs. "You boys. You two would make the weirdest brothers."
The three of them laugh. Riku helps Sora stand back up and Kairi approaches the two. Now they look at me. I'm sitting on the sitting tree on the pillar island.
"He still sitting there?" Riku asks.
"He's probably thinking about her...About Aqua." Sora says.
"You know, this island was very special to him. It's where she past down the power of the Keyblade to him." Kairi says.
Riku can understand that meaning, for he remembers Terra passing him down that power long ago. And he was told to keep the whole thing a secret.
I just sit on the tree, looking at the sunset lost in thought. Being here reminds me of that day fifteen years ago. I can even see images of myself and Aqua right in front of me on this spot. Aqua kneeling down her Keeyblade held in front of me, I grab it to receive a piece of her power.
I hold my hand out and my Keyblade appears. Aquas voice echoes in my head as I gaze upon it.
'In your hand. Take this Key. So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of making its wielder you shall be. And you will one day find me, my son. No more borders around, or below or above, so long as you champion the ones you love'
My Keyblade vanishes and I return my attention to the ocean view. "I have the power...I've become its wielder. Nothing can contain me...yet..." I look down in shame. "I have not found you." I gently grab hold of the Wayfinder around my neck, then I look up. "Aqua...please tell me. What must I do?"
"Yo!" I flinch right off the tree and turn to see Sora, Riku and Kairi.
"Oh...It's just you." My nerves settle down. "Geez! Don't you know better then to sneak up on a Keyblade Master?"
"I wouldn't know, I didn't pass my Mark of Mastery." Sora says.
"Right...sorry." I say. "I honestly don't know what else to do." I turn from the ground, looking up. "I have searched everywhere. I just can't find a way to free her from the darkness." I then look down, my fist clenching and shaking with rage. "Damn that bastard Rasputin! Why did he have to take her? What did I ever do to deserve this?"
"Calm down. You shouldn't really fester your anger." Riku says. "I remember going through something similar. I want to save my friends Sora and Kairi after our home was swallowed from the darkness. Because of that, I succumbed to the darkness, and the next thing I know I turned against them."
"When I lost Kairi, I thought I would never see her again. Everytime I come close, the darkness just took her away." Sora looks at Kairi with a smile. "But I never gave up. Eventually, I found her and we're together again."
Kairi nods. She approaches to me, putting a hand on my back as she stands by my side. "Sora and Riku have a point. You shouldn't give up too soon, and you shouldn't cast yourself into the darkness. Remember. You are Patrick. The Keyblade Master. You have the power to achieve the above and beyond. If anyone can save a friend from the darkness, its you."
I never really thought of any of that. I wield the power of Twilight, a balanced power of light and darkness. A Keyblade Master, trained under the great Master Yen Sid. I look at Kairi, that smile tells me she really means it.
I smile back at Kairi. "Yeah...you're right." I look forward. "I will find her, even if I have to dive into the Realm of Darkness itself." I summon my Keyblade, aim it in front of me. I shoot a twilight beam, and that opens a portal into the Lanes Between. "First, I'm gonna go check on Terra and Ventus."
Kairi nods. She takes out an item and hands it to me. "This is from me. Consider it a way to tell you to keep going."
I hold the Kairi Charm in front of me. "Thanks. Take care."
I walk right through the portal as it disappears when I cross right through it.