Hello, everyone! I'm back with the next chapter and some review responses! Remember, this is the final chapter for the KH portion! I'd like to thank Prometheus and sokairoxnam23549 in particular, as they've taken over the position of most consistent reviewer(s). I wanna thank each and every reader and reviewer. This story has gained more followers than I ever thought it would. Now, review responses!
kingdommast: Thanks for understanding, and here's your next chapter!
TheHeroOfAkatosh: Here you go, and thank you!
Prometheus16: Thanks for the review. I try with these boss fights, but I'm working mostly from memory while trying to mix it up, so I'm doing the best I can. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Okay, I need a disclaimer people!
Kairi: GamesMaster64 doesn't own Kingdom Hearts or The Legend of Zelda. Those belong to Square Enix and Nintendo, respectively.
Table of Fonts:
Standard Text: Regular Dialogue/Storytelling
Italics: Emphasis, Sound Effects, Thoughts
Bold: Maleficent Speech, Boss Name
Bold Underline: Special Attacks (this is cried out)
Bold Italic: Mysterious Voice
CAPS: Yelling
Underline: Flashback/History, name of location
Italic Underline: Dream
BOLD CAPS: Dungeon Name
Chapter 34: Imposing Castle! Ansem, Seeker of Darkness!
The group returned from the area where they had fought Maleficent. Along the way, Sora had stumbled across a secret passage. When they investigated it, they found a locked door. Sora used the Keyblade to unlock the door. On the other side, Sora learned two techniques: Warp, which could instantly defeat any one enemy; and Warpinator, which could instantly defeat all enemies in the vicinity. There was also a wooden chest that looked familiar to Link. When he opened it, he found another add-on to his boots, the Iron Boots. The group then made their way to where Maleficent was.
"Well, where do we go now?" Donald asked.
"Nowhere, of course." The four turned around and saw "Riku" standing behind them. He summoned his strange Keyblade again. "Rather, you're not going anywhere as long as you have the last Princess' heart inside yours." "Riku" said, pointing the Keyblade of Peoples' Hearts at Sora's heart. Link stepped forward, Master Sword drawn.
"Who are you, anyway?" Link asked. "Riku" laughed.
"I am Ansem, Seeker of Darkness!" he announced, laughing maniacally.
"Gawrsh! The Ansem feller from the report!?" Goofy asked. Ansem pointed his Keyblade at Sora.
"You. There is a way to free Kairi's heart. Hold this Keyblade to your heart, and then her heart will be freed." Ansem told him. Sora nodded, taking the Keyblade of Peoples' Hearts.
"SORA! DON'T!" Link called out. Sora looked over at Link, Goofy, and Donald. He then grinned, tossing the Keyblade over to them. Link caught it easily.
"Take care of everything from here, okay?" Sora asked. Link nodded. He realized he felt something stirring in the Keyblade, almost as if it were sentient. However, Link ignored the feeling, and watched as Sora unlocked Kairi's heart. As his body disappeared, Kairi awoke, looking over to where Sora's body had become engulfed in light.
"SOOOORRRRRAAAA!" Kairi called out, rushing to catch Sora's now-falling body. However, Sora's body disappeared just as it reached her arms. Kairi sank to her knees, crying. Link approached her, holding the Keyblade. Kairi looked up at him, as he held out his hand to help her.
"You okay, Kairi?" he asked, his voice full of concern. Kairi merely nodded.
"Who are you?" she asked. Link helped her up.
"My name is Link. I come from the realm of Hyrule." he told her. Kairi nodded.
"Ah, yes. You traveled across the Dimensional Rift that separates all dimensions. Normally an impossible and taboo feat. However, I feel that your being here is an exception." Kairi replied. Link stared in shock. "It comes with being a Princess of Heart. We now understand things that most people can't even comprehend." Link nodded. It made sense to him. Link then saw the other Princesses approaching.
"Where is the Keybearer?" Jasmine asked. Link explained to the Princesses what had happened. Kairi shook her head.
"He's not lost. I can feel his heart in mine." she said. Link nodded. There was then a rumble as a giant door with a huge lock on it shook, Darkness flowing out from the Keyhole. Goofy and Donald ran up to Link.
"What do we do, Link?" Donald asked. Link shook his head.
"We probably need to get the Princesses outta here. The Darkness coming out of there is powerful. We don't need Sora here to tell us that." Link said, sliding the Keyblade into his pouch and drawing the Master Sword. The Princesses nodded, and indicated that they'd follow Link. Link started toward the door when a lone Shadow Heartless entered.
"Odd..." Link muttered, as the castle shook again. This time, the shaking was followed by aftershocks, constant and minor. Donald stepped forward, brandishing his wand.
"Let me at that Heartless. I'll clobber it!" Donald said, rushing at it before anyone could stop him. To their surprise, the Heartless tripped Donald, before turning back to the group. Kairi stepped forward.
"...Sora...?" she asked.
"ARE YOU INSANE!?" Donald shouted, having gotten up. Kairi shook her head.
"Look at the leg shape. It looks like Sora's legs." Kairi said. Donald almost ran at it again, until Link's Boomerang collided with his beak, freezing him in place.
"Donald, chill. This Shadow Heartless is alone. You and I know full well that they only attack in groups." Link told him. Kairi then stepped up to the Heartless, hugging it.
"Sora... if that's you... please... come back..." Kairi said, tears in her eyes. There was a bright flash of light, and Sora and Kairi were embracing each other.
"Thank you... Kairi." Sora said. Link pulled the Keyblade out of his pouch and tossed it to Sora.
"Here you go, pal. I think this belongs to you." Link said. Sora nodded, shouldering the Keyblade. The other Princesses approached Sora.
"Keybearer, you must seal the Keyhole!" Alice said. Sora nodded.
"Alright! Let's go! I'm here, and I'm ready for action!" Sora said. The group of eleven headed back to the Keyhole. Sora pointed his Keyblade at the door, but it didn't work.
"Huh?" Link asked. "Why isn't it working?" Maniacal laughter followed Link's question.
"Because, silly boy, the Darkness is too strong! Soon, this whole world will be overrun by the Heartless! And there's nothing any of you can do about it!" Ansem said to them. This time, they saw the body of a full-grown man with dark skin. Coming from his feet was a miniature-looking Darkside Heartless. Behind him, a giant Heartless emerged from the Keyhole as Ansem disappeared. Before Link could get a good look at the Heartless, it was decimated. The blond Princess pointed.
"Look, that gigantic Heartless was just destroyed! Who did it?" the Princess asked. Link grinned.
"I only know one person who can take out Heartless in that fashion." Link replied. As he turned around, he heard Cid's voice over the cacophony.
"YOU HEARTLESS DON'T BELONG HERE!" Cid said, slinging an upgraded flamethrower. On the nozzle, Link clearly made out the label "Cid Cannon Mk. II". Link then saw Yuffie, Aerith, and Leon following the rambunctious pilot.
"Great to see you guys again." Link said. Aerith nodded, then turned to Sora.
"Sora... seal the Keyhole now. Without Ansem's dark influence, the Princesses of Heart will be able to hold back the Darkness long enough for you to seal the Keyhole." Sora nodded. As the Princesses concentrated their power, Sora pointed the Keyblade at the door. A beam shot out, and the door locked with a loud click. Almost immediately, the shaking ceased.
"We did it! By golly we did it!" Goofy shouted. Aerith, Leon, Cid, and Yuffie approached the four.
"This used to be our home." Aerith said. Kairi stepped up.
"Until Maleficent and the Heartless came. She turned the world of Radiant Garden into a headquarters for her to launch a Heartless invasion in order to hunt us Princesses down." Kairi finished the tale. Sora stared at her.
"Kairi? How did you know that?" she asked. Kairi smiled, sticking her tongue out at her childhood friend.
"Same way I know Link is from a different dimension. It comes with being a Princess of Heart." Kairi said. Sora nodded. "Anyway, this used to be my home too... before Ansem sent me away." Kairi continued. As she turned around to look at the castle of Hollow Bastion, her hand brushed against Sora's Keyblade. Kairi shook her head. "At any rate, we aren't out of the woods yet. Even now, Ansem is waiting at the End of the World. There, he's hoping to flood the Scattered Realms with Darkness." Kairi turned around. "It'll be up to you two to make things right." Kairi said, singling out Link and Sora. Donald and Goofy stepped forth.
"What about us?" Donald asked.
"You'll be helping me." a squeaky voice said.
"Gawrsh! Is that who I think it is!?" Goofy asked. A humanoid mouse stepped forward.
"YOUR MAJESTY!" Goofy and Donald shouted. Mickey accepted the embraces from his friends. Mickey then turned to Sora and Link.
"Sora, I have a message from my Master, Yen Sid. He has given me authorization to name you a Keyblade Master if you can defeat Ansem. Goofy, Donald, and I will be there to help back you up. This is your Mark of Mastery exam." Mickey said. Sora stared at him in confusion.
"Mark of Mastery?" Sora asked.
"It's the test that a Keyblader takes in order to become a true Keyblade Master." Kairi said. Sora nodded. He turned to Link.
"You ready pal?" Sora asked, twirling the Keyblade. Link nodded, drawing the Master Sword and Hylian Shield with flourishing movements.
"Sora, I was born ready!" Link said. The two then headed out, followed by Mickey, Donald, and Goofy. Kairi had wanted to go, but Sora insisted that it was too dangerous. Though she was a little upset, Kairi ended up agreeing to stay behind. The group of five boarded Donald's Gummi Ship (which Link and Sora learned was on loan from Disney Castle), and the ship took off toward the End of the World.
End of the World, Scattered Realms
The five departed the Gummi Ship after it landed on an empty stretch of land.
"So... this is really the End of the World?" Sora asked. Mickey nodded.
"It was... back when the Worlds were all connected." the King explained, drawing his own Keyblade. It looked like Sora's, except with a gold blade and silver handle. "Sora, meet the polar opposite of your Kingdom Key. This is the Dark Kingdom Key." Mickey said.
"Gawrsh! How did you get that one?" Goofy asked. Mickey turned to him.
"Well, I was trapped on the other side of a portal called 'The Door to Darkness'. I managed to slip out when Ansem did and came here." Mickey explained. Before anything else could be said, laughter echoed around them.
"You were all fools to come here after me!" Ansem then appeared in front of them. "Fitting that I should find you here, Mickey." Ansem said. Sora and Link stepped forward.
"Before you get him, you have to get through us." Link said, drawing his Master Sword and Hylian Shield. Sora nodded, summoning the Keyblade.
"Yeah, and give Riku back!" Sora said. Ansem shook his head.
"I'm afraid that won't be happening." Ansem said, his Guardian rising up. "Now, you fools will face the true power of the Darkness!" Ansem said. Again, the voice echoed around.
Your new foe is
Grand Heartless Leader, Ansem, Seeker of Darkness
He's accompanied by
Faithful Defender, Guardian
Mickey looked around in awe.
"Master Eraqus?" Mickey asked. The reply was unheard by Link and Sora, who had been separated from the group. Ansem stared out by flinging disks of dark energy. Link and Sora had to dodge them. Link threw the Boomerang at Ansem.
"Come, Guardian!" Ansem shouted. His Guardian floated in front of him, blocking the Boomerang. However, Sora appeared behind Ansem.
Warp!
Sora swung at Ansem, but the attack failed as Ansem's Guardian returned to Ansem's back, striking Sora away. Link rushed in to strike at Ansem, but he found himself moving very sluggishly. He looked down and saw the Guardian had attached itself to his shadow and was slowly draining his energy away. Link had an idea. He thrust the Master Sword into the air.
Quake Medallion!
Link managed to get his feet off the ground, and stabbed right into the Guardian, which roared out in pain as it returned to its master. Link shook his head.
"How do we get to Ansem?" he asked. Sora shook his head. Link then had an idea.
Pegasus Boots!
Link applied the magic to his boots, and took off, dashing at high-speed toward Ansem with the Master Sword pointed out like a lance. Ansem saw Link approaching and laughed.
"Come, Guardian!" he called out again. Again, Ansem's Guardian took the brunt of the attack. However, Ansem was sent flying away, and tumbled into the ground. Ansem got up, but was open for Sora's attack.
Lethal Frame!
Time stopped to Sora's eyes as he rushed at Ansem, striking him multiple times. As time resumed, Ansem was sent tumbling again.
"Hmph. You brats got a few hits in, but you'll get no more! Guardian! Let's show them what real teamwork is!" Ansem shouted. His Guardian detached itself and rushed at Link.
Dark Rush!
Link was mercilessly pummeled as the Guardian struck him over and over again. At the last hit Link collided with Sora, and both were sent to the ground. Ansem then rushed it, flinging more disks at them. This time, the disks hit, sending Link and Sora flying. Mickey shouted as he saw them flying.
"LINK! SORA! DON'T GIVE UP!" the King shouted. Link and Sora struggled up. Donald pointed his wand at them, but Mickey shook his head.
"Donald, Ansem has a barrier up. We can't get any help to them..." Mickey told him. Donald and Goofy shot worried glances at Link and Sora, who had finally managed to stand up.
"Do ya think they'll be okay?" Goofy asked. Mickey nodded.
"They will. They can't give up." Mickey replied.
"You fools are awful resilient." Ansem said as he saw Link and Sora stand up. "However, I can see your mortal forms weakening. There is a solution... give in to the Darkness... let your beings, your very souls become Darkness!" Ansem said, his face taking on a maniacal look. Link and Sora nodded, rushing at them.
"Sora, let's try something new!" Link said. He and Sora approached Ansem, who had recalled his Guardian. Link then concentrated on his magic.
Farore's Wind!
Link reappeared behind Ansem, knocking him toward Sora. Sora struck Ansem back, and the two volleyed him back and forth about ten times. Link then lept away, allowing Ansem to tumble across the ground. Link then pulled out a few Bombs, throwing them at Ansem, who was sent tumbling again. Ansem didn't move, but the two could see Darkness forming around him. There was then a huge explosion, and Link and Sora were sent tumbling backward, colliding with Donald, Goofy, and Mickey. The five got up, and Donald quickly gave Link and Sora a quick Curaga.
"Hey, Sora. A bit late, aren't you?" Riku asked them. Link and Sora turned around and saw it was actually Riku. Ansem then arose from the crater, his Guardian holding his semi-limp body.
"You two will regret this!" Ansem shouted. Sora charged forward, but was caught up in Ansem's energy. The land the other four were on started to shake as Darkness flowed out of Ansem's body. A giant doorway appeared. On the door was a heart-shaped moon.
"What is that?" Link asked, before Ansem, Sora, and the door floated into a mass of Darkness, blocking the others from seeing. Mickey shook his head.
"Not good... they're beyond the End of the World." Mickey said worriedly. Link shook his head.
"Do not worry, Your Majesty. He'll be fine." Link said. Mickey looked at him.
"You sound so sure, Link." Mickey said. Link nodded.
"Sir, I've been fighting alongside Sora for... jeez, has it really only been two months?" Link said. Donald nodded.
"Seems like longer, doesn't it?" Donald asked. Link shook his head.
"No, that's not it... It's just that we were supposed to be gone from Hyrule for seven years..." Link said. Mickey nodded.
"Yes, and you will be." Link looked at Mickey with a confused look.
"What... how?" he asked. Mickey chuckled.
"You see, Link, all of the Dimensions run on different time streams. What is one week in one Dimension can be a year in another one." Mickey said. Link nodded, before looking back up at the where Sora had disappeared.
Door to Kingdom Hearts, End of the World
Sora was floating, staring at Ansem.
"Behold, fool. You are blessed, for you'll see the true power of Kingdom Hearts before I destroy you with its power!" Ansem said.
"What are you even talking about?" Sora asked. Ansem laughed.
"The door you see is the door to the heart of all worlds, Kingdom Hearts! So all things begin in the Dark, so all things will return! Kingdom Hearts! Fill me with the power of Darkness!" Ansem shouted. The door to Kingdom Hearts opened, and some Dark leaked out.
"Wait!" Sora said. Ansem looked at him. Sora shook his head. "There's no way that Kingdom Hearts can be Darkness! Yeah, sure, the heart is weak! Yeah, it gives in sometimes! However, I've found out that deep down, there's a glimmer of light that never goes out! Without a doubt, Kingdom Hearts... is Light!" Sora shouted. At his words, a great light burst out from Kingdom Hearts. Ansem looked surprised.
"What!? Light!? How is this possible!? Nooooo!" Ansem shouted, his body being eaten away by the light. Sora sighed. He then raised his Keyblade, and several lights shot out.
"Looks like things are gonna go back to normal." Sora said, as he floated away from the door. He soon saw his friends. He landed, and was happy to see Riku.
"Sora. It's time we go collect Kairi and take her and Riku home." Link said. Sora nodded. Riku looked at Sora.
"Aren't you coming too?" he asked. Sora shook his head.
"I gotta go help Link." Sora said. On the flight back to Hollow Bastion, Link and Sora explained what was happening to Riku. When they landed, Sora was promptly glomped by Kairi.
"It's too bad you have to go." Kairi said. Sora nodded.
"Yeah... but I'm needed." Sora said. Kairi nodded.
"I understand..." she said. Sora nodded, before he and Link gathered everyone up. Sora noticed something between Riku and Kairi on the ride back. Sora smiled. Link approached him, and saw him watching Riku and Kairi getting lovey-dovey.
"I always knew those two would end up together." Sora said. "They were always sneaking around..." Sora continued. Shortly, they arrived at Destiny Islands. Sora went back to the secret cave, and saw something changed about the drawing. Instead of a drawing of his head, it had been replaced... with Riku's. Sora smiled even more.
"Okay... I get the picture." Sora said. He then left, and met up with Link. Link saw the look on his face.
"You gonna be okay?" Link asked. Sora looked back at Riku and Kairi, who were holding hands as Riku walked her home. He then nodded.
"Yeah... they deserve it." Sora said. Link smiled.
"Besides, remember what the Great Deku Tree said?" he asked. Sora stared at him, before he remembered the giant talking tree's last words. That brought a smile to the Keyblader's face.
"Yeah! I remember!" Sora said. As the two returned to the Gummi Ship, they saw another person. He was dressed in robes similar to those Merlin wore. As Link and Sora approached, Yen Sid smiled.
"You must be Sora." he said. Sora nodded. "I am Grand Master Yen Sid. I'm here to inform you that for your service to the Scattered Realms, you are hereby a Keyblade Master." Yen Sid said. Sora nodded. At Yen Sid's beckoning, he summoned his Keyblade, and Yen Sid tapped each of his shoulders twice with his Keyblade, and then returned it to him. "Sora, I want to personally congratulate you. You see, that Keyblade was meant for Riku. However, due to some highly unusual circumstances that you'll come to understand later, it chose you. However, this Keyblade truly became yours at Hollow Bastion... oh, excuse me, Radiant Garden." Yen Sid said. Sora nodded. Yen Sid turned back to Link. "Link. Though you are not of this Dimension, you selflessly aided Sora in his time of need. For that, I thank you." Link nodded.
"It was really my honor to help. I got to meet a lot of great people." Link said. Yen Sid nodded.
"Now, if you two are ready, I'll send you back to Hyrule." Yen Sid said. Link and Sora traded looks and nodded.
"Well, pal... your turn!" Sora said with a relieved grin. Yen Sid concentrated on his power, and a blue circular portal surrounded the two and they felt themselves being lifted up and away.
"There they go..." Riku said. Kairi nodded. Riku looked at her. "I know he liked you the same way I do... do you think he'll be okay?" Riku asked. Kairi nodded.
"Yeah. He'll find someone much better." Kairi said. Riku nodded.
"Yeah..." Riku said as he saw the two disappear. "Good luck, you guys." he said.
Notes on the Chapter:
1. Yeah, no SoraxKairi. Sorry folks.
2. I hope this is worthy of a mid-story finale.
3. How do you think they'll do back in Hyrule? What awaits Link and Sora? Find out!