(Angelo is standing about, grinning broadly, with Kairi watching on)
Kairi: Someone's in a good mood. Here I thought you would be crawling your hair out, waiting for BBS.
Angelo: Oh, I'm still going nuts inside, but I came across some good fortune the other day. For you see...as of next week, I will have become a published theatre critic by the age of 19. Oh yeah! This calls for a victory song (Angelo sings, to the tune of the 'Final Fantasy Victory Chime'): You just got pwned, F-T-W! Now you're dead, you're dead 'cause we killed, we took you by surprise! We saw you walking in the forest, and said let's kill those guys! You're a squirrel who somehow has money, and sometimes swords and shields. I don't care if you're a cute bunny, I'll pwn your ass for realz!
(Angelo keeps singing as Kairi watches on with a disturbed look).
Kairi: ...And this is the guy in charge of my fate. Oh god...
In serious news, being a fan of the franchise, I recently checked out the sixth season of Digimon, Digimon: Xros Wars. For reference, this is the first time I've seen a Digimon season in Japanese, as I watched the others dubbed in English (yes, even Savers/Data Squad). Xros Wars is...weird to say the least. It seems that the gimmick of this season is to throw out Digivolution entirely and instead have the Digimon combine together, like Voltron or the Megazord. It's just weird... Weirder than Frontier where the kids BECAME the Digimon. I dunno, I've only seen three episodes and it hasn't been too bad.
Also, I am currently creating a Tabletop RPG based off of Kingdom Hearts. It is nothing special though, just modified D&D rules, with new classes, Keyblades, and the Heartless.
Disclaimer: Angelo did not right the lyrics to the song above. It was written by an internet comedian called Brentalfloss. He is really awesome and funny and everyone should go support him by listening to his stuff on Youtube. I highly recommend his "Megaman 2...with Lyrics" and "Final Fantasy Classic - CD Version" songs/videos. Anyway, enjoy the show!
Chapter 36: Heaven's Wrath
"It's about time you contacted us. We've been wandering around space aimlessly for severals hours." Dayne said through clenched teeth. He, Kairi, and Sora were all gathered in the bridge of their ship, conversing with Terra through the video communication link on the ship's computer.
"I'm sorry for that." Terra replied graciously. "But, need I remind you that you are not the only group with a mission." He then spoke to Dayne directly. "And...I'm sorry for what happened at the Garden. I know that pain...you have my deepest condolences."
Dayne said nothing, just clenched his teeth. The remark was sincere, surprisingly so, but Dayne still had his misgivings about the Keyblade Knight. You have all sorts of knowledge... He glared at Terra subtly. You knew this would happen to her. You knew it. And you did nothing. Said nothing...
Kairi was more genial with the apparent architect of this mission. "Terra, can you tell us what's next?" She asked. Without the Blank Medallions, the ship lacked a definite direction to travel in.
"I can." He stated simply. "We're finally going to face off with the Immortals, and end it once and for all." Dayne's eyes widened, his body language becoming less hostile. "But before that, all of the groups need to be brought together. Head to Twilight Town. I've already informed Riku, Edward, Alphonse, and Kalyn of this."
Sora looked puzzled. "Kalyn?"
"Oh, a new Keyblader they recently made." Terra explained quickly. "At any rate, you'll be meeting with Riku and his group, as well as Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and an envoy of mine." The three shared a glance at the mention of this 'envoy'. "After that, you'll all head back to the Destiny Islands so we can plan our final assault on the Immortals."
"'The Islands'?" Sora repeated. There were mixed feelings at the mention of returning home. On the one hand, it was his home; on the other, he didn't want to bring any of the trouble that seemed to follow him everywhere he went.
"And where will you be this entire time?" Dayne asked in the traditional harsh-and-accusatory tone he had when addressing Terra.
"Don't worry, I'll be around. I just have an errand to run." Terra replied, with a thin grin on his face. Dayne was not convinced.
"And this envoy?"
"Don't worry, you'll be in good hands with her." Terra assured. "Anyways, I will leave you three to your own designs. I will see you all later today." He gave a quick, lazy salute before the screen went black.
As soon as his image vanished, Dayne grumbled aloud. "It just had to be Twilight Town..."
"Not your favourite place in the universe, is it?" Kairi returned, in a half-joking manner.
"Well between the fact that I almost became homeless and destitute on that world, or the...'clock tower incident'..."
"I'm just glad this will all be over soon." Sora declared, leaning back in his chair. The brunette's optimism was back in full swing. "We'll get everyone back together, defeat all the Immortals. And then, we'll find Roxas and Namine." Kairi nodded brightly. She was equally pleased to see Sora's optimistic outlook return; it was one of the reasons why she fell for him in the first place.
Dayne nodded too, more subdued than Kairi's, and began to leave the bridge. "I'll be in my room for the time being." He announced. "Call me when we reach the world." And with that, he left.
As the tall warrior proceeded down the curving hall of the ship towards his room, a sudden wave of weakness washed over his body. He staggered, stumbled for a moment, before his legs gave out and he keeled over, his body resting up against the wall. The waves of atrophy and exhaustion continued to hit him over and over again, his breathing becoming ragged and slowed, and his vision blurring.
…God damn…God damn… What the hell is wrong with me? Why is this happening? Why now? Through his blurred eyesight, he saw that his hands were trembling. His entire body was shaking. Why…it feels like my entire soul is on fire, burning out. Dayne's legs gave way fully, he was now sitting on the ground, back against the wall, body shaking, and he had broken out into a cold sweat.
Am I... Am I dieing?
To say that Maleficent was unhappy would be an understatement.
Throughout the entire conflict, her forces and allies were slowly abandoning her, she had yet to score a major victory against the Keybearers, and her only noteworthy action as of late was seizing four of the Princesses of Heart... and even that had turned against her! The King and his cohorts had broken into her fortress and rescued the four maidens, defeating another one of her Hollow Heartless in the process.
If it had been a normal day, she would be taking her wrath out on Pete right now. But, today she was hosting a very special, and unwanted, visitor.
"Your incompetence never ceases to amaze me, witch." A smooth, Hispanic-accented voice rang off the walls. It was the same interloper Maleficent encountered weeks ago, the first unwanted visitor she had faced. "Not only do you not have any of the other Princesses, you've lost all of them!" He chuckled loudly and mockingly. Although he still stood in the shadows, Maleficent could see he was clothed in all black.
"I do not take kindly to being mocked, you nattering fool!" Maleficent threatened. Instantly, the figure stopped chuckling and gave the Mistress of Evil a hard glare through the darkness.
"And my masters do not enjoy being strung along by a useless investment." The Unknown barked back. "Nor do I for that matter..."
The fury of the witch sparked, manifesting in a cowl of emerald flames. "'An investment!' You dare refer to me as an investment!"
The Unknown yawned at the display of power, unimpressed. "You're right, actually. 'Investment' is too kind of a term. You're more like... hmm... A pawn, who has outgrown her use."
That was the last straw. The emerald inferno erupted around Maleficent again, a hateful glare forming in her eyes. "Do not assume that you can walk into my castle and presume to insult me in such a grievous way!" The sorceress raged. Brilliant bursts of green fire shot from her staff, careening around the room. Pete, who had been cowering in the corner prior to this, was now backing away even more, legs shaking in terror. The Hispanic Unknown was far from impressed or terrified. Maleficent, nevertheless, continued. "I am the Queen of All Darkness! The Mistress of Evil! I almost conquered the entirety of the Realm of Light, and I will not be demeaned, cowed, and insulted by a simpering coward who sulks in the shadow, such as you!"
One more magical blast emanated from her staff, a bright green inferno taking the shape of a serpentine dragon. The mystic fire roared and raced through the air, towards the Unknown, its maw engulfing its target in a grand explosion, kicking up dust and rubble throughout the throne room.
Seconds past before the cloud slowly began to settle. Leaping out of the earth-toned haze, was the completely unharmed Unknown. Like Prioscox and his commander, this being was clad in an immaculate Organization black cloak.
"You can thrash and posture all you want, Maleficent," the man noted calmly, completely unfazed by the attack that just hit him. "But in the end, it means little and less. This is your last warning. Lord Anarados himself will arrive by sundown tomorrow, and if you cannot produce something of substance and to our liking, then your borrowed time and power shall be seized, most hostilely."
And with that, a Corridor of Darkness appeared, the Hispanic-accented Unknown vanishing into it, leaving Maleficent to glare, sneer, clutch her staff, and stew in her anger.
Somehow, Pete managed to summon the courage to speak. "Um...Maleficent..." The witch shot her lackey a look that could curdle milk. "I was uh...just wonderin' what're we gonna do in order to..." He gulped, "save our hides..."
Maleficent was about to lash out at her lackey once more, but she stopped herself part way through. An idea popped into her head. An idea so simplistic, that it was amazing she had never tried it before. She always avoided direct conflict with the Keybearers, because she refused to lower herself to their level. But now was no time for arrogance...
"We're finally going to be pragmatic, Pete. At long last, we're going to deal with the root of our problems..."
A few hours later, around midday, Sora, Kairi, and Dayne made landfall once more at Twilight Town. After his sudden episode earlier in the day, Dayne had recovered back to his normal self, and had not breathed a word about what happened to either Sora or Kairi. He had no desire to worry them further.
The three had arrived in Tram Common area of Market Street, which was sparsely inhabited by shoppers and shop-owners. "Do you think we should head out? Try and find Riku or King Mickey?" Kairi asked her two male companions.
Dayne shrugged. "They may not be here, right now." He replied. A tired edge had entered his voice as of late, and while everyone noticed it, they said nothing about it. Sora and Kairi just assumed Dayne was still grieving for Rain. Dayne didn't want to think about why he sounded that way. "It depends on how far away they were from this world."
"I say we should look around, just in case." Sora offered anxiously. "I mean, it's not like we have any other business to attend to."
Dayne chuckled to himself at Sora's urging tone. "You just wanna see your pals again." Sora laughed, too.
"So what if I do?" He said, dodging any possible teasing. He assumed his typical stance, legs crossed, hands behind his head. "We barely saw Riku that while back, and I haven't seen Donald and Goofy in forever." Kairi patted her boyfriend on the shoulder.
"We'll be united again soon enough." Kairi returned. "But first, we have to do the legwork and find them."
That business settled, Dayne instantly started walking towards the sandlot, figuring that a large gathering of teenagers would be the best place to start looking for a teenager. But he was stopped when Sora, who still had not started to move, spoke up.
"Um...Dayne? I know that you're going through...things right now, so you don't have to answer this if you don't want to. But, what is this rivalry that you have with Tallgeese."
Dayne sighed. The warrior suspected this would come, given the ferocity of their past two fights, and Tallgeese's extreme, discriminatory violence towards Dayne.
"There really is no rivalry." Dayne replied, his voice low and tired as before. He turned around to face his friends, scratching the back of his head. "Several years ago, Tallgeese was the one that took my place as the right-hand man to Cassius. Tallgeese interprets that usurping of power the reason why I have a grudge against him." He shook his head. "That idiot always had a few screws loose in that tin can of a head..."
Sora followed up his original question. "Why do you have a grudge against him, then?"
Dayne ran a hand through his hair in a nervous manner. "Because... in the early days of the Immortals, Cassius recruited the majority of our members personally. But not Tallgeese. I was the one that brought him into the fold. I unleashed a monster into the world..."
"Is that all?"
The simplicity and ease of Sora's statement through Dayne back in shock. "What?" He said incredulously.
"Dayne." Sora began, trying to temper each word properly. He came off a little too sarcastic and cheeky before. "You heap way too much grief on yourself. I know you've lived a long time, and you've done some bad things, but you can't just bury yourself in your own past. You don't deserve that. You're a good person." The sentiment was given in all honesty.
Dayne blinked at the teenage boy. For the past month, Dayne had written the boy off as annoying, naive, foolhardy, irrational, and undeserving of Kairi. But now, staring at the brunette Keyblade Master, Dayne saw a piece of Sora he hadn't seen before.
Is it possible that he's grown so much in such a short time? His mind thought, even though his body was still in shock.
"Sora...I-" Dayne bumbled, beginning a sentence he didn't know how to end. He was quickly interrupted when Sora spotted a flash of light out of his peripheral vision. Reacting quicker than one could imagine, Sora shoved Dayne backward, before pulling himself back to avoid whatever he had seen.
The flash raced between both of them, and ending up embedding itself in a nearby wall. The three approached it, seeing an oddly familiar steel blade shaped like an elongated diamond; elegant handwriting was scrawled along its surface. Sora quickly plucked the blade from it's resting place.
"'Meet me at the train station in ten minutes'." He read aloud. "'Signed, CH.' CH?" He turned to his companions. "Any ideas?"
It took a moment before Dayne blurted out. "Cassius the Heaven!" As soon as the identity of the messenger dawned up the ex-Immortal, Dayne immediately bolted away from Market Street and towards the Twilight Town Central Station. In fact, he moved quicker that Sora or Kairi had seen him move, busting out his rarely used superhuman speed.
"Dayne!" Kairi called out, a second after the silver-blue-haired warrior began his dash. But a second was too late, as he was already gone in that short timespan. Sora and Kairi quickly pursued, but were extremely outpaced. "Damn it!" Kairi cursed mid-run. "He's going to get himself killed at this rate!"
"Well, that's why we're following him." Sora brought up. The two narrowly weaved away from passengers who were about to be trampled by their beeline dash. "He'll be fine with us at his side."
"That's not it." Kairi countered. "Haven't you noticed something off about him lately? Ever since he fought Cassius on the Garden, he's just been acting oddly. Especially during battle." Sora had to admit, there was something wrong with the bodyguard. His short battle with Tallgeese on the Tseng Shao pass highlighted that fact. "He's rushing into battle blindly, regardless of the consequences. Not caring what happens to himself." Dayne may have reaffirmed his companionship with Sora and Kairi, his desire to complete their quest, but something was still visibly eating away at him.
"What can we do then?" Sora asked.
"I don't know." Kairi replied, her voice full of worry. "I guess all we can do is watch is back, and confront him about this when the battle's over." A moment passed in silence, the only sounds being their feet bounding off the cobblestones, before Kairi spoke again. "Do you think we can beat Cassius again?"
"Yeah." Sora confirmed, after swallowing hard. "We just have to be careful." He then added, to himself, Besides, we have to. For Roxas and Namine.
Meanwhile, Dayne had reached his destination, standing before the main train station. Like Market Street, only a few people were meandering about the plaza, the signature clock tower of the town towering above all (Dayne bristled at the sight of the monolithic monument). And standing atop the clock tower, was the cloaked form of Cassius the Heaven, his layered, metallic-looking wings draped over his skinny body.
The Immortal leader seemed to go unnoticed by the people of Twilight Town, until Dayne called up to him, all the rage building in him shooting out in that one yell.
"CASSIUS!" The few people around him looked to the shouting, furious warrior, then to his large sword, and then to the being he was looking at. "I'm here now, so come down and fight me!"
Cassius chose not to respond directly, instead laughing in his mocking, lyrical laugh. "I forgot how eager you always were." He said. "But that same outlook you have has always been your greatest weakness."
Dayne drew High Streak, his fury growing more evident by the second. "I did not come for your annoying nattering! I came for a fight, for closure, for vengeance!"
The Heaven chuckled darkly. "Such an ignoble motive. It's not fitting for a... hero, like yourself, now is it?" The skinny Immortal quickly spread his wings open, revealing the source of the metallic blades. With a quick flick of his wings, he threw off two feathers, which each instantly grew into the foot-long, diamond-shaped blades.
Dayne blocked the opening volley with ease and power; a violent stroke of his sword severing both projectiles in twain.
The small group of citizens quickly fled in panic at the genesis of battle between the two Immortals.
Dayne swung his sword back into the position he held it for his fighting stance. "I never proclaimed myself to be a hero." He offered retort to Cassius's last statement.
"Then what might you be?" Cassius badgered. The winged Immortal jumped off the tower, slowly descending to the top of the station building proper. "An avenger? Knight? Crusader? Paladin? Tell me, Dayne Rivera, what do you think you are?"
"I..." Dayne started to speak, unsure of what to say to that question. Soon after, he growled, shaking his head, furious that he had let Cassius get into his head so easily. Don't let him mess with you! He told himself in anger. Just keep fighting!
Dayne did as he was told (by himself), rearing his sword back and charging forward into the air. Cassius smirked in his smug, superior way, before flapping his wings again, unleashing more steel feathers that soon transformed into blades. Dayne bared the brunt of the steel storm, hovering in midair, swinging his sword wildly to bat away and destroy any projectile that came near him. But it was no use, as Cassius just kept the pace up, the feathers covering his wings regenerating spontaneously. More and more steel blades filled the sky, and Dayne did try his earnest to survive the attack.
One single blade managed to slip by Dayne's defence, driving itself into his chest staggering him for a moment. That moment was all it took for the relentless volley of the Heaven, as more and more razor sharp feathers rained down on him, slashing into him, shredding his clothing, and piercing deep into his own body. Eventually the torrent beat down Dayne enough, sending him crashing to the ground, which was littered with discarded blades.
A bloody Dayne rolled across the steel-covered ground, some blades falling out of his body, and others slashing him further. Cassius ceased flapping, looking down upon Dayne with the same grin of superiority, watching his former ally, gazing upon his now blood-rival. The blue-haired warrior slowly got to his feet, plucking the swords from his body, while several other wounds healed themselves up.
But not every wound was healing, and the ones that were healed very slowly. Crap... His vision was blurring a bit, and he could taste blood in his mouth. One attack and I'm already losing it. Either he's very strong, or I'm as weak as I feared. He made sure he didn't show his fear or trepidation, instead hefting High Streak once again.
"This is where you and I differ. You're just a one-trick-pony Cassius! I, on the other hand..." A burning red aura began to form around Dayne's body. "Have plenty in my arsenal to take even you down! Prism Chain Arts, Firaga Style: Pyro Stream!"
The aura darkened in colour, rising twenty-feet into the sky, before branching off into seven streams of flame, all of which were aimed at Cassius.
"Your eagerness harms you once again." Cassius replied, unafraid and unmoving in the sight of the approaching flames. The winged Immortal then ripped out a handful of feathers from his wings, tossing them lazily into the air. "You rush into battle blindly, not knowing my full capabilities." With a snap of his fingers, the drifting feathers transformed into blades, joined together in groups of three and forming several six-pointed-star-like objects. "While the Heaven may not be as durable as the Hell, it makes up for that in spades, I assure you." The flames drew closer, but Cassius only waved a hand at them.
The blades composing the stars began to spin around, creating a large amount of force, wind, and energy. They imposed themselves between one of the fire bursts and Cassius himself, blocking the elemental attack and displacing it completely. Dayne could only look on in shock, barely avoiding Cassius's next attack due to it. Cassius separated the stars, sending them darting forward. The ex-Immortal did manage to dodge the attack, but he was soon caught off-guard again. Several of the discarded blades on the ground rose up suddenly, a steel torrent that caught him in the back, ripping through leather and flesh alike. He twist around in pain, more hot blood spilling from his body, before managing to get off of the metallic carpet Cassius had created.
Cassius laughed cruelly at the scene. It was also at this moment that Sora and Kairi finally arrived at the station plaza.
Cassius began to laugh all the louder.
"Perfect!" He declared, his lyrical voice booming across the plaza. "It seems all the needed players have gathered together!" His eyes danced about, looking at Kairi, then Sora, then Dayne. "I wonder who will be lost this time around?" He spread his arms wide, as if inviting the Keybladers to something. "I ask, who will be the one to sacrifice themselves in order to fell the Heaven!"
"We won't be losing anyone this time!" Sora declared adamantly. Kingdom Key flared to existence in his hand. "I made a promise, a promise that I will never lose another person. And I plan to stand by that oath!"
An amused grin crossed Cassius's face. "What a heroic sentiment. Too bad you have no choice in the matter, Sora."
"We'll see about that!" The Keyblader challenged.
He began to run forward, but was soon stopped when he felt a hand clutch onto his shoulder. Dayne held Sora to a stop, before pulling him backwards, yelling out, "No, he's mine!"
"Dayne!" Kairi called out in protest, but it fell on deaf ears. Dayne continued the charge, darting back and forth, as Cassius manipulated the steel blades littering the earth. Several dozen of the makeshift swords rose up like geysers, massive steel spikes blocking Dayne's advance. Even though he was forced to constantly move either laterally or backwards, Dayne still stubbornly had his eyes locked on Cassius the Heaven, who stood their grinning while his blades did all the work for him.
Somehow, this is even tougher than fighting the Hell. The iron spires were now shooting out angularly, firing directly at Dayne instead of just shooting in the sky to form a barricade. He unleashed one attack, and he has a great offence and defence set up instantly. A spike rocketed forward from his left, impaling him through the shoulder and tearing through it. He gritted his teeth, as more blood left his body. Okay... relax...just keep dodging and he'll open himself up for an attack eventually.
Multiple spires erupted from the carpet suddenly, causing Dayne to weave rapidly to try and avoid the. The sudden dodging wasn't enough, as one caught him in his back, driving deep into his back. He screamed in agony as the spire continued to grow, eventually releasing him and tossing him sky high. Cassius flapped his wings again, unleashing more of the diamond-shaped swords, which flew through the air, tearing into and through Dayne, drawing even more blood and sending him flying and tumbling through the air, until he hit the ground hard, splaying out in an awkward manner. He looked like he had broken a few limbs in the fall.
"That's it!" Kairi yelled, summoning Oathkeeper and stepping. "Try and take me down like that!"
"No..." Dayne croaked in protest, stopping Kairi in her tracks. "Stay out of this!" He slowly got his feet, despite his grievous wounds.
"Dayne...you have to take it easy..." Kairi chided softly, trying not to sting his pride.
The bodyguard ignored his Princess. "This is my fight!" He shouted at her, getting back to his feet again. Several blades were jammed into his chest, but he barely paid them any mind, removing them with a sweep of his arm. Kairi was horrified at the sight of this, to say the least. "I will face him alone. I have to!" With that, he turned back to his opponent. The last barrage of knives had done a number to him, clothes especially. "This the second jacket of mine you've ruined!" He pointed to Cassius, the silvery-blue article in question hanging onto his back and arms by mere threads.
"You and those gaudy coats..." Cassius sneered.
Dayne was about to return to the battle, but Sora's voice called out and stopped him. "You don't have to do this." He told him. After all that was said by Sora and Dayne, the brunette still felt the older man was his friend. "Remember what we told you back on the Garden. About Rain. We'll get through this together. You don't have to be alone."
"For this I do..." Dayne breathed. The power of Cassius's attacks had gotten to him, and his healing factor was slowing down something fierce now. Sora looked like he was about to speak up, but Dayne pressed on "This isn't about Rain, either. This is about my pride."
This made Sora stop dead, remembering the conversation he had with the "voice in his head" about Rain and her pride. With nothing else to hinder him, Dayne went after after Cassius again, launching himself into the air.
Another steady stream of steel blades answered his jump, but Dayne was ready this time, using High Streak to grind against the blades and vault above the attack. Without enough time to stop this attack and start another, Dayne was sure he had Cassius.
One attack, and I should be able to capitalize fully...
"Prism Chain Arts, Finisher Style: Hell's Butterfly!"
With a massive swing, Dayne unleashed the black and crimson energy wave, certain it would finally wound the Heaven. But Cassius was quicker than Dayne had given him credit for. The second Dayne rose above his attack, Cassius stopped flapping. When the Hell's Butterfly attack was unleashed, Cassius raised his arms into the air, simultaneously raising a curtain of his feather blades. The steel blade barricade absorbed the mighty energy blow, concaving inward a bit, but it was completely unaffected by the attack, which subsided soon afterwards.
Damn it... Sora was feeling useless again. Not because he felt like he couldn't take on the Heaven, but because of what Dayne said. That this fight was about pride. I let Rain fight on her own against Rosa... And that turned out well. He looked up to see that this fight was not shaping up well for his side. Cassius had let the wall fall, and launched the blades that made it at Dayne. He's fighting for pride...and we can't help him or else he loses an important part of himself... The blades that were fired at Dayne began to spin and whirl around him like a tornado, the diamond shaped pieces of steel driving into him like a buzzsaw, butchering him in the most brutal fashion imaginable.
But if we don't fight alongside him, there's a good chance he could die! Dayne collapsed back to earth, bleeding very badly. Kairi started to move forward, whether to join the fight or to help her ex-bodyguard is unknown. But Dayne refused again, barking at her in the same manner as before. He slowly got back to his legs. Cassius continued to smirk. Damn it! What should I do!
Dayne's heart is not being consumed by pride. It is full of grief and anger instead.
It was the voice. The same strong, calm, matronly voice as before! The one that had guided him before. Sora had never been so relieved to hear voices in his head.
What do you mean by that? Sora asked her. Does that mean I can interfere? Dayne was charging headlong, this time running forward across the ground again. High Streak was being swung around him in wide arcs, blocking every attack that came his way. He was bleeding profusely.
No matter what Dayne says, he still grieves for Rain. He seeks revenge for her life, deep down in his subconscious, no matter how much he denies it. He thinks he can find closure if he defeats Cassius, but he won't. Rain willingly sacrificed herself, she was not murdered in cold blood by Cassius. This kind of battle and attitude will only serve to drown Dayne's heart in vengeance and hatred.
Sora tried his hardest to focus on both the fight, and the voice's words. What can we do to get him closure?
That is something only Dayne can find out on his own. Dayne's mad charge had actually worked out, letting the renegade Immortal reach the top of the station building. He was slashing at Cassius, but the false angel was able to dodge every attack, eventually catching a sword blow on his metallic wings, and shoving Dayne back to the ground below.
What can I do though? I want to help him, need to help him!
That's a choice only you can make. A monumental choice that could affect the fate of many. To let him be, and possibly let Dayne be consumed by the fires of vengeance. Or, to assist him, and possibly injure him deeply. This is your path to walk, and it is your choice to make, Sora. No one else's.
But for now, I must rest. The time of my 'Awakening' has not come yet.
The voice silenced yet again, as Sora was force to watch the battle even more intently. Dayne was in horrible shape, though not as bad shape as when he fought Cassius the Hell. And yet, he still stood tall and proud against his foe. The fires of passion and revenge were burning in his heart. Fear was not apparent on his face, nor was hesitancy. This was a different confrontation with Cassius than the one on the Garden. Everything had change... except that fact that Dayne was still standing on the brink of death.
Cassius was also surveying Dayne's condition, a disappointing glower replacing his usual smirk. "You still haven't learned, have you?" The Immoral leader began his diatribe. Dayne looked up in blood-loss defiance. "You're holding back. Not facing with your full strength. Mocking me!" He clenched his gloved fist in anger. "I know what you are capable of, and all I wish is to draw it out, but you are trying my patience with this pathetic showing!"
"Then kill me if you can!" Dayne taunted, spitting blood with every word.
"Very well," Cassius sighed, creating a sweeping motion with his arms. "Hell's flames judged you. Heaven's wings shall condemn you!" The winged Immortal made another sweeping motion, this one blink-and-you-miss-it fast, holding his hands high above his head.
Moving with the motion, all the discarded blades lifted off from the ground and rose fifty-feet into the air, forming a single steel spire. The blades surrounding Dayne cut and sawed through him, inflicting even more damage and staggering him. The razor sharp spire hung in the air for a second, ready to skewer its helpless prey.
Kairi was paralyzed with fear, afraid of losing yet another companion, but Sora knew he needed to act. I'm sorry if this hurts you Dayne, he apologized wordlessly to the hapless warrior. But I made a promise to protect all my friends. And that's includes you too!
Cassius dropped his arms, releasing the razor-sharp payload upon Dayne.
"DIE!"
"Gaiaga!"
Inches before the cloud of diamond-shaped blades could drop down and impale Dayne, a single pillar of earth shot out from the ground, pushing Dayne backwards and away, and letting the blades drive themselves into the ground uselessly.
"What..." Dayne said, dazed. Kairi and Sora instantly fell into action, stepping in front of Dayne, and facing Cassius, their Keyblades drawn and at the ready. "How many times do I-"
Sora cut him off. "I don't want to hear it!" He ordered, stunning Dayne into silence. "'This is your fight'. 'You'll do this alone'. Not going to happen. We fight together, and for one another!"
"Another truly heroic sentiment, Sora," Cassius the Heaven mused, still perched atop the station. "But it makes no difference, whether you fight me together or alone. Dayne's death is but an inevitability."
"We won't allow that!" Kairi screamed in protest. That same 'fire' that was in her eyes when she fought Kira was back. "We will stand strong together, and you will not break our bonds again!" As if thinking with one mind, Sora and Kairi both drew the Drive Medallions Dayne crafted for them so long ago, planning to show Cassius the true power of the bonds of friends and allies.
Cassius was quicker to the draw, flapping his wings and unleashing two feather blades. They raced through the air and hit their targets dead-on, shattering the devices into small pieces of metal and circuitry.
"No..." Sora gasped in recoil.
"What was that you said, about me not being able to break your bonds?" Cassius mocked, cruelty and superiority once more lacing his face. Sora scowled defiantly.
"We'll still beat you! No matter what!"
"Then go ahead!" Cassius gestured to the field of blades lying between him and the Keybladers. "If these blades brought Dayne to death's precipice, I can only imagine what they would do to the two of you!"
Before Sora and Kairi could begin a reckless rush, Dayne spoke up again. "Stop." He pleaded, meekly and defeated. "Why are you two doing this?"
Sora's face softened instantly, as he turned to face his month-long companion. "Dayne. I... I think I know what you're going through. You still feel guilty for Rain's death. It must be hard for you. But you can't just go around, madly attacking Immortals, sacrificing yourself because you still feel sorry. That's not fair to you, or to us. Remember what Kairi said on the Garden? We'll get through this together. All of us. Besides..." Sora beamed at the older man. "You're our friend. We don't want to lose you."
Dayne blinked in disbelief. True, he felt very strong towards both the people with him in the plaza. But his relationship with Sora was...hard to define, and he felt that the relationship he and Kairi had was that of a father-daughter one, or that between a royal and their servant. He hadn't had a true friend outside of his wife in so long... the word was almost alien to him.
"I..." He stammered, still blinking. "I'm your friend?"
Sora smiled, and Kairi laughed to herself. "Of course we are!" Sora confirmed. "Now come on, stand besides us, and let's show Cassius what we can really do." The teenaged brunette extended his hand. "For Rain."
Dayne grinned broadly. "For all of us." He offered in return, clasping Sora's gloved hand with his own.
When the two hands met, an aura of gold and cobalt blue surrounded Dayne and Sora, the two colours swirling together to form a magnificent halo. Kairi looked on in awe at the sudden energy cloud, while Dayne and Sora felt their hands sealed together, unable to move. A great power resonated between the two, something greater than any Limit or Drive Sora had ever performed.
When the wavelengths of two hearts are in sync, Resonance is created. A power not seen before will be born! A new miracle created!
"RESONANCE DRIVE!"
Dayne's body vanished, transforming into living lightning, which wrapped itself around Sora, snaking all across his body and clothing. Eventually, the electricity over his clothing settled, transforming his clothes in a way traditional to how most Drive Forms functioned. The black cloth turned into the same steely blue as Dayne's jacket, with black swallowtail butterflies emblazoning themselves on his pant legs. Bolts of energy gathered over his lower legs and forearms, forming steel blue armour plates, trimmed with gold. Sora felt his hair grow slightly longer and wilder than before, changing colour from chocolate brown to a deep sapphire. More and more energy gathered across Sora's back and shoulders, draping over him before materializing into a jacket similar to Dayne's, except it was cut for Sora's body, and sleeveless. It was also a darker blue colour, and instead of a butterfly placed on the back, there was a key, topped with the crown from Sora's necklace.
With a regular Drive Form, all that happened was a being giving up their body, turning it to energy so Sora could become stronger and allowing him to dual-wield Keyblades. But this new form of Driving – the Resonance Drive – was more along the lines of proper fusion. Dayne's body was gone, making Sora stronger than ever before, but is soul and heart lingered on, united within Sora. Two beings combined in the same body.
"Guardian Form!"
The transformation complete, Guardian Sora stood facing Cassius, Kingdom Key in hand, golden energy running around his body in an erratic current. A misplaced cocky grin was spread across his face.
Cassius was startled by this new development, and so was Kairi, but in a different way. The Drive Form looked like Sora, but the clothing, the grin, and the energy told her it was Dayne. She gave him a look that mixed curiosity and fear.
Sora saw the look on her face, and smiled at her. He smiled Sora's beaming smile. "Don't worry Princess Kairi," Guardian Sora said, his voice sounding mostly like Sora, but with tinges of Dayne's voice laced in it. "We will win this fight. The both of us, together!"
"So, what do you think so far Kalyn?" Riku asked the older girl.
"About what?"
"It is your first world. I'm interested in what you think."
"It is...certainly different." She replied, apprehensively. It was not just her tone that was apprehensive, she was currently walking stiff straight, with her arms crossed under her breasts. The group of four had been walking around Twilight Town for the better part of an hour, hoping to run into either Sora or Mickey's group, but they had no luck. Kalyn had stayed quiet the most time, intently observing the town and the people. While Ivalice had a very high-level of technology, their technology was completely different from the modern-style of technology used in the Radiant Garden, Twilight Town, and Destiny Islands. Most used a more mystical power source than electricity, and it wasn't as widespread, mainly used for airships. The widespread and sophisticated tech of Twilight Town was impressive for the former thief.
"I have to ask, our most worlds like this?" Kalyn asked. "Free of war. So many of its citizens acting carefree?"
"While each world has its conflicts," Riku began, relating more of his personal experiences. He had replaced his ruined shirt and vest with a simple dark grey muscle shirt. "Not many of them are up their with Ivalice's national wars. This place was even relatively untouched by even the Heartless and Nobodies."
"Hmm." Kalyn nodded. Edward and Alphonse were ahead of the two, leading them while they were wrapped-up in their conversation. "I suppose I like it then." She declared quietly. Riku smiled at the concession. "But why do care so much about what I think? And don't say 'it's your first world'. I'm not buying."
Riku stammered, blushing slightly. "I'm just... ah... you see..."
"Relax." Kalyn said, a slight smirk on her face. "I was only joking." Riku's smile returned, but Kalyn saw it this time. "And wipe that little smirk off your face."
"Yes, ma'am." Riku replied, with a joking edge to his tone. It was weird. The more time Riku spent with Kalyn, the... odder the feelings he had for her became.
You're really starting to worry me! Dawn shouted in clear envy. I'm beginning to worry you're actually attracted to her!
It doesn't matter. I doubt she's attracted to me, anyways. Riku replied coolly.
Dawn whined in counter. Now that's just not possible. You're very charming
At this point, Riku tuned into his surroundings. The group had just exited a forested area and were now standing outside a dilapidated building, with a wrought iron fence, locked, standing before it. Twilight Town's Old Mansion. Riku stepped ahead of everyone else, standing before the fence, and clutching one of the bars.
"This place takes me back..." He whispered. Al perked up at the whisper.
"You've been here before?" The armoured boy asked.
Riku smiled to himself "Long story, but yeah. I pretty much lived here for sometime, actually."
A familiar voice then called out to Riku. Familiar and greatly unwanted. "It seems that everywhere you go, you run into memories of your past, Riku."
Turning about, Riku saw the one person he loathed more than anyone else. Maleficent.
"Who's this?" Kalyn asked. It didn't take a genius to know that green skin and black robes equals enemy. As such, Kalyn summoned Freedom.
"Wait a minute..." Ed thought aloud. "This that witch, isn't?"
"It seems the companions you've picked up are as uncouth as Sora's are foolish." Maleficent mused aloud, clutching her staff in a threatening manner. Riku quickly called out Way to the Dawn.
"I'm surprised you took this long to show up, actually." Riku said to his former "mentor". He then turned to the rest of his party. "You guys, go and find Sora. I'll take care of her."
Kalyn immediately chose to argue. "Wait a minute, we're not-"
"Just do it!" Riku shouted harshly. "I can handle her by myself."
The three left hesitantly, while Maleficent watched intently. "It seems you're confidence has not dampened since you left my fold."
Riku took his battle stance. "Why are you here anyways? Its very odd that you leave your lair."
"That is none of your concern." She retorted. "I merely have business with you."
"And I have unfinished business with you, too. All this time, I've been traveling around, righting my past wrongs, and now I get the chance to right the worst part of my past."
The witch smirked evilly. "I must say, this 'holier-than-thou' attitude does not suit you one bit." She threw her arms back, shrouding herself in the black-green flames of her magic. "Let my darkness act as the salt to your new heroic nature!"
"Bring it, Maleficent!"
"No matter what form they take," Cassius began, staring Guardian Form Sora down from across the plaza, "Your bonds do not scare me! Cross my field of judgment, and do your worse, Keyblade Master!"
"With pleasure!" The dual-voiced Sora replied with relish. He then turned to Kairi. "If you would be so kind..."
"Gladly!" Kairi pointed Oathkeeper at the field of blades and charged up a new spell she had been working on. "Absolute Zero!" The Keyblade fired an icy blue beam of energy, so powerful it reduced the overall temperature of the area by several degrees. The beam made contact with a small patch of feather knives, turning them to ice, and soon spreading across the entire field, encasing them all in ice. Kairi followed this up by twirling her Keyblade skyward. "Thundaga!" A great deal of lightning bolts rained down from the sky, smashing into the blades and shattering everyone of them, rendering the 'field of judgment' into a scrapyard of frozen and burnt metal fragments.
The way cleared, Sora made his move. "Prism Chain Arts, Aerial Style: On Hellbound Wings We Fly!" Two energy wings sprouted from Sora's back, letting him move at extreme speeds towards his foe. Cassius countered by firing more streams of steel, but Sora was not deterred by them one ounce. He simply swatted them aside, destroying them with powerful Keyblade slashes, and blasts of fire, lightning, and ice. When he was only ten feet away from Cassius, Sora used his newfound speed to vanish from sight for a moment, appearing behind the winged Immortal, and cleaving into him with a vicious strike!
The attack bit into Cassius's cloak and body, bloodying him and causing him to fly away from direct conflict. But Sora was even faster than the false angel, easily matching speeds with the Heaven. Cassius landed, and Sora followed pace, attacking again, but Cassius blocked the strikes by folding his wings over his body, the steel appendages blocking all the strikes.
"I am still not impressed!" Cassius challenged. "The power of your 'bonds' are nothing more than flash!" He proclaimed this even as he was bleeding. The first attack he suffered the entire fight.
"Well, I guess we should give you the full experience of our power!" Guardian Sora brazenly declared. "Hit it!" Sora pressed off of Cassius's wings, flipping through the air, revealing Kairi was behind him, readying a spell.
"Firaga!"
A huge fireball launched off of Oathkeeper, ramming into the steel wings. The flames did not damage Cassius, but they superheated the metal of the wings to such a point that they turned a cherry red in colour.
"Do you think a little heat will defeat me? Your power is-"
"Absolute Zero"
The temperature dropped even further, as Kairi fired a second blue blast. This beam hit the cherry red wings with a massive hiss, creating a huge cloud of steam to boot. Causing such a sudden shift in temperature to the metal had the desire effect, creating several cracks along the surface. Cassius's smirk turned to shock and fear.
"Nice one, Princess!" Sora congratulated, as he landed. Kairi wasn't sure if it was Dayne or Sora speaking that line. "Now, it's time to answer for your sins, Cassius!" The fused warrior declared, his voice half-Sora and half-Dayne. Even more energy began to build up around his body; the energy wings grew in size, and Kingdom Key was surrounded in a sword-shaped aura.
"Prism Chain Arts, Finisher Style: Heavenly Divider!"
Cassius reared back, ready to counter. "I am not afraid of anything you two can do! I am Cassius the Heaven, Lord of the Immortals! There is no power in the universe greater than mine!"
The energized, fused Sora vanished in an instant, zipping across the field and appearing before Cassius. With a single energized slash, the Sora-Dayne combine tore through the riven metal wings with a mighty crash, the Keyblade then biting deep in Cassius's flesh! Not taking time to savour the hit, or Cassius's shock, Sora vanished again, reappearing behind Cassius and striking him again. Over and over he repeated the process, moving at high speeds and attacking with the supercharged Kingdom Key ripping into the Immortal with ease.
After the seventh slash, Cassius was knocked into the air, facing the sky. Sora warped into the sky, diving down on Cassius, Keyblade in hand.
"Know our strength, Cassius! Because as long as we stand together, you cannot hope to win!"
The two met in midair, Sora swinging his Keyblade right at Cassius's midsection. As the Keyblade mad contact, the Drive ended, Sora and Dayne reverting to separate beings, both simultaneously striking Cassius at the same point! Like a pair of scissor blades, Kingdom Key and High Streak tore through the waist of the Immortal leader, severing him in half completely!
Both Sora and Dayne – who was still severely bloodied, haggard, and beaten – landed on the ground, soaking in their victory. Cassius said nothing, simply shocked that he himself had lost once more. And this time, they had all survived the ordeal. In a burst of black feathers, the bisected Immortal vanished from existence. For good.
With his archenemy gone, or at least another of his bodies gone, Dayne collapsed to his knees, exhausted by the ordeal. Sora and Kairi each rushed to his aide.
"That was certainly one for the books..." Dayne swallowed breathlessly. He felt dizzy, knocked for a loop after all the blood-loss.
"I hope you won't shut us out anymore, Dayne." Sora said to his friend, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah..." Dayne nodded wearily. I hope so too, he added privately.
"You both did splendid." Kairi cheered her two male companions. "Although that Resonance Drive was...a little confusing. I didn't know where Sora ended and Dayne began."
It was at this moment that Pete decided to spoil the party and appear.
"Well now, y'all shouldn't be celebratin' just yet. The day is still young!" The lackey guffawed. Sora and Kairi jumped to action, while Dayne struggled to his feet in pain.
"And what do you want?" Sora challenged angrily. "Come to balk like you always do?"
"Hardly." The dog-man chuckled loudly. "I'm here for one reason, bucko. To capture you lot. And I have a lot of friends who have the same goal in mind."
At a snap of Pete's fingers, inky black portals appeared all over, as hundreds of Heartless began to flood into the area...
To Be Continued
Well, it seem our heroes are in quite a pickle... Riku must duel Maleficent, while a horde of Heartless converges upon Sora, Kairi, and an injured Dayne. And what of Kalyn, Edward, Alphonse, King Mickey, Donald and Goofy?
Well, you'll have to wait a little while longer because...
Chapter Preview
Angelo (Narrating): There are two sides to every story. Some stories have even more sides. We now gaze upon the lost ones, and their journey. While the Heaven falls, and Riku faces the darkest part of his past, two Unknowns must face off against a strong foe and themselves. What happens to Nobodies who have faded away? Have these two come so far, only to fade back into the darkness? What is the truth surrounding their existence?
Next Chapter: A Tale of Two Nobodies. Genesis of Destiny Chapter 37: Yet Another Side to the Story!
Angelo: To fight in pain, or die in sleep. It's their choice!
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