Holy shit! An update? In just THREE DAYS?!
It must be the end of the world. :P
Anywho, I hope you all enjoy this chapter of Kingdom Hearts: Reconnect! I can guarantee, you probably were not expecting a chapter like it! ;)
Also, read this chapter while listening to the song "Forces" by Susumu Hirasawa. It's surprisingly badass.
Obligatory Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OCs.
The Rage Within
We were halfway to Hollow Bastion when the call came. I'd been in the middle of practice session with Donald (who was teaching me Aero magic) when everyone was suddenly summoned to the cockpit, where Chip and Dale were waiting with apparently important news.
"What's up?" I asked as I climbed inside. Sora, Mari and Goofy were already there, standing by the intercom and waiting for us to arrive.
"Dunno," Sora replied with a shrug, "Chip said he wanted everyone here first."
"Well, we're here," Donald said curtly, not happy with having our practice cut short, "So what does he want?"
On cue, the intercom beeped, and a familiar high-pitched voice spoke, "Is everyone there, Sora?"
Sora habitually nodded even though Chip couldn't see, "Yeah, we're here. What's up?"
Dale was all to happy to inform us, "Queen Minnie askin' that ya come on down to the castle!"
Donald and Goofy immediately straightened, eyes wide as they exclaimed, "The Queen?!"
"Something's not wrong, is it?" Sora asked, staring worriedly at the intercom as he waited for their response.
"Well . . . " Chip said, "We're not exactly sure what's wrong. Somethin' weird happened in the Hall of the Corner Stone, but other than that, everything's been ok. There haven't been any Heartless or anything! But the Queen's still worried about it, and she was hoping you'd be able to come back to the castle to see if you could fix it."
"Of course we will!" Donald declared.
"Tell her Majesty we'll be there in a jiffy!" Goofy added, saluting.
Sora nodded in a agreement, "We'll be there soon, guys!"
Over the intercom, I heard the two sigh in relief before Chip continued, "Copy that, Sora! We'll see you soon!"
The moment the connection fizzled out, Sora, Donald, and Goofy all dropped into their respective seats and grabbed the controls, setting course for . . . the castle, I guess. Their eyes were focused, and a sense of urgency descended over the cockpit as they worked.
Mari looked at each of them in turn, a puzzled frown on her face, "So . . . where are we going now?"
I crossed my arms, eyebrow quirked, "I'd like to know too."
"Disney Castle," Sora said without taking his eyes off the blinking panels, "Don't worry, we'll explain everything on the way."
"I wonder what could be wrong?" Goofy mused to himself, voice soft and underscored with worry.
"We'll find out soon," Sora said, and I watched as the ship turned around and began the trek to the castle.
{******}
So, apparently the person we were going to see was indeed the Queen! Queen Minnie, to be more precise, and the wife of King Mickey. Which meant Mari and I were going to be visiting Donald and Goofy's home for the very first time!
The story of their last visit had been an intriguing one too, one that involved a corrupted Corner Stone, Maleficent, and even time travel. They sorted the mess out, obviously, and the castle was back in tip-top shape. Or, at least, that's what everyone had thought. This recent news of strange happenings had bothered the trio enormously, Donald and Goofy in particular, both of whom were unusually quiet on the flight back. I practically felt the relief seep off of them when the world finally came into view, even though their trepidation didn't leave entirely. I couldn't blame them. Whatever had happened, it must have been something really important and/or serious if the Queen was calling them back from their journey.
Unlike our usual method of teleporting onto the world, Donald actually pulled into orbit and flew into a large, spacious opening in the side of a hill that led into the underground, where we eventually entered a huge cavern done up to resemble an interior landing pad. Slowly, the ship pulled into the 'dock', where several small arms proceeded to grip the outer rungs of the ship and pull it in, holding it firmly in place.
"Nice," I said as I walked down the ramp of the ship, taking everything in. Control panels, large computers, wires, cords, you name it. This place was a veritable system of technology that would have made for a swanky secret lair.
I wondered what the actual palace looked like?
"OOOOH!" Mari squealed, eyes sparkling with delight, "This is so cool!"
"Don't touch anything!" Donald squawked warningly at her.
Mari's hand stopped over the knob she'd been reaching for, shoulders slumping as a crestfallen look appeared on her face, "Aaaw . . ."
"Sora! Donald! Goofy!"
I looked down and saw two little scraps of brown fur race around the corner, sliding to an exuberant stop just on front of the trio, eyes shining. Sora gave them a welcoming smile, dropping to a knee so he didn't seem so imposing, "Hey Chip, Dale! It's good to see you guys again!"
The little black-nosed chipmunk hopped up onto Sora's knee, smiling, "It's good to see you too!"
Ah, so that wad Chip. Which meant the red-nosed chipmunk was Dale.
"You guys need to come around more often!" Dale said heartily.
"Uh, anyway, what does the Queen want to see us for?" Goofy asked, looking at the two inquiringly while Donald waited impatiently for their answer.
Both chipmunks gave each other a short look before Chip hopped back to the floor, "Queen Minnie's waiting for you in the audience chamber."
"Just follow us!" Dale said before turning and marching off with his brother.
The trio glanced at each other before doing as they were told, and Mari and I followed obediently. They led us up to a small, dimly lit stairwell that ascended uphill, the small chipmunks hopping up the stone steps with ease as they led us through the dark. When at last we reached the top, it was to step out into a small, walled garden full of neatly trimmed bushes, well-kept pathways, and carefully manicured flowers, not a single leaf or bloom out of place. The sky was pure and clear, sunlight streaming over the rooftop turrets of the white palace. The air smelled fresh and clean, and I took a moment to appreciate the peace the garden gave.
Just then, the sound of tromping feet came close, and I looked to see a strange group of walking . . . brooms . . . make there way passed us. Their wooden arms (for they did have arms) were laden with different cleaning supplies, and I took that to mean they were some form of enchanted cleaning service. The others didn't seem all that bothered by their presence, which I guess only made sense, and I had to admit that, after everything I'd seen, it didn't perturb me as much as it should have. Now, it was just one more thing to add to the list of oddities.
Chip and Dale raced around the hedgerows that grew in perfect order around the tunnel that led to the landing station, and everyone hurriedly followed before we could lose sight of them. They took us to a long white corridor, the marbled walls of which glowed pristinely in the light, rows of decorative flags draped between every corinthian pillar embedded in the wall. A plush rug was underfoot, cushioning our footfalls to a near silent degree, but by that point it became apparent we wouldn't have to walk much farther.
We were drawing near a pair of huge double doors, so tall they nearly brushed the ceiling, the polished wood painted a scintillating white hued with a veneer of lilac with two emblems of a mouse's head emblazoned on either door. How on earth we were supposed to open that thing was anyone's guess.
Once we approached it, Donald suddenly turned to us, eyes cross, "Once we're inside, you better be on your best behavior!" he began listing off his instructions on his fingers, "No sass! No backtalk! And above everything else-"
He pointed directly at Mari, "Absolutely do not dive-tackle the Queen!"
Mari pushed the tips of her index fingers together, letting out a nervous chuckle at the reminder of her first brush with royalty. Next to us, Sora and Goofy pressed their hands to their mouths to stifle their laughter, shoulders shaking despite.
I gave the duck a mock salute, voice neutral, "Aye aye."
Donald huffed, but said nothing more as Chip and Dale proceeded to open the door. When I say that, I meant they opened a tiny, secret, human-sized door that blended in with the rest of the thick woodwork, completely invisible to the human eye unless one already knew it was there.
"Why . . . ?" I started to ask, then I shook my head and chose not to finish. This was Donald and Goofy's home. I should expect weird crap like this. So, accepting it as it was, I followed the others and stepped inside.
Beyond lay a huge, expansive hall that echoed with the creak of the opening door, the marbled walls and floor as clear as snow and sparkling in the light of the massive chandeliers that hung along the ceiling, three in all. Grooved pillars veined with streaks of blue lined the left and right side walls, towering over us all with their enormous height and girth. Another hug carpet lay sprawled out before us, running all the way to the opposite end of the massive structure where a raised dais was situated between two enormous statues of, get this, Donald and Goofy, both of which were decked in more regal outfits of a knight and mage. Upon the dais was a single ornate throne, and standing by it were two small figures who turned at the sound of the opening door.
One was a duck wearing a dress of royal purple silk, her feathers neatly groomed and cared for, gloved hands wrapped smartly in front of her with all the poise of a highborn lady. Next to her was a mouse in a small, poofy pink dress, a bow of rose red tied neatly around her waist and a golden crown perched neatly between her ears.
I had already guessed who she was even before Chip and Dale ran forward, bowing, "Your Majesty, Sora, Donald and Goofy have returned!"
Donald and Goofy both clapped their heels together and saluted, "Your Majesty!"
A pause, then Donald sheepishly glanced the she-duck's way, eyes softening as a smile came to his lips, "Daisy."
The duck continued to comport herself regally, but no one missed the small smile that came to her face when she was addressed, nor the fond twinkle in her eye as she gazed back at the mage.
I grinned, So, this is fair Daisy, eh?
He must have sensed my eyes on him, because not a moment later did he look my way and glare. My grin just grew bigger.
The mouse, Queen Minnie, clasped her hands together, a warm, welcoming smile coming to her face, "I knew you three would come."
"Of course, your Highness!" Sora said with a smile, "If you need us, we'll be there!"
Minnie nodded at that, clearly pleased by the reassurance, when her eyes finally ghosted over the two strangers standing in the hall, "Oh? And who might you be?"
With a short yet respectful bow, I said, "My name's Hikari, Your Majesty."
Mari didn't say anything at first, and I glanced, body tensing as I prepared myself in the case she tried to do something incredibly stupid. Again.
But she didn't run, or leap, or dive-tackle. Nope, she just looked spell-bound, stars in her eyes as she twined her hands together and pressed them to her cheek, sighing to herself but still loud enough for all to hear, "You're so cute.~"
I pressed the palm of my hand to my face, shaking my head in exasperation. She didn't even do anything. She didn't even do anything, and yet she was still able to make everything awkward. That took talent.
Goofy and Sora sheepishly rubbed the back of their heads while Donald looked this close to exploding, face going red and feathers puffing out with anger, and he probably would have gone off on the girl if the Queen hadn't been standing less than ten feet away.
But Minnie, after only a few moments of staring in surprise, diffused the awkward atmosphere by giving the star struck girl a kind smile and saying amicably, "Well, that's very sweet of you to say."
Seeing that Mari wasn't going to be saying anything productive anytime soon, dazzled by the cute as she was, I stepped forward and took over, "And this is Mari. Sorry about her manners, she's . . . like that."
Minnie shook her head, "Oh, there's no need to apologize. She hasn't done anything wrong."
Well, thank god for that. Really, I should consider myself blessed that the monarchs of Disney Castle were such laidback rulers, otherwise Mari's antics would have gotten us into trouble a long time ago.
"They've been helping us on our journey," Sora explained, "Hikari's even a Keyblade wielder, like me and the King!"
This information seem to make something in the Queen's head click, because her back suddenly straightened, "Oh, now I know why your names sound familiar! The King's last letter talked about you two!"
I blinked, "It did? Wait, he sends you letters?"
The Queen nodded, "Sometimes, just so I don't worry too much. His last one mentioned the two of you, and that you both seemed like remarkable young ladies."
I felt my face heat up at the praise, and I scratched the side of my cheek and looked away. Huh . . . we hadn't really even gotten a chance to talk, so it kind of surprised me that we had even left an impression on the King.
Beside me, Mari smiled and pumped her fist, whispering excitedly, "Sweet!"
That was when Goofy respectfully stepped forward, asking politely, "So, uh, why'dya call us back, Your Majesty?"
And immediately, everyone remembered why we were here.
"Maleficent isn't up to any of her old tricks, is she?" Sora asked quickly, eyes hardening.
"Oh no, nothing like that," Minnie said, shaking her head, "To be perfectly honest, everything has been fine at the castle after you saved the Cornerstone. But . . ."
Everyone leaned forward attentively when she paused, as if trying to gather her thoughts before continuing. That was when Daisy stepped forward and gently placed a hand on the Queen's shoulder, saying, "Maybe it would be better if you just showed them."
Minnie looked at her once before nodding, "Yes. That would be for the best."
We all backed up a respectful distance as the Queen and her friend stepped off the dais, Minnie gently running her fingers over the ring she wore on the opposite hand. Then, lifting it high, the ring flashed and the crevices under the dais glowed white in response, the giant slab sliding away, throne and all, to reveal large staircase that led down to a secret chamber beneath the castle.
"If everyone would follow me, please," Minnie said, beginning the descent herself.
We followed as she led the way down the tunnel, and I had to note how bright the stairwell was in comparison to most other secret passages that led to the bowels of the earth. The reason for that brightness soon became clear as we at last reached the last step and entered into a huge antechamber as pristine and white as the throne room above had been, only this room was scarce of any decoration at all save for one thing; A large pedestal rose up at the very center of the room, and mounted on top of it was a huge glass orb about five feet in diameter, it's smooth surface carrying not a single crack or seam. But what lay within the glass was the truly impressive sight, as it looked as if an entire galaxy was nestled within! Tiny flecks of light like miniature stars swirled inside a nebulous void, all of which surrounded a single spark of radiant light that banished every shadow, both in the physical world and in my own head. Truly, just gazing at the strange, magnificent orb put my mind at ease. It was as if an instinctual part of my mind knew, with absolute certainty, that no danger could happen here, that me and my friends were safe.
"That is the Cornerstone of Light," Queen Minnie informed me, seeing my awed stare, "It keeps our home safe and makes it so no darkness can enter our world."
I nodded, not taking my eyes of the orb "You don't say . . ."
"Hey, wait a sec . . ." I heard Sora murmur, "What's that?"
I saw him step forward, start to walk around the Cornerstone, and finally snapped out of my daze. Reaching back, I grabbed Mari's wrist and began to lead her after them, looking for what it was that had peaked Sora's curiosity.
It wasn't hard to find it. On the back wall just behind the Cornerstone, a huge, swirling portal of darkness was suspended, the shadows soundlessly licking across the wall like obsidian flames and severely juxtaposing the white serenity of the rest of the room.
"Gawrsh . . ." Goofy mumbled, bringing a hand to his lips.
"What is that?" Sora asked, staring at the portal in equal parts wonder and wariness.
"It's why I called you three back," Minnie explained, "It appeared a few days ago, and at first I thought Maleficent was trying to attack the castle again. But, aside from just appearing, nothing has come through."
"Not even the Heartless?" Donald asked.
The Queen shook her head, "No. Not even the Heartless."
"Have you tried closing it?" I asked, placing my hands on my hips.
"I have," Minnie confirmed with a nod, "Unfortunately, whenever I try, something forces the portal back open."
"Do you . . . know what's on the other side?" Mari asked after a moment of quiet, voice small as she beheld the pool of darkness.
Minnie sadly shook her head, "No."
"How come you didn't call us sooner, Your Highness?" Donald asked, but there wasn't any annoyance in his voice. Just concern, a concern shared by everyone present.
"As alarming as it looks, I never sensed anything from it. No darkness or evil of any sort. And since it hasn't been banished by the Cornerstone's light, I thought it was something that could wait until your journey was complete. That is, until . . ."
Everyone turned to her, hearing the snag in her voice and knowing she was about to address what the true problem was.
"Something . . . changed," The Queen continued. Placing her hands over her heart, she looked at the portal with anxious eyes, "Lately, a . . . presence of some sort has started to emanate from the other side, and it's unlike anything I've ever felt before."
"How so?" I asked softly.
At this, the Queen's hands unconsciously tightened, "It's . . . well, the best way I can explain it is that the presence is . . . more like an emotion than an actual presence. An overwhelming emotion, so powerful and complete and it eclipses everything else. And . . . there's really only one word for the emotion I feel. It's rage," she looked at us in earnest, the faintest tinge of fear cracking through her queenly persona. Not fear for herself, but fear for her people and kingdom, "Whatever's on the other side . . . it's angry. It's so angry, and I'm afraid it might try and eventually cross through into our castle. If it did, who knows what it would do!"
Sora dropped to a knee then, looking the Queen in the eye and giving her a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, Your Majesty! We'll take of it, I promise!"
"Just say the word!" Goofy added, saluting.
Donald did likewise, "And we'll do whatever it takes!"
Their words of encouragement heartened the Queen, smiling appreciatively at their decrees of support before taking a breath and straightening her spine, "Sora, Donald, Goofy, whatever's on the other side of this portal presents a threat to this world and all who live on it. Therefore, it's imperative that we close it!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The three plus Mari shouted unison.
Meanwhile, I asked the practical question, "Do you have any leads, Your Highness?"
A morose expression crossed her even though she nodded in affirmation, tone heavy, "I do, and while I wish there was a more peaceful solution, I think the only way to close the portal for good is to defeat the presence on the other side."
Sora nodded, "Got it. Don't worry, Your Majesty. We'll be fine!"
This time, Daisy stepped forward, who so far had kept silent during our exchange, "Queen Minnie says the presence is powerful, so if there's anything you need before you go, come see me and I'll set you up."
"Sweet! Thanks Daisy!" Donald said happily, smiling.
Daisy crossed her arms, "Don't think I'm doing it just for you, Donald. Besides," she suddenly stuck a feathered finger in his face, "You have to come back. You still owe me for that date you missed!"
"Oh yeah . . ." Donald said less exuberantly, abashedly looking away and rubbing his head.
Sora and Goofy chuckled, giggling at some in-joke I missed.
Getting supplies was quick and easy, only taking us about ten minutes to prepare. Soon, we all stood before the portal, with the Queen and Daisy seeing us off.
"Be careful everyone, and return safe," Minnie said.
"We will!" Sora said simply, his smile one of overflowing optimism before he turned to face the portal.
I faced it as well, swallowing back a bout of nervousness as I beheld the darkness that lay before me.
In and out, I thought as I took my first step forward, I'll be on the other side before I know it.
That was when a hand grabbed mine, and I looked to my left to see Mari give me a happy smile before she pulled me along with her into the dark.
Stepping inside the swirling shadows was . . . odd, to say the least. It was like stepping into a curtain of mist, cool and soft, but it wasn't damp like normal mist. And, like I thought, we were in and out in a heartbeat, leaving the polished walls of the palace behind and entering a new place entirely.
It was a strange place, definitely. Flat, brown fields of dirt and rock lay stretched out before us, with craggy, steep mountains of stone rising up from the plateau like the cracked fingers of a giant. The sky was just as brown as it's earthen counterpart, with tattered clouds the color of rust scratched across the sky in thin, wispy lines. The light seemed frail and the air tasted dead, and I knew on some level that no one had walked on this ground in many years.
So what was here?
The wind suddenly stirred, bringing with it the smell of dust as it began to swirl and gather around one spot on the field just before us, spinning faster and faster until my vision was obscured by a veil of dirt. Wincing, I covered my eyes with my hands, straining to see while trying to protect them at the same time.
But soon, it was dying, the dirt falling back to the ground as if it had never been displaced at all. And, kneeling where the cyclone had once been, was a figure.
Armor covered the figure from head to toe, the suit bearing the earthen tones of its dead surroundings. The top half of its breastplate, pauldrons and boots were predominately brown with veins of gold, while the bottom half of the breastplate was the color of rust. The cuisse and gauntlets all bore the same coloration and patterning of cracked magma, and a cape of dusky gold lay strewn across the figure's back and ground, the fabric rustling as the wind around it died. A helmet with a pair of rust-colored horns curving up from the top adorned it's head, hiding their face completely from view. But more surprising than any of that was the weapon clutched between the figures clasped hands. The solid bronze shaft was thick and sturdy, obviously meant for hitting and doling out heavy punishment, a bar of solid, dark grey metal running down the fuller from tip to hilt. The edges of the thick blade were lined with gold, the tip comprised of three horizontal prongs and a crescent-curved point meant to bludgeon and destroy. The blue tinted guard curved around the hilt completely, all the way to the pommel. It was a build I'd seen before. It was a shape I recognized.
It was a Keyblade.
Tension settled over us all, a deathly quiet pervading the area as we waited to see what the armored figure would do next.
I nearly jumped when the armored head shifted just slightly, the rim of the helmet scraping against the metal of it's breastplate and producing an eerie scree. Then, in a hollow yet still masculine voice, the figure spoke, "Aqua . . . Ven . . ."
Dawnstar was in my hand instantly, everyone else drawing their weapons and falling into a series of defensive stances in preparation for a fight.
"Keyblade . . ." the figure continued, the disturbing echo of his voice seeming to saturate the still air. His hollow eyes were fixed only on Sora, and i just barely noticed the way he shuddered, "Who are you? I can feel it . . . we have met before . . ."
I shared a puzzled glance with Mari and Sora, both of whom looked no closer to understanding what it meant than I did.
"No, you are not the one . . . the one I chose . . ." a hard edge entered the figure's voice, confusion now underscored by anger, "Why aren't you him?"
Who was this guy talking about? Normally, I would have come right out and asked him. But . . . but something about him, about it, for it didn't seem human, unsettled me enough that I didn't actually want it's attention on me.
"Xe . . . ha . . . nort . . ." It mumbled, "Is it you? Xeha . . . nort . . ."
It's head suddenly and sharply jerked up to face us full on, and a sudden, nearly overpowering sense of rage pressed down on us from seemingly every side, as stifling and thick as a fog.
"Xehanort!"
And with those final words, the figure rose, one hand gripping the hilt tight as he pulled it up from the ground, hostile gaze fixed on us. It was then I knew for certain we were in for a fight.
The figure's legs tensed, and I knew he was about to leap at us. But thankfully, the countless number of battles we'd been in ensured our reflexes were faster, and we jumped, scattering to the left and right as he suddenly dove forward, body and Keyblade becoming obscured in a veil of dusky light. But even so, I still felt the wind rip around me as he shot fast, and I knew we'd avoided a bad one.
Landing on his feet, Sora was the first to engage him, sweeping his Keyblade at the figure's exposed side.
CLANG!
The figure parried the blow easily, turning faster than any of us could perceive and blocking the Sora's attack. Twisting his arm, the figure snaked his Keyblade around Sora's before brutally pulling his arm back and wrenching Three Wishes aside, leaving the boy exposed. Without mercy, he then spun and slammed the pommel of his Keyblade right into Sora's chest with enough force to send him flying back, the boy hitting the ground and rolling once, twice, three times in the dirt before coming to a stop, "Ugh . . ."
"NO!" I shouted, running forward as the figure charged after it's prey.
Goofy shot forward as well and planted himself firmly between the oncoming maelstrom of rage and his friend, eyes glinting hard with an unshakable determination. The figure cared not for his bravery and brought the full force of his Keyblade on Goofy's shield.
The dog-man grunted as it came in contact, the sheer power in the swing sending him sliding back, knees buckling as he fought to stay upright. The figure was already lifting it's arm back in preparation to deal another blow when a light like a shooting star sailed over Goofy's head and slammed right into the shaft of the Keyblade and exploded out in a shower of golden threads, the miniature arrows winding around the Keyblade before shooting down and anchoring themselves in the dirt. The figure heaved, arms straining as it fought to free itself from the tendrils binding his Keyblade over his head, and, with horror, I saw a few of the golden threads snap.
Now! Go now! I screamed to myself.
Diving between Goofy and the enraged figure, I pointed Dawnstar at his chest and drove it forward, feeling the jarring contact thrum through my arms as a blast of fire magic exploded from it's tip, washing the figure in a tornado of flame.
A shadow stepped beside me, and I wanted to smile in relief when I saw Sora add his own fire to the attack, the boy having been healed thanks to Donald. The sky overhead darkened, and suddenly a rain of volts struck the writhing firestorm fiercely, blackening the dirt with every strike.
We jumped back, watching as the fire died and was replaced by a cloud of choking black smoke, waiting for even an ounce of movement in case the figure was still alive.
Without warning, my vision was suddenly obscured by a plethora of twisting, grinding cogs of ephemeral transparency, and suddenly I felt myself be dragged under by the powerfully twisting wheels. My sight went black for a moment, and suddenly I found myself being thrown across the plain, feeling my back hit the ground with a painful thud.
Blinking away the stars that swam around me, I forced myself to my knees, leaning heavily against Dawnstar as I reached inside my pack. Grabbing a hi-potion, I cracked it a let it's healing magic do it's work, sighing as the pain in all of my extremities disappeared. That . . . had not been fun.
Standing up, I surveyed the scene around me; Sora was up as well, looking bruised but not done as he had it out with the figure, who was deflecting his blows with disturbing ease. Mari offered aid from a distance, trying her best to pin the man again. Unfortunately, now wise to the potential danger of her attacks, the figure moved continuously, making it hard for her to land a hit. Donald was casting Curaga, the spell healing both himself as well as Goofy, who was in range and looking hurt.
Seeing they were in good hands, I ran to assist Sora, who looked like he needed the help. Before engaging however, I paused to prepare. This guy hit hard, so I'd need some protection. And what better way than a nifty new spell I'd been taught?
Holding Dawnstar up to the sky, I called forth magic, feeling the wind start together around me as my spell took shape. Soon, a sphere of twisting current surrounded me, and, satisfied with the Aero spell I'd cast, I ran forward and attacked.
As Sora kept the figure busy, I swept up behind the armored man and swung at his exposed side, aiming for the juncture at his armpit in hopes of driving it through.
But then the figure suddenly turned, and my swing only nicked the tail end of his cape instead. Sensing danger, I shot forward, narrowly escaping as he spun around and brought his Keyblade down right where I had been standing, the attack partially missing and partially deflected by my Aero spell, the curved tip smashing into the rock and turning it into powder. Right as I did so, Goofy's shield flew over my head, striking the side of the figure's helmet with a disturbingly hollow ring.
Sora bolted by me as well, dealing out a series of quick, agile combos meant to wear down rather than damage, the tip of Three Wishes glancing off the armor and leaving numerous scratches on it's surface, occasionally sending sparks.
Swinging around, I pointed Dawnstar up and sent a javelin of ice the figure's way, the glittering spear accompanied by another hail as Donald cast his own. Sora jumped up just in time, and the figure was left at the mercy of the icy torrent we had sent, the huge shards slamming and shattering against his armor and no doubt leaving a couple bruises. Sora gave him no quarter, pointing his Keyblade down while still in midair and casting a rain of lightning down on the figure's head, charring him.
And maybe we had hurt him somewhat, because suddenly the figure pointed his Keyblade skyward and suddenly several ribbons of white light shot out around him, sparkling and tinkling in what would have otherwise been a beautiful display had the rays not shot out and suddenly slammed into each of us. I held up my arms defensively, feeling the scything lights cut right through my Aero spell and slice into me, the pain burning immensely as I stumbled back in an attempt to escape the merciless barrage.
The others fared no better, bleeding from several cuts now as we struggled to reassert ourselves. Sora had already cracked a mega-potion and tossed it, the healing energy taking the edge off, and I reached into my bag and pulled out an ether, sighing as energy flowed into me again.
"This isn't working," I heard Sora say, eyes locked on the armored figure.
"Then what do we do?" Mari asked, arm drawn back, arrow knocked and aimed at the man.
"Donald, Goofy," Sora said meaningfully, and the two nodded in understanding.
I, too, understood the message. Sora planned on going Master Form. And not a moment too soon, as right then, I felt the rage still simmering in the air intensify once more as the man broke his stillness and began running for us once more.
"NOW!" Sora cried, and suddenly his whole body was washed with light as he charged forward, intent on meeting the figure halfway.
But then, right before the two met, something strange happened. From the light engulfing Sora, a strange shadow appeared, one that blossomed around him right as the two attacks connected, shrouding them both in shadow. Alarmed, I ran forward, only to feel a hand grab my arm and pull me back.
"Mari!" I shouted, rounding on her.
Only to stare when I saw the fear in her eyes, the girl wildly shaking her head even though she wouldn't look away from what was happening, "S-something's wrong . . ."
Confused and worried, I spun around to see what had just occurred for myself . . . only to feel ice enter my veins and freeze me to my spot.
The figure had jumped back, away from the darkness as it billowed down and dispersed around Sora. But instead of the glowing raiment and shining power of Master Form, like I expected, he instead was draped entirely in shadow, wispy tendrils flitting off skin and clothes alike, both of which were as black as ebony. And his eyes, once so blue, now shone like cursed gold, burning from within the dark.
Like a . . . Heartless . . .
"Sora . . ." I breathed unknowingly, hesitantly, shock gluing me to my spot.
Slowly, slowly, the boy turned at the sound of his name. Golden eyes met mine, and I involuntarily took a step back. That . . . wasn't Sora . . . was it?
The figure shifted, and Sora's eyes snapped to him in an instant, dropping to all fours into an animalistic crouch and growling darkly. And suddenly, he was gone, only to reappear by the figure's head and slash a clawed hand across the back of his helmet, forgoing his Keyblade entirely. The figure spun around in response, swinging his Keyblade up in a sharp arc, but Sora dodged it easily, moving with an agility he normally didn't have. Booted foot landing on the man's shoulder, Sora propelled himself forward, spun so he landed on his feet, and propelled himself back, moving so quickly even the figure was having a hard time keeping up with him.
Sora glided passed the man's back, claws rending through the cape and scraping against the man's armor with a metallic screech that hurt the ears. Again the man spun, Keyblade perpendicular to his body so it cut in a wide arc, but Sora jumped over it easily, pouncing back digging his claws once more into the man's armor. Sora continued to flash step around the man, leaving numerous cuts and chinks in the armor while at the same time being practically untouchable.
I should have jumped in. I should be helping. But the way Sora was now . . . so animalistic, so inhuman . . . I wondered if he would even recognize me as an ally. He might just think I was another enemy. Just what the hell had even happened to him, anyway?!
So I remained where I was, watching as the two fought it out in a violent exchange of blows. It stayed that way until the man, fed up of their game of cat and mouse, slammed his Keyblade into the ground with a momentous crash, the dirt and rock cracking and splintering deeply. The sudden displacement threw Sora off balance, and that one lapse was all the man needed.
Reaching around, he grabbed the boy by the throat, holding him up off his feet and not caring for wild, vicious scratches Sora delivered to his arm. Then, with one violent toss, he threw him back across the plateau, and I watched in horror as he slammed into the ground hard.
He rolled to a stop, and suddenly the darkness around him dispersed as the Form came to an end. Then it was just Sora, Donald, and Goofy laying there, all worn out and injured, unable to defend themselves. And the man, seeing an opportunity for victory, hefted his Keyblade up and charged.
Mari had already released a desperate arrow when I went running to their defense, fear for their lives giving my feet wings. When I got there, I wasn't sure what I would do. But I had to try something, otherwise they would die!
Sliding in front of the injured, partially unconscious trio, I held Dawnstar up in preparation to block the oncoming attack and prepared myself for a painful blow. I knew I wasn't strong enough to withstand it. I wasn't Goofy. But I refused to move. Live or die, that was what this fight had come down to. On he came, nearer and nearer, Mari's arrows continuously harrying him but failing to slow him down by even a little, until he was almost on top of me-!
But I wasn't going to lose my ground. I wasn't going to let him hurt my friends. That single thought lit a spark of defiance inside me, and, gripping Dawnstar tight, I looked him square in the face and screamed, "If you want them, then you'll have to go through me!"
The figure's Keyblade bore down on me, curved point glinting, and I braced myself for the attack.
Silence filled my ears for the briefest of moments, and suddenly I felt air blast by my head and body as the attack stopped a mere inch from my face, the force blowing the loose dirt around us out into a the shape of a billowing ring. I stared at the tip, so close to my face, feeling a bead of sweat roll down my cheek when realized just how close to death I had come once again.
But . . . why had he stopped?
The Keyblade lowered, and I caught sight of the helmet's black visor, where I sensed something stare at me keenly. Whether it was human . . . was anyone's guess.
Then the figure, in a rasping and hollow voice, spoke.
"Ev . . . an . . . geline?"
My eyes widened even more, and I felt my limbs seize up in shock.
"H . . . how . . . ?" I started to say, but the words did not come like they should have. They felt trapped, stuck in the back of my throat, and so my mouth ended up moving soundlessly instead, eyes staring into the black of the man's visor as I tried to come to grips with what he'd just said.
Then a hand appeared on my shoulder, and suddenly I was being pushed back as Sora ran by me, lashing out with his Keyblade and striking the figure right in the chest. The man stumbled back, and Sora dropped into a defensive stance, eyes flashing, "Stay away from her!"
Donald and Goofy both stepped on either side of me, eyes wary and weapons ready, while Mari walked in from the side, aim never faltering as she moved.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
The figure, not having made am move since being pushed back, was now staring at Sora with an almost quiet interest. The rage, once so prevalent, was gone. Then, he mumbled, "I see. Your strength . . . the one inside you is . . ."
His voice trialed away, and, after one more tense, uneasy moment, he suddenly dug the tip of his Keyblade back into the ground and dropped to his knees, falling back into the position we'd found him in and moving no more.
The wind rose once again, wrapping and reeling around the mysterious figure, and at last I broke out of my stupor as desperation set in.
"Hey, wait!" I shouted, running stupidly towards the storm only to be held back by Mari and Sora, "How do you know my mom?! Answer me?!"
But he was gone, taken by the wind just as surely as he'd been delivered by it. In pure frustration, I tore myself away from the two holding me back and kicked the dirt with a scream. Why damn it?! Why, whenever I found something that could help, that could shed light on something, it always disappeared?!
"Hikari . . ." Mari murmured, walking to me and placing a consoling hand on my shoulder.
"He said her name," I replied stiffly, panting in rage as I fought to hold back frustrated tears, "He thought I was my mom. He knew her!"
"I know," she said sadly, "He did. But he's gone now."
"Yeah," I snapped, "I know."
The others shared a sad look between themselves, and in the silence that followed, I forced myself to recollect my thoughts and center myself. Once I was sure I could speak without my voice cracking, I took a deep breath, looked their way and asked, "Anyway . . . are you guys . . . okay? You took a pretty hard hit back there."
At my prompting, Sora smiled weakling, "I could be better, honestly."
An image of golden eyes appeared in my mind, and my muscles tensed as if a fight was about to break out again. Licking my lips, I tentatively asked, "Hey, Sora . . . that Form you took back there . . ."
Sora winced and looked away, "Sorry about that. I thought I'd gotten it under control . . ."
"Got . . . what under control?" Mari asked quietly, sensing that this was a rather touchy subject.
Sora didn't say anything at first. Then, in an unnaturally quiet voice, he said, "Anti-Form."
"Anti-Form?" I questioned.
His shoulders slumped, and he didn't look me in the eye. He almost looked . . . ashamed . . .
"We can talk about it later," Donald interrupted, stepping between us, "For now, let's get going. The Queen'll wanna know we won!"
"Yeah, I bet she'll be super happy!" Goofy added, trying to restore some modicum of cheer.
It didn't work. Our procession was a silent one as we trudged back through the portal out of the strange wasteland, a quiet brought about by exhaustion, hurting bodies, and darker thoughts. Even Mari's hand around mine did little to dispel my dark mood as we crossed through the blackness back to the safety of the castle. My mind was entirely focused on the mysterious being in the wastes, what he'd said, and all the question it had awoken. Who was he? How did he know my mom? Just what was her connection to all of this? Why did everyone seem to know except me?
But, like always, the only answer I received was silence.
Aaaaaand NOW we are heading to Hollow Bastion!
I hope you guys enjoyed the fight with the Lingering Will. For once, I thought I did good. All the same, I hope I did him justice in your eyes!
And man, Evangeline, stop going places and being mysterious. :O
Rate and Review, if you like.