Shadows of Reality
Chapter Thirty-Six –Irony and Chaos
Sora Hikari was not a happy young man. No, to say he wasn't happy was an understatement. He was so angry at the moment that he felt like going and blowing up an entire (empty) building, or maybe even going around and blowing up several useless worlds (like the world with all those annoying little tar-people, or maybe Wonderland, as long as Alice was off of it. Did he ever hate Wonderland), and there was no hyperbole in this statement at all.
He was pacing back and forth, making everyone else in the room nervous. At first someone suggested that they do the whole 'good cop/bad cop' thing, but he decided not to. There would be no good cop in this story. Why? Because he was the King of Twilight's Destiny and if he wanted to throw her over the palace walls (after building a mote with some kind of man-eating fish in it) then damn it, he was going to throw her over the palace walls!
'Note to self,' Tidus had thought after hearing that. 'Keep Sora ridiculously happy for the rest of his life.' This anger might have been out of character for Sora, but then again, his wife and unborn child had been stolen from him and one of the people he had trusted betrayed him, causing that to happen. He had the right to be acting out of character!
The Keyblade Bearers, as well as many of their friends, were also in the room, watching Sora pace back and forth in front of a rather terrified looking Emiliana. They all eyed his Keyblade, and it wasn't lost on anyone that he had decided to bring out Sacrifice, the Keyblade that representing the darkness in him.
"So Emi," he said finally, saying her name as if it was some kind of disease. "Are you sure you don't want to tell us where Kairi us?"
A dark look passed over her eyes but she said nothing.
Jack Sparrow stumbled forward and said, "Blimey mate, I say we take her to Davy Jones Locker for a bit. Wouldn't enjoy that trip much." He glanced at his shoulder for a moment before saying. "Ye be right. It'd be Will Turner's locker now I'd be guessing."
Sora stared at him oddly before shaking his head and saying, "Give me a reason not to chuck you out that window right now."
"Because you're a Keyblade Bearer of Light," she snapped back.
"Last time I checked, this place representing balance between darkness and light," Midori piped up.
"Yeah, and Sora, you've been far too nice for your own good," Roxas said to his twin, remembering what DiZ had said to him. Sure, they were both egging Sora on, but none of them really cared.
"What? Are you all promoting that your king become a controlling titan?" Emiliana asked.
There was a pause before everyone erupted into laughter, but it didn't last anymore.
"Lets see," Hayer said from across the room. "What's missing from the evil king look?"
"Well the personality and mind frame for one," Genie answered as he popped up beside Sora. "But I can't help you with that."
Sora grinned slightly at them before it vanished, and then he said, "I'm not a bad person. I just want to know where Kairi is and I'll do nearly anything I have to, to get that information out of you. Anything."
"You're trapped in a room of not only Keyblade Bearers," King Mickey said. "But also with others of extraordinary power."
"Even the mouse is threatening me," Emiliana muttered.
"Where is she?" Sora snapped, pressing Sacrifice against her neck suddenly. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way."
"I like playing games," Emiliana said. "But unfortunately, I don't have the clearance yet to tell you where she is. Have to wait til the boss says so. Got it memorized?"
Once again flames burst from Axel's hands and he said, "Say it again, I dare you. I freaking double-dog-dare you! That is my phrase! If you use it again I'm going to shove these flames into a very uncomfortable place. Got THAT memorized?" Demyx backed away from him, and Zexion rolled his eyes. Larxene was currently in the infirmary, thanks to Emiliana, but if she were there, she would have actually encouraged Axel to roast her.
Sora banished Sacrifice suddenly, an odd look on his face. He quickly walked passed Donald and Goofy, and brushed by Hercules and Peter Pan as he reached Naminé. He whispered something in her ear and a shocked look appeared on her face.
Everyone watched intently as Naminé first shook her head no and Sora whispered something else. Roxas seemed to have heard what his twin said, and he seemed to be taking Sora's side in whatever they were talking about.
Naminé bit her lip before nodded and following Sora back to the front of the room.
"You like playing games, right?" Sora asked.
"Sure, cause I always win," Emiliana said smugly. "I mean look at Riku. He fell for my act."
Riku growled and attempted to jump out at her, but Jack Skellington and Aladdin held him back half heartedly.
"So, are you going to answer my questions?"
"Let me think," she said. "No."
Sora shrugged and said, "Your loss. You know what is really painful apparently?"
"Hmm?"
"Having your memories torn out of your mind unwillingly," Sora said while looking towards the ceiling. "When Naminé changed mine around, she did it gently so it didn't hurt. The same with Roxas. Originally it was just our memories she could manipulate, and everyone else's changed with ours. Things are different now though. Naminé can do some very impressive, and painful things to the mind. " He turned to the blonde and nodded. "Find Kairi."
"Can do," Naminé said as she approached Emiliana.
"Wait!" the violet-eyed girl cried out. "You wouldn't tear through someone's memories? Especially not after what happened in Castle Oblivion?"
"I still don't know why I have this power," Naminé muttered. "And I'm still not sure if there's a right way to use them, but you know what?"
"What?"
"I'm positive this isn't the right way to use it, but I really don't care."
"You're bluffing."
Naminé shook her head and said, "You call my bluff? You called wrong."
She held her hand up and started sifting through Emiliana's memories quickly, speaking out loud about what she saw. She had to speak loudly though, because she wasn't being any kind of gentle with the memories. She just tore them and tossed them in every direction she could. The result was painful cries from the brunette that she had to speak over.
She told them of Xehanort finding her and finding out that her family was a very loyal one to him in the past. He took her under his wing, somehow giving her a Keyblade.
"My god," Naminé whispered.
"What?" Donald asked.
"Those three knights that attacked us," Naminé said. "They're being controlled by Xehanort! He brought them back to life somehow, but that's all she knows about them. And…he doesn't have plans on hurting Kairi yet."
"That's good," Sora answered quickly. "But where is she?"
A worried look passed over Naminé's face as Emiliana cried out in pain and twitched a bit. This worried look was not for the struggling girl though. "Sora…"
"What?"
"He's using Kairi to lure you there. He plans on using your power, the power of Kingdom Hearts, to destroy everything. Or at least, that's only a part of his plan. And…if something should happen and the baby is born before we get there…"
"What?" Sora asked, sounding almost desperate. "What will happen Naminé?" Olette put a hand on his left shoulder, trying to calm him down, while Yuna did the same to his right.
"They'll kill her and continue to use the baby to control the powers instead."
Yuna and Olette let go of him quickly as they felt the anger start radiating off of him. Sora gritted his teeth and asked in a harsh tone, "Where is she?"
Emiliana's violet gaze met Sora's angered one before her eyes slid shut and she passed out on the floor with a loud shriek of pain. Naminé shook her head quickly then said, "I got one word from her about the location. It's called Chaos…something or something Chaos. I'm not sure which one."
"Can't you find it again?" Wakka asked curiously.
Naminé shook her head. "I kind of mashed her memories around too much. I can't even find it in the mess I made." She didn't seem to upset that she had just turned someone's mind to mush.
"So you really messed with her mind."
"She deserved it."
"Can we find world's with the word Chaos in it?" Sora asked, completely ignoring Naminé now. He remembered that Ventus too had said that word before being dragged away.
"I could try," Zexion said as he stepped forward. "It might take some time though."
"How much time?"
There was a moment's pause. "An hour tops if no one bothers me." Normally it could take Zexion a few days to locate a place, but he would work twice as fast, if it meant not having Sora blow something up.
"Do it," Sora answered and the former Nobody left. "We're going to find them…"
"Of course we are," Riku agreed. "And we're all going with you."
Sora shot him a dry look that was still glazed with anger, and said, "Call me crazy, but I don't think there's a gummi ship big enough to fit everyone here yet. I know Chip and Dale are working on one though. We also need someone to stay here and make sure things run okay while I'm gone."
"You kind of fired the entire council that did that," Tidus pointed out. "Including your mother-in-law."
Sora frowned for a moment before he looked as if he had been struck by lightning. A small grin appeared on his face for a split second as he said, "Well, I'll make a new one."
"And who do you plan on putting in that?" Selphie asked.
"You," he answered while pointing at her. "And Tidus, and Wakka, and Pence…and the people I trust that plan on living here and are not Keybearers."
There was silence around the room and Axel asked, "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely," Sora answered. "In fact, Axel, I think you, Demxy, Larxene and Zexion would add well to it."
"You're kidding, right?" Riku asked. "You're giving four Organization Members power over a city?"
"No, because everything goes through me," Sora replied. He glanced at Emiliana's still form and said, "Keep her somewhere where she can't get away, okay? We're not done with her yet." He said this to Riku, who nodded and left while literally dragging her behind him. He was sure that would hurt walking down the stairs to the dungeons.
"You need probably about twelve people Sora," Roxas said to him.
"I know," he answered. "I'd use you, but you're going to be the King of Radiant Garden. I'm sure some people would not be happy with that. Pence, Tidus, Wakka, Selphie, I think you're all up for it though."
"You have that much faith in us?" Pence asked curiously.
"Definitely," Sora answered. "And that's four people there. Then Axel, Larxene, Zexion and Demyx, that's right and…well I think that Roxas is right and I should keep about twelve people to keep the tradition going." His eyes trailed around the room as he said, "Yuna? Are you staying here?"
She seemed shocked at this and slowly nodded before saying, "And you trust me enough?"
"You're a treasure hunter, not an evil person," Sora answered. "So yeah."
Yuna hesitated but then nodded. She had to tell Rikku and Paine about this later (they were both exploring the town). "And everyone else, well, I don't know yet."
"So they run the city while we're gone," Roxas said. "And the rest of us come with you."
Sora looked at all the Keyblade Bearers and their friends that were with them all along. "It's going to be dangerous."
"We know," Ariel answered.
"And…"
"Sora," Jack Skellington said. "What kind of beings would we be if we let everything get destroyed? I love chaos and mayhem as much as the next nightmare, but if everything is gone what would be left for me to scare?"
"He's right," Mulan agreed. "I swore to honor my family and my world, and I am not stopping now."
"Aye," Jack Sparrow said loudly.
"You're willing to risk yourself Jack?" Sora asked with shock.
"Funny, isn't it?" Jack said while swaying a bit. "But lad, Barbossa once said to me that the world was getting smaller, but it ain't true, savvy? There's just less in it. I don't want even less to be there when I get home."
Sora looked at the floor then looked up as King Mickey said, "We'll all fight, and we'll destroy Xehanort for good this time unlike last…time…" He trailed off, his eyes widening in shock before he jumped and said, "I remember now!"
VVVVVVVVVV
"I can't find a world with Chaos in it, surprisingly," Zexion said as he saw Sora enter the room, followed by only Mickey Mouse.
"You won't," Mickey said. "Because it's not a world we're looking for at all. It's a place inside of a world. Graveyard of Chaos."
"Eerie name," Sora commented. "Where is it? How quick can we get there?"
"We can get there within the hour," Mickey said, and Sora seemed delighted by this news. "But it'll take stealth to sneak into the caves. With so many of us we'll need to split up into small groups."
"Where is Graveyard of Chaos?" Zexion asked, ready to find a map of it.
"Ironically enough, it's just outside this very city."
"You're kidding, right?" Sora asked, his eye widening with shock and anger. "The bastard's been in our backyard the entire time?" Zexion didn't say anything, but noted with interest that several things around him shook with the last word Sora said.
King Mickey nodded and said, "In the outlands. It's hard to get there because of all the protective barriers around the city. Even the ruins were protected so that nothing could enter here from there."
"That seems a little redundant," Zexion commented. "Couldn't something just leave the world and come back to this part of it?"
"You'd think," was the only comment King Mickey said. "But Xehanort and the Endless haven't gotten in here yet."
"So Kairi is hidden in the caves in that mountain range?" Sora asked as Zexion got a picture of the outskirts of the town.
"Yeah," King Mickey said, looking uneasy. "But Sora, there's something you should know about that place."
"What?"
"It's not natural," Mickey explained. "In fact it was made by magic. Xehanort's magic to be exact."
"So he has the all around home turf advantage," Zexion commented.
King Mickey nodded and said, "That place is called the Graveyard of Chaos because it's where the Keyblades go after their chosen wielder dies, either ending the chaos that the person inflicted on the world, or finally letting the peaceful wielders leave the chaos that they were surrounded in. It was there at a crossroads where the three knights met one another again. They tried to destroy Xehanort, but instead he succeeded. One was frozen and slowly died, another died of a broken heart and the last barely lived on, but only in a world between worlds. I found them as the leader, Terra, attempted to avenge his friends and destroy Xehanort."
"What happened?" Sora asked.
"I'm not really sure," he admitted. "Obviously, Xehanort's soul took over another body but I'm not sure whose it was. Aqua and Ventus died and Terra vanished."
Sora looked at the ground then said, "So we fly a bit away from the cliffs and hope to stay hidden. Then we go in small groups and find Kairi while destroying everything that gets in our way."
"Sounds too simple," Zexion commented. "Xehanort will never fall for it."
"I know," Sora agreed. "But if we can get Kairi and everyone else out then I'm willing to take the fall for it."
"Sora," King Mickey scolded. "I won't let you fall into that man's clutches. It's what he wants. We're all going to get out."
"Are you sure it's the best plan?" the former Organization Member asked.
"No," Sora answered. "But it's all we've got…"
"You should propose the plan to the other Keyblade Bearers and see if anyone else has any ideas," King Mickey suggested.
Sora was about to protest. They were wasting time trying to come up with fancy ideas. He wasn't stupid; he knew all the stress Kairi would be under, which was not good for the baby. Hell, he didn't want to think it, but he knew there was a chance that his son or daughter was born already, and if they were, he knew that she was dead. He made a face at Mickey but said, "Alright, lets go." There was no point arguing. Besides, if they took too long to figure things out, he would just take a gummi ship and go on his own.
VVVVVVVVVV
The room that they chose for their meeting room was huge and in the center of it was a beautiful round table made of sturdy white-gold and crystal. Jack Sparrow was trying to figure out if he could find a way to take that home with him when the door opened and Sora and King Mickey walked in.
Sora gulped as he stared at everyone in the room. Riku, Roxas, Naminé, Midori, Aladdin, Mulan, Stitch, Ariel, Hercules, Jack Sparrow, Jack Skellington, Hayner, Olette, Simba and Peter, were sitting at the table, observing him silently. King Mickey nodded encouragingly and took another seat.
"Well," Sora said. "We know where Kairi is now. You were right Naminé about the Chaos part. She's in a place called Graveyard of Chaos, but it's not another world."
"Which world is it in then?" Riku asked while crossing his arms in front of him.
Sora winced and said, "In the outlands of this one."
"Ironic," Jack Sparrow said. "Because you said you'd destroy the world she's in to find her."
Sora glared at him then said, "The best idea I can think of is that we go there on the gummi ship so that we don't waste any time. When we get close we hide it and sneak into the caves of the mountains in small groups." He looked down at the table before looking back up. "But I'm not going to ask you to come. This is my fault and I'm really the only one who needs to go."
"Then why did you bother coming to get us?" Hercules asked. "You found us so that we could all work together to destroy the Endless, something that'd be impossible otherwise."
"He's right," Simba agreed. "Some of our Keyblade might not do that much damage to them, but there must be a reason we're needed at this point of time."
Sora looked around the room before glancing at where King Mickey was. The mouse had summoned the Darkside Keyblade. Everyone else followed his example by calling their own Keyblades. In a flash of light Sleeping Dragon, One Family, Circle of Life, Decisive Pumpkin, Fairy Harp, Hero's Crest, Follow the Wind, Mysterious Abyss, Wishing Lamp, Bond of Flames and Rumbling Rose appeared.
Roxas grinned at his brother as Oblivion and Eternity appeared, followed by Chain of Memories from Naminé. Midori called upon Twilight and Riku nodded at Sora as the Way to Dawn appeared in his hand,
Sora smiled and looked at the ground as Savior and Sacrifice appeared. He glanced at everyone then said, "Lets do this." He was glad that they all agreed with him. Now they could go and save Kairi and the baby, then rid themselves of the scum in the basement once and for all.
Everyone else cheered, holding his or her Keyblades high in the air.
VVVVVVVVVV
Author's Note
And were getting towards the ending. A few more chapters left though.
Right now I'm in a bad mood because I'm not sure if I passed by JavaScript course because my teacher is a douche bag and didn't mark two of my assignments. But I'm in a good mood because I made Christmas cookies, wrapped Christmas presents, and I'm listening to Christmas music!
I'm also attempting to help Holly write a Christmas fic without completely taking over like I did for Fan Girls. Oops. We'll see how well that goes. I wrote my own Christmasy one, and the first part is up, but I think I might try to write a different one too… I love Christmas!
So Holly, when you read this, your excused this time from not reviewing!
Speaking of reviews…
The Key of Hope – Is having her mind pretty much turned to mush a bad position? Axel's not done with her yet either!
Shire Folk - …actually my first reaction wasn't laughter. My first reaction was just to stare blankly at the screen. Then I laughed. No one's going to guess Emiliana's background until I tell you about it. I'll have to ask Darthkingdom about that some time. Hmmm…I'll tell you now that Sora definitely isn't going to be the one to kill her if she dies. And LMAO everything else is so full of anger, and then the last line is like 'blah blah Riku and Midori…'. You amuse me.
Kanie – LMAO yes, I know many people hated her. I loved her from the beginning, because I knew she was a traitor. I could have made the traitor Sora and worked it in somehow. Yeah, try to wrap your head around that! lol
catharsis25 – It's also even more confusing, because re:CoM was released WITH Final Mix II, and re:CoM was in Japanese. Are you sure it was in English? Yay, I have you all so messed up that the obvious traitor doesn't seem like the traitor and you all believe me! I am indefinitely proud of myself. That and I've stated in many of my pervious HP fics, I tend to lie to people when they guess right about things that I don't want revealed yet. So no one ever knows if I'm telling the truth.
Trainalf – Really? Then again, I fooled most people. Thank you, I am an evil author. The clever comment is appreciated too!
The Shadows of Twilight – Traitor. Trader is when you trade things, like Pokemon cards. Anyways. I shouldn't be commenting on use of words in a review. I've only ever seen Sora or Roxas steal Axel's catch phrase. I didn't notice the whole name is similar to my title until I thought I wrote in my title before I realized it's called Shadows of Reality.
DAN88 – You used to read my HP fics. You know I at least TRY to write strange twists. While I was writing this chapter I was laughing at the mental image of Sora pitching Emiliana over the wall.
Katamere – I'll take your word for it that you knew it was Emiliana. Hmmm, maybe I shouldn't have made her the traitor. That would have shocked most people. LMAO she made Sora so angry that he wants to blow up Wonderland! Then again, I hate that world more than any other in the games. Expect for Pooh's book. That's just annoying, especially in re:CoM.
xLeaf-Angel – Another person who was glad to see Emiliana crash and burn! Lol!
simplyjennxD – LMAO I knew when I mentioned that Axel wasn't the bad guy to you that you'd get it. Thanks for not telling anyone though! Yeah, Emiliana is as evil as Xehanort made her. Whoops. Did I just give something else away? …wait, so you told me NOT to think you're just a dumbass 15-year-old, and now you're saying you are? I'm confused.
chasingfireflies – Small review coming from you. I'll be sure to check out your song, since I assume that's why you gave me the url. You guessed it right because you seem to have basically the same twisted sense of humor I do. Mickey killer! Don't think I've forgotten about that! …your school is weird…we finish our school years in June. My friend always says 'die plz' as a first reaction. It's funny. Okay! I'm happy knowing you'll TRY to write me a one-shot for my birthday. She's not going to die yet. Namine screwed her over though.
kingdommad - …a brittian coverup? That makes no sense to me. It might to you, but not to me. There will be no running for Emi, not yet. And it was Namine that screwed her over pretty bad. No, Roxas has no more funny dreams, but I'm going to try to write a one-shot that explains it. Actually, I have a series of one shots that go with these fics.
Syrena Li – Sora's not going to beat the living crap out of her. He just wants to feed her to some maneating fish. I'd be embarrassed if I yelled that out in class too. Wow, this might be finished by January 4th. Er…well…maybe not, but close!
Iaveina – LMAO. I'm glad Emiliana turning out to be a traitor made your day. Actually, I do pity Emiliana, but not for reasons that anyone else knows yet. No, having SORA as the badguy would have thrown everyone off. I could do it too! XD
Anna-Mouse – Well thank you. Sometimes I think I put too much effort into trying to make plot twists and everything gets overly twisty! Emiliana is going to get what she deserves eventually. But not just yet.
Noble Wielder – Really? I thought the last chapter was worded kind of awkwardly because of how I was trying to work in Axel being in the hall too. I dunno, Axel did kidnap Kairi before, so if he thought it was for a greater good…
Thanks to everyone for all the great reviews!
Krystal Lily Potter