Sorry for the lateness of the last chapterr, but consider this a New Year gift. As of 2012 I have a new schedual for Heir to Darkness. HOD will be updated every Tuesday and Thursday. I wouldn't count this Thursday though, it goes active next week. I really want to try to get HOD finished by May, including Part II. But anywho excuse the shortness of this chapter, my fingers hurt! Review, everyone counts.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, or Fullmetal Alchemist they are both trademarked properties of Square Enix/Disney and FUNimation/Aniplex, but I do own my OC's Bishop and Melody.
Heir to Darkness
Chapter LIV: Saving Grace
World: The World That Never Was/ Realm of Darkness
Edward looked to Wrath, whose face was determined. Both of them ran up the stairs, killing any Nobody they came across. Now that his consciousness was returning to Edward, it was hard to believe that he was the Heir to Darkness. Letting this sink in, the two of them stopped as they came to The Proof of Existence.
"What's wrong?" Ed asked, looking to Wrath, who seemed rather fixated with exploring the room. "Hey, kid, look, we don't have time for this, we have to get up to Kingdom Hearts."
"Xemnas can't activate his plan unless you're there. He thought that he could manipulate you into activating Kingdom Hearts. Of course he could still absorb all of the Kingdom's power, but he can't cleanse the worlds unless you're there." Wrath explained. "Having you there with Xemnas might doom us all, actually."
Ed sighed, leaning against one of the gravestones. "Sounds complicated to me..."
"It is." Wrath murmured, looking to the sole grave that was still blue. "Roxas... hmm?"
"Roxas?" Ed peeked his eye open, looking to Wrath. Walking over to the grave, he chuckled, scratching his head. "I guess, technically speaking, he is still alive and well. Inside Sora, that is. Sora... I wonder if he and the others are okay. What happened after I became the Heir, anyway?"
Wrath grimaced; he had to choose his words wisely. Now that he'd gotten Edward to trust him he didn't want to lose that trust. He told him the story of how the others left, but left out the part about Alphonse dying. "Sora and Kairi are fighting Dante right now; I would suggest that we go and help them, but I say we're on a strict time frame."
"Time-frame?" Edward stood up, heading up the Castle. "You're saying we shouldn't help them, hmm? I guess they can handle her alone, their not weak."
"Not only that, but this world is going to be destroyed in less than forty-five minutes." Wrath murmured, following behind him.
"Yeah, yeah, destroyed in forty-... WHAT!" Edward gripped the boy's collar. "You didn't tell me about that part! What do you mean it's going to be destroyed? By what?"
"The Omega Weapon." Wrath muttered, being released from his grip. "If it hits the world before you free Kingdom Hearts, we'll most likely be killed, and the universe with it." The boy explained. "Our odds aren't high, so we should waste no time."
"I like how positive you are." Ed poked his head. Rotating his automail arm, he pointed at the top of the Alter. "Alright then, we'll just have to stop Xemnas, Sora and Kairi can handle themselves. It's just you and me! No need to worry, kid, Fullmetal with save this Kingdom!"
"Right..." Wrath muttered, following Edward to the top of the tower. "I hope you know what you're doing..."
Within the Nothing's Call, Lan Fan and Ling Yao battled Gluttony. The Homunculus was beginning to slow down. Gluttony thundered at Ling, but Lan Fan was there to stop his assault, cutting the Homunculus's body to shreds. Blood pours from the wounds as his body struggled to pull itself together. "Oww... that stings...!" Gluttony cried, dragging himself from the ground.
Lan Fan pulled her kunai and jammed it into Gluttony's head, killing the beast. Electricity surged and his arm flew up, grasping the kunoichi and tossing her nearly off of the platform. Her fingers wrapped around the edge of the platform. Ling looked to his companion, who was desperately trying to get up. Gluttony launched at Ling once more while he was off guard, clawing at his arm. Ling cursed as Gluttony got a grip of the hard alloy and tossed him to the side.
Once Lan Fan finally got back onto her feet, she looked in horror and saw Gluttony slam onto Ling. The Homunculus didn't have time to place the alloy around his entire body; the ultimate defense was nothing compared to the weight crushing him.
"Young Master!" Lan Fan screamed, but than a light bulb clicked. Looking down at her belt, she saw the bomb she had made at Castle Oblivion. "I'm going to send him back to Hell." She muttered, running up. Ling looked up to his bodyguard, who jumped on top of Gluttony and pulled the link from the bomb. Grabbing his jaw, she shoved the bomb into his mouth.
"LAN FAN! NOOOO!" Ling screamed in terror as he scrambled from under the Homunculus's weight. Gluttony bit down onto Lan Fan's arm, keeping her from escaping. It happened so fast, the young prince was barely able to move. All that could be heard was the bomb going off and Lan Fan's wail. Once the smoke cleared, Gluttony's mass slipped from the platform and fell into the swirling oblivion below.
Lan Fan shuddered on the ground, losing a lot of blood. Her wound bled profusely and her arm... was gone. Ling stared in horror as he ran to her side; her eyes were blurry and barely open. The young woman's breathing was short and her hair and face mopped in blood and soot. "Young... master... did I serve you well...?"
"Shush." He murmured, tearing off part of his jacket and trying his best to tie it around the wound. Ling had never seen so much blood from a person in his life. Terror radiated from his being as he tried his best to lift her, but whenever she moved, her body convulsed. Ling ran as fast as he could, going towards the portal to the Radiant Garden. He had to get Lan Fan to a doctor fast, or she would no longer need to serve.
The Beach- Realm of Darkness
Aqua looked at Alphonse near the water and couldn't keep herself from crying. Tears of joy streamed from her eyes. Her body was close to Alphonse's, pressing against his chest as the water lapped gently at her toes. "I can't believe that you're here, that you're real." She murmured, looking into Alphonse's eyes. They had learned shortly before that he couldn't see. Regret pounded through her, along with her happiness. Aqua was glad that he was here, but... he couldn't see her.
"Hey." Alphonse touched her cheek gently, as if he knew what she was thinking. Words need not be spoken between the two. He understood, he may not be able to see her face, but he knew what she looked like. He knew that he could feel her on his chest as they lay together in the sand.
"Alphonse..." She whispered as her hand intertwined with his own.
Al blushed, looking to the girl, whose face had suddenly grown sad once more. "Wha... what is it, Aqua?"
"You'll..." She choked on her words, trying not to cry once more as her blue orbs slowly locked with his own. "I know that you'll have to leave again, soon, won't you? I mean... the things you've told me. We know that your brother is in trouble... and you have to go save him."
"No..." he murmured, gripping tighter to Aqua's hand. "No... I..."
"What is it?" She looked concerned at the boy. "Is everything alright?"
Sighing, Al looked to her, his face beaming with life. He smiled and gripped her hand. "I'm not going alone, Aqua, I'm not leaving here this time without you. I don't know how, but I'm sure if we..."
"Put together our light." Aqua murmured, her Keyblade appearing in her free hand. The blade glowered brightly when her hand was connected with Alphonse's. Smiling warmly at the boy, their hands began to glow a pale light. "We can get out of here and help everyone. Together, we can weave together all of the blank points left. Our light shall be Ed's saving grace."
"Yeah... together..." Alphonse smiled, nodding. A door opened in front of them, shining light down upon the young couple. Together, the two held hands and watched out into the light. Ready to face whatever, together as a team.
From the shadows of the abyss, a man appeared in his trench coat. Looking at the two, and the bright light disappearing, the man revealed his hood to show the face of Ansem the Wise. Ansem looked at the now deserted beach. The waves slowly lapped at his feet as he approached the water. "I see that your heart has led you to your true destiny, Aqua. I wish you well, my friend. Sora... I believe that this battle will be your hardest yet, but you have allies by your side. Allies that will not leave you."
Ansem took a seat near the water. "If Xemnas is defeated, he will be casted even beyond the reached of the Realm of Darkness. He will be placed in oblivion, a punishment only few receive. I dare say that I pity you, Xehanort... Terra... you did not deserve this fate. If only you regress past the reaches of time... may your life not have been twisted as the Fates have woven."
Ansem's Office-Radiant Garden
Busting through the door, Yuffie shouted out! "OHHHHH CIIIIDDDDD HIGHWIIIINNNNDDDD, YOUR LOOOVER HAS RETURNED!" Yuffie looked around, but all she saw was Lucrecia sleeping on the desk. The successor's snores were loud, causing Yuffie to hop on the desk and poke her head. The ninja was sad; as much as she didn't want to admit it, her heart ached. It ached so bad that she couldn't bear it.
Tears slowly streamed down her cheeks, falling onto the desk as she continued to poke Lucrecia's head. "Please wake up..." She murmured, poking Lucrecia's head. "C'mon, I know you wanna hear a joke."
Lucrecia moaned, slowly getting up. "What in the... no, Gullwings, I don't wanna play Blitzball." Rubbing her eyes, she looked to Yuffie, who was sobbing in front of her. "Yuffie..." The woman instantly knew what was wrong. The same with everyone, the coping of the death. It was never easy losing a friend.
"Why did she have to die?" Yuffie hiccupped, rubbing her eyes as Lucrecia pulled her into a hug. Cid looked sympathetic; the old man had taken out his cigarette and stomped on it. Taking off his goggles, he continued to work silently. The old man wouldn't admit it, but Tifa's death was taking a toll on him as well. Bags had formed under his eyes.
Lucrecia hugged Yuffie tightly, whispering comfort into her ear, looking out into the sky. It would be hard, harder than she had ever imagined. Leading the Restoration Committee, leading the Radiant Garden. Everything was on her shoulders... and Lucrecia had to bear it.
5/5 down. Review everyone counts.
