The Keybearers were in front of the Castle Oblivion and the first thing that was said came from Lea. "You got to be kidding me! In this thing is our missing Keybearer?"
"Yes… is there a problem Lea?" asks Aqua and Lea sighs while holding his hands up. "Nothing… I only searched this place through a few times to find something for the organization, back stabbed and killed some of the members, and met Sora here for the first time."
"I don't remember that I was ever here," told Sora. "But it looks kinda familiar."
"Let Namine tell you the story… she is aware of everything that happened here," told Riku. "For now we have the task of getting Ventus out of here."
"I agree with Riku here," told Terra, "But… I didn't know our home could be transformed like that."
"Only masters of the Keyblade are told of this," explains Aqua. "I even didn't know until Master Erasqus told me after the exams."
"Since there are some people familiar with this place… is there something we should pay attention to?" asks Kuran and Lea sighs, "Yeah… kinda need special card to get through the doors."
"What about the battling?" asks Riku and Lea laughs. "Oh this? This was something we established to have better chances with Sora. Was only held up by us and kinda stayed that way for unknown reasons while I stayed here. After passing a few times the effects got worn off."
"Not necessary," told Aqua. "Since I have the Master Keeper, I can open any door at will, even the hidden ones."
"Hidden ones?" asks Lea. "Does it mean there are rooms I wouldn't have been able to access even if I had known about them?"
"That's right," told Aqua. "It was made to lead unwelcome visitors into oblivion."
"You scare me with that thought," told Lea. "But how come me and my companions were not in forgotten? So far I can tell Sora and Riku ripped all stationed here except me apart."
"To oblivion is more than one meaning," chuckles Kuran, "And like you said.. they were sent to oblivion by Sora and Riku."
"You got a point there," laughs Lea. "Well we are better off going in now to make sure we find the guy before Xehanort or somebody else decides to show up here."
"Which is very likely," told Terra. "Xehanort knows about the true form of this world and I am sure he will be curious to see what Aqua has created in detail."
"Then let's better hurry up!" told Sora and rushes to the door. Riku shook his head and wondered, "When does he think before acting?"
"Never," told Kuran and Roxas as one person, while heading to the door. Lea and Riku looked at each other. Riku wondered, "How does Kuran know Sora that well?"
"Don't ask me," told Lea with a shrug. "While we three hang around a lot since we met, Roxas is more of a thinker than Sora… except his temper raises."
"Yeah… I know how he is when angry, " admits Riku and heads with the red head to the door as well.
Terra was on his way as well, but notices that Aqua stayed behind while putting a hand on her chest.
"Aqua… is something wrong?" asks her friend and she answered, "I just have an odd feeling of returning here…"
"I know what you mean… I think if it weren't for my foolish actions and Xehanort's doings, this place would be still the same and Master Erasqus would be still with us," answered Terra, but Aqua began, "Terra…"
"Ven is waiting for us," told Terra and Aqua nods while heading to the door as well. Kairi was already long gone to Sora and the group opened the large door of the Castle and entered the complete white halls of this place.
Once they are inside they close the door and Lea asked, "So Aqua… in which direction does we have to go?"
"It's isn't high, in fact third floor," told Aqua and Lea nods. "Then we should move."
The others agreed and they went to the door. Aqua tapped it with the Master Keeper and the door just opens, leaving an empty hall which they could safely pass. On the other side they went up the stairs where they stopped as they saw a figure in front of them.
The figure raised its head and they realized it was Maluz. The gold armored warrior raised and glares at the Keybearers.
"So you came… back to the scene of your crimes," told Maluz and raised up.
"Scene of our crimes?" asks Sora and Maluz answered, "This place was once a beautiful world… but you Keybearers let darkness claim this world, reforming it into this twisted place."
"I had my reasons to reform this world, so it would be protected from further disturbance," told Aqua. "And Xehanort is responsible for this. We are here to gain somebody in our task to stop him."
"A second Keyblade War," told Maluz. "This is what YOU seek!"
"That's ridicules!" told Sora. "Why should we seek for a war that could destroy everything?"
"Because you ignorant fools only fight for power! That is why mankind copied the X-Blade," told Maluz. "I don't know why the counterpart of Kingdom Hearts chose the form of a weapon, but this decision was the end of a world without darkness. Now I learned from somebody who wants to protect the light that you seek for a second war, one to reform the X-Blade and claim Kingdom Hearts for yourself!"
"You are completely wrong!" told Kuran. "We don't seek for such a thing!"
Maluz growls. "Even until the end nothing but lies are leaving your mouths! I will destroy you with the power I found while recovering from my loss! I will smash you ALL!"
A beam of energy impacted on the spot where the Keybearers are standing, exploding. Maluz grins and steps forward, but was surprised to find Kuran leaping at him unharmed. Their weapons met and a glance behind Kuran reveals a protection shield that took the impacts. With more strength he pushes Kuran back.
Once the shield was down they wanted to rush at Kuran, but he called, "Stay back! This is my fight!"
"Kuran!" protested Aqua, but then she saw something in his eyes and decided to trust him. Nodding, she told, "Alright Kuran…"
The weapons of the two clashed again and Maluz asks, "Want to get revenge?"
"This is no longer revenge! It's protecting my friends!" told Kuran and shoots a few simple spells at Maluz. However, he countered with his ultimate spells. The spells of the Dark Keybearer were destroyed, but the ultimate rocket at him.
Acting fast, Kuran jumped back, drops his Keyblade, and had in each hand a set of his knives. Then he threw them. In mid-air the darkness knives multiply and were enough to weaken the ultimate spells to give Kuran the edge he needs to avoid being hit.
Calling his Keyblade back into his hand he rushes forward and exchanges blows at each other. However, Kuran had to break off more often due to Maluz's superior strength and his ability to use spells were devastating for Kuran since one hit could reduce him to dust, frozen to the deepest part, or whatever the base effect of the spell is.
During one of their blow exchanges Kuran asks, "No Lightbringers to cheat the battle?"
"They are busy to remove the darkness of this place!" roared Maluz and kicked Kuran. He had to struggle to remain on his feet and regained balance. However, this moment of distraction… was more than enough time for Maluz. Before Kuran could tell what is going on, Muluz punches his stomach and uppercuts him.
With a groan he lands on the ground and Maluz put his armored foot on him, smirking while pointing his sword at Kuran's throat. "Any last words?"
"Aren't you missing something?" ask Kuran and Maluz wondered what he meant… until he realized something!
He didn't hear any of these Keybearers and none of them had interfered to stop him. Looking around the room he realized the Keybearers slipped past him somehow.
He realized this fight was all along just a trick to keep him busy while the others could do whatever they planned to do and buy time. Roaring at this he slams his blade down. However… he didn't expect that it would be so easy to cut his blade through a body and into the ground… it only feels like he hit the ground. Peeking down he saw the remains of a dark smoke and his blade did indeed only hit the ground.
Kuran were rushing from the side and Maluz just managed to move his blade well enough that Kuran were able to hit the weapon. However Kuran seems to have expected it since he made a movement that forced the weapon out of the hands, landing dome distance.
Maluz looked with full of rage now at Kuran and jumps at him. Grabbing his hands, he concentrates his light completely on his own hands, burning the darkness in Kuran's body. The boy groans in pain and was even forced to let go of his Keyblade and got on the knees.
Gritting his teeth, he looks with a pained look on his face at Maluz and the warrior of light states, "Once I end you… your comrades will be next!"
Then he let go of Kuran's hands to pin the boy on the ground and press his hands on the chest. The eyes of the Keybearer widened and he cries while the light burns the darkness of his body, darkness that became essential for him to survive. Unable to concentrate enough strength to form a Dark Portal, he grabs Maluz's arms and tried to lift him, but his opponent was too strong… too heavy!
Maluz laughed while Kuran suffered from this and smirks brightly. "Good bye, you dirt of darkness!"
And he channeled in one paw enough light that should burn Kuran's chest into dust and slams it into his body.
Kuran gasps and his limbs became weak… falling on the ground while the darkness was purged from his body… however, he didn't want to give in… he wanted to live… live to find his place!
Deep inside his body… began something to react with his wishes…
Maluz looked satisfied while he looked at how his enemy died by the intense light that droves the darkness away, but… he notices a change… something he… he thought that it was just destroyed.
"No…" he whispered and growls, "No… NO!"
He grabs his sword and prepared to stab Kuran with it. "YOU WON'T USE IT AGAINST ME!" and slams his sword down, but it was too late.
A dark pulse emits from Kuran's chest, pushing the blade and Maluz away.
Kuran gasped and sat up, panting and choking from this experience while clutching on his chest. Looking up, he wondered what just happened... he was sure that he would be dead by now.
Looking around he saw that Maluz seems to be on the ground now… with some luck he wouldn't wake up for a while. Kuran called his Keyblade back and thought a bit what to do.
He summons one of his Darkness blades and he holds it up and it seems he wanted to penetrate Maluz with the weapon, but… as he threw it, it digs into the ground next to the foe.
"I am not like you…" told Kuran. "I won't just kill you. Perhaps you will still realize how wrong you are before the end comes."
Turning around he rushes for the stairs to catch up with the rest.
Minutes passed and Maluz groans, "Damn you… I never thought you would even have a grasp on what you have…"
He notices the blade stuck in the ground and understands the message. Grabbing this weapon of darkness, he roared while breaking it apart. "YOU WON'T LEAD ME INTO A FALSE WAY JUST BECAUSE YOU PITY ME! I WILL DESTROY YOU AND ALL OTHER KEYBEARERS AND YOUR WORSHIPERS OF DARKNESS!"
Suddenly a dark portal opens and a dark armored figure walked out. Fixing on Maluz, he moves closer and the light user asked, "WHO ARE YOU AND WHY ARE YOU WITH DARKNESS?"
"You are an error," was the simple reply and Maluz roared and attacked. However… he never expected what would come next.
Maluz was staring lifeless at the ceiling, his own sword stuck in the chest and a blood of golden color was forming around him before slowly disappearing in light.
"Error removed," told the being. "Lightbringers… error! Must remove them." and began to leave the castle, to face the Lightbringers.
I am thinking of giving Kuran a musical theme. Does anybody has opinion what could fit him?
