Hello everyone, it's time for a new chapter.
Please enjoy.
Chapter 52: Reflections Part 1
Equestrian Human World
"Ugh... Where... What happened to me?" A voice said from a alleyway.
"Adagio? Are you okay?" Sonata asked.
Adagio opened her eyes and noticed her friend standing in front of her while Aria was feeling dizzy and had her back against the wall. Adagio slowly got up and looked at her hands and body before turning to the others.
"Sonata? Aria?" She questioned.
"Yeah, what's wrong?" Sonata asked.
"Ugh, I feel like I'm gonna puke." Aria added.
Confused by what was going on, Adagio walked pass Sonata and exited out of the alleyway. Once she did the others followed before she noticed a window and looked at herself. She was quiet and slowly felt her face before slightly gasping.
"We're people again. I guess after becoming a Nobody and killing yourself, you return to the place where it happened." She said to herself. "Vanitas. Wherever you are, I'll be here waiting for you." She added while continuing to stare at herself.
Sonata and Aria didn't have a clue what their friend was going on about, but felt glad that they were human again nonetheless.
Castle Oblivion: Entrance Hall
After leaving Hollow Bastion, the Guardians of the Twilight went to go search for Xehanort at Castle Oblivion. However there was only a small problem. They absolutely had no idea where it was or how to get there.
Suddenly a large flash of light appeared in front of them and they all arrived in front of a strange looking castle. Once inside Crimson, Sonic, Autumn, and Vanitas were quiet while noticing the white walls around them.
"Okay guys, this is it." Crimson said while facing his siblings.
"Yeah, once we venture through the castle and find Xehanort, we'll defeat him and restore Harmony Dragon." Sonic replied.
"Then we'll be able to go home and be with the people we care about." Autumn added.
"Let's not jump the gun here. Focus on what we need to do, then worry about the rest." Vanitas concluded.
Everyone nodded from that before moving along, but before they could take a step forward Xehanort appeared right in front of them. "Ah, glad you all could make it." He said with a grin.
Crimson, Sonic, and Autumn summoned out their Keyblade while glaring at him. Crimson then rushed in to attack him, but Xehanort pushed him back with intense force before doing the same with Sonic and Autumn.
"Did you believe you could harm me so easily? This is a very special place for the four of you and I intend to see how far you'll go to end my life." Xehanort said while walking up to them as they got up.
"That won't take long, old man. Blizzard!" Sonic replied before pointing his Keyblade at Xehanort to release his magic, but nothing happened. "What?" He added with complete confusion.
"Fire!" Crimson tried and received the same results. "Thunder!" Autumn tried as well and the same experience occurred.
"What happened to our magic?" Sonic wondered out loud.
"It's quite obvious. The moment you all set foot in my castle, you forgot every spell and ability you ever learned." Xehanort explained. "In this place to find is to lose, and to lose is to find. That's the way in Castle Oblivion." He added.
Hearing that surprised the teens as they couldn't believe they fell for this trap, but they could use their Keyblades and their friends, so it wasn't completely bad. "If you four want the remaining Spheres, then you will need to pass four tests. Each will be dependent on yourselves and you must face them alone. The dragons and Spirits can help you, but the four of you will do these one at a time." Xehanort said before tossing a card at Crimson as he caught it.
"What's this?" He asked.
"The beginning toward the end, my child. There's more to it then meets the eye, but you'll need to understand it for yourself." Xehanort replied before disappearing.
Crimson looked at the card and noticed it had a fire symbol on it, reflecting his element. "Come on, let's go." He said before dismissing his Keyblade and heading toward the door up ahead with Sonic and Autumn following.
Once they got near the door Crimson held the card up and it started glowing before the door opened and he instantly ran in.
Castle Oblivion: First Floor
Once Crimson got through he turned around and noticed that Sonic and Autumn weren't behind him anymore.
"Guys? Where'd you go?" He called out.
"They're with you. Or more precisely, they're within your spirit." A unknown voice said.
"Who's there?" Crimson called.
Suddenly he was met with a person wearing a black coat and a hood covering his face. "No way! I thought there were only thirteen of you?" Crimson said with a surprised tone.
"Oh, I'm not apart of the Dark Conquerors. I'm more different then they are." The guy said.
"Who are you then? And what did you do with my siblings?" Crimson asked firmly.
"I told you. They're within your spirit. Once you exit this room another will take your place and so on. For now, let's talk about you, Crimson Alexander Nova." The figure said.
"How do you know my full name?" Crimson replied with a raised eyebrow.
"I just do. Do you believe that your brave? Courage is apart of your element and you're willing to sacrifice yourself for the benefits of others, if I'm not mistaken?" The figure asked.
"Yes. No matter what happens, I'll be there to help those in need. Even if I die, I won't allow anyone else to get hurt." Crimson replied.
"Good answer. However... You still have a fear of the darkness- Your afraid of going into Berserk Mode again and losing control, are you?" The figure questioned.
Crimson wasn't too quick to answer that before replying, "I've managed to control it. It won't blind my actions." He said strongly.
The figure chuckled before responding, "We'll see about that."
The figure then disappeared, leaving Crimson to wonder what he was talking about. Deciding to save it for later, he began to run through the first floor and noticed a door up ahead. Opening it, Crimson found himself in a strange village that looked peaceful and calm; almost like it was another world.
The village had grassy plains, large houses, and the people around him looked nice and normal. "What is this place?" Crimson asked himself before walking along.
Suddenly from up above he noticed something in the sky, then it was revealed to be fire covered boulders heading toward the village. "Everybody run!" He yelled before running to take cover. The villagers listened and screamed in terror before running off with their family and friends.
Not knowing what was going on, Crimson summoned out his Keyblade and thought to go help those in need. He saw a small family about to get crushed by one of the boulders before dashing forward and slicing the debris in half, saving them.
"Are you all okay?" He asked.
The family looked at him and grew frightened faces. "Get away from us, demon!" The father yelled.
"Demon? Sir, I just asked if you and your-" Crimson replied before getting interrupted.
"Get away! We won't allow your kind anywhere near our daughters! Go! And return to the depths of hell!" The father said before grabbing a pitchfork and pointing it directly at Crimson.
Even though he had no idea what was going on, Crimson could feel the fear and anger within the man's eyes, so he ran off to see if anyone else was in trouble. As the was running he noticed that the village was covered in flames and was now completely destroyed. More and more boulders came and he had to save what was left as long as nobody got hurt. Suddenly the people from the village circled around him with angry eyes.
"Demon!" One of them yelled. "You caused this. You and your bloodshed sword!" A woman yelled out.
"What? No, I just want to help. I would never want to kill anyone." Crimson replied as calmly as he could.
"Really? Look at your weapon." A little boy asked.
Crimson looked at his Keyblade and noticed blood dripping from it, which slightly surprised him. "I-I don't know where this came from." He replied.
The villagers didn't believe him and began attacking him. Crimson tried to get away from them, but he got hit by numerous rocks that severely injured him. "Please, stop! I don't want to fight." He pleaded to the villagers.
"The Keyblade is made for destruction. You've killed before and you've brought nothing but hurt and suffering to those around you." The village elder said firmly.
"But...but I was trying to help you. Why would I ever want to destroy or kill mindlessly?" Crimson replied while weakly getting up.
"Because those who wield a Keyblade are destined to become demons. Your heart is hollow enough to be a demon, and for that you must die." The elder said before a crowd of villagers charged at Crimson.
Suddenly a large gust of wind blew them all back and the villagers all stared at Crimson who had his eyes covered by his hair. "I don't want to fight any of you. Stop while you can." He asked before turning around and walking away.
The villagers wanted him to die due to him being a "demon", so they completely ignored his warning and charged at him once more. With that, Crimson couldn't hold it in, so he instantly went into Berserk Mode and fought back. He only destroyed their weapons and pushed them back without going to far, but that soon left the wind when he got punched from the back of the head by a large country boy and was held in the air by his neck.
The village elder stepped forward and looked at him. "My apologizes, but the demon must be extinguished from you. When you die you'll be in a safe haven, accept this fate." He added before grabbing a pitchfork and aiming it directly toward his heart. Crimson whaled into the air as a dark aura appeared around him before he slashed the country boy and cut him in half. Blood covered his Keyblade, then Crimson killed the elder and the rest of the villagers who dared to oppose him for being a "demon".
Minutes later, Crimson was breathing heavily before falling to his knees in exhaustion. He then gasped and observed his surroundings before realizing what he just did while regaining control of himself. "What...have I done?" He said with his voice breaking.
"You became exactly what you are." A voice replied in front of him as the figure reappeared.
"Who are you?" Crimson asked.
The figure removed his hood and face was revealed, shocking Crimson. He looked just like him, but his hair and eyes were dark green; the opposite of his color. "I am you, or more like a replica." The figure said with a grin. "This is your true nature, Crimson. A killer. A beast. And a murderer. Remember, the Dark Conquerors grew hearts as well, which meant you killed actual people even if they were Nobodies. Your friends were horrified from it and so were your birth parents. That's your true destiny." The Replica added.
"No... I-I killed them because they were going to hurt others." Crimson said, his voice still broken with tears developed in his eyes.
"Maybe, but you've always allowed your temper to get the better of you, don'tcha? When you were little you protect your brother well, even if you were bullied. That temper was sparked the moment you had enough and wanted to fight back, so you did and that only caused you more pain. Face it, Crimson. You're weak." The Replica replied before summoning out his green flamed chakrams. "I'll end your suffering right here and now, if you want me too?" He added.
Crimson didn't reply as tears fell from his eyes. He then released his Keyblade before standing up and spreading out his arms, preparing to die. His Replica smirked before throwing his chakrams at him. Crimson closed his eyes and got pushed back before crashing into the ground. "Courage. That's not really the right element for you. It shouldn't matter now." The Replica said before walking over to him and charging up his weapon before attempting to finish off his real self.
"No!" Two voices said before a flash of light blinded the Replica.
Then he was knocked back by a tail as it was shown that Odd-Eyes and Bloom Diva appeared. "Crimson, get up." Odd-Eyes said.
"Why? I would only cause more suffering." Crimson replied with a deadpan tone.
"This place isn't real. You're still in Castle Oblivion and what you experienced were only illusions." Bloom said.
Crimson got up and wiped away his tears before looking at his friends, "Illusions?" He asked.
"Yes. Look around. Do you believe people like this would ever say bad things to a nice Keyblade wielder like you? Would there ever be a village inside of a castle?" Odd-Eyes asked.
Crimson thought about it before getting the idea. He then gripped his fists and was tempted to enter Berserk Mode again as he walked up to his friends. "So you figured out my little secret. No matter, with the look on your face, you'll allow the darkness to consume you completely." The Replica said as Crimson was getting madder by the second.
As Crimson's eyes were about to fade, Odd-Eyes and Bloom held his hands, which made him slightly gasped as he looked at them. "Crimson, look at the both of us." Bloom said calmly as she tightened her grip on his left hand. "You can win this fight and defeat your Replica. Don't be afraid anymore. It's okay to feel angry and upset, but what you do with them is ultimately up to you. You're not alone in this anymore. Keep the balance within your heart and have the courage to move forward." Odd-Eyes added, tightening his grip on Crimson's right hand.
Crimson looked at the both of them as they were showing their feelings for him. "That's so cheesy. What good will a dragon and a flower girl do for you?" The Replica asked.
Crimson closed his eyes and took in a deep breath through his nose before exhaling it from his mouth, then his pendent started swinging back and forth on it's own while glowing bright red. After a few seconds, Crimson reopened his eyes. He was still in Berserk Mode, however it was different now as his pupils and irises were showing and glowing red. "Bloom... Odd-Eyes... Thank you." He said to them with a smile.
"I could use your help in beating this guy, if you don't mind?" He added with the others completely agreeing. "Alright then, let me show you my true power!" The Replica said before he started glowing green and transform into a nightmarish knight with demon arms, wings, and a horned helm.
Odd-Eyes and Bloom released their hands from Crimson before glowing red and yellow auras around themselves. Afterwards they turned into lights and merged with Crimson, giving him a new kind of power to fight.
"The shining light of courage within the darkness, rise and bring forth salvation to the weak. Crimson Nova: Saber Mode!" The trio said together as Crimson reappeared from a blinding light and wore a new type of armor. It was white and yellow, had twin sabers on each side of his arms, emitted a glowing light red aura, a long red tail, and the eyes for the helmet were dichromatic. the left side was yellow and the right was red.
"Nice look. I'm impressed. But now, It's time to fight!" The Replica said with a demonic tone before jumping into the air and striking down at Crimson.
Crimson jumped toward him and both of their weapons clashed before they returned to the ground. They dashed toward each other again and exchanged blow for blow, then the Replica kept his distance and threw his chakrams at Crimson. Crimson defended himself using his sabers and pushed the chakrams away before dashing toward his Replica and kneeing him in the gut before kicking him off in the distance.
The chakrams returned to him before he decided to surround them in a ring covered with green flames. After that he threw his weapons at Crimson, which were easy for him to dodge. However they went into the flames and popped out before heavily damaging Crimson until the Replica stepped in and punched him hard in the gut. It made Crimson gawk, but not enough to take him down as he slashed at his Replica, giving him a bloody scratch.
The Replica then dashed forward again with Crimson doing the same. The exchanged blows until Crimson got onto the walls and pushed his double onto the ground before releasing his sabers around his body as they began to spin. "Fateful Salvation!" He yelled, calling his attack. Light towers began to form and the flame arena disappeared before it could heavily attack the Replica. He felt extreme pain and attempted to get up, unfortunately that was a bad choice as Crimson stepped in and pierced him right through the chest as he gawked and spit out blood.
"You did it. You killed me. I wasn't suppose to exist, but *coughing* I guess this is how it's suppose to be." The Replica said before Crimson pulled out his saber and reverted to normal with Odd-Eyes and Bloom by his side. "I have to know. Even after I broke you. How can you keep going with your life and live with what you have?" He added.
"It's a heavy burden to bear. I'm not use to it, but me and my siblings don't have a choice. It's rough and it hurts very deeply, but the one thing that keeps my spirits up are the people I hold dear." Crimson replied while placing a hand on his heart.
"Crimson's heart is like the pendent he's wearing. If it swings one way, then you'll know it'll swing the other." Odd-Eyes added.
"His heart shares both light and darkness. There has to be a balance between the two. Too much light won't allow you to experience pain so you can learn to move on. And too much darkness won't allow you to experience joy and happiness so you can have a good life. Both are important and by far he's the only one who understands how it works and how to manage it." Bloom concluded.
The Replica chuckled from that before falling back down. He then closed his eyes and faded from existence before the area transformed back into a part of Castle Castle Oblivion.
Castle Oblivion: First Floor: Exit Hall
At the end of the hall, Crimson and his friends took in a breath from the battle they were in while Crimson's eyes returned to normal. "You know, this reminds me of when we fought together, uh Crimson?" Odd-Eyes said.
"Yeah, it was when-" Crimson replied before stopping. "Wait, when did that happen?" He asked.
"It was at-" Odd-Eyes replied before stopping. "I...I can't remember." He added.
"Remember what Xehanort said? "To find is to lose, and to lose is to find."". Bloom mentioned.
"Was he talking about our memories?" Crimson asked before Bloom nodded. "So people lose their memories here? Wait, does that mean me and the others will forget everything about ourselves?" He added.
"I don't know. However, what's important is that you never forget those you love and have. Right Odd-Eyes?" Bloom replied. "Exactly." He replied.
"Okay. Also I'm now curious about that replica of me. Where did he come from?" Crimson wondered.
"Are you that careless about the origin of things?" A voice called before Xehanort appeared in front of Crimson.
"Was he just a copy of me?" Crimson asked.
"More like a model. He is also not the only one, but until then-" Xehanort said before handing Crimson a card. "Allow another to journey through." He finished before disappearing.
Crimson looked at it and it had a ice symbol on it, reflecting his brother Sonic. Crimson took out his good luck charm and kiss it before placing it on his chest while closing his eyes. "Lyra. Sunset. Everyone. We're almost there." He said quietly before placing it back into his pocket. Afterwards Odd-Eyes and Bloom returned to his pendent and bracelet before Crimson glowed red and transformed into Sonic.
"Huh? Where am I? And why do I have this card?" He wondered. "I don't see the others around, but it looks like it's my turn to go next." He added with a face of determination.
End of Chapter 52.
Part 2 will come soon.
See ya later.
