The courtyard crackled and pulsed with energy. The magic could practically be tasted. Spells and curses blasted back and forth with hurricane force. How long this display of arcane mastery lasted could only be guessed. Though it doesn't take much to forget a great many things can happen in only the span of a few seconds.
Not a single cloud drifted in the sky yet lightning lit up the area and thunder shook the walls. A tsunami of a neon-green flame rushed at the sorcerer. Calmly Yen Sid redirected the torrent so a flashing pillar of green rose high above the castle. Thick tendrils of Darkness rose up around him like the tentacles of a giant squid. The Sorcerer merely flicked his fingers dismissively and they turned into bubbles. Yen Sid made a wide motion with his arms. The ground shimmered. About a quarter of all the blades of grass angled toward Maleficent and launched at her, now sharp as shards of glass. The barrage was deflected. The retaliation was immediate. Localized clouds formed and darkened above the makeshift arena. Flaming meteors the size of prize pumpkins hurled themselves at Yen Sid. He responded with a series of simple hand gestures. Instantly the meteors were redirected to the castle where they transformed into slushy balls of snow and harmlessly splatted against the walls.
Back and forth the duel continued this way. It didn't take long to see Maleficent's frustrated rage. Nothing she conjured came anywhere near their target. Yet nothing he had thrown at her had found purchase either. Her scowl of fury came partly from realizing Yen Sid had been casting spells he knew she could block.
"You dare withhold against me?" She asked darkly.
"You may still walk away or surrender. The choice is still yours."
"Never!" She spat. "You fools will bow before me yet!"
Maleficent cracked her staff on the ground, causing great snakes of green and yellow lightning to erupt from the orb. Yen Sid lifted a hand. The castle walls shimmered for just a second and the lightning did no damage. The dark witch waved her hand over the orb. The remaining sparks danced furiously before shooting out as a single concentrated beam at Yen Sid. The sorcerer once again stopped the beam before it got near him and once again redirected it to the sky. The lightning aggravated the lingering clouds from the meteor spell. After only a few seconds of cooking in the storm clouds they shot down again as ordinary lightning. She didn't even need to move a hand for the pale bolts to miss their mark.
A low rumble, like distant thunder up close, reverberated against the walls. Maleficent's side of the impromptu battlefield came to life with green and orange flame. The wildfire concentrated into three bolts like flaming javelins and shot at the sorcerer. After motioning with both hands Yen Sid called upon a massive tidal wave of fuchsia energy. The arcane flood crashed over the courtyard, swallowing the bolts before vanishing.
Pure fury flashed dangerously across the eyes of the witch. She held her staff in both hands before her. The orb sparked and crackled with energy. Maleficent spread her arms wide. Immediately a great mass of Darkness and flame rose up behind her. The Darkness took the form of a massive long-necked dragon. It beat its powerful wings, stirring the swirling Darkness at its feet and creating a concussive force against the walls. As it was only made of Darkness and black magic the dragon form couldn't roar but certainly did have an intimidating presence. Nevertheless Yen Sid barely batted an eye. The sorcerer held both hands out and together like cupping water. He raised his cupped hands together before parting them above his head. As he did so, colorful lights flickered above him. When his hands parted the lights took the form of a giant, shimmering, pastel-rainbow, psychedelic butterfly. Upon closer inspection it wasn't just a single butterfly but thousands. Each beat of tiny colored wings made the whole glisten like something from a dream. Without words or gestures prompting them the two forms lunged. The dragon came forth with claws extended a torrent of Darkness like flame made of ink. The butterfly lost its shape as the legions of individuals dove at the dragon. The palest ones exploded like tiny bombs of light upon impact. The brightest sliced at the dragons form with razor sharp wings like a million paper cuts. The two forces created a cacophonous blast of energy as they canceled each other out. The dragon had been reduced to a hazy, slow-fading smoke. Colorful twinkles were all that remained of the butterflies.
Neither duelist stood harmed or even winded. Master Yen Sid looked across the courtyard, his eyes focused but otherwise expressionless. However that may have only appeared that way by comparison of Maleficent's growing snarl of rage.
"You are still holding back, aren't you? I will still rise victorious but how dare you mock me!"
"Forgive an old man for hoping you would see reason. Again, I wish to express this is not the way I would wish this to end. I shall do as you request. I will hold back nothing."
"Good. Show me what the great sorcerer can do. It will make my victory all the sweeter."
Despite standing on grass, Maleficent's staff resonated with a loud crak! throughout the courtyard as it hit the ground. Acid green and violet flames sprang to life at her feet. Flickers of blackness danced around her and her fire. Yen Sid held his arms by his sides with the gentleness of welcoming a grandchild in for an embrace. As he did so, vibrant blues and violets rose up behind him. Their shape resembled a drop of ink as it diffuses in water. Throughout the masses glowed silver dots like stars.
"Do not make me do this."
"Fool!"
Maleficent held both hands in front of her. Her long fingers spread wide as the shifting flames obeyed and followed the path of her wicked intentions. The orb of the long staff flashed repeatedly from the sphere of black magic and darkness was being called upon through it. A thick, flaming beam of energy lunged at the sorcerer like a striking snake. Master Yen Sid held his left arm folded close to his side and fingers at ease. His right arm was fully extended before him, his hand held up as though he were simply halting walkers across a street. In contrast to his relaxed actions the magic around him lunged as violently as Maleficent's.
The courtyard lit up. Despite the strength of the two opposing forces the sound never exceeded that of a strong wind gust. The magicks themselves however reacted fiercer than adding water to hydrochloric acid. The point where the two powers met glowed white hot. The energy of the collision made both torrents bubble and sizzle. Large ribbons of tangible magic were flung off and sent flying. Those ribbons ranged in color and moved as though someone had thrown an eel in the air. They landed against roofs and walls with thick splets where they sizzled and dripped down quickly decomposing mana. The flames on the ground around Maleficent reared and curled up, feeding the torrent of power. Faces and forms of imps and demon-like creatures blinked in and out of the flames. The shapeless masses of color continuously shifted and swirled behind Yen Sid. The silver dots of light reshaped themselves into different clusters. If one were paying attention, they would recognize the arrangements of constellations.
Occasionally Yen Sid's spell would gain against Maleficent's but only for a few seconds before she reclaimed her ground. However, the dark fairy had not been able to get the better of Yen Sid even for a moment. Maleficent must have sensed this. Darkness radiated off of her like smoke. Flickers of blackness danced within the green flames. The reaction of opposing forces intensified. Whip-like CRAKs echoed across the stone. Even then the arcane magic of the Sorcerer remained immovable.
Rachel, Minnie and Daisy had stayed well out of the way as instructed. After the meteors had been neutralized, however, Minnie urged Daisy to go somewhere safer. The faithful lady-in-waiting had no magical way to defend herself and Minnie wanted her far away from possible danger. Elias growled continuously, hackles raised and flinching at every loud noise. Rachel watched the duel with a mix of awe and surprise. Never before in all her years of apprenticeship had she ever witnessed her master wield his magic like this before. She knew he was powerful. She knew he was wise. She knew he could meld humility with authority. Watching this battle of raw magic revealed side of him Rachel had never imagined. It was almost more like watching a conductor leading an orchestra than a life and death duel. Yet, she wouldn't have expected any less. The immense power coupled with the almost elegant control of that power embodied to her what magic was meant to be. And her mentor was the one wielding it.
The duelists hadn't paid any of them any mind for most of the battle. However, Minnie couldn't help but cry out when a particularly large ribbon of mana had been sent flying forcefully in their direction. This seemed to remind Maleficent they were not alone.
It wouldn't take a great stretch of imagination to see Maleficent's building fury had roots in desperation. Stubbornness and pride were of course the voices who would never allow her to admit she'd picked a fight she never had a snowballs chance in Guam of winning. Still, the warriors of Light were predictable.
"Foolish old man," She hissed under her breath with a slight grin.
With one hand the dark fairy held her staff and maintained the torrent of raw power. With the other she sent another crackling beam of black magic at Rachel and Minnie. Between the two of them and Elias they called upon a protective barrier in just enough time. They cried out in distress and alarm. Good. The curse wouldn't do much to the queen or that creature. They were not the intended target. No doubt the old sorcerer would recognize the nature of the spell. If he cared for his apprentice the way she suspected he did he would help her. The hero-types were all the same. Their selflessness and willingness to self-sacrifice for their allies were so predictable it was almost sickening. The moment he made a move to her aid, Maleficent would seize her chance and strike the old man down with the true power of Darkness. With him out of the way the other fools wouldn't stand a chance. Everyone in this wretched castle would-!
The swirling magic of the Sorcerer rose up higher around him like a snake poised to strike. The colors intensified. The lights grew brighter. Behind him was the perfect image of the infinite cosmos squeezed between the walls of a castle courtyard. His magic was surging…but not to aid his friends. The second she realized this Maleficent dropped her control over the curse and refocused her attention to the original opposing rivers of power. But even then it was not enough. Yen Sid's arcane mastery had obliterated more than half of the black magic she'd been hurling at him.
That wasn't supposed to happen! He was supposed to go to the girls aid so she could do exactly what he'd done to her! Had he not realized the danger? Was he so confident he could overcome her curse he let it happen? Why hadn't he saved her!
Every ounce of her energy she had and every drop of magic went to restoring what had been lost. The effort was futile. Yen Sid's magic continued to gain ground. Nothing she was doing stopped or even slowed it from getting closer. More! She needed more. More power! More Darkness! The livid green flames turned black and swelled. All to no avail.
For the first time, in a very, very long time, Maleficent, Mistress of All Evil, truly felt afraid.
Maleficent trying to shift the odds in her favor by attacking the friends of her opponent was to be expected. Nevertheless Minnie and Rachel were given quite a start when the miasmic black magic was suddenly hurtled toward them. They'd count their blessings for a quick reaction time when the danger passed. Keeping the curse at bay hadn't been any harder than before. Only this time didn't last long at all. It took them a second to truly recognize they could drop the barrier when Maleficent turned her full attention back to the original spell against Yen Sid. After that they could see just how badly that spell had been damaged when she'd split her focus. Master Yen Sid's magic had blown apart most of the arcane torrent and continued inching toward her despite Maleficent pouring more and more into her defense.
Suddenly Elias shrieked. The gryphon turned, snapping his beak at Minnie. He pushed forward, while beating his wings, urging and forcing Rachel and the queen to back up with haste. Subconsciously understanding why the familiar was acting this way the two ladies did not hesitate or resist. Once on the other side of an archway behind them, Elias puffed out his feathers and spread his wings. The black speckles glowed silver. With one powerful beat of his wings all the glowing dots were flung at the archway where they immediately splatted flat in the archway despite there being only air.
"Light!" Minnie cried.
A faint white-golden glow shimmered across the silver net. With a quick gesture of her hand Rachel called upon a glyph of warding. A runic symbol appeared briefly on the enchantment before fading into it. Not a moment too soon either.
A massive wave of concussive force exploded from the courtyard. Sharp cracks like thunder split the air as large fissures appeared in the stone walls. Thick black smoke roiled and pushed its way down the halls as if caught in a hurricane. Light flashed. The earth shook. In the span of milliseconds clouds descended over the castle, turning white, gray then black, vanishing and reforming. Even amongst the great din another horrid sound could be heard; a long, high wail like a kettle about to over-boil.
All sound stopped.
The lights stopped flashing.
The gust died down and the smoke dissipated into a foggy haze.
High above the sky cleared.
Hesitant at first Rachel and Minnie dropped their wards. Elias had to be coaxed into dropping his before they could move on.
"Oh!" Minnie stopped, hands covering her mouth when they entered the courtyard.
The air had a tension to it like being surrounded by an oppressive fog. No grass remained, only tiny crisped stalks. The white castle walls were stained gray. By the time Rachel and Minnie emerged, Master Yen Sid was in the process of forming a mass of magic into a chair which he promptly collapsed on.
"Master!" Rachel cried, quickening her pace.
"I am fine," The old sorcerer said. He looked sadly at the wall opposite him.
Said wall, and most of the other half of the courtyard was nothing more than a smoking black smear. Thin trails of Darkness danced feebly throughout. In the corner where the wall met the ground something else lay burned and smoking; a shattered crystal orb.
"Oh dear," Minnie breathed in a whispers whisper. "Does this mean-? Is she really-?"
"Yes. I made sure of it."
"Goodness…" Minnie still had a hand over her mouth.
Rachel surveyed the courtyard with a stunned awe. Never had she seen anything like this before. She really hadn't. As teenagers she and her brother had been brought to the Mysterious Tower after Yen Sid had sensed an unusual awakening of an ancient Keyblade. It was as though life began anew after learning of other worlds and being chosen to shoulder the destiny of the Keyblade. In the years that followed Yen Sid became to them a grandfather as well as a mentor and friend. But never in those years had Rachel ever witnessed her Master ever display the sheer immensity of this true magic. Yeah, obviously he was the Sorcerer for a reason but she had never actually seen it. And she was about to see something else for the first time.
"Rachel,"
The young Master turned away from the blackened scene back to her mentor at the call of her name. She barely took three steps toward him before stopping again. Rachel only needed one hand to count the number of times Master Yen Sid had looked at her in such a way that made her stop dead. The first time this happened was the look of frightened concerned when she and her brother were suddenly pushed out of the Dream Realm. This was new. He looked sad and…apprehensive? What was that? It was like that but not quite.
"Master?"
"Please forgive me. I did not want this. I gave her so many chances."
A chilled tension bit into Rachel's shoulders and sides. The word for that expression eluded her but she understood it all the same. Though some might have agreed without hesitation Maleficent got what she deserved, Yen Sid only recognized his actions as a life taken. He knew from the beginning if he fought he would win. Yes, he could have simply subdued her. However, circumstances both from her history and vehement refusal to stand down with intent to harm forced Yen Sid to become judge, jury and executioner all at once. He took no pleasure in the deed. Now he looked to his apprentice, begging with his eyes she not think less of him for it.
Rachel didn't know what to say. What could she say? 'It's okay, you did what you had to'? When did that actually make anyone feel better? But even through the shock the young Master knew her opinion of her mentor would not change because of what just happened. That look in his eyes and expression on his face…it was genuine, and not because she wished it to be.
"You tried…and she wouldn't let you," Rachel said quietly.
Yen Sid's expression softened a little with relief. That didn't, however change much. That lingering look, what was it? The exhaustion was easy enough to identify. What was the rest? What was the word for something like sorrow and shame?
"I, oh, well," Minnie stammered. She turned so her back was to the blackened wall. "Even though she was a terrible, evil woman, I am sorry that you had to-to," She couldn't finish.
"I am sorry that anyone had to," The Sorcerer said, leaning back heavily into the magically conjured chair. "I would not have wished this on anyone. Extinguishing a Heart, even ones so devoid of Light such as Maleficent or even Xehanort should never be taken lightly. I understand the wickedness she had and planned yet to put in the worlds and ultimately how our universe would be safer with her gone. The safety of those we have chosen and have been chosen to protect is all that is to be celebrated this day. Would she have ever changed her ways? I sincerely doubt it. But as long as one lives the possibilities for changes never go away no matter how far back we may try to push them. Is there anything more tragic then a lost chance of redemption?"
For a long moment no one spoke. Ever so slowly denizens of the castle began poking their heads around corners, timidly trying to find out what in the worlds had just happened.
"I…I will send word to Mickey," Minnie eventually said softly. "He will want to know about what has happened. And there is still Pete to deal with somewhere."
"For the latter there is no need," Yen Sid told her. "I crossed paths with him on my way here. He is in no position to be a concern."
"Master?" Rachel asked. "What was that spell? I've never seen that much raw magic before."
"It may be because that is exactly what it was. Two forces of pure magic colliding. It lasted so long because I still held out the hope one more second might change her mind. Then she made to curse you again. That was it. I could not wait. And I knew her attempt to curse you was half-hearted. I can imagine her surprise when I took advantage of her divided focus instead of her doing the same to me."
"You knew you had the power to win all along, didn't you?" Rachel asked.
Yen Sid nodded somberly.
"What made you so sure?"
"I know why you ask. And I will tell you. As I have told you before, you have a rare gift for magical aptitude. I am confident you will exceed even me one day."
Rachel shifted her weight uncomfortably. "Well…I don't know about that."
Yen Sid chuckled. "Modesty aside, there is a reason I have referred to your talent as a wellspring of magic. Everyone has the potential to know magic, as you have known for a long time. Imagine that potential as a well. When you cast, the spell reflects how deep the well is to draw from. There are many avenues to travel in order to increase the waters you have at your disposal. Just as you and I, Maleficent always had the gift of beginning with a naturally deep well and growing stronger as time went on and knowledge grew. However, somewhere on her journey, Maleficent only sought extended ways to fill her well. She reached out to the Darkness for more power time and time again. Each time only gave temporary satisfaction and the quest to gain more continued.
"She commented her doubt I was up to the challenge of facing her in magical combat. I have never made excuses as to why I stay primarily in my tower and spend hours at a time every day communing with the stars. I do this because I discovered a long time ago a different avenue to increasing the waters of my well. Unlike Maleficent I looked inward to expand my power. Not only my power but my understanding of that power. The stars have much to teach and share. After years of study and meditation my knowledge and understanding deepened the well considerably. This avenue has even opened other doors, allowing me to discover reservoirs from which I can draw from.
"Maleficent, as I have said, tried to external sources to fill her well. As one might imagine, filling a well one bucket at a time does not make a grand difference, just give an initial rush of the waters churning with the change. But once the waters settle is it fully apparent how little has actually been learned. I dug deeper within myself and listened to the celestial bodies of their wisdoms. Outwardly my well's depth belies just how deep it truly goes."
"I-I suppose," Minnie said after another short and tense pause. "We'd probably best collect Pete from wherever you left him and see he is locked away."
"That will not be a problem," Yen Sid answered. "Collect him at your leisure. Though Mickey should at the very least be informed right away."
"Indeed. I will send word-."
"Shhkreee!" Elias shrieked.
"Oh my! What's the matter?"
"Oh!"
All eyes went to Rachel.
"Goodness, are you all right?"
"Y-yeah. I think so. It's passed. Just from all the excitement I-hyiie!"
"Rachel!"
Yen Sid stood up. A concerned growl rattled in Elias's throat. The gryphon started to pace anxiously.
"Oh! Oh-oh!" Minnie stuttered. "That's more than just excitement!"
"No. No, no it's nothing. I'm fine. Just give me a second and I'll-."
Another pained gasp cut her off.
Yen Sid made a small gesture with his hand. A shimmery veil formed in front of Rachel then passed over her before vanishing. His eyes widened then his expression became serious.
"She's right. It's time."
"No it's not. I just shouldn't have pushed myself so har-ha-wha-whew boy. Son of a monkey that is not fun."
"Daisy! Daisy! Have a guest room prepared immediately!"
"NO! Everything is ready at the island. I need to get there. It has to happen there!"
"I will get you there," Yen Sid assured. "Minnie, this takes precedent."
"Most certainly!"
"Still send word to Mickey. Have him collect Riku. With haste! The time we have all been waiting for will be upon us soon."
Title Translation: The Fire Blazed Up, Then Only Ashes Were Left