Finally got this updated.
After piddling around the idea of going to the signal, Sora decided that they should take care of it first. The vacation did sound nice and he really did need one but justifying it was hard. He had people to save and here he was. Wishing to be lazy, ignoring the red SOS light blinking in his sights. Even Ventus seemed to agree to heading towards the signal. Stating that they could always go on vacation after ending the last world's need. Then they could find the Organization and end their plans once and for all. So long as fate was actually with them. Something told the brunet it wouldn't be though. The minute they fixed that worlds troubles, it would be straight to the main cause of it all. He grabs hold of the controls and gives a look to the quiet blond next to him.
The Reason Light and Dark Never Mix
Chapter 90
With a nod, Ventus told him he would help him justify the need to end this blaring light. After all, even his heroic nature couldn't ignore it. The guilt the pair felt overriding their wants and putting the needs of the many above their own. A simple turn has them heading towards the signal. Thankful that they were close but still had a long way to travel. The glowing map showing the rest of the worlds being at peace. They only had a few worlds that didn't really need saving, thankfully. The cockpit door opening quickly had both look to see Axel and Roxas take their seats. The two waving at Sora. The brunet could only give a confused wave back. Ignoring the speed of their arrival and focused on driving, once again. The two remain quiet, abnormally quiet.
"So...what happened to cause the rush?" Ventus pipes up, looking back. "Trouble in the bedroom?"
"No...no, no...just…" Roxas stops himself and waves a hand in the air.
Whatever the gesture means, he chooses to ignore it. They were weird to begin. It did seem to be the kind of weird that Sora would be pulled too. Both had an odd way of completing the brunet. Whether he needed a way to nerd out with TV shows or just have someone who understood just how he worked. Ventus knew him but it was a familia connection, not romantic. The ship lurching to a halt had all three look at Sora then out the window in front of them. Before them is a world of nothing but white. When they got closer, the save point connected with their ship as normal but no one moved. The signal that has been blinking red just...died. Like a flame that got put out to cover tracks.
"I don't like how it just stopped blinking like that," Ventus mutters, just loud enough for them to hear.
Sora powers the ship down, "Nor do I but now that we are here, I am worried. Did we come too late?"
"If we came too late, the world has indeed been at risk for Heartless and Nobodies. Then I doubt it would still be here," Axel points out. "Remember once Heartless reach the heart of the world they are on. They drag it into the darkness."
"Then it has to be some kind of threat that isn't related to our current journey. Something the citizens felt they couldn't resolve." Roxas crossed his arms but is clearly uncomfortable. "I don't care for how I feel about this world."
"Either way, we can't just turn back around now can we? If it things turn bad, we can leave. The least we can do is see if we can help with...whatever happened." Sora got out of his seat, his dragons crawling up his back and hanging onto his shoulders. "Bring your dragons Roxas. I got a feeling we will need them."
He passes their chairs, opening the door and leaving it open. Roxas has Venice and Regal crawl up his back as he stood up next. Running after the brunet, aware of Ventus and Axel following closely behind. All four then realize that this was the only world they didn't fall into. They hit land instantly and see snow and trees. Expanding in front, to both sides and behind them. It was still snowing too. No sound, no signs of life...not even a city or town in the distance. Axel didn't feel the breeze or see it, aside from small branches moving.
"Okay, I'll say what we are all thinking. Why haven't we left?" He questions. "This...this doesn't feel natural."
"No it doesn't but if this is how the world is then this is it. Snow does this to all worlds." Roxas crossed his arms after saying that. "So it will always feel...unnatural."
"It doesn't matter how it feels. Here we are, so we should at least try to find out...where a city or something is." Sora shrugs. "If we find no city, then we look for people. If we find no people, then we leave. By then, we will have mapped the world and seen most of it."
"I still don't like this." Ventus spoke up. "But you are the leader. What you say goes."
"We should leave Sora," Axel gently grabs his arm. "It might be dangerous. You said there are some...people who hunt your magic kind down. What if this is a trap...a means to lure you in?"
"And what if it isn't?" The brunet argues. "What does that make us for abandoning those who need us? Even if they..are long dead. We at least can help any who survived."
The redhead let a sigh out, "I sometimes forget...how kindhearted you truly are." He chuckles. "Especially for someone so blunt and sarcastic."
"Thank you?" The brunet looks away for a second. "Shall we move on?" He gestures to a direction.
One the four follow quietly. Still glancing around for any signs of life and any sounds of life. It felt off though. Even as they got further from the ship. As if the snow just pulled them into a wormhole and would never let them go. The wind never picked up in speed. The snow didn't fall more. The trees barely rustled. It felt like a dead world, or one that is in the process of dying. It was only when the four reach a hill did they see a city in a clear dome. Blinking lights from within flickering off and on from what they figured to be windows. A sign of power but no sounds of people. All the buildings were small except one. A cathedral at the center of town. Stained glass windows of color but too blurry to make out from their vantage point. It was the only detail they could see aside from flickering lights.
"Seems we have a city with power struggles but no signs of life outside that." Axel crossed his arms. "I don't like this."
Steps below the hill and behind them have the dragons on high alert and weapons drawn. They could hear no weapons but it meant nothing. They could already have them drawn and at the ready; pointing in their direction. The ones at the bottom of the hill were watched by Ventus and Axel. The ones from behind watched by Roxas and Sora. All four back to back now and moving so that they weren't surrounded. They hit a line of trees and see up to eight, tall fur covered men. Armed with weapons barred in their direction now. One at the front.
"Put your weapons down, and we will put ours down." The man spoke. "So long as you prove you are not invading our home."
"Prove to us you aren't a threat then." Spoke Ventus, not trusting any of these people.
With a raised hand, the weapons are lowered as are the masks. All men with various colors of blond, black and brown hair stood before them. Their eye colors just as variant as their hair. Every outfit different but made to keep each one warm.
"There, now...put yours away."
They dismiss their weapons, earning a stunned look from each one.
"Magic users. It is...rare we see your kind so far from home. Tell me, how did you come into...contact with said magic? Perhaps you could help us with our energy crisis and our search to obtain, a rare magic form."
"And what form of magic do you require?" Roxas coldly asks, "cause we aren't battery searchers."
Each male before them laughs, as if the blond told a joke. Ignoring the scowls pointed in their direction now. The laughter ceasing with one final breath from the leader.
"Forgive me, I have failed to be polite. The name is King Orel. I seek those bathed within the light of the light goddess herself. Years ago, my people were granted a mage source that would power our fair city." He gestures to the flickering city below. "Yet now, as you can see...the power has begun to fail. Our last mage of light died, their body drying up. No soul, no magic left to give. We were ready to seek out a lead though."
All three fought the urge to keep Sora in the back. It would hint at his magic.
"We have machines to seek out what is reported as...a living light mage. The last of their kind. We need them here, to power our city, to bring peace to our home once again." Orel says then held a hand out towards them. "Lend us your aid in our search?"
"Pass. We won't let you take another life. What you are doing is wrong. You don't need them to power your city day in and out. Your killing them!" Axel says. "No wonder they are all gone."
"You think one life outweighs the needs of many? It doesn't. They fuel our city and provide us the means to live. They die heroes." Orel laughs but it is dark. "Jackson, get the scanner. Let us scan our new friends. See what magic they have."
The four feel a cold chill but just stare at the device now. Axel has Sora moved down to the end of the line by saying he would prove to them that their magic was just average. The small round device's antenna is pointed straight at his chest. A line of lights lighting red and going to the center of the line. It went no higher, which has Axel proudly grin when his point was made. Jackson moved to Ventus and got a mixture of colored lights that managed to go passed where Axel's lights stopped. He moves to Roxas and the lights have an off white color that has him scoff.
"This isn't even enough to power one of our smaller devices." Scoffs Jackson, then looking at the three. "You three have no idea how much power we need for our fair city." He then looks at Sora but Roxas speaking up got his attention.
"And you expect us to just what? Take those insults and let them slide right on by, right?" The blond shoves him away. "Just let you tell us that we don't know what power is when I can make you…"
Axel covers his mouth, "Now love, we can't tell anyone about that. Remember?" He whispers.
With a cold stare pointed at the blond, Jackson held one hand out to grab ahold of him. Only for Sora to between the two, his back to the man and his front to Roxas. It has him grab his current length grabbed and cut. As if it were an insult to cut one's hair here. It worked though and boy, did the looks Sora saw on Axel's and Roxas's face. The two looked ready to murder them.
"How...dare you…" Sora stops them from moving forward.
"It's hair. I can cast a spell and then stop the spell so I am not going to…"die" of hair." He says, referencing a movie but it flew right over their heads again. "...y'know the...the Tenth Kingdom Movie series? Where...she…gets cursed with…"
The blank stares have him just throw his hands up.. Uncultured swine, he would have to have them sit and watch it with him. He looks behind him at Jackson then.
"Moving on to these guys. Look, they are the typical villains who are going to say that it is for the better that the light mages give their lives for what they want. With no cares at all to how the mages feel." He speaks, mocking them. "Look at me, I am just an asshole who wants to be in charge and powerful."
Sora scoffs and crossed his arms, "You dicks think mages like them are just a battery with no voice. I would offer for you to be one but from the sounds of it, you can't even hold a candle to them."
Axel and Roxas have to cover their snickering. Watching the faces go from calm to pure anger. It is only when Jackson actually points the device does the confidence Sora showed, fade away. The device lite up in seconds then blow up. The anger turns into a smirk while the brunet had gone pale.
"...It...blew up from false information?" Sora laughs off, backing away.
"Your power level...rivals that of a god." Orel says, crossing his arms. "We don't have to have you go anywhere. You came right to us."
Ventus went to move but the gun against Sora's chest has him freeze.
"Move an inch and I can't guarantee what will happen to your pretty little friend here." Jackson spoke, going to grab Sora by the arm next.
The brunet let the dragons breath fire at him first. Giving him a chance to turn and try to run but get grabbed anyways. Being pulled back against the barrel of the gun which causes even more trouble. Ventus and Axel use their magic to force the other hunters off balance; and into the snow. Even Orel is caught off guard by the blast of magic from the two. Roxas ran right at Jackson and grabbed hold of the gun. It has the two fighting and doing their best to overpower the other. When the grip was loose enough, Stardust bite into the hand. Releasing him at last.
"Run Sora!" Shouts Ven,summoning the keyblade.
Roxas is still fighting with Jackson, attempting to get the gun away from him. With all the chaos happening, two shots go off. The gun from Orel's hand had been shot into the air, effectively silencing the air around them. The second from one of the other guns. Sora glances back from where he stopped to see Roxas managed to get the gun away from Jackson, who has a pale stare towards him. Axel and Ventus are back at the blond's side checking on him first since he is closer. The brunet then looks to Death himself. Even Death is looking at him but the head is tilted...towards his lower chest.
It is only when he dares to look, does he see a gunshot wound. The second shot made sense now. It seems during Jackson and Roxas fighting, he must have shot his gun off. Seconds after Orel shot his own bullet. Where one bullet flew into the sky and no doubt landed elsewhere. This one hit him, going right through and above where the child is still growing. The pain then hit him as he covered the wound, looking back up at Death. From the posture he sees, this...wasn't supposed to happen. Him mocking them lead to the chaos that got him shot. Sora should have just...kept his mouth shut. It happened so fast. Like time just fast forward itself right through the moment then slowed down after.
"No...no no, I wasn't…" Sora covers his mouth with one hand. "This wasn't…"
"Sir," Jackson's now distant voice spoke. "We...we have a problem."
"Sora...why...t..run.." Someone yelled but it was hard to distinguish now.
The world just slowed down so much. Even the fall to his knees felt slowed. Barely even giving himself a chance to catch himself with his elbow. The steps were now just as distant as the voices around him. Barely even feeling the grab.
"Hey...no, no...no no no!"
The brunet looks towards Death, "you said...it wouldn't hurt." He let out a pained laugh, resulting in him coughing. "Liar."
"This wasn't meant to happen." Death's raspy voice spoke at last.
He raised a skeletal hand up towards the brunet's face.
"I knew I would have to reap your soul but this soon?" He let a cold breath out, hand inches away from him. "I refuse. I can't accept that you are dying here."
"Too late."
"Sora...don't you...die!"
Sora felt his body fall off him and sees that he passed on, in Roxas's arm's. The blond screaming at him to not leave him and Axel. To not go where they couldn't follow. He didn't want to go but seems fate didn't care what he wanted. The brunet didn't want to go. He wanted to be with the ones he loved. To grow old with them, to have a chance at finally being happy but he wasn't allowed. Even as he stood and moves away. Watching as they beg and plead for him to wake up so they could go back to the ship and go on vacation. The connection to his physical body was gone though. All he felt was Death and the rage radiating off the usually calm reaper.
"I...refuse." Bernard's voice spoke, the snow around them became dense. "I will not let this pass."
"Bernard…" Sora touched his arm.
"I REFUSE!"
The magic Death let off forces his spirit to black out after that.
"Sora! Sora!" Roxas yells. "Please...please baby, please! Come back!"
Ven slowly stands up, staring at the lifeless body in the blond's arms. Slowly turning to face the Light Hunters that took away his brother's life because of their own stupidity. Seeing only red when he sees them passing it off as a mere accident.
"You...bastards. You kill him and you act as if his life meant nothing! As if he was just some object you lost, over your stupidity!" He yells.
"Either way, he was no longer your concern. The minute his magic got exposed, he belonged to me." Orel spoke, ignoring a fuming redhead. "We can still use his body. There is some magic in his blood. It is a matter of draining it and incubating more light mages from his DNA."
"He isn't a battery nor a donor for you sick fucks!" Axel screams, standing up. "He was our lover. He was Ven's brother! A person and you...you took him from us!" He points a finger at him. "You are going to pay, all of you! Your city...your world!"
"You will all pay." Ventus summons his keyblade. "Roxas, guard Sora. We can bury him later."
"He isn't dead. He can't be."
"No...he is. He fell limp, he isn't here but I am not gonna let him die like that. If he dies, so do you people!" With the help of Aeroga, Ventus launches himself at the hunters.
One went for his gun, but he got there first. Kicking the gun away first then landing a blow on the Hunter's side. They hit the snow and Ventus uses another air spell to knock any help away. Once again knocking them off balance. He hears one load a round but a quick throw from Axel and the weapon is thrown into the snow. With another weapon thrown at the same man, burning him when it hit near his legs and catching his clothes on fire. All the while, they shot glances back to Roxas. The blond still holding Sora in his arms, begging him to come back. He got slugged and kicked into the snow after being distracted. No matter though, he paid the Light Hunter back. Using the snow to his advantage and the oncoming blizzard to stun and back away to recover.
Roxas looks up from Sora's body to the fight at hand. Axel and Ventus not killing the Light Hunters but clearly making them feel every ounce of pain they were feeling. Every hit from either a first or a weapon drawing blood or forming bruises. It made him feel better but he knew it wouldn't bring back the one they loved. It would be an insult to the brunet's memory. Carefully, he put the body onto the ground but didn't move. In his mind, the blond knew he had to get up and fight, to help get some form of vengeance. Yet his body wouldn't move. No thought or will made him want to even stand up. All Roxas could do is sit and watch the fight or look over at Sora's body. The hand twitched.
"S-Sora?" He waits and then sees the brunet moving!
It's slow and watching him turn onto his side looked so painful but the brunet wasn't dead!
"You came ba…" He stops at an odd sound.
It sounded like bone cracking against another bone. The sound kept increasing and his eyes fixate on the brunet's back. Small bumps were twitching under the fabric. Points slowly tearing through now, cracking as they come through. The blond went to speak but sees the points finally rip through and after bone wings quickly rip out from the back. He looks back down and sees even the hair and skin, lost color. The skin becoming pale and the hair a pale brown. The fingernails sharpen them. This wasn't Sora at all anymore. This...made him back away from whatever took control of the body. Taking notice that the oncoming blizzard was the doing of the creature within Sora's body now. When it made the body stand and turn, Roxas spots black spots forming. One on Sora's right arm, just above the elbow and from what he could make out. One around Sora's right eye. They didn't stay small though, they were increasing in size.
"Guys!" He shouts, getting up.
"Boss, the Light mage is up! He isn't dead." One of the Light Hunters screams.
They all look but it is then that this creature chose to spoke. A raspy, chilling tone.
"You killed him." it says, mixing Sora's tone with it's own. "You'll pay."
It summons the keyblade but the magic changes the shape in seconds into a scythe.
"YOU'LL PAY!"
This thing releases an unearthly screech. It has everyone cower, covering their ears for protection. The blizzard now worse as a fog set in. Ventus and Axel find one another and get back to back. Slowly uncovering their ears. Hearing a scream of pain then silence. They hear it again seconds after and this time see a body fall right by them.
"Stick together! That thing..it isn't human!" Orel's voice shouts.
"Roxas!" Ventus yells.
"I am okay. It...I see it but...it isn't attack me." He hears. "What do we do?"
"Whatever it is, stay away from it. It forms ice." Ven yells back, then looks at Axel. "We gotta get to Roxas and then see if we can purge Sora's body of...whatever that thing is."
"Wait, you saw what the weapon was right?" The redhead comments, thinking aloud. "What if...Ven, what if Death is in there?"
"Would Death...do that?" The blond questions. "Would he, risk Sora's body like that?"
"He watched him grow up, he could have. He might have already." The fire user runs side by side with Ventus.
They find Roxas through the thick fog and also find Sora. The body of him at least. Black spots on various parts of his body and the once warm, living eyes now a cold, glowing blue color. As if Ice had set in and took over. The wings no longer just bone but also forming an outer shell of ice. It let out another unearthly screech and with a sickening crack, took flight into the fog. The sounds of screams following after a sign of what happened.
"To me! Whoever is left!" Orel's voice shouts.
They hear another screech.
"We are here." A gentle voice calls out.
The fog around them breaks away to reveal a woman with a heavenly glow about her. A pure white dress covering the top of her chest flowing gracefully along her body to the snowy ground. A light blue shawl wrapped around her shoulders and arms with light blue bead line near her breasts, one at the end of her torso and then light beaded blue vines up from the bottom of her dress. Her long white hair flowing freely and a sage stone hanging from a pure white gold crown atop her head.
"Who…" Roxas is silenced by a gentle raise of her hand.
Another pair of steps has the trio see a man clad in all black walking up from behind her. Wearing a long flowing kilt that split on the left side, exposing blackened skin and black boots. As their eyes travel up from there, they see a belt of pure white around his waist and from there a cape of black tulle extending up to his shoulders, over than down once again. A white, long sleeved shirt with gold armbands at then. Dark magic flowing from one hand and the other at his side. Short black hair and black eyes showing him to be the opposite of her.
"Who are you two?" Axel spoke up, glaring at both.
The man in black waves a hand and the fog began to clear. Revealing a blood bath occurred. The only survivor being Orel himself. He is pinned to the ground by the creature and begging to be allowed to live.
"We are the beings of Darkness and Light." The woman says, bowing. "I am Kuriqa, this is Taka." She gestures to the man in black.
"We can explain after." Taka spoke, eyes on Sora's body. "Bernard!"
They look and see the creature turn and growl at the two.
"If you continue to stay in the boy's body, then you will kill him." The god of Darkness states. "Leave him now and we can save his life. He doesn't have to die."
"THEY KILLED HIM!"
"Yes...but I can bring him back." Kuriqa spoke up, "But only if you leave his body. The light and the dark...it can't mix. For this reason. Bernard, leave his body. Allow me to save my mage...before it's too late."
The creature lunged towards them. Yet with a simple wave of both, all three see the embodiment of Death forced out of Sora's body as well as a glowing white ball. This is pulled back in though and the brunet's unconscious body caught by a dragon tail. A gentle, yet sorrow filled stare pointed at his form. Even as Kuriqa sets Sora's body down, she just gently touches the black spots.
"What happened?" Ventus spoke up. "What...why was that thing in Sora?"
"As you are aware, Death is always guarding my beloved's last light mage. If not for him, the world we stand in and many others, would perish to illness, ruin and the rocky balance would fall out of line for good." Taka spoke up. "When he got shot, my last Dark Mage. The very mage sent to guard hers, snapped. He has watched him from childhood until now."
"So I guessed right. Death...took over." Axel says.
"Yes and because they mixed. An abomination was born. What you saw was the reason we can never mix our magic." Taka looks at Sora. "Our magic...it creates an unholy form. A monstrous being that lacks self control. One that seeks to end all life in the cold."
"But...Kai, she exists." Roxas spoke up.
"She does but doesn't. As the keeper of time, she can never age nor die. She is the true and only way Light and Dark have ever mixed. It is so rare to happen. Otherwise, it never ends well. Because of this, the spots he has will be forever on him. No amount of light magic will ever fix it. He is now corrupt."
"Does...is he not powerful anymore?" Axel ran up to her. "Is he no longer gonna have magic!"
She let a small laugh out, "Course he'll have light magic. He just isn't as close to my level. Consider him...a demi god of light magic, rather than almost god like."
"He got nerfed." Roxas translates. "Will he wake up?"
"Give him time, he will wake. His body must rest."
"And the baby?" Ventus asks the one question that two were afraid to ask.
"...she'll...she'll live." Kuriqua stood and walks towards Orel. "But she won't be the same."
The trio watched as Taka follows close behind. The two gods simply grab the man and drag him towards the city. Leaving them to the quiet of the now red and white snow.