So I included the song for two reasons: 1. My mom likes the song and the show, so I wanted to pay respect to a show giving my mom a great story. 2. I like the song and I knew Sora would know about the Witcher series since I made him a gamer.
Those were the only reasons I needed to include the song.
Everybody stocked up on as many items they could carry in Sora's little boxes. Filling each one to max and sticking it in a pocket to call upon the second they would need it. Sora stocked up on every kind of arrow he could see; even the new ones. The brunet put away the arrows that would be of no help. Getting another quiver to fill with more arrow and storing that as well as filling his current quiver. Once he was done, the moogle shop was gone. No way to summon it back and no save point to leave. Making them all turn from where the shop once stood to face the way forward. A long street that turned to the right, out of sight.
Xigbar
Chapter 94
"This...is gonna be a long road ain't it?" Axel crossed his arms. "Oi vey."
Sora looks over at the redhead and smiles, touching his arm gently; "But now you will have more power than before. You may even outmatch mine now." He says.
"Sora has a point. When incomplete, we had power but it always felt...limited." The blond shrugs. "I mean we had a lot but it never felt as if we had an unlimited source. After all, you showed us the best of what happens when we push a body that is incomplete to the point of zero power."
"You guys seem to have plenty to me." Ventus fixed his beanie. "I am the one who has slept for...however long and gained no extra power."
"Bull, you got strong. In a different way." Axel says. "Oh, yeah...I do have an original name."
The brunet stops and looks at him, silently asking for his real name.
"Lea," Axel says, one hand on his chest and the other held out towards the brunet; bowing to him. "It's a pleasure to give you this information."
The light mage covered his smile but they heard him chuckle.
"An honor to be at your side." He says, taking a few steps forward. "Shall we move on and end this?"
Ventus summons his keyblade and ran to his side; "I am in. You guys?" They look at the two and see them summon their own weapons.
The four reach the corner and turn. The sound acted like a spell and summoned many Shadow Heartless. All appearing from darkness around them. It didn't bother them though. They only had to use a few spells and move on after. Going down the winding path between tall buildings. Some even blocking the heart shaped moon above them. It bothers Sora to see it in the sky and felt as if that would cause trouble. At least if they left it intact and with every Heartless they took down, he saw the hearts going towards that moon. It meant they would indeed have trouble with that unless they took it out. He sighs and stares up at the moon.
"When a humble bard, graced a ride along" Sora sings in a muttered voice, nervous at the sight of more hearts going towards it. "With Geralt of Rivia; along came this song."
Ventus looks towards the now nervous, distracted, singing brunet.
"From when the white wolf fought, a silver tongued devil. His army of elves at his hooves; did they revel." Sora keeps singing as he used thunder to take a group of Heartless out. "They came after me with masterful deceit. Broke down my lute and they kicked in my teeth."
"Is...is he singing?" Roxas asks Ventus, taking out some Heartless.
"Yeah, he is nervous." The blond tells him. "It's from one of his games."
"What game?" Axel looks at Sora after taking some Heartless first. "He is a gamer, gotta be specific."
"The Witcher." Grumbles Ven, taking some Heartless out.
"While the devil's horns, minced our tender meat and so cried the witcher: "he can't be bleat" Sora let the Stardust and Goldust fly into the air around him. "Toss a coin to your witcher. O' Valley of plenty. O' valley of plenty."
He summoned his wand and gathered power at the tip while holding the last note with eyes shut for a few seconds.
"Toss a coin to your witch. O' valley of plenty." He took a step towards a group and with wide swing of his wand, sent a wave of light magic in all directions. "At the edge of the world; fight the mighty horde that bashes and breaks you; and brings you to mourn."
They saw another wave of Shadow Heartless taken out in seconds. Even as the singing brunet moved on to the next level.
"He thrust every elf, far back on the shelf. High up on the mountain." Sora gathered more magic at the tip of his wand again. "From whence it came!" He swung his arm back then with a quick step forward, sent a wave of magic through a single line of Shadow Heartless that just appeared.
It dispersed the group and let Ventus and Roxas run right by him. Taking the stranglers out in seconds.
"He wiped out your pest, got kicked in the chest." Sora kept walk with Axel defending him from another group.
Sora eyeing every heart going towards the moon when he wasn't moving forward. His nerves growing as they kept weaving through the city buildings.
"He's a friend of humanity. So give him a rest." The brunet, sighs when a large group appeared before all four of them.
"Any ideas on how to take these guys out quickly?" Roxas gave the light mage a smile and got a small one in return.
Sora pulled the mirror out and let Goldust fly through it small then return as his real size; a young adult dragon.
"And that's my epic tale," Sora let Stardust enter the mirror. "Our champion prevailed." She flew out next. "Defeated the villain; now pour him some ale."
"Toss a coin to your witcher, o' valley of plenty; o' valley of plenty." He held the note and used a shield to protect them from dragon fire. "Toss a coin to your witcher, a friend of humanity."
"Love the singing love. You should sing more." Axel leans on Sora happily.
"I was hoping it would calm my nerves." Sora informs them, touching one of Axel's hands.
Roxas looked at the burning cement before them, "Did it work?"
"No, the hearts have been going to that...moon above us. If that comes into play, if it truly is a fusion of hearts. What will happen once it is too full? Will it keep collecting? Will it explode with power? If it does, what will become of the hearts it has gathered from Heartless? Will worlds and people suffer?" Sora questions, eyes on the moon above them. "What if the explosion throws the balance off even more?"
He began to pace now. Clearly more stressed out even more. The song he had sung didn't help at all. If anything, it just has him fretting over what they were doing now. The more Heartless they took down, the more hearts that traveled to the moon. Now the brunet could only focus on that and nothing else. Axel had to force him to stand in one spot with both arms holding him in place.
"Just breathe. We can fix this. We knew he was gathering hearts, right?" Axel asks.
"Y..yeah." Sora nods. "You told me that before."
"This makes it easier for us to free them all. If that is truly where all the hearts are going then we don't have to search the entire castle for them." The redhead points out. "You need to sing that song again, out loud or in your head and breathe. Let us handle the Shadows while you calm yourself."
The light mage nodded and began to sing the same song once again. The three taking Heartless out and escorting him through the next part. Each one keeping his attention on them so that it would never look up at the shining moon. Even when they have to pass through what had been meant to be a town square. Ventus let Axel and Roxas clear the Shadows out while having Sora restart the song. All under the pretext of wishing to join after they finished this journey one day. He had to "learn" the lyrics by hearing it. It worked and Sora's attention was on them until they finally reached where the castle and the moon is at. Still no save point or moogle shop. It didn't matter. With ease, a bridge of light is created by the castle itself.
"It's almost as if they were expecting us." Axel laughs, crossing his arms. "You okay now Sora?"
"A little, but I am still nervous." He says.
Axel and Roxas then kissed Sora on his cheeks. Making his face turn red and smile. Ventus pulled Axel and Roxas to the side. Leaving his brother to fret and made it clear to the two they had to get Sora level headed. If they went in now, with his mind on what could happen then there would be no getting him back and the stress would make battles worse. The longer he focused on a minor issue, the more issues that would pile on top of that. The pair did point out that it wasn't a minor issue but got rebuked. Ventus said the people that caused it were still alive and no doubt the reason the moon had been gathering hearts still. If they took out those who were causing it then it would stop. That meant it was a problem they could handle later.
"So how do we calm him down?" Axel whispers, crossing his arms. "The song didn't help when he sang it by himself. So...any ideas?"
Roxas looks towards Sora, "stay here." he whispers. "I got an idea."
Ventus and Axel nod and watch the blond go to the brunet's side. Then hear him actually start to sing what Sora had been singing on the way here. Getting a relaxed smile as he joined Roxas. Laughing when Roxas flubbed a line, clearly on purpose to get that reaction. Once done, the brunet looked well enough to go forward. They didn't complete the song all the way but the blond kept singing along with him. Making Sora relax by time different Nobodies actually appeared. The two stop singing and for once, the brunet is focusing on clearing the way through the base now. With the moon out of sight, his mind focused on the task at hand. Rid the universe of the remaining members of the organization.
Ventus made it a point to thank Roxas for what he had done. It actually seemed to have gotten his brother to get the small matters out of the way. With a nod, they clear the way to a large open doorway. Letting Roxas and Sora run through first, following the two straight onto an elevator. It began to move up seconds after the two were on. Making all four stand still, weapons out; ready to be used. Nothing attacked though and they got off once it stopped. Running through a small corridor and onto a see through stairwell. A long, long fall underneath the glass. The duel wielder glanced down a couple times but mostly kept his eyes towards the top of the stairs. They were making progress and this somehow felt off.
There should have been more Nobodies and Heartless outside the castle and inside it. This didn't feel right. Something was up. Xemnas didn't leave the castle undefended unless...he already had plans. Roxas shot a glance to the others and see that they seem to have caught on to how easy this was going. Even as they keep going up the staircase into a corridor around the next part of it. As they keep going, they reach a large platform above a dark abyss. The view of the second floor above it and the moon shining through the glass way above near the third level. It got the brunet's attention once again.
"I can...feel the power from inside here too. It's grown more powerful." Sora covered his mouth with both hands. "What do we do? What can we do to stop that?"
"Nothing." Roxas says, seeing Stardust and Goldust flying around outside then landing on the glass above them.
It shook the castle as the two peer through the cracking windows.
"Either way, we have to take out the remaining members first." Ventus spoke up.
"Easier said than done Vennie boy." A voice says from above.
A dark portal opens and Xigbar walks out, letting the portal close behind him.
"Long time no see. How y'all been? Good I hope." He focused in on Sora and laughs. "Wow, what happened to you? Get burned at some point?"
The brunet looks down while holding his arm close in an attempt to hide it. Xigbar still laughed though.
"Seems you have been through some troubles. You gonna be able to handle the next battles coming up bucky?"
"Course he can," Ventus yells. "You couldn't handle Terra so what makes you think you can handle his power?"
"Lots, considering he looks pretty weak still compared to us." Xigbar says then laughs again. "Oh...this feels good. What doesn't feel good.." the man's smile faded. "Is seeing two old friends turn on us. What? We weren't good enough for you two?"
"We weren't complete. We had nowhere to go. Now, we do. We have Sora...a home, a family. We can feel with our hearts and know that the emotion is real and not some distant memory." Roxas argues. "What you all have is something I never want to have again."
"Suit yourself traitors. I'll be sure to end your "life" here and now." He summons his weapons. "Your journey ends here."
"Try it. I don't plan to let anyone end my life here or ever until I have lived my life. Not even those dragons they have will stop me." Axel grins. "So, let me ask you this Xiggy..what's the melting point of glass?"
"Is that your attempt at a threat?"
Glass shattering had everyone look and see the dragons trying to get in. Sora panicked and ran to the nearest wall. Confusing Ven, Roxas and Axel until they see him use a simple float and wind spell to send him up as high as he could go. Flinging the mirror at the dragons and letting them enter it with ease. He kept falling but never panicked. One dragon grabbed the mirror after leaving it and the other got him and helped him land safely.
"No matter the amount of people you get. I'll be ending this charade here and now." Xigbar went to one knee with his weapons merged into one big gun. "Now...let's see you squirm."
"Hey, can't you out snipe the old man?" Axel jokes, seeing a purple bullet hit a barrier.
"I will cover for him." Ven says.
Sora summoned his bow and quiver. Pulling a sharp arrow out and knocking it with ease. A second shot hit the reflect spell. Sora took his time, letting a breath out to calm himself. He took time to aim. When the spell went down, he released the arrow. It flew through the wind and right at Xigbar. Proving to fast dodge in time but he cut the old man's cheek.
"Clever little sneak." They hear first then see him right next to Sora. "I can be more clever."
Roxas blocked the old man easily and push him away. After recovering, Sora launched himself towards Xigbar. Summoning his swords in mid air then attacking instantly. The old man moved but had to dodge Ventus and failing. Earning a hit onto the ground then getting burned by Axel easily. He dodges again and keeps attacking though. Jumping from spot to spot to avoid attacks and not always dodging so well. The four keep attacking with anything they could use to keep him from moving around too much. The dragons doing the best they can even but being as effective as they were. Finally though, the final hit came from Roxas himself. It was luck really. Sora distracted the gunslinger which allowed the duel wielder to fling both keyblades at his back. They stood before him now and see him gasping for air, laughing and smiling still.
"Heh, man...if only had your magic. Even with those scars...you still over power us, Little Light. Do me a favor." Xigbar looks up at Sora. "Keep your power reserved. You never know when it'll come in handy."
"You won't ever see that." Axel says.
"Says you." Xigbar faded and the three look at Sora.
"Let's go. We have to end this."