Sorry this was late, it was very detail heavy with very little dialogue. I hope you guys still enjoy this chapter though.
Inverted Sky: Kingdom Hearts II
Chapter 88: Realm of Darkness
A large wasteland of nothing but jagged rocks and massive craters. The scorch and frozen marks across the area showed remnants of a recent battle. Yet as silence held firm, a sudden impact of the ground shattered it completely. Which was then followed by a loud, and animalistic roar. The sound itself being distorted and almost seemed to carry darkness through it.
At the center of the impact, a black figure crouched over one of the shadows of Sora. However, the figure had a clawed hand pierced through the shadow's chest. At the same time, a sudden surge of darkness flooded out from its hand, engulfing the two in a massive tornado of black energy. This also creating a strong gale that even ripped the nearly rocks apart into mere gravel.
Once it died down, this revealed only the figure left standing there. Of which slowly turned to the side and showed its familiar features of Sora herself. However, with her black skin, clawed hands, and even what appeared to be horns made of pure darkness, she almost looked like a demon. The horns being almost exactly the same as Maleficent's own, yet they emitted wisps of black energy. Something that her entire body seemed to be doing, which caused her now silver hair to float around her as if she were underwater.
Yet as Sora turned her gaze at the five remaining shadows rushing forward, the girl's Heartless-like eyes seemed to glow brighter. She then shifted herself into a very animalistic pose, almost seeming to be acting like Zola. As Sora growled silently, the shadows immediately split off from their frontal assault. Them coming at her from all directions. However, the teen suddenly seemed to vanish just as the group and converged on her. In the very next moment, Sora appeared behind one of the shadows and smashed it across the side of the head with a spinning kick.
This caused the shadow to go tumbling and spinning through the air with uncontrollable speed. But the mere force of her swing was enough to carve a huge trench through the ground, distorting the landscape even more. Though, because the other shadows were caught up in the resulting shock wave, they were also scattered away. Yet Sora was already gone, as she appeared in midair a few meters ahead of the foe she had hit. With a swift movement, she caught the figure by the head. Not only halting its momentum, but causing the rest of its body to whip forward like a rag doll. Of which would have shattered nearly every bone in a normal person's body, as it unnaturally contorted.
Sora then landed on the ground, and with another bellowing roar, slammed the shadow's head into the ground. This destroying the girl's foe instantly from the sheer impact, but also caused the earth to crack heavily and shatter apart. In creating yet another crater within the wasteland, a mass of dirt erupted upward in a large cloud of blackness. Once Sora was no longer visible, the remaining shadows halted in giving chase to the teen. But after just a few moments, the settling dirt suddenly parted as something exited it with great speed.
Running on all fours like a cat, Sora growled loudly as she charged toward the group. The teen leaving a trail of black energy behind her, as the wisps of darkness seemed to be slowly increasing. All the while, two of the four shadows quickly moved to the sides, increasing the chances of flanking their opponent. Yet as Sora lept forward as if to attack the two middle shadows, she let out a sudden roar. Creating a percussion wave that blasted forward like a cone, sending the front two shadows flying until they were barely visible in the distance.
But with the other pair being at her sides, they lept into the air. Both of them having large spheres of black energy within their hands, which they pointed down at the teen. In doing so, two massive waves of darkness came flooding toward Sora in a familiar manner as her typical Final Eclipse attack. Despite the two beams colliding with Sora, they actually seemed to stop within arms reach. This being due to the now standing teen lifting her hands out and holding the attacks at bay. Then, with a silent growl and a quick flexing of her fingers, the waves of darkness instantly diminished.
The shadows swiftly landed on the ground once more, before immediately rushing forward with swinging fists. Sora then extended her fingers out, which caused thin beams of concentrated darkness to shoot out and through her foes' chests. Yet these rapidly expanded until they completely engulfed the shadows. Her attacks visually having a deeper blackness than even the shadows themselves, as though it was of a more pure darkness than even the Heartless. Though, the attack itself ended just as quickly as it began, leading for Sora to slowly drop back down on all fours. Her letting out another growl as she seemed to look around for the last two shadows she sent flying away.
She wouldn't have long to wait however, as one of them appeared above her with an enormous mass of dark energy above its head. The shadow then swung it down with great speed, to which the ball immediately exploded upon impacting the ground. This caused a huge quake to rumble throughout the landscape as the boom was heard kilometers away. During the middle of this eruption though, Sora appeared even higher up than the shadow currently was. The girl then thrust both hands forward, creating another thin beam of energy from her palms. Of which went through her foe's head, before rapidly expanding just like her previous attack. However, unlike the last one, this seemed to be on a much more massive scale.
So much so, that the still exploding ball of darkness was engulfed by this beam before it then appeared to shoot straight through the ground. But like the previous time, the attack came to a swift end and allowed Sora to drop to the ground. Her landing on all fours directly in front of the giant hole created from her attack. It being twenty meters in diameter and was perfectly round. But with a brief glance down, it was revealed that the hole lead all the way down to the abyss that was the bottom of the Realm of Darkness. The swirling blackness over three kilometers below, being a clear indicator of how far her attack reached.
Sora slowly shifted her gaze around for the last shadow, yet there was nothing in sight. The teen let out a silent growl in seemingly annoyance, to which she turned around and began slowly moving away from the hole. After just a few steps though, the last shadow appeared behind her with a spinning kick toward her back. Yet as it swung its leg at its mark, a clawed hand pierced through its chest from the back.
The silver-haired teen standing behind her foe, but she let her head hanging down while lifting the shadow up over her head by the wound. Then with a loud and triumphant roar, Sora brought her other hand to the same opening and forcefully ripped the shadow in two. The darkness that was her shadow, rained down upon the girl. However, it was quickly absorbed into the darkness that coated her body. All the while, her roar echoed throughout the Realm of Darkness, vibrating the very air and causing the lands to quake slightly once again.
As she slowly let her voice die down, Sora took in and let out a few breaths. Each exhale producing a great deal of what appeared to be black smoke, which billowed out before disappearing into the air. After a few moments of calm her breathing, the teen suddenly flexed a hand before it lashing up and dug all of its claws into the side of her face. With a loud roar of pain, Sora ripped away the darkness covering her skin.
With the black liquid-like coating pealing away, it showed her normal self underneath. Although, her claws left behind deep cuts across her face, which immediately began to bleed. And once the blackness was ripped from her mouth, the girl's normal voice came through. Of which was still distorted, even as her screams reverberated out across the landscape. But despite the pain, Sora kept pulling the darkness away. Tearing at her neck, her arms and even her legs.
Finally, with one last yell in agony, she crossed her arms and tore the darkness from her shoulders down to her chest. She then collapsed onto her knees and breathed heavily, though it still held hints of a growl. The teen's pupils going from normal, to slits with each growl. Even her body tensed heavily during this, as she bared her teeth in an animalistic manner. It being clear that Sora was fighting the overwhelming urge to become feral and act on instinct, just like a Heartless. Yet after closing both eyes and thinking of her friends, particularly Kairi, she slowly appeared to calm down.
As minutes passed of just focusing her mind, Sora's suddenly eyes snapped open when she heard the tell-tale sign of a corridor of darkness opening. This leading for her to move onto all fours once more, to which she turned in the direction of this portal. Coming through it however, was a clapping Luxord. "Absolutely magnificent Sora." he started with a smile on his features.
As the teen tensed up to fight once more, the man waved a hand and cautiously kept his distance. "Now now...no need for that." the man said, him actually sounding respectful toward the teen.
"I'm merely here to congratulate you on winning our game." he continued as he smiled a bit more.
"It was truly a remarkable display of power, so I decided that I would provide you with a reward." Luxord claimed, to which he flipped a card up between two fingers as if from no where.
He then threw it toward Sora, whom caught the card easily without even looking. The blond man smiled once more as he snapped his fingers, allowing the chest he took from the island to appear. All of the gold pieced being within it as they were instantly transferred to the chest once each shadow was destroyed. "As well as to hand this over to you." he claimed with a gesture to the gold.
"Now that your shadows have been defeated, the curse upon this treasure has vanished as well. So you may use it however you see fit." Luxord added while backing up slowly into the portal he left open.
"I look forward to our next game, Sora." he finished with a flourishing bow as kept backing up, yet his tone sounded oddly genuine.
Sora watched him carefully the whole time, as her body didn't relax at all until Luxord was gone. At which point, she slowly moved back and sat down with a heavy sigh. Her feeling absolutely exhausted from not only all the fighting, but also whatever this transformation was. Of which was slowly fading away as the last remaining wisps of darkness disappeared. Even the horns seemed to just turn to dust as a small gust of wind blew by. But as she sat there, Sora slowly lifted the card up in order to see what it said or depicted.
Upon doing so though, Sora's suspicious expression quickly became a shocked one as she just stared at the card for what seemed like hours. "This...is..." she whispered out silently, her voice sounding as if it was the first time she had spoke anything in a long time.
But with a slow smile curling her lips and a few tears welling in both eyes, Sora gently hugged the card against her chest. This creating a small light that shined around the card, which rapidly grew brighter and brighter. It obscuring everything around her, including the second figure that was slowly materializing in front of the teen.
Meanwhile, Mulan and Vincent were on the docks of Tortuga along with Elizabeth. The pair having sent the woman's father off to England on a merchant ship just a few hours ago. Them having to abandon the previous ship soon after arriving at port as they couldn't keep it afloat for long without Sora. And while the Governor thought his daughter would be coming with him, Elizabeth snuck away just as the merchant ship set sail.
Though, they were currently facing a certain pirate, whom had a tan complexion, wore eye shadow and seemed to know Elizabeth quite well. His outfit consisted of a loose white shirt, a grey vest, a long jacket of a similar color, along with brown pants and boots. There were also all manner of belts around his waist and chest, with bits of cloth hanging from most of them.
And while he had a red bandanna on his head, it was clear he was missing one very important thing, a hat. Something of which he seemed to be looking for, as despite talking with Elizabeth, he would pause the conversation when seeing someone walk by with a unique-looking hat. However, in the middle of this, a corridor of darkness suddenly opened not far from the group. This making Vincent immediately pull out his gun and point it at the portal, his eyes narrowing heavily. Even Mulan brought her sword forth and readied to imbue it with magic while keeping her gaze focused on whomever would come through.
As a figure slowly stepped forward however, both their eyes widened when seeing that this individual was carrying an unconscious Sora. "Anyone have a place to sleep?" Teng questioned while adjusting the sleeping girl in his arms.
And there you have it. Sora became a monster, defeated her shadows, got some gold, got Teng back...and now, she gets to finally met the man himself; Captain Jack Sparrow! Once she wakes up anyway. Regardless, I hope all of you enjoyed and will let me know what you thought of it. Until next time everyone.