Chapter 29 Friend

Xehanort's POV

I stared at Eraqus in shock.

"Eraqus", I said.

"Hey there buddy", Eraqus greeted cheerfully despite the fact that he was still holding off my reflection. "Looks Like I made it just in time, huh?"

Hearing this made me smile. However, that smile went away when I remembered my reflection.

"What are you doing here", he asked Eraqus angrily.

"I'm here to save my friend", Eraqus replied.

"Friend", my reflection asked. "Can you really still call him your friend after what he's done?"

"What happened wasn't his fault", Eraqus defended. "It was an accident!"

"No", my reflection stated. "It wasn't an accident. It happened because your so called 'friend' is drawn to the power of darkness."

"Shut up with your lies", Eraqus commanded. "Xehanort isn't like that. Using the power of darkness in anger is different than using it willingly. I'm sure that Xehanort will never do that again!"

"Are you so sure about that", my reflection asked.

"I am", Eraqus replied. "Xehanort is my friend, and I trust him!"

"Eraqus", I said, touched by him defending me even after everything that happened.

"Is that so", my reflection asked. "Well then, if that's the case, let's see how worthy of your trust your so called 'friend' truly is."

With that...my reflection grabbed onto Eraqus' shirt and hoisted him into the air!

"Eraqus", I yelled out.

"Xehanort", he yelled back.

Then...something terrible happened.

I watched in horror as my reflection turned into...a Darkside. The same creature that killed Urd.

I couldn't move. I just stood frozen in fear as flashbacks of Urd's death played in my mind.

Then...despite the form he was now in, I was able to hear my reflection's voice say this.

If you don't want to lose another one of your friends to the darkness, then you'll have to use it to defeat me.

Hearing this had me torn in two different directions.

Eraqus hates darkness, and If I use it again...he'll hate me too. But if I don't...

Before my train of thought could go on any longer...Eraqus' voice snapped me out of it.

"Don't listen to him Xehanort", he commanded. "He's trying to get you to use the power of darkness again. Don't let him trick..."

Eraqus was cut off...by the Darkside tightening his grip on him!

Upon seeing this...my mind was made up.

"I'm sorry Eraqus", I said softly to myself. "But I will not lose another one of my friends to the darkness. Even if that means that I have to lose myself to it."

With that, I was about to touch into the power of darkness once again.

But before I could...I heard the Darkside yell out in pain!

I looked up...and saw that Eraqus had cut right through its arm!

He landed on his feet before running up to me.

"Eraqus", I said. "Are you okay?"

"I'm alright", Eraqus replied. "Now, let's take this monster out together!"