Author's Note: I am so deeply sorry for the major long delay and loss of inspiration of this story. It's been several months since I've last updated this and we're still a long way to go but at the same time, closer to the final battle. Well, a little bit closer, anyway.
Between this, my other stories I need and want to complete, and already new ideas forming into my mind, and everything else going on lately, it's been a struggle to regain my passion for this. But now after a long delay, a new chapter is here, though it's more of a bit of a breather before we go into another epic battle.
I don't own Kingdom Hearts, or Final Fantasy.
CH55: Recuperation.
Not long after the meeting, Rufus has offered Sora and everyone else to spend the night in the ShinRa building and WRO HQ before their departure to Scala Ad Caelum in the morning. They thanked the President for the offer before splitting up into groups to recuperate and, as some of them began to realize since once they go through this, there's no turning back, that today could be their final day alive. Despite wanting to return home to see Minnie in person one more time just in case, Mickey didn't want to run the risk of Ardyn, Blaine, or Caius or even Maleficent and Pete returning.
Instead, he opted to give her a call on the Gummi-phone and allowed Donald to do the same with Daisy. It had been hard and very tearful considering what they had seen, but Mickey didn't want to leave without saying goodbye. He felt awful that Sora, Riku and Kairi were still unable to return home even briefly, but he hoped that they would all make it out of this alive without getting caught like their alternate selves ended up.
Skuld and Zack both volunteered to return to Olympus Coliseum to give Noctis and everyone else an update of what they found and promised to be back soon. Angeal, Genesis and Ephemer joined them and a few hours later they came back, with news that Noctis, Prompto, Gladio and Ignis would be there as soon as possible, with Zeus and the other Gods on standby just in case.
Terra, Ven, and Aqua were all in their shared room on the balcony that overlooked the city of Edge-Midgar. It wasn't as great of a view to see the stars as the city's lights were mostly still on 24/7, but it was still a great view none the less. It just...wasn't the Land of Departure.
"Sure is a great view from here." Ven remarked softly.
"Yeah." Terra nodded in agreement, as did Aqua.
"We've gone without this for so long."
"Indeed." Aqua muttered.
"Twelve years is such a long time and yet we haven't changed a bit on the outside...mostly, anyway." Terra shook his head. "I should be an old man by now."
"Oh, c'mon, Terra. You're not old." Ven assured his friend. "I'm still in the body of a teenager but I'm older than ever Master Yen Sid!"
"Even if you don't act like it." Aqua teasingly pointed out, which made Ven blush while scratching the back of his head and Terra chuckle a little.
The blond-haired teen then sighed and leaned against the railing, deep in thought. "Still hard to believe that I actually came from where Skuld, Ephemer, Strelitzia, Master Aced, Blaine, and even the Master of Masters come from, and I didn't even know it at the time. Even now, I still don't remember much. It's...coming back to me in bits and pieces, I think. Before I woke up, there were these dreams; Of you guys. Of Sora and the others too, I think. And there were some more people I didn't recognize until now...Maybe it's Skuld and everyone else. Oh, and I saw these weird animal creatures! Like the Dream Eaters."
"From what Skuld mentioned, it sounds like you've already been on a big adventure before Xehanort found you." Terra said.
Ven nodded. "Mm. Yeah. But you know, I was more happier being with you guys than in Daybreak Town. Even though I messed up a lot; losing my memories, making me an easy target for Xehanort, everything that's happened."
"You didn't." Aqua assured, sighing. "I confess. I'm the one who drew us further apart, instead of being there for both of you as a friend, like I should have. Not only I let being a Keyblade Master make me blind, but I...I didn't listen to what you were both thinking. Like how you only wanted to help Terra and warn him about Vanitas, Ven,...and that I misjudged your decision in trying to fight the darkness, Terra."
Both Ven and Terra stared at her with wide-eyed expressions as she continued, "What's worse, I acted before I could think. I left my burden to Mickey and making him feel like he's the one responsible for all of this when he wasn't. Then there's Sora, Riku and Kairi. Neither of them should've been involved in all of this. I'm sorry."
"Neither of you or the King are to blame." Terra sighed this time, gazing low. "I was gulliable and naive, not even sensing that Xehanort lied about everything so that he could use me as a vessel. I pushed you guys away, and the Master too. If I'd known, I would've stopped him a lot sooner. But now we have to face Chaos, and if we have to, Bhunivelze."
"If we survive this, soon everything will mostly return to normal." Aqua said.
Knowing that they had a big fight and rescue misson tomorrow, Ven reached into his pockets and pulled out his green Wayfinder Charm that Aqua made him twelve years ago and held it up above him to the sky.
"Let's share stories with everyone and go on more adventures, without fighting." Ven declared.
Both his best friends smiled and pulled out their own Wayfinders; Terra's orange one, and Aqua's blue one that was her light within the Realm of Darkness, doing the same as him and they muttered their agreements. They both spent like this for fifteen more minutes, gazing at the night sky like they had before this whole thing started until Ven decided he needed to do something else.
"I'm gonna go find Skuld and Ephemer. I still don't remember much about them but...I really should catch up with them too, and maybe..." Ven trailed off.
"Invite them to stay with us?" Aqua finished, as she and Terra both read along the sentences.
"Yeah."
"If they want to, then the more the merrier." Terra replied.
"They deserve a new future as much as anyone else, anyway." Aqua added.
"Thanks, guys. See you later." Ven smiled happily, and then walked off to find their other friends.
The two older Keyblade Wielders watched until Ven walked out the door and closed it behind him, before smiling a little.
"He really isn't a child anymore." Aqua remarked softly.
"Ven came a long way since joining us. He doesn't go down easily." Terra nodded.
"I know. It was just me being overprotective."
The two stayed silent for a little while, thinking about everything that has happened, and what will happen next. The more they did, the more Terra began to remember what Aqua had told him...back before Sora, and Riku had defeated Xehanort in the Realm of Sleep. Back when...she confessed her feelings to him.
Flashback: During the events of Second Life.
"Terra! It's me, Aqua!" Aqua cried out, shaking her friend's shoulders. "Please, remember! You're stronger than that! I'm sorry that I couldn't save you!" tears forming in her eyes, as she began to cry. "I'm sorry for blaming you for what's happened. I wanted to save you and Ven. I never stopped thinking about either of you." and as Terra tried to escape, Aqua then buried her face into Terra's chest and sobbed, causing him to freeze all together.
"...I don't even deserve to be a Keyblade Master." Aqua whispered while she cried. "I've failed so many times..." hugging the stunned Terra.
He was even more stunned and had more painful jolts in his mind when Aqua said the next three words; "I love you."
Back in the Present.
Maybe now is the best time to say how he felt, even if he was a bit nervous to do so, but upon seeing Sora and Kairi having become a couple despite their denial out of sheer embarrassment, especially since he and everyone else had inadvertly caught them kissing in the Daybreak Town Ruins, it made Terra realize that sooner or later, he would have to do the same before it was too late. Aqua was almost lost to the darkness again and he felt guilty for not going with Sora, Kairi and King Mickey to restore her to the light.
"Hey, Aqua?"
"Yes?" The blue-haired young woman queried.
"Do you...remember what you said in the Realm of Sleep? When I was still under Xehanort's control?" Terra replied. "You were trying to get me to remember and...told me how you felt."
At first, Aqua didn't understand what her friend was saying. But after thinking about it, she blushed heavily in realization that, even though her feelings were true, she mindlessly confessed her love to Terra. She hadn't even thought about it and even though she was in love with him, she'd almost totally forgot considering everything that has happened lately.
"Terra, I-"
"It's okay. In fact, I...I have a confession to make." Terra gently cut her off, blushing himself. Nervously, he took hold of Aqua's hand into his and as her eyes widened as she began to realize what he was about to do, he gazed at her and what he said next made her heart leap and her stomach flutter with butterflies. "I love you, too."
"Terra..." Aqua whispered, her eyes stinging a little as the moisture of tears began to form. Suddenly she felt like the luckiest woman ever, aside from Kairi who had Sora despite both of them being too embarrassed to admit it, at least with other people around.
Before either of them could say anything else, Terra, and Aqua slowly leaned up closer to each other before their lips met with a passionate kiss, linking into each other's arms as the Moon shone brightly down at them, making their moment more magical.
After spending as much time with Donald and Goofy as he wanted before they decided to rest for the night, Mickey found that he couldn't sleep. No matter how hard he tried, sleep just wouldn't come to him. Despite reassuring himself several times that Aqua was restored, and Yen Sid was finally rescued and saved, that everyone was okay, the King couldn't stop thinking about everything that has happened.
So instead, he decided that maybe a cup of hot chocolate would help, considering the sleeping quarters of the ShinRa building was the same hallway as the living area and kitchen which wasn't hard to find. Mickey silently left the room he was sharing with his childhood friends and brewed some for himself before taking a seat on one of the couches, gently blowing to cool it down a little and taking a small, careful sip of the delicious hot drink. Just as he needed.
"I take you cannot sleep?"
Startled by the unexpected voice, Mickey choaked on his drink and coughed as the steaming liquid went down the wrong tube and continued to do so to stop himself from unexpectedly drowning as tears stung his eyes. A hand was placed onto his back and patted it to help recover which thankfully helped. After several minutes, the King took a deep breath and sighed in relief before looking up to see that the unexpected visitor was his mentor.
"Forgive me. I had not intended to startle you." The Sorcerer apologized, though Mickey saw a hint of a small smirk on the man's lips. Some things never changed.
"Nah, it's okay, Master. But, yeah. I couldn't sleep, so I thought some hot chocolate would help." The King replied. "Would ya' like some?"
"Thank you, but I am alright. In fact, my concern was onto you as I sensed that you were not asleep." Yen Sid responded, taking a seat next to his former apprentice. "Something is troubling you."
Not sure how to respond to that, Mickey looked away, feeling ashamed with himself. "I'm sorry, Master. I tried. I really did. I couldn't even keep my promise that we'd be back after we solved the problems in the Caribbean. Gosh, we still don't know what's causin' all the Realm of the Dead to go haywire. All we found out is everything else that's happened, but found more questions to other things at the same time. I still feel terrible for what happened to Aqua, Ven, Terra, Sora, Kairi, Riku, Donald, Goofy, everybody."
"I still feel like the whole thing is all my fault." Mickey continued. "If I'd known that Aced would kidnap you, I woulda came back a lot sooner. During our journey to try and find you, Angeal and Genesis, I was so afraid that we wouldn't save you on time. I was afraid that I'd never see you again. There's still so much I have to learn. I need your guidence more than ever, and it's my fault that you-you got hurt."
"At ease, Mickey." Yen Sid told him, surprisingly softly. "As I told you, you are not to blame for all of this. I admit, I was foolish to believe that I would not be abducted. You have done well."
"Huh?" Mickey blinked, surprised by the compliment.
"The trials have not been easy, as I am aware you and everyone else have gone through, but you have learned so much of the dangers we are facing. And you have aided Sora and Kairi to save Aqua's heart. However, you must remember that I will one day fade from life itself, and live a life without me." The powerful sorcerer continued.
Mickey bit his lip when he was reminded of this, and while he knew that it would eventually happen, he still couldn't find it in his heart to fully accept it. He didn't have the inner courage to face the reality that he'd never see his mentor again once he was gone. His heart already broke when Ansem the Wise sacrificed himself and even though he'd been alive all this time, it was still like their reunion in his home world was nothing more than a dream despite that it was real. Just when he was still struggling to mend it and had done so after finally saving Aqua, Ven and Terra, the kidnapping re-teared it almost completely.
It mounted guilt upon guilt upon more guilt. Not to mention fear which Mickey knew, if he didn't to something to face it soon, it would crush him. Swallow him whole like an evil dragon gobbling him up, or even the time when Willie the Giant almost ate him during their first meeting.
"I know." He eventually replied. "It's just...everything that's happened is still hard to accept, and I...I'm scared to think what tomorrow will bring and I don't it to be just like what happened in the alternate universe. When we saw that awful vision, I could actually feel it happen. Everybody gone in a blink of an eye, and then seein' myself get swallowed up along with Donald and Goofy by the Heartless Tide...I could hardly breathe, and my heart and body being ripped into pieces."
The King shuddered. "It's even worse than what the Heartless did that dragged away Aqua in the Realm of Darkness. If only I'd been faster so that she wouldn't have been trapped in that terrible place any longer."
"One cannot do everything on their own. You can only do with the strength and skill you have been given. The dangers you will face will be extreme, and no one knows what the outcome will be. Be on your guard, and be by your friends' side." Yen Sid told him wisely.
"...Right." Mickey nodded, sighing as he took another sip of his hot chocolate before admitting. "I...I missed you so much."
"I know, and remember, I may not always be there when my time comes to an end, I am always with you in your heart. As are all of our friends."
Mickey smiled sadly at his mentor. Yen Sid was right. Like with everyone else in the team, their hearts were connected, and nothing can change that. The King had actually forgotten that the elder man was always with him despite the situation, and will always will be, no matter what. While Mickey hasn't admit it yet to anyone, Yen Sid was so much more than just a teacher and a friend.
He was like a father to him.
Meanwhile, Roxas, Lea, Xion, Namine and Isa were on the very top of the ShinRa Building gazing out at the city like they would on the Clock Tower in Twilight Town. Neither one could sleep, so they decided to spend whatever time they had left with each other just in case something bad happened, or if their fates would be much like what they saw in the Keyblade Graveyard. As much as they hated to admit it, it still haunted them like nightmares.
"Well, guys. Looks like if things go wrong tomorrow, we won't be goin' home again." Lea sighed sadly.
"Yeah. It was great while it lasted." Roxas muttered in agreement. "Just wish we could spend more time eating ice cream."
"Maybe we'll be lucky and we can all come out of this okay. I mean, people fought Bhunivelze before, right?" Xion tried to lighten the mood, despite that she was feeling the same thing as her best friends.
"Maybe. But, anything could happen. I don't think we'll know until we reach Scala Ad Caelum." Namine pointed out.
"She's right." Isa agreed. "None of us can predict what the outcome will be."
Roxas furrowed his brows as he clutched his fist. "Well, it better not be like what happened to all of us in the Keyblade Graveyard, in the alternate universe. I still can't believe Sora's other self had to go through everything to save us and then die to bring back Kairi. It isn't fair! He did so much for all of us, saved us and brought us back together. Something I couldn't do."
"You saved me through Sora." Lea reminded. "If ya' didn't, things woulda turned out the way it happened in the other time-line. I'm the one who couldn't bring you guys back on my own, as much as I wanted to."
"So much has happened. I wonder if there is a way for the other Sora to return home? I want to repay him for everything he did." Xion muttered.
Namine, who had been busy randomly drawing of everyone on her sketch book, paused in her work and held it close to her. "Everything is connected. But...even Sora can't do everything on his own. If anything happened to all of us, his heart will break. I can feel it in the Keyblade Graveyard. He doesn't think he has the strength to go on without anyone connected to his heart. Especially Kairi. She holds a special place within him."
"Like you do with Riku?" Lea couldn't help but tease.
"What!?" The blonde-haired girl shrieked in shock by the sudden question.
"He looked out for you while you were fixing up Sora's memories, right? And you've been kinda thinking about him back at home once and a while." The redhead continued, smirking.
"Yeah, I kinda got that expression, too. Though I still don't have any idea how love even works or what it feels like." Roxas admitted, and Xion, much like him, was in the same vote. "Besides, Axel told us that Riku's replica wanted to keep you safe before he disappeared."
"Uh, I, um...I-it's nothing like that...! I mean, me and Riku are just good friends." Namine stuttered, though her face was taking on the hue of bright pink and red of embarrassment. Okay, as much as she still had a lot to learn about love as well, she had to admit to herself that...she does have some sort of feelings with Riku. Maybe more so than to Sora. Perhaps it's because Sora's heart belonged to Kairi and vise versa, and always will.
"Did you really have to tease her like that, Lea?" Isa rolled his eyes. "At least grow up a little."
"Hey, I was just kiddin'." Lea protested a little. "Besides, how often do we spend time with each other and our friends anyway? Back when we were kids, it was always just you and me."
"And her."
Lea flinched when Isa said this. Not only it made a bit of a painful jolt in his mind, but there were some things he tried to forget, but in the wrong way. Come to think of it, as he realized it now, he'd actually forgotten about that other detail and now that Isa had mentioned it, the redhead felt that those memories had somehow been replaced or forgotten.
"Her? You mean there was a girl you knew?" Roxas asked, as he, Xion and Namine shared puzzled looks. This was the first time they ever heard Lea and Isa mention another girl they once knew.
"Uh...Y-yeah." Lea, realizing that he and Isa had some explaining to do, said awkwardly. "Actually, I kinda feel like I forgot all about her 'til now."
"It suddenly came back to me as well, and I don't know why we both forgot." Isa admitted. "However, those visions we saw somehow made my memories of that time begin to return."
"Like how everyone forgot about Sora for a year and me when I went back to him?" Xion ventured gently.
"That sounds 'bout right." Lea shrugged, sighing. "Come to think of it, I have no idea why we forgot in the first place either. Barely even remember what she looks like. Except for...dark hair, I guess? Kinda like Skuld's."
"Where did you meet her?" Roxas asked, curiously.
Lea and Isa shared glance before the former decided to go first. "You guys remember what we said back in Atlantis, right? 'Bout us usually sneaking into the castle?"
Roxas, Xion and Namine nodded.
"And we made a friend there, a girl." Isa continued. "We apprenticed to Ansem the Wise to rescue her."
"What!?" Roxas, Xion and Namine gasped. Ansem the Wise had hidden a girl there back then too? Why would he do that?
"Yeah, he did a lot of weird experiments on the heart and all that. Now that I think of it, I think Xehanort was the main part of the experiment. She couldn't remember who she was or where she came from. Based on what the King told us, I think Ansem wanted to let her go, but Xehanort wouldn't do that." Lea continued.
"Because back then he couldn't remember much either until a year later." Roxas realized.
"Yeah, and we failed to save her. One day, she was just gone."
"Do you think Xehanort or Xigbar took her somewhere else? Or did Ansem hidden her to a safe place and she's out there in peace?" Namine asked.
Lea shook his head, "Dunno. One day we're apprentices, the next Ansem the Wise went up and vanished, the day after we're Nobodies, day after that we're doing icky jobs for Xemnas." He then turned to Isa. "No offense, but I couldn't keep up with you."
"None taken." Isa replied, sighing. "Following Xehanort's Nobody was the only way to discover what happened to her. She was his lab rat."
"Was that why you secretly went against Xemnas's orders other than trying to get your hearts back?" Roxas questioned.
"Yeah, pretty much. Sorry I didn't tell you guys. I just didn't want either of you to go up and vanish on me too. Plus me and Isa weren't really seein' eye to eye after we became Nobodies. I know that I'm a pretty lousy friend." Lea explained.
"But we did." Roxas sighed, sadly. "We didn't have much of a choice. Xehanort was the one that caused all of this, but at the same time, if he was stopped sooner, me, Xion and Namine would never have existed in the first place."
"He did so many awful things, and separated so many of us. But...as much as I hate to admit it, he brought us together too for a while. And Sora brought us back together, to have our second chances, and second life." Xion stated.
"And you tried your best to bring us back. It was your faith that brought us together again. If I recall, it was your idea to save me from Braig and Xehanort." Isa added to Lea.
Feeling his face heat up, Lea looked away slightly. "It was more determination than thinking. I was gonna bring all of you guys back, even if it killed me. I'm gonna make sure I don't lose any of you again, and I'm getting her back, too! I don't care what happens to me. I'll even go to the Underworld or the Realm of Darkness and back to bring you home even if I have to give up my life."
"No way! I'm not gonna lose you or the others again! We're in this together, and we're gonna stay together." Roxas told him with determination. "And we're getting her back, together. All five of us. Right?"
"Yeah! Let us help you and Isa, Axel. We made it far together to help Sora and the others." Xion added, also with determination.
"You will not be searching for her or anyone else alone, Lea. Even though our friendship was strained through out the years, I was the one who drew us apart while you found comfort in making new friends." Isa added.
Lea felt a strong sense of guilt when his blue-haired friend said this. He hadn't meant to hurt his feelings, but as Isa had said, their friendship had been strained. "C'mon, Isa. I never forgot about you."
"I know. You wouldn't do that. The thing is...I was jealous."
"You admit it." The redhead chuckled in slight disbelief.
"Yeah, well, that's the only time you'll get it out of me. And plus, I actually enjoy their company." Isa shrugged with a smirk, gazing at Roxas, Xion and Namine who smiled at them.
"Sorry that we made you jealous." Roxas sheepishly replied.
"And I'm sorry for being very harsh on both you and Xion, Roxas. I was blinded by Xemnas's darkness."
"It's okay. We like you as a person than as a Nobody." Xion assured him, which made Isa, Lea, and Namine all smile. "And like Roxas said, we'll help to find her. Though, I think maybe we already did find her."
"Huh?" Roxas blinked, confused.
"Whaddya' mean?" Lea asked, curiously.
The black-haired girl shook her head. "I don't know. But...when you said that she had black hair like Skuld, and, she doesn't remember much after leaving the Realm of Darkness, and entering Twilight Town. Maybe we should ask her if anymore of her memories came back."
She did have a good point. Plus, the more they all spent time with Skuld, the more both Lea and Isa felt that she was familiar, despite what she said when it came to Ephemer. But maybe...during that time after she mysteriously vanished, her original memories came back but like what happened to them, her memories of their time together were somehow erased, one way or another. Either that, or they may have to keep looking. Either way, maybe Xion was right. Maybe they had finally found her and didn't even know it.
"Maybe. It's like Aqua said; not even memories are safe from the darkness." Namine nodded in agreement.
"Guess that's a good point. If so, then all that's left is to try and figure out Strelitzia and her brother, Lauriam." Lea shrugged.
"We have to save him tomorrow, anyway. And that's what we're gonna do, and stop the bad guys." Roxas declared with determination. "It'll be tough, but I know that we can do it, as long as we're careful."
"Yeah." Lea nodded, as did the others. They all gazed at the sky above them, with renewed hope and determination to set things right with their other new friends. They were brought back together, and they were going to remain this way, no matter what.
In the deserted streets of Midgar, Maleficent and Pete, now on their own after the fall of their new gathered allies thanks to Sora's group, had all but abandoned the former's homeworld and re-began their search for the Book of Prophecies and Black Box. However the lack of allies and clues leading to what they wanted was beginning to make Pete more than a little miffed. Not to mention what happened to them in Twilight Town, and it was clear that the two people they encountered knew more about it than they said.
On top of that, Pete was still sore from his unexpected flight before arriving in Twilight Town earlier and he was finally reaching his limit. Although he had spied on the group and despite that he and Maleficent were not happy that Yen Sid was among them once more, now their enemies gained more allies, he still wasn't happy that they reached numerous dead ends.
"D'oooooh! I've had it with this stupid treasure hunt. Every book and box we've found have been nothin' but a bust." The fat cat groaned in irritation. "And nobody we've met ain't had a clue where they are!"
For once Maleficent didn't argue, much to his surprise. "I agree. We have been on an endless search when the answer has been that boy all this time."
"What-a-huh-now!?" Pete stuttered in disbelief.
"Until today, the creature was once a Keybearer himself and while he was lost into the darkness, his heart is strong but not quite the same as Sora's. The one with that women, he is a very special case. Why else would they have been in that mansion. They have the book and as you have said, they and all those fools shall be leaving for the world where Keyblade Wielders once ruled: Scala Ad Caelum." The evil Fairy explained.
Pete blinked, before growling in irritation as he seemingly got the idea. "I knew those pipsqueaks had that book all along! So they know where d'at box is, don't they?"
"Silence, imbecible." Maleficent commanded darkly. "They did not have that book until meeting that boy and his companion. It is clear that the world they are leaving for is where the Box will most certainly be. And yet, it is the ones in the black coats who do not follow Xehanort's goals who know more. Once they lead us to them, the box will be ours and so will the book."
"Is that some kind of riddle?" Pete asked, stumped and once again completely confused. "Why didn't we just go there right from the start?"
"Because that world can only be accessed by Keyblade Wielders. It is the nexus from which all worlds spring." Maleficent grinned cruelly. "A perfect location to rule them all. Once Sora and his friends are destroyed, we will aqquire the Book of Prophecies and the Black Box and Scala Ad Caelum shall be mine."
Her over-sized dumb companion let out an impressed whistle when he heard her say all of this. "I didn't know all them worlds come from that place. Wonder what it looks like?"
"You will see it soon enough on the morrow. Once we deal with our enemies, our real work can begin." Maleficent declared, before opening up another Corridor of Darkness and calmly stepped inside. Pete blinked for a moment before quickly racing after her before he is left behind.
Back in the sleeping quarters in the ShinRa Building, Ephemer was sitting on the edge of his bed in his and Skuld's shared room, gazing down at the Book of Prophecies, hoping to find at least another clue on what was going on. So far, he had no luck. The only thing he could think of, however, was his memories. Like Skuld and Ven, the white-haired boy found that he hardly remembered what happened between Blaine's betrayal and him arriving in Twilight Town while meeting up and reuniting with Skuld.
What did the Master of Masters really want? How did it come to this?
"Hey."
A bit startled out of his thoughts, Ephemer looked up to see Skuld standing in front of him with a soft look that had some concern and, maybe some doubt of her own on her face.
"Hey." He replied. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just..." The dark-haired girl trailed off, not sure how to speak of what she intended to say. In truth, she really didn't know what else to say.
"You're nervous about tomorrow, aren't you?" Her old friend and former fellow Foreteller guessed.
Skuld couldn't help but smile weakly and nodded. The smile then faded as she then took a seat on the edge of her bed on the opposite side of Ephemer's with a sigh as she began to say. "I've been thinking a lot lately. How our memories are surpressed. I can't remember what happened after we left the Realm of Darkness. I think there was...somewhere along the lines where I didn't just end up in Twilight Town. Before we split up again and I met up with Ven and got to meet his new friends, Sora, and everyone else."
"Laurium's memories were messed up, too." Ephemer reminded. "And everyone was made to believe that he took Strelizia's life, where it was Blaine all along. Since we returned to Daybreak Town, my memories slowly began to come back to me, little by little. Even the fight against Bhunivelze. Then...I guess I was sleeping and wandering in the dark for awhile."
"Me too." Skuld nodded in agreement. "But then, when I first met Ansem the Wise in King Mickey, Donald and Goofy's homeworld, I couldn't help but notice something in his eyes when he asked me who I was. It's almost as though...I met him before. Then when everyone else saw those visions, I think I had a vision or a dream. Or maybe it really happened. I found myself locked up in a cell, terrified and alone, not even knowing my name."
She paused for a moment as she, much to her own surprise, realize that the more she was saying this, the more her memories were slowly returning as well. Did that mean that both Ansem and Daybreak Town were triggers to her memories returning again? The memories that she forgot about via awakening in Twilight Town. In her mind, at first she felt so afraid as she saw silhouettes of men in white lab coats, much like Ienzo's.
But then...two more appeared, but none like she had ever seen...
Flash Back: Sometime after the events of Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep.
Why was she here? Why couldn't she remember? Who were these people? What did they want with her? Skuld didn't understand, and she was terrified. She could hardly remember her own name. She was alone, and each day they did horrible things to her. Talking about wanting to experiment on her heart. And that man...one who like her remembered nothing of his past, kept on saying that they were both alike and one day their hearts will unlock their missing memories.
Then...she heard voices. But unlike the ones who kept her locked up here, they were...unfamiliar. Young. Whispering but loud enough for her to hear. Boys, maybe?
"Hello?" She called out, wary of her new visitors. Skuld hoped that it wasn't intruders or worse despite what they sounded like.
At first as silence followed, she thought that maybe she was imagining things. But then she heard the footsteps. Slow, soft, and seemingly nervous themselves. Where they afraid of her? Finally, someone peered through her only window, small and only viewing the hallway of white and mysterious patterns. The light was making the person also silhouette and hard to see.
But she could see...a glimpse of red hair. A boy, about her age.
"Uh...Hello?" He softly responded, sounding just as nervous. Behind him was another boy, and while she couldn't see his face, she did get a glimpse of his blue hair. Neither one she recognized...
Back in the Present.
"...Then there were these two boys. Teenagers like us and most of the others." Skuld continued after a moment of fading into her mind and her eyes widened a little. "One had red hair, and the other blue. Just like Lea and Isa."
"But I thought you just met them in the Caribbean?" Ephemer pointed out, confused.
"I...Don't get it either. But at the same time, the more I got to know them, the more I felt like they felt familiar. I haven't really thought about until now. Maybe I should ask them."
"And Ven?"
"I think it will be a long time before he remembers us completely." Skuld sighed, shrugging, still disappointed that their friend still barely remembered anything about them or their past. "I mean, he seems happier to be with Aqua and Terra. I don't mind being forgotten by him. You know me, I didn't have much luck in making friends until I met you, and Haruo."
Ephemer blinked, before chuckling sheepishly. "Um, Skuld? I meant how you feel about him?"
"Huh?" The dark haired girl muttered, confused. Then she saw a hint of a knowing glint in his eyes and a small smirk and realized what he actually meant, which made her face quickly go warm and bright red. "W-what!? Where'd you get that idea? Ven and I are friends. I mean, he's cute but-"
Cutting herself off as she just admitted that Ven was cute, and, in actuallity he was, and Skuld did find herself a bit more confused the more she spend time with him again like back a long time ago and her heart ached when she saw that he had no recollection of her at all. Eventually as they traveled with everyone else through out their journey, she accepted it and decided to simply become his friend again. He had been the same as he had back then, though. Kind, caring, brave and sweet...
Realizing she really did like Ven more than as a friend and Ephemer somehow knew it before she did, Skuld groaned in embarrassment, covering her face in her hands. "Oh! Ephemer, this isn't funny!"
"Aw, c'mon. Don't tell me you're embarrassed." Ephemer shook his head.
'Ugh. If this is how Sora and Kairi felt whenever they were teased, now I know what it's like.' Skuld thought to herself, as she gave her friend an annoyed glare and warned him slightly. "I swear, if you do the same to me as everyone else's been doing to Sora and Kairi, I'm gonna smack you silly."
"Okay, okay. Sorry. Didn't mean it like that." He held his hands up in surrender. "It's just, I can't help but notice that you guys seem to be a bit close, you know."
"Are you jealous?" Skuld asked, with an eyebrow raised.
"Me? 'Course not." Ephemer shook his head, before sighing in sadness. "But I do miss Haruo, though. And...I can't help but feel like the whole thing was my fault, with what happened to him."
"Ephemer..." Skuld muttered, as memories, while somewhat vague, returned to that of their fallen fellow Keyblade Wielder and friend. To think that, if Hayner and Pence were right, then Haruo had become a Darkling somehow. None of them remembered how or why. It...hurt, but at the same time, even as a Heartless, he helped them.
"I should've been there with him like I promised. To him, I was his best friend, and there was too busy trying to solve problems and how to protect the light and everybody. Then our Union Cross...Blaine betrayed us and...Haruo turned into those things. Now all of this happened." He continued, gazing at the Book of Prophecies on his lap.
"It wasn't your fault. The Master of Masters did this from the beginning and he just...just let it happen." Skuld pointed out gently.
That didn't seem to make him feel that much better. "Still...I'm sorry. Lightning told me a while back that making everybody except us forget in order to prevent history repeat itself only made things worse. Xehanort still figured it out about the Keyblade War and wanted to search for it by creating one that would destroy the Realm all over again. Erasing memories and forgetting the past isn't the answer to prevent something bad from happening again, because if you don't remember, you can easily repeat it without realizing it. Forgetting doesn't change the past. It will only destroys the future. Bhunivelze believed that those who did remember their past were prisoners, poisoned by their memories. He wanted to destroy the dead to make those who were still alive forget."
"...Well, she's right." Skuld admitted after a long hesitated pause.
"Huh?" He looked up at her, slightly surprised.
"I was uneasy when you said that forgetting would erase the sadness. But...you can't make it go away, or pretend that the past really didn't happen." She continued, shaking her head. "What my journey with Ven, Sora, and everyone else taught me, hurting is part of caring. Not everyone comes back, but you can't always think about the sadness of those that were lost go away. That we should try our best to think about the good memories. And who knows? Maybe a miracle will happen; like with Ansem the Wise coming back, and Sora saving everyone connected to his heart. Especially Ven."
"Lightning and a few others kind of told me the same thing, in their own words." The white-haired boy shrugged.
"We can't forget the past, but we can't live in it anymore either. We have to move on and protect the future and keep our memories alive. Sometimes we forget, but it can't be helped."
Ephemer considered on what Skuld had told him, and the more he gazed at the Book of Prophecies, the more he realized that it hadn't helped before, and it wasn't helping them now. All it did was predict a prophecy, and in the past, created illusions of worlds from the future. But...it also caused a rift between the original Foretellers and despite their best efforts in preventing the Keyblade War, in the end they caused it themselves without realizing it until it was too late. They followed the guidelines without really doing anything to actually stop it.
But Sora, and all of his friends. And Ven. They followed their own paths of how to save the Realm of Light and succeeded more times than they can count, because of their deep friendship with each other. Neither of them had books to help them along. They just...had their connections with their hearts. Similar to what Haruo had done. They held on their beliefs in everything.
"...Yeah." Ephemer nodded, closing the book and stood up while approaching a fireplace that was built. Then, to Skuld's shock and surprise, and ignoring her protests, he simply tossed it into the fire and watched it burn. "We didn't need the book to help us before, and neither did Sora. Even though the Timelines are messed up, we make our own destinies. Tomorrow, we're going to set things right and stop Chaos and hopefully prevent Bhunivelze from waking up."
As he turned back to her stunned expression, he continued with growing determination. "Don't need the Book of Prophecies to tell us what to do. Right?"
Realizing what her friend had meant, Skuld smiled warmly and nodded in agreement. "Yeah. When this is over, if we all make it back, let's live in the future and make up our own lives from now on. With all of our friends."
"We'll be okay." Came Ven's voice.
Startled, the duo turned to see that Ven had stepped in and, realizing that he'd been listening in, blinked as he continued with his own determination. "Believe in Sora. If anyone can stop Chaos, it's him, with all of us connected to his heart. Our hearts are connected."
Both Ephemer and Skuld nodded, knowing that Ven was right. The reunited trio then held out hands and placed them on top of each other as they all said in unison. "May our hearts be our guiding key."
Strelitzia had decided to wander around the hallways to give Serah and Lightning some time with each other to catch up after a year of separation. She was happy that her friend had finally found her sister, but as she walked all alone deep in thought, she found herself troubled. She had told Serah she had no idea what to do once everything was back to normal and while her friend said that it was her choice, she just...didn't know.
On top of that, there was her brother. Lauriam...that she still barely remembered and felt guilty for having believed that he had ended her life before the first Keyblade War when it was Blaine all along, and their memories supressed. How can she make it up to all of this? And...knowing that she may have to fight him and Arlene since Ardyn and Blaine kidnapped them for Chaos, Strelitzia realized that she didn't have the heart to do that.
Just as she was leaning against the wall with a sigh, Chirithy then appeared once more and gazed up at her expression.
"Hello, Chirithy." The ginger-haired girl softly greeted.
"You seem really sad, Strelitzia. Is something wrong?" The small cat queried, sensing his friend's emotions.
"I just...don't know what to do about tomorrow, or even afterwards." The young Keyblade Wielder admitted. "Cosmos brought me back and told me that once this is all over, I can live my own life. But...I just don't know what to do."
"Well, Serah did say that it's your choice." Chirithy pointed out.
Strelitzia sighed. "That's the problem. I don't know what I want to do. I mean, I sort of do, but...it's not like I belong in Serah and Lightning's world. I wasn't born there."
"You don't need to be born just find your home."
Startled slightly, Strelitzia and Chirithy both turned to see that Riku, apparently having a bit of trouble sleeping himself and having overheard the conversation, had approached and decided to join in. He shrugged apologetically for intruding on the conversation and startling them.
"Sometimes home is where you were born, and other times you find your true home where you feel like where want to live. As they say, home is where the heart is." The silver-haired teen continued.
"...Is it really that simple?" Strelitzia asked, still uncertain.
"Sure is. Ask Ven, Kairi, and even Jiminy. They'll tell you." Riku answered.
"Kairi and Jiminy?" Strelitzia blinked, as she and Chirithy were both very surprised to hear that. Ven, they can understand considering how he was living with Terra, Aqua, and their Master Eraqus after losing his memories of everything in his life besides his name. But she never expected Kairi or even Jiminy Cricket back in Disney Castle to be in the same boat.
Riku nodded. "Eleven years ago, when Radiant Garden fell into darkness by Xehanort and taken over by Maleficent, Kairi was sent to the Islands and only remembered her name. She was adopted by our town's mayor and she played with both me and Sora. We were best friends since then. Even now, she still considered our world her home too. Then two years ago, when Jiminy's world was also lost, he found his way to the Castle and even though Sora and I restored it during our Mark of Mastery, he chose to stay there."
"Really? I guess they both felt more comfortable in those worlds." Chirithy thought, amazed. He then realized something and turned to Strelitzia, saying. "It's like Sinbad finding a home at the ocean, and Princess Marina, too. They both followed their hearts."
"Following their hearts..." Strelitzia murmured. She placed a hand to her chest, whispering. "But...if I do that, which should I choose? I can't go back to Daybreak Town, and...Lauriam. Would he let me say in New Bresha with Serah and Lightning?"
"Do you want to?" Riku asked.
"I just don't...want to say goodbye to Serah and Mog." She admitted.
"Well then, if we manage to knock some sense into him, then maybe he can join you to live there. But it is your decision to make. No one can change that." He suggested.
"You seem to know quite a lot about this." Chirithy remarked.
The silver haired Keyblade Wielder shrugged sheepishly. "I guess you could say Sora rubbed it off on me. It's more fun following my heart. Which is Sora-esque."
"Sora-esque? I've never heard of that one before." Chirithy said, puzzled. This made Strelizia, who also a bit confused, giggle.
"Maybe you're right. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what tomorrow brings." The former Dandelion Wielder said, nodding to herself. She had no idea how or if she is able, but maybe she can figure out more of the truth and hopefully they will all survive the upcoming final battle that awaited for them all.
Riku nodded. "It'll be fine. Tough and dangerous, but we won't give up."
Besides which, while he didn't admit it to anyone, but...he wanted to have bit of a romance himself with a certain someone who used to be the Nobody of one of his two best friends. Whom he promised himself to protect along side four she was currently living with.
In their shared room, Sora and Kairi had watched as Riku left his room a few minutes ago after having a conversation even though they would be hanging out for possibly one final time together. They would've preferred to have done that in their home world, but they didn't have time nor did they even know if Aced's unexpected death had broken all of the barriers the forced them into exile since discovering him having kidnapped Yen Sid along with Angeal and Genesis.
While they hoped that everything will be alright and that they wouldn't end up in the similar situation and horrible fates their alternate selves had to go through, they also came to accept that it may happen or some of them might not return. Still, Sora was determined to make sure it doesn't happen. Especially to Kairi. He wasn't going to lose her, or Riku, or Donald and Goofy, or King Mickey, or anyone else.
"Hey, why did Riku go off alone?" Sora muttered in confusion.
"He said he needed time to himself. Let's let him be." Kairi replied with a knowing smile. She then sighed and gazed at Sora. "To be honest...I'm a little afraid about tomorrow. After what we saw, what your other-self had to do to save the other me...I can't help but feel like it's all my fault. Having you sacrifice yourself to save me, and I couldn't do anything to help, no matter how much training I did, or the people that I helped."
"Come on, Kairi. It's never your fault and it never will be." Her friend pointed out, before sighing himself and scratching the back of his head. "It's me who isn't strong enough on my own. To tell the truth, no matter how many times I keep saying to myself that I can handle anything...it's because you, Riku, Donald, Goofy, the King, everybody are my strength, my power. Without any of you, and if something awful happened, I'm useless."
"Sora, I told you. You don't believe that and I know you don't." She pointed out firmly. "You never give up, no matter what happens. Your journey is all about helping other people; some that you've never met before, and some like everyone else we all know that you have."
Kairi then smiled warmly at Sora's surprised look. "There's no heart your smile can't reach."
That made Sora blush sheepishly. "I guess."
They both gazed out of the window of the balcony with the full moon shining down at them. It was a beautiful sight, one that they wished they could continue to gaze at for a long time. Same with the sunset back on Destiny Island. As Sora, and Kairi stood next to each other, ever since revealing their feelings, their true feelings, they didn't feel awkward anymore. Though they still felt embarrassed that everyone else discovered their new relationship even though they somehow knew before both of them finally admitted that they closer than they thought, they couldn't be anymore happier.
"Tomorrow's fight will be our toughest yet." Kairi spoke up again after a few moments of silence. She blushed as she then admitted. "I want to be a part of your life, no matter what."
"I want to be part of your life, too." Sora replied, a little nervously but he was honest with what he was saying. "We'll always be together, and I'll do my best to make sure we all go home safe and sound and the Realm of Light saved. I'll keep you safe, Kairi. I promise."
"No, I'll keep you safe, Sora. I won't lose you again." She said, smiling warmly.
Sora smiled emotionally as his heart leaped, as he and Kairi slowly leaned closer to each other, and as their eyes slowly closed, once again they met with a another kiss. One that would ever intertwine their destinies for the rest of their lives. And for once, Sora didn't have to worry about Vanitas making comments in disgust or just taunting him in general. Things had changed drastically in the past 24 hours, but that didn't change anyone's determination.
Yet none of them knew that tomorrow will be even tougher than they thought despite doing their best to be prepared for it, more so than what they saw in the vision.
Back in Chaos's dominion, the being of Discord smiled in satisfaction as he, Ardyn and Blaine watched Vanitas, who was chained up alongside Even, Aeleus, Dilan, Lauriam and Arlene, become covered in even more powerful darkness with several pieces of glowing light also covered in darkness seeping their bodies...along with six more into blank bodies with black coats covering them. Nearby were six of the original Princesses of Heart, and now Kairi's light locked up in a capsle as well.
"We will soon have our pieces together. Once we be rid of those Guardians of Light, everything will return to eternal darkness." Chaos stated, before he gave a frown another realization formed in his mind. "However, we are one piece of darkness short. That boy and the Princess who no longer has the power of the Seven lights and that meddlesome rodent have destroyed one of the pieces. This makes things more difficult!"
"Indeed they have. But...not all is lost." Ardyn said with a smirk. "Much like the Princesses, we can easily find a suitable replacement. Any darkness with a dark heart is suited. By forcing the lights of the new Princesses to return to these young ladies to make things easier, we just need to aqquire a volunteer."
"Someone who isn't immortal-like, you mean?" Blaine asked, skeptically. "I'd volunteer for the job, but you need me to lead our army of Darkness."
"Yes, but there is another alternative. Not only does Caius get to play his part, but a newly created piece sleeps in the power of Xehanort that once took the hold of Riku's heart. One that prevented us from kidnapping Namine and that foolish young scientist Ienzo." The magenta-haired man stated.
Blaine thought about what the older man was talking about deeply, until he remembered what happened in Radiant Garden as he and Ardyn were abducting three of their vessels and his eyes widened in realization. He hadn't even thought of that and just let it slip from his mind. Suddenly he felt stupid for having not having seen it.
"Ansem the Wise...the power of Xehanort's Heartless that gives him that ability to take that shape just as it done to Riku." The dark Keyblade Wielder muttered.
"Yes. One's power comes from the heart, and while the heart may either be in pieces, devoured into the darkness or no longer exists, the power becomes a piece of it none the less. If we succeed to lure that fool in, we can absorb that power just as we have done with Sora, and the Princess." Ardyn explained.
"That still leaves the problem with Xigbar, though." Blaine pointed out. "I feel like I know him, but there's something quite off about him. He worked for Xehanort, so I shouldn't have met him before."
"True. However, the Keyblade Xehanort inherited before his death has returned to it's true original owner. It could also serve a purpose. In order to obtain it, all of them must either be brought to me, or sent into everlasting darkness." Chaos said, clutching one of his right fists into a tight grip.
Blaine looked at Chaos curiously. "The Keyblade...that I inherited before I passed it down to my apprentice?"
The monsterous God nodded, "Correct. Those foolish mortals believe it is nothing more than just a Keyblade with an eye that can foretell events that are yet to come."
"It was originally going to become one of the keys to recreate the X-Blade." Ardyn continued. "And yet, with Xehanort perished and only pieces of his heart have been left behind, we shall do it the correct way."
"Well, it's thanks to that geezer here, we made more than enough vessels and everyone else is all ready to go." Blaine shrugged, gesturing at the still unconscious Even who was twitching and grunting as he slowly began to awaken and become possessed by the darkness.
"We still seek the aid of those who wish to destroy all mortals. Fortunately, one of their own also knows the truth of humans; an absolute waste." Chaos pointed out. Though as he said this, neither he or Blaine noticed the deepening scowl on Ardyn's face at the thought of he knew all too well but said nothing. "Ardyn. You must prepare Caius; return him to the darkness."
Ardyn quickly hid his scowl expression and instead smirked cruelly while bowing to his superior. "As you wish, Lord Chaos."
"Meanwhile, I'll give everyone else a heads up for the approaching visitors." Blaine informed, also bowing his respects, then added as he looked behind him. "Though you already got the memo, right?"
The person he was speaking to emerged from the shadows of the dark realm, revealing a man in a black coat and...the face none other than Dulor, who smirked as he had survived his ordeal in the Caribbean and has since then now sided with Chaos.
The next morning back in Midgar, Sora, Riku, Kairi, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Roxas, Lea, Xion, Namine, Isa, Ven, Terra, Aqua, Skuld, Ephemer, Strelitzia, Cloud, Tifa, Zack, Tseng, Reno, Rude, Elena, Vincent, Lightning, Serah, Mog, Angeal, Genesis, Shelke, Shalua, Rufus, Reeve, and Yen Sid all gathered in a large blue room on the SOLDIER floor where, as Rufus, Reeve and the Turks had explained, was used as a Virtual Reality room where the computerized simulation would feel so real that it would be mistaken as reality. It was agreed that this room would make a good place for Ephemer to open up a Corridor of Light to Scala Ad Caelum and that the Turks would be joining the group this time while Rufus, Reeve and Yen Sid stayed behind and Angeal and Genesis were to return to Olympus for the final preparations.
They planned carefully and agreed that they would sneak in without a full on ambush and even did a bit of training after breakfast this morning just in case. The worldly travelers(except for Cloud, Tifa, Zack and Vincent who were all used to this) were absolutely stunned by the really high-tech of the VR and impressed by the technology. After that, everyone now were ready to prepare for the final task of their journey. To find a way into Chaos's dominion, to rescue Even, Aeleus, Dilan, Lauriam, Arlene and whoever else Chaos had taken for his cruel deeds, fight Ardyn, Caius and Blaine, and then defeat Chaos himself while hoping that Bhunivelze wouldn't wake up.
Sora and the others had been shocked to learn that Ephemer had burned the Book of Prophecies, but once he explained that it was simply too dangerous to continue to exist and Yen Sid adding that it never should have been found, they all agreed that it was for the best and that Maleficent and Pete had even less of a chance in locating it as well as the Black Box now.
"It's time. The way into Chaos' strong hold is somewhere in Scala Ad Caelum." Mickey announced firmly.
"We have to be careful. Who knows what Chaos and the others might be planning." Ephemer informed, and everyone else nodded in agreement.
"It's been a while since we've been in another world, even if it was the same one twice." Reno muttered, a bit tensed but doing his best to hide it. Then again, this was Chaos and he still occasionally had nightmares of that...thing. He then decided to done with it and admitted. "I'm kinda really nervous 'bout this."
"You ain't the only one." Goofy muttered, and Donald shuddered a bit in fear as well.
"Well, if you want to back down and wait here, now's your only chance." Cloud offered firmly. "Once we go through, we might not come back."
When those who were nervous made no volunteery of backing down now even if they were offered, everyone knew that this was it; the final battle awaited them.
'You better get ready, Chaos. We won't give up.' Sora thought to himself, determined to set things right, to protect everyone he cared about and loved, and save the Realm of Light and everyone in it. Without the Power of Waking.
"You be careful, Zack." Angeal cautioned his protege who nodded firmly.
"Good luck to all of you, and be cautious." Rufus said, and both his Turks and everyone else nodded.
"If Bhunivelze does wake up, I'll handle him. I defeated him before, I can do it again." Lightning told the group who, despite wanting to help her in case Bhunivelze did wake up, nodded. Still, if she did need it, Sora, and everyone else will be there to fight the God just in case.
"May your hearts be your guiding key." Yen Sid told them.
"Huh?" Zack and Reno muttered, confused.
"Yeah. Got it." Sora promised.
Ephemer sighed, and once he knew that everyone else were ready, he held out his Keyblade and a beam of light shot out, opening a Corridor of Light which would lead them to one of their final destinations of this journey. With a final nod to those who were staying behind, Sora, his companions and allies all then marched into the portal one by one and as soon as they were all through, the portal closed behind them.
As soon as the light faded when Sora and everyone else emerged from the portal, the only one who wasn't stunned in awe was Ephemer who had been here countless of times, and Lightning who was all onto the mission, even though even she wasn't immune to the sight before her.
"Whoa! This is Scala Ad Caelum?" Sora breathed in awe.
Where they landed was a stone platform nearby a outdoor restaurant of sorts, part of one of the large man-made islands of the most amazing world the worldly travelers, the Midgar residents and Serah had ever seen before. There were countless of islands surrounded by water, the sky was perfect blue, the clouds were puffy and white that one felt like they could be flying even just the sight of it. Each building was shaped upward and built in the most amazing way, all white and gold with stair cases leading up to other parts of the town.
There were even cable-carts being pulled from one island to another, windmills spinning gently in the breeze. The middle of the island which the group were standing on was the largest building that was shaped a bit like a cathedral with a giant clock in the middle of it. As far as the group had known, Scala Ad Caelum was nothing either of them had been expecting, especially since considering there hadn't been Keyblade Wielders in years, that it would've been in ruins and left abandoned like the Daybreak Town Ruins.
{SCALA AD CAELUM}
"Wow!" Roxas, Ven and Zack all exclaimed in unison.
"Gosh...this place is amazing!" Mickey exclaimed in awe.
"Oooh...Nice place." Myde admitted, gazing around his new surroundings.
"It's lovely." Aqua said.
"It's beautiful." Kairi added.
"Really beautiful." Goofy agreed.
Lea let out an impressed whistle at the huge world they were in. "Now this is what I call impressive."
"You got that right." Reno agreed, letting out an impressed whistle of his own.
While Donald thought Scala Ad Caelum was amazed as well, he quickly grew impatient and told Goofy, Lea, Myde, and Reno in annoyance. "You can admire the scenery later."
This made everyone else brought back to the reality of the situation and they all quickly realized that he was right and nodded. Lightning, Cloud, Vincent, Tseng and Isa were all thankful for the mage to have snapped everyone out of their scenery trance, though.
"Right, we gotta find that entrance." Sora said in agreement.
"We should check around this town first in case of an ambush. Who knows what or who will be waiting for us." Tseng cautioned.
Terra nodded in agreement. "He's right. We can't let what we saw earlier happen to us here."
"I know where the entrance is, but we should stick together and watch out for enemies, like Tseng said. Plus, it's kind of easy to get lost if we split up." Ephemer explained, agreeing with the plan.
"Let's go." Sora declared.
With nods of agreement, the group ventured forward as they began the next step of their journey which was soon about to end. But that didn't meant there wouldn't be anymore fights along the way before facing Chaos. Yet some of the battles will not be as anyone would even expect.
A/N: That was a pretty long relaxing chapter before we enter the next step closer towards the epic battle. Not sure how that will work, but I'll figure something out. Again, I am deeply sorry for the major delay. I hope this chapter made it up for it despite the lack of battles. As I said, this a bit of a breather chapter before we do so.
The next chapter will see more of Scala Ad Caelum(more so than in the real KH3 game, anyway) as well as more battles(which I still suck at, unfortunately).
See you in the next chapter and hopefully it won't take as long, even though this story will not be completed this year. My apologies.