Chapter 1: The Station of Awakening
Sora silently cried out, as he slammed against the hard floor. The darkness that had thrown him fluttering around him, anxiously.
He tried to stand, but quickly fell, a mixture of pain and dizziness. Trying to regain his bearings, through the sore aches from his ride and landing...Stretching out on the glass, and trying to relax, despite everything.
"Don't rest, Hero. Get up!" A mysterious voice said, from all around. It sounded different, somehow, than the voice he had encountered previously, here.
Sora nodded, trying to speak, but unable too, in this bazaar place. His own platform, with Riku, and Kairi on his left, by his head, and Donald and Goofy on the right, by his feet. Wobbling, unsteadily, as he looked around.
Suddenly, a Dream Eater ran over, jumping in his lap, and knocking him down to the ground.
Sora laughed silently, petting this particular Dream Eater. This was the one Neku had taught Sora how to build, after starting the Mark of Mastery Exam. The Meow Wow, that he had affectionately and mentally, renamed the Spirit, Meowa. It seemed to have forgotten its original name.
Sora started to walk around the platform, trying to find what to do.
"Everything has its priorities, now you must chose your own... What is your strength?"
Three pure black pillars, fell to the ground.
Three objects falling onto them. A book, a phone, and a sword.
Sora walked over to the sword. Jumping onto the pillar, and looking over the object. Unlike last, there was no Mickey Mouse symbol, but it was darkly colored, with black and red. With flames of fire circling around its hilt. By far the coolest looking.
"The path favouring battle. Full of fighting and blood. The power to crush enemies, with an iron fist. May all fall before your might! There is great strength and courage in this...but it will ruin one who is not careful.
Does this describe you? Is this what you seek?
Yes..
...Or no"
Sora shook his head, not liking the sound of that. It sounded like something a fight crazed villain would choose. No
So he jumped down, and ran to the next pillar, Meowa following closely behind.
The book was a dark purple. Looking somewhat like Zexion's Lexicon, with a heartless symbol on the cover.
"The goal of a Researcher. The pursuit of knowledge, and discovery. The will to learn. An analytical mind, favoring wisdom over battle premise. The ability to use knowledge in a way others don't.. but be warned of the example of Ansem's Apprentices…
Is this your goal? Will you place knowledge first?
Yes
Or no"
Sora didn't think so. He was no scientists, and had to ask someone for clarification about some simple matter, far too often to be declared smart.
So he went over to the cell phone. Looking over the object in awe. He had seen phones like this before, but they were so expensive. Then there was the matter of not being responsible enough, and he was definitely out of the runnings for ever having this particular luxury.
"The focus of communication. The reliance and trust, and the charisma to inspire that, in those around you. Of understanding between allies...And manipulation enemies.
Is this what you desire? What you strive for?
Yes
Or no"
Sora wasn't sure about the manipulating part, but...Riku. He never wanted to fight a friend again, and so much could have been solved if they had understood each other. Riku had been insecure, and Sora hadn't known to reassure him, that he wasn't alone, that they would always be friends, even if he was also friends with others. Roxas and Axel could have prevented a lot if they just talked their problems out.
Would this choice help Sora accomplish that goal? Maybe, probably not, but he had to try.
'Yes.'
"That'll do, nicely. Now, what will you toss aside?"
Sora immediately went over to the sword.
"You chose the skill of Communication, and discarded the love of battle. Is this who you are? Who you want to be?"
Sora nodded, sure in his choice. It would take some work. He had always enjoyed sparring with Riku, and then the heartless. By the time Organization 13 came around, he hadn't even viewed them as people. Now, with Roxas' memories, that was murder, and the satisfaction of victory made him wince with guilt. They were people too.
He would learn to lose the desire for battle, to hate it, even if it was apart of his life. Even as self deprivating as it probably was, given how much a keyberrier's job seemed to be fighting.
"Your goal is clear. Now...can you fight for it?"
The pillars disappeared in a flash of light. Sinking to the ground, as the platform became covered in light, before shattering into pieces, causing both them, and Sora, to fall.
OOO
Sora braced himself. Landing on the ground, on his feet.
Roxas' platform decorated with keyblades, ice cream, and Nobody symbols, as the trim. Axel, and a broken circle were by his head, where Sora's had Riku and Kairi, with Hayner, Pence, and Olette in the circles at the feet. The clocktower in the background. He caught Meowa in his arms, and set him on the floor.
Meowa gave a thankful bark, her (he had chosen female pronouns because of the ending a) tail wagging wildly.
"You've been through this before." The voice stated, as heartless rose from the ground and Nightmares greeted him like old friends.
'What?' Sora thought to himself. 'How can both heartless and Nightmares be here? Is it because it's the Station of Awakening? Or...something else?'
Well, there certainly wasn't time to think about it. As both types rushed toward him, Sora summoned his keyblade. Getting rid of as many enemies as possible, with a few swings. Just as he had in Hollow Bastion, when he decided enough was enough. Meowa getting rid of the rest. She had gotten stronger, since the last time Sora had taken her to a fight. Either that, or this place was giving her a power boost.
'Easy.' Sora thought, triumphantly.
"You've fought to help others, and that's no small thing...let's see you fight to survive…" The voice declared, vicious and thoughtful.
A few Giant Nightmares (deserving of capital letters) and Darksiders rose from the ground.
"Don't rush, time favors the patient, as well as the first." The voice commented, unhelpfully.
'Who are you?'Sora tried to say, with no success. No noise at all coming out of his throat, strangely.
"Be careful...Or fall…"
Sora immediately checked his Command Deck, which he had been ignoring. It was abit redundant with Flowmotion.
He was triumphant in the fact that he could check his deck (though he couldn't edit), while in a fight. He hadn't been able to do that, last time. There was only two decks.
Multi
Boss
'This won't be easy.' Sora thought to himself. Launching a Firaga at the Darksider. The fireball exploding as it touched its hand.
He didn't recognize the two Nightmares. But they charged at him, just as the T-Rex Nightmares did. He barely got out Salvation, before they attacked.
Pillars of light surrounded him. Similar to Roxas' Limit Break, only more intense. While Sora gave a large, spinning attack, catching all in the vicinity that came to close.
Sora immediately followed up with some attacks. Pressing the attack with a Dash over to the further Nightmare, thunder following in his wake. Then throwing the Kingdom Key, so that it circled around him a few times. Catching both Nightmares where they had fell.
By that time, the Darksiders had taken to throwing dark energy balls that he had to avoid.
Not easy, as he had to move constantly. Giving the two Nightmares the opportunity to charge him.
Sora gave a parting Triple Plasma, to keep one of the Nightmares busy. Then used the time for a Cura, his HP rose steadily, as he switched Decks. A green flower appearing, above his head. All the Commands becoming their corresponding equivalent in the other Deck.
So it wasn't like having twice the Command Slots. It would take time to reload, just like if he altered the Commands out of Battle.
Because of him constantly use Command Styles like that, he wouldn't be able to use any more for awhile. Maybe not the smartest move, but against that many Bosses, he had to get their UP down, quick.
Sonic Blade caused him to tear though both heartless and Nightmares. One after the other, in a series of quick, and efficient attacks.
As the last Nightmare faded, Sora allowed himself to collapse. Breathing heavily, as his HP slowly tried to recover. To little success.
Sora used Cura, as soon as the Command became available.
"The Realm of Sleep offers a variety of movements. Try Flowmotion."
But how? There wasn't any walls, or objects to bounce off, or ride around… Maybe the invisible barrier, that kept him inside the platform, would work?
Sora gladly tried it, ricocheting on the invisible wall, before diving into the ground. Keyblade denting the floor, as it slammed with extra momentum.
'Hmn...' The voices was displeased, almost critiquing response. If a monosyllable could be classified as disapproving. "You can do better than that. Even in this place, but it'll do...for now…"
This platform, was centered around a picture of a girl, with black hair. It was trimmed with different seashells and blue ice cream bars.
"Welcome to the Nightmare World's." The voice stated, dryly. "Each world has its own, but there are the basics."
Sickly goop spread across the floor, painting the floor its particular color. One a deep blue, the other a malevolent red. Nightmare Areas.
Sora shivered, as he hesitantly stepped into the blue space, and collapsed upon the ground. Tears flowing freely, as despair wrapped around him like a cloth. Turning him the same blue as the area.
'Am I...crying?' Sora asked himself, confused, and sad.
"These Nightmare Areas are imbued with emotions. Beware their effects."
Sora nodded, trying to get control over himself.
Then a Nightmare appeared, growing noticeably stronger as it turned blue. Another and another joining that one.
Sora had to struggle to fight the strengthened nightmares.
Luckily, Meowa was only slightly weakened, and helped Sora to drag himself out of the area.
Sora breathed deeply, as the last of the last if the effects left. Returning him to normal strength, and ridding of the artificial emotions.
When Sora stood up, it was with shaky legs. He approached the red area. Hesitantly and nervously testing the boundary with utmost care.
Meowa ran into him from behind, knocking him into the area with a thump.
'Hey!' Sora thought, angrily, his normally cheerful voice coming out as a growl. Malice tainting his tone. Causing him to attack both allies and enemies with unrestrained glee. Releasing a war cry as uncontrollable rage. Quickly slashing with unusual strength and zeal. Unminding of who was in the way.
Meowa jumped out of the area, causing Sora to overshoot his attack, and falling out of the area.
"You will learn to control their effects."
Sora hoped so, as he hugged Meowa. Comforting the rather panicked, and emotionally hurt Dream Eater. He hated the feeling of not being in control of his actions, or hurting the Meowa Wow.
This time, both Sora and Meowa were nervous, as they approached the yellow zone.
Hesitant to even step into the area, a Shadow pushed them from behind. Causing Sora to fall into the zone. Where he collapsed, clutching his stomach.
An unimaginable hunger filled him, causing Sora to freeze. Falling to the ground, and curling into a ball. It HURT so much. So much that he couldn't stand to move, or think. Luckily, Meowa was strong enough to handle the Nightmares there, on her own. He weakly stumbled out of the zone.
"These zones weaken you. Rage, Need, and Grief, like these are the most common, but their are many."
A crate fell to the ground.
Sora walked over, placing a hand over the object, questionably. Wondering what he should do now...until the wood glazed over, becoming a portal and he fell through…
Like a Yin-yang symbol, half the platform was bright green, blues, and yellows. The other was red, black, and dark purple.
On the dark half, a black haired boy, leaned against the edge. The other side was a blond haired boy, that looked like Roxas. It was rather creepy looking.
Sora tried to stand up, then Meowa landed on top of him. Knocking him back down, to the ground.
"Always keep track of the Darkness. As it swirls around you, and seeps into your heart." The voice stated, in the tone of a teacher. As more Heartless rose to the ground, and attacked.
"In the past, all you needed was distance, and the Darkness would recede… You won't always have that luxury."
Sora became aware of another gauge. Besides the green HP, and blue MP, there was a black and white bar, that was now halfway black, and steadily increasing.
"When the white has been crowded out by the black, your light will fade out. Who you are, will be no more...at least in your current form..."
'So make sure it stays full. Got it' Sora thought.'So what makes it darker, and how can I get it bright again?'
Defeating Heartless and Nightmares did help. As they tended to leave white orbs of light. Then there was orbs of light called Lux, which seemed to increase the DP gauge, for some reason. Neither of which Sora had ever collected before, but he would accept their presence. Like the Drop Gauge, which Sora noticed was still there. Along with a fifth bar, that he still had no clue what it was.
Using Salvation on Shadows was overkill, but he couldn't help himself. There was so many, and Sora felt so weak. He shivered as more Nightmares appeared. Attacking. The dark gadge receding at an accelerated rate.
Then they were all gone. And Sora felt so...so...sleepy...That he stumbled over the floor...
"Welcome to the Nightmare World's… Little One." The voice said, no longer sounding ironic or quite so harsh. While not exactly sweet, the voice was soft. Especially the last few words. Caring...almost.
A green light appeared, on the ground. A Save Point? Sora tried to walk over.
"Safe Points."
Sora gave a deep, cleansing breath. The green energy from the Save Point rejuvenating him. Healing the poison, and physical damage. The Drop and Darkness gauge slowly reversing.
"Rest here, while you can."
Sora closed his eyes. Giving himself over to the calming healing energy, and the need of sleep.
When Sora woke, all four bars were full.
"You've done well." He voice noted, approvingly. "Still...you aren't the first."
Sora wondered what that meant, when a door appeared. Opening it, he ended up on a different platform. It was a Nightmare zone, he could tell immediately, based on the ash in the air, negative feel, and creepy platform.
A huge, boss-type Nightmare arose from the ground. Leaking purple tendrils of darkness.
It looked weird. Freaky.
Sora shivered at the sight.
One long fight later.
"Do not fear it." The voice said, as Sora dodged another blow. Only for more to rain down. "No Nightmare is like you..." Sora fell flat on his back. Defeated. A corridor of darkness opening below him. "Don't panic, your strong yet." That didn't soothe him any, as he struggled against the dark tendrils, despite its hopelessness. Really, the words were somewhat disturbing.
"...Though there has been many others…" The voice said, wistful and nostalgic, with a tint of something happy. "I can't help but hope…" Everything was turning black, unseeing in the inky black or blindness.
"Will you be The One?..."
The One… Something echoed. Darkness vibrating.
The One
THE ONE
THE ONE
...Could you be...?
OOO
Future Worlds are currently set at...
Twilight Town
Radiant Garden / Hollow Bastion
World That Never Was
Elemental Nations /Shinobi World (very later on)
Las Clothes Notches (Not the Disney version)
Jurassic Park(4, with the Indominus Rex)
Silent Hill
Land of Departure / Castle Oblivion
Port Royal
Paranoia (the Alpha Complex)
Port Royal (maybe)
Shibuya (The World Ends With You)
Keyblade Graveyard / Daybreak Town
Not exactly in that order, and this is open to change.
Gauges are
HP
MP
Dark/Light
Drop (the sleep gauge, in Dream Drop Distance)
The Decks are, for those who want to know…
Multi Deck: Created for fighting multiple enemies at the same time. Eight slots.
Firaga
Salvation (two slots)
Thunder Dash
Circle Raid
Triple Plasma
Cura
Blackout
The Boss Deck, was an obvious work in progress. With only five slots out of eight taken.
Sonic Blade
Fire Windmill
Firaga
Shadowbreaker
Cura