Author's Note: I FINALLY GOT IT DONE. I was almost done typing it when one day my computer wouldn't read my disk. Long story short one of by best friends, Shimi, was able to bring it up on her computer, print it, and I typed it up again and fixed up all the problems I could find. Sorry if you still find errors in grammar, spelling and story. I am sooo sorry to my faithful readers that it took so long. Hopefully after Finals week I can start work on the next chapter. Please R+R
Ryo had been running throughout the many twists and turns of Hollow Bastion to make her escape. As she ran, tears fell behind her as she was having trouble breathing. Her legs were starting to weaken under her, but she knew she had to keep running; her life depended on it. She had made it to the last Lift Stop and was thankful she could get a short rest as the platform took her to the Entrance Hall.
The moment she was teleported out of the bizarre elevator she ran as fast as she could to her destination. Her legs became weaker with each step she took; she thought she may not make it. Ryo's vision was becoming blurred; it was like the Darkness as coming from the corners of her sight toward the center to swallow her. Soon it was all she could see, Darkness; but she pressed on to escape it. A faint, green, light could be seen ahead; she couldn't tell what it was but it appeared to be the light from the next room. Just as she had entered the room she heard someone all out her name in a quick deep voice, sounding as if it had taken it's first breath of fresh after being held under water for centuries.
It was in that moment her legs finally gave up. The girl had just reached the Entrance Hall and started to fall from the second level of the room off the edge of the dragon figure head of the water fountain.
Sora and his friends were about to leave when he heard Ryo's gasp. He turned around to see her falling to the ground. The boy rushed over as fast as he could and caught her just in time before she hit the hard floor. Ryo had fallen unconscious and lied limp in his arms as he carried her to the gummi ship. The group had made it safely back to the ship and were on their way to Traverse Town. While Donald was at the controls everyone was standing around Ryo who was on the floor.
"I still don't see why you saved her," squawked the duck.
"Ah c'mon Donald, I couldn't just leave her here with the heartless coming," replied Sora.
"Do you think she'll be ok?" asked Goofy.
"I don't know, she hasn't moved an inch since I caught her," said Sora.
"What's that in her hand?" asked Kairi as she knelt down to get a better look.
"Hm? I don't know, look's like some crystal ball or something."
"Do you think it could be a gummi piece?" asked Goofy.
"No, don't think so," said Sora. He knew he had seen it from somewhere before, but he couldn't remember exactly what from. But it didn't matter, he had found Kairi and that was all that was important right now, aside from saving Riku of course.
Ryo was falling into Darkness. She knew she was dreaming but it all felt so real to her. It felt like ice was nipping at her skin while her lungs were doing everything they could to keep her breathing. It reminded her of when she fell through the portal that brought her into all of this. Shadows were starting to grab and snatch her body from everywhere, as much as she tried she couldn't fight them off.
As she continued to falling she could hear a familiar female voice speaking to her. Ryo's tired eyes looked everywhere they could but she couldn't see anyone.
"Have I taught you nothing?" started the voice. "I gave you a great gift, use it well to overcome Darkness, rather use it to your advantages, do not make the same mistakes I did." But this voice alone could not wake her from her daze. All she heard were the words, understanding them in her mind while her body was still motionless. But then she heard another voice; a boy's voice.
"C'mon Ryo is that it? Giving up so soon?" it asked in an almost playful tone. "Don't make my mistake, get out while you still can, after all, you still owe me a rematch…I need to see you again."
A sudden spark snapped inside of her. Ryo opened her eyes and finally realized what was happening around her. She struggled to regain control of her body. She could see glowing yellow orbs below her and she knew immediately what they were. Finding her strength returning to her she was able to free an arm and a leg from the shadows, an aura of green and blue started to surround her body as she suddenly felt her body changing. Two things were emerging from her back, tearing slits into her shirt as they did so. Something else was coming from the back of her hips and two more things from her head. Just when she thought she would fall into the pit of heartless below her body stopped in an instant, she could feel her body being propelled upwards by something and when she turned around to look she discovered in shock and awe that two large, beautiful, dark blue dragon wings had emerged from her back as did a tail and, when she felt what was on her head, dragon horns.
Gaining control of her new appendages she started to fly up, seeing a light above. As she flew to the light, the female voice came back to her, speaking in a satisfied tone. "Well done my child. You have realized your gift and overcome the Darkness this time. May our next encounter be in a better situation."
After the woman's voice faded the boy's came back. "Heh, that's my girl."
Ryo's eyes soon opened slowly, the binding light taking a toll on her tired eyes. "Riku?" she called out softly. The only answer she received was a girl giggling,
"Man, why is it that every time someone wakes up in front of me they think I'm someone else?" came the voice of Yuffie.
Ryo sat up from the bed hastily and looked around confused. All the young Final Fantasy characters that were in the game were around her bed, with Sora, Kairi, Donald and Goofy also. Ryo recognized the room as the small house and met eyes with everyone feeling very nervous.
"Ummm….hi," was all she managed to say.
"Hey there, I'm Yuffie by the way, and you're safe with us now that you're no longer a prisoner," said the young ninja.
"Prisoner?" asked Ryo.
"It's ok, I explained everything to them about you being a prisoner of Maleficent and all," replied Sora. The girl gave him an odd look before Leon spoke up.
"So that keyhole is unfinished you say? Now that all of the princess' hearts have been freed it should be now; hurry Sora, the Darkness is growing stronger by the minute."
"Yeah, not to mention the heartless here are stronger too, you better watch your back Keybearer," chimed in Yuffie.
"Heh, don't worry, we'll take care of it," said Sora with his usual grin. After he and his two companions left the house Ryo jumped to her feet and followed after them before anyone else could say anything.
Sora turned around to see her running up to him and was taken by surprise when she suddenly grabbed him by the shoulders.
"I need to talk to Sora alone for a moment," said Ryo while looking at Donald and Goofy who were getting ready to draw their weapons. They looked at each other for a moment and said they would meet Sora in the First District when they were done.
Ryo turned to face Sora again, her deep blue eyes narrowed on his while her hands stayed gripped on his shoulders. "Why did you lie to them back there?"
"Whoa, hang on. I know I shouldn't have lied to them but it was the only thing I could think of that would make sure they would take care of you. If I told them you had anything to do with Maleficent they might not have taken you in," he said a bit rushed as her gaze was making him nervous.
"Fair enough, but I believe you also have something of mine," she said backing up and holding out her hand.
"Oh, the orb." Sora reached into his pocket and pulled out the green crystal and carefully placed it in her palm. "I was just keeping it safe," he said in his defense.
Ryo let out a small sigh of relief and placed the orb in the leather pouch on her belt. "Well…thank you anyway, for helping me," she said softly, keeping her eyes away from Sora for a moment before looking back at him with an odd expression of bewilderment. "What? I'm not going to attack you, at least not yet," she said in a slight stern tone.
Sora had his keyblade out, but at his side in one hand. It was his turn to let out a sigh once he found out he was safe for now.
"You know," he started, "you don't seem that bad, why were you helping Maleficent? Why was she that important to you?" he asked.
Ryo was silent for a moment, trying to think of the best way to put it. "She helped me; she helped me when I was taken from my world to Hollow Bastion and even gave me something I thought I would never have again."
"What was it?" he asked.
"Magic, and…and," she couldn't finish the rest; all she could do was shake her head. "I'm not sure about the other things, but if it wasn't for her I would never have met Riku," she added with her voice fading a bit.
"So Riku really was a close friend of yours?"
Ryo looked at him for a moment, noticing his voice became a bit softer. "Yes, he was."
"You mentioned something about magic; did you have that on your world too?"
"Yes, but it's not a very favored thing there. The people who live near the mountains and countryside take part in it, and the people in the cities and capitals fear it, that's why they took it from me," she added in a hurt tone. Sora noticed she was now gripping one of her wrists as if she was just released from manacles.
"Are you ok?" he asked her.
"I'll be fine," she said after pushing the memory into the back of her head. "Anyway, to get to the point you want to get Riku back just as much as I do right? For the time being I am willing to cooperate with you in order to do so, that is why I am offering a temporary truce."
"Why can't we just have a permanent one?"
"Because I can not forgive you, not for a long time at least; so, do we have a deal?" she asked, her hand out to him.
Sora glanced at her hand for a moment and took it, shaking it firmly. Before Sora could let go Ryo held onto his hand like a vice, looking him hard in the eyes. "Of course," she started, "once we save Riku, the truce is over."
After his hand was released Ryo looked towards the First District Door for a moment then to Sora.
"Something tells me you better to see Cid, I'm sure you have some gummi pieces for him to install.
I want to explore the town for a bit and yes, I know, there are heartless running about but I can handle them. Just let me know when we're ready to leave." After having said that she turned around and walked down the stairs and headed into the Second District, leaving a puzzled Sora.
"Umm…ok then?"
Once Ryo was made it into the other district she sighed and leaned against the large wooden doors. What just happened back there? She had actually threatened Sora, the hero, the main character of the game. No. This was no longer a game, this was her life now, as Maleficent's apprentice- Maleficent! Was the spell complete? Was her mentor's spirit inside her body? She was so unsure at the moment, she just needed to clear her head for a moment.
While Ryo walked on the sidewalk she looked around her carefully, sensing the heartless near. She could see their soulless yellow orbs in the shadows filled with hunger for her heart, and they knew she didn't have just one heart, but another's inside with the darkness they preyed upon. But they weren't attacking like she expected, no, they seemed…afraid. But what could they be afraid of? She never had control over them; but maybe, just maybe she did now.
The beating of large wings against the air awoke her from her trance. There were a few heartless with the gull to attack her after all, wyvern to be precise. Ryo stood still, her hand slowly reaching to her weapon as the creature neared. Wasting no more time the heartless reeled back in the air then started to attack her like a screw-driver. In a flash and slice of scale and body the heartless fell into a heap of HP spheres, rousing the killing instinct of other heartless near by.
Wyvern, dark balls, and search ghosts were making their way toward the girl. It was only a matter of seconds until they were defeated as well. She had no idea her fighting had improved so much while she stood near a shop window catching her breath. A familiar voice surprised her as it congratulated her on her performance. It shocked her a bit as her head whirled around trying to find the speaker.
"M-Maleficent-sama?" she gasped.
"Look to the window," said the voice.
Sure enough, as Ryo looked to the window she could see Maleficent in the reflection, sitting on the railing with her hands resting in her lap, her usual dark smirk on her blood-red lips.
"I began to worry how long it would take you to notice. Tsk tsk child, we'll just have to intensify your training now won't we?" asked the dark fairy.
With much needed joy Ryo leapt to the window, for that brief moment forgetting about the glass barrier and knocked her forehead against it, making a quick sound of pain and rubbing the sore spot while her face turned beat red. "Ite…"
Maleficent lifted an eyebrow, trying her best not to laugh at her apprentice. Shaking off the embarrassment the girl smiled and looked upon her mentor with relief and joy.
"I'm so glad to see you
again Maleficent-sama. Will we be able to speak like this with
anything that reflects?"
"Yes; now then, what is this I here
about you siding with Sora?" asked Maleficent somewhat angered as
her face gave her student a stern look for a brief moment. Before Ryo
could answer she raised her hand to silence her as she continued.
"Since we are sharing the same body I can see, hear, touch, and
smell everything you can. Now I heard everything you said to him and
to be honest there is not much I have against this short alliance. I
know how much you care for Riku and how much he cares for you, a
perfectly fine reason to join Sora. You know this will mean fighting
Ansem in the end."
Ryo nodded her head as she thought about Riku. She wished she had gotten a chance to get further in the game so she would know what lie ahead and how she could get him back.
"May I ask you something personal, Maleficent-sama?"
"What do you wish to know child?"
"Leon said it has been nine years since you took over Hollow Bastion. That means you knew Ansem for sometime then. Was there anything…I mean, what was your relationship with him like?"
Maleficent was silent for a moment as she looked into Ryo's eyes. She couldn't lie to her. Even for an evil fairy there have been very few times in her life she had lie, and this was not going to be one.
"At first, he was just a man with an idea to plunge all worlds into darkness; an idea I would later take for myself. For sometime we were just partners in this plot…but it grew into something more. In my life I have learned there are very few people you could trust. Those who deceive you make sure you pay for it in the end."
"Were you two ever…-?"
"Yes, we were lovers at one point if that was what you were going to ask. We would have ruled over the darkness together as a king and queen would, become the strongest there ever were."
Ryo's eyes were wide for a moment, finding it hard to believe such a thing. In thinking such a thing an image appeared in her mind that she tried to remove by shaking it out, followed by the constant rubbing of her temples- a site Maleficent found both amusing then a little embarrassing for herself. "When did he open the door?" Ryo finally managed to ask.
"A few months ago, we were supposed to have opened it together but you can see he went ahead of me. He disappeared after that, wandering the worlds in a half-life form."
"Yeah, I remember, he even came to my world and spoke to me. I had no idea who he was then, just thought he was some weird guy trying to promote the game. But what he said to me, it was if he wanted this to happen."
"He did? Then he must have been able to sense the power within you just as I did. He plans on using you Ryo, whatever happens you must defeat him, don't become his pawn as Riku did; especially now that I gave you my power." Her hands were tightening as she spoke, it was becoming harder to fight back the urge to cry; she couldn't, she had worked so hard to overcome that weakness and she would not lose control over some man.
"Wait, my dream, when I
turned into that, that anthro dragon form, was that because of
you?"
"Yes, while you were resting in the recovery chamber I
gave you some of my blood. That form you had in your dream is
something you will be able to master in training."
"Does this mean I'll be able to change into a huge dragon too?" she asked eagerly.
"In due time, but enough of this, make sure you are prepared for the fight ahead, waste not the time you have now for surely Ansem is not far from reaching his goal."
"Right, just one more thing, how can I revive you?"
"Just keep the orb from my staff safe, It will slowly collect enough energy for the spell you will have to perform later."
"Ok, I promise to keep it safe and make those who hurt you suffer, especially Ansem. I'm sorry he had to go and literally stab you in the heart like that, heh, you'd think once would be enough?" she asked trying to make light of the situation.
Maleficent only smiled lightly in return and faded away, leaving Ryo's reflection in the glass behind. Ryo sighed and leaned her back against the building; making the sure the orb was secure in a pouch on her belt before shoving her hands back in her pockets, only to be lightly prodded with a few sharp things.
"What the-," she pulled out a few objects resembling crystals and gems. "Oh that's right, the heartless kept dropping these and I saved them." While staying at Hollow Bastion and on the Jolly Rodger, Ryo had been saving the items the heartless dropped. Remembering about the synth shop she grinned and put the items back, deciding that was where she would become better equipped for battle, after all, it was just like the game.
It would only be a matter of minutes until the gummi ship would reach the End of the World. Ryo was sitting in the back, fumbling with one of her protective chains she had made with the moogles. She was a bit nervous about this upcoming battle, and her mind couldn't leave the incidents that had happened at Hollow Bastion moments ago.
Never had Ryo thought she would get to meet any of the Disney princesses be they real or just actresses (with the exception of Alice who wasn't of royalty). A smile crept to her face as they thought her nervousness around them was cute and the odd face Sora kept giving her. Then there was the conversation with Aurora. It was ironic how nice she was when she had no knowledge of who she was or who she worked for (the uneasiness she felt inside was made worse with Maleficent's voice in the back of her head).
The battle could have gone better than she thought. Since she had never fought a behemoth in the game she had no idea how to fight it or what its weakness was. But with experience with similar bosses she figured it out in time and relayed the tactic to Sora and his companions.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard Donald whispering to Sora and Goofy about her; it was obvious he did not trust her.
"But you said she worked for Maleficent," whispered the angered duck.
"I know, but she isn't really all that bad, yeah she's a little odd but who isn't?" protested Sora.
"Gwarsh, I know she seems nice and all but, don'tcha think she may try to attack us? We did get rid of Maleficent, and she seemed awfully close to her," said Goofy.
"Yeah I know, but she is also Riku's friend, and he's my friend too-oh Ryo!"
Sora was a bit startled when she had come up to them. Her face was almost emotionless with the exception of the awe and determination in her eyes as she looked out ahead of them.
"We're here."
Coming out from the small cave Sora and two of his companions gazed at the fast ocean of broken worlds before them. Black and purple spheres of energy fell from the sky like glimpses of a gentle snowfall. Snapping out of the light trance Ryo looked down at her necklace as it began to glow with a silver light then faded seconds later. "What the- Hey, where's Goofy?" she asked looking around.
"He said he was going to check some things from the ship," replied Donald.
"Oh, so that's how it works, heh, of course it makes sense," she said rolling her eyes.
"Huh, what are you talking about?" asked Sora.
"So you mean all those times I had you- I mean, you had Tarzan or Jack or Peter Pan join your party one of you would just wait on the gummi ship?" asked Ryo.
"Yeah, how did you know about all of that though? Oh wait, I guess Maleficent told you huh?"
"Oh, y-yeah of course. Well, let's not waste anymore time, we have to stop Ansem."
"Right!" chimed the other two.
Her heart was beating rapidly, they had just revisited all the worlds in the game just to fight heartless and get an extra set of battle accessories. Ryo was surprised Sora gave her a few, it almost made her feel bad she was going to practically kill him later to avenge Maleficent- well, maybe she would beat him to nearly an inch of his life, she wasn't really the killing type except when it came to heartless.
"Whoa! Is that fire coming from that hole!" exclaimed Ryo.
"Look's like, and that's where we're going, right Sora?" asked Donald.
"Yep, but don't worry, if it is another boss battle I stocked up on lots of Hi-Potions," said Sora.
"Hyuck! Me too!" chimed Goofy.
"That's good….Goofy?" squawked Donald.
"What are you doing here? I thought only three people could fight?" wondered Ryo.
"I just followed you guys from that last save point. Ya'know I thought about that and I don't see why we can't all fight together, unless you guys have a reason?" asked Goofy.
"Ummm….because four is the number of death?" suggested Ryo.
After her comment the trio looked at her a little oddly, making her a bit nervous.
"Eh, eheh, well, it will mean death to our enemies! If three is a powerful number then one more shouldn't hurt right?" she added.
The three agreed and made sure they were as best equipped as they could be before stepping into the fiery portal. When they came out they were floating in mid-air as if they were in Neverland. A shadowy figure could be seen ahead as a faint and fast violin could be heard in the background.
"Wait, I know that song!" gasped Ryo.
Before Sora or anyone could ask the dark figure spread it's large wings to reveal a huge horned demon underneath. It's yellow and soulless eyes turned in their direction, a deep growl emitting from his throat. If it was possible it would have charged right at them, but the creature was stuck in a mountain from the waist down.
"What's that!" exclaimed Sora.
"Chernabog."
At the sound of his name a massive claw came to swipe at the quartet. Sora, Donald and Goofy were able to escape just fine but Ryo had some trouble. The back of his hand knocked her back quite a bit. She had never flown and this was a good time she could use some experience. She couldn't even think of why she was flying, she was never showered in pixie dust before. The closest thing of that happening to her was when she was running on the Jolly Rodger and accidentally ran into Tinkerbelle who flew right into her forehead. Now that she thought about it she remembered brushing off pixie dust so that may be why- wait! Here she is in the middle of a boss battle and she's reminiscing about getting smacked by pixies! No matter, she was aware of her surroundings now, dragonblade ready to slash and magic flowing through her. Now she was ready to try fighting full out with her new powers.
