This must be the first floor, Sora thought as he looked around. A black-cloaked figure appeared that Sora easily recognized.
"If you want to find the person most dear to you, open the door," The figure said. He tossed a card to Sora, who caught it with ease. It said, Traverse Town on it. The man disappeared.
Well, looks like I have to do this all over again, Sora thought as he ran towards the door. He flashed the card and was engulfed in a bright light.
Sora looked around. He was on the second floor of Castle Oblivion, but he felt strange. I'm at Castle Oblivion, Sora said in his head. I wonder why there isn't a first floor. How did I get up here the first time? Sora noticed the cloaked man was standing in front of him.
"Did you enjoy seeing your friends?" The man asked. Sora seemed confused. "I should probably…" Another man interrupted the man.
"Let me have a turn with the hero!" said the man who had just come.
"Axel! Fine!" The cloaked figure gave a card to Axel, who Sora had realized was part of his memory.
Axel smirked and the cloaked man disappeared. "All right Keyblade master, it's my turn. The name's Axel, commit it to memory."
"Okay," Sora mumbled.
"Don't go dying on me!" Axel said as he summoned his weapons. They were round with spikes on them, and he held one in each hand.
Sora quickly took out his Keyblade as his red-haired opponent rushed forward. Axel stuck his right hand out, his weapon impacting on Sora's. He followed with an attack from his left hand, but Sora blocked again. Sora countered with a clean sweep, nailing Axel's waist.
After taking the hit, Axel quickly leapt back, causing a stream of fire to head towards Sora. The Keyblade holder reacted instantly by causing a gust of wind to put the flames out. He then charged forward and slammed his blade down on Axel's chest. Before his opponent could react, Sora struck again, and finished with devastating blow. Axel held up his arms and warped behind Sora. Seizing the chance, Axel rapidly slashed Sora's back multiple times. He then warped away before Sora could counter. Axel launched his weapon like a disk at Sora, knocking him back, and then warped to the other side of the room to catch it.
"You're fast," Sora stated with a loss of breath.
"You aren't much of a challenge, want to forfeit?" Axel smirked.
"Yeah right!" Sora shouted. He dashed forward at an incredible speed. He stuck his blade out while running and struck Axel's stomach. He then turned around and stabbed his back. He held the weapon in place and then jumped to the side. He pulled his sword out and kicked Axel's face before landing and spinning around. While Axel was stunned, Sora had already prepared his next move. "Ars Arcanum!" A golden glow surrounded Sora as he rapidly preformed several attacks. Before he could perform a finishing move, Axel held his weapon up to block. He then grasped Sora's arm and tossed him back. The young boy nimbly stuck his weapon into the ground and pushed against it to be sent back at Axel. He landed on Axel's stomach knocking him to the ground. With his Keyblade held to Axel's throat, the spiky-haired man surrendered.
"Not bad, kid," Axel smirked. His body then was embellished in flames. Sora quickly jumped back as the flames vanished and Axel warped several feet away. "I'll see you later," He took out a card and tossed it to Sora before disappearing.
"Next floor then," Sora sighed. He ran to the door and opened it.
Sora emerged from a door and was standing in the hallway of Castle Oblivion's seventh floor. In front of him was a blonde girl with a black robe. She was holding a small star-shaped object.
"That's…" Sora started. He tried to remember whom it belonged to, but two memories filled his head. "Naminé's?"
"So you finally remembered, eh?" the blonde girl said. "My name is Larxene, and it would probably serve you right if I smashed this thing right now!" She tossed the star to the ground and prepared to stomp it, but Sora had already whipped the Keyblade out and blocked her foot. "Fine, if you want a fight," Ten sharp claws appeared on Larxene's hands. "I'll be happy to give you one!"
The girl held up her hands and instantly vanished. Sora quickly turned around just in time to block a barrage of oncoming swipes.
"You're not half bad!" Larxene held up her claws and shot out several thunderbolts. Sora reacted by tossing his Keyblade directly into them. The blade's metal area absorbed the electricity and continued to fly. Larxene let out a shriek as she was struck on the head and electrocuted at the same time. Sora had already charged forward, jumped into the air, grabbed his Keyblade and tried to squash her, but the fast woman had already moved. She let out a laugh and sent out a magnetic beam. Sora was caught in it and found himself slowly moving towards her, but couldn't move. When he was close enough, Larxene let out a cry, causing thunder to fall from the roof.
The Keyblade mast wasn't fazed by the electricity, he ha faced a lot worse before. After regaining control of his body, he ran back to Larxene. He struck her five times before using a finishing move and sending her into a wall.
"Oh… you are pretty good," Larxene moaned in pain. "Here." She tossed him a card. "Well, I'll catch you later then." Larxene winked and vanished.
I wish that was the last time I'll see her, Sora thought to himself. He ran to the door and
opened it.
Where am I now? After I beat Ansem, I came to this town. It's supposed to be… on the other side of my heart? How did I know that? Sora was standing in front of a gate that led to a castle. It was sunset.
"So, is this place familiar to you?" An elderly man with long brown hair appeared.
"Vexen!" Sora shouted in surprise. He didn't remember meeting this man before, but he definitely knew him. "This place dos feel familiar, but why?"
"It was created from the other side of your heart, so a part of you has been here before," Vexen replied.
Sora suddenly felt angry towards this person, but didn't understand why.
"Well then, we might as well start," Vexen pulled out a long blue shield. Sora instantly withdrew his Keyblade. "Ice!" The old man sent out several ice shards for his first move. Sora twirled his blade around to reflect the ice back, but Vexen had already warped behind Sora. He slammed his shield down on Sora's back, then swung it to the left, and then the right. Sora was in extreme pain, so he turned around to try and block. Vexen took this chance to send Sora flying by striking upward.
The Keyblade master did a back flip and landed on his feet, but then fell to a knee. "Cure!" He quickly shouted as a green light engulfed his body and healed him. "You're strong…"
"And smart!" Vexen finished. Ice covered the ground making Sora slip. While he was in the air, Vexen flew forward and sent him back into the ground with his shield. While staying in the air, Vexen spun around striking Sora multiple times, and then landed.
Sora rose from the ground slowly. He then dashed forward and swung his Keyblade. Vexen warped behind Sora, but the Keyblade master stuck the hilt of his blade back. It impacted on Vexen's stomach, and while the man was in shock, Sora pulled back his blade and swung it over his shoulder. The key landed on Vexen's head, leaving him even more stunned. Sora finished up his combo by spinning around while swinging his blade. Vexen flew back, but Sora wasn't done yet.
"Sonic blade!" Sora started glowing a golden color. He launched forward with extreme power. The blade seemed to drag since Sora's feet were above the ground. He hit Vexen right as he landed, and then struck again. After two more swipes, he finished with a sonic boom. Vexen collapsed form exhaustion.
"You might have over worked him," Axel said as he appeared.
"Ah… What are you… Uhn!" Vexen groaned.
"Time to put you out of your misery." Axel took out his weapon and swept it across Vexen's back.
"NO!" Vexen shouted in agony. He slowly faded away.
"What? What are you?" Sora shouted in disgust.
"Wish I knew, kid." Axel disappeared, as did Sora.
The Keyblade wielder came through a door. "Ah, finally made it to Castle Oblivion!" Sora exclaimed in relief. "How did I get here the first time any way? I remember fighting Ansem, and then I was here."
"So, it has begun," Axel said. He came out of a white hole that had ripped out of the wall, causing the room to become completely white.
"Where did you come from? I don't remember this happening!" Sora said.
"Nope! This is all happening right now and it hasn't happened before," Axel smirked.
"You'd like to know what's going on wouldn't you?"
"You know?"
"Yup, sure do!"
"Well tell me then!"
"Why should I spoil… alright!" Sora had instantly jumped on top of the man and held his blade to his throat. He then slowly took it away as Axel explained. "You're asleep right now. Naminé's messed up your memories, so she's fixing them while your asleep. You went through your past, again actually, and regained your true memories. All of the fake memories and your time in Castle Oblivion up to this point have been forgotten." Axel rose to his feet and smiled. "I just can't let you forget me, though! Do you remember what Vexen said about the other side of your heart?"
"No," Sora replied.
"Then I'm too late. I'll have to wake you up and explain it to you." Axel's weapons appeared. "The only way to wake you up, is to kill you in your dreams. This could crush your heart, but I can live with that!"
"Why do I need to know about the other side of my heart?" Sora asked, as he took out his weapon.
"You'll find out later. Until now, I've only used a portion of my power. But since you won't completely die, I'll have to use my full force!"
