It was a struggle just to open her eyes. The pain still reverberated with a ferocious intensity as Akira slowly came to. She attempted to say something as her vision focused anew, but nothing more than a groan passed her lips. She felt a small crack in the back of her neck as she lifted it, rolling her head up as she straightened her posture. Was she suspended somewhere? No… something was holding her previously unconscious form upright.
"What the…" she said with a low gasp as her lids fully opened, taking in the scene around her.
Pedestals topped with blue flames lined the entrance of the hall, providing one of the only sources of light in the dimly lit gallery. She shuddered at the sight of the massive Heartless emblem adorned on the carpet, feeling the sense of danger rise. Wherever she was, she was certain she didn't want to stick around for too long.
"Wait, what?" she asked in confusion as she willed her limbs to move. She looked down and discovered that both arms and legs were secured to the wall with black crystal fastenings, making it impossible to move. It seemed whoever brought her here didn't want her to escape so easily…
Akira! You're awake, thank goodness.
"You gotta help me out here," she said, feeling a tinge of relief as her staff's familiar voice rang through her head, "What happened? How did I get here?"
I don't know. You stopped responding when you lost consciousness.
She sighed, recalling the events that had led her into this mess. Their fight with Riku, the dense fog, Kairi's cold and lifeless eyes… she quickly looked away, trying to erase the memory from her mind. She had already seen Kairi in that state a few times before, and it never got easier.
She let her eyes wander around the room, searching for any kind of clue that could help her escape. That is, until she lay eyes on something far more terrifying. "I-is that?" she managed to sputter amidst the sudden shock.
Lining the walls of the entrance, held captive much in the same way as she, were the unconscious forms of three young maidens, two of which she knew well. "Alice? Jasmine!?" she screeched, fumbling as she hopelessly tried to move her arms from their prison. However, unlike Akira, they seemed to be asleep, with a powerful energy radiating from their glass jail.
She quickly gazed at her side, finding another three unknown maidens asleep in their prisons as well. "Why are they here?" she whispered, her eyes widening in panic, "What's going on?"
I can't be certain. But I sense quite a powerful radiance of light nearby.
Light? In a place like this? Akira shook her head, jerking her arm as she tried to free herself. Yet, the more she moved, the more the fastenings tightened around her limbs, preventing further escape. "I just can't… get out of here," she mumbled through clenched teeth. She attempted to summon her staff, but her hands remained pressed against the wall, barring her from holding it in her grip. Could it be whoever imprisoned her here knew how she summoned her weapon? Or perhaps… they didn't want her to wield it.
"Maleficent…" she murmured, finally putting the pieces together, "She's the one who brought me here."
Then… it truly is as I feared.
Akira blinked. "What is?"
The light I sense is coming from the young maidens you see beside you. Hearts filled with pure light, without a trace of darkness… Princesses of Heart.
"P-princesses?" Sure, Jasmine was the sultan's daughter. But Akira never imagined a monarchy could span beyond the borders between worlds.
Not in the sense you know. In this universe, there are seven maidens with hearts filled with light. Together, they hold the power to open the Door to Darkness, beyond which lies the Realm of Darkness and the heart of all worlds… Kingdom Hearts.
"That place… you said you were from…"
Yes.
Akira dropped her gaze to the floor, searching for the words that would express the conflict she felt inside. Once again, just as she had in Traverse Town, she felt there to be a great unknown beyond her, one of which she knew nothing about. In this great battle between light and darkness, she felt like a lonely outlier, tagging along for the ride.
Don't make yourself smaller than you are.
She snapped her head up. "Huh?"
I too did not foresee this outcome. I know it all seems daunting and beyond understanding… but if you keep following your heart and trusting in your strength – our strength – then your path will never lead you astray.
She inhaled deeply, pursing her lips as she gave a small nod. Now was not the time to feel overwhelmed, especially not after the speech she gave Riku earlier. After all, she needed to be strong during the toughest of trials… strong for her friends, just like she promised.
"So," she began, attempting to put together all the clues she had, "Maleficent was obviously the one to kidnap Jasmine in Agrabah; she knocked me out to do it. And Alice…"
No doubt Maleficent's doing as well, while you were occupied with the Queen of Hearts' trial.
She nodded, recalling when Alice's cage was suspended in the air, away from prying eyes. "But, why does she want the Princesses of Heart? What does the Door to Darkness hold that she could want so badly?"
I do not know exactly what it is she seeks. But the Door to Darkness holds a great and powerful darkness beyond. And with Kingdom Hearts holding the heart of all worlds…
"She intends to take control of all worlds!?"
It seems so. A devious witch whom lusts for infinite power such as Maleficent would obviously be tempted by such a wondrous prize.
"W-we have to stop her! If she gets her hands on that door, there's no way any of us would be able to fend off that much darkness."
There is no need to fear; you still have time. I sense only the lights of six maidens. However, you must escape your restraints quickly, and release these maidens –
"Ah. So, you've awakened," came the poisonous voice Akira wished she'd never have the displeasure of hearing again.
Maleficent's staff clicked with the floor as her soft steps floated across the carpet, almost in an ethereal manner as she slowly approached the apprehensive teen. Akira kept her eyes glued to the floor, wiggling her wrists as much as she could in an attempt to free them. If she could just get one hand out and summon her staff, she'd be in the clear. This time, she wouldn't hesitate to use it like she had in Agrabah.
"Why won't you look at me, child?" the evil witch asked sweetly.
Akira felt the cold touch of Maleficent's fingers grazing her cheek, tracing her skin as she softly lifted her head. She slowly raised her eyes, her breath catching as their gazes met. The witch's yellow sclera and pitch-black irises sent a shiver down Akira's spine, but her wicked and intimidating smile struck fear in the teen's very heart. She didn't dare speak, lest it cost her dearly.
"Has the spirit you showed me in Agrabah faded from your heart? Have you finally come to understand it is useless to stand against me? Or perhaps… I have something you desire?" Maleficent released her grip from Akira's chin and waved her hand, the vile grin never leaving her face. Fronds of darkness twirled in her fingers as she summoned the very thing she used to lure Akira into a momentary state of stupor, and straight into her trap. The still image of Kairi, limp and lifeless, floated beside her, and all Akira could do was desperately cry her name.
"Kairi!" she called, writhing her arms as she hopelessly attempted escape once more. Of course, it all made sense… Maleficent was not above abhorrent tricks; she knew Akira would come running if Kairi was the carrot at the end of the stick. She sighed and lowered her gaze to the floor in disbelief; her momentary lapse of judgement could have just ruined everything for them.
"Worry not," Maleficent spoke in the same sickly-sweet voice, "Your friend will be fine." She dismissed Kairi with another wave of her hand, gently laying her on the floor of the upstairs mezzanine. The railings obstructed most of her view, but Akira could make out the faint outline of a Heartless crest in the wall, and Kairi being so close to such a vile presence did not quell her worries in the slightest.
"Why?" Akira asked in a shaky voice, raising her gaze to meet hers, "Why Kairi?"
Maleficent chuckled. "Have you not seen it yet? Your precious friend's heart is filled with pure light… the seventh Princess of Heart."
"P-princess?" Akira gasped, putting the pieces together, "Kairi's one of the Princesses?"
"Yes, child. And with her power, I will finally reveal the Keyhole of darkness, and attain infinite power."
"N-no," she sighed incredulously, shaking her restraints once more. There was so much at stake; the seven pure-hearted maidens were gathered, Maleficent was on the cusp of attaining her goal… and all Akira could do was struggle in her prison and watch.
"It is futile. You cannot escape," Maleficent said in a lower voice, her smile fading.
"Why did you bring me here?" Akira hollered, narrowing her brows into a glare.
Maleficent waved her hand over the crystal on the tip of her staff, more out of habit than necessity. "I can't have you running around with that weapon in your hands, not when all I have worked for is finally within reach."
The witch stared her down, her eyes filled with a dark intensity that was vastly different from the devious saccharinity they normally held. Akira held her breath as Maleficent paced around her, feeling herself sink into the wall as the realization began to hit; Maleficent did not intend for her to simply watch.
"I will make you an offer," Maleficent spat, her voice filled with venom, "Relinquish your weapon to me, and I will let you go free. Resist, and I will forcibly take it."
"You can't do that! It'll singe your skin off –"
"How dare you raise your voice to me!" Maleficent boomed, stamping her staff into the ground as Akira immediately held her tongue, "Insolent girl. You stand before the Mistress of Evil."
Akira fixed her gaze on the evil witch, her mind racing. Thoughts of escape, thoughts of resisting, and thoughts of impending demise crushed the weight of the fear she felt in the pit of her stomach as Maleficent's gaze grew in intensity. And still, even amidst the panic that threatened to hold her voice hostage, she managed to squeak a soft but resounding, "No."
"What did you say?"
Akira shakily inhaled, keeping her eyes locked with Maleficent's. If she looked away for even a moment, her façade would fade; she just had to stay strong for a few more minutes. "No. I'm not giving it up."
"Foolish child," Maleficent hissed as her lips curled in anger, "You would throw away your chance of escape?"
"Yes, if it means stopping you." Her voice filled with resolve as she stared the witch down. She believed every word she said with every fiber of her being, and she would make it known to the self-proclaimed Mistress of Evil. "In this exact moment, Sora, Donald, and Goofy are looking for me. And they won't stop, they won't give up, until they find both me and Kairi. They are some of the strongest people I know. Their hearts will guide them here. And once they arrive… they'll defeat you."
"You will regret those words."
"You hold no power over the Keyblade!"
Maleficent's nostrils flared, but her composure remained calm. She glared at the teen with a ferocious intensity yet did not allow her anger to consume her. She had given the girl a choice, and she had clearly given her an answer. "I see," she said coolly, "Then you leave me no choice." She waved her hand around her staff's dark crystal once more, wordlessly summoning the power of darkness to her side.
Akira felt her sudden burst of courage fade slightly as the witch kept a stoic gaze on her. The air grew thick with the powers of darkness, and it was enough to make her skin crawl. "Y-you're wasting your time," she stuttered amidst the witch's careful stare, "Even if you force it out of my hands, you still can't wield it."
"I never said I would be wielding it."
Akira's eyes widened as she slowly felt her heart drop in her chest. Was there something she didn't see, something she missed? "What do you –"
"You will wield it in my stead and obey my every order." Her voice was low and imposing, without a trace of doubt.
Akira furrowed her brows. "I would never obey –"
"You will not," Maleficent interrupted as her lips slowly curved into a wicked smile, "But the Heartless… they obey my every command."
In that instant, Akira heard nothing; nothing but the rhythmic beating of her heart, increasing in intensity. Her skin prickled as it grew cold, the blood rushing from her cheeks. She felt herself softly sink back into the wall, tapping her head against the stone as her breathing became irregular. Her façade melted away in an instant, and she didn't have the strength to care. Maleficent intended to transform her into a being of darkness, and all she knew in that moment was fear; pure, insurmountable fear.
No. No, no, no. Akira, we must escape immediately.
She hadn't the slightest idea how to escape. The restraints were too strong, no matter how hard she struggled against them. She felt the palm of her hand grow hot as her staff used every ounce of its strength to summon itself in her grip but to no avail. The overwhelming panic was more than she could handle, but the added alarm her staff felt as it reverberated through her mind was impossible to manage.
The expression in Akira's face said it all, and Maleficent relished in it. The darkness she drew from her staff grew in power, forming black tendrils as they laced themselves around her fingers, growing longer and thicker as the teen squirmed in her fetters. They twirled around her nails, following her hand's every move as she pointed to Akira's heart. This simple, quiet gesture was enough to plunge the girl into despair, and Maleficent felt a certain joy she hadn't felt in a long time; a pleasure she had witnessed only once before, when she placed a curse on an infant princess after having been denied an invitation to her christening. The tendrils wrapped themselves around the girl's torso, and Maleficent watched with muted delight.
Akira, NO!
She had long since stopped struggling. She had walked right into this trap, and she knew it. It took everything in her power not to let the anguish show itself in her eyes. Yet still… she believed.
Akira, hold on. No matter what happens, just hold on. Follow my voice, and I will find you again, just as I did on that night of fate.
She believed in her staff's words. And she believed in her own. Even though he didn't show up, even though he didn't make it in time, she still believed. She let his name escape her lips one final time before the vision in her eyes grew dark.
"Sora…"
Her body went limp, and her mind was silent.
Maleficent watched with transcendent joy as the teen grew flaccid in her restraints, the light leaving her eyes as her heart slid into the witch's cupped hands. In naught but a moment, she will have a most powerful weapon at her beck and call; no enemy of darkness or light will hold a candle to her supreme power once the Door to Darkness would be opened. It was only a matter of time…
She cradled Akira's heart in her palms as multiple pairs of beady yellow eyes blinked by her side, drawn by the fresh scent of a heart. "Come, my Heartless," she addressed them with a grin as she presented her open hands to the swarm of Heartless that had surrounded her, "Feast on this heart I have – what?"
Maleficent blinked, but the heart in her palm remained the same. During the countless times she had seen her Heartless minions extract and devour hearts, she had never seen one that looked quite like this. Rather than take on the shape of a crystalline heart like all the others, she simply held an orb of white light radiating deeply in her hands. Even her Heartless minions retaliated slightly when they caught the full scent of the heart, the ones who had noses clawing viciously at them as they choked on the stench. "What manner of witchcraft is this?" she boomed, gritting her teeth as she brought the orb of light closer for inspection.
Suddenly, the orb exploded in a brilliant light, covering the entrance of the hall with a dazzling shower of crystalline shards. They remained suspended in the air, like thousands of tiny stars. The Heartless hissed at the brilliant display, retreating into the darkness as Maleficent paced around the entrance in a state of complete astonishment. "Is this – no, it cannot be – a spell? A powerful spell…" She flicked one of the crystal shards with her nail, watching it spin in midair as she tried to solve the mystery. "What amount of power could the sorcerer who cast this spell possess?"
She continued to examine the shards twinkling in the air as she was joined by another visitor. He strode into the entrance of the hall with heavy steps but stopped for a moment to take in the scenery around him. "Hmm…" Riku hummed softly, "Quite the show of lights."
Maleficent gritted her teeth as she turned to face the teen, fully ignoring his intimidating new garb and the ominous voice that spoke alongside his; her fury was quickly rising, and her patience grew thin. "That girl's heart was not a heart at all," she explained, placing a finger at her lips in thought, "Such a fragile yet brilliant light…"
Riku narrowed his eyes at Akira's now limp body. "You forcibly removed her heart?"
"I gave her a choice, and she chose resistance," Maleficent responded coolly, clicking her staff on the floor as she approached the teen.
Riku crossed his arms. "Typical."
"Hmph, it matters not," Maleficent scoffed. The tiny shards of light softly began to fade in the air as she turned to face Akira's lifeless form. "When her Heartless awakens, her staff will be mine to command. Thus, no foe shall stand in my way when I conquer all worlds."
"You speak as if it's already yours."
"You used a similar trick on Sora, did you not?" Maleficent said as she shot Riku a confident smirk. "Now come, Heartless! Reveal yourself to me."
With a wave of her hand, a shadow flowing with darkness rose from the ground. They watched closely as the shadow took shape, gaining a corporeal form as its features came into view. Armpit-length hair billowed in the breeze as a pair of striking yellow eyes stared them down; the shadow greatly resembled the real Akira, and Maleficent's excitement rose with each passing moment.
"Perfect," the witch cooed, "Now, my Heartless, show me the weapon you wield."
To her dismay, the Heartless raised its hand and summoned its blade, but it was nothing like what the witch expected; where ancient writing and enchanting silver gleamed on the real staff, the one the Heartless held was made of pure darkness, simply taking the outline of the original weapon. Maleficent quickly grabbed at it with her hand, but the burning sensation she felt when she had touched the real staff was nowhere to be found. Instead, the weapon felt hard and cold, and it took all her strength to restrain herself from setting the entire hall ablaze in her fury.
"Impossible!" she shrieked, knocking the weapon aside, "Where is the staff? The real one?"
Riku snorted under his breath.
"You dare ridicule me?" Maleficent yelled, nostrils flaring as she glowered at the smirking teen.
"No. But it is just as I thought," he responded, gazing at the dark weapon the Heartless held, "The staff wasn't so much a weapon as it was an entity. The girl talked to herself a lot, no doubt responding to the words it spoke to her. I suppose, once her heart vanished, the entity escaped…"
"To find a new host?" Maleficent asked, raising her chin.
Riku shrugged in response. "Who can say?"
The witch snarled as she furiously clicked her staff on the ground once more. If the entity Riku spoke of truly did find itself a new host, she would have to deal with another naïve child wielding a power beyond its comprehension, and she was too close to her goal to let that happen. "Then I must make haste," she growled.
"Haste?"
Maleficent nodded. "Yes. The seven Princesses of Heart have been gathered. It is only a matter of time before the path to innermost darkness will emerge. Have you procured the Keyblade?"
Riku raised his hand into the air, summoning a black weapon with a red hilt into his grip with a small flash of darkness, a confident smirk on his lips. The Keyblade he held was nowhere near as ornate or elaborate as Sora's Kingdom Key, but Maleficent's evil smile grew nonetheless. A Keyblade was a Keyblade, regardless of its appearance, and it was the final piece she needed in her master plan.
"Come," she said softly, addressing Riku with the same sweet voice she used when they had first met, "Walk with me."
Maleficent led the way towards the staircase, her steps echoing through the hall as she climbed the stairs to the mezzanine. Crumbled stones led to the altar, surrounded by twisted and broken pipes. A hollow Heartless crest stood in the centre of the altar, a dark energy swirling within the depression taking on every colour. Maleficent came to a stop before the altar as the machines that littered the corners of the mezzanine whirred quietly, having lost their functionality many years prior. She gestured invitingly towards the artificial Keyhole as Riku joined her, silently signalling her wish.
Riku chuckled softly as he gazed at the swirling Keyhole. "So, I see the path has emerged at last."
"Yes. The Keyhole to the darkness," she responded, proudly gazing at her accomplishments.
"Unlock it, and the Heartless will overrun this world," he warned.
"What do I care? The darkness holds no power over me. Rather, I will use its power to rule all worlds."
Riku snorted once more, raising an eyebrow at the evil witch. "Such confidence." Regardless, he raised his dark Keyblade towards the Keyhole, awaiting the inevitable. He knew full well this wouldn't work; but Maleficent's heart was so clouded with greed and darkness, she would not listen to him until she saw it for herself.
And see it for herself she did, for the Keyblade did not react to the Keyhole in the slightest.
Maleficent furrowed her brows. "Impossible! The Princesses of Heart are all here!" She gritted her teeth in annoyance as she turned to glare at Kairi's lifeless form on the floor. "It must be her."
"Precisely," Riku said confidently, "Without her heart, she will never be able to release her power."
Maleficent was ready to release the greatest shriek of anger she had ever produced, had she not been interrupted by a sound of clamour in the distance. Mechanisms that hadn't been activated in years began to whir within the castle's walls, which could only mean one thing: Sora was activating the lifts and elevators, making his way up the castle, and growing ever closer.
"One nuisance after another," she muttered through gritted teeth, "Come, Heartless!"
Akira's Heartless skittered beneath the marble floor, emerging from the ground before its mistress as it watched her with a puzzled gaze.
"Go. Defeat Sora and the king's fools. And do not return until you've done so. Understood?" Maleficent barked.
The Heartless sunk under the floor once more and slithered down the stairs, passing under the Heartless crest carpet as it scampered towards the exit. The witch let out a sigh of frustration as she watched her minion disappear from view, averting her gaze to Akira's limp body still suspended in her prison. She flicked her fingers and the crystal fetters vanished, allowing Akira to fall to the floor with a soft thud. "My Heartless will deal with the rubbish later," she said coolly, returning to gaze at her unfinished Keyhole.
"That Heartless won't stand a chance against those three," Riku quipped, smirking once more at the witch.
"I am aware," Maleficent said, "But the boy is a slave to his emotions. His heart would shatter at the thought of destroying someone he holds so dear to him. I will allow you to do the honours of putting an end to him in his weakened state… if that is your desire."
She grinned but kept her gaze fixed. Better for Riku, who held a confident smirk of his own. That was the first smart thing Maleficent had said during their entire discussion. But, he knew better and held his tongue… for now.
Sora, Donald, and Goofy quickly stepped out of the lift that had taken them across the castle, taking in the new sights. As they activated lifts and elevators and ascended the castle, they had come across nothing but broken pipes and painted stone; now, their journey took them to the right side of the castle, where every inch of the walls and floor were covered in clean, white marble. It was a stark contrast from what they were used to, but it was a welcome change; every step forward was a step closer to their friends, after all.
"Gawrsh, I hope we're going the right way…" Goofy said in a worried tone.
"It's been a pretty straightforward journey so far," Donald added, "We must be getting close."
Sora put a hand on his heart as his friends cautiously walked forward towards the tunnel leading to the lift stop. Throughout their journey in Hollow Bastion, his heart had felt warm and heavy, as if a strange entity was beckoning to him from further inside the castle. As he strode forward, he silently listened to his heart and its quiet warmth. He had to keep moving. He couldn't give up yet, not when Kairi and Akira needed him most.
"Wak!" Donald cried, snapping the teen out of his trance, "A Heartless!"
"It looks like one of those smaller ones," Goofy said as he raised his shield before him, readying his stance.
The Heartless skittered beneath the floor as did the lowly shadow Heartless they had encountered at the beginning of their journey. They watched with puzzled gazes as the Heartless came alone, without any form of reinforcements or supports. The Heartless in Hollow Bastion were intensely stronger than the variants they encountered in any other world, and they attacked in droves of ten or more, no doubt reacting to the great darkness of the world. They exchanged perplexed glances as the feeble shadow came to a halt before them, but Donald let out a chuckling quack.
"Ha! Leave this little guy to me," he said through narrowed eyes, puffing out his chest as he summoned his staff.
The shadow rose from the ground, and Donald felt his sudden burst of bravery quickly melt away. He stepped back as the shadow took shape before him, keeping his staff at the ready. Unlike the shadow Heartless they thought it to be, this one stood tall and proud.
"I-it kinda looks like a person," Goofy muttered, squinting to get a better look at the Heartless as its features came into view.
A mass of darkness billowed behind it, mimicking hair as bangs formed around the now oval shape of its face. A nose and lips took shape on its face as the darkness mirrored clothes and shoes on the shadow's frame. Sora held his breath, fervently hoping it was all but a nasty dream; yet, as the Heartless extended its arm and summoned the shape of the familiar staff he had grown so used to seeing, he realized he couldn't hide from it any longer… and it certainly wasn't a nightmare he was going to wake up from.
"Akira…?" he asked softly, but even uttering her name was like sending a dagger through his heart. He wanted nothing more than to find her, to see her again. But not like this. Never like this.
Goofy sensed Sora's pain and tightened his grip on his shield, glaring at Akira's Heartless. "Sora, don't forget about that trick Riku pulled on us in Neverland," he said firmly, "I betcha Maleficent did this just to mess with us!"
He clenched his teeth together, keeping the agony at bay as Goofy's words soothed his troubled heart. Of course someone as vile as Maleficent would employ such a dirty trick. She knew it would hurt him. She knew it would be agony for him just to raise his blade against her. Yet, as he lifted his gaze and met with the shadow's beady yellow eyes as it approached them with its blade drawn, he saw no life left in them. No trace of Akira remained behind its soulless stare. And that was enough to push him to summon his own weapon.
Donald and Goofy charged to attack. The Heartless sidestepped to avoid Goofy's lunge but took the hit of Donald's fire spell in its arm. It twitched and writhed in pain as Heartless normally did but swung its blade like an average fighter. As Sora examined the Heartless closely, he noticed the pattern in its swipes; it moved exactly as Akira did, just as his shadow moved exactly like him. And this meant he could easily fight it off.
With his Keyblade in hand and a hard stare on his face, he marched forward as Goofy was knocked off his feet, holding his Keyblade out in front of him as he waited for the blow to come. Sure enough, the deafening clang of their two blades crashing together filled the air as the Heartless brought its weapon down. He hardly even slid back as the Heartless put all its strength into the attack. It was so painfully weak… Sora gritted his teeth as he kept his gaze glued to the floor. Akira was never this weak.
Another sidestep and a blow from the side which he masterfully dodged, and it still hurt. It effortlessly spun on its feet as it delivered a twirling attack that he dodged once more, and it still hurt. Every move this Heartless made was identical to Akira's fighting style, and no matter how many times he saw the blows coming, it still hurt. It wasn't her dancing and handling her weapon at his side, and it still hurt.
He tightly gripped his Keyblade and retaliated, delivering a succession of blows as he dodged the Heartless' every move. With the help of Donald's spells and Goofy's shield, the Heartless was no match for them and stumbled over itself more than usual as it kept up its assault. It never blinked as it continued to fight, and nary a sound could be heard passing through its lips. And as long as Sora never looked it in the eye, he was able to fight freely and effectively. Finally, he delivered the finishing blow, slashing the Keyblade through the Heartless' shoulder. It shuddered for a moment and dropped to its knees before the Keyblade master, the dark weapon in its hands dissolving into the air.
Sora panted as his eyes danced across the marble floor, allowing himself to steal a glance at the Heartless before it disappeared. Even amidst the pain in his heart, he was able to keep his composure long enough to fight. Once this wretched shadow faded, he and his friends would continue their journey to find the girl this Heartless so despicably mimicked. He just needed to keep himself strong for just a little while longer… And he almost succeeded, had the Heartless not done what it did next.
As the Heartless slowly dissipated into the air, its eyes lowered sadly, and it offered its shadowy hand to him.
Sora dropped his Keyblade on the floor, falling on his behind as the last of the Heartless vanished. He stared at the empty space in disbelief, feeling his throat begin to seize. Donald and Goofy rushed to his side, offering a gentle hand on his shoulders for comfort, but their touch felt like a distant dream. Everything in that moment felt so far away. Even the touch of the cold marble under his hands was a foreign feeling. His head tried so hard to make sense of everything that had just transpired, but it felt like a heavy tempest was weighing him down, and he hardly had the strength to shoulder it.
He somehow managed to speak the words that brought him so much hurt. "Why? Why did it have to do that?" he sputtered as the tears rolled freely from his eyes, "If it really is just a trick… why did it have to do exactly that?"
And even amidst the sounds of the frantic beating of his heart and the muffled sobs that escaped the back of his throat, he heard Goofy softly say the words he knew to be true but were still extraordinarily painful to hear.
"Come on, we have to keep moving."
He nodded through his clenched teeth and wiped away the tears from his eyes. There was still some fight left in him.
Maleficent's lips curled into a snarl. She felt the twinge of her newest Heartless' demise reverberate from her staff, prickling her finger as she flicked her hand back. Although she did not expect the Keyblade master to lose, she didn't expect him to finish off her minion so quickly.
"I suppose your Heartless didn't get the job done?" Riku asked with a confident smirk.
Her nostrils flared, but she kept her calm. "It's time to put an end to that wretched boy and the king's fools. Who shall have the honour?"
Riku tilted his head and held his arm out, gesturing towards the stairs. "I couldn't possibly take this victory from you," he said, his smirk never leaving his lips.
Maleficent held her head high as she began to walk towards the staircase, keeping her gaze focused on the teen as she passed by him. He was acting strangely smug and arrogant, but she couldn't find the patience in her to deal with his teenage antics. "You stay here and guard the Princesses," she barked as she descended the stairs.
Riku put his hands on the railings of the mezzanine as he patiently watched Maleficent slowly make her way towards the exit, keeping the permanent smirk on his face. It was only a matter of time until he would finally see which of the two was truly stronger, and he relished in the delight, though he would not bet on the witch. After all, the darkness had all but clouded her heart…
As Maleficent passed by Akira's unconscious form, he could faintly see the soft twitch of the unconscious teen's fingers, and his eyes widened with increasing excitement.
The darkness was endless. Whether it had only been mere seconds, minutes, or even years, it seemed to drag on forever, without an end in sight. And yet, even surrounded by the endless dusk and quiet, she felt oddly at peace. Falling into darkness… atrocious and terrifying, yet quiet and soft. Was this what death felt like?
She had lost so much. She had screwed up so much. Endless scenarios played in her mind, the smarter choices she could have made, the easier roads she could have taken. And even so, what difference would it have made? They would have all lead her here anyways, drowning in the endless abyss, cold and alone.
A…
Akira opened her eyes, blinking quickly as she softly floated downwards. What did she expect to see? Colour? Lights? She smirked at the thought. The void of darkness held nothing but pain and silence, and here she expected to open her eyes to a beautiful sight. Stupid.
A…a
If she can't see something beautiful, then she'll make something beautiful. She smiled and closed her eyes, envisioning the most stunning sight she could muster.
She could almost feel the sun on her skin. She could almost sense the sand beneath her hands as she lay sprawled on the beach. She could almost hear the rolling tide and feel the spray of salt water on her face. This was the place where she felt most at peace. Though the meadow of flowers in the world she came from was an incomparable sight of beauty, the islands had something Halloween Town didn't have.
Riku poked his head above hers, hiding the sun and casting a shadow on her face. He wore that same affectionate smirk he always had whenever she and the others did something silly. That smirk that wordlessly said: 'I told you so!'. And he was always right in doing so. Yet, he never bore any malice against them. He watched over them and guided them, like a doting father. She looked up to him so much. She owed him so much…
Kairi's soft gaze joined his next, her majorelle eyes glistening as radiantly as the smile on her face. She always put up with her antics. She always lifted her up when she was down. She always stepped in when Akira was too small or afraid to stand up for herself. A pure heart filled with light… it all made sense. Kairi was the epitome of strength and kindness, and she never repaid her for it.
Sora wedged himself between the two, needing to squint his eyes just so that his brilliant smile could fit on his face. He never hid his feelings. She knew when he was sad. She knew when he was angry. She knew when he was happy, grateful, and nervous. They all knew. And yet, even in the hardest of times, his smile never left his face. He could be scared out of his wits, and still smile. He could be on the brink of death, and still smile. Even when the world seemed to crumble all around them, he held his smile despite what he felt in his heart, a shining beacon for her in the darkness. Did she ever even thank him for that?
They all watched her with love and adoration, so why did it hurt so much?
Ak...ra!
This was so stupid. She was so stupid. Why would they ever smile at her again? Why did she even bother deluding herself into thinking she would ever see them again?
Akira!
The beautiful vision was torn from her mind as the tempest within grew, replaced by nothing but endless darkness once more.
Akira, wake yourself from this madness.
She didn't even know its name. And yet, its voice filled her with a strange peace. It was hard to believe they had known each other for so little time, but she felt as if she had known it her entire life. The soothing voice in her mind, reaching out to her as she sank into the ocean, unearthing old memories she had long forgotten… and walking by her side as she weathered the toughest of trials.
"It's really you…" she said softly, her eyes fluttering open.
My voice has reached you. Thank goodness.
She wasn't sure whether she was crying tears of joy at their reunion, or tears of pain for her failures, but the tears flowed nonetheless, and she didn't bother trying to make them stop. "I'm so sorry…" she choked, "I messed everything up. You were counting on me, and I failed you. My words encouraged Donald and Goofy, and I couldn't even act on them. I was supposed to be the shoulder Sora leans on when he's down, like he always had been for me and… look at me now."
You don't truly believe that do you?
"How could I not?" she sobbed, "Loot at me. Look at where we are. Look at where I got myself."
Don't let the darkness around you pull you further into despair, Akira. I know things seem bleak, but do you truly have no fight left? None left for Kairi, whom still waits for you? None for Riku, whom needs guidance now more than ever? None for Sora, whom still climbs the castle amidst the pain in his heart, just so he could find you?
"S-Sora is…" She didn't even ask herself what happened after she found herself falling into the darkness. Were Sora, Donald, and Goofy truly still pushing themselves to find her? To find Kairi? To find their King, whom they hadn't even found so much as a clue to his whereabouts? They were still fighting so hard, against all odds…
Do you have no fight left for even me?
Her eyes widened as a quiet gasp escaped her lips. "Of course… of course I do. I want nothing more than to go back… and help them. And fight with them. Fight with you. But how could I –"
Hope.
Hope. The quiet light in the darkness. Akira softly closed her eyes as a smile formed on her face. Something so simple and plain, and yet held a power beyond compare. Without even realizing it, it was what she had used during this entire journey to keep herself strong in the face of darkness. And now, even as she found herself falling through the endless abyss, she still felt its vivacity within, and held her hand out to reach it.
With a brilliant light that tore through the darkness around her, the staff materialized before her in all its glory. The familiar silvers and golds glistened amidst the radiance of its own light, illuminating the space around her as she ecstatically opened her eyes to witness it. She tightly gripped the hilt with familiar ease, feeling the moments of triumph and victory she had shared with it course through her once more. And she will keep fighting with it, until the light left her eyes. That is what she had promised, after all.
"I have fight left for you. For them," she said without fear or reservation.
And I for you. Trust in me, and let me guide you back.
Akira blinked. "How?"
Just breathe.
Akira gasped suddenly as the massive intake of air filled her lungs. They stung with a heavy prickle as she sputtered and coughed, the sensation of a frigid cold coursing through her body as the feeling returned to her arms and legs. She coughed once more, slowly lifting her head off the cold marble floor as she propped herself on her elbows. It took every ounce of strength she had just to maintain this position.
Akira, can you hear me?
"Y-yeah," she managed to say as she took another large intake of breath.
How do you feel?
"Like I've been hit by a truck…" She breathed heavily as the ache began to reverberate through her entire body, and it felt like her lungs could never get enough air. What had even happened to her to cause her this much pain? "Not a truck… a tank, more like."
Glad to see your sense of humour remained.
She managed to chuckle in response amidst the pain in her chest and raised her eyes to take in her surroundings. She was in the same room Maleficent had held her prisoner in, though the witch was nowhere to be seen. The dim, blue lights still flickered softly in the quiet stillness of the hall, and the Princesses of Heart remained trapped in their fetters, asleep as they were before. "Looks like we're still here…" she sighed, furrowing her brows.
It isn't safe here. We should escape as quickly as possible.
"But what about the Princesses?"
You can barely stand on your feet in your current state. We must find Sora, Donald, and Goofy, and lead them here.
The sudden crack of a cane hitting the floor echoed through the castle walls with a ferocious intensity. Akira's breath caught as she widened her eyes, staring at the exit as the realization hit. She'd know the sound of that staff hitting the floor anywhere; Sora had finally made it here, but Maleficent put a stop to his advance. "N-no.." she whispered as she put her hand on the marble floor, pulling herself up further as she attempted to move.
Akira, you can't possibly think you could take on Maleficent like this!?
"I have… to help them…" She gritted her teeth as she used both hands to lift herself up further, managing a crawl as she clawed for the exit.
She'll tear you apart!
Akira smiled and hung her head. She raised her hand and summoned the staff in her hand, feeling its familiar weight as it materialized. Even in her state of weakness, she still had enough strength to hold it aloft; and that was all she needed to keep going. "Then, you'll be my shield, won't you? You said you'll go wherever I go. So… come with me." Her staff didn't respond, and she couldn't help but chuckle. Who knew this disembodied voice in her head had a soft side? "Besides, I'm feeling better with each passing moment." At least that part was true enough. Her strength returned, albeit at a snail's pace, and she was able to at least crawl on all fours as she slowly approached the exit
Alright. But escape this place quickly. And don't do anything reckless!
"We'll be fine." She truly believed the words that escaped her lips. For even if her strength failed her against the Mistress of Evil, she had the power of her staff to lean on; she had the unbreakable bond she and Sora, Donald, and Goofy shared. After all, if Sora's friends were his power, then they were hers as well. And as she repeated Sora's triumphant speech in her head, she propped her staff on the floor and used it to bolster herself up, hobbling towards the exit, towards her toughest battle yet, and towards those who would surely emerge victorious at her side.
Yet she failed to notice the pair of menacing eyes that watched the entire scene unfold from the safety of the mezzanine's railings. Riku's aquamarine gaze watched the teen with muted delight as she shuffled her way across the exit and into the hallway beyond. As she disappeared, the smirk on his lips formed into a sinister toothy grin before he released a mischievous cackle, gleefully enjoying the sudden turn of events.
"Ha-ha! Spineless Akira? So, it seems you do have a will as strong as steel." He crossed his arms, turning to gaze at the incomplete Keyhole. "Things are about to get quite interesting…"