The brilliance of the lift stop stung Akira's eyes when she hobbled into the bright hallway. She had spent so long in the dimly lit hall, it was hardly believable that such a bright area would even exist in a world so overrun by the darkness. She stumbled on her feet and placed her hand on the marble wall, leaning against it as she squinted her eyes, examining her surroundings.
The lift stop spanned the entire height of the castle, with simple elevators that travelled on thin wires while transporting their guests from floor to floor. Barriers of crystal lined the narrow hallways, preventing anyone from falling to their demise. Akira raised her eyes to find a gorgeously intricate glass window, flooding the area with the light from outside the castle. The light travelled to every corner of the lift stop, glittering off the countless crystal walls. She was certain this castle must have been a thing of magnificent beauty in its prime, but even though those days had long since passed, at least a fragment of this castle's radiance still remained amidst Maleficent's vile destruction.
I sense a great darkness ahead.
Akira nodded, averting her gaze to the corridor's exit ahead. "Coming from Maleficent, no doubt."
Are you ready?
She sighed. Her strength had all but returned to her, with naught but a slight prickling in her legs that faded with each passing moment. No matter how much she mentally and physically prepared herself, she would never be ready to face Maleficent; but there was no giving up. There was no turning back. So much was at stake, and she had to keep moving forward. "Ready as I'll ever be," she responded.
No matter what happens, don't do anything reckless.
She chuckled. "Since when did you become such a worrywart?"
Please take this seriously. This is a matter of your survival.
"Survival…?" She had never heard it speak to her so sternly. It had always jumped headfirst into battle with her without question, so why was this time so different? "Is… something wrong?"
You… you truly do not sense it, do you?
Akira furrowed her brows as she dropped her gaze to the ground. "Sense what? Am I missing something?"
There is no easy way to say this.
She had sensed a small apprehension and fear at the pit of her stomach, no doubt the tinge of anxiety at potentially facing their toughest opponent yet. But her staff's words overshadowed any distress she felt for her upcoming battle. She removed her hand from the wall and placed it on her chest, pursing her lips as she searched for the words to express the turmoil within. "You have to tell me, even if it isn't easy. We're a team, aren't we? And we're… friends." She inhaled deeply as her staff remained silent. "So, if we're going to continue working together, continue fighting for each other, then… please, I need you to be honest with me."
Akira… I can no longer see your heart.
Her breath caught, her eyes widened, and the weight of its words came crashing down on her, threatening to carry her away in her torment. "What did you say?" she whispered.
Try as I might, ever since I pulled you from the darkness, your heart has been silent.
Did Maleficent truly succeed? Did she really forcibly remove her heart? No, it made no sense. If she had lost her heart, she wouldn't even be alive, right? On top of that, she was pulled out of the darkness by her staff's brilliant light. But even so… did it wound her heart beyond repair? She tightly gripped the fabric of her clothes, searching for the words that would not come. What does she even respond to this? What does she even say? Sensing her disturbance, the staff spoke once more, albeit in a softer tone.
Don't despair over it, Akira. Although the darkness in your heart is much greater than it had been before Maleficent's vile actions, the light within holds a power just as great.
She slumped her shoulders and sighed with relief, but found herself just as confused as ever, and allowed her staff to continue.
They exist in a strange balance, meaning you can still harness the power of light when you need it. I am just… worried, I suppose.
"Worried?"
You teeter much closer to the darkness than before. One false step, even a moment of distraction, and I could… I could lose you again.
She closed her eyes and let another sigh escape her lips as a soft smile formed. The shock of hearing about her silent heart was all but a distant dream. She felt something much greater within, and she finally felt she had the courage to speak of it. "That won't happen," she said confidently, believing it in her very soul.
But –
"No matter what happens, there is always a light in the darkness. Whether its yours, or Sora's, Donald's, Goofy's… even Riku's or Kairi's. Even … even my dad's. If the worst does happen, and I do fall into the darkness again, I'll find you. One of your lights – or all of your lights – will always guide my way." She released the fabric she clutched in her hand and opened her eyes once more, raising her gaze to admire the glass ceiling. "But… you won't have to worry about that. I promise I'll be careful. There are just too many people counting on me for me to be reckless. So please… trust me. Trust that I'll be okay."
Her hand felt warm, and she instantly found herself gripping her staff, though she didn't summon it. It had showed itself to her of its own volition, a silent testament to its oath.
I trust you.
Without another word, Akira continued forward, clenching her staff in her hand as she made her way towards the exit, towards Maleficent, and towards her friends. She didn't need to say anything else; sometimes words just couldn't speak the truths one feels inside. But there was one thing she was certain of… Silent or not, her heart felt full.
Silence is customary in a religious sanctum, but that didn't stop the clamour Sora, Donald, and Goofy made when they burst through the doors of the chapel. Considering the vile artistic liberties Maleficent had taken when she claimed the castle for her own, the chapel hardly seemed like a rightful chapel anymore. Dimly lit torches lined the rotunda leading to the altar, hardly giving off any light. The circular glass window on the ceiling offered the only veritable source of light in the gloomy chapel, illuminating a circle on the decrepit stone floor. A massive Heartless crest was fashioned out of gold tubing above the altar, giving off an air of terror and malice, but it didn't hold a candle to the being that stood in the centre of the rotunda, waiting patiently for her enemies to arrive.
Maleficent smirked as the heroes of light skittered to a halt before her. Such tenacity and determination… she would surely have a joyous time snuffing out their lights for good. "I'm afraid you're too late," she said sweetly, "Any moment now, the final Keyhole will be unsealed. This world will be plunged into darkness. It is unstoppable."
Sora's stoic gaze was undeterred by her words. He readied his Keyblade as his companions brandished their weapons, assuming their battle stances. "We'll stop it. After coming this far, there's no way we're gonna let that happen. We'll defeat you once and for all, Maleficent, and we'll save Kairi and Akira from whatever evil plans you have."
"Insolent boy," Maleficent snarled as she softly paced towards them, "You killed your friend by your own hand."
"Your tricks don't work on us!" Goofy chimed in from Sora's side.
"Yeah! We'll defeat anything you throw at us!" Donald quacked.
"Akira wouldn't go down that easily," Sora growled, furrowing his brows at the witch, "And whatever you've done with her – whatever you've done with Kairi – doesn't matter. We'll save them no matter what you throw at us. They may not be here, but I carry them with me in my heart, and their light will help me defeat you!"
Maleficent's gaze suddenly contorted to one of pure anger. Her nostrils flared as she aggressively swiped her arm in the air, sending Donald and Goofy flying towards the stone wall with an invisible wind. They crashed into the wall with a massive thud while tendrils of darkness erupted at Sora's feet, pulling him towards the ground. He gritted his teeth as he fought back against the force, his feet sliding beneath him. Maleficent had been sent into a fury beyond comprehension at their words of defiance, but he still had to keep fighting, no matter what it took.
"You poor, simple fools," she said with venomous rage, lifting her staff into the air as she glared at the struggling teen at her feet, "You think you could defeat me? Me, the Mistress of all Evil?"
Her voice boomed across the castle walls, carrying her fury with it. The entire world suddenly knew of her rage; the lowly Heartless skittering at the base of the castle, the malevolent silver-haired teen smirking at the unfinished Keyhole that lay before him… and the hopeful girl whom had set foot in the chapel just a few moments prior and had witnessed the entire spectacle. With the nameless entity and all its power clutched tightly in Akira's hand, she willed her feet to move forward as the witch brought her staff down on the Keyblade bearer. Her feet slid to a halt before the witch in a blur of yellow and fuchsia, and the distinct ringing of metal on metal pierced the air.
Maleficent gritted her teeth as her attack was denied, but nothing could brace her from the tempest she felt when she caught a glance of the defiant azure eyes that glared at her from behind the silver blade. The blade she should have claimed, the girl that should have been naught but a lifeless husk in the Grand Hall… it couldn't be. It just couldn't be. "You…" she hissed, tightening her grip on her dark staff as the teen struggled against it, "How? How? How are you still standing?"
Unlike when the witch had captured her, the fear and uncertainty in Akira's eyes was all but nonexistent. "Don't lay another hand on my friends ever again," she whispered sternly through her teeth, the fury in her voice hostile and threatening.
"You have no hope of defeating me," Maleficent spat.
"Really?" Akira smirked, keeping her gaze fixed, "How about you try touching my weapon, then? Let's see how that goes for you."
If looks could kill, Akira would have perished right then and there. Maleficent's eyes were set ablaze with fury as she pulled back her staff and walked in reverse towards the altar, keeping her malevolent stare fixated on the teens who would dare defy her as the tendrils around Sora's limbs faded into dust. She wouldn't let them escape so easily… not after the insolence they showed her.
As Maleficent withdrew to the altar, Akira let herself drop to one knee and lower her staff to the ground; simply looking into Maleficent's evil gaze was enough to wind her. She couldn't possibly imagine what fighting the witch herself would be like…
And as her apprehension began to rise, it was suddenly cut by the warmth she felt behind her. Two familiar arms wrapped themselves around her neck as the person they belonged to pressed himself against her back, burying his face in her shoulder. She let out a gasp, but it took all her strength not to let her eyes suddenly fill themselves with tears. She heard the familiar sound of his voice as he too choked on the tears he didn't want to manifest, she inhaled the faint scent of the beach that still lingered on his skin, and she felt the rhythm of his heart beat against her back as he held her close. And as she turned her head softly to peek at Sora's face on her shoulder, she knew she could find all the strength she needed in this. She could fight for this.
"Akira," Sora choked out as he raised his eyes to meet with hers, "You're really here…"
"Wherever we go, we'll go together, right? I guess I just took the long way around…"
Sora buried his face in her shoulder once more, hiding his eyes from her as they threatened to mist over. Donald and Goofy quickly scurried to their side, skidding to a halt beside them as Goofy put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Akira! You're here!" he rejoiced.
She exchanged worried glances with them. "Aren't you guys hurt?"
"It'll take more than that to keep us down!" Donald said triumphantly.
"Yeah. After all, the gang's all together again!" Goofy added with a grin.
He pulled them all into a tight embrace with his long arms as Sora raised his head once more, his face donning the most brilliant smile he had ever given. They were finally reunited once more, and nothing would stand in their way.
Maleficent scoffed at their display, clicking her staff on the floor as the ground began to rumble beneath their feet. "I will not be defeated by something as ridiculous as friendship," she said with a hard gaze. The ground beneath her broke into a circle as a piece of the stone flooring released itself, floating in the air with a powerful magic as it held the witch aloft.
They scrambled to their feet and pulled out their weapons, with Sora taking a stand before them. "We'll show you," he growled.
Maleficent kept her gaze harsh and furious as her platform rose from the ground, keeping her far from harm's way as the battle commenced. She held nothing back in her assault, pummeling them with spells of thunder, fire, and darkness from the safety of her platform. She was never above a dirty trick, and she certainly wasn't going to show them any mercy now. They managed to dodge her attacks, but her platform stood too high above ground, and none of them could jump high enough to climb it.
"There's no way we'll be able to reach her at this rate," Donald quacked, casting a wind spell to shield himself from a bolt of lightning.
"We'll have to break the platform," Sora said between breaths, having sprinted around the rotunda as he dodged a succession of lightning bolts.
Almost as if she was privy to his idea, Maleficent's platform floated to the entrance of the chapel, the tip of her staff radiating a malicious shade of red. She raised it in the air, summoning a storm of clouds and darkness to the ceiling above. "Meteors of heaven, unleash thy fury!" she shrieked. An endless storm of blue meteors rained from the clouds, thrashing their way through the chapel towards the rotunda. The four of them ran for cover behind the wall of the hallway, but the cracks began to grow in size with each meteor that hit. They didn't have much time before the wall would crumble, and they had to act fast.
"Now we can't even get near her," Akira cried as another meteor pummeled into the wall.
"Don't worry, guys!" Goofy exclaimed, "We've just gotta use our heads."
"But we haven't had any good ideas yet. And it's only a matter of time before this wall goes down and we're toast!" Sora added.
"No. We just have to use our heads!"
Donald clapped his feathered hands over his mouth. "Goofy, you're a genius!"
Sora and Akira exchanged perplexed gazes. There was obviously something they weren't getting here…
Donald puffed out his chest and took out his staff. "Sora, you team up with Goofy, and Akira, you'll work with me. We'll cast a spherical magic barrier around the party while Sora and Goofy run and push the barrier. It should offset the meteors, and the force of the impact with the platform should shatter it… or at least knock Maleficent off of it."
"W-wait, we're going to crash into it!?" Akira cried in disbelief.
"It's the only way."
She sighed and nodded; the wall had already begun to crumble, and this was their only chance. A white light began emanating from Donald's staff as they huddled together, ready for the spell. "We're going to cast a Reflect spell. It works like Aero, but won't damage anything that touches it; however, the offset is that this barrier is stronger."
"Makes sense," Akira said.
"Oh, and one more thing. We'll be using Reflega. We can't risk using the intermediate spell and have the barrier break on us when we're halfway there."
Akira gasped and gave him a concerned glance. "W-what? I can't do that!"
"Yes, you can," he replied firmly, "You have to believe you can. Everything is riding on this."
She let out a sigh, but her friend's encouraging smiles stopped her protest. She reluctantly summoned her staff and nodded meekly, silently vowing to do her best. As Donald lifted his staff into the air, she rose hers as well, and closed her eyes as she muttered the spell under her breath, silently hoping she wouldn't let them down.
Trust in me. I'll shoulder the burden with you.
Power coursed through her veins as the magic flowed towards her weapon. A honeycomb-like barrier circled around the group, solidifying itself in a crystalline bubble. Akira gasped softly as she opened her eyes and took in the view, hardly able to believe she was capable of it. Her staff didn't feel scalding or heavy in her grip like it had in Neverland, and she felt no pain from the impact. If anything, she felt an ethereal softness as she happily pressed her hand against the barrier, feeling the reverberating pulses of magic on her fingertips. She knew she didn't do this alone; Donald and her staff had made this plan a reality. But to be part of something so wonderful filled her with a quiet type of joy she just couldn't express.
"Told you," Donald said with a sly grin as she nodded in agreement.
"Alright, Sora. Are you ready?" Goofy asked.
"Ready," he replied firmly.
And as the wall finally shattered before them, Sora and Goofy began to run as fast as their legs could carry them, slowly moving the barrier as they did so. The more they ran, the more they picked up the pace and soon, they were tearing through the meteors. "Brace yourselves!" Goofy called as Maleficent's platform came into view.
They all tucked their heads as the barrier made impact with the platform, crashing into it with a massive blow. The platform cracked in half as the barrier dissipated, sending Maleficent stumbling to the floor as they tripped over the pieces of broken platform that lay strewn on the ground. "No!" she screeched, glaring at them as she gathered her bearings. The fury in her eyes had grown tenfold, and she wasn't going to go down without a fight.
"Uh, did we think of a plan for after we got her off the platform?" Sora asked.
Donald and Goofy gulped, nervously exchanging glances as Maleficent walked towards the rotunda once more, static crackling in the air as she began to summon a series of lightning bolts to block their path.
Akira stood up from the rubble, hopping onto solid ground as an idea began to form in her head. It was direct, and even brutal, but Maleficent had been nothing but spiteful with them, and she couldn't hesitate when push came to shove. "Cut me a path," she said firmly, addressing her friends.
"What?" Sora asked, perplexed.
"I need you guys to hold her down, or distract her, or something. I'll end this."
"But how?" Donald quacked.
She smiled softly at the three of them. "Just trust me."
They exchanged nervous glances but eventually nodded in agreement. Brandishing their weapons, they charged towards Maleficent, with Akira walking behind them. Sora was the first to catch her, grabbing at her arm as she attempted to summon another platform from the ground. She tripped as he pulled at her with all his might, her lightning spell fizzling into the air as her cast was interrupted. She let out an angry shriek as Goofy grabbed at her other arm, holding it in place as Donald pulled at the robes at her feet. "You impudent oafs! How dare you lay your hands on –"
She realized just a moment too late that only three of them held her down, and the one she feared most was nowhere to be seen. She flicked her gaze over her shoulder quickly enough to catch a glimpse of Akira holding her weapon upright, scowling at her as she made her advance. With one swift motion, Akira pressed her blade against the witch's back.
A shrill cry unlike anything they had ever heard escaped Maleficent's lips. Fizzles of smoke and darkness filled the air as Akira's staff burned her back, the sensation travelling through her robes and onto her skin. She lost her footing and tumbled to the ground as the others released their grip on her, holding onto her scepter for support. Searing burns shot through every corner of her body as the skin on her back bubbled and blistered underneath her robes. She panted heavily, willing her feet to move closer to the altar amidst the pain that coursed throughout her body. With a light flick of her wrist, she summoned a dark portal and hastily made her exit, hiding herself away from the heroes that had brought her to her knees.
"W-where did she go?" Goofy asked, nervously putting a hand on his mouth as Maleficent disappeared.
"She probably went to heal her wounds," Sora answered, "We should go in after her… to finish this for good."
"But what was that?" Donald quacked.
All eyes had travelled to Akira, and to the silver weapon she held in both her hands. She let out a defeated sigh as she gathered her words. How does she even explain this… something she isn't quite sure of herself? "When I was guarding Jasmine back in Agrabah, Maleficent touched my staff and… it burned her. It really burned her. I don't know why it did, and I don't know how, but –"
"It burns her?" Donald quacked in surprise.
Akira blinked. "Yeah."
"Gawrsh, that's strange… but definitely helpful!" Goofy said with a cheery grin.
"How come we haven't noticed this sooner?" Donald asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I don't know!" Akira shook her head. "I suppose nobody has ever really touched it. Leon, Yuffie and Merlin just looked at it, Cloud knocked me out before I could even scratch him, the Heartless in Deep Jungle attacked me before I could get a hit on Clayton…"
"And you didn't fight Jafar," Sora added, putting the pieces together.
"You're right! You didn't attack Oogie Boogie at all, and you spent the fights against Ursula and Captain Hook real far away from them while casting magic!" Goofy exclaimed.
Akira tightened her grip on her staff. "And Riku… he didn't touch the blade either."
"And I suppose whether the Heartless felt it or not, they wouldn't have any means of telling us…" Sora brought a finger to his chin, deep in thought, "Say, let me hold it."
Donald let out a surprised quack, echoing what they all felt at his request.
"What?" Sora asked, dragging the word, "I just want to see what'll happen."
Donald shrugged as Akira let out a soft chuckle, stretching her hands out to him invitingly. Even amidst the stark dimness, the weapon glinted brightly beneath the light of the glass ceiling window. It looked just like his trusty Keyblade, matching colours and all; certainly, it couldn't feel any different from his own…
Almost as soon as his index finger grazed the metal surface of the hilt, he quickly recoiled his hand, cupping it into his other as he let out a harsh and agonizing cry. Akira gasped, feeling her heart sink to the pit of her stomach. It was the same excruciating screech that had escaped Maleficent's lips when she had touched her weapon. She quickly dismissed her weapon and scuttled towards him, grabbing his hand to get a better look at his wound. Sure enough, the tip of his finger had already begun to blister. Donald and Goofy let out tiny gasps of their own when they witnessed the sight, and Akira felt nothing but the harsh feeling of shame.
"I-I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" she cried as Sora pulled his hand back.
He pursed his lips and shook his head. "It's alright, really. I'm the one who wanted to see what would happen, after all…"
"Gawrsh, do ya think it can only be wielded by Akira, and wouldn't accept anyone else?" Goofy suggested.
Sora's lips curved into a smirk. "I was thinking the same thing. Like how my Keyblade always comes back to me when someone else takes it."
"Yeah, that sure sounds like it," Donald added.
Akira's face contorted into one of agony, watching them in disbelief. She almost singed her best friend's finger off, and they were just going to sit here and reason about it? "You… you're okay with this?"
"Well… yeah," Sora answered, "It's definitely weird, that's for sure, but –"
"It works on Maleficent, and probably on every other enemy we encounter, and that's a plus in my book!" Donald quacked.
"You didn't think we'd be mad at you, didja?" Goofy asked in a worried tone.
"Mad? No, but…" Akira lowered her gaze to the floor. What did she even think? This feeling in the pit of her stomach, this feeling of terror, worry, and pain. What was it for?
"You can't be so hard on yourself, not this late in the game," Sora said with a muted smile on his lips. Akira raised her eyes to meet his, sensing the honesty behind his words, "We know you'd never intentionally hurt us. And if your staff behaves the way it does then… well, then it does! You're it's master, Akira, and you're the one who ultimately decides what you do with it."
It was a thought that had never crossed her mind. Perhaps because it felt more like a sentient being than a weapon. But, in the end, the staff was hers to command, and it never went against her will.
Goofy placed a hand on her shoulder, startling her from her thought. "Yeah! We've been through so much together, we can't start doubting ourselves now!"
"Besides, we still have to take care of Maleficent!" Donald quacked.
"Then it's settled," Sora said firmly, "We'll put an end to Maleficent once and for all. And then, we can decide on our next plan of action." He placed his hand between them, silently requesting them to do the same. "All for one…"
Donald and Goofy confidently stretched their hands, placing them above Sora's. Akira took a silent breath and did the same, softly placing hers at the top of the stack. "And one for all, right?"
Sora nodded. "Then, let's get a move on."
They dropped their hands and confidently trotted towards the portal of darkness Maleficent had graciously left open for them, ready as they'd ever be. Akira watched with a soft smile as they each passed through the portal one after the other, each with their backs straight and their chests puffed out with silent confidence. It was almost comical to watch, but she knew better; nothing in the world could shatter their iron-clad wills, and together, there was nothing they couldn't do.
I know what you're going to ask.
Akira snorted as she began to walk towards the portal. "And what is that?"
If you're really my master.
"Well, am I?"
I suppose you could say that. My strength is yours to wield however you see fit.
"So, I'm your master," she said with an impish smirk.
Alright, don't let it get to your head.
"It's just a joke," she said between laughs. It would have been quite strange to call herself its master. Even if it gave her full control of its power, its voice and disposition made it feel more like a companion than something to tame.
That isn't the only thing you wanted to ask me, is it?
She came to a halt in front of the portal as her smile fell. And one of the worst things about it was her complete inability to keep anything hidden from it.
"Why do you burn everyone that touches you?" she asked in a soft whisper.
It's not I. It's beyond my control.
"Then what is causing it?"
You.
She froze, barely finding the strength to breathe. "M-me?" she asked anxiously, "But, I don't understand."
Even with a will as strong as yours, you still harbour a great fear within. I know you've come a long way, Akira, and you've indeed grown stronger; but you still have a lot to learn.
She didn't respond. She didn't need to. She had always known it was right; it was just too hard to say out loud. With a sharp inhale, she pursed her lips and entered the portal. She was deathly afraid, but she couldn't stop now. She couldn't let them down, not when they needed her most.
The wind hissed softly through the cracks in the crumbling walls of the circular room they had entered. Decaying copper pipes weaved themselves through the disintegrating stone walls, interlaced with overgrown tree roots and vegetation. The masterful architecture that once graced these walls was long gone, yet another quiet victim to the powers of darkness.
They found Maleficent clutching her chest, panting heavily as she struggled to stay on her feet. Strangely, they expected to find more; but it seemed as if the witch's strength was all but spent, and her very life teetered on the edge of death. Still, she managed to raise her harrowing gaze at them, glaring daggers at the heroes who caused her demise.
"Need some help?"
Sora and Akira exchanged worried glances, silently asking the other if they were imagining the otherworldly voice they had just heard. The deep, male voice resounded through the walls with a low echo, but the teens couldn't help but notice a strange yet familiar voice masked underneath it…
The boy that had appeared behind Maleficent through a dark portal of his own certainly looked the part, clad in his familiar dark suit from their previous encounter. The Heartless emblem radiated on his chest, a powerful testament to the dark aura he carried. Yet, even as his familiar aquamarine gaze fixed on his old friends, Akira couldn't help but feel a different sensation behind them. They didn't carry rage and jealousy as they had before; they were simply hollow and empty…
"Riku!" Sora called desperately.
Akira tapped his arm, keeping her own eyes on the silver-haired boy as Sora glanced at her. Just the thought alone was painful, and it took all her strength to even speak it; but she simply had no choice. "Sora," she whispered, "Whoever that is… isn't Riku anymore."
Sora didn't answer, but he knew in his heart she was right. Maybe he just couldn't accept it yet.
Donald quacked suddenly as he glanced at the weapon Riku was carrying in his hand. It didn't look like his familiar bat-wing sword… "Is that –"
Riku snorted, raising his new weapon for all to see. So, they finally noticed; it was about time he got to flaunt his new prize. "Yes, a Keyblade." He smirked as he watched their jaws drop, his blade glistening in the light amidst its dark hue. "But unlike yours, this Keyblade holds the power to unlock people's hearts. Allow me to demonstrate…"
Before any of them could react, Riku speared his blade into Maleficent's back, piercing straight to her heart. "Now, open your heart, surrender it to darkness!" His eyes lit with an uncomfortable delight as he drove the blade deeper. "Become darkness itself!"
He released his Keyblade, but no blood poured from the wound he had inflicted. Instead, a bubbling darkness spewed forth, dripping to the floor as Maleficent clutched her heart where he had injured her. With a departing smirk, Riku escaped into the shadows, leaving them to deal with the atrocity he had just unleashed.
Rather than stumble and writhe in pain, Maleficent's lips curled into a malicious grin. She straightened herself up, watching them with mischievous eyes as the darkness that had spewed from her wound enveloped her, transforming into a streak of green flames. "This is it! This power!" She let out a delighted laugh. "Darkness… The true darkness!"
They shielded themselves as a storm of dust and debris kicked up around them, fanning the flames as they overtook her entire body and exploded towards the ceiling. A swirl of darkness and flame swallowed the witch as thorny vines enveloped the ground, her evil cackle thundering through the halls. And yet, the squall dissipated almost as soon as it had begun, though it left something far more sinister in its wake. The group slowly opened their eyes and found themselves greeted by a low and throaty roar. Little remained of the malevolent witch they had come to know, for in her spot stood a colossal and ferocious dragon.
Donald yelped in fright as the dragon released another roar, shaking the ground beneath their feet as it dug its claws into the stone. Just the mere sight of the despicable, black dragon shook them to their very core.
Sora puffed out his chest and summoned his Keyblade, marching in front of his friends as he shot them a happy grin. "Well, guys… it's not an adventure without fighting a dragon, right?"
Donald sighed but couldn't help but smile along his friends. Sora had quite the talent for rallying them for battle. "I suppose you're right!" he quacked, pointing his staff at the dragon.
"We've beaten everything they've thrown at us so far," Akira exclaimed, her staff appearing in her hand with a quick flash of light.
"And we just have to do it again!" Goofy said with a smile from behind his shield, "Oh boy, wait until the King hears about how we fought a real dragon!"
His spirited thought was brought to an immediate halt as the dragon released a slew of scorching green flames at their feet, lining the edge of the room with a stream of incinerating heat.
"You'll have to survive this if you want to tell him about it, Goofy!" Donald quacked with an angry glare from the beast's side. He quickly cast a Blizzaga spell, imprisoning the streak of flames in a jail of ice.
The dragon raised its talon, preparing to swipe at the group with its sharp claws. Sora held his Keyblade before him with both hands, mustering all his strength to stop the dragon as it smashed its talon against his blade. He struggled against its weight, panting as he shouted to his friend. "Akira! Go now! Use your staff!"
"Right!" She circumvented Donald's boulders of ice, sprinting towards the dragon. With a hoarse cry, she slashed at the dragon's side with her staff while Sora occupied its attention. However, the familiar spit and fizzle of inflicting burns were nowhere to be found, and the dragon seemed completely unfazed. "W-what?" she stammered, "Why isn't it working?"
Her scales; they seal a great darkness within. She's using them as a barrier. That is what's keeping her immune to the both of us.
Akira gritted her teeth in desperation. "So, how do we defeat it now?"
With the power of Light.
The power of light… there was one person that immediately came to mind, and he was having a rough time holding the dragon back just a few feet away. "Sora!" she cried.
With a burst of strength, Sora pushed the dragon's heavy talon aside, retreating towards the wall as it roared in anger. The rest of his team joined him shortly, taking refuge behind an overgrown tree root as the dragon released another stream of green flames, setting almost the entire room ablaze. The heat began to rise at a steady pace, and it was only a matter of time before they would be charred to a crisp. They had to figure out a plan, and fast.
"Blizzaga doesn't work," Donald said dejectedly between breaths, "It holds the flames for a few seconds and then shatters."
"Yeah, and my shield can usually withstand fire, but this one is burning it real bad!" Goofy added, shaking his hand from the minor burns his shield had given him.
"This is no ordinary fire…" Sora said sternly, gazing at the flames that blazed beyond the tree root, "It's almost like it's harnessing the power of darkness."
"That's what Riku's Keyblade did, isn't it?" Akira stated, "My staff didn't work either."
"Then what are we supposed to do?" Donald cried.
Before Akira could answer, Sora had stolen her line, uttering it with pure confidence. "Use the power of light!"
She gave him a smile and nodded in agreement. Goofy echoed the sentiment, nodding quickly as Donald reluctantly agreed as well amidst his fear.
"But I can't do it alone," Sora said firmly, placing a fist on his heart, "I'll need you guys to cut me a path, so I can get to her heart. And… I'll need you to believe in me."
"Aw, we can do better than that!" Goofy exclaimed.
"Huh?"
"Yeah, we're your friends!" Donald said, clapping his feathered hands.
"And your friends are your power," Akira said assuredly, echoing his own words, "You'll have all our lights helping you."
Sora watched his three friends as they confidently gave him a thumbs up, silently confirming their pact. There was never a doubt in his mind; he knew he could count on his friends through thick and thin. And now, when he needed them most, they stood before him with a light in their eyes radiating as bright as the sun. With them by his side, there was nothing he couldn't do.
The dragon spat another barrage of flames, roaring intensely as it shuffled its feet. Without missing a beat, Donald and Akira summoned another Reflega barrier, enveloping their friends within its magic. As they had done before, Sora and Goofy barreled their way through the flames as fast as they could before the fire could break the barrier. They skidded to a halt at the dragon's feet as the barrier shattered, dancing around her claws as they kept a safe distance between the monster and its ring of fire.
"Go, Sora! Goofy called.
Sora sprinted towards the dragon's tail as Goofy raised his shield to block a swipe from its talon. Akira quickly picked up Donald, giving him the height he needed to shoot a Blizzaga spell in the dragon's mouth. It coughed and sputtered as it spat out the shards of ice in its mouth, stopping its assault long enough for Sora to get a good grip on its scales and climb its back. They just needed to distract the dragon a little longer…
Akira and Donald stabbed their staves into the beast's foot, causing it to roar in pain as Sora finally pulled himself up its back. "I'm here!" he shouted, raising his Keyblade aloft, "Now, guys!"
His three comrades raised their weapons in the air, concentrating all their power. Showers of light began to float from their respective weapons, creating beams of light that pulsated through the air towards Sora's Keyblade as they willed their power to him. The Kingdom Key shone with a brilliance of which they had never seen before, and Sora felt the warmth of their love and resolve as it enveloped his weapon. With a swift motion, he dug the Keyblade into the dragon's back, and all the powers of light with it.
The dragon let out an agonizing roar as the Keyblade pierced its heart. It twitched and writhed under the weight of the light that coursed through its body, dropping its heavy frame to the floor as the last of its strength left it. Sora withdrew his Keyblade and hopped off its back, running to rejoin his friends. The same green flames the dragon had spewed from its mouth coated the thorny vines that had grown before the battle, disintegrating them into dust as the flames that littered the floor died out. The dragon itself slowly vanished amidst its green flames, leaving naught but Maleficent's tattered robe strewn across the floor.
"Gawrsh, we did it!" Goofy said cheerfully.
"Yeah!" Donald quacked, "There's nothing we can't – Wak!"
The dark portal Riku had escaped from materialized once more behind Maleficent's remains, and none other than the fiend himself stepped forth. He took a quick look at the witch and rolled his eyes. So, he had finally gotten his answer after all… "How ironic," Riku said in the same echoing voice, "She was only a puppet after all."
"R-Riku?" Sora asked once more, a desperate call to what remained of his old friend. Akira put a reassuring hand on his shoulder but shook her head when he glanced at her. The Riku they knew was long gone…
He raised his gaze to meet Sora's, smirking conceitedly as he softly stepped on the witch's robes. "The Heartless were using Maleficent from the beginning. She failed to notice the darkness in her heart eating away at her. A fitting end for such a fool." He ground his foot into her remains before escaping to his portal once more, but not before leering mischievously at the group.
Donald angrily flapped his feathered hands into the air as the portal disappeared. "You're just a coward!" he quacked.
"Gawrsh, where do you suppose he went?" Goofy asked nervously.
Sora crossed his arms. "To wherever Maleficent kept Kairi." He raised his eyes, keeping his gaze stoic as he glanced at all three of them. "We have to go. We have to save her."
"And where are we even supposed to start looking?" Donald voiced, "This castle's huge!"
"I know where she is," Akira said firmly. She immediately grabbed their attention as all their gazes were focused on her, and with a sharp inhale, she began her explanation. "She was in the same room I was in when Maleficent captured me. It's a great hall, not too far from here. That's where Maleficent gathered the Princesses."
"Princesses?" Goofy asked, perplexed.
Akira nodded. "They're called the Princesses of Heart. They have hearts filled only with light, and not a trace of darkness. There are seven of them, and together, they can open the Door to Darkness, and eventually, Kingdom Hearts."
"Kingdom Hearts?" Donald quacked, "What's that?"
"The heart of all worlds."
"How do you know all this? Did Maleficent tell you?" Sora asked as he and the other two processed the influx of information.
Akira pursed her lips. "Y-yes and no. She told me all this because she thought I wasn't going to survive this long, I suppose."
"But you did!" Goofy said cheerily.
Sora smiled, but returned his attention to the matter at hand. "And what did she want with this Door to Darkness and Kingdom Hearts?"
"I suppose she wanted to harness the power of darkness and use it to take over and rule all worlds." She gestured her hand as she spoke, recalling the awful events that took place in the hall.
Goofy clapped his hand over his mouth. "That's awful!"
"Bah, it doesn't matter now," Donald cried, "We defeated Maleficent!"
"But Riku is still there," Sora added, "And with Kairi being there… Wait, does that make her –"
"A Princess of Heart, yes," Akira responded softly, "Jasmine and Alice are there too."
"Then it's settled!" Donald quacked loudly, "We have to go!"
"And save the Princesses!" Goofy exclaimed.
"And stop Riku," Sora said sternly.
Akira clapped her hands together and nodded. "Great! Then, guys, follow me. I know exactly where they are; I can lead us there!"
She turned her back to them and paced towards the portal that led to the chapel with a new sense of determination. They managed to vanquish the Mistress of Evil herself; and together, surely, they would be able to defeat the madness that had consumed their dear friend. They had to.
Yet as she marched towards the portal at full speed, she was stopped in her tracks by a pair of arms that had embraced her from the side. Before she could react to Goofy's sudden gesture of affection, Sora had done the same from her other side as Donald hugged her waist despite his height.
"Wh-what?" she stammered, stunned by their unexpected endearment.
"We never got to… to be happy together again," Sora said in a hoarse voice, "We travelled so far and fought so hard and we found you. We really found you."
"It wasn't the same without you," Donald quaked.
"Yeah, the gang just wasn't the gang with one of us missing," Goofy said joyfully, "We really missed ya."
When she had found them again, she barely took the time to cherish their presence. The threat of Maleficent and her power loomed over their heads, only amplified further by the atrocities she had committed. And now that the witch had been vanquished, they could finally take a moment to simply be. Akira could never repay them for the resolve they had for her sake; while she fought her way out of the darkness, they had put themselves in harm's way, fighting with every ounce of their strength just to find her once more. That feeling of gratitude, appreciation, and simple devotion they had shown her… that was something she would hold in her heart forever. She smiled brightly as she relished in the silence, hearing nothing but the faint sounds of their heartbeats as they held her close.
Even though she had a path she had to keep following, she could allow herself to stop and take a brief moment to appreciate those whom had gotten her this far.