The Great Hall certainly hadn't lost its eerie feel, even with Maleficent's defeat; if anything, the stench of darkness grew tenfold in her absence. The group took their careful first steps into the hall, immediately sensing the heavy darkness that surrounded them.
Donald let out a nervous quack as the shivers travelled down their spines. "I've got a bad feeling about this," he said shakily.
Goofy pointed his finger to the glass prisons lining the wall. "Hey! Are those the Princesses of Heart?" he asked.
Sora quickly scurried towards the jails. "L-look! Alice and Jasmine…" he said with a small gasp. Sure enough, the two young women – along with the other four maidens they had yet to meet – slept calmly in their prisons, emitting a radiant power of light as they kept their eyes closed.
"But I don't understand. We defeated Maleficent. Why aren't they free?" Akira questioned hesitantly.
She asked the questions to which she already knew the answers, though they remained a difficult truth to swallow. The great darkness of Hollow Bastion was not yet defeated; the entity possessing Riku was still at large, and was no doubt picking up where Maleficent had left off.
"There's only six of them…" Sora said softly, "Where's Kairi?"
Akira quickly pointed to the mezzanine, recalling where Maleficent had placed the final Princess before undertaking her vile deeds. Sora barely hesitated. Just a glimpse of Kairi's deep red hair through the railings was enough to break him into a sprint, quickly dashing up the stairs without another word.
"Sora, wait!" Akira called, though the boy didn't soften his step. She rushed after him, with Donald and Goofy hurrying behind her.
Sora climbed the stairs at breakneck speed. His legs were tired, but he hardly felt it. She was so close, almost within his grasp. Everything they had done, every step he had taken, every swing of his Keyblade, every enemy defeated… it all led to this. Kairi had slipped from his grasp multiple times in the past, but this time, he wouldn't let it happen again. He just couldn't.
He called her name when her lifeless form came into view as he stepped into the mezzanine, and the world fell silent. His friends calling his name, the whir of the machines, the swirl of power in the strange Heartless emblem at the altar… he heard none of it. Nothing but the sound of his heart beating out of time as the anxiety rose within.
"Sora!" Akira called one last time as he darted across the floor towards Kairi. Yet, before she could join her friends, a swift and powerful blow collided with her frame. The speed at which she was running did nothing but enhance the pain as she fell off her feet, tumbling down a few steps before Goofy caught her in his arms.
"Gawrsh, what happened? Are you okay?" he asked apprehensively as she grabbed at her head with an agonizing groan.
"N-no…" she said through gritted teeth, "Something… something hit me."
Donald quickly read the situation and waddled up the steps. He extended his arm towards the mezzanine, only to touch an invisible wall. "Wak!" he cried, putting the pieces together, "It's a barrier! We can't pass!"
Akira quickly scrambled to her feet, holding her nose as the prickling in her face subsided. She scampered up the remaining steps with Goofy at her side, anxiously pressing both her hands against whatever force held them back. It was just as Donald said; a strong barrier held them back, but Sora passed through it earlier without a problem. Her breath caught as the realization sank in: whatever awaited them here planned to trap Sora alone.
"Sora!" she cried, banging her fist against the impenetrable wall, but it was no use. The barrier refused to budge, and Sora had other pressing matters on his mind…
"Kairi!" he called as he skidded to a halt beside her. He bent down on one knee, cradling her limp frame in his arms as he tenderly picked her up from the ground, "Kairi! Open your eyes!"
He could call to her until his voice grew hoarse, and her eyes would remain lifeless. He had somehow always known that her heart was long gone, from the moment Riku alluded to it in Monstro, to the moment when he reached out to her through the lattice flooring in Neverland. He had always known, and yet there remained a tinge of hope in his heart. Hope that she could hear his voice, hope that her heart was still within reach… after all, she had called to him in Traverse Town, hadn't she?
"It's no use."
Sora's eyes widened in shock. Akira's nostrils flared as she smacked the barrier once more with her fist. The voice they had grown to despise had made its venomous echo present once more. Riku sat comfortably above the Heartless depression, watching the entire scene unfold before him with a gleam in his eye as brilliant as the one radiating from his dark Keyblade. Sora apprehensively raised his eyes to meet with his enemy's, holding Kairi closer to him as the threat of danger rose.
"That girl has lost her heart. She cannot wake up," Riku hissed, though what remained of Riku's voice was buried beneath the low and guttural voice of another.
Sora gently lay Kairi on the floor once more, his upper lip curling in anger. Whatever sympathy he held for his old friend was long gone; the otherworldly shadow that had consumed his body had made its presence known, and Sora was having none of it. "You…" he growled, "You're not Riku."
"The Keyhole cannot be completed, so long as the last Princess of Heart still sleeps," Riku responded. He slowly rose from his seat and jumped, floating unnervingly to the ground. His feet gently touched the floor, the evil smirk they had grown to hate painted on his lips. Akira bashed at the barrier once more as the sense of danger rose in the room, with Donald mimicking her actions at her side.
Sora shook his head in disbelief. "Still sleeps? Kairi is asleep?" He couldn't deny the thought hadn't crossed his mind. Kairi still breathed softly amidst the cold touch of her pale skin. But how… how could they awaken her?
Riku raised his chin, reading Sora's expression. He knew exactly how to grant the young teen's wish… "Yes. And as long as she continues to sleep, she will not be able to release her power, and the Keyhole will remain incomplete. It is time she awakened."
The last sentence he spoke sent a chill down both Sora and Akira's spines. He knew. He wouldn't say such a thing unless he knew how to awaken Kairi. Akira summoned her staff in her hands and brought it down on the barrier once more, but it refused to break. Even so, she couldn't give up. She had to keep trying. She couldn't sit idly by and watch this scene unfold while she sat on the side and did nothing. Donald and Goofy echoed her sentiments and brandished their own weapons, joining her in their assault.
Amidst the sound of clanking metal against his forcefield, Riku wrinkled his nose as he shot a glare at Sora's companions. "Your efforts are in vain," he hissed.
Sora watched desperately as his friends did everything in their power to destroy their prison. They did all of this for him. All the effort they put into every swing, every useless bash at an invisible barrier that refused to break… it was all for him. Because they cared for him. Because they were worried about him. Because they refused to let him fight this villain on his own. Sora shifted his gaze to the entity that controlled Riku, balling his hand into a fist. "Whoever you are," he growled with a commanding tone, "let Riku go. Give him back his heart."
Riku smirked, turning to face the teen. "But first, you must give the princess back her heart."
He pointed his blade at Sora, though what happened next was not of his own doing. Pain shot through Sora's chest as a faint aura glowed around his heart. He clutched at the fabric on his chest as he was brought to his hands and knees by the sudden agony, letting out a stifled yelp. He heard the faint sounds of his friends calling his name, but the ache stabbing at his heart made it difficult to focus on anything other than the pain. His companions bashed and punched the barrier with even more vigour, but to no avail; the tensions rose, but their efforts were useless.
"Don't you see yet?" Riku called as he walked towards Sora with slow, confident steps, "The princess' heart is responding! It has been there all along. Kairi's heart rests within you!"
Sora's lids fluttered open in shock. Donald, and Goofy ended their assault as the quiet sense of realization softly settled in. Akira pressed her forehead against the barrier in utter surprise. All this time… all this time and they were none the wiser, though the clues were there. Those strange feelings of familiarity Sora spoke of in his heart, the ones they dismissed for anxiety, apprehension, and even basic hunger. Kairi had been with them throughout this entire journey, silently calling to them from Sora's very heart.
Sora panted as he clutched at his chest, echoing the words they all felt inside. "Kairi… Kairi's inside me?" he asked in disbelief, "H-how…"
"I know all that there is to know." Riku spoke with sinister apathy as he grinned smugly at the teen. Sora was finally starting to understand. It was time his plan, the one he had worked so hard for throughout all these years, would come to be. All that stood between himself and victory was a naive boy…
But Sora saw right through his façade. "Tell me. Who are you?" he asked between breaths.
The one posing as Riku came to a stop in front of the crouching boy, surprised but smirking nonetheless. So, perhaps he does understand after all… and there was no use denying it anymore. "It is I, Ansem, Seeker of Darkness."
Silence fell upon the hall once more as Akira, Donald, and Goofy watched in horror as Sora refused to move. Ansem was the man whom had written a report on the Heartless; how fitting that he too would be corroded by the darkness the shadows held. Still, all they could do was watch in desperation as the man posing as Riku lifted his dark Keyblade in the air, pointing it menacingly at Sora, whom kept his gaze glued to the floor as he continued to clutch his chest.
"So, I shall release you now, Princess," he said with euphoria, "Complete the Keyhole with your power. Open the door, lead me into everlasting darkness!"
Time slowed. The anger flowered behind Akira's eyes as she raised her blade once more, desperately crashing it into the barrier. Donald and Goofy had long since stopped. They knew. She knew. But they were mature enough to understand they couldn't break it and she… she was just too stubborn. Too stubborn to stop. Too stubborn to call his name and hope he'll listen like the companions at her side had resorted to. Anger, desperation, pain, frustration… she fought through all of it as she thwacked her blade against the barrier once more. Riku began to bring his weapon down on Sora, and she swiped again.
It couldn't end like this.
She swiped again.
It just couldn't.
She swiped once more.
She wouldn't allow it, and she swiped again. And again. Again. Again.
The hilt grew hot in her hands. The ancient writing that circled the blade began to glow with a faint golden hue. With every hit, her anger grew, her desperation grew. Every negative emotion she ever had the displeasure of sensing ripped like a dagger through her heart, and she kept thrashing her blade. The heat began to sear her hands. Metal adornments grew from the base of the weapon, snaking their way up the staff as her mind raced. Emotions ran high, and she lost all grasp of anything she was feeling. All she could see was Sora's kneeling form becoming a blur of colours as the tears overtook her eyes, Riku's sinister grin as he brought his blade down on her friend, Kairi's lifeless form, limp and unresponsive. Akira's mind went blank, and all she could feel was desolation as she raised her staff in the air once more.
Akira, cease this madness immediately.
Before her weapon made contact with the barrier, she released it from her grip, letting it crash to the floor as she fell to her hands and knees. The golden aura her staff emanated fizzled as it regained its previous form. She choked, gasping for air as she remembered to breathe. She felt Donald and Goofy grab at her arms in concern and call to her, but she barely heard them; she barely felt them. There was just one thing on her mind, a clear and resounding, "Why?"
You cannot possibly wield my power now. Not in this state.
All she had to do was open her heart to it, didn't she? It had told her as much during her fight with Riku. It deemed her worthy. It told her this. To partake in its strength, she had to open her heart to it. And now, now she needed its power the most. Sora needed her power. So why… why… why would it deny her this?
Did you forget what happened to you? You teeter on the edge between light and darkness now. To expose your heart so openly when the darkness is so close and so fierce would be lunacy.
"You… you said…"
The rampant emotions you felt a moment ago were based in fury and despair, not in courage and conviction. Opening your heart in such a state is a recipe for disaster.
"But I have to –"
If you fell to the darkness, you'd be doing a disservice to both yourself AND Sora.
She let out a muffled cry, because she understood. The power that coursed in her staff when she willed for it was magnificent, certainly… but the underlying rage buried deep beneath that power was frightening and disturbing. She had seen it, and she wanted no part of it. In her moment of desperation, she failed to see the error of her ways and yet… she only did it out of…
"What else can I do?" she choked. Donald and Goofy must think she was insane as she spoke nonsense to the ground below her. They had no idea she heard her weapon speak to her. She could faintly hear what they were trying to say to her, but their voices felt so far from reality…
Is it not obvious?
She froze as her eyes widened.
Hope. The great light within the darkness. The hope you held allowed me to pull you from the darkness before; and its power will aid you again.
Donald and Goofy's voices grew louder as she began to softly feel their pull on her arms. They were saying something… they were asking her to do something. But what, she couldn't figure out. She had been so consumed by desperation, she almost forgot the words she herself had uttered to Riku when she had faced him. To believe in those you love, to have hope in their success, to find strength in their hearts… it was easy for her to speak them. But now… now she had to act on them. She strained her ears as her friends' voices cleared, and she could hear the words they were so urgently trying to communicate with her.
"Akira, look up!" Donald pleaded.
"Akira, take a look at that!" Goofy called.
Akira, all you need to do is look up.
She heeded their words by softly raising her head and, in that moment, she truly knew hope.
Riku's attack was denied, for Sora had brandished his Keyblade and held it before him in a stunning act of courage. "Forget it," he growled, pushing Riku's blade away as he slowly rose to his feet once more, "There's no way you're taking Kairi's heart!"
Akira kept her eyes glued to the scene as she willed her legs to move. She softly rose from the ground, gently placing her hands on the barrier as Sora stood between Riku and Kairi as a shining beacon of triumph. And she finally understood the words her staff had spoken to her.
She didn't need to break down the barrier. She didn't need to rush to his side. She didn't need to help him fight Riku. She just had keep hope alive.
"Sora!" she called. He quickly glanced over to her as Riku stepped back, raising his dark Keyblade over his head as he readied to fight. And, with the brightest smile she could muster, she spoke the words she felt with every fiber of her being. "You can do it!"
Sora gave her a gentle smile before focusing his attention on Riku once more. He brandished his Keyblade and assumed his stance. And, with a quick flick of their eyebrows, the childhood rivals charged at each other at breakneck speed, and the fight began.
As the they danced in a flurry of blades and magic, Akira quickly turned around and lightly hugged Donald and Goofy with one arm wrapped around each of their shoulders. "Thanks, guys," she said softly as they processed her sudden gesture, "I heard you two calling to me, and I really appreciate it."
"Aw, ya had us worried there for a second," Goofy said with a grin, "But we're glad things turned out okay."
"Yeah! We can't help Sora if we have to worry about you falling over too!" Donald quipped.
Akira blinked, letting her hands slide to her side. "Help Sora how? We can't exactly do much with a barrier in the way…"
"Maybe not, but he needs us to believe in him right now," Goofy stated, "So, if we keep rooting for him and cheering him on, I know he'll win this fight!"
Akira nodded. To have hope in the darkest of moments, to extend an inviting hand to those who need it most… this she can do. And as she turned around once more to observe the fight with a renewed sense of hope, she knew her words had reached him.
And reach him they had, for Sora fought with an unbridled intensity the likes of which he had never displayed in battle before. He knew in his heart that the demon he clashed with had completely overtaken Riku's body, leaving nary a trace of his old friend behind. He didn't dare hold back for Riku's sake; if anything, he fought harder for him. To free him from the villain that had so cruelly wrested control from him.
Riku held nothing back. His strength had grown tenfold with Ansem and the powers of darkness now at his side, and Sora had to take a more defensive approach. His swipes and jabs hit much harder than they had before, yet he still retained Riku's characteristic moves. Sora had sparred with him enough times to know how to dodge each one and, with so much riding on this fight, he made sure to execute each action without a hitch. He no longer was the lanky teen he was on the islands; he had grown with every step he had taken since that fateful night, and he fervently hoped that, wherever Riku was, he was watching him. And cheering him on, the way his companions did from the sidelines.
"Come on!" Sora called, the way he had always done when they sparred on the islands. He unleashed a flurry of swift blows, giving Riku very little chance to retaliate. As he knocked him off his feet, Sora brought the Keyblade down once more, but missed as Riku rolled to the side and quickly jumped back on his feet.
"I see, so that's how it is," Riku snarled, though whatever remained of his voice was drowned by Ansem's dominant tone, "Welcome, oblivion!"
Harnessing the power of darkness within, Riku's left hand began to glow with an unsettling aura. Sora quickly put distance between the two, sensing the imminent danger. Riku had seen the power of the Kingdom Key and had to step up his game.
Riku swiped his dark Keyblade, sending an aura of shadowy energy mimicking his swipe darting towards Sora. He sidestepped to dodge the attack in the nick of time, though his mind was rattled; if Riku could manage a long-range attack like this one, it would be difficult for him to keep up without running out of breath. Riku proceeded to leap in the air, bringing his weapon down with incredible force. Though he didn't concentrate the attack on Sora himself, the spiky-haired teen quickly realized why he deliberately missed; four shockwaves of lightning danced across the floor, chasing after Sora at breakneck speed. He outran them as they fizzled out, only having enough time to roll out of the way of another incoming swipe of energy. At this rate, he'd never lay another scratch on him…
As he clutched at his chest, exhausted and gasping for air, he heard her voice once more ringing through his mind.
"You can do it!"
He had to keep going; they were counting on him. They were all counting on him.
"Behold the power of darkness!" Riku shouted. The room immediately grew dim. A disturbing white glow began to cover every inch of Riku's body as he quickly became the only beacon of light in the entire hall. But Sora couldn't stop. Not now.
Riku quickly summoned eight portals around the mezzanine, dashing into one and rushing out of the next. He bolted at lightning speed, covering every inch of the arena as he burst through every portal. There was nowhere for Sora to escape to; of this he was certain. And, if by some miracle Sora did manage to dodge his flood of attacks, then there was no hope for him to dodge the next. "Surrender!" he shrieked, sending streams of powerful bolts of lightning exploding from every corner of the arena. He cackled smugly as his aura faded and the light returned to the chamber, expecting to find Sora kneeling in defeat before him. Though he never expected to find what he saw next.
With nary a scratch on him, Sora stood exultantly before Kairi's form. Riku's eyes widened in shock as his lips curled in anger, unable to process the fury that rose within. Sora knew; he knew he wouldn't be so bold as to injure Kairi's body when her power was still needed to finish the Keyhole.
Or perhaps… that faint yet defiant voice in the back of his mind willed him to keep his friends safe.
"No!" he raged, "How?!"
Sora furrowed his brows. "It ends now!" he cried. Summoning all his strength, he whipped his Keyblade at Riku. It spun in the air with a force unlike anything they had ever seen, glowing with a faint golden aura as it tore through the air. Riku let out a strangled cry as the Keyblade struck him in the chest, falling to one knee as the pain shot through every corner of his body. To be defeated by something as trivial as the power of light… no, he couldn't let it end this way. Without daring to raise his eyes to the boy whom had defeated him, Riku disappeared in a flash of shadows, leaving nothing behind but his dark Keyblade.
As soon as he had vanished, the barrier holding Sora's companions hostage shattered. They scurried to his side, calling his name. But he remained fixed on his spot, his eyes glued to the spot where Riku had stood mere moments before. "Sora?" Donald asked meekly, tugging at his hand as Akira and Goofy watched him with concerned gazes. He had won the battle, but how much did he give up for it?
"Guys…" Sora whispered through half-lidded eyes, "I can't…"
"It's going to be okay, Sora," Goofy said softly, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"I can't thank you guys enough."
They exchanged perplexed glances as Sora's mood suddenly shifted. He raised his head and exchanged grateful smiles with each of them. "For a second, I wasn't sure if I could beat him. He was so strong… but I heard your voices. I heard you cheering me on. And in my heart, I heard Leon, Yuffie, Cid, and Aerith too. Hercules, Aladdin, Jack… every friend we've made, every person who counted on me. I heard them all. Even Kairi." His eyes began to show the faint signs of mist. "I found strength in all of you. And especially you guys, you who have come all the way here with me –"
"Aw, we'll go anywhere you go, Sora," Goofy stated.
"You can't do anything without us, Sora!" Donald quacked with an impish smirk.
"Wherever we go, we'll always go together," Akira added, chuckling at Donald's remark, "Until the end."
Sora didn't answer, but his smile said it all. Donald, Goofy, and Akira. There are no other people in the entire universe he would rather travel with. Together until the end… he'd like that a lot.
An ear-splitting shatter interrupted their moment. Now that the two entities of darkness overseeing Hollow Bastion were defeated, nothing remained to keep the darkness in check. The Keyhole sputtered and crackled as it attempted to contain the swirling power within, but it was sure to fail soon, and all the contained power of darkness would come pouring forth.
"Oh no! The Keyhole!" Goofy gasped.
Sora wore a pained expression on his face, shifting his gaze to Kairi, whom lay on the ground behind them. "But, Kairi…"
"I'll watch over her," Akira said sternly, "You three have to go put a stop to that."
Sora nodded, and took off for the Keyhole with Donald and Goofy by his side. They skidded to a halt at the top of the steps leading to the altar, taking in the awful scene before them. Static electricity crackled and popped as it kept the swirl of power contained. Donald gulped loudly at the awful sight as Sora summoned his Keyblade, ready to end this for good. He raised his Keyblade, pointing it to the Keyhole and concentrating all his power to his blade as he waited for the familiar beam of light…
Yet, nothing came to pass, and his Keyblade remained silent and inert.
"What's going on?" Donald quacked.
"It's gotta be the Keyhole! It's not finished yet!" Goofy cried, nervously bringing his hand to his mouth.
Sora dropped his hand to his side, lightly shaking his head in disbelief. "But what can we do?" he asked.
"Well, that Ansem fella mentioned it won't be finished until Kairi gets her heart back. Maybe we just need to wake her up…" Goofy remarked, scratching his chin.
"I think you're right."
Sora reluctantly placed a hand over his heart. Even as he felt the soft and rhythmic beating beneath his palm, it still felt so surreal to him. Ansem had mentioned that Kairi's heart slept within his… but how could he release it? "If we can free her heart… but how…" His eyes danced across the stone floor as his mind raced. Ideas of every kind flooded him, each more ridiculous than the last, but nothing stood out to him. Nothing, until he slowly turned around and rested his gaze on the dark Keyblade Ansem had left behind. "A Keyblade that unlocks people's hearts…" he whispered, "I wonder."
Just a few feet away from the now unclaimed Keyblade, Akira gently pushed Kairi's hair out of her closed eyes with a pained expression on her face. "Oh, Kairi…" she whispered under her breath as her finger softly touched her cold skin, "What are we going to do?" They had taken countless steps, visited countless worlds, vanquished countless villains, all to find her. And now that they had finally succeeded, how many more steps will they need to take to return her heart? How many more worlds will they need to visit just for her to open her eyes once more? How many more shadows will they need to defeat just to see her smile once more? Akira sighed as she slumped her shoulders. "Someone's got to know something… our friends in Traverse Town? Maybe they can help." She smiled softly as her old friend slept at her side. "It's not like your heart's lost forever, Kairi… after all, it's just inside –"
"Sora, hold on!" Goofy screeched.
"No, wait!" Donald hollered.
Akira gasped as her train of thought was interrupted, recoiling her hand from Kairi's cheek as she quickly whirled around towards her screaming friends. There was nothing left to yell about, so what could they possibly…
And as she watched Sora gently kneel and pick up the dark Keyblade, she felt her world suddenly come crashing down.
A Keyblade that unlocks people's hearts.
Kairi's heart was within Sora himself.
She realized his intentions, and her breath caught. Her lips refused to speak, and her eyes refused to blink. All she could do was raise her hand and reach out to him, praying her body would move with all her strength as she watched the nightmare unfold before her eyes.
He stopped for a moment to examine the blade amidst Donald and Goofy's pleas, and she somehow forced herself through the anguish to will her lips to move. "Sora, no," she said firmly.
He lowered the Keyblade, holding the hilt against his chest.
"Sora, no!" she cried.
He flipped the Keyblade, pointing its tip at his heart.
"Sora, NO!" she shrieked.
He quickly glanced at Donald and Goofy, giving them a quick smile. Akira gathered enough strength to stand, but it still wasn't enough. She had to stop him. There had to be another way. There had to. It couldn't come to this… he couldn't leave them.
She froze in her spot as he turned his head to lock his gaze with hers and yet, despite the resolve and determination behind his vivid blue eyes, she still saw the smallest trace of sorrow behind them.
He mouthed the words 'I'm sorry' and speared the Keyblade into his chest.
Time continued to pass, no matter how much she willed it not to. Tears spilled over from her eyes, soaking her shirt as they flowed freely without reservation. She let out a muffled cry as she sprinted towards him. She thought she called his name, but she wasn't certain. She wasn't certain of anything anymore.
A brilliant light poured from the tip of the Keyblade, surrounding Sora's heart with a golden aura. The Keyblade itself shattered into six pieces, transforming into tiny orbs of light that soared towards the entrance of the hall, each heart settling upon the Princess it had once belonged to. A final orb released itself from Sora's chest and floated gently towards Kairi, returning to its rightful owner.
Sparkles of gold shimmered around Sora as he softly closed his eyes and began to fall. Akira instinctively threw out her hands, hoping to catch him. She willed her feet to move faster but, no matter how fast she ran, she couldn't catch up. He was so far away… and all she could do was watch as she desperately struggled to catch him.
He couldn't leave them now. He couldn't leave her now. After everything they had done, everything they had seen, everything they had sacrificed. He couldn't simply let it end here. She couldn't simply let it end here. There was so much she didn't get to say to him. So many words she hadn't let pass her lips… out of fear, bashfulness, or plain idiocy. She couldn't let him go without saying them to him. Yet, as she finally made it to his side and watched his fading body burst into a multitude of shimmering golden orbs before she could catch him, she felt the last of her hope leave her.
And as the shimmers of gold that remained of him twinkled in the air before they faded, she could swear they looked like a field of flowers under the moonlight.
"No…" she said in a brittle voice, "Don't go. Please, don't go."
She thought she heard Donald and Goofy call his name. Maybe they called her name too. She wasn't sure. Every sound, every sight, every feeling seemed to be a daydream away. Yet, the faint squeak of a voice she hadn't heard in so long snapped her out of her trance. A voice like the bluebirds on the mainland and the soft rain dancing on the leaves of the trees.
"Sora? A-Akira? What's going on?" Kairi asked from behind her.
What a cruel trick for her mind to play on her. Now, in the most vulnerable state she had been in a long time, now it found the time to tempt her with an illusion of happiness? What a joke.
"Akira?" Kairi asked once more.
It was so easy to pretend it wasn't happening, to pretend it was all some sick trick of the mind. But, as she slowly turned to lay eyes on her old friend, she felt the emotions within her swell, unable to keep a grasp on them any longer. Kairi's radiant majorelle eyes watched her with fear and apprehension as she remained seated on the ground. The colour had returned to her cheeks, the life had returned to her eyes, and Akira immediately understood. Sora's idiotic, grandiose plan worked. It actually worked.
She felt her fingers twitch and her breath catch in her throat as she continued to stare at her old friend. Sora's sacrifice wasn't in vain; he managed to save Kairi. Yet, the moment she had dreamed of since this adventure started left nothing but a bittersweet taste in her mouth. How could she face Kairi now, now that Sora wasn't there by her side? He promised… he promised they would both recount stories of their adventures to her together. What could she say to her now?
"Sora, he…" she choked, but the words wouldn't pass her lips.
"He's gone, isn't he?"
Akira gasped in response.
"I feel like I dreamed the whole thing. So many places, so many people… and the last thing I remember is watching Sora take that weapon and –" Kairi shook her head with a determined scowl crossing her face. "No. He can't be. I won't let him go."
Even though she had witnessed the same sight Akira had, even though her arms and legs trembled in fear, she still somehow found it in her heart to keep the hope alive. "Kairi…" was all Akira could respond, but there was so much more she wanted to say.
"So, you have awakened at last, Princess."
The gruff voice that filled the hall with a wicked echo no longer sent chills down Akira's spine. It did nothing more than fill her with undue anger and rage. She gritted her teeth, letting a small growl escape them as she turned to face the villain that had finally decided to make an appearance.
The man that stood before them no longer needed Riku's body to manifest. His voice that had once blanketed Riku's spoke with clarity and precision. He was dressed in a contrasting monochrome garb, his long, silver hair floating gently at his waist. The only pops of colour he had were the unmistakable Heartless crest inscribed on his chest, and the deep, piercing yellow hue of his eyes. Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, had made his grand entrance, and the power of pure darkness he exuded was unlike anything they had ever experienced.
Akira's growl turned into a snarl as she took a heavy step forward, daggers shooting from her eyes as she glared at him. Sora was long gone, of his own volition. But this man? He was responsible for Riku's demise, and she needed someone to blame; anything to keep the pain within her in check.
"You…" she fumed, "What did you do to Riku?"
"Riku? The boy gave himself willingly to me, body and soul," he responded, crossing his arms as an evil grin danced across his face.
"You fiend!" Akira cried as she summoned her staff with a strangled cry of rage, pointing it directly at Ansem. He took everything from her. He tricked Riku. He willingly left his Keyblade behind, knowing full well Sora wouldn't hesitate to use it. And he didn't give a damn about Kairi; he just wanted her power. In that moment, she didn't care how powerful he was. She didn't care if she even had a chance to defeat him. The pain and sorrow she felt inside had to be good for something… it just wouldn't end until she brought him to his knees.
Ansem, on the other hand, seemed preoccupied by something entirely different. His gaze shifted to the staff that glistened brilliantly before him, creasing his brows in thought. "So, you have chosen a master at last," he said softly. His eyes fixated on the blade, as if he was conversing with it. "This foolish girl was a poor choice. What a pity."
The voice of her staff remained silent, but Akira couldn't care less; she could barely hear it amidst the anger in her heart screaming of its pain. Her hands shook as she tried to keep her weapon steady among the swirl of emotions that bubbled within.
Ansem shook his head. "The time of your demise draws near. The Keyhole is now complete; the Princess has served her purpose. But now it's over."
With a sinister look in his eyes, Ansem began to walk towards them, his gaze fixated on Kairi. Donald and Goofy rushed to Akira's side, brandishing their weapons as well. The pain they felt over Sora's loss filled their hearts, but they couldn't give up yet; not when Akira still stood in defiance against him.
"Don't make another move!" Donald quacked.
"Do you think we can stop him all by ourselves?" Goofy asked in a shaky voice from behind his shield.
"I don't know," Akira responded softly, "But we have to try. After what happened to Sora, I can't… I can't just run off and hide. I have to do this. For him."
They nodded in agreement. Her legs shook as the stench of darkness in the air rose at an incredible speed. Ansem displayed power of which they had never seen before; Maleficent seemed like child's play compared to him. Perhaps Goofy's apprehension was right; maybe they couldn't stop him all by themselves. But she couldn't simply give up. If this is where she would meet her demise, then at least she could say she went down with a fight.
A defiant cry rang through the air, and Akira almost dropped her weapon in shock. That voice, that old familiar voice… it couldn't be.
Ansem came to a halt, visibly struggling as he attempted to take another step forward. Something unseen was holding him back, stopping his advance. "I-Impossible!" he cried, though no matter how much he struggled, he remained frozen in place. He growled in annoyance as the faint, transparent form of a teen began to take shape before him with a soft, golden aura, his arms outstretched as he prevented Ansem from taking another step. Kairi gasped in shock when he came into view, and Akira suddenly felt torn.
"N-no!" Riku cried rebelliously, "You won't use me for this!"
He didn't look any different than he had on the islands before their worlds were plunged into chaos. Clad in his familiar blue and yellow garb, the rage and jealousy Akira had always seen hiding in his eyes was all but pushed aside as he struggled with what little strength he had left to keep his friends safe.
"Riku!" Kairi called in desperation.
His eyes flickered to hers, and a tiny smile flashed across his face. She was safe – truly safe and well. And, almost as soon as the smile crossed his lips, it turned into a frown as his eyes showed nothing but pain. "You have to run! The Heartless are coming!" he shouted.
No. Akira couldn't run, not when he was within her grasp. "Not without you!" she cried.
"Akira, listen to me!" he said, struggling against Ansem's pull, "Take Kairi and get her out of here. Take her somewhere safe. Please!"
"But, I can't leave you behind–"
"Please, Akira. Don't you see? Sora did what he had to, so he could bring Kairi back. I'm doing what I can, so you can escape. There is only you left. We're both counting on you to keep her safe. So, I'm begging you – agh!" Riku faltered slightly against the power of the dark being behind him, shutting one eye in pain.
"Riku!" she called, her voice thick with worry.
He struggled to speak. "I know you can do it. It's all up to you now. We're counting on you, Akira."
She lowered her weapon, her mouth agape as her breath caught in her throat once more. Her staff spoke the words she felt she had always known, though they hurt to hear out loud.
His heart has decided, as did Sora's. There is naught else we could do but trust them and keep moving forward.
Keep moving forward.
Sora knew that if anything were to befall him, he could trust Akira to take care of the rest.
Riku knew she was strong enough to fight off any Heartless as she brought Kairi to safety.
And as she pursed her lips and watched her old friend with azure resolve, she nodded in understanding. Strength didn't come from magical ability or weapon proficiency, nor did it stem from hate or rage. To protect those that matter most, to stand tall in the face of evil, and to have trust in those you love… this is what it meant to be strong.
Riku offered her a parting smile as she signaled her determination to him. And for the first time, since that day on the islands when they contemplated where the wind would take them, she saw him; the Riku she had always known and remembered.
Akira spun around and marched towards Kairi, cupping her hand in both of hers and raising it to chest-level. "Kairi, listen to me," she said firmly, watching her with a resolute look, "We have to go. I know you're scared, and I know you're worried about them, but I need you to believe me when I say this: I will make this right. I promise you, I will find a way to save Sora and Riku. But now, I have to get you to safety."
Fear and apprehension danced behind Kairi's eyes for a moment, but Akira didn't drop her gaze. She believed those words with every fiber of her being, and she needed Kairi to see that. She needed Kairi to lean on her in her current state of shock and confusion, and she needed to trust that she'd keep her safe. After a moment of thought, Kairi nodded in understanding and squeezed Akira's hands.
Akira gave a small smile of appreciation before turning her attention to her other companions. "Donald. Goofy," she said sternly, "We have to go. Now."
"But what about the Keyhole?" Goofy asked nervously.
"There's no time. We have to escape, or else we're done for."
Donald let out an angry quack. "Then let's hurry up and get out of here!"
Without missing another beat, the four of them broke into a sprint and dashed down the stairs, Kairi's hand securely locked with Akira's. She took the lead, stolidly rushing back the way they came as she took charge of the group. She kept her weapon steadily at her side, ready to knock away any Heartless that dared to cross their path. She had to get Kairi to safety. She had to get Donald and Goofy to safety. This fortitude kept her feet moving forward and her gaze fixed on the road ahead, not daring to allow herself even a moment of hesitation.
And as Riku's transparent form began to fade as he lost his grip on Ansem, he looked towards them one last time, and couldn't help but smile. From behind, Akira looked like nothing less than the leader he knew she could be, and that filled his heart with hope.
No matter which way Sora would look, all he could see was darkness. He wasn't certain where he was going, but the pull of the void kept him floating in a downwards spiral. No sounds, no colours, not a trace of life in sight. All he could do was let himself drift without direction towards the unknown.
"What's… What's happening to me? Falling… Falling into darkness…"
As Akira, Kairi, Donald and Goofy left the Great Hall, a black antenna wriggled to life behind them, watching them make their escape through a pair of beady yellow eyes.