Ok, if you read the summary then it would say that revisions are being done. They are done and I did so because while I was writing this chap I realized I didn't tie in everything correctly with the visions. To see the changes, check chapters 16 and up. No review replies for this one, don't want to keep you all waiting for this long one!
Three Brothers
We were speeding through space. I totally missed the warphole. I was too worried and angry to get back. The boosters were on the whole way back. I gripped the controls tight. I prayed that Traverse Town wasn't in that bad of a shape. On the way Sora told me how everyone was captured.
"Everyone was caught in the middle of the night…we never saw it coming"
"But how could he have captured all of you without any of us noticing?"
"We don't know. The only thing we all remembered was going to sleep. While we were sleeping I guess he did something to quietly sneak all of us there. I woke up first and saw myself pinned up to a wall. I tried to free myself but couldn't. I saw everyone else pinned to, but still asleep…"
"So you all eventually woke up, but what about Sephiroth?"
"After we all woke up, he appeared and gave us the whole plan…"
"What'd he say?"
"He said that everything was going according to plan. He was sure that you and everyone else would come to rescue us. Once he saw you leave Traverse, he disappeared…"
"We've already let him have too much time….by now half the town must be in ruins…"
We all shuddered at that thought. Most of Traverse's population was refugees. They already experienced enough pain when they lost their worlds. To lose another…I can't let that happen!
(If even one building is out of place…I swear you're gonna pay!)
We flew past the Coliseum. Traverse was next now. We neared it, and we didn't see the happy little town we once knew. Riku went closer to the window and put his hand up to the world, then let it drop.
"How…so quick…so…."
The First District looked like it was hit by a nuke. Nothing there but rubble and ruin. Same for the Second District, but with the Third District still looked intact. We all sighed in relief that at least one of the three districts survived.
(Good, he didn't get that far. If we land now we can still sto-)
Our happy thoughts were shattered as we saw a large and bright yellow-red explosion engulf what was left of Traverse Town. All of us gasped as we saw the explosion. We were all too late. I heard some sobs and stifled tears behind me. I began to land in what used to be Traverse Town. We landed and stepped off the ship. We all walked through the destruction and rocks. Luckily we saw no bodies. I hoped that was a sign that at least most of the townspeople made it out alive. We all decided to split up to search for Sephiroth. Sora, Azure, Raiku, Jymanea and I made up one group and we headed to what was left of the Second District. Everyone else started to head towards the Third. Our group slowly walked through the broken district. Something seemed familiar about this…
(Why do I feel like I remember this? Must be my imagination…)
We hopped down to check the area in front of the fountain. The fountain itself was destroyed, pipes stood where it used to be. We continued to walk, the scenery getting more familiar to me by the second.
(Where have I seen this before…where…?)
I looked around, my eyes passed Raiku and suddenly an image flashed in my mind. The image of him dying here, from my vision!
(No, then that means…)
"Glad you could come Adept, and you brought friends! How…annoying…."
We looked up to see Sephiroth slowly fly down in front of us. He looked just as angry as we did. We all drew our weapons; they had the same ones they wielded from the vision, and I drawing only my One-Winged-Angel. This would be personal.
(This is supposed to be the essence of him huh? I'll kill him with it!)
It was a stare down for a while. Sephiroth spoke, and I saw the scene play out like it was supposed to.
"You've all caused enough trouble for me. I'll get rid of all of you, and then Adept, you're gonna become what you saw"
Like in the vision, I gripped my keyblade and stepped forward.
"You'll never get me! I'll avoid your crazy plan and kill you once and for all!"
(Here it comes…)
"Oh Adept, I would like to see you try…when you're dead!"
(Raiku…I'm sorry…)
Sephiroth dashed right toward me while I was thinking. I closed my eyes, half of me wanting to take the hit and save Raiku, and the other half saying that this had to happen.
I reluctantly opened my eyes. The whole thing to my horror played out perfectly. He said his last words…
"Guess…I failed…but Adept…remember…you have to restore the worlds…and seal the door to the dark…later…"
He gave out a small laugh and fell to the floor as Sephiroth pulled his sword out. Everyone yelled his name as he fell. I knew what to do next.
"Sephiroth…I'm…I'm…"
He laughed like he was supposed to and put his sword back in place.
"What Adept, what could you possibly do?"
"I'll kill you"
The black tornado surrounded me once more. My body and mind again changing as it swirled. Sephiroth looked in shock at what was going on. The bright white and yellow light shot out of the tornado and standing there was one of my other sides. The one who represented dusk, Raphael. I looked at Sephiroth with a cold stare. Sephiroth flinched for a moment, but then he smiled. The kind of smile that said he had something planned.
"So, this is the Adept's other form. Dusk. So powerful, but can be disabled with a single move…"
I looked at him with suspicion. What does he have planned? I withdrew his sword and energy started to form in his hands. A dark black and red orb formed.
"Now Adept, you will see what Sin Harvest can do if I use it on a person!"
I didn't know what he meant. But I knew it was something horrible. I turned my head to everyone else.
"Everyone run! You don't know what that thing can do to us!"
We all started to run in whatever direction we could. Sephiroth shot the ball at me. I jumped up, and the ball hit the ground. It made a pretty fair size crater on impact. Now we had to avoid it at all costs. He charged another one. I dashed in to stop him.
"You're not gonna use that on me!"
"Who said I was going to use it on anyone?"
(WHAT!)
He ran away, and towards Daya. He shot the ball in front of her. She jumped to dodge it like I did. I heard Sephiroth let out a chuckle.
"Gotcha"
He jumped up in the air and slashed her with his katana. I looked in shock as her lifeless body fell, but I saw no blood.
(If that didn't kill her, then what did it-)
I looked up to see something glowing red next to Sephiroth. It couldn't be…
(Her heart…)
Sephiroth snatched it. He waved his hand and what seemed to be a rip in the air opened. He threw her heart in there and the rip closed up. I jumped up to where Sephiroth was and I tried to slash him but he dodged it. He flew back as I dropped down. I felt angrier than I ever did before.
"WHAT DID YOU DO WITH HER HEART?"
Sephiroth continued to hover. He smiled at me, an evil smile.
"Just getting rid of your troublesome friends. 2 down, 3 to go"
"2 down…but what about-"
"Raiku's heart? Right here"
He pulled out another glowing red heart. He did the same thing as he did with Daya and shot it into the rip.
"Now to get the keybearer"
He started to fly at Sora, who was trying to avoid it. I jumped in front of Sephiroth to stop him. I tried another slash, but when I did he disappeared. All that was left floating was black feathers.
(Where'd he go…?)
"Right here"
I felt a finger touch the back of my neck as I landed. Sephiroth was behind me. I was at his non-existent mercy.
"So what now, you're gonna send my heart through your thing too?"
"Oh no Adept, you're in my way. I'm just going to…disable you for a while"
I felt a shock go through my whole body. I felt numb all over. I tried to move but my body was like a statue. Totally frozen and helpless.
(Can't move…must try to move body.…)
I continued to try to move but I couldn't even manage a twitch. I heard Sephiroth give a loud laugh before I heard him start to fly.
"Now that you've been taken care of, it's time to send your friends hearts to the endless abyss!"
I heard him fly off. What I heard next made me want to cover my ears. The sound of Sephiroth laughing as his sword connected with my friends. Their loud but short screams, the sound of the rip portal opening and their hearts being thrown in, and Sephiroth laughing through it all. He was enjoying this. He enjoyed the sight of my still body, and him easily catching my friends one by one. I felt his spell wear off but I didn't want to move. I felt so helpless and without hope. I fell to the ground and I was on my knees, looking right at the ground. Anger, pain, sadness, those were the feelings I also felt. I heard Sephiroth land in front of me. Still laughing like a madman, but then went back to his cold and regular self.
"So Adept, your friends are gone. All lost to the darkness. What now? Will you fight, even though you know that there is no way to retrieve your friends? They were tossed in the endless abyss! Their hearts forced to wander for all eternity and nobody to guide them!"
He resumed his sick laugh. I continued to sulk, but I had to fight. I couldn't save my friends, but I could avenge them. I stood up and readied myself, hands gripped around my keyblades and eyes burning in determination. Sephiroth stopped laughing to look at my gesture.
"So, even in times like this you still plan to fight? Then let me put you to rest as well!"
He slashed at me with his sword but I blocked it with my Diamond Dust. I went it for a stab but he jumped back. I charged into him, yelling in hatred. I tried for a dual overhead slam but he blocked that as well. He pushed me off and began his own attack. There we were, fighting back and forth. I was fighting for vengeance and him fighting for his own desires. The sounds of our weapons clashing, and we kept this up until we were in a deadlock. Both of us pushing for the advantage. Sephiroth again tried to play with my mind.
"What will you get out of this Adept? Your friends are gone and you and I know that nothing can bring them back! Is this all really necessary?"
(I know they're gone…but what else do I have to fi-)
That single moment of thought resulted of me getting a roundhouse kick from Sephiroth that sent me flying into the wall where the fountain once stood. I hit the wall, and fell to my knees. I clutched my chest in pain. That kick might've broken a few of my ribs. While I thought about that I saw the point of Sephiroth's sword in my face. I looked up to see him, about to deliver the final blow.
"Forget winning Adept since you have no hope. No help and you're all alone. It's time I end your life…"
He raised his sword above his head. I was on my knees, ready to face death.
(If I must die…at least I could say I lived an exciting life…)
No, you're not dying yet Adept…
ENTER VISION ROOM
I found myself again in the ever familiar vision room. I saw Axel again in front of me. I looked away, not caring about what he wanted to say.
"You're too late…they're all dead…and can't be brought back…"
"Oh, I beg to differ Adept"
My head shot up right toward him. There was a way to bring them back!
"What do I have to do? Just tell me and I'll do it right now!"
"Hold on Adept. I must warn you, doing this will have severe consequences"
"I don't care just tell me!"
"Adept, if you go through with this you'll be split into your three parts!"
I stopped for a moment. By three parts, did he mean my three different personas?
"You're telling me, that if I try to do this, I'll be split into 3?"
"Correct. But only after the split can you get all their hearts back. You'll need the help of your brothers"
"Brothers…ok but one last thing"
"What?"
"After, is there anyway for us to become whole again?"
Axel went silent for a moment.
"I'm afraid that isn't possible"
"I see…so how do I activate this power?"
"Concentrate on saving your friends. Remember the reason you're fighting, and the spell will let you all split"
"Ok, thanks, but one more thing"
"Yes?"
"If they stay, will they fight alongside me? And what side will I be?"
Axel paused again.
"As for your form, I think you'll revert back to light. For the fighting thing…"
"Well? What'll happen?"
"They'll definitely fight alongside you. They're your brothers, you 3 need each other. If one leaves the cycle you represent will be broken. Light, Dusk and Darkness, they all need one of the others to exist to continue the cycle. Whether in nature or in your case"
That was it. This would be the only way to save my friends hearts. I had to do this…
"Thank you Axel"
"You're welcome Adept"
BACK TO REALITY
"Die Adept!"
Sephiroth swung his sword down. Looking up, I quickly dodged it and rolled off to the right. This was it, now or never. Sephiroth looked even more pissed off now.
"So you still resist, but now you will resist no longer!"
He charged at me as I closed my eyes and did what Axel said.
(I'm fighting to save my friends…to get their hearts back…)
A bolt of lightning from out of nowhere shot down at me. Sephiroth stopped and flew upward and away to avoid the lightning. The lightning continued to fall around me as I felt my heart leave my body and the body became lifeless. The heart grew and suddenly a bolt hit the heart. The heart started to divide and a firestorm took the lightning's place. The heart split and 3 normal sized hearts hovered next to each other. One heart went back to Raphael's body. Bodies started to form around the 2 others. Building around the first was my body, the one that represented light. I felt my clothes form and with a flash, by body was complete. I spread out my white wings behind my back. I looked to my left and saw another body form around the second heart. A body that looked exactly like me wearing a black t-shirt with an open trenchcoat, black jeans and black boots. Heavy black angel wings spread from his back. His eyes shot open and so did Raphael's. It was complete. The separation worked. They looked at each other, then me, then Sephiroth. They studied their own forms. I guessed they were surprised to see themselves with their own body. Sephiroth himself stood in awe and fear. Something like this, he wasn't expecting. Raphael walked over to me and stared at me for a moment, like he was making sure I was the real thing. After a moment he gave me a small heartwarming smile and a soft punch in the arm.
"I guess you really pulled it off, brother"
I smiled back. A sigh of relief went off in my mind. Axel was right about one thing, but we were still missing my dark half…
Raphael seemed to read my mind as we both turned our heads to him. Like Raphael he came over and stared at me for a moment. After he gave a small laugh and a smile.
"I can't believe you really pulled it off. You crazy baka…"
"Hey!"
He grinned at me for a moment but his face turned serious as he turned back to face Sephiroth. I tapped him on the shoulder and he turned back around with a growl.
"You baka, what now?"
"Um, just one thing, if I'm Francis and he's Raphael, what should we call you?"
He thought for a moment and turned back around to Sephiroth.
"Call me…Hideo"
"Ok, thanks"
"Don't mention it, but now, I think it's time we take care of this Sephiroth…I'm gonna bash his skull…."
He swung his hands out and 2 weapons from out of nowhere appeared in his hands. 2 black sawed off shotguns appeared in his hands. Guess he preferred guns to swords. Raphael stepped forward and did the same but with his left hand. A huge katana-like sword appeared. He swung it over his shoulder and they both readied themselves. Sephiroth stood there and stared for a moment, then his face snapped back to the business at hand and he readied his weapon.
"I don't know how you did something like this Adept, but I'll make sure it never happens again!"
He charged at the three of us. He tried to hit all of us with a horizontal slash, I rolled out of the way and my 2 brothers jumped up to avoid it. I used this chance to try to get a hit in on Sephiroth. He blocked it and we were slashing at each other back and forth. I heard gunshots and looked up to see Hideo trying to get as many rounds as he could into Sephiroth. Sephiroth gritted his teeth in pain for a moment before flying up to avoid the bullets. I tried to fly up after him put Raphael beat me too it. He jumped up and hit Sephiroth with an upward kick that sent him skyward. Hideo took that chance and started to unload shots on his rising, and soon to be falling body. Sephiroth started to fall and Hideo continued to fire rounds at him. Once his body was halfway to the ground Raphael again jumped up but now hit him in the chest with the hilt of his weapon, right towards the ground. Sephiroth started to fall at a fast rate. As Raphael hit him, he shot at me a stare, like he was telling me to do something. I heard a voice in my head…
Finish him!
I nodded, getting the message and started to run toward the spot where Sephiroth would land. I remembered my "vow" from the beginning of the battle. I took my One Winged Angel and pointed up at the sky.
(This is for my friends!)
I heard the sound of a blade piercing a body. Blood dripped from where I hit Sephiroth and it dripped down my blade. With a yell I threw Sephiroth off of my keyblade and sent him flying to a wall. I walked over to where his body laid, my brothers landing behind me and following. We saw Sephiroth bloody and battered, clutching the wound I inflicted on his chest. Amazingly we saw him give a weak laugh.
"You think you've won….well guess what…you didn't….this is just….the beginning…."
A dark portal opened beneath Sephiroth and he began to sink in it.
"I'll be back….my plan….cannot fail!"
I tried to stop him but I felt a hand stop me. I looked back and saw Raphael, he shook his head. Reluctantly I stepped back, and let Sephiroth escape. I felt angry that I didn't get to kill him, but happy that I at least gave him something to remember me by. I sighed but something snapped in my head. I totally forgot!
(My friends, we have to get their hearts back!)
I turned to Hideo and Raphael to explain what we had to do. Hideo put his hand up to stop me.
"Don't worry, we didn't forget about them. They're our friends too. Even if we just existed in your head"
I gave a sigh of relief. Guess we really are brothers after all. We gathered our friends' lifeless bodies and lined them up. But one question remained. How were we supposed to get their hearts back? Hideo tapped me on the shoulder as I thought about that.
"If you're wondering how we're supposed to do this, Raphael and I have to open the gateway. You'll have to concentrate on pulling their hearts out of the abyss"
I nodded in agreement. The three of us stood in front of the bodies. I was in the middle of my brothers. Raphael and Hideo put their hands out and began to concentrate. White orbs formed between their hands and flew to each other. They combined and a gateway similar to Sepiroth's rip portal opened. I took a deep breath before I closed my eyes and tried to get them back.
(Sora…Daya…Raiku…Jymanea…Azure…come back to back to your bodies….)
I concentrated as hard as I could. I slowly opened my eyes to see 5 red hearts float slowly out. They flew around us and it looked so beautiful. They each started to hover over their respective body and then flew into them. We heard all of them gasp for air. I jumped for joy. It worked, they all came back!
"Yes! It worked! We did it, it really worked!"
We heard all of them come to in the order we laid them.
"Ouch…what happened?.."
"Ugh…my head…."
"…wait…aren't I supposed to be dead?..."
"SEPHIROTH!...wait...why am I on the ground?"
"What the hell is going on?...…"
I couldn't help but laugh. I was so glad that they all came back.
(They're all back!...wait….oh crap….)
I turned to my brothers with a meek smile. They looked at me wondering what was wrong. We had a problem.
"Uh, you guys both know this separation thing is permanent, right?"
They both nodded.
"Well, how am I supposed to explain to them who you two are?"
They both realized what I meant. They shrugged their shoulders and if this were an anime I would've dropped right on the floor.
"I should've thought about this sooner…"
"Um…Francis?"
I turned to see Sora, and everyone else wide awake. I gave them a meek wave.
"Hey, guys…what's up?"
"We're all ok, but who're the two people behind you?"
"Err…um…well…see it's kinda hard to explain….why don't I let them introduce themselves!"
I stepped out of the way so both of my brothers were in plain view. A really awkward silence followed. I didn't know how to explain this! I heard them both shyly introduce themselves.
"Well, as you all know I'm Raphael"
"The name is Hideo"
Another awkward silence followed. I couldn't stand this at all so I stepped forward in between the two groups.
"Ok, since this isn't getting us anywhere, let's start from the beginning…"
So I re-capped the events that happened. Throughout the whole thing Sora and the group stayed silent. Halfway through we saw Riku and everyone else come.
(Great timing……so now you come….sheesh….)
So after giving the story again from the beginning, I had to go into an in-depth explanation about the whole "brother" thing. After going through it for the 10th time, they finally got it. We then got on the whole subject of Sephiroth's return. Hideo said that we would just have to wait it out. Raphael and I both agreed with him, and so did everyone else. Dismissing the subject, we saw Mickey and Ansem land. They told us that everyone evacuated before Sephiroth came, but the town would take a while to re-build. All of us immediately volunteered to help. This would help us wait for Sephiroth's return, and the fact that my brothers and I, along with Raiku's group, wanted to permanently stay in what would be the new Traverse.
(We'll be waiting…and we'll all be ready for you…)
And so the workforce from Disney Castle came and we started rebuilding the town. It would be bigger, and better, but still have the little things that would make it Traverse Town. Five months passed….
End Chapter
Don't worry! There will be an epilogue up soon! After the epilogue, look for the sequel! (Title for sequel will be said in epilogue)
Gaming quote of the chapter: "Souls, come unto me!"-Nightmare, Soul Caliber 2
