Chapter 8

Yuffie stumbled back at Sora's words, scared for her life. Leon didn't know what he could do as Sora started stalking towards his prey, slowly, giving Leon a chance to think of a fast plan. He may have not been able to stop the Darkness from overcoming his homeland, but he could surely stop it from consuming his friend.

"Cloud! Cid! HELP!" Leon cried before thinking of anything else. Cid bursted in from the other room, finding Sora turning around with his eyes glowing as he looked at Cid. He stumbled back, shocked at the sight of Sora as Cloud bursted through, eyeing Sora.

"I thought the Darkness would never get to you... I guess it can get to anyone now. Yuffie! Run! Cid, Leon... get ready..." Cloud warned, eyeing Sora and recognizing immediately the sense of Darkness he knew all to well in the room.

"Ha! You think you three can take me on! I battled a banshee single handedly, a pack of Howler Heartless, and a crowd of some other Heartless! Noth-" Sora went on, but was interrupted by Cloud's sudden cry.

"NOW!" He yelled as he rammed a long sword into Sora, ramming him into the wall. Sora eyed the sword as it pinned him high from the ground, making him unable to reach the handle and pull it out.

"Just great! What are you going to do now! Let me hang here until I calm down!" Sora snapped as he hung on the wall. His eyes narrowed and glared at Cloud who was looking at him with a soft smile.

"Precisely. Or, if we find a cure. I'm sure Merlin could help, no doubt. Oh and Leon, Cid, thanks so much for the help! I couldn't do it without you!" Cloud said sarcastically as he shot a glance at them and left the room. Cid shuddered and followed Cloud out the hotel room, leaving Sora with Leon.

"Well, well, well. Seems as if you're hanging in there eh Sora? I guess I'll just leave you alone, to think about all of this. Maybe you won't go crazy next time." Leon joked, starting to walk out as he heard a ripping noise. He looked at Sora as he noticed the sword being pulled out by Sora.

"Aha. So Cloud's so called 'clever' idea has been spoiled, eh?" Sora asked as he jerked it out from his stomach. He landed on the ground and drove the sword through the ground. "Stupid thing... anyway. I guess I won't be needing you... any of you." Sora said with a smile as he ran out the window and onto the ground below. He ran through the alley all the way to the Secret Waterway. He examined the art work and heard a voice from behind.

"Sora? Is that you?" came a girl's voice. Sora stood still, knowing the voice, knowing who it was. He had a feeling it was the Waterway's enchantment, but he didn't care at all.

"Kairi? Is that really you?" he asked as he looked behind him. It was the spitting image of his best friend from long ago. He smiled a fanged grin, but Kairi stepped back in shock.

"You can't be Sora! You're a demon! I know it!" she gasped as she stepped back. "You may sound like him, but I know it can't be you!" she cried out.

"No, Kairi! It is me!" he yelled as he took a step. He watched her vanish into thin air and another girl coming into view.

"Sora.. How could you? We thought it wasn't possible. I guess even the strongest of hearts fade into darkness. Do you remember me?" the girl asked. She had shimmering blonde hair that made Sora remember right away.

"Namine? What's going on? Where'd Kairi go!" he asked. He was getting confused as of what was happening in the Waterway. Maybe it was someone trying to tell him something?

"We're your memories Sora. None of this is real, none of it. There's something you need to know. The Darkness within you.. It's trying to take over. You don't want to hurt Yuffie or anyone for that matter.. But the Darkness is forcing you to. Don't give in." Namine said as she faded away.

"Wait! How can I stop it!" he asked out as he noticed he was alone. How come the craziest stuff happens to me? He thought. He shook it off as he knew what he had to do, the one way to stop him from killing his friends was killing himself. But he couldn't do that. Noone except King Mickey, Riku, and himself only had the power of the Keyblade. But sacrificing himself for everyone could help possibly.. But it was a horrible thought. "I guess I have to wait to find the cure... then I can find Kairi. Then I won't hurt anyone." he said aloud. He was trying to think over what happened, but it was all surreal..

"Well Sora. Seems as though I found you again! I knew you would come here." Came a voice from the entry way. Had he heard everything he said?

"Riku! I told you to leave! You can't be near me. I already lashed at Yuffie. It's not safe anymore... It's not." Sora yelled as he walked forward. Riku laughed a bit, but thought none of it.

"Sora, I'm not here for you. I'm here for your Keyblade." Riku whispered as he stepped closer to Sora.

"No Riku. You can't have it. How else am I going to fight the Heartless! I'm not giving this up. It was given to me. It's my destiny Riku. Not yours." he glared as he walked past him. "I can't have this happening Riku. I can't have you here. I need to be alone." he added as he walked out, leaving Riku alone.

"What the hell is his problem! He's always so.. So.. Evil sounding.. Maybe the Darkness is getting to him... I guess noone can save him now. Just like noone could save me." Riku said to himself as he walked up to Merlin's House.

Sora walked out of Traverse Town, planning on going somewhere he knew still stood. The place called Hollow Bastion. He needed to confront the Organization and Ansem yet again. They never seem to die out. He had to get rid of them, or get answers. Yet while he was in his repaired ship Cid fixed, he wondered. Wondered why the Darkness chose him. Why this had to happen to him. Maybe it was better if he just killed himself... maybe it would help everyone.

While he thought, he found himself already disembarking into Hollow Bastion. It wasn't as long as all the other rides to Hollow Bastion were, but he decided not to ponder it. Instead of having either a warm or cold feeling, he had the feeling of being home. He walked to the Castle Gates, into the place he remembered all to well.

"If it isn't the little twerp! Nice to see you again." came a woman's voice with a hint of sarcasm. "Up for another fight?" she asked, drawing her weapon.

"Not this time Larxene. I'm not here to fight, If you haven't noticed by now what change I went under, you'll understand why I'm here." Sora stated as he looked at the blonde woman dressed in the usual Organization attire.

"Oh! Darkness took you over! Greaaat. Now we can have you on our team right?" Larxene asked with a smile as she looked over Sora's new form.

"Vampires are solo Larxene. I'm here to see Ansem, I need to find the cure. I can't stay like this AND fight the Heartless." he answered.

Larxene shook her head. "He died already... Darkness became too much for him. He said a prophecy mentioning you. Saying how: The Prince of Light will fall, becoming the new Prince of Darkness and Ruler of all Dark. A shadow will be cast upon the worlds as Darkness will seep into stronger hearts. But I think only the Prince of Darkness thing is true. I don't think all he predicted will be right." Larxene laughed. "He wasn't all that smart. So I guess that makes you the new ruler around here, isn't that right?" she asked.

Sora grinned, not too happy to hear he's the new Ruler of Darkness. "I guess that is right... Which leaves one thing." he stated as he looked at Larxene.

"And what would that be?" she asked. The other members of the Organization was nowhere to be found at the point, leaving them the only two souls to hear of the new Prince entering Hollow Bastion.

"Leave that to me... Just find the Keyblade Riku used to use. Not the Soul Eater, but the other one... I have unfinished business to take care of..." he whispered as he stepped closer to his new home, unaware of all the things that could happen. Larxene knew nothing of Sora's plans, but she did as she was told. Sora nodded as a thanks as he rammed his other Keyblade into Larxene, instantly killing her. "I guess this leaves one thing.. Making sure that prophecy won't be filled.." he remarked, tears starting to fill his eyes.

He aimed the new Keyblade at himself as he started reliving the past. He remembered doing this years before, but noone was around to save him this time. He slowly aimed it at his chest just as the doors opened...