Part Four: To a New Path
The purple lightning brimmed along the outer edges of the spherical storm like a curtain, and as Sora passed through it, his body felt a momentary jolt of electricity that set his already spiky hair on end. Once inside, the wind died down and roughly deposited Sora on the soft, sandy ground below. The pieces of the battered watch tower emerging from the ground betrayed that the solid ground was part of the cove that had found its way inside the storm.
Sora almost bothered wondering what a piece of his island was doing suspended in midair and in the middle of a storm, no less, but the being rising from the edge of the storm distracted all of this attention. The shadow creatures, the door, and the sword had all appeared from his dream, exactly as he had imagined them; why should the monster be any different?
Its head, the most human-like part of the monster, rose above the horizon first. Though the head was still made completely of shadow, it retained a sort of human shape, even having the outline of long, shaggy hair. As more of the monster emerged, it became less human, from the heart-shaped hole in its chest to the small legs with nothing more than wisps for feet. Its yellow eyes glared down at Sora as he pulled its arm back.
Sensing a fight on the way, Sora reached for his sword, which luckily had landed only a few feet away from where he had fallen. Retrieving it, he picked himself up from the ground just as the monster buried its fist in the sand. The shock rolled through the land, throwing Sora off balance off-balance for a few seconds before he regained his footing.
No problem, he told himself, assessing his enemy. These were just the same moves as in his dream; the way the darkness puddled around the beach testified to that. If he were right, shadows would soon emerge from the pool, and they did just that, distracting Sora temporarily from the monster looming above him.
Unlike the hordes that had blocked him on the island, this group of shadows numbered only five, a manageable if difficult fight. He planted his feet in the pool of darkness and slashed at the little creatures as they moved closer to him. Their skin, a thick membrane, resisted his blade's attempts to slice through it. With effort, though, he forced the sword through one of the shadow creatures, shredding it into strips of darkness before it vanished.
The next one guarded against his attacks, and a sharp clang where claws met blade and sending a spark against the air. Sora dipped down and swept his weapon upwards, catching the creature in its pot belly and slicing it up the middle. As he did this, another one came from behind, tackling Sora to the ground. He withdrew his sword wildly, almost striking himself with his blade while he tried to maintain his balance. Regaining it, he whipped himself around as he sought to detach the shadow clinging to his neck. He flung the shadow off, and it hit the sand, skidding a little before it halted at the edge of the storm. Slumped over, the creature seemed to be knocked out.
Feeling the sharp, searing pain in his neck from where the shadow had clawed at him, Sora grimaced as he stared up into the dead eyes of his gigantic opponent. His grip on the hilt of his sword tightened until he could feel his knuckles turn white with a new determination. He would defeat his nightmare.
He recalled his dream, particularly the part where he had fought the monster, quickly scanning his actions for what had been most effective. The little creatures were of little consequence if he remembered correctly. More would spawn from the dark puddle, and by the time he killed one batch, the next one would take its place. The key was to defeat the monster, only, in his dream, he hadn't really defeated it. Or had he? That battle seemed like such a blur in his mind.
A blackish glow distracted Sora from his thoughts just in time for him to notice a large ball of energy flying towards his face, although not soon enough to actually dodge the energy. A wave of heaviness washed over him, sending him back a few feet and pressing down on him. He resisted the weight, bracing himself in the sand to keep himself standing.
For a few seconds, Sora could almost feel his bones bending under the pressure before it relented and he could stand upright again. Even as he could feel his body shaking from that last attack, he charged towards the monster, looking to climb up the arm as he had in the dream and hit it on the head.
In the dream, the giant's black skin had been dry --rough enough for Sora's shoes to hold onto as he negotiated his way up the arm. In reality, the skin was slick, denying Sora even that advantage. Sora edged his way up the arm, making excruciatingly slow progress as his shoes constantly threatened to lose their tenuous grip on the near frictionless surface he stood on.
One, two strikes to the monster's head Sora managed to get in when he finally reached the shoulder before his balance completely dissolved and he fell back to the sand below. Quickly, he rolled over and recovered his footing and his sword, ready to face the monster, now kneeling back and gathering energy in the heart-shaped hole in its torso. Its hands, low to the ground and not spawning shadow creatures, were vulnerable, and as Sora shook off the shock of falling from its shoulders, he moved to take advantage of this, hacking relentlessly at the closer of the monster's wrists.
The giant felt no pain, at least none that it would acknowledge or that Sora could observe, as it continued on with its attacks. Small spheres of static electricity hit him, his body sending up a little flare as each one found its mark. He gritted his teeth against the shocks of pain, focusing on attacking the monster and hopefully causing some damage.
At last, with a perfect swoop of his sword, the monster's skin gave way, and the monster seemed to let out a single groan. Not that Sora actually heard anything, as the storm howling around them drowned out any noise. The dark cloud contracted around them then, sending a fierce wind into the calm eye of the storm. While the giant was large enough to remain unaffected by the sudden gale, Sora was easily caught in the great storm and lost his contact with the ground.
The storm tossed him in circles. From his vantage point, the shrinking eye of the storm spun rapidly around Sora, who was not quite at the center. To stop the dizziness that welled up in his head and stomach, he closed his eyes and tried to shut out the sensation of motion. The wall of the storm engulfed him, and the strengthening wind battered his already aching body.
Sora couldn't tell exactly when the world around him seemed to explode, just that the feeling of dizziness melted away only to be unmercifully replaced by a throbbing headache. The howling of the storm peaked for a brief second and then ceased, leaving Sora with nothing to hear but the ringing sensation in his own ears. His body stopped spinning in circles as it was hurled into a more powerful vortex. A light, brilliant enough for Sora to see from behind closed lids, flashed, and then there was darkness.
***
Sora woke up free from the pain that had plagued him before. For some reason he was walking when he opened his eyes, his feet staying true to the dirt path set before him. It was utterly silent and calm, the only sounds being Sora's footsteps as he continued to walk. The slight breeze seemed to emphasize the stillness rather than break it. Gaining control of his pace, Sora slowed in order to take in the scenery around him.
It was night, perfect night, no moon in the sky and only a single star overhead. He stared up at the star and noticed its erratic flickering, just like the star they had watched the night before. He dropped his weapon and lay down on the grass at the side of the dirt path, in order to watch the star better .
The star burst, sending drops of light raining through the distant sky. Sora almost screamed, feeling a shock and a sense of loss overwhelming him. That star was important. How else was he supposed to find his way down this path?
Get up. This is no place to rest.
The voice from his dream tugged at Sora, and he resisted.
Where am I supposed to go?
Sora stayed stubbornly on the ground, keeping his gazed fixed on the points of falling light. He didn't want to move from this spot, and the more he stayed, the more he doubted that he could move.
It doesn't matter. You can't stay here.
The usually calm voice from his dream took on an urgent note, stirring Sora from his inertia. Slowly, he rolled himself into a seated position, his body feeling heavier than he thought it should. He rose to his feet, picking up his sword in the process and smiling slightly as he felt it give him strength.
Good. Now start walking. You will awaken soon.
One foot in front of the other, Sora started the arduous task of walking. He ignored the stillness, except when he wondered how he could break through it. The more he walked, the easier it became to move and the fainter the outside world seemed, as if it were fading into a pale dreamland.
How had he fallen asleep so suddenly, he had just been walking just a few seconds ago? Wait... the voice had said something about him waking up soon. Did that mean he had been asleep the whole time? But it felt so real, and the way his life seemed to be turning these past few days, even if this were a dream, it could very well become real in the near future.
A lingering ache tugged at him then, calling him somewhere. Sora regained consciousness as he fought against the pounding headache that seemed to have risen out of nowhere. He raised his hand to his head, willing for the pain to leave.
"My head...."
Sora opened his eyes slightly, as much as the throbbing in his head would let him. He couldn't see much of his surroundings, just some crates lined up against a low stone wall. It was enough, though, to tell him that he was no longer anywhere familiar.
So, where was he?
***
Yay! Just in time for Christmas. Since I'm home for winter break this next month, my internet time is much more limited than at school. This is good and bad. More writing time, less distraction = good. Restricted editing and posting access = bad. Don't know what this is going to do to the posting schedule. But, most importantly,I have a PS2 in my place of residence and a copy of KH to obsess over.
So now for the soul pieces:
Koorino Megumi: Much thanks to you, my l33t-speaking, Sora-obsessing editor. Especially getting this done so quickly during the busy holiday season. I hope that you continue enjoying the story as much as your response to chapter 3 would imply.
RainWarriorPrincess: Seriously, much thanks for giving me my recommended daily allowance for ego-boosting. ^_^ Glad to see that you like the descriptions. Hope that your computer didn't get infected.
Ginger Ninja: Not much to say but a random 'hi' and a kind 'thank you for your patience'.
Naela: Foul play certainly may be afoot. ^_^ Hope that this AU isn't getting too predictable. *perks up at the mention of BTD* Update! Update!
Catty Engles: Hmm... trying to keep what I have to say somewhat relevant to the story... I might have heard that folktale before, but I didn't actually use it consciously. If it gets mentioned later *coughTraverseTowncough*, then it'll be because you brought it to my attention. Also, yes both my editor and I are in college (but only Freshies), and trust me, the four years between freshman year in high-school and freshman year in college do miracles for writing skills.
Till next time! ^_~
The purple lightning brimmed along the outer edges of the spherical storm like a curtain, and as Sora passed through it, his body felt a momentary jolt of electricity that set his already spiky hair on end. Once inside, the wind died down and roughly deposited Sora on the soft, sandy ground below. The pieces of the battered watch tower emerging from the ground betrayed that the solid ground was part of the cove that had found its way inside the storm.
Sora almost bothered wondering what a piece of his island was doing suspended in midair and in the middle of a storm, no less, but the being rising from the edge of the storm distracted all of this attention. The shadow creatures, the door, and the sword had all appeared from his dream, exactly as he had imagined them; why should the monster be any different?
Its head, the most human-like part of the monster, rose above the horizon first. Though the head was still made completely of shadow, it retained a sort of human shape, even having the outline of long, shaggy hair. As more of the monster emerged, it became less human, from the heart-shaped hole in its chest to the small legs with nothing more than wisps for feet. Its yellow eyes glared down at Sora as he pulled its arm back.
Sensing a fight on the way, Sora reached for his sword, which luckily had landed only a few feet away from where he had fallen. Retrieving it, he picked himself up from the ground just as the monster buried its fist in the sand. The shock rolled through the land, throwing Sora off balance off-balance for a few seconds before he regained his footing.
No problem, he told himself, assessing his enemy. These were just the same moves as in his dream; the way the darkness puddled around the beach testified to that. If he were right, shadows would soon emerge from the pool, and they did just that, distracting Sora temporarily from the monster looming above him.
Unlike the hordes that had blocked him on the island, this group of shadows numbered only five, a manageable if difficult fight. He planted his feet in the pool of darkness and slashed at the little creatures as they moved closer to him. Their skin, a thick membrane, resisted his blade's attempts to slice through it. With effort, though, he forced the sword through one of the shadow creatures, shredding it into strips of darkness before it vanished.
The next one guarded against his attacks, and a sharp clang where claws met blade and sending a spark against the air. Sora dipped down and swept his weapon upwards, catching the creature in its pot belly and slicing it up the middle. As he did this, another one came from behind, tackling Sora to the ground. He withdrew his sword wildly, almost striking himself with his blade while he tried to maintain his balance. Regaining it, he whipped himself around as he sought to detach the shadow clinging to his neck. He flung the shadow off, and it hit the sand, skidding a little before it halted at the edge of the storm. Slumped over, the creature seemed to be knocked out.
Feeling the sharp, searing pain in his neck from where the shadow had clawed at him, Sora grimaced as he stared up into the dead eyes of his gigantic opponent. His grip on the hilt of his sword tightened until he could feel his knuckles turn white with a new determination. He would defeat his nightmare.
He recalled his dream, particularly the part where he had fought the monster, quickly scanning his actions for what had been most effective. The little creatures were of little consequence if he remembered correctly. More would spawn from the dark puddle, and by the time he killed one batch, the next one would take its place. The key was to defeat the monster, only, in his dream, he hadn't really defeated it. Or had he? That battle seemed like such a blur in his mind.
A blackish glow distracted Sora from his thoughts just in time for him to notice a large ball of energy flying towards his face, although not soon enough to actually dodge the energy. A wave of heaviness washed over him, sending him back a few feet and pressing down on him. He resisted the weight, bracing himself in the sand to keep himself standing.
For a few seconds, Sora could almost feel his bones bending under the pressure before it relented and he could stand upright again. Even as he could feel his body shaking from that last attack, he charged towards the monster, looking to climb up the arm as he had in the dream and hit it on the head.
In the dream, the giant's black skin had been dry --rough enough for Sora's shoes to hold onto as he negotiated his way up the arm. In reality, the skin was slick, denying Sora even that advantage. Sora edged his way up the arm, making excruciatingly slow progress as his shoes constantly threatened to lose their tenuous grip on the near frictionless surface he stood on.
One, two strikes to the monster's head Sora managed to get in when he finally reached the shoulder before his balance completely dissolved and he fell back to the sand below. Quickly, he rolled over and recovered his footing and his sword, ready to face the monster, now kneeling back and gathering energy in the heart-shaped hole in its torso. Its hands, low to the ground and not spawning shadow creatures, were vulnerable, and as Sora shook off the shock of falling from its shoulders, he moved to take advantage of this, hacking relentlessly at the closer of the monster's wrists.
The giant felt no pain, at least none that it would acknowledge or that Sora could observe, as it continued on with its attacks. Small spheres of static electricity hit him, his body sending up a little flare as each one found its mark. He gritted his teeth against the shocks of pain, focusing on attacking the monster and hopefully causing some damage.
At last, with a perfect swoop of his sword, the monster's skin gave way, and the monster seemed to let out a single groan. Not that Sora actually heard anything, as the storm howling around them drowned out any noise. The dark cloud contracted around them then, sending a fierce wind into the calm eye of the storm. While the giant was large enough to remain unaffected by the sudden gale, Sora was easily caught in the great storm and lost his contact with the ground.
The storm tossed him in circles. From his vantage point, the shrinking eye of the storm spun rapidly around Sora, who was not quite at the center. To stop the dizziness that welled up in his head and stomach, he closed his eyes and tried to shut out the sensation of motion. The wall of the storm engulfed him, and the strengthening wind battered his already aching body.
Sora couldn't tell exactly when the world around him seemed to explode, just that the feeling of dizziness melted away only to be unmercifully replaced by a throbbing headache. The howling of the storm peaked for a brief second and then ceased, leaving Sora with nothing to hear but the ringing sensation in his own ears. His body stopped spinning in circles as it was hurled into a more powerful vortex. A light, brilliant enough for Sora to see from behind closed lids, flashed, and then there was darkness.
***
Sora woke up free from the pain that had plagued him before. For some reason he was walking when he opened his eyes, his feet staying true to the dirt path set before him. It was utterly silent and calm, the only sounds being Sora's footsteps as he continued to walk. The slight breeze seemed to emphasize the stillness rather than break it. Gaining control of his pace, Sora slowed in order to take in the scenery around him.
It was night, perfect night, no moon in the sky and only a single star overhead. He stared up at the star and noticed its erratic flickering, just like the star they had watched the night before. He dropped his weapon and lay down on the grass at the side of the dirt path, in order to watch the star better .
The star burst, sending drops of light raining through the distant sky. Sora almost screamed, feeling a shock and a sense of loss overwhelming him. That star was important. How else was he supposed to find his way down this path?
Get up. This is no place to rest.
The voice from his dream tugged at Sora, and he resisted.
Where am I supposed to go?
Sora stayed stubbornly on the ground, keeping his gazed fixed on the points of falling light. He didn't want to move from this spot, and the more he stayed, the more he doubted that he could move.
It doesn't matter. You can't stay here.
The usually calm voice from his dream took on an urgent note, stirring Sora from his inertia. Slowly, he rolled himself into a seated position, his body feeling heavier than he thought it should. He rose to his feet, picking up his sword in the process and smiling slightly as he felt it give him strength.
Good. Now start walking. You will awaken soon.
One foot in front of the other, Sora started the arduous task of walking. He ignored the stillness, except when he wondered how he could break through it. The more he walked, the easier it became to move and the fainter the outside world seemed, as if it were fading into a pale dreamland.
How had he fallen asleep so suddenly, he had just been walking just a few seconds ago? Wait... the voice had said something about him waking up soon. Did that mean he had been asleep the whole time? But it felt so real, and the way his life seemed to be turning these past few days, even if this were a dream, it could very well become real in the near future.
A lingering ache tugged at him then, calling him somewhere. Sora regained consciousness as he fought against the pounding headache that seemed to have risen out of nowhere. He raised his hand to his head, willing for the pain to leave.
"My head...."
Sora opened his eyes slightly, as much as the throbbing in his head would let him. He couldn't see much of his surroundings, just some crates lined up against a low stone wall. It was enough, though, to tell him that he was no longer anywhere familiar.
So, where was he?
***
Yay! Just in time for Christmas. Since I'm home for winter break this next month, my internet time is much more limited than at school. This is good and bad. More writing time, less distraction = good. Restricted editing and posting access = bad. Don't know what this is going to do to the posting schedule. But, most importantly,I have a PS2 in my place of residence and a copy of KH to obsess over.
So now for the soul pieces:
Koorino Megumi: Much thanks to you, my l33t-speaking, Sora-obsessing editor. Especially getting this done so quickly during the busy holiday season. I hope that you continue enjoying the story as much as your response to chapter 3 would imply.
RainWarriorPrincess: Seriously, much thanks for giving me my recommended daily allowance for ego-boosting. ^_^ Glad to see that you like the descriptions. Hope that your computer didn't get infected.
Ginger Ninja: Not much to say but a random 'hi' and a kind 'thank you for your patience'.
Naela: Foul play certainly may be afoot. ^_^ Hope that this AU isn't getting too predictable. *perks up at the mention of BTD* Update! Update!
Catty Engles: Hmm... trying to keep what I have to say somewhat relevant to the story... I might have heard that folktale before, but I didn't actually use it consciously. If it gets mentioned later *coughTraverseTowncough*, then it'll be because you brought it to my attention. Also, yes both my editor and I are in college (but only Freshies), and trust me, the four years between freshman year in high-school and freshman year in college do miracles for writing skills.
Till next time! ^_~