Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters – they belong to Square and Disney.
Stare Into The Abyss – Chapter Sixteen
Axel took a moment to examine the situation carefully as he waited for the others to make the first move. The various Nobodies, Dusks and some larger type that he hadn't seen before, shouldn't prove too much of a problem, and alone, he was confident that he could handle Araxiel.
As long as Ansem didn't decide to join in…
The closest group of Dusks lunged forward. They were easily dealt with by a wave of flames. The other Nobodies from behind them moved to follow up with an attack of their own. The fire however, didn't prove as effective against them, as a clear "shield" folded over the front of their bodies, blocking it. Axel switched to his weapons, hoping they would be able to damage them instead.
One of them leaped, its bladed arm brought back ready to strike him with. Axel twisted aside, swinging at the creature as it passed by. He caught its side, sending it crashing into the ground.
So, attacking them from the side, or perhaps even from behind would work…Backing off, he tried to make his away around them to get into a better position that would allow him to damage them easier.
Something flickered past, distracting him. A flash of metal. He turned around, switching his focus onto Araxiel. She'd moved away, keeping her distance, as she prepared to lash out at him with her chain.
Axel started edging towards her, knocking aside the Nobodies as they attempted to prevent him from reaching her, by slashing madly and throwing themselves at him.
Ignore them. Kill her first.
Axel built up another burst of fire to send at her, but the Nobodies flocked to her side, their shields in place to block it.
Maybe leaving them until last wasn't such a good idea.
He stopped, gripping his weapons as he waited for them to come to him. They seemed to hesitate a moment, giving him a brief chance to glance around and see how Number Two was doing.
He'd cleared up most of the Nobodies, only two or three of the creatures still remaining, and he was managing to keep Kralexus under constant pressure, not giving him an opportunity to attack back. He was fast and incredibly skilled. It didn't look like he needed any help.
At the sound of charging footsteps, Axel whirled back around. The Nobodies were racing towards him, shields still in place.
What were they were trying to do? Ram him?
Axel held his ground until they were nearly on him, before teleporting directly behind them. Flames washed over their backs, disposing of most of them. Grinning, Axel moved towards them to finish off the few who had survived.
Something coiled around his leg and pulled it from under him. He hit the ground hard. Rolling over, he could see that Araxiel had managed to entangle her weapon around him. As he tried to shake it off, she started to walk over, calmly.
Axel stopped his attempts to remove it, instead staying perfectly still as he waited for her to come closer. Reaching him, she paused, standing over him. She pulled back her hood, smirking down at him, she held out one hand…
Axel didn't wait to see what she had in it, or what she was going to do. He knew whatever it was, would be intended to finish him off. He drew his own arm back, holding one of his Fire Wheels tightly and plunged it into her leg. One of the sharp edges that protruded from the side of it bit into flesh as he pushed it in further.
She cried out in pain as Axel brought back the weapon in his other hand.
Her head craned to the side as she glared at him, her eyes glowered, full of horror, disgust, fear…
… and hatred.
"Sorry."
He buried the side of the other Wheel into her stomach. Pulling them both out, she dropped to the ground.
Axel removed the chain from his leg and stood back up, kicking Araxiel in the side with the edge of his foot.
Nothing.
She was dead.
His eyes drifted back over to the Nobodies he'd planned on finishing. Some of them were still writhing on the floor, but they weren't a threat anymore. He looked back to Number Two. He was still keeping Kralexus busy. Axel had the feeling it was more like Number Two was toying with him.
One person left. One that he was surprised hadn't got involved yet.
Axel scanned the area for him.
There.
Standing across from them, in the middle of the street.
Ansem.
And something was spreading out from beneath him. A glowing blue and white light covering the floor where he stood. He locked gazes with Axel, his eye full of smugness.
The light began to circle him.
What is that?
As the blue glow began to entwine around him, it seemed to explode, filling the area with blinding, radiant light.
Axel closed his eyes against it. When he opened them, Ansem had turned around, now standing in the middle of the luminous area, arm's spread.
What was he doing?
It doesn't matter. Stop him!
Axel started running towards him, only to be halted by a group of the Shielded Nobodies that surged forward out of the light. He didn't have time to waste on them.
His attention shifted over to Number Two.
"Keep these busy for me!" He yelled.
Number Two's head glanced over to him, then towards Ansem and the pulsing light around him. He moved, a blur of black and flashing red blades, as he connected with the creatures. They turned their attention towards him, giving Axel an opening to run past.
"Axel." Number Two's voice hissed warningly from behind him. "Wait."
He ignored him and kept going. "Just keep them off my back!"
"Axel, it's about time you started listening to what I…" But whatever he was trying to tell him, Axel didn't hear. He hit the section of the street that was flooded with the light. The blue and white filled his vision. Bringing an arm up to his eyes he headed further into it.
Where had Ansem gone?
A pillar of the light surrounded him and then everything was white.
"What's wrong Sora? Aren't you happy to see me again?"
"No, I am! It's just…" Sora tilted his head towards his friend, confused. "Donald and Goofy were with you, weren't they? Where are they now?"
Riku smiled, and Sora relaxed a little. But still, something didn't feel right…
"Don't worry, I took good care of them. They're safe."
"Where are they?" Sora repeated.
"They were heading back to Hollow Bastion. They heard they might find their King there..." Riku walked past him, to stand at the edge of the building and regard the town.
Sora nodded, satisfied. If they were at Hollow Bastion, they were safe. After he was finished here, he could go back and find them.
"I told them I'd find you and bring you back." Riku continued.
"I can't leave yet. I have to do something about this…"
"Why bother?" Riku's eyes narrowed as he stared at Sora.
He squirmed, uncomfortable under that look. "…Riku?"
Riku didn't answer, instead turning away again. "Where did you go?" Sora asked him.
"What?"
"You were with Kaze at Castle Oblivion… So, where did you go?"
"I went to the Other Side."
Sora shuddered. Something in those words made him feel edgy. This was… wrong. "Riku, are you alright?"
His friend smirked at him. But it wasn't malicious, more like the cocky Riku that he knew. "Don't be stupid Sora. Of course I am."
"You're acting… strange."
"Am I?"
Sora felt an unsettling coldness at hearing those words. There was something written across his face...What was wrong with him?
But his attention was diverted elsewhere, as his eyes caught sight of something over the town. A brilliant light that was filling the sky. An intense glow that throbbed with blue.
"What is it?" Sora wondered, his voice hushed.
"It's him." Riku was watching it intently, an amused expression on his face.
Sora knew who he meant. There was only one person he could be referring to after all.
"Ansem."
Did that mean, that Axel had failed?
Axel blinked slowly, letting his eyes adjust to the light. Wherever he was, it was filled with that same glow.
He wasn't in Twilight Town anymore. It seemed more like a large room. Now he wasn't so blinded, he could make out a path that he was standing on, that ran in a circle around an object in the centre.
An orb of some sort?
Axel wasn't sure if it was that which was spinning, the "room" or him, but he squeezed his eyes shut again, wishing it would stop. As if things weren't disorienting enough…
"You shouldn't be here, Axel."
Ansem's voice filled the room, but Axel couldn't see him. And he wasn't keen on trying to move around just yet. "Where's 'here'"?
"Just as people have hearts, so do worlds, Axel. I wonder what would happen, if this was swallowed by the darkness as well?"
"What are you trying to do?" Axel attempted to take a step forward, but the "path" in front of him tilted at an angle, forcing him to look away to fight the horrible sense of vertigo.
I really hope he isn't planning on fighting here…
Silence.
"You just going to leave me here?" Axel cringed at the thought. Staying here was something he'd really prefer not to.
"No, but you do need to be dealt with now."
Please not here. I hate this place. I hate this place. I hate this…
There was a brief flicker as something rippled in front of him. A purple, reflective surface…
… One of the doorways?
"Let's make this a little fairer, shall we?"
"Sounds good to me." Axel muttered, stepping through it.
He emerged into a familiar world.
The "other" Twilight Town. And Ansem was standing opposite him.
They were on a roof of one of the tall skyscrapers. The world was unchanged from when he was last there. Still dark. Still empty. Still dead.
Still impossible for him to use his weapons in.
Axel felt panic creeping through him as he realized why Ansem had brought him here. He desperately tried to call his weapons, summon flames, anything… but nothing worked.
Ansem smirked at him. Holding out his hand, something appeared in it. Something that Axel knew well.
The Soul Eater.
The blade flashed through the air as Ansem swung it slowly and carefully.
Axel started to back away.
He's taunting you with it…
"This isn't what I'd call fair." Axel sneered, angrily. He stopped as his foot hit air. He'd run out of room.
Ansem took hold of the Soul Eater in both hands, ready to strike him with it.
Don't give him the satisfaction.
Axel took another step backwards…
… and felt himself falling.
They walked through the streets of the town, alert for any dangers that might be lurking in the shadows.
Sora had hurried to inform Kaze and Namine of the strange light. And of Riku's return. Before either could bombard him with questions he suggested they make their way to see what had happened. He felt bad for dragging Namine along, but she'd be safer coming with them. All three of them should be able to protect her. Assuming he could rely on Riku.
His friend was walking in front, seeming to know exactly which way they should be heading. Sora was grateful for that. The light had faded from the sky by the time they'd emerged from the Clock Tower. At least Riku would be able to lead them to where it was. He claimed he could "sense a strong aura" from the direction he was taking them.
Eventually, Riku came to a halt, standing in front of a large street. Sora stood alongside him to see what he'd stopped for.
A cloaked figure was ahead, their back to them, red energy blades held in each hand. The weapons told Sora exactly who it was. The one he'd fought. Number Two. He instinctively called upon Oathkeeper.
Number Two turned slowly to face them. It was only then, that Sora noticed the body of another Organization member at his feet.
"…Axel?"
"Axel isn't here." Number Two began to walk towards them.
Kaze joined Sora, his own keyblades held by his side. "Stay right there!"
Number Two ignored him. Instead, he vanished, before re-appearing in a cloud of purple, one blade extended to Riku's throat.
"No!" Sora cried. Holding his keyblade out, he aimed it at the NEO. "Back away!"
"You'd rather kill this one yourself?"
"Why would I want to do that?"
"I told you before, Ansem, the Ansem that you knew, is still there, within him. He's much stronger now. If Axel doesn't come back, and our former Superior is left alive…"
Sora shook his head firmly. "I won't let you kill Riku. And I'm not going to kill him either."
"Foolish." Number Two withdrew the blade and stepped back.
Sora glanced back over at Riku. He had a small grin on his face, but as he met Sora's gaze, it faded. "Oh c'mon, Sora. I'm fine."
Was he? If it was true, it could explain his strange behaviour. Was that because Ansem was having more of an effect on him now?
"Two Ansems?" Kaze frowned. "I'm confused…"
Sora looked back over at Number Two. "You said your former Superior…" He gestured towards the body of the Organization member that lay in the street. "Did you do this?"
He gave no response.
Namine spoke up from behind them. "You also said something about Axel coming back. Where is he? Where did Axel go?"
This time, he replied. "I'm not sure."
"I can find him." Sora spun around to stare at Riku. The sliver-haired boy's eyes were closed. His voice was blank, void of any emotion. "I can reach out beyond here now. If he's alive, I can find him…"
Author's Note: I was going to save Sora's last section there for the start of the next chapter, but that would of meant leaving it on another evil cliffhanger. Plus it was kinda short.
The idea of the "Shielded" Nobodies came from those ones that you can very briefly see in the "PS2 Montage" footage. And the "Orb" you may recognize as something similar from some scans a while back. That gave me an idea I wanted to use. ;)
AloneInDespair: Some Riku-ness here, but should be plenty more next chapter!
sorastalker08: Hm, I wonder! ;) And here's another! Ahh, it's so nice to have some time to actually sit down and write again!
Saddened Soul: Oh, I agree! I loved the Riku fights in KH1. Oops, I don't know if things are better or even worse now!
Ginger Ninja: Aww, I'm happy I could cheer you up! Hopefully you're having a better week than last!