Broken Rainbow
By:Digitaldreamer
Chapter thirteen: Dark Rain-part one
OO OH MY GOD! TWO HUNDRED REVIEWS! I can't believe it! Thank you guys so much! OH MY GOD!
This is great man! You guys are making this fic a total success! I wanna thank you all! THANK YOU!!!!!! ((Crys hugs everyone))
And I'm REALLY sorry about this chapter taking so long. First I had a party of my friends to go to, then a week long camping trip, and my cousin came over....it kind of delayed me a bit...
((Auron rolls his eyes. "And you spent days just reading Lord of the Rings fics." Crys glares at him and points to the readers. "Yes, I'm well aware of that. But do THEY need to know that?" Auron just grins behind his collar.))
Anyways, ((Crys shoots Auron a glare)) I tried my best to get this done as soon as possible. Hey, at least it didn't take me a month!
To whom it may concern, The Lord of The Rings movies are friggen awesome! WHOO! FRODO! ((Glomps Frodo and Aragorn plushies))
((Auron whacks Crys over the head. "TYPE!"))
OWWWW THAT FRIGGEN HURT! ((Crys glares at Auron. Auron only glares back. "You deserved it! Type!")) Fine..fine....
Anyways, Review time!
Wingaurd
Um...okay.........gonna pretend I understand what you're talking about...um.....here's some chocolate.....
PrincessSwifty
CloudxSephiness, whoo! Here's a giant pixi stick, read on!
Celtic Guardian 7
Yay for Cloud and Aerith! Wheeee...
..Eeeep! I am NOT slacking! (Crys points at the chapter) See, I updated! Dun kill me! Here's some pizza!
cammy-world666
Oi, sorry for the wait on the chappie Here's some popcorn, enjoy!
TomygurlAngel123
Wooow....lotsa reviews.....Um...thank you;; Here, have some Mountain Dew Livewire!
Masta of Dance Dance Revolution
Yes yes, no Violence, I know. Dun worry, there will be plenty more later on! Here's a sugar cube, enjoy the chapter!
Firesparkler-00
Eeep! ((Crys dives into couch pillow fortress and cowers)) Sorry it took so long! Here's some chocolate! Here's the chapter! Don't kill me!
soraoathkeeper
((Crys coughs)) No, Auron is not falling in love with anyone, he's a single man fer life. Anyways....um.....will, Auron here has a friggen big sword and he has the whole spiffy magic sword stuff goin on. That and your Kairi is pretty OOC if she's mean, cause Kairi's not really like that...and who the hell is Jack? Um...okay...
Anyways, Kairi, stop beating up on soraoathkeeper...it's bad to kill authors, every time an author gets attacked a star dies ya know ((Auron rolls his eyes. "You made that up." Crys shrugs. "I know, shut up.")) Here soraoathkeeper, I give you dispell armor from Final Fantasy, which gets rid of all status ailments and spells and stuff, like puppet master I guess....
((Crys coughs as Auron rolls his eyes and goes back to watching football)) Anyways, good luck handling your muses Bye bye!
Juujin Bunshen
Yay! My description is getting better! ((Crys bounces around the room in joy. Auron promptly trips her. Crys rolls her eyes and gets back to typing.)) Yay, you'll still come? ((Crys gets all sparkly eyed.)) I feel special! Here's some chocolate, and I hope you like the chapter!
Mitsuki Hoshiko
Ummm...the evil Riku isn't the same as the Riku we know. 'Riku' is an entirely different person. The Riku we know and love is on Destiny Island...
Ohh! Flametongue! Yay! Hey Auron, lookit! ((Auron blinks and looks over. "..no, no swords." "But!?" "We already went over this. A sword in your hands results in someone else's hands being cut off!" "But-" Auron grabs Flametongue and hands it back to Tidus, whom cheers and runs back to his video game. Crys grumbles and Auron just acts all stern and stuff. "I reeaaally don't like you, you know that right?" Crys grumbles and Auron snorts and goes back to watching random shows about swords.)) Well..um.....hey, it's the thought that counts! Here's a Sora plushie! ((Crys stalks off to attempt to get the Flametongue back from Tidus.))
Bu
Yes, Cloud is cool. And hot. Reaally hot...hee hee. Here's some sugar, enjoy the chapter!
star's dreams
Yeah, I absolutely love Cloud and Aerith, so I had to get them in this fic. Hee hee. Here's some Nerds, enjoy the chapter!
cinedragon
((Coughs)) Solus and 'Riku'? Hurt Sora? Now then, why I ever would I have THAT happen? ((Shifty eyes)) Um..here's some chocolate!
Disclaimer: Yes, I DO in fact own Kingdom Hearts, Yu Gi Oh and anything else that happens to app- ((Auron whacks Crys again)) Alright, alright, I don't own em....
((Suggested music- One Winged Angel from Final Fantasy VII. If that doesn't tell you what will be in the chapter, you are a bumbling idiot and I will now proceed to point at you and laugh REALLY hard.))
Cloud burst through the wooden doors of the first distract, Buster Sword thrown over his shoulder, mako blue eyes narrowed. Aerith followed quickly behind, boots clicking on the cobblestone ground, staff held in hand. Aerith slid to a stop and gasped, eyes wide as she took in the state of the distract.
Flames were consuming the item shop, the roof already in flames and looking ready collapse, glass windows cracked and broken, neon sign alight. The flames were licking towards the cafe and spreading towards the accessory shop. Windows of apartments and houses were broken, doors kicked down. Gigantic beasts made of inky blackness tore through the distract. Some took the form of serpents with great, jagged torn bat-like wings sprouting from their backs, rope-like coils snapping towards people, their long fangs dripping with black liquid as they sunk into human flesh. Others had the appearance of great cats, their limbs long and graceful, golden eyes leaving fear in the hearts of their prey, long whip like tails waving in the air, ears pressed back. Others still took the form of of troll like creatures, black armor locks around their burly limbs and clubs, axes, and maces held in thick hands. And fighting along side them were a few humans, swords and staffs held in hands, faces pale and with the gray tint of death, eyes glazed over as they picked out their victims.
People ran round the distract in a state of panic, screams of horror rising through the air. A women and two small children ran from a building just as it collapsed, dust and rubble flying into the air. Suddenly one of the cat like creatures pounced upon the mother, raising up it's head to stare into the women's eyes, wide with fear. The beast than clamped its jaws over her neck, the terror-filled cries of "Mommy!" from her children music to it's ears. The two children's cries were cut off as a large serpent coiled around them both, drawing it's body tighter and tighter until the two children stopped thrashing and their cries ceased, light fleeing from their wide eyes.
Bodies littered the ground, the stench of blood, sweat, fear, smoke, and death filling the air.
Aerith and Cloud stood in shock for a moment, eyes wide. Then Cloud's eyes narrowed. "Aerith, find anyone alive and start healing, try and put out any of the fires with a spell if you can!" He commanded, running towards the chaos. Aerith nodded, following behind.
A family was backed against a wall, eyes wide with fear. Their father stood in front, trying his best to seem brave, his wide behind him with two children clutching at her skirts. One of the trolls stood before them, tapping it's club in it's hands, a snaggle toothed grin coming to it's face. It brought back it's club, ready to take them all out. The man put his arms around the women, whom closed her eyes, the children wailing as they put their faces into their mothers dress.
"YAAAAH!" Cloud snarled, charging into the beast, stabbing his sword into the creatures back, breaking through it's armor, stabbing into it's back. The troll gave a howl of agony, eyes staring into the sky as its world went black. Cloud pulled his weapon from the creature, coated in black blood. The creature then fell to the ground with a tremendous BOOM! It's intended victims stared at Cloud, wide eyed. Cloud ran over to them.
"Run to the Gummi Ships!" He commanded, voice ringing through the air. The little group didn't need to be told twice, running for the doors.
Aerith twirled her staff in her hands, pointing it towards a serpent coiling round a little girl. "WATERAGA!" She cried. A burst of water blasted into the creature, tearing it from the girl. Aerith again pointed towards the creature. "FIRAGA!" A burst of flames struck the serpent and it gave a screech as it writhed in the flames. The girl little girl fell to her knees on the ground, shaking and sobbing. Aerith ran over to her and rubbed her back. "Come on, get up.." She cooed. "You have to get to the ships.." The girl looked up at her, slowly stood and nodded, running for the doors.
This process went on, the couple saving what few lives remained and urging them towards the double doors out of the city. Soon no one living remained in the distract save for the bodies of the dead, the beasts having mysteriously fled. Cloud looked around, the crackling of the flames consuming the city the only thing breaking the silence. Bodies littered the ground, the ground slick with blood of both human and beast.
It was Aerith who voiced the question. "Where did all the monsters go?" She wondered aloud.
Suddenly there was a sound, like someone clapping their hands together. Cloud turned, Mako blue eyes widening.
"Well done." The man behind them said in an amused tone, a cold smirk filled with malice upon his face. Silver hair trailed down his back, emerald eyes laughing as if everything happening was amusing to him. He wore a black trench coat, silver shoulder pads worn over it, the coat open in the front to reveal some of his chest and held together by two straps of leather. A belt was placed around the waist of the coat, making the rest of the long coat that reached to the top of his black boots billow around him. Black gloves were worn over his hands, which he was clapping with as if he were watching some kind of play or such. Tight leather pants were worn over his legs, and a single, raven-black wing stretched from his back.
Cloud's eyes narrowed. "You." He snarled, spitting out the word as a curse word.
The man raised a perfectly arched brow. "Yes?"
The blonds hands clenched into fists. "YOU did this!" He cried, gesturing around him.
:The silver-haired man chuckled. "So I did. Traverse Town really should have kept a few more of its warriors instead of letting them all leave to their separate worlds. That was their mistake, and the people paid for it in blood." He said this in a nonchalant tone, holding his inhumanly long sword in front of his face, staring at his reflection in the crimson stained blade.
Cloud was furious. "You killed all those innocent people! For no reason! Your fight is with me, you had no reason to kill them all, you monster!"
Another chuckle came from the mans throat. "Who is to say I didn't?" He stared into Cloud's eyes, a twisted smile coming to his lips. "The Master requires this world to be destroyed for his plans to be carried out. With each soul lost, he gains more power. The fact that my puppet is here is just an extra incentive to me."
A growl rose from the blonds throat. "Sephiroth!!!" He snarled.
The silver-haired man quirked his head to the side slightly. "You're being awfully rude to the one who is your other half."
Cloud scowled. "You forced me to be that." He snapped.
Sephiroth smirked. "You know you're far happier knowing you're a part of me, just as I am of you. Because of me you're far stronger than before, almost my equal. You should be thankful and stop running away from me, puppet."
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Cloud screamed, sparks of crimson energy beginning to spark around him. He brought his Buster sword into attack position. "Until you die, I cannot rest. The darkness within me WON'T go away until YOU do! I don't WANT to be a part of you! I HATE you! You constantly come to torment me and because of that I have to live away from the people I care about so they don't get hurt! Because of you making me your other half, I'm forced to live away from everyone else so whenever you come back to claim 'what is yours' no one else can be hurt! Because of YOU I can never be free! Because of YOU I have THIS!!!"
Cloud's face twisted into a grimace as their was a squishing sound. Suddenly a wing, pure obsidian in color and leathery like a bats, torn in places, burst from his back, coated in crimson blood. Aerith gasped. "Cloud!!"
Cloud barely turned his head to look at her. "Aerith, go find Cid." He said in a tone that left no room for argument. "GO!"
Aerith nodded and turned, running for the second distract, staff in hand. As soon as she disappeared into the doors he turned towards the One Winged Angel again.
Sephiroth laughed. "Attempting to protect your little friends? Cute. Not to mention futile. I've sent so many youkai all over this place there is simply no way any of them will make it out of this alive. " He smirked. "This world is lost. Give up. " He stretched out his gloved hand. "Come back to me...my other half. Forget those others. I am all you need. Stop fighting the darkness within you. You know what you are, there is no point in fighting it anymore. Eventually it will control you, no matter what you do. So come. My Master requires you."
Cloud's eyes narrowed and he looked down at the hand. "No." He said simply, looking back at the silver-haired man. "I am not your puppet. I refuse to be. And I will NOT allow you to take this city."
Sephiroth's eyes narrowed as well. "So again you choose the hard way."
Cloud gave a cry and charged, Buster Sword pointed at Sephiroth. The One Winged Angel charged as well. The masmune and Buster Sword met with a clash. Both men glared at each other over their weapons before shooting into the sky.
The blond swung his sword downward, only to be met with a parry as Sephiroth again blocked, a smirk crossing his features. Cloud scowled, pulling back and striking again and again, each time parried by Sephiroth's blade.
Sephiroth smirked, gesturing. Cloud's eyes widened and he pulled back just as a pillar of fire engulfed Sephiroth and the air around him. The blond snarled, charging at the one winged angel through the flames, sword pointed to impale his nemesis upon the blade. Sephiroth looked through the flames and suddenly vanished, just in time to dodge the brutal blow. Cloud instantly turned around blocking the masmune half a foot from his face. He grit his teeth, pushing against his enemies strength. Both blades remained firm as the two arch enemies pitted his strength against the other.
They both pulled away at the same moment, one glaring the other smirking.
"Your skills haven't faded."
"Neither have yours."
The staring contest was interrupted as there was a sound, like a burst of energy unleashed, coming from the second distract. Then all was silent for a moment. Sephiroth's smirk became a full, twisted smile. "Good. They found it."
Cloud's face paled. "..The Keyhole..."
A wave of black burst from the second distract, slowly covering all of traverse town, enveloping the city in it's cold embrace, neon lights that remained going out in an instant. Cloud's eyes widened as darkness flooded his vision for a moment, then was gone. He gasped as his sight returned. All the buildings had been leveled, piles of rubble and remains of neon signs in their place. The peaceful, forever night city that was Traverse Town simply had ceased to be, the gigantic walls that surrounded the city reduced to rubbles as well, street lights twisted into unrecognizable shapes, broken bricks, dirt, dust, splinters of wood, and stones littered the ground.
"...no..."
Sephiroth smirked as he watched his nemesis stare round in utter horror. "Yes. Traverse Town is no more...." There was a great CRACK and a creaking sound as cracks began to appear upon the ground beneath them. "This world is no more."
Cloud turned to stare at Sephiroth, eyes wide. "..No..."
The smirk became wider. "You failed, my puppet. This world you fought so hard to protect is lost, it's people are killed....because you couldn't protect them."
"..no..." Cloud repeated, again taking in the sight of the ruins of the city.
Sephiroth grinned. "But it is true. This world would have been better off if you had not come. Maybe if you had not been here, it wouldn't have been so easy to pinpoint. You couldn't save any of them. You were of no use to them. You might as well have helped slay them all. "
"No...NO!" Cloud screamed, gloved hands fisting into his hair, dropping his Buster Sword to the debris strewn ground.
The one winged angel's grin widened. 'I have him.' "I told you that the light had no use of you. That you would just cause them pain. But you didn't listen, and look what happened." The ground shuddered, cracks becoming wider, the entire earth beginning to shake slightly. Sephiroth held out a black gloved hand. "Come with me."
Cloud stared at the hand, eyes brimming with tears. His eyes then narrowed. "No. All of this is YOUR fault!" He snarled, hand coming down to grip the Buster Sword. "I know you're lying. You just want me to come with you. Well..I won't be your puppet anymore. You may have destroyed this world, but you will not have me!"
Sephiroth's smirk faded and he stared at Cloud. "Who said you have a choice?" He asked, stepping forward to grab Cloud's shirt. Cloud pulled away.
"SEPHIROTH!" He snarled, hefting up his sword and swinging it down to strike his nemesis. Sephiroth blocked, eyes narrowing as well. The ground cracked beneath them, beginning to split, the split cracks glowing orange.
"I wanted to give you an easy way Cloud!" Sephiroth cried over the rumbling of the earth. "I wanted to give you a less painful path. But whether you agree or not, my Master requires you, and you WILL be coming with me!" He pulled back and then swung the Masmune. Cloud jumped over the blade, bringing up his blade to impale Sephiroth as he landed. However, Sephiroth teleported away and Cloud landed, pivoting to block another strike as it came from behind.
"I am not going to whatever hell you may wish to drag me to, I don't CARE if your master gives a damn!" Cloud snapped, sapphire glaring into emerald.
Beneath them the ground split in two, a great wave of heat rising from the crack, the entire surface of the world beginning to come apart.
Cloud pulled back, jumping into the air, and Sephiroth followed, swinging his blade to strike Cloud in the head. Cloud blocked, the two warriors swords coming together with a clash of metal once more. Sparks of crimson and sapphire danced through the air as the two swordsmen fought, exchanging blows and parrying, both having yet to actually land a solid blow. Below them the ground continued to split, hellish flames rising from the ground.
The two warriors hovered in mid-air as their swords came together once more, locking eyes as well as weapons.
"You WILL come with me, willingly or by force!" Sephiroth snapped.
"You've destroyed my home twice now," Cloud snarled back, pouring his strength into his weapon. Crimson energy began to dance around him. "And you. Will. PAY!!" With that he shot forward. Sephiroth, caught by surprise, grunted as Cloud's energy powered buster sword slammed into him, knocking him to the ground.
He grunted, wiping some blood from his lip and glaring up at Cloud. Cloud glared back.
"CLOUD!!" A cry cut through the rumbling air and Cloud turned his head, Sephiroth as well.
A sleek black Gummi Ship hovered next to Cloud, door thrown open. Aerith clutched at the door, chestnut braids blown back in the wind. Behind her Cloud could make out Cid struggling to keep the craft steady.
"Cloud! Hurry! Get in!" Aerith cried again.
Cloud stared at her with wide eyes and then looked back down at his nemesis, whom was pushing himself to his feet, eyes blazing in anger.
"Dumbass!!" Cid growled through clenched teeth. "Get the hell in here before we get out f#$asses blown away with the entire f$#ing world!"
Cloud made no move to get in, sapphire locking with emerald.
"Cloud!" Aerith pleaded, and the blond looked over at her. 'Why is it her eyes look so much like HIS!?' "Forget about him! Please come!"
"But....." Cloud shot another glare Sephiroth's way.
"Cloud, he's not worth losing your life over! Please!" Aerith pleaded.
Cloud looked from Aerith to Sephiroth. Finally he sheathed his Buster sword. "...when we meet again, you will not be spared." He snarled, glaring down at Sephiroth, whom glared back. With that, he dove into the Gummi Ship.
"Alright! Let's get the hell out of here!" Cid howled, pressing several buttons. "YEE HAAAWW!"
The black Gummi Ship turned towards the sky, a glow of sapphire surrounding it, and with a roar of rockets and a WOOOSSH, it was gone, launched into the sky.
Sephiroth scowled, rage flitting across his features as he stared at the space where the ship had disappeared. "You can run...but you know I'll find you..and when I do, you'll pay.." He smirked, gesturing. A portal of swirling black appeared before him and he vanished into it, just before the entire world blew to pieces in a burst of fiery orange and rock.
((Suggested music is "Those Chosen by the Planet" from Final Fantasy VII. Gotta love the dark foreshadowing tone of doom!!))
Solus gazed down at the small group of islands dotted over the dark waters of the sea. Tiny specks of civilization amidst an endless plain of blue. Save for these few islands, there was no land upon this tiny, isolated world. 'How ironic.......that such a small place would connect the planes....that the most glorious of things rests in such a plain little world....that he would be born here....' He thought to himself, standing upon the deck of a sleek black ship, adorned with spikes, cannons, and lasers. A weapon of war, one of many that were clouding the sky, becoming a swarm of black that hid the stars and moon from view.
The cool salty night breeze wafted up to the man, the leather material of his cloak billowing around him. He watched as the lights in the houses of wood went off one by one, an occasional street light here and there but none were out tonight. All the people, sleeping peacefully in their beds, ignorant to the wave of death slowly forming above them, thick and menacing.
'Such a tiny, simple, innocent world...' Solus mused. 'A tiny corner of blissful ignorance, tucked away in a corner of the universe, the tiny thread that unknowingly holds the worlds together. The hide away of all I have sought.' A smirk crossed his face. "It is here," He said aloud, "where the game truly begins."
He brought up his hands and placed them before him. A midnight blue glow lit his palms, and he pulled them away to reveal a sphere of light. He gazed into the sphere, and an image of a swarming mass of creatures appeared. Humans covered in grotesque armor, deformed beasts covered with blades, great serpentine dragons sitting upon their haunches, cat like beasts feuding with each other.
"My armies of darkness." Solus called out, voice ringing through the air. The beasts upon the sphere quieted, quarrels forgotten and ears tilting forward to listen. "Tonight is the night! It begins! For too long have we waited in the shadows, biding our time! We have lived in the dark, forever banished from the world, kept far from the power we so desire! For ten thousand long years we have slaved for this night, gathering our strength, waiting for the time when the Essence would be revealed, when the catalysts would be reborn! For too long have we awaited the awakening of Ban'yuu's ark, for the spell that placed it's great power to sleep to release, for the chance to regain the worlds that are so rightfully ours! We wait no longer! The day has ended! The night has come! And the War of The Essence has begun!"
A great cheer rose from man and beast, a combined voice of shrieks, roars, and yells, a sound of malice that would strike terror in any who heard it.
"You do not know pain!" Solus continued. " You do not know fear! Kill all whom oppose you! Do not show mercy! Mercy is weakness, and weakness is death!! Tonight, the light sleeps, foolishly trusting. And for that, tonight, it falls!"
Another cheer. Solus' face twisted into a cold smirk and he waved his hand, the orb vanishing, his small speech over. "And tonight..." He added quietly, eyes flashing. "We shall finally meet....face to face....." Metallic colored, rainbow wings ruffled beneath his cloak. "...Essence...you will be mine.."
((Suggested music...um....Eternal by Evanescence...yeah..))
"He....lp..."
Falling......still falling....always falling....shrouded in icy gauze of black. Staring into the abyss, trying to see something that he could never see.
"Help..."
Seven orbs orbited around Sora, small bodies of gentle light, pulsing and providing his only means of sight. Bloody crimson drifted by, a blazing orange, a cool, calming emerald, then a joyful soothing orb of sapphire, then shimmering silver, then deep cool midnight blue, followed lastly by an orb of amethyst. These orbs swirled around him, whispering in voices, singing in an unknown language, a song forgotten by time.
"Help...........me..."
And still the one voice rang, coming from the abyss that beckoned, drawing ever closer. The abyss that reached up, welcoming him with icy gales of pain, misery, and death. And despite Sora's efforts to to flee, he could not, as if he was drawn to this icy cold by some force.
"Help me......Help me......" The voice pleaded, sobs coming between it's pathetic cries.
He looked down into the abyss, into the face of the darkness that threatened to consume him. He should have been scared, he should have been worried. But none of these thoughts plagued him, instead he was filled with a sense of curiosity. What lay beyond the depth's of the abyss? What lay beyond?
"Help me..........help me.........help me........"
Unconsciously, he reached out his gloved hand towards the dark, towards the icy cold. "I'm coming." He tired to say, but his voice was lost within the dark.
And then the cold came, so cold it burned, stinging like a million knives. He cried out in pain and thrashed wildly in the dark, eyes squeezed shut in pain and arms and legs flailing wildly. A cold deep chuckle echoed through the dark.
"Help me....help me!"
And suddenly the agony was gone and Sora fell to his knees, eyes closed, breathing ragged. He opened his eyes, beholding an empty street. The giant buildings of stone were old and crumbling, the sidewalks cracked with tufts of dried, dead grass peaking between slabs of breaking concrete. The street was littered with cans and garbage. Everything was empty, devoid of any life. A cold wind passed between the buildings and ruffled his clothes, sending a shudder through his body.
"Help me........help me.....help me....."
Compelled by something he couldn't explain, he began to walk down the sidewalk, slowly, as if in some sort of trance.
"Help me........help me.........help me......"
He began to walk faster, shoes clicking upon the sidewalk and creating the only sound in this place of utter silence.
"Help me.....help me.......help me.........help me....."
There was a clap of thunder, and a gentle rain began to fall, the patter of the ever constant rain filling the silence. The water pouring around him as he continued to walk, going faster and faster.
"Help me.....help me......help me...."
There was a light, blazing from the window of one of the crumbled buildings. Blinking, he stopped at the window and looked inside.
It was a large library, the floor a deep green and covered with the multicolored sunlight that filtered through colored glass windows. A winding staircase stood next to a small table, and seated at this table was an old women, her face kind, gray hair done into a bun. Sitting in front of her was a young girl whom looked to be about six. Short red hair framed her smiling face and shimmering periwinkle eyes. She wore a dress of simple white that made her appearance angelic.
He blinked, pressing his black gloved hands against the glass. She looked so familiar....
"Tell me again, grandma?" The girl was saying, a large exuberant smile covering her face.
The elderly women smiled. "Long ago, at the very beginning of time, six angels existed. These angels were guardians of the worlds, keepers of light, created to protect the worlds from the knowledge of evil, and to forever bathe them in light. To help them with this task, they created a being known as the Essence of Heart. The Essence was the embodiment of the light in all peoples hearts, a being created for the purpose of helping people. All was good. People were happy. No one sinned, for what reason did they have to do what they had no knowledge of? The six angels saw this and they were proud. The worlds were separated into five kingdoms. The Kingdom of joy, the Kingdom of Courage, the Kingdom of Knowledge, the Kingdom of Tranquility, and the Kingdom of Sorrow. These five realms contained different worlds, though each had a basic thing about it's people or it's structure. The five realms were usually separate, two realms connected by a center world, a sort of hub world that connected two of the realms. The five kingdoms were usually separate, but a man by the name of Ban'yuu helped the six angels create an ark. This ark could travel over the barriers separating the realms. Thus the Five Kingdoms thrived, and the angels were pleased."
"But one Kingdom, the Kingdom of Sorrow, was not as loved. It's people were a quiet race, a people whom preferred to keep to themselves, and generally brought a quiet calm with them wherever they went. The other Kingdoms, more excitable, didn't like this, and thus usually avoided the realm of sorrow. It's keeper, the Angel of Sorrow, hated this. She did not like to see her people shunned, because they were different. But all she could do was watch as her people were isolated more and more. The ark never transcended into her realm, and she was soon nearly forgotten. The Angel began to despair over the fragments of her world. The darkness saw this, and since the angel was hurt, her heart unguarded, it tainted her heart, turning her spiteful towards her kin. The Angel opened the barriers, and released darkness into peoples hearts. With darkness in peoples hearts, she created another Essence, an Essence forged from the darkness of peoples hearts. This Essence, unlike it's master, whom was bound to her realm, went forth into the other worlds and began to destroy. 'If the people will choose not to accept sorrow, then I will teach them it. They will all love us, and despair!' He had cried. The other five angels saw this and tried to stop the dark Essence, but it was far too powerful, a combination of all of their abilities. The Essence of Heart stepped forth to fight. The two Essences clashed. Millions of worlds were destroyed in the battle. In the end, the dark Essence took an entire realm hostage, and forced the light essence to surrender, then killed her."
"The five angels did not know what to do. Darkness was possessing peoples hearts, and they were fighting over the light. Using the ark, a great war began. The Angel of Sorrow and it's Essence saw this and was pleased. The five angels knew what had to be done. They gathered together their powers, and separated the five realms, eternally severing the bonds that connected them. They then took the darkness and sealed it within the realm of sorrow. They separated the realm of sorrow from all the others, and then, using the last of their power, freed the Angel of Sorrow from darkness. When the angel saw what had happened, she cried. Her realm was forever one of darkness, and her kin was dying around her. Still the Dark Essence existed, and was beginning the reform the bonds with the worlds to start another war. The Angel of Sorrow would not have that. She healed her kin the best they could, and the six angels sealed themselves into statues. By doing this, the realm of sorrow was forever sealed away, and Ban'yuu's ark was sealed along with what remained of the good essence, to forever sleep."
"To this day child, the darkness remains in the realm of sorrow, and it forever taints the dark essence. The Essence of Darkness lies in wait, waiting for the day for it's brother to be reborn, waiting for the day when he can unlock the mystic bonds that hold him, and again go forth and unleash his pain and despair upon the worlds."
The young girl listening to this story with growing fascination, pulling her knees to her chest. "But Grandma.....the bad one is stuck behind the door, right? So he can't get lose?"
"No my dear. He cannot. But as long as the darkness exists in peoples hearts, he exists. But it is said, one day, the Essence of Light will be reborn. And it said the ark will be found, and a final war of light and dark will begin. But light, in the end, will win. And together, the light and dark will at last seal darkness away. Remember how I told you that fragments of the light survive in the hearts of children?"
"Yes Grandma, I remember."
"Well, until the day that the true light is brought forth, it sleeps in here." The elderly women gently tapped the girls chest, and the young girl giggled. "And it is up to you, Kairi, to let the light shine. Do you think you can do this?"
The young girl beamed up at the elderly women. "I will Grandma. I will."
Sora blinked, pressing his face against the glass. "Kairi!?"
The light faded, and the elderly women and girl with it. "Kairi!?" Sora called again. Icy wind caressed his face, the rain still pouring around him. He pushed away from the glass. "..Kairi...." He looked up at the sky.
"Help me....."
The voice came again, a sobbing plea on the wind, and Sora turned towards the voice, his own lost. The rain poured around him, became streams that poured into gutters along the empty street.
"Help me.......help me........."
Again he began to walk towards the voice.
"Help me.....help me......help me........"
A feeling of urgency came to him, and he began to jog, chains adorning his clothing jingling with each step, shoes clicking on the wet pavement, rain pouring around him and drenching his hair, the crown of spikes drooping as if wilted.
"Help me......help me......help me.......help me...."
He broke into a run, breathing hard, heart pounding in his chest. He stepped into a puddle and water flew up in wings, drenching his jeans. He took no notice, still running, though he knew not what he was running to.
"Help me.....help me......help me....."
A large cathedral came into view, dark and foreboding before him. Gargoyles perched upon the roof, glaring down at him with unforgiving stone eyes, those with wings stretched out to leer at him, faces bared into snarls. Statues surrounded the cathedral, various ones designed like women, with large, gossamer wings folded upon their backs, rain giving them the appearance of being in tears. Fallen angels.
"Help me.....help me.....help me...."
He ran past the statues, past the pillars and perched gargoyles, and threw open the double doors.
"Help me....help me...."
Sora jolted from his sleep, sapphire eyes wide, sitting straight up in his bed, drenched in a cold sweat. His wings quivered, stretched outward. He gasped, breathing fast as his eyes darted around the dark room. Clothes strewn on the floor, desk covered in odds and ends, bulletin board full of pictures. His room.
He panted, waiting for his breathing to slow, lying back on the sweat soaked sheets. "Just a dream..." He whispered out loud. "Just the dream." His eyebrows furrowed as he recalled what he could. "It was longer this time.....why?"
No answer coming to him, he forced himself to close his eyes. "No need to seem tired tomorrow and worry Kairi..."
A piercing scream suddenly came through the air, followed by another. Sora bolted upright again, eyes widening. A loud roar sounded, and he looked out his window. Large blazes of flame could be viewed upon the islands across the water, and dark shapes flitted around the various islands. The sky pulsed with black, like a living thing. Another scream came.
Sora jumped out of bed, feet hitting the rug with a thump. Complete horror etched upon his face. "..Oh no..."
To be continued....
Well, that was fun! So begins the ending of arc one! Man, that was fun.....yay for foreboding dream sequences that only I understand what they stand for! (Crys cackles insanely, Auron whacks her over the head again. "Damnit Auron, stop that!" Crys growls) Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. Hopefully it's not total crap.....
Anyways, next chapter we see the attack on Destiny Islands, a prophecy beginning to be fulfilled, and if Cloud, Aerith, and Cid made it out of Traverse Town alive!
Hope to see you then! ((Crys runs off to read LoTR fics before Auron can whack her again.))
Digitaldreamer