Author's Note: Things are about to get quite strange and I hope you guys
can handle it. Thank you for your continuous support and enjoy!
Secrets of Memories
Chapter 23: Rift
Orion grit his teeth, as he stared at his victim. The sky-blue eyes of the teenager before him were confused, fearful, and, most of all, betrayed. The look in his eyes hurt him but Orion fought himself, forced himself to ignore the eyes and continue his work.
"Why don't we just slit his throat and get it over with," Shanks whispered, his stale breath causing Orion to cringe.
He didn't know why He chose Shanks. Orion could not understand His decision but did not go against it; time was too pressing to protest. But Shanks proved to be a stealthy stalker; he was able to track the Keyblade Master when Orion lost him in the wilderness of Twilight Town.
The Keyblade Master shifted slightly against the brick wall he was up against and Orion pressed the knife blade harder against the neck, against the life vein that was pulsing with fear and adrenaline.
"A pity your friends aren't here to help you," Orion gave a dark grin to his captive. "No doubt the fight would've been enjoyable. But I think I'd prefer it done quietly, nice and quiet, where nobody can see it."
"Why...why are you doing this...to us?" the Keyblade Master struggled to speak; the knife blade was also pressing against his voice box and his windpipe and he was having a hard time breathing.
"I do as He tells me to do," Orion answered.
"Your...uncle, I assume-" the Keyblade Master choked as Orion pressed the blade even harder against his throat.
"He never died, Keyblade Master," Orion spat on his face. "He was merely waiting, waiting to become powerful enough to restore our home world. He only became powerful to restore Old Citadel. I don't know what the hell you're talking about, Keyblade Master, because I sure as hell know that he is not evil."
The Keyblade Master strove to speak but a noiseless hissing was all that he could emit.
"Once this blade cuts into your throat, you're dead," Orion said. "The Heartless will become strong once they have your heart. And whatever my uncle said about the inevitable will come to pass. Imagine the world once the Keyblade Master dies."
The dark grin on his face grew as he shifted to deal the deathblow. But before he could do anything, a scream tore into the sky behind him.
"...imagine the world once the Keyblade Master dies," Orion spoke.
The words continued to echo in Sora's head. What would happen if I died? He then remembered the images played to him back at Sherwood Forest, in the mysterious, enchanted lake. A desolate sea, dark and grim, with a clouded, shadowy sky. There was no land, there was no life. It was just the sea and the sky. Desolation. Misery. Loneliness. Solitude. Empty of laughter. Devoid of love. Denied of life and light.
If you fail, all the worlds will turn into the darkest sea...and both the dark and the light will have fallen into ruin...
Kairi...I have to get back to her, I must see her one more time!
Sora closed his eyes. He suddenly felt like the loneliest person in the world. But no longer.
A scream shattered the twilit sky. He knew whose voice that was. He knew why the person would scream. After all, what would you do if you saw your cousin ready to murder someone in cold blood?
Sora slowly opened his eyes very slowly, wondering what he might see.
Orion's face was suddenly pale, and his hold on the knife was extremely shaky. The shabby man had suddenly vanished but the huge Heartless were still there.
"Orion...what are you doing?" Yuri whispered, in a horrified, betrayed voice.
"Orion!" Ashita was aghast, shattered.
Orion's face had suddenly set and his eyes glared angrily. He grit his teeth and his hands stopped trembling.
"...let loose the Heartless..." Sora heard Orion hiss from the corner of his mouth.
Sora moved his mouth to speak but nothing came out; the knife was at the point of crushing his windpipe.
"Leave," Orion whispered, his voice trembling with rage. "Leave. Now!"
"We're not leaving," Donald snapped back. "Let him go-"
"–and we don't want to hurt you, Orion," Goofy added with a rather suggestive move from his shield.
Goofy was not one to threaten. But he had his duties and nothing was to stop him.
Something suddenly registered in Sora's mind. Orion threatened to slit his throat and give him to the Heartless but he had not done so. What could that mean?
That thought was suddenly driven from his mind as the metal suddenly bit into his throat. It nipped at it but no more. He would've dismissed that strange sensation, if it weren't for the fact something a lot like blood was trickling down his neck.
"How dare you!" Yuri was mad now, really mad. "How dare you try and kill someone! Orion, you were never like this! What's happened to you?"
"Why should you care?" Orion snapped back. He knew what he was doing, wasn't he?
"Release him!" Donald growled.
"Never!" Orion hissed.
Donald suddenly squalled and yelled, "Firaga!"
Smoke billowed from the right of Sora and Heartless began to pour from the alley to the right of Sora.
"There's more of them?" Ashita was horrified. "Then...what about Aozora?"
The warm liquid was still flowing thickly from his side and a new cascade of redness was coming from the back of his head, where he impacted with the brick wall. Heartless of all kinds were surrounding him, including strange dog-like creatures with jagged mouths.
"Ohhh..." Aozora moaned. He barely had to strength to do anything other than blink. His arms felt heavy, his limbs seemed to go numb, and it was getting increasingly harder to breathe.
Just one more blow...just one more blow from the Heartless and it was all over for him.
And I can sense a rift, there's a split...a wall of anger between Sora and I...I must fix it...but how...
Heartless loomed before his eyes but they were fast growing into meaningless shadows. He was unable to see or define the shapes now, and his world was dimming.
Am I dying...
He heard voices shouting. Heartless were shifting away, suddenly distracted, suddenly seeing something else. Flashes of light exploded in the darkening distance, and he saw dark shapes moving, dark hooded shapes...
Everything was falling into darkness. And in the process he noted that everything around him started to look like stones again, the glowing floating stones that circled around him from his previous dreams...
The Dream Heart loomed before him...looking battered, shattered...He was unaffected by the circling stones.
"We meet again, Guardian," the voice spoke. "Times have changed the course of the world, I can see."
"Now what?" Aozora demanded.
"A rift is growing between you and the Keyblade Master," he heard Princess Kida's voice. "We are not sure how to seal the rift, something that I wish we could seal. But you know of those who see the inevitable, am I correct?"
"We know of one who sees the inevitable," the Dream Heart said. "One who prophesized what would come to pass, no matter what. What we're doing right now is that we are trying to find a way to stop the prophesized from happening. "
"So you're saying this rift is something prophesized?" Aozora was horrified and confused at the same time. Someone prophesized every moment of 'now', apparently speaking, and that whatever the prophesy was, it didn't sound all too lovely. "It will prove dangerous in the future," the Dream Heart spoke quietly. " The Hearts and Souls are trying to stop other factors from happening and I have lent my hands."
"But the results follow the prophesy," Princess Kida's voice was gloomy. " Who knows? Maybe in the end the feathers won't have to fall after all."
"Maybe in the end the feathers won't have to fall..." Aozora heard it before but he could not remember.
"What must I do, then?" Aozora demanded.
"Help is already on the way," Princess Kida's voice explained calmly. " They will help you."
"You must make your way to Old Universe after sealing the worlds here in New Universe," the Dream Heart continued. "By then, you must stay with Sora. It will become dangerous, very dangerous. The universe is turning against him, Guardian, and its your duty to protect it."
Aozora nodded, as the stones slowed in their course and all began to fade...
Sora tried desperately to free himself as a battle began to rage. Donald and Goofy obvious needed there help but if Orion was not afraid to leave a slight, bleeding cut on his throat, Sora knew Orion would obviously be not afraid to slit his throat before everyone present.
"Don't move," Orion hissed.
Sora responded by doing something desperate. He suddenly forced himself backwards, to gain clearage from the deadly blade that was against his throat. In the process, he lifted his leg and kicked hard at what would be a guy's most incredible weakness.
Orion cringed and doubled over, pain rushing through all parts of his body. His hand slipped and the knife fell. To Sora's horror, it came down on his left arm and dug itself into his forearm. White-hot veins of pain streaked into his mind and he bent over, trying to stop a furious blood flow.
"Curaga!" Donald yelped and though the blood continued to flow, the pain lessened.
"Sora, we need your help!" Goofy yelped as he ducked a Heartless and slammed it into the others with his shield.
Sora called the Kingdom Key to his right hand and stepped forward into battle. Every Heartless froze, suddenly looking to Sora and the blade he had in his right hand. Their eyes seemed to narrow in fury as they glared at the legendary weapon in his hand.
Sora tried to balance the weapon with both of his hands but his left arm jerked away in a sudden pang of pain. Sora realized he was rather handicapped; he did rely on his left arm to use the Kingdom Key.
"Crap," Sora muttered, before he began to charge forward.
"Aeroga!" Donald quickly cast and wind swirled all around Sora. Something slammed against the powerful wind shield and Sora whirled around.
The knife clattered to the floor as Orion staggered away, blending into the sea of Heartless. Sora pondered for a second whether or not to go after him but his decision was made for him as Heartless surged on all sides. He swiped them out of the way with the Keyblade but had not been able to destroy any one of them since he could only use his right arm. The sea of Heartless surrounded him and cut him off from Orion who had vanished. The shabby man was gone, too, abandoning all the gruesome work to the Heartless.
Sora twisted away from a clawed hand and High Jumped. He cast Firaga down at the sea of Heartless, then dove straight down, relying on Aeroga to protect him upon impact.
Heartless leaped up to meet him and Sora quickly used Strike Raid to get rid of them. The blade returned to him as he reached the rest of the world; he bounded back up a bit, thanks to Aeroga. He then regained his footing and slashed back and forth, coupled with overhead swings, ducks, and Barrel Rolls. Strange to him, though, was that two Heartless seemed to replace every one he destroyed.
"There's too many of them!" Sora shouted, gasping for a breath as he jumped back from a charging Heartless and tried to cast Aeroga at the same time.
Wisps of wind appeared but no more; Sora was so winded and so tired he could not cast any more magic. He was then forced up jump up and twist away from two Heartless at the same time; then he stumbled as he landed and staggered back to his feet. It was then he became aware of a long gash on his right side. He looked down on himself briefly and saw dark liquid spreading on his navy blue shirt. A wet stickiness was spreading and pain was suddenly taking control of his body.
"Sora?" Goofy yelled out worriedly when he saw the Keyblade Master stagger to his feet, looking painfully weak. He then gave a yelp of fright as Heartless closed in on Sora.
"Donald! Goofy!" Sora screamed as pain began to blind him and Heartless closed in on him. He felt claws rake against his wispy shield and he tried to push them away with the Kingdom Key. But woe to him, the gash on his right kept his arm from fully extending himself. Sora began to tremble, perspiration dripping from his forehead; he suddenly found himself having a hard time walking, let alone dodging the Heartless.
"Sora, behind you!" Donald squalled and seconds later a shot of ice flew past, missing Sora's right ear by centimeters.
"Donald!" Sora yelped. The reply was a blast of blinding light.
There was a blinding flash of light and Aozora barely heard the Heartless screech. Then someone was shaking his shoulders and a voice, tense and gentle at the same time, demanded, "Hey, are you okay?"
What's going on...wait-I've heard that voice before...
He heard shouting in the distance, as he slowly, feebly, painfully pulled himself together.
"Hold still," the same voice said. "This won't hurt a bit."
Then Aozora heard something vaguely like, "Lumara ni."
That's the spell of healing...and only members of the Society know that!
Pain suddenly left his body and a gentle warmth washed over him. All of his senses sharpened to the point he felt 'normal' again. Aozora opened his eyes.
He saw wisps of darkish red hair and lonesome blue eyes, before they faded into shadow. Aozora was suddenly aware of the fact it was an Unknown that healed him.
Before Aozora could scramble away, the Unknown said, "We're not here to hurt you!"
Then he became aware of another Unknown, slightly taller than the one who healed him, who was holding a strange staff with a luminous crystal on top and white wings. He was currently surveying a rather messy scenario, mostly of the dark liquid that remained of the Heartless. But what drew Aozora's eyes was a strange engraving on the metal that kept the crystal and wings stuck on top of the rest of the staff.
Is it just me or is that the King's head from Goofy's shield I see engraved on the metal?
"Coast clear," the unknown with the staff said.
"Good," the one who healed him nodded. "Let's go."
Aozora easily noted that the one with the staff was a guy and the one who healed him was a girl; has he seen them before? They were members of the Society and he was part of the Society for half a year.
"Wait..." Aozora staggered to his feet. The world spun and he nearly fell.
"Take it easy, Guardian," the one who healed him grabbed his arm and steadied him. "You've been badly injured; you need rest."
"I don't need rest. I'm fine," Aozora snapped back but he was lying; he was still leaning against the Unknown.
"The spell has not taken full effect yet," the other Unknown spoke. "You need to-"
"I know," Aozora interrupted. "It'll take effect in a few minutes but I have to get to Sora!"
"He'll be fine," the Unknown with the staff reassured him. "He took quite a beating and nearly lost his life but he'll be fine."
"He WHAT?!" Aozora yelped.
"We have to go," the Unknown with the staff told the other. "Ancient Greece's been resurrected; you know what we have to do."
"But the Guardian...he's so..." the Unknown who was helping him regain his balance was suddenly hesitant to let him go. "So...familiar..."
"I don't recall seeing you before," Aozora retorted.
"I agree," the Unknown answered evenly, "but I think we have met each other before."
She let go of him and headed for the Unknown with the staff, who was creating a circle of blinking light in the middle of nowhere.
"I'm sure we'll meet again, though," she called back to him as the circle the other created became an ominous, swirling vortex. "Whatever happens, be aware that most Unknowns aren't so kind."
"And don't lose the Keyblade Master, whatever happens," the Unknown with the staff added, his voice suddenly hard and abrupt. "Come, we have to go."
He gripped her arm and seemed to drag her into the portal.
"We will meet again, Guardian," the Unknown who healed him whispered as they entered the swirling vortex and it closed up behind them.
Aozora had his hand lifted towards them as they vanished, then dropped it to his side.
She's right...I did meet her before...the both of them, I have met them before...but no, not in the Society...but where?
He closed his eyes, took several deep breaths, then threw out feelers, searching for Sora. He found the Keyblade Master in a strange, pulsing light. But what disturbed him greatly were veins of red and a strange sphere of darkness, surrounded by the light, pulsing by itself as though it was merely waiting for the right moment, the right moment to explode.
"Sora!" Aozora yelled, and headed straight for where the feelers were telling him to go.
The wound at his side stung him sharply; Aozora remembered that the spell did not exactly erase the wound. It partially heals wounds but lets the body do the rest; disastrous results always followed whenever members of the Society fully healed the wounds with the spell.
"Damn it all!" Aozora swore as he staggered his way towards Sora, wondering how everyone would react when they saw him approaching in blood- soaked clothes.
Sora did not know what happened but he found himself crumpled on the floor. Blood still seeped from the wound on his right side and the knife wound on his left forearm was threatening to drive him crazy with its white-hot pain.
The Heartless, they're getting stronger...but how? But why?
He raised his head ever so slightly and found himself staring at Goofy's loafers.
"Yahoo! He's okay!" Goofy hoisted Sora to his feet and hugged him at the same time, causing Sora to wince and grit his teeth, attempting to keep himself from screaming in pain. What was really getting onto him was that the cut on his neck and the slash on his arm were throbbing, pulsing with pain.
"Thank goodness, I thought we were all goners," Ashita looked extremely relieved as he picked his way through puddles of dark liquid towards him.
"Just look at this mess," Donald shook his head as he looked at the puddles, all the remained of the Heartless after that blinding flash of light. "And where's Aozora?"
Sora managed to raise an eyebrow. Donald was worried about Aozora?
From somewhere, Yuri gave a yelp, followed by a shout of pain and, "I'm alright, Yuri, stop hugging me; it hurts!"
"He's okay after all, too!" Goofy grinned while still keeping a paling Sora in a vice grip.
"What in Spira?!" they heard Cid swear. The man approached from another direction, also picking himself through the mess.
"Hey Cid," Ashita said weakly, while everybody else suddenly noticed Aozora approaching, with Yuri practically clinging to him.
Cid's eyes widened as he noted the blotches of blood all over the teenager; with Sora also covered in blood, the two looked like twins who took a shower in blood.
"What happened?" Yuna called out as Rikku, Paine, and she appeared; they were obviously following Cid. "Oh by Spira!"
"Sora, are you okay?" Rikku rushed to Sora, who seemed to be dead; his face was dangerously pale.
"Quick," Cid stepped forward and picked up Sora in his arms. "We've got to get out of here and somewhere safe. Sora and Aozora need a place to recuperate; we need a-"
"We know of a safe place," Paine said coolly. "Come on."
Aozora gave Sora a horrified look. A long, thin cut was still streaming blood from Sora's neck and blood soaked up his right side and his left arm. Sora was continuously turning paler by the minute and he was starting to have a hard time to breathe.
"I think this knife's got something on it," Yuna was picking up a bloody knife near a blast mark and her finger moved to touch the sharp side.
"Don't!" Aozora barked. "I think I know what's on it."
"What is it?" Donald was starting to panic. "What do you mean by 'this knife's got something on it'?"
"I don't know who gave Orion a knife with poison on it but whatever it is, we've got to get him out of here. I know how to heal him but not out here," Aozora explained.
Everyone stared at Aozora.
"Whatever happened, how it happened, and how do you know about this or that is of no concern to me now, we've got to get him outta here," Cid said abruptly as Sora started gasping for air. He turned to Yuna, Rikku, and Paine. "Let's go. Now!"
He watched in silence as the group of ten rushed away into a remote part of Twilight Town. He grinned darkly, knowing that the Keyblade Master and the Guardian had been stalled, allowing the others to finish preparing themselves for what might come next. Orion had done well. He didn't think the nephew of his boss's rival would be able to do it, but he had. He and Shanks had done extremely well.
"Well, sir?" Shanks whispered to him, his eyes gleaming. "Did it all go well?"
He nodded. "You and Orion have done well, incredibly well."
"What next, sir?" Shanks asked. "Orion had already left to report to Him. Sir, have you sent your report as well?"
"I would've have said it was not of your concern but I see you are concerned about this," he said quietly, his emerald eyes shining. "Yes, He knows of what has been done. No doubt the others know of this as well. We have ample time."
Shanks nodded, then asked, "Sir, what am I to do?"
"Lay low, Shanks," he answered. "Lay low for now; I won't have need of your skills at this moment in time. The bag of munny has already been delivered; use the munny wisely and not just for drinks."
Shanks' eyes shimmered in embarrassment and anger but he nodded.
He raised his hand to dismiss Shanks and the shabby man left.
"The Guardian must be stopped," he murmured to himself. "Yes, I must stall him. Fate is already playing in our favor; the rift must grow."
A voice suddenly whispered into his ear. Ancient Greece has been resurrected. The Oracle will no doubt pull Hercules out of the In-Between, which will make things harder for the Other Report to be put together. The others will be directed to Ancient Greece and no doubt their presences will attract the Keyblade Master and the King's petty servants.
He grinned. His master had done well himself, setting up the game board in order to play in their favor.
There really is not much to worry about, the voice continued in the device in the Unknown's ear. If all does not go in our favor in Ancient Greece, we need not worry. The other game boards are being set; the wheels are in motion. Worry yourself with stalling the Guardian; the rest of us will take care of the Keyblade Master.
"Just one problem," he hissed. "The whistleblower. He sent out his students to help the Keyblade Master and the Guardian. What do we do of them?"
When his master did not immediately reply, he was worried. It sounded like his master did not know of it.
The whistleblower has been apprehended and we're sending out raiders to stop them, his master finally replied. I believe we could make good use of the whistleblower but we can eliminate his students.
"I see," he nodded. "Very well, Master, I will do you say."
Good luck, the voice said and connection cut off.
He smiled, an even darker grin than before. His emerald eyes gleamed even more with anticipation of another great fight. The Keyblade Master had been an interesting rival, a strong foe. The duel with the Guardian though, he thought, would be more interesting, more entertaining.
After all, the Guardian did have two blades.
"Cid, Leon, Cloud, we've got a problem," Yuffie rushed into the Red Room where the others were gathered. She looked extremely winded, extremely worried, and extremely confused. "Meg's back and we've got a problem."
"What problem?" Cid demanded as Meg followed Yuffie into the room.
"I see Dr. Finkelstein's portals are working," Leon nodded.
"I bring word from Halloweentown," Meg said evenly. "It is fated to fall; the defenses cannot stand against a million Heartless, in addition to the blockade surrounding the world."
"And she's also seen something strange on the way here," Yuffie added intently.
"Rubble from Coliseum are suddenly gone," Meg explained. "I saw a half of an arm of a statue disappear into thin air. If my suspicions are correct, Eldest has intervened with Coliseum's destruction, after all he has told us about his ability."
"The rest of Ancient Greece is coming back together as well then," Cloud noted. "But what of Hercules?"
Meg looked down at her feet, saddened by that fact. "I really don't know but whatever happens he must be there when Ancient Greece is fully formed-"
"-or else we're stuck with a ghost of a world and it won't be sealed against Heartless, Nobodies, or both," Cid finished. "Geezes...and what of Hades?"
"I hear he's been trying to recruit a 'dream' of some sort," Cloud actually smirked.
"A dream?" Aerith was confused. "Why would he-dreams don't die."
"Exactly," Leon finished her off. "If all works in Hades' favor, Sora's gonna have a bit of a problem when he gets there."
"They are just beginning," Meg replied. "For both Sora and Riku. They are returning."
"Geezes...not again," Yuffie moaned. "I was hoping Sora would've eliminated them for good but I guess not."
"Heartless do have strange powers, as do those who are leaders of them," Leon added.
"And Hollow Bastion?" Aerith brought up a volatile topic again.
"Don't mention it," Cloud growled back.
"Wait a minute," Meg was thinking. "If leaders of the Heartless can come back, then what about..."
They were silent for a long time, then the others suddenly understood.
"Ansem."
Secrets of Memories
Chapter 23: Rift
Orion grit his teeth, as he stared at his victim. The sky-blue eyes of the teenager before him were confused, fearful, and, most of all, betrayed. The look in his eyes hurt him but Orion fought himself, forced himself to ignore the eyes and continue his work.
"Why don't we just slit his throat and get it over with," Shanks whispered, his stale breath causing Orion to cringe.
He didn't know why He chose Shanks. Orion could not understand His decision but did not go against it; time was too pressing to protest. But Shanks proved to be a stealthy stalker; he was able to track the Keyblade Master when Orion lost him in the wilderness of Twilight Town.
The Keyblade Master shifted slightly against the brick wall he was up against and Orion pressed the knife blade harder against the neck, against the life vein that was pulsing with fear and adrenaline.
"A pity your friends aren't here to help you," Orion gave a dark grin to his captive. "No doubt the fight would've been enjoyable. But I think I'd prefer it done quietly, nice and quiet, where nobody can see it."
"Why...why are you doing this...to us?" the Keyblade Master struggled to speak; the knife blade was also pressing against his voice box and his windpipe and he was having a hard time breathing.
"I do as He tells me to do," Orion answered.
"Your...uncle, I assume-" the Keyblade Master choked as Orion pressed the blade even harder against his throat.
"He never died, Keyblade Master," Orion spat on his face. "He was merely waiting, waiting to become powerful enough to restore our home world. He only became powerful to restore Old Citadel. I don't know what the hell you're talking about, Keyblade Master, because I sure as hell know that he is not evil."
The Keyblade Master strove to speak but a noiseless hissing was all that he could emit.
"Once this blade cuts into your throat, you're dead," Orion said. "The Heartless will become strong once they have your heart. And whatever my uncle said about the inevitable will come to pass. Imagine the world once the Keyblade Master dies."
The dark grin on his face grew as he shifted to deal the deathblow. But before he could do anything, a scream tore into the sky behind him.
"...imagine the world once the Keyblade Master dies," Orion spoke.
The words continued to echo in Sora's head. What would happen if I died? He then remembered the images played to him back at Sherwood Forest, in the mysterious, enchanted lake. A desolate sea, dark and grim, with a clouded, shadowy sky. There was no land, there was no life. It was just the sea and the sky. Desolation. Misery. Loneliness. Solitude. Empty of laughter. Devoid of love. Denied of life and light.
If you fail, all the worlds will turn into the darkest sea...and both the dark and the light will have fallen into ruin...
Kairi...I have to get back to her, I must see her one more time!
Sora closed his eyes. He suddenly felt like the loneliest person in the world. But no longer.
A scream shattered the twilit sky. He knew whose voice that was. He knew why the person would scream. After all, what would you do if you saw your cousin ready to murder someone in cold blood?
Sora slowly opened his eyes very slowly, wondering what he might see.
Orion's face was suddenly pale, and his hold on the knife was extremely shaky. The shabby man had suddenly vanished but the huge Heartless were still there.
"Orion...what are you doing?" Yuri whispered, in a horrified, betrayed voice.
"Orion!" Ashita was aghast, shattered.
Orion's face had suddenly set and his eyes glared angrily. He grit his teeth and his hands stopped trembling.
"...let loose the Heartless..." Sora heard Orion hiss from the corner of his mouth.
Sora moved his mouth to speak but nothing came out; the knife was at the point of crushing his windpipe.
"Leave," Orion whispered, his voice trembling with rage. "Leave. Now!"
"We're not leaving," Donald snapped back. "Let him go-"
"–and we don't want to hurt you, Orion," Goofy added with a rather suggestive move from his shield.
Goofy was not one to threaten. But he had his duties and nothing was to stop him.
Something suddenly registered in Sora's mind. Orion threatened to slit his throat and give him to the Heartless but he had not done so. What could that mean?
That thought was suddenly driven from his mind as the metal suddenly bit into his throat. It nipped at it but no more. He would've dismissed that strange sensation, if it weren't for the fact something a lot like blood was trickling down his neck.
"How dare you!" Yuri was mad now, really mad. "How dare you try and kill someone! Orion, you were never like this! What's happened to you?"
"Why should you care?" Orion snapped back. He knew what he was doing, wasn't he?
"Release him!" Donald growled.
"Never!" Orion hissed.
Donald suddenly squalled and yelled, "Firaga!"
Smoke billowed from the right of Sora and Heartless began to pour from the alley to the right of Sora.
"There's more of them?" Ashita was horrified. "Then...what about Aozora?"
The warm liquid was still flowing thickly from his side and a new cascade of redness was coming from the back of his head, where he impacted with the brick wall. Heartless of all kinds were surrounding him, including strange dog-like creatures with jagged mouths.
"Ohhh..." Aozora moaned. He barely had to strength to do anything other than blink. His arms felt heavy, his limbs seemed to go numb, and it was getting increasingly harder to breathe.
Just one more blow...just one more blow from the Heartless and it was all over for him.
And I can sense a rift, there's a split...a wall of anger between Sora and I...I must fix it...but how...
Heartless loomed before his eyes but they were fast growing into meaningless shadows. He was unable to see or define the shapes now, and his world was dimming.
Am I dying...
He heard voices shouting. Heartless were shifting away, suddenly distracted, suddenly seeing something else. Flashes of light exploded in the darkening distance, and he saw dark shapes moving, dark hooded shapes...
Everything was falling into darkness. And in the process he noted that everything around him started to look like stones again, the glowing floating stones that circled around him from his previous dreams...
The Dream Heart loomed before him...looking battered, shattered...He was unaffected by the circling stones.
"We meet again, Guardian," the voice spoke. "Times have changed the course of the world, I can see."
"Now what?" Aozora demanded.
"A rift is growing between you and the Keyblade Master," he heard Princess Kida's voice. "We are not sure how to seal the rift, something that I wish we could seal. But you know of those who see the inevitable, am I correct?"
"We know of one who sees the inevitable," the Dream Heart said. "One who prophesized what would come to pass, no matter what. What we're doing right now is that we are trying to find a way to stop the prophesized from happening. "
"So you're saying this rift is something prophesized?" Aozora was horrified and confused at the same time. Someone prophesized every moment of 'now', apparently speaking, and that whatever the prophesy was, it didn't sound all too lovely. "It will prove dangerous in the future," the Dream Heart spoke quietly. " The Hearts and Souls are trying to stop other factors from happening and I have lent my hands."
"But the results follow the prophesy," Princess Kida's voice was gloomy. " Who knows? Maybe in the end the feathers won't have to fall after all."
"Maybe in the end the feathers won't have to fall..." Aozora heard it before but he could not remember.
"What must I do, then?" Aozora demanded.
"Help is already on the way," Princess Kida's voice explained calmly. " They will help you."
"You must make your way to Old Universe after sealing the worlds here in New Universe," the Dream Heart continued. "By then, you must stay with Sora. It will become dangerous, very dangerous. The universe is turning against him, Guardian, and its your duty to protect it."
Aozora nodded, as the stones slowed in their course and all began to fade...
Sora tried desperately to free himself as a battle began to rage. Donald and Goofy obvious needed there help but if Orion was not afraid to leave a slight, bleeding cut on his throat, Sora knew Orion would obviously be not afraid to slit his throat before everyone present.
"Don't move," Orion hissed.
Sora responded by doing something desperate. He suddenly forced himself backwards, to gain clearage from the deadly blade that was against his throat. In the process, he lifted his leg and kicked hard at what would be a guy's most incredible weakness.
Orion cringed and doubled over, pain rushing through all parts of his body. His hand slipped and the knife fell. To Sora's horror, it came down on his left arm and dug itself into his forearm. White-hot veins of pain streaked into his mind and he bent over, trying to stop a furious blood flow.
"Curaga!" Donald yelped and though the blood continued to flow, the pain lessened.
"Sora, we need your help!" Goofy yelped as he ducked a Heartless and slammed it into the others with his shield.
Sora called the Kingdom Key to his right hand and stepped forward into battle. Every Heartless froze, suddenly looking to Sora and the blade he had in his right hand. Their eyes seemed to narrow in fury as they glared at the legendary weapon in his hand.
Sora tried to balance the weapon with both of his hands but his left arm jerked away in a sudden pang of pain. Sora realized he was rather handicapped; he did rely on his left arm to use the Kingdom Key.
"Crap," Sora muttered, before he began to charge forward.
"Aeroga!" Donald quickly cast and wind swirled all around Sora. Something slammed against the powerful wind shield and Sora whirled around.
The knife clattered to the floor as Orion staggered away, blending into the sea of Heartless. Sora pondered for a second whether or not to go after him but his decision was made for him as Heartless surged on all sides. He swiped them out of the way with the Keyblade but had not been able to destroy any one of them since he could only use his right arm. The sea of Heartless surrounded him and cut him off from Orion who had vanished. The shabby man was gone, too, abandoning all the gruesome work to the Heartless.
Sora twisted away from a clawed hand and High Jumped. He cast Firaga down at the sea of Heartless, then dove straight down, relying on Aeroga to protect him upon impact.
Heartless leaped up to meet him and Sora quickly used Strike Raid to get rid of them. The blade returned to him as he reached the rest of the world; he bounded back up a bit, thanks to Aeroga. He then regained his footing and slashed back and forth, coupled with overhead swings, ducks, and Barrel Rolls. Strange to him, though, was that two Heartless seemed to replace every one he destroyed.
"There's too many of them!" Sora shouted, gasping for a breath as he jumped back from a charging Heartless and tried to cast Aeroga at the same time.
Wisps of wind appeared but no more; Sora was so winded and so tired he could not cast any more magic. He was then forced up jump up and twist away from two Heartless at the same time; then he stumbled as he landed and staggered back to his feet. It was then he became aware of a long gash on his right side. He looked down on himself briefly and saw dark liquid spreading on his navy blue shirt. A wet stickiness was spreading and pain was suddenly taking control of his body.
"Sora?" Goofy yelled out worriedly when he saw the Keyblade Master stagger to his feet, looking painfully weak. He then gave a yelp of fright as Heartless closed in on Sora.
"Donald! Goofy!" Sora screamed as pain began to blind him and Heartless closed in on him. He felt claws rake against his wispy shield and he tried to push them away with the Kingdom Key. But woe to him, the gash on his right kept his arm from fully extending himself. Sora began to tremble, perspiration dripping from his forehead; he suddenly found himself having a hard time walking, let alone dodging the Heartless.
"Sora, behind you!" Donald squalled and seconds later a shot of ice flew past, missing Sora's right ear by centimeters.
"Donald!" Sora yelped. The reply was a blast of blinding light.
There was a blinding flash of light and Aozora barely heard the Heartless screech. Then someone was shaking his shoulders and a voice, tense and gentle at the same time, demanded, "Hey, are you okay?"
What's going on...wait-I've heard that voice before...
He heard shouting in the distance, as he slowly, feebly, painfully pulled himself together.
"Hold still," the same voice said. "This won't hurt a bit."
Then Aozora heard something vaguely like, "Lumara ni."
That's the spell of healing...and only members of the Society know that!
Pain suddenly left his body and a gentle warmth washed over him. All of his senses sharpened to the point he felt 'normal' again. Aozora opened his eyes.
He saw wisps of darkish red hair and lonesome blue eyes, before they faded into shadow. Aozora was suddenly aware of the fact it was an Unknown that healed him.
Before Aozora could scramble away, the Unknown said, "We're not here to hurt you!"
Then he became aware of another Unknown, slightly taller than the one who healed him, who was holding a strange staff with a luminous crystal on top and white wings. He was currently surveying a rather messy scenario, mostly of the dark liquid that remained of the Heartless. But what drew Aozora's eyes was a strange engraving on the metal that kept the crystal and wings stuck on top of the rest of the staff.
Is it just me or is that the King's head from Goofy's shield I see engraved on the metal?
"Coast clear," the unknown with the staff said.
"Good," the one who healed him nodded. "Let's go."
Aozora easily noted that the one with the staff was a guy and the one who healed him was a girl; has he seen them before? They were members of the Society and he was part of the Society for half a year.
"Wait..." Aozora staggered to his feet. The world spun and he nearly fell.
"Take it easy, Guardian," the one who healed him grabbed his arm and steadied him. "You've been badly injured; you need rest."
"I don't need rest. I'm fine," Aozora snapped back but he was lying; he was still leaning against the Unknown.
"The spell has not taken full effect yet," the other Unknown spoke. "You need to-"
"I know," Aozora interrupted. "It'll take effect in a few minutes but I have to get to Sora!"
"He'll be fine," the Unknown with the staff reassured him. "He took quite a beating and nearly lost his life but he'll be fine."
"He WHAT?!" Aozora yelped.
"We have to go," the Unknown with the staff told the other. "Ancient Greece's been resurrected; you know what we have to do."
"But the Guardian...he's so..." the Unknown who was helping him regain his balance was suddenly hesitant to let him go. "So...familiar..."
"I don't recall seeing you before," Aozora retorted.
"I agree," the Unknown answered evenly, "but I think we have met each other before."
She let go of him and headed for the Unknown with the staff, who was creating a circle of blinking light in the middle of nowhere.
"I'm sure we'll meet again, though," she called back to him as the circle the other created became an ominous, swirling vortex. "Whatever happens, be aware that most Unknowns aren't so kind."
"And don't lose the Keyblade Master, whatever happens," the Unknown with the staff added, his voice suddenly hard and abrupt. "Come, we have to go."
He gripped her arm and seemed to drag her into the portal.
"We will meet again, Guardian," the Unknown who healed him whispered as they entered the swirling vortex and it closed up behind them.
Aozora had his hand lifted towards them as they vanished, then dropped it to his side.
She's right...I did meet her before...the both of them, I have met them before...but no, not in the Society...but where?
He closed his eyes, took several deep breaths, then threw out feelers, searching for Sora. He found the Keyblade Master in a strange, pulsing light. But what disturbed him greatly were veins of red and a strange sphere of darkness, surrounded by the light, pulsing by itself as though it was merely waiting for the right moment, the right moment to explode.
"Sora!" Aozora yelled, and headed straight for where the feelers were telling him to go.
The wound at his side stung him sharply; Aozora remembered that the spell did not exactly erase the wound. It partially heals wounds but lets the body do the rest; disastrous results always followed whenever members of the Society fully healed the wounds with the spell.
"Damn it all!" Aozora swore as he staggered his way towards Sora, wondering how everyone would react when they saw him approaching in blood- soaked clothes.
Sora did not know what happened but he found himself crumpled on the floor. Blood still seeped from the wound on his right side and the knife wound on his left forearm was threatening to drive him crazy with its white-hot pain.
The Heartless, they're getting stronger...but how? But why?
He raised his head ever so slightly and found himself staring at Goofy's loafers.
"Yahoo! He's okay!" Goofy hoisted Sora to his feet and hugged him at the same time, causing Sora to wince and grit his teeth, attempting to keep himself from screaming in pain. What was really getting onto him was that the cut on his neck and the slash on his arm were throbbing, pulsing with pain.
"Thank goodness, I thought we were all goners," Ashita looked extremely relieved as he picked his way through puddles of dark liquid towards him.
"Just look at this mess," Donald shook his head as he looked at the puddles, all the remained of the Heartless after that blinding flash of light. "And where's Aozora?"
Sora managed to raise an eyebrow. Donald was worried about Aozora?
From somewhere, Yuri gave a yelp, followed by a shout of pain and, "I'm alright, Yuri, stop hugging me; it hurts!"
"He's okay after all, too!" Goofy grinned while still keeping a paling Sora in a vice grip.
"What in Spira?!" they heard Cid swear. The man approached from another direction, also picking himself through the mess.
"Hey Cid," Ashita said weakly, while everybody else suddenly noticed Aozora approaching, with Yuri practically clinging to him.
Cid's eyes widened as he noted the blotches of blood all over the teenager; with Sora also covered in blood, the two looked like twins who took a shower in blood.
"What happened?" Yuna called out as Rikku, Paine, and she appeared; they were obviously following Cid. "Oh by Spira!"
"Sora, are you okay?" Rikku rushed to Sora, who seemed to be dead; his face was dangerously pale.
"Quick," Cid stepped forward and picked up Sora in his arms. "We've got to get out of here and somewhere safe. Sora and Aozora need a place to recuperate; we need a-"
"We know of a safe place," Paine said coolly. "Come on."
Aozora gave Sora a horrified look. A long, thin cut was still streaming blood from Sora's neck and blood soaked up his right side and his left arm. Sora was continuously turning paler by the minute and he was starting to have a hard time to breathe.
"I think this knife's got something on it," Yuna was picking up a bloody knife near a blast mark and her finger moved to touch the sharp side.
"Don't!" Aozora barked. "I think I know what's on it."
"What is it?" Donald was starting to panic. "What do you mean by 'this knife's got something on it'?"
"I don't know who gave Orion a knife with poison on it but whatever it is, we've got to get him out of here. I know how to heal him but not out here," Aozora explained.
Everyone stared at Aozora.
"Whatever happened, how it happened, and how do you know about this or that is of no concern to me now, we've got to get him outta here," Cid said abruptly as Sora started gasping for air. He turned to Yuna, Rikku, and Paine. "Let's go. Now!"
He watched in silence as the group of ten rushed away into a remote part of Twilight Town. He grinned darkly, knowing that the Keyblade Master and the Guardian had been stalled, allowing the others to finish preparing themselves for what might come next. Orion had done well. He didn't think the nephew of his boss's rival would be able to do it, but he had. He and Shanks had done extremely well.
"Well, sir?" Shanks whispered to him, his eyes gleaming. "Did it all go well?"
He nodded. "You and Orion have done well, incredibly well."
"What next, sir?" Shanks asked. "Orion had already left to report to Him. Sir, have you sent your report as well?"
"I would've have said it was not of your concern but I see you are concerned about this," he said quietly, his emerald eyes shining. "Yes, He knows of what has been done. No doubt the others know of this as well. We have ample time."
Shanks nodded, then asked, "Sir, what am I to do?"
"Lay low, Shanks," he answered. "Lay low for now; I won't have need of your skills at this moment in time. The bag of munny has already been delivered; use the munny wisely and not just for drinks."
Shanks' eyes shimmered in embarrassment and anger but he nodded.
He raised his hand to dismiss Shanks and the shabby man left.
"The Guardian must be stopped," he murmured to himself. "Yes, I must stall him. Fate is already playing in our favor; the rift must grow."
A voice suddenly whispered into his ear. Ancient Greece has been resurrected. The Oracle will no doubt pull Hercules out of the In-Between, which will make things harder for the Other Report to be put together. The others will be directed to Ancient Greece and no doubt their presences will attract the Keyblade Master and the King's petty servants.
He grinned. His master had done well himself, setting up the game board in order to play in their favor.
There really is not much to worry about, the voice continued in the device in the Unknown's ear. If all does not go in our favor in Ancient Greece, we need not worry. The other game boards are being set; the wheels are in motion. Worry yourself with stalling the Guardian; the rest of us will take care of the Keyblade Master.
"Just one problem," he hissed. "The whistleblower. He sent out his students to help the Keyblade Master and the Guardian. What do we do of them?"
When his master did not immediately reply, he was worried. It sounded like his master did not know of it.
The whistleblower has been apprehended and we're sending out raiders to stop them, his master finally replied. I believe we could make good use of the whistleblower but we can eliminate his students.
"I see," he nodded. "Very well, Master, I will do you say."
Good luck, the voice said and connection cut off.
He smiled, an even darker grin than before. His emerald eyes gleamed even more with anticipation of another great fight. The Keyblade Master had been an interesting rival, a strong foe. The duel with the Guardian though, he thought, would be more interesting, more entertaining.
After all, the Guardian did have two blades.
"Cid, Leon, Cloud, we've got a problem," Yuffie rushed into the Red Room where the others were gathered. She looked extremely winded, extremely worried, and extremely confused. "Meg's back and we've got a problem."
"What problem?" Cid demanded as Meg followed Yuffie into the room.
"I see Dr. Finkelstein's portals are working," Leon nodded.
"I bring word from Halloweentown," Meg said evenly. "It is fated to fall; the defenses cannot stand against a million Heartless, in addition to the blockade surrounding the world."
"And she's also seen something strange on the way here," Yuffie added intently.
"Rubble from Coliseum are suddenly gone," Meg explained. "I saw a half of an arm of a statue disappear into thin air. If my suspicions are correct, Eldest has intervened with Coliseum's destruction, after all he has told us about his ability."
"The rest of Ancient Greece is coming back together as well then," Cloud noted. "But what of Hercules?"
Meg looked down at her feet, saddened by that fact. "I really don't know but whatever happens he must be there when Ancient Greece is fully formed-"
"-or else we're stuck with a ghost of a world and it won't be sealed against Heartless, Nobodies, or both," Cid finished. "Geezes...and what of Hades?"
"I hear he's been trying to recruit a 'dream' of some sort," Cloud actually smirked.
"A dream?" Aerith was confused. "Why would he-dreams don't die."
"Exactly," Leon finished her off. "If all works in Hades' favor, Sora's gonna have a bit of a problem when he gets there."
"They are just beginning," Meg replied. "For both Sora and Riku. They are returning."
"Geezes...not again," Yuffie moaned. "I was hoping Sora would've eliminated them for good but I guess not."
"Heartless do have strange powers, as do those who are leaders of them," Leon added.
"And Hollow Bastion?" Aerith brought up a volatile topic again.
"Don't mention it," Cloud growled back.
"Wait a minute," Meg was thinking. "If leaders of the Heartless can come back, then what about..."
They were silent for a long time, then the others suddenly understood.
"Ansem."