Copyrights: All characters, most weapons, and most settings belong to Square-Enix and Disney, save Aozora, the Advocate, the Prophet's Gate, and the Angel. Anything that sounds remotely foreign or not related to Square-Enix or Disney also belongs to me, Shirozora.
Song: This chapter wasn't supposed to have a song, except for the title, which was a line taken from a VERY famous song that you all should recognize, or else I shall damn you to living hell for the heresy. This song was featured in the medical drama on Fox11, 'House, M.D.', and I suggest you all watch that show or else I'll damn you all to hell twice over. And if you don't even listen to the song, I will damn you three times over. (You are free to wonder my seriousness)
In the Deep – Bird York
Secrets of Memories
Chapter 75: Whatever Lies Beyond This Morning
Silence.
There was an eerie quiet that settled on Hollow Bastion. The NeoShadows were gone but Donald and Goofy could not be heard. Only three people existed in this world…Sora, the Advocate, and Aozora.
Sora stared. Any moment now, he expected the world to fall on his head.
Just where did Aozora get the Golden Key and the Oathkeeper? The Oathkeeper was definitely one thing but King Mickey's own Keyblade!
" I see you've disarmed the mouse king," the Advocate smirked as he looked at the rather angelic intruder. " Excellent."
" Ronsend," Aozora hissed, his voice trembling with rage and fear. " Step away from Sora. Now!"
" I'm afraid not," Ronsend fired back. " I've come too far to back down now! I've waited so many years, so many lives, to finish what I've started. You can't stop me now!"
" Step away from him…" Aozora whispered, his bronze eyes shining with unnatural brilliance, "…Father."
Sora blinked. What did Aozora call him? " What!"
The Advocate stared at him, his shoulders heaving. His glowing eyes were locked into Aozora's wolf-like gaze. " What did you call me?"
" You really don't know, do you?" Aozora said softly, his voice nearly non-existent but still carrying over to them. He took a step closer, swinging each Keyblade in his hands.
" It doesn't matter!" Ronsend laughed darkly, though he seemed shaken by Aozora's shocking label on the man. As he turned his head slightly to look at Aozora but keep an eye on his prey, Sora found himself staring at the head of the black blade, at its gleaming darkness.
The Heart Unlocker…A violent reel of images tore through his mind, brilliant, faded, reveling in his rising fear as the Advocate refused to drop the weapon and his guard.
" I wonder…"He plunged into the darkness, into the cold of a Heartless, lost to the Light and all purposes, lost to himself…until a glowing angel held him and called him back to reality.
But she's no longer here. She was lost to him, lost to…Sora looked to Aozora but his fury was only half-hearted. Suddenly his anger was gone…and why not? For all he knew, death was looking him in the face-
" If you want to know the truth," Aozora stated slowly, trying to stare down the Advocate, " then you'd better back off."
" You think truth can stop the inevitable?" the Advocate asked, a triumphant black light shining in his half-hidden face. " You think your demands would stop us from freeing ourselves of the most dangerous obstacle on our path to Paradise? Whatever you call me won't stop me; whatever you label me doesn't matter! I came here to finish business and no one will stop me! Everything ends here!"
" Ronsend, no!"
The Advocate turned, pulled back the Heart Unlocker, and thrust it forward.
Donald and Goofy, who were trying to catch their breaths after a speeding blond shouted a spell that banished all NeoShadows, jumped up and fell over themselves. A scream ripped through the air, tearing a hole into the sky. A cry of excruciating pain bled in their ears, ripped their hearts and souls apart, and scattered them into a wind dyed blood red.
Unfortunately, they were able to hear the exchange and they were able to recognize the voice. Goofy stared up at the balcony, his jaw dropping. Donald rose to his feet, holding his staff as though it was a club and not a weapon of magic.
" NO!"
" No…" Aozora could feel the Heart Unlocker rip through his heart, as he followed the long, slender black body of the Heart Unlocker…
…to where its head was buried, deep in Sora's chest. As he watched, blood pulsed from the wound as the heart it barely missed beat rapidly, staining the teenager's clothes as it cascaded down Sora's front. Spreading all over his pants, the blood pooled onto the floor and spread.
" N-no…" Sora gasped, trying to fight the pain, as he slowly looked down on himself. Then a violent red explosion ripped through his mind, tore away his sanity, as he twisted to the side and tried to hold back another scream. He couldn't breathe, couldn't taste the oxygen as iron coated his mouth and clogged his ability to speak. He couldn't talk clearly, couldn't say the name of the one person he wanted to see before something like this could ever…could…
" So it is done," Ronsend spoke quietly and with triumph, then pulled hard on the Heart Unlocker.
Sora screamed again as the Heart Unlocker was torn from his body, bringing with it a wave of blood. He fell onto his right elbow, tried to prop himself up, tried to breathe, as blood continued to pool on the floor. Every breath visited pain on his limbs, numbing his thoughts, destroying the last strands of his sanity.
He looked up at Ronsend, tried to feel, tried to think, but he couldn't. He could feel the blood dribbling down from his mouth, could feel it escaping its earthly vessel onto the floor, but his thoughts weren't on what would happen inevitably in the next several minutes. All that echoed in his mind was…
" Don't ever change."
Too late…" Goodbye," Ronsend hissed, dropping the Heart Unlocker – its head gleaming in dark liquid – in front of him. He turned, then quickly brought up a slender silver sword as Aozora swung with the Golden Key. The bond teenager's face was contorted in an unexplainable emotion as he leaped back from the initial impact, then charged forward again. But what he said, what they meant…
" You fucking bastard! I told you not to – I can't believe you, you real sonofabitch! You're going to kill us all! You've killed your own son!"
" What the hell are you talking about?" Ronsend snapped back, parrying another attack. He didn't even bother to fight, merely raised his sword to deflect another jab at his body. " I have no sons! No family! They're dead, they're all dead!"
" Marucia's your son!" Aozora hissed as he slid backwards, flexed his arms, then charged again. " He's not dead! And your sons aren't dead by a billion years!"
He twisted to the side but was unable to escape the silver sword as it sliced across his face. He came to a screeching stop and wiped the blood on his arm.
" They aren't dead, Ronsend, you hear me?" he gasped, then charged again. He swung the Oathkeeper, then quickly brought up the Golden Key to parry the silver sword. He took a sudden, stumbling step, however, and the silver sword sliced into his left side. That didn't stop Aozora, however; he ignored the dripping blood and ran at him again, his bronze eyes flashing with blinding fury.
" They are far from fucking dead!" he yelled as he locked blades with Ronsend. " Except you-you-"
Light suddenly erupted from the ground, catching them both off-guard and blinding them. The two men stumbled back as pillars of white light soared into the sky all around them. Wherever Sora's blood pooled, wherever Aozora's blood sprayed about, the stained red tiles vanished in an explosion of light. And gradually even the clean tiles disappeared in the eruption, as the light came together in a huge, circular column that pierced through the clouds of Hollow Bastion and soared into space.
" What…what is…this?" Sora whispered as the light temporarily shed him of his earthly pain.
The light became more translucent with each passing second, until finally they were no longer standing on a blinding white circle. The light became transparent, revealing the colors underneath.
" Oh my god…" both Aozora and Ronsend whispered as they dropped their weapons, as they stared at the stained glass circle underneath them, as they stared at Hollow Bastion's ancient secret for the first time.
It was a large mosaic of glass, lit by an ethereal, unearthly light. Like the stained glass of Aozora's dreams, from Sora's first experience with the Heartless, it was beautiful…and devastating.
On the outer rim were random symbols of King Mickey's emblem, a crown, a heart, and a star-shaped fruit. Within were a white wolf and a black fox tearing at each other, twisting in a circle, their backs up against the rim. Around the white wolf was a cascade of feathers; hot black fire roared around the fox. Behind them was a huge keyhole, swirling with the night. And they themselves were behind a figure, a person whose very image jolted Sora down to his core.
A beautiful woman was weeping, her pale cheeks rosy red and stained with crystal droplets that slid from her closed eyes. Her hair was flowing and golden, tossing and tumbling in an invisible wind. She wore a soft white dress with gilt gold and purple bordering, the colors of royalty. She had great white feather wings, outstretched and casting feathers all over the fox and the wolf.
The angel cradled two dragons against her bosom, held them close as if they were her own children. Aozora stared at them, the two dragons, his mind racing with shock.
If this was the seal the Prophet lay down and Dragon spilt his blood upon, then its creator knew the future well. Too well…
The dragon on the right had a wild air, with bold sky-blue orbs and an essence of temerity. Around its long white serpentine neck, resting against its collarbone was a silver necklace. Dangling from it was a crown medallion.
Sora…The other dragon had a gentler, more angelic air around it. Its bronze eyes were heavy with the weight of the world and filled with much sorrow and pain. Its slender white neck was bowed in weariness and its horse-like head was pointing to the necklace around its own neck, a necklace of a silver cross with arms of equal length.
And me…Aozora unintentionally looked at the collar of his black shirt. There it was, that same medallion, though here in reality it functioned as a zipper and not as a necklace at all.
He looked up, at Sora, saw thoughts and images race through the bloodied teenager's face. Then Sora looked up at him and their eyes met. And though no one could see it, a fine line ran between them, one filled with crackling energy and understanding. Somehow they became connected, and Aozora began to sense another presence within him, one that was growing cold, its heartbeat faint and fading fast…
" No…" he heard Ronsend whisper. " This…this cannot be…Impossible!"
Aozora turned to the man, saw him holding his own head, saw him staring at the angel's face with horror. No, something more than horror…
" Prophet, Eldest, goddamn you, fuck you! Is this what you meant? Is this my punishment? Is this it? Is it! This isn't the answer! This can't be the answer! Tell me, Eldest, is this what you were warning me of? Answer me, you fucking old man! I've searched for Paradise for how many years and this is what I get?"
" Wait, you know Eldest-"
The Advocate turned to look Aozora straight in the face, then pulled back his hood. Sora looked up, and whatever blood remained in his face drained away.
His face…it was a composition of three separate faces. He could see himself, could see Aozora, could even see Marucia in the strong lines, the glowing eyes, the frown. Under each eye were strange blue marks, making him look half-savage. His hair, like Sora's, was brunet, though without that sun-like hue. And his hair was far more tamer than Sora's, far more like Marucia's, and nothing like Aozora's.
In short, either Ronsend was a composition of the three or they were all simply selected, amplified parts of him.
And then there was the beautiful angel…
" You-you can't be!" Ronsend whispered, staring first at Aozora, then at Sora, then back to Aozora. " This, this is impossible! This isn't right! This can't be it! YOU WERE BOTH SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!"
The Advocate fell to his knees, his voice fading. " You came back…both of you came back. Is this the price I pay…for Paradise? Lost, it is lost, all is lost…why, Alara, why?"
And in the wind, a sweet sad voice whispered, a voice that awoke sleeping memories long forgotten. " It was time, Beloved. You did not heed the words of Eldest and this is your punishment. It was time for the memories to awaken, for the secrets to illuminate us all. Our children deserve the truth, regardless of who we are now, who we were then, and what has become of us all."
" N-neither of us can change, Alara. It is over."
" Is it? You joined the Darkness and assumed the mantle of the Advocate. I chose the Light and this is who I am now, the Angel. Our love still lives, though it was our doom. Our love lives and breathes, even if we ourselves forgot.
" Aros, child, remember what Mickey taught you, what Eldest taught you. Understand…the meaning of Fate. Even Time is subservient to Fate, for Fate controls all. Every choice you made was led by Fate. And Fate…dealt us the wrong hand. Understand…and beware. Be strong. Be brave. You will live to see the horrors visited upon the world with the release of darkness.
" Shirozora, I'm so sorry. My child, we have all failed you…and your bright light will fade into the night. If things were different…but Fate has spoken. It was Fate that led you to this very place, Fate that made your sire your murderer. I'm sorry…that she'll never see your face again. I'm sorry you know the truth now. If only…"
The voice faded away, vanished into the wind, left Aozora staring blankly at the circle, Ronsend trembling at his own doom, and Sora gasping for breath.
There was an awkward silence, though with each second it was shattered by heavy, ragged breathing. Then Ronsend slowly rose to his feet and turned away.
" So be it. I've cast my lot with the Darkness and I won't go back. But all is lost…Paradise is lost…"
The Advocate, the man, the father, slowly walked away, not looking back even once as he began to fade.
Aozora stared after him, didn't bother to strike at his vulnerable back. He was so numbed to the core he felt he couldn't move. And he heard his father whisper something, before vanishing into thin air.
" Alara, my beloved, goodbye…"
Then the numbness shattered as he heard Sora choke, spit up his own blood. With painful slowness, he turned his head to see his brother collapse onto the floor, his arms no longer able to support his failing body.
" Sora!"
Thought you had all the answers
To rest your heart upon
But something happens
Don't see it coming, now
You can't stop yourself
He ran to Sora's side and fell to his knees. He gently lifted up his brother's body, held it close to him, ignoring the blood that stained and spread through his clothes.
" Sora, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" he cried, cradling his brother.
" So…" Sora whispered, struggled to speak. " So…we're brothers, huh? What a surprise…"
Now you're out there swimming
In the deep
In the deep
" Shh…little brother. It's okay, everything's going to be alright," Aozora murmured, feeling the tears come. " Everything's going to be alright…"
" You were always watching out for me, even when I was being the worst jackass you ever dealt with, right?" Sora spoke, grimacing with pain. His hand gripped Aozora's jacket suddenly, then let go, leaving behind blood prints. " Even right now…"
" I couldn't call you a jackass in your face, could I?" Aozora smiled faintly. " After all, that's what an older brother's for, even if I'm older by only a few seconds…I'm so sorry, Sora, for everything…"
Life keeps tumbling your heart in circles
Till you let go
Till you shed your pride and you climb to heaven
And you throw yourself off
" Looks like I'm never going back home…will I?" Sora chuckled weakly, then coughed. " I don't even have a home, come to think of it. And…and…"
" I'm sorry, Sora. I'm sorry you never got to find your friends, the king, or the Door…"
I'm sorry, Sora, for having fought with Riku against the same forces, for seeing King Mickey drink vodka in that little apartment, for kissing Kairi with the same love you have for her. I'm sorry for everything. Please, forgive me.
" At least I found out the truth…" Sora smiled through the growing pain. " At least I know who we really are…"
Now you're out there spinning
In the deep
In the deep
" We should've followed through with our first thoughts of each other," Aozora spoke quietly. " We should've known from the moment we saw each other. And yet we were so blind…until we found out so much more…so much more about ourselves, our parents, our half-brother, who we are…it's just ridiculous, isn't it?"
" Maybe…" Sora whispered, then coughed again. Black fingers were starting to creep into his vision. " Aozora…listen…"
In the deep
In the deep
" What is it?"
Sora looked up at the blond teenager, his look-a-like, his own brother…
He raised his left hand and Aozora slowly held up his right. They grasped hands.
" Promise-promise me…" he murmured, the pain finally fading away. Now he felt no pain, no hurt, could no longer feel the blood leaving his defeated body. " Promise me…that you'll look after Kairi for me…I told her I'd come back…told her I would never change…but its too late…for me…I promised…but I can't come back…I can't."
Aozora's smile was tragic, as he gripped his brother's bloody hand even tighter. " I promise."
" And…if-if you see Riku again…tell him…tell him that I was proud…to walk in his footsteps…he's still the better one, I think…tell him…to be strong, okay?"
" If I meet him, I'll tell him…" Aozora whispered. Sora's hand was growing cold; the blood of life was weeping from his wounds and he was fading away…
" I'm sorry, Kairi," Sora murmured, looking up at the sky, overcast and gloomy, and at the long pillar of white light that pierced the darkness. " I'm sorry…for changing…so sorry…for breaking my promise…"
" Sora…" Aozora whispered, felt the tears falling from his eyes as he held his brother against him.
" Be brave, Aros, like Mother said. Only you…can face the Darkness now…"
The fingers of darkness were closing in on him fast, and the world was growing darker.
" Whatever lies beyond this morning…"
Sora closed his eyes and Aozora felt his chest rise, then fall.
It did not rise again.
Now you're out there swimming
Now you're out there swimming
In the deep
" Sora? Sora? Sora!" Aozora held him close, felt his tears falling, could still feel his brother's blood seeping into his clothes. " Sora…no…."
Donald and Goofy managed to pull themselves up onto the balcony, just in time to truly see the great pillar of light, the majestic stained glass, and Aozora crouched down near its center. For a moment, they saw a faint, peaceful smile on Sora's pale, stained face, then his body was fading away into orbs of glowing white light. Aozora slowly let go of his lock on a body that was no longer there, and looked up as the orbs climbed into the sky, vanishing among the clouds.
" Sora! No!" Donald ran forward and stopped at the circle. " What the-"
" Oh no…" Goofy fell to his knees, his shield dropping with a loud clang! " No…Donald…we failed…"
" Sora…" Aozora slowly pulled out the crown necklace and the lucky charm. He looked at them, briefly saw it hanging jauntily from a bold and bright teenager, saw it as Kairi passed it to Sora to seal the promise, then looked up to where the orbs of light had vanished. " I'm sorry, Sora…so sorry for failing you, for failing her, for failing all of us…I'm so sorry…"
In the deep
In the deep
He continued to stare at the skies, as his vision blurred with the fast-flowing tears. Then he saw something white falling down slowly. A white feather.
" Donald, lookee," Goofy whispered in a hushed tone, pointing up at the sky. "A feather…"
" Feathers…falling from the sky…" Donald echoed in the same, faint voice.
As if on cue, more feathers began to fall. Dancing lightly, they fell all around them, the soft tears of heaven.
In the deep
Aozora stared as the feathers continued to fall. Through the tears they were glowing in an eerie brilliance, as they fell amongst his tears and the crimson blood that still stained the circle. Breathing heavily, he gripped the necklace and the charm tightly in each hand as images flashed in his mind, from the far past to the moment his brother closed his eyes, never opened them again.
" SORA!"
If you want to be given everything you want
Give everything up…