Chapter Two
Enter the Slain
I got incredibly bored of not updating, so I just went, "Oh, to heck with the five reviews thing! Screw it!" I'm gonna update now! R and R please! Thanks! Oh, if you don't know what I mean about the "five reviews", don't ask (grins). Enjoy.
"Okay. Where the heck am I supposed to be?"
Sora sighed, huffing in annoyance, as he stared around the area, confusion obvious in his eyes. What was the place called again? "Oh… wait… Radiant Garden, was it? Certainly doesn't look like a Radiant Garden." He snorted, staring around until his gaze fell on a crumbling castle far away. "Whoa…" Nervously laughing he spun around, and began walking in the opposite direction when a streak of black caught his eye.
A heartless.
Groaning, Sora immediately summoned Angelic Wings, adjusting his position into a fighting one, Keyblade at ready. Squeezing blue eyes shut, he gulped once more, said his prayers, and jumped forward into the air in a skillful aerial attack, slashing the Keyblade at the shadow, cracking one eye open just in time to watch the shadow explode into black particles, dissolving into nothingness.
He grinned. "Cool!" To his ears, it sounded stupid, but so what? He may have played a lot of sports, but that didn't mean he was good at fighting. After all Skyra was the one who took kickboxing, karate, and martial arts. Even if she barely used those punching and kicking skills…
Giving himself a mental slap for remembering Skyra when he finally got his worried mind off her, Sora sighed, and trudged down steps, Keyblade held limply in his grasp. Several soldier heartless danced by, disappearing in portals of darkness. Gaping idiotically at them, blinking, he shuddered, and hurried away from the scene when a certain something whacked him over the head.
"KUPO! Sorry!" was the apologizing squeak. Sora caressed the area of his head it had whacked, mentally noting to watch where he went before making his legs move. He stared up at the creature, eyes widening incredulously. The creature had beady, cute little eyes, a petite little body of light fur (A/N: It's fur, right?), and two adorable purple wings attached to its back. The most prominent (or weird feature, according to Sora) was the point that it had a round, puffed up little red pom-pom connected to its head.
"HOLY COW!" shouted Sora, stumbling backwards as he gawked rather rudely at the creature. "What the heck are you supposed to be?"
The creature drew back slightly in surprise, rather taken aback by Sora's sudden outburst. "Uh… I'm a moogle. Don't you have moogles in your home world, kupo?" He suspected that the boy was from another. Who in Radiant Garden didn't know about moogles? They were extremely common in the area.
"No," admitted Sora. "I come from Earth, and Earth doesn't have some weird, talking creatures floating around with purple wings, no offense to you. Who are you? I'm Sora."
"Sora, kupo?" asked the moogle, pom-pom bouncing up and down against his little head. "I'm Niko, kupo. I can mostly craft stuff, kupo… Not much else I'm good at."
"Really?" inquired Sora with a raised eyebrow. "Like what kind of stuff?"
"Weapons, kupo," replied Niko. "Some magical accessories… maybe some other stuff… kupo." He paused thoughtfully, flying a little closer to Sora. "Why don't you follow me? Looks like you need some help around here. Maybe Leon can help…" He tugged at a lock of Sora's hair before fluttering off towards another section of the village.
"Not the hair, not the hair!" cried Sora indignantly, swatting at the retreating moogle before following him, grudgingly muttering about evil moogles and wondering why Skyra used to have a moogle doll back at home when she was younger.
XXXXXXX
"What are these things?"
Sora screamed as he was drowned in a sea of white monsters, all too white to be nobodies, all of them clawing and doing anything possible to inflict damage on him. Only when the entire area burst into a flurry of flames were they burned away and gone. He slowly stood up, thanking Donald when the duck cast a helpful Curaga his way.
"These things…" hissed Larxene, destroying another cluster of them with a skilled throw of a kunai, exploding them with lightning. "What are they…?" She shook her head, gaze venomous, and slid something on. Axel did the same.
"Why are you wearing your cloaks again?" asked Goofy bluntly, eyeing them weirdly, along with Sora and Donald.
"Because," supplied Axel before lunging forward to kill another bunch of the red creatures. "Hurry up and kill them!"
Grumbling, Sora summoned the Oathkeeper quickly before joining the fray, swinging the blade around to kill the creatures. They did not perish as quickly as the heartless when they took in the group's blows.
"I repeat: what are these things!" cried Sora. "If we don't retreat, we're going to be annihilated!"
Larxene's eyes narrowed considerably, almost becoming like slits. "Slain… these are the Slain…" Almost instantly after she had spoken, the blonde had dashed through the crowd of Slain, destroying those she ran past.
"What's a Slain?" questioned Goofy as he charged into another horde of Slain, knocking into them with unstoppable force. The received no answer, for the three realized in horror that both Axel and Larxene had vanished. Something caught their gazes.
A white figure stood, cloaked in what looked like a white version of the Organization's cloak, two swirling portals of light near them before they vanished. Somehow, they could tell that the person was smirking.
"Thank you for Axel and Larxene," they called in what was obviously a feminine voice. "I'm sure that the Council will make quite some good use of those two… What a shame, Xemnas throwing them away." She laughed, before disappearing into another white portal. Before they could reach the portal, it closed.
"DAMN!"
To think Sora wouldn't cuss…
XXXXXXX
The room, to sum it up, was an utter mess.
Xemnas swore.
Aquamarine eyes peeked around the bookshelf, fear almost evident in them as he watched the man swear and cuss. Mentally slapping himself for even thinking that he was feeling fear, he stepped forward, trying his best not to cower from the man's glare.
"What now, Xemnas?" he asked, brushing a lock of silver hair away from his face as he crossed his arms again, smirking. "You seem… let's see… royally pissed."
"Silence, Riku," Xemnas sneered, rounding on the attractive boy. The silver-haired boy shuddered, inwardly cringing as well, as his lips curved into a hateful glower.
"Shut up!" he cried, throwing his hands up into the air. "I'm not Riku! I'm not!" He breathed heavily from his outburst, though his level of hate had not lowered one bit.
Xemnas smirked. "Oh really? That is your name though… though not directly." Riku shuddered again.
"SHUT UP!" he roared, summoning his Keyblade, pointing it at Xemnas' neck. "That was my name, even if it still is indirectly! Either you shut up or I won't help you obtain your precious archangels!" Xemnas continued to smirk at the boy as he pulled back and disappeared through a dark corridor.
"If you wish, Kirzu," Xemnas said to no one in particular, chuckling, before he remembered why he was angry again.
"Superior, it appears that the Council has sent many Slain here. There are an overwhelming amount," reported Saix, entering the room through a dark corridor, Xigbar followed. "The archangel of light is also in Radiant Garden. How convenient."
"So it is…" muttered Xemnas. "We must destroy the Council. If we do not succeed, we'll truly fade back into the darkness."
"Agreed."
XXXXXXX
"…And this is Merlin's House!" finished the ninja proudly, gesturing to the door that stood before them. Skyra gazed at her blankly.
"That's the third time you've told me," she retorted irritably, scowling. "Yes, I don't need to have things repeated three times to understand. You only had to tell me twice."
"You weren't listening," answered Yuffie, still grinning. Skyra sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Man, oh, man, what have I gotten myself into…?" she muttered miserably, hissing when she heard Leon begin chuckling. "I hate you too."
"-SKYRA, DARLING, HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT?" cried a voice, before a blur latched onto her, sweeping her straight off her feet and sending her sprawling across the ground.
"Kupo, sorry, Leon, Yuffie, Aerith," came the sheepish voice as a moogle hovered towards them, eyeing the three weirdly. Aerith and Yuffie were opening roaring with laughter at the sight, while Leon was chuckling, trying hard to not burst into laughter like the others.
"Sorry, Niko," breathed Aerith, turning to the moogle. "Did you bring him here?"
"Oh, yes, kupo. Sora was lost, kupo." At this, Leon sharply turned to gaze at the moogle.
"Sora?" he asked blankly, looking to the boy that was now tickling Skyra, who was attempting to shove him off. He seemed close enough… but that wasn't Sora…
"Yes, Sora," said Niko meekly, fluttering towards the dueling pair that was wrestling on the ground. "Kupo, you two should stop…"
With a powerful shove, Skyra successful pushed Sora off her, glaring at him while dusting her clothes as she stood to her feet. "Sora, you git."
"I love you too!" sang Sora, grinning like a maniac.
"Jeez, who fed you sugar today?"
"Nobody."
"Right…" Sarcasm laced her words.
"Uh-huh!"
"Stupid. Just shut up."
"Who are you really?" inquired Leon, facing Skyra.
"I'm Skyra," said Skyra, a befuddled expression crossing her face. "My idiotic, stupid, twin brother, who is, somehow, older than me there is Sora. We come from Earth and he just so happens to look like some guy we saw on a video game box."
"Video game box?" he answered expressionlessly, surveying her reactions with his eyes.
"Yes! Are you an invalid?" cried Skyra, rubbing her temples. "You heard me… oh wait, I don't think that this world has any video games… uh… does it?"
"Damn straight," added Sora. "Who are you? I'm Sora."
Yuffie, who finally decided to speak up, said, "Jeez, you look like (mostly) and sound like Sora. You just act differently. You must be one of those Earthlings living in that other dimension and somehow got through the dimension rift…"
Skyra opened her mouth to question them, but it was covered by Sora, who quickly said, "Yup."
"Mmmf!" cried Skyra, annoyed. "Mmmf, mmf, mff!"
Grinning sheepishly, Sora was about to take his hand off her mouth when she bit into his finger. Hard. Ouch.
Sora yelped in pain, immediately pulling away and caressing his injured finger, which now had some blood dripping from it, while glaring at a rather smug Skyra. "That's what happens when you mess with me," she said smugly. "Twin or not, I can still attack you." Sora sighed.
"Whatever."
"Oh gee, what a wonderful answer, oh intelligent archangel," she murmured under her breath, low so that only Sora heard. He hissed, rolling his eyes.
"Now what?" he snapped, rounding on the others.
"Why do you have the Keyblade?" asked Leon, eyeing Sora's Keyblade. With a flash, Demonic Wings appeared in Skyra's hand.
"You mean these?" the two twins offered simultaneously, raising the weapons so that the others could get a better look at them. When Aerith nodded, Sora stated bluntly, "We got them when we got through the dimension rift."
"Hm…" hummed Yuffie thoughtfully. Her eyes then widened in realization. "The archangels! HOLY-"
"Yeah," interjected Skyra, ignoring the gapes they were receiving. Yes, even from Leon. "Obviously. What else would we be?"
Gritting his teeth, Leon slung the gunblade over his shoulder and said blandly, "I guess you two must be clueless about this all… we'll give you an explanation."
Sora and Skyra exchanged looks before following the brunette into Merlin's House.
"Here again?" groaned Sora, eyeing Cid resentfully. "That bastard kept swearing at me!" He pointed accusingly at Cid, who whipped out a spear and stomped towards Sora rather menacingly.
"Get your arse over here," growled the blonde man, spear pointing at the brunette ominously. Sora gulped.
"I guess that's my cue…" he said slowly, shutting his eyes. They flew open. "…TO RUN LIKE HECK!" With that, he darted, faster than a blur, past Cid and behind Leon, clutching the man's leather jacket rather tightly as he hid. "HIDE ME!"
Leon grunted in disapproval and grabbed him by the shirt, flinging the boy in front of him. Sora yelled, narrowly dodging Cid's spear, and ran for it.
"That's what happens when you mess with Cid," said Yuffie cheerfully as Cid chased Sora out of the house. Leon turned to Skyra, who was blinking the entire time.
"I'll explain everything to you then. You'll have to explain to Sora."
Skyra protested. "Whaaaaat? I have to explain to the dimwit? Aw man!"
Leon sighed before launching into the explanation.
XXXXXXX
"The archangels are wielders of the legendary Keyblades, Angelic Wings and Demonic Wings, correct?" asked the cloaked figure to their companion, another cloaked figure, who stood slightly taller than them.
"Yes, Ziarik," stated the other simply. "They are the keys to the Door of Everything. When it is unlocked, it would spew forward infinite amounts of power, whether it be light, dark, or twilight power."
"Heh, I wonder where those nobody simpletons got it in their heads that they were twilight? Because of their fate to fade back into the darkness, they are darkness. Those pathetic humans composed of both light and dark are the twilight ones. How did they get it in their heads that they are working for light? It makes me question their stupidity," giggled Ziarik, smirking underneath her raised hood.
"Indeed," was the responding chuckle. "Yes… we are the messengers of light. They are not. They are singed and coiled in taint. It is our duty to destroy them all."
A light corridor, identical to the dark corridors that the Organization used, except for the fact it was white, opened, a figure exiting from within. "Rosaz, Yamaza has successfully captured Axel and Larxene. What are we to do with them?" they asked. Their hood was off, revealing short blonde hair and stunningly amber eyes.
"Lock them up in the jail level," commanded Rosaz, smirking. "We'll have Kazir deal with them, Erikz." Erikz nodded, and disappeared through another light corridor.
"What about the traitor, Rosaz?" inquired Ziarik. "He simply left the Council. We…" She cut herself off, as though it were too painful to continue. "…we…" She drew in a sharp intake of breath. "…must we kill him?"
Rosaz flinched visibly, sighing. "I don't know… but first thing's first…"
"Oh, right… That will be kind of difficult, given the abilities of the boy…"
"You're still searching for her as well, right?"
"Yes. Don't worry. She's almost in my grasp," breathed Ziarik. "I've longed for completion. But then again, that sounds rather clichéd since that was what the Organization was after."
"We do have different goals anyway. It does not matter."
"Right."
XXXXXXX
"There. The explanation. Be grateful," snapped Skyra, glowering at her taller twin. "And since you and Cid have a truce, try not to be impolite, okay? I'll personally note to wring your neck if I need to."
"Sure," shrugged the boy casually. Knowing that he made the truce with the insane pilot, he was sure that he would live his life unharmed by Cid. "I know that. I'm not stupid, Skyra."
"Right…" she answered sarcastically. "I'm an elephant."
"…Shut up."
"So, we have to join up with Sora, right? The Keybearer, wielder of the kingdom key. But he'll be using Oathkeeper, right?" called Skyra to Leon, who was standing near Cid as he watched the pilot type.
"Yeah," answered the gunblade wielder without turning around. "You have to find him no matter what. Don't fall into the clutches of Organization XIII. They'll try to use you to open the Door of Everything. We don't need that."
"Alright."
The twins exited the house. Sora and Skyra faced one another.
"This is really serious-" began Skyra, but was cut off.
"-so I promise to be serious myself," finished Sora. "Yeah, sure. I understand. Could we get moving now?"
"But… Sora has the same name as you… we need some kind of difference…" She looked to Sora for a suggestion.
"Call me Darrin then," he said thoughtfully, smiling softly. "I've always liked that name."
Skyra nodded her approval. "Alright. Darrin it is. Remember it." She sighed, combing her pale hand through her hair. "Time to leave. Cid left us a gummi ship at something called a gummi transport, I think."
"Wait a second, it was inside…"
"Oh, right." They spun around, re-entered the house, and stepped into the portal. Green light surrounded them before it slowly vanished once again. Darrin shot Skyra a look that clearly asked, "How do you work this?"
Skyra swallowed, and cried out, "Transport us!" In a blinding flash of green light, the two were gone.
"Nice gummi ship," murmured Darrin quietly, stepping around as he examined the walls and the floor of the small, but sturdy gummi ship. Skyra could not help but smile.
"Everything's going nicely so far," she murmured, though it was clearly audible. "You're being nice and normal, probably so that you don't seem like who you are, and we have a nice gummi ship. Question is, how are we going to pilot it?"
The exchanged looks.
"We'll have a go at it then," Darrin breathed finally, entering the cockpit. Skyra shrugged and climbed after him.
"Where's the instruction manual?" demanded Darrin immediately after she entered, scouring the tiny room with his piercing eyes. "I'd prefer it if it were smooth sailing rather than a disastrous flight."
Skyra sighed. Even if Darrin had altered his personality to a quiet, thoughtful, cool one, that didn't help much.
"This is going to be a long day."
She collapsed into a chair out of frustration.
Darrin narrowed his eyes at her.
"You're supposed to help me, Skyra!"
And... the plot twists, turns, and thickens... How did you like the chapter? I know that the parts with the "Slain" and the "Council" and stuff like that are sort of confusing, so feel free to ask questions. Those will, hopefully, be answered in future chapters.