Chapter XXVII: A Hassle in the Castle Part III
Bowser arrived in another room that was extremely big and circular. He was extremely weak from his bout against the keyblade master and his friends. He leaned down and was panting heavily. He could feel the sweat drip down from him and his vision was blurry. He weakly tried to move, but he leaned back down.
"How?" Bowser asked himself weakly. "How could I have been defeated by that little rodent? The Star Rod even failed me. Does that kid ever lose a battle?" Growling, he weakly stood back up. "Everything was going according to plan, Riku had the keyblade, the door was about to open. How did this all come crumbling down?"
Bowser continued walking weakly away as he knew that Sora's group were on their way. Bowser had never felt this way before, a feeling that was inside of his chest. He did remember feeling it a long time ago, but after getting the Star Rod back, it suddenly went away. Now it was back with vengeance. He thought that this was the punishment for all the times he kidnaped Peach.
In reality, the real reason he captured Peach was because he was always alone. He was afraid of something and besides his loyal servants he had no else. All of a sudden, Riku appeared through a dark portal with his keyblade in hand. As he could see the pathetic beast on the floor, he began to take pity on the creature.
"Do you need some assistance?" the so called Riku asked. "I told you that your overconfidence would lead to your defeat."
"Listen man, I don't need your help." Bowser growled weakly. "I was just warming up against the kid."
"Hardly." Riku responded, smirking. "The boy's power has grown far beyond that of yours. Can't you feel the reason why? Can't you realize the truth?"
Bowser gasped in horror. The evil koopa king finally understood what he meant.
"This whole time?" Bowser roared. "It can't be! Why? I was in charge of this operation."
"Fool, your insolent mind lead you here." Riku said. "It was your decision in the beginning. You had no control whatsoever." He then turned away from him. "The Star Rod did protect you, but when the boy defeated you, your power weakened." He then turned back to Bowser with a scoff. "And to think...you were the king of all koopas."
Bowser roared at Riku and threw a punch at him. Riku effortlessly grabbed his hand and squeezed tightly. Bowser could feel an enormous amount of pain and screamed in pain. He tried to release the grip on Riku, but it was too strong. Finally, feeling sorry for the sinister villain, he released the grip. Bowser bent down and moved his wrist around, trying to lessen the pain.
Sora and the others finally appeared in the room and noticed Bowser. The boy then noticed Riku.
"Riku!" he called.
Riku turned to Sora with a sinister look in his eyes. Sora could feel something different about Riku, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Something more darker, sinister, evil. He even had a good hunch this person wasn't Riku.
"Welcome, friends." Riku said evilly. "I'm impressed to see you have come this far...only to die in the end."
"Listen, we're not going anywhere!" Fox shouted angrily. "Not until we've saved the ones we love. Also, justice shall be served for all the crimes you two have committed."
"What are you suppose to be, a law enforcer?" Luigi asked Fox, raising his eyebrow.
"Oh, and abduction isn't a crime." Fox said with sarcasm. "Isn't doing the right thing for humanity justice?"
"Never mind." Luigi groaned. He then looked at Riku and noticed something in his hand. His eyes widened in fear as he noticed a familiar key shaped object. "T-that thing...in your hand, is that a...a.."
Sora gasped as he, Fox, and Yoshi also noticed. "That's impossible!"
"Yes, a keyblade." Riku said, holding up his keyblade. "Mine may look different from the one you hold, but neither the less it still is a keyblade. However, there is a major difference between yours and mine; while yours can seal keyholes, mine hold the power to unlock people's hearts. This shall release the inner darkness within."
"What that mean?" Yoshi whimpered.
Sighing, Riku put his keyblade up. "Perhaps a small demonstration is in order."
Sora sweated nervously, thinking that Riku may try to attack one of them with his keyblade. He took out his own keyblade to get ready while the others also got ready to fight as well.
"Guys, be careful." Sora whispered. "We don't know what this psycho is capable of."
Riku smirked as he brought his keyblade up into position, ready for his demonstration. The foursome got ready to expect the worse from him. The unexpected then happen, he turned around, grabbed Bowser's shoulder with his left hand, spun him around and stabbed the koopa right in the chest with his keyblade.
"Behold!" Riku shouted.
Bowser growled as the piercing pain entered his chest. He felt himself losing control of himself, he couldn't breath, and he felt something was escaping his heart, like a fence opened freeing a heard of buffalo. He tried to grab the keyblade but he was too weak to even try. Luigi was the most shocked out of anyone. He'd never expect anything like this to happen to Bowser. Sora looked on with horror as he watched Riku deliver this terrible deed.
Fox covered Yoshi's eyes as the dinosaur was still a baby and should not see something as terrible as that.
"Riku, what are you doing?" Sora cried.
Riku ignored Sora and continued stabbing Bowser.
"Now, open your heart!" Riku commanded. "Let it surrender to the darkness. Become darkness itself."
Riku finally pulled the keyblade away from Bowser and disappeared into the darkness. Bowser was unsure of what happened when it started to become clear. He felt as though he was becoming stronger and more powerful. He then saw a green glow around his body and began to get excited.
"OH, YEAH!" Bowser cheered. "Now that's what I'm talking about, baby! This is it! The darkness...the true darkness!"
Bowser then got engulfed in a wave of darkness and the wave rose higher then the four could imagine. The four got ready for the unexpected to happen. As the giant wave of darkness finally settled down, the group looked up with dropped mouths and saw Bowser. But he was three times his normal size, his yellow skin became dark brown skin, the spikes on his shell became twice as sharper, and he gained the most ugliest face ever seen. Now he was known as Giga Bowser.
"Wow!" Sora said. "If you looked up the word ugly in a dictionary his face would be right next to it."
"Kid, it would be too illegal to even put his face in a dictionary." Fox responded.
"Look out!" Yoshi cried.
Giga Bowser brought his foot down on the group who rolled out of the way of the attack. Luigi looked up at Bowser with a completely surprised.
"I've never seen this side of him before." Luigi said in disbelief. "More sinister, more dark, and he's so ugly that if he looked in a mirror the reflection would run away."
Giga Bowser then roared at the group with a loud ear shattering roar.
"Stop making him mad!" Sora told Luigi.
"Hey, who started with the dictionary?" Luigi snapped at Sora.
Giga Bowser then did a body slam on the ground and sent the foursome flying across the room. They got to their feet and looked up at the monster. They knew that this was their last battle against Bowser and they had to give it all they've got. The four then nodded to each other and charged at Giga Bowser. Giga Bowser breathed fire out of his mouth which surrounded the foursome. They noticed it was closing in on them and they jumped up and out of the way.
Luigi tried to shoot an ice spell, but Giga Bowser easily blocked the attack with his hand. Sora ran at Giga Bowser and tried to attack when Giga Bowser picked up Sora and threw him across the area. He got back up and ran at Giga Bowser again who tried to attack. Sora ducked under the blow and jumped up to hit the koopa king. Giga Bowser knocked him aside and Sora slid across the floor. Giga Bowser shot flames at Fox who spun his staff and knocked the attacks back.
The attacks did no damage whatsoever to the beast. Fox put the point of his staff into the ground and jumped onto it and jumped off. Fox got on top of his head and grabbed his horns.
"I got him!" Fox cried.
It wasn't long before Giga Bowser rapidly shook his head and knocked the fox off. Yoshi tried an egg and Giga Bowser grabbed it and squeezed it in his hand. The ooze from the egg squeezed out of his hand and onto the floor. Yoshi gulped nervously and ran for it. Giga Bowser grabbed Yoshi and began squeezing him. Yoshi felt the pain and screamed as his body got crushed. Sora quickly threw the keyblade at Giga Bowser's hand and gave him a crucial amount of pain. He began kissing his hand and Sora threw it at him again, hitting his head. Giga Bowser roared in pain from the blow and Yoshi attacked with another egg, also hitting his head.
Sora called Ness into battle who arrived just in time as Giga Bowser shot his fire breath at them. Ness put his PSI shield up to absorb the damage and then took his left. Sora then called in Mr. Game and Watch who attacked with his sausages. Giga Bowser just swatted him off like a fly easily.
"Boy, he was some help." Sora groaned with sarcasm. He then made a serious look up at the beast. "Man, he's more powerful then ever."
"We can still beat him!" Fox cried. "We have to pull together!"
Giga Bowser jumped into the air and slammed his body down on the four again. They went flying across the room and quickly got back up. Giga Bowser brought his mouth down, trying to eat the foursome. They tried to run but, it was too late. The four were in side the disgusting saliva of the beast's mouth. It dripped down from the top of the mouth and landed on Luigi's head.
"Ew!" Luigi said disgusted. "I've been drooled on!"
"Quick, we got to get out before we become digested!" Fox cried.
The mouth slowly began to close on our four heros. Thinking quickly, Sora put the keyblade on top of the lower lip and the bottom lip pressed on the top.
"Run!" Sora cried. The gang quickly made a run out of the mouth except for Sora who stayed behind. "There's one more thing to take care of." He ran back into the mouth and cracked his knuckles. He looked to see the red dangling uvula. He then threw a punch at it.
Giga Bowser screamed from the extraordinary pain he felt. Sora jumped out and grabbed his keyblade on the way. The group quickly ran behind Giga Bowser and ran up his shell. They ran around the spikes as fast as they could. As they reached the top, Sora slashed at Giga Bowser's head. The others then joined in beating up Giga Bowser. He roared in pain from the intense blows he was receiving. They then jumped off him and looked back up at him.
Giga Bowser was still roaring in pain from the intense damage he received from Sora and his friends. The group felt more confident now they have weaken Giga Bowser. Sora looked to Luigi and nodded. He knew what had to be done.
"We got him now!" Fox smirked. "One more strike and..."
"Wait a minute!" Sora said, stopping Fox. He then turned to Luigi. "Luigi! Heads up!"
"Huh?" Luigi asked, turning to Sora. The keyblade master threw his keyblade to Luigi who caught it. "Kid, what are you-"
"Luigi, you do the honors." Sora smiled. "Make your brother proud."
Luigi felt emotional from Sora's words and smiled.
"Thank you, Sora." Luigi said softly. Then with a serious look in his eyes he turned to Giga Bowser and held the keyblade with both hands. "This one's for you, bro!"
Luigi took the P3000 off and ran right at Giga Bowser. The blade of the keyblade began to glow green as he charged at his enemy. Giga Bowser shot fire breath at Luigi who knocked the attack away with the keyblade. Luigi jumped into the air and brought the keyblade hard down on the monster until he reached the ground. Luigi then took one finally horizontal slash at Giga Bowser and the beast began glowing green.
His eyes began glowing green and a green light came out from his mouth. His whole body then got engulfed in a ray of green light and exploded which sent the group flying. Smoke surrounded the entire room as everything began to calm down. As the smoke cleared, the group weakly got up and looked around. Giga Bowser was no where in sight.
"Did we win?" Yoshi asked.
Sora nodded, "We sure did."
"Thanks, Sora." Luigi said to Sora. "For letting me be the one to finish this fight."
"It's like you told me..." Sora smiled. "This is your battle, not mine. So shouldn't you be the one to fight it?" He then looked on the floor to notice a summon gem and an Ansem report and pocketed it.
Luigi then turned to notice dark dust on the floor. Those were his remains of darkness. Luigi felt happy, but sad at the same time.
"I can't believe we finally beat him." Luigi said with amazement. "He's really gone for good this time. And we didn't even need my brother to help." He then made a sad look.
"What's the matter?" Fox asked concerned. "I thought you would be happy about this victory."
"I am." Luigi sighed. "But, I feel bad for him. Leading this terrible life. He even helped save our world once and things won't be the same."
"Agreed." called a sinister voice. "With him out of the way, the keyhole can now be finished without ignorance."
The group gasped as Riku walked back from the dark portal.
"Riku!" Sora cried.
"Kid, he's not deaf you know." Luigi groaned.
Riku looked down at his feet to see the remaining darkness of Bowser. He lost all self-respect for the koopa king. He then looked up at the group.
"Isn't it ironic though?" Riku said. "That in the end he too was just another puppet in their little game."
"Whoa!" Fox exclaimed. "Puppet?"
"Are you just saying that because his I.Q. is that of a puppet?" Luigi teased.
"Dude, this isn't the time to joke." Sora groaned. He then turned back to Riku. "You mean he was used like K. Rool, Ganondorf, and Black Shadow?"
"Correct." Riku nodded. "The heartless were using him from the entire start. He failed to notice that the darkness was eating away at his heart. Strange, somehow the Star Rod protected him from the darkness for a short time." He then glared at Sora's keyblade. "That was because his darkness was wrapping around the rod and when the boy released his power, the darkness left the rod." He then looked back down at Bowser. "Sad, he led such a miserable life and he wanted to gain true power only to impress the princess. But with a insignificant mind like that, he was an easy target for the heartless." He then rubbed the darkness away with his foot. "Such a fitting end for such a fool."
Riku left through the dark portal leaving the others in shock. Luigi never realized how badly Bowser wanted to impress the princess. He must have been jealous of Mario. Sora was still focused on Riku. His eyes looked down at the floor with depression, thinking why would Riku do this? Everything that happened up till now has begun to tear their lifelong friendship apart. Sora could then feel something warm holding his hand. He looked to see Yoshi who smiled at him with reassurance.
"Sora no be sad." Yoshi said warmly. "Yoshi, Luigi, and Fox help."
"Thanks Yoshi." Sora smiled. "I knew I could count on you guys."
"Listen, Bowser is no longer our concern." Fox said. "I sense that Riku or whoever that really was is the true mastermind behind this whole ordeal."
"Possibly a force stronger then that of Bower and the heartless." Luigi added. He then gulped nervously. "Maybe, we should go home." The others grabbed him and pulled him along to the exit. "At least let me go. I'm going to miss my Soaps! I want to find out if they'll get off that stupid island!"
The group returned to the chapel area of Hallow Bastion where they noticed that a hole appeared in one of the walls. Figuring it was a way to find the princesses the group took the path. Luigi also pocketed the Star Rod for safe keeping. On the way, the group ran into some more heartless but had no problem defeating them. The four then arrived at another giant door and opened it. They then arrived in the room where the seven princesses where the same one Bowser was in before.
The group felt nervous in the presence of the room. It felt dark and eerie as they walked down the red carpet. The wind whistled into the room which made everyone jump. Fox then looked to the six girls in the containers. His eyes widened in excitement as the group noticed a purple fox in one of them.
"Krystal!" Fox cried. He ran over to the container and began pounding on it. "Krystal! Krystal! Please wake up! It's me Fox!"
The others gasped as they noticed the other princesses.
"Look!" Yoshi pointed. "It Samus!"
"That's not all!" Luigi added. "There's Zelda, Dixie and..."
"Some bear girl." Sora finished, noticing the bear.
Yoshi and Luigi then both noticed Peach.
"Peach!" they both cried.
While the duo ran over to try and wake Peach up, that strange feeling Sora felt in his heart returned to him. This time it felt like it was trying to show him something. He then felt like he needed to go upstairs to where the outlined heart was. Without thinking, he ran up the stairs. Luigi and Yoshi both noticed this and followed him. Fox was too busy with Krystal to even notice.
Sora ran up the stairs as fast as he could. He could feel excitement all around him as he reached the top and entered the circular area. Luigi followed in but, when Yoshi tried to walk in, an invisible wall knocked him back.
"Kid, are you okay?" Luigi asked Yoshi concerned.
Yoshi stood up and groaned, "Yoshi okay." He then noticed the wall. "But where did wall come from?"
"I knew it!" Luigi exclaimed in fear. "This is a trap!"
Sora then noticed Kairi's lifeless body on the ground and quickly ran over to her and put his arm under her. Sora was so excited to finally have Kairi back with him again, but he noticed that she wasn't waking up. He then began to feel nervous.
"Kairi!" Sora said worryingly. "Please wake up! It's me!" Sora shook her slowly but she wouldn't budge. "Kairi." Tears began to fill up in his eyes. "Kairi, if only I gave the paopu fruit to you. I'm sorry. The night of the meteor shower, I promised." Sora then pressed his face into her chest and started crying. "I'm so sorry! Please, come back to me!"
Luigi walked over and put his hand on Sora's shoulder, comforting the boy. Sora continued crying with his face buried in her chest.
"I'm afraid grieving over your loss will not bring her back to you." called a familiar voice.
Sora dried his tears and looked up to see Riku sitting on top of the outlined heart.
"Try as you might child." Riku began. "But that girl has lost her heart. She can never wake up."
Sora stood up and looked angrily at Riku, "It's true! Even if Riku did go insane, he'd still care about Kairi! You're not Riku at all! You took over him!"
"So you figured it out, huh?" Riku smirked. "It's incredible what one would do anything for something ridiculous as love. Because he opened his heart to the darkness I was able to take over."
"You're insane!" Luigi said coldly.
"Believe what you want." Riku shrugged. "But it doesn't matter because the keyhole will be ready to open the door. As you can see, it is still incomplete and shall remain that way as long as the last princess of heart still sleeps." He then jumped off the heart and floated down to the stairs in front of it.
Sora gasped as he looked at Kairi. The same friend he grew up with was really a princess. He never realized how Kairi's part in this dark plan was this deep.
"She's a princess?" Sora asked Riku.
"Yes." Riku responded. "She is like the piece to a puzzle. Once she is solved, it shall be complete. Once she is awaken then the keyhole will appear." He then licked his lips. "I can already taste it."
"Sorry, pal!" Luigi called out. "But your going on a strict diet!"
"Please, your in no position to be threatening me." Riku said. "I hold all the cards here."
"You've gone too far!" Sora said angrily. He was filled with hatred and rage for whoever this person was. He changed Sora's life forever and could never forgive him. "You've hurt my friends, you've hurt these innocent people, and you brainwashed Riku. Give his heart back! Let him go! He's no threat to you anymore."
"True, but first there is something that you have that I want." Riku said. He then pointed his keyblade at Sora's chest. "You must hand over the princess's heart!"
Sora was confused by what Riku meant. He first thought it magically appeared somewhere in his pocket. He began searching through every pocket he had and couldn't find a thing. He looked around his body to see if there was anything different. All of a sudden, his chest began glowing and Sora felt a second presents in his chest. It felt so strange that he gasped and leaned over. Luigi ran over to his aid.
"Sora!" Luigi cried. "Are you okay?"
"Why do I feel so weird?" Sora said, gasping for air.
"Hasn't it occurred to you yet?" Riku asked. He then walked down the stairs. "The princess's heart is responding. It has been there all along. Kairi's heart rests within you."
"She's inside of me?" Sora gasped. "All those memories of her, the flashbacks, the strange feelings in my chest were because of her heart?"
"Correct." Riku nodded. "Her heart was too afraid to enter the darkness, but it found the safe haven of your heart, Sora."
"Whoa!" Luigi said impressed. "How do you know all this?"
"Why? Because I know all that there is to know." Riku explained. "I am the seeker of knowledge, I know no limits."
"Please, tell me who you are." Sora weakly demanded.
Riku just looked at the boy with pity, "Well, I guess I could. A last request before your demise shall sound good." He then made an evil smile at Sora. "I am called Ansem, the seeker of darkness."
Everyone gasped in complete shock like nothing before. The same Ansem that ruled this world turned his back on his people and his home world. Sora couldn't believe his ears.
"Why?" Luigi asked in anger. "Your people looked up to you. How could you do something like this? Betray them by experimenting on their hearts and now this."
"Fool, I am going to build a better world." Ansem said. "A world ruled by darkness and you shall bow before me." He then looked at Sora. "The only thing required is the boy now."
Ansem began to make his way towards Sora. Luigi jumped in front of Sora and had bravery in his eyes.
"Not as long as I protect him!" cried a brave Luigi.
Luigi ran at Ansem ready to strike. Ansem rolled his eyes and sighed. He then knocked the plumber effortlessly aside and sent him flying out of the area and into Yoshi. The two rolled back and fainted from the hard blow.
"No..." Sora said weakly. "Luigi...Yoshi..."
Ansem walked up to Sora with a confident look. He looked down at Sora and pointed his keyblade at him.
"The time has come." Ansem said. "Now, I shall awaken you from your slumber princess. With your power I shall complete the keyhole. Open the door, lead me into everlasting darkness!"
Ansem began to bring his keyblade up with a sinister laugh as Sora remained helpless. The villain griped it tightly and knew that nothing could stop him now. Sora wanted to fight back, but he was being held back by the fact that Kairi's heart was beating along side of him. He closed his eyes knowing that this time he was going to lose. He had no strength to continue. He lost all hope when he could hear the voices of everyone of his friends.
"Kid, get up and fight!" said the voice of Luigi
"Sora no give up!" said the voice of Yoshi.
"Don't back down!" said the voice of Fox.
"You can do this man!" said the voice of Riku.
The last voice is what gave him a real boost of confidence.
"Sora!" cried the voice of Kairi.
Sora knew right there and then that he couldn't give up now. He whipped out his keyblade and put it up horizontally and blocked the dark keyblade's attack. Ansem's eyes widened in surprise as Sora began pushing it back.
"It can't be!" Ansem exclaimed.
"Forget it!" Sora strained. He then fully pushed Ansem back. "You want it? You've got to take it from me through sheer force."
Ansem laughed, "You arrogant fool. I'll crush you in three seconds without even trying."
"You may have the power, but I still have my dignity and I'd risk my own life to save Kairi, Luigi, and Yoshi. I'd even save Riku because he's still my friend. He may have caused a lot of pain, but I can find it in my heart to forgive him." Sora conversed with all his heart. "Ansem, I'm going to take you down."
Sora got into a fighting position as well as Ansem. The wind blew through the room as the two engaged in a stare down. A battle between two keyblade masters would determine the fate of man kind. One to save the world which was Sora and one who would destroy it. Namely Ansem. Sora ran at Ansem and slashed at him. Ansem however dodged the attack and kicked him back down.
"Please, you are far out of your league." Ansem sighed.
Sora got up and ran at Ansem again and tried to punch him, but Ansem side dodged it and grabbed Sora and threw him over his shoulder. As Sora landed, he kicked back up and sent Ansem flying across the arena. Ansem hit the ground and got up with an angry stare. The two charged at each other and clashed their keyblades together. Electricity sparked from their incredible force. Sora gave a thrust but Ansem dodged it.
Ansem slashed back but Sora ducked under it. Sora kicked at him and Ansem blocked it. Ansem brought his keyblade down and Sora blocked it. The two jumped back and charged again. Sora swung at Ansem with his right arm but Ansem knocked his keyblade away with his left. At the same time, as if both of them swiped at each other as Ansem ducked under Sora's attack and Sora jumped over Ansem's attack.
Ansem then slashed at Sora which sent him sliding across the room. He got back up as Ansem charged again and clashed with Sora. They both got into a violent sword fight by clashing their keyblades back and forth. At one point Ansem got Sora into a wall and defying the laws of gravity he walked on it to continue clashing with Ansem. He then spun out of the way of another attack and landed safely on the ground.
Ansem fired a dark beam which Sora dodged by using his dodge roll badge. Sora threw his keyblade at Ansem who knocked it away. He then tried to give a thrust at Sora's chest but the keyblade master spun out of the way and kicked him in the back. Ansem fell down and looked back up at the boy.
"Sorry, but you didn't think I'd let you get my heart that easily, right?" Sora chuckled.
"Hm, I suppose I've toyed with you long enough." Ansem said brushing himself off. "Now witness the real power of darkness."
Ansem's body began to glow light blue and electricity crackled in his hands. He then fired a blue disk which hit Sora, knocking him back. Ansem then rapidly went back and forth slashing him, tearing him apart. Sora was getting beaten badly as his body felt like two million bees were stinging him at once. Ansem then spun his body with the keyblade around and knocked him into the ground. Ansem floated down and crossed his arms as he noticed Sora's lifeless body.
All of a sudden, Sora weakly stood up and chuckled.
"Do you really thing that would stop me?" Sora chuckled. "Did you really think you won?"
"Impossible!" Ansem gasped in shock. "No one can survive that onslaught. How are you still standing?"
"Because I've encountered a move just like that." Sora explained. "Observe."
Sora snapped on his Sonic Blade badge and rapidly slashed through Ansem. The madman shouted in pain from the powerful blows he was receiving. He then smacked Sora back and used his dash attack again. Sora used Sonic Blade and the two dashed through each other, clashing with their attacks. They moved so fast it was like they couldn't even be seen. The two then charged each other again and were both screaming. Then upon impact, they caused an explosion which created high winds and raising fire.
The two jumped back and ran at each other again. Sora punched Ansem, Ansem rammed his foot up Sora's stomach. They clashed again and Sora tried to kick Ansem, but he grabbed his foot and threw him across the room. Ansem then quickly grabbed Sora and jumped into the air and then he pressed his body against the boy and they both crashed into the ground with dust exploding from the ground. Ansem jumped off as the smoked cleared and looked to see Sora on the ground, out cold.
"There." Ansem sighed. "I did it."
"Did what?" an extremely weak Sora asked.
Ansem gasped as Sora weakly stood up and used Cura on himself to recover.
"This can't be!" Ansem cried. "I knocked you out! Wh-what are you?"
"Me?" Sora asked with a smirk. "I'm just a boy with a key. Oh, and a person who believes in never giving up for the ones your fighting for. Don't you know that the good guys always win?"
"Fool, this is real life, not some fiction you read in a story." Ansem snarled. "Here, darkness always wins!"
"Prove it!" Sora smirked.
Ansem charged at Sora again and swiped at him. Sora bended way down to dodge the attack and then kicked Ansem and spun up quickly. He then grabbed Ansem by the foot and slammed him into the ground. He then jumped into the air and brought his feet down, ready to stomp Ansem when the dark keyblade master rolled out of the way. He then kicked Sora in the side and he slid across the floor. He quickly jumped back up.
Ansem has had it and was furious. He wasn't going to let this kid stop him from gaining true power.
"Enough!" Ansem shouted. "I shall end this now!"
Ansem flew into the air and began charging himself for one finally attack. The room became completely dark as Ansem powered up. Sora brought his keyblade as he was ready for the attack.
"Luigi, Yoshi, I wish you were with me." Sora thought while sweating nervously.
He then felt two hands wrap around the back of his hands. He looked down to see Luigi and Yoshi looking up at him with a smile. Sora closed his eyes and smiled.
"Thank you." Sora whispered.
Ansem charged at the trio as they together swung the keyblade at Ansem which hit him hard in the chest hard. Ansem went flying back and crashed into the ground. He weakly stood up, but felt right back down. He was beaten. He couldn't fight anymore. His chest began glowing with blue electricity crackling from the damage.
"My skills have failed me." Ansem said. "But I am far from finished. You may have won the battle, but you're far from winning this war. I shall return."
Ansem then dropped the keyblade and began to disappear. Sora quickly ran over to Ansem to try and get Riku back.
"Riku come back!" Sora said.
"Kid, there's no time!" Luigi called out. "We still have work to do!"
"Keyhole still need to be closed!" Yoshi added.
Deciding to deal with Riku later he ran over to where the giant heart was. He took out his keyblade and aimed it at the heart. Normally, in every other world the keyhole would have easily sealed, but this time the little beam that came out of the keyblade didn't show at all. Something was seriously wrong.
"It's not working." Sora said disappointed. "The keyhole isn't complete yet."
"What we do?" Yoshi whimpered.
"Panic!" Luigi panicked.
"Relax." Sora calmly said. "It's not complete because Kairi is still a lifeless shell. If we can free her heart, then we can seal the keyhole. But how are we going to do that?"
"Okay, does anyone know how to perform heart surgery?" Luigi asked.
"Yoshi played Operation once." Yoshi said. "Would that help?"
"Yeah, if she was a clown and had removable parts that beeped then that's a different story." Luigi groaned, rolling his eyes.
Sora remembered that Kairi's heart was inside of him. How could he release it though? He then remembered what Ansem said about the keyblade of darkness.
"A keyblade that can unlock people's hearts." Sora pondered to himself. "I wonder."
Sora slowly walked down the stairs towards the dark keyblade that Ansem left behind. Luigi and Yoshi curiously looked at their friend as he walked over to the keyblade of darkness. Sora looked down at the keyblade and began to think to himself. He closed his eyes and remained silent for the moment. He thought about his decision and knew it was a risky chose.
At this moment the only thing Sora wanted to see was his friends filled with happiness. He didn't care what happened to himself as long as Kairi, Luigi, Yoshi, and every other person lived in piece together. Sora picked up the keyblade and tapped the tip of it, feeling the sharpness of it. He then pointed it up in the air and looked at it. Luigi then understood what was about to happen. His eyes lit in fear and he got nervous.
"No, kid!" Luigi shouted at the top of his lungs. "What are you crazy? Don't do it!"
Still young to understand many things, Yoshi was a bit confused about why Luigi was panicking.
"Why Luigi having heart attack?" Yoshi asked.
Luigi turned to Yoshi, "Sora is going to stab himself, meaning he's going to give up his life."
Yoshi gasped in fear and shock. He was too scared to lose his best friend, his older brother figure.
"NOOO!" Yoshi shouted to Sora. "Sora stop! Sora stop!"
The two continued to call to the young keyblade master, but he simply ignored his two friends pleas. Finally, Sora turned to his friends and his reaction is what startled them. He gave off his famous goofy smile and acted like the entire thing was no big deal.
"See you guys later." Sora smiled.
Luigi and Yoshi quickly ran to stop him, but were too late. Sora pointed the keyblade towards his chest and stabbed it right into his chest. His chest began glowing and the keyblade floated out of his chest and onto the ground. Sora expected to feel pain but instead, he felt a warmth that caused him to relax. Luigi and Yoshi were too shocked to even move as they saw Sora getting engulfed in light. The dark keyblade disappeared from the face of the earth and six glowing balls of light floated out of it.
The two watched as the lights flew around the room and then entered the chests of six of the princesses. Another ball of light flew right out of Sora's chest and landed in Kairi's chest. At long last, her beautiful eyes opened up in surprise. Sora looked down at Kairi and smiled. He knew he did the right thing. The keyhole then glowed in the back from Kairi's awakening.
Sora's vision became too blurry for him to see anymore. He felt like falling asleep as he slowly began to float down to the ground. Yoshi ran at Sora with tears streaming down his face.
"Sora! Sora!" Yoshi and Luigi cried together.
Kairi weakly bent her upper body up and was still in a daze. She then shook it off and saw Sora weakly falling down. She weakly stood up and gasped.
"Sora?"
"Good-bye, Kairi." Sora said weakly.
"No!" she cried.
Kairi quickly ran over to him and tried to grab him. Right before her eyes, he disappeared. Kairi looked to see small fragments of light surrounding her and then fly off. She was speechless. She never expected Sora to do anything like this before her. She remained in shock as Luigi got on his hands and knees, slamming his fists into the ground.
"SORA!" Luigi shouted. "Come back, Sora!"
Yoshi fell on the floor and hardly sobbed away as his best friend took off. Kairi got on her knees and stared blindly into space as the light disappeared. Sora was lost in the darkness. His lifeless body floated through an endless abyss and he felt like a turkey that didn't have any stuffing. His breathing was light and he couldn't even raise a finger. He felt the warm darkness began to consume him.
"What's happening to me?" Sora whispered weakly. "Falling...falling...into darkness."
Meanwhile, the others remained were still coping over losing Sora. Luigi was groaning and Yoshi was sobbing his heart out. Kairi remained like a lifeless doll, looking blackly into space. She couldn't believe it, he was gone. The person she was the closest to was gone before her eyes. She couldn't accept the fact, she didn't want to believe it.
"No." Kairi said standing up. "Sora, you can't really be gone!" She then could feel anger in her eye and she cried out loud. "I'm not letting you go!" She then put her head down. "I know your alive somewhere! I can feel it." She then heard Yoshi sobbing and walked over to him. Bending down, she picked up the dinosaur and hugged him. "Oh, poor little guy. You miss him too?" Yoshi looked at Kairi and nodded sadly. Kairi wiped his tears away and cradled him. "Don't lose faith, he's alive, I just know it."
"Kid, your in denial." Luigi said standing up. "He's gone! He's never coming back! This is real life! Our loved ones can't be brought back! This isn't a magical fairytale!"
"I believe!" Kairi argued. "He was your friend and yet you show know sign of faith? I know he's alive and I won't rest until he's with me again."
Kairi's reassurance helped Yoshi get over losing Sora and also believe.
"Yoshi believe Kairi." Yoshi nodded.
Luigi put his hands in his pocket and had guilt in his eyes, "I'm sorry. I'm just so mad about this whole thing. First Riku, Bowser, and now Sora? When will the killing end?"
"When we restore order." Kairi answered.
Luigi smiled as he looked at the two children who gave him cheer.
"Yeah, Sora is out there!" Luigi said with confidence. "We won't quit!"
"Unfortunately, it's too late to stop me." called a sinister voice.
The three turned to notice a man standing before them. The man wore a dark and gray trench coat, with white gloves on. He wore black pants with pointy black boots. His white long hair extended down his back and he had a heartless symbol on his chest.
"Who that?" Yoshi whimpered.
"Perhaps my voice rings a bell." the man said.
"Of course!" Luigi cried. "I'd recognize that annoying, broken record voice anywhere. Your Ansem, the seeker of a straightjacket."
Ansem rolled his eyes with a groan, "An ignorant mind like yours can't even comprehend a quip like that."
"Say what?" Luigi asked, not understanding one word the villain said.
"In layman's term it means that joke was sad." Ansem explained.
"Man, even smart people have ways of putting my jokes down." Luigi sighed.
Ansem then turned to Kairi who was frightened of the man and held Yoshi close to her. He smiled evilly and walked up to her.
"So, you've awaken at last princess." Ansem said. "You served your purpose well and I thank you for that. Soon, the true darkness will awake and you are no longer required my dear. I have completely taken over Riku. His youth and power now runs through my veins."
"You monster!" Kairi snarled. "What are you?"
"I will soon rule over all that you see." Ansem explained. "It's best that you bow before me child. Or else I shall destroy you."
"I'll never bow before you." Kairi said bravely. "You're just an evil man."
"Then I shall destroy you." Ansem said walking towards the red head.
Kairi began to walk back in fear when Yoshi jumped out of Kairi's arms and joined Luigi. The two protected the girl from the evil king and got ready to fight.
"One more move and you'll get it." Luigi threatened.
Ansem continued walking towards the two while ignoring Luigi's comment.
"Um, Luigi." Yoshi began. Luigi turned to him. "What chance of Yoshi and Luigi stopping bad man without Sora?"
"Here, let me break down what he's going to do to us." Luigi said. "First he's going to chase us, then catch us, pound our faces into the ground, kick our butts from here to the end of the world, and use us as toothpicks."
Yoshi gulped nervously as Ansem walked towards them. He then raised his hand ready to strike when he stopped. He felt like his entire body became frozen. He felt something struggling to break out of him..
"What's going on?" Kairi gasped in surprise.
"Im-impossible!" Ansem stuttered in shock. "I'm in control. There's no way the brat could be doing this."
The three looked on as a glowing image appeared in front of him. As the image became more clear, the group gasped upon who they saw. It was Riku and he was struggling against Ansem. He looked to see the trio looking at him.
"No! I won't let you use me for this anymore!" Riku struggled.
"Riku!" Kairi cried. "You're alive!"
"Listen, I'm using my last bit of strength to tell you something." Riku said, straining against the dark forces.
"S-stay out of this, boy!" Ansem snarled at Riku.
"Put a sock in it old man!" Riku snapped at Ansem. He then turned to Kairi, Luigi, and Yoshi. "You three got to get out of here! The heartless are coming!"
"Likely story." Luigi said. At the moment, he couldn't even trust the silvered haired boy for everything that he's done. "Next thing you know you'll say my shoes are untied."
"I'm sorry for everything." Riku said with sorrow. "I should have never listen to this old nut in the first place. Please, don't meet the same fate. The heartless are growing stronger and they'll come after you three."
Kairi knew that Riku betrayed them at first, but looking past the evil Kairi could see the Riku she knew ever since she was young. She knew that Riku was sorry for everything and was ready to make it up.
"Guys, it's time we leave this place." Kairi told Luigi and Yoshi.
"Kairi sure?" Yoshi asked.
"Are you nuts?" Luigi exclaimed.
Kairi then turned back to Riku and said, "I believe him. I can see the forgiveness in his eyes. He's sorry for what he's done and maybe we should give him a second chance."
Sighing, Luigi put his hands in his pockets.
"If you believe him then I guess I have no choose." Luigi said. He then shouted out. "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"
Kairi and the others ran for it while Ansem weakly groaned.
"Fools, stop them! Don't let them escape!" Ansem cried.
A group of shadows appeared in front of Ansem and ran off after the three. One lone shadow however was curiously looking around the room. He then took off in a separate direction from the others. The heartless walked down the stairs and walked throughout the castle. He looked around at all the sights of the entire castle of darkness. He also noticed his fellow heartless hanging around the area. He then walked up to one and spoke in a silent Langue only heartless could understand.
The shield heartless he talked to pointed him in another direction towards the main hallway. The shadow took off as fast as he could trying to get somewhere. Kairi, Luigi, and Yoshi arrived back in the main hallway were was when Sora first faced him. Luigi and Yoshi ran down the stairs, but turned to notice Kairi was standing up stairs still.
"Kid, what are you doing?" Luigi asked, calling to Kairi. "We need to get out of here right now!"
"But the other princess are still in danger!" Kairi called back. "I can't leave them!"
"Listen, we have no time!" Luigi said. "I'm sure Fox is helping them! Come on!"
Kairi nodded and joined the two friends. Yoshi turned around to notice a single heartless appearing upstairs.
"A heartless chasing us." Yoshi said, pointing at it. "What we do?"
"Leave him to me." Luigi said, cracking his knuckles. "Bring it on!"
The heartless jumped down and ran at Luigi. The plumber threw a hard punch at it, sending it flying across the room. Luigi then shot fire at it and it jumped out of the way. The heartless then jumped on top of Luigi's head and Luigi knocked it off. He then hit it on the head with the sucking part of the P3000.
"Heartless beating Luigi." Yoshi giggled.
"A weak little thing like this?" Luigi scoffed. "Dream on, kid. But he is driving me crazy!"
Kairi looked at the heartless which looked at her. She could sense something different about this one, it wasn't attacking her. She could feel something familiar about this one. She looked insider the creatures eyes and could see that his eyes were blue and had that innocent look.
"Sora?" she said softly. "Is that you?"
"Huh?" Yoshi asked in complete confusion.
"Okay, you're starting to scare me now." Luigi quivered at Kairi. "You obviously have Sora on the brain. Having your heart restored must have had some funny side effects."
"No!" Kairi disagreed. "I can feel him. Sora wouldn't attack me."
"And what am I chopped liver?" Luigi asked disappointed.
"Mmm, liver sound good." Yoshi said, smacking his lips together.
Kairi slowly put her hand on the heartless's head and stroke it gently. It didn't even try to fight, it took the strokes and nudged her leg with it's face. Luigi and Yoshi's mouths dropped wide open upon seeing this happen. They never saw a nice heartless before. Kairi smiled warmly as she continued to pet the heartless.
"It is you." she said warmly. "I knew you were okay."
All of a sudden, the other heartless appeared around them. They group gasped at seeing this.
"Oh, great!" Luigi groaned. "Why now?"
The two ran off in separate directions and began battling the heartless. Yoshi knocked some away with his tail while Luigi sucked some up with the P3000. One tried to attack Kairi but the good heartless jumped in front of the attack and took the hit. Kairi gasped as it fell over and weakly stood up. The girl ran in front of the heartless and put her arms out.
"It's okay." Kairi said to the heartless. "This time, I'll protect you. I won't let them hurt you."
A gang of heartless slowly circled around the two, stalking it like pray. Kairi knew she was going to expect the worst from the heartless and she was ready to give up her life to save Sora's. The heartless then jumped into the air and Kairi turned around and embraced her heartless, completely frightened. The evil creatures towered over her and began to devour them both. Luigi and Yoshi just finished off a group of heartless when they turned to see the heartless piling on top of Kairi.
"Oh, no!" Luigi cried.
"Kairi, hang on!" Yoshi cried. "Luigi and Yoshi coming!"
The duo quickly ran over to help Kairi, knocking any heartless out of their way as they went. The two were about to attack when a powerful light knocked the two and the heartless away. The light was so bright that it blinded them for a minute. As the light dimmed down, the two opened their eyes slowly and looked to see if Kairi was okay. Their faces lit up with extreme happiness upon seeing Kairi because she wasn't the only one there.
Kairi's eyes were still closed as she felt someone wrapping his arms around her. Kairi recognized the feeling right there and then. She started crying, as she was filled with mixed emotions. She then heard the mouth move to her ear and whispered with a familiar voice.
"Kairi, thank you." the voice whispered.
She opened her eyes and looked to see Sora smiling at her. She took her hand and lightly tapped it on his face and rubbed it slowly.
"Sora?" Kairi whispered. "Is it really you?"
"Hey, who else can has the spiky brown hair?" Sora said with his goofy smile.
Kairi hugged Sora again and started to cry in his arms. Sora blushed bright red and hugged her back. This is the first time in ages that he really felt close to Kairi.
"Oh, Sora! It is you!" Kairi cried. "I knew you were alive!"
Sora rested his head on Kairi's shoulder and smiled, "You didn't think I'd leave did ya?"
She then broke away from his arms and giggled at him.
"Of course not!" Kairi giggled. "No lazy bum could be that stupid."
Sora rolled his eyes and sighed, "Good old Kairi."
"SORA!" cried Luigi and Yoshi.
He then turned to see his two friends joining him. Yoshi ran way faster then Luigi and was ready to pounce him as he jumped into the air.
"Oh, no!" Sora said. Yoshi tackled Sora down and rapidly licked his face clean. He laughed uncontrollably. "Yoshi! Stop it! That tickles! I give up! Have mercy!" He then was able to get the dinosaur off him. "I'm glad to see you too."
Luigi then grabbed Sora by the shirt collar and shouted at him, "You stupid brat! Don't you ever do something like that again!" Tears then streamed down his face. "Of course, I knew you were okay. I was being supportive to Kairi and Yoshi the whole time and remained cool."
The kids rolled their eyes with a chuckle and Luigi finally calmed down. The four stood up and were glad to be together again. Sora then walked over to Kairi.
"Man, I have so many things to tell you." Sora said to Kairi. "It's been a real hassle here."
"A hassle in the castle." Luigi joked. "Get it? Hassle? Castle? Ha! Ha!" Nobody said a word. "You guys are no fun."
"So do I but..." Kairi began. She then gasped in horror. "Sora, behind you!"
Sora turned to see a shadow charging at them. Sora slashed the heartless aside with his keyblade and got into battle position in front of Kairi. Luigi and Yoshi joined Sora and formed a circle around Kairi to protect her.
"Guys, we've got to keep the heartless away from Kairi!" Sora instructed. "Watch your backs!"
Luigi and Yoshi felt happy to have their fearless leader back with them. Although he was the second oldest of the trio, he's shown strong leadership skills. Luigi would have just ran off like a big coward, but Sora wasn't afraid and was focused on his goal. The group then heard Fox fighting heartless with grunts and battle cries and turned to see him enter. Fox jumped into the air and blasted the heartless in front of him with his laser gun. He then landed behind Sora.
"I'm glad to see you four are alright." Fox smiled. He then ducked under a heartless attacking him. "Get out of here! It's too dangerous!"
"Then come with us!" Sora offered. "I won't leave you here alone!"
"Kid, I'm an adult." Fox pointed out. "I can take care of myself. Krystal is still here and I won't leave without her. The heartless are getting stronger every second and I'm not putting you at risk!"
"But..."
"I SAID GO!" Fox shouted.
Sora nodded to Fox and gestured his group to leave. The four quickly ran out of the castle as fast as they could. They then turned to see an army of heartless following them. Luigi and the kids ran for their lives as they ran down the stairs and pressed the spike switch which made the platform appear. They took it and arrived back at the rising falls.
The group made their way down the rising falls and saw a green warp pipe above them.
"This should take us to the exit!" Luigi said. "Hurry up!"
The group ran like lightning to the ship and didn't stop for a minute to breath. They finally made it and the pipe quickly sucked them up, back into the Toad Express. They arrived back into the passenger area where Toadsworth anxiously awaited their arrival. Kairi looked around the plane in amazement as she has never seen anything luxurious as this before. She noticed the red soft chairs around the room and the giant T.V. screen in the corner.
Sora quickly went to the cockpit to where Tails was.
"Quick!" Sora cried. "Back to Isle Delfino and step on it!"
"Aye, aye, sir!" Tails said, saluting Sora.
Tails quickly started up the engines and blasted off into space. Sora returned back into the passenger room to where Kairi and the others were waiting for him. The four then sat back in their seats, exhausted from everything that happened.
"Crazy calzone!" Luigi sighed. "What a day!"
"Sure has been." Yoshi said.
Sora turned to Kairi who smiled at him. Sora then smiled at her back.
"I'm so glad you're okay, Kairi." Sora said happily. "I missed you so much."
"You too, Sora." Kairi smiled. "I'm just dying to hear everything that happened." She then turned to Luigi, Yoshi, and Toadsworth. "And who are they?"
"The tall skinny gent with the overalls is Luigi." Sora said, introducing his friends.
Luigi then took Kairi's hand and took off his hat, "A pleasure to meet such a magnificio cucciolo signora." He then kissed the back of her hand causing her to giggle. "And I can make you laugh with my amazing jokes."
"I don't know." Kairi chuckled. "That pun back there wasn't very good."
Luigi groaned, "Oh, yeah? Listen to this. Okay, so two toads walk into a bar right? I mean literary! Get it, metal bar?"
"Wow, his jokes do stink." Kairi said rolling her eyes.
"Mama-mia!" Luigi sighed sadly. "I'll never hit it big."
"And I Yoshi." Yoshi said, stepping forward.
Kairi pet Yoshi's head with widened eyes, "Aw, you're so cute."
Yoshi blushed as he took the strokes from Kairi.
"And I'm Toadsworth." Toadsworth said. "Pleasure to meet you mistress Kairi."
"Mistress?" Kairi blinked with confusion.
"I have no idea why he does that." Sora said. "Must be a habit."
Sora sat down in his chair and began to tell Kairi his fantastic adventure throughout each world. Kairi was amazed of the incredible places he described. He told them about his friends from Ash to Sonic and told them the epic battles they've faced. Sora went on for what seemed like hours, but was only ten minutes. The group finally began to make their way towards Isle Delfino, knowing they were in the clear, but the threat was still alive.