Chapter Eleven: Hero/Guardian
I walked forward, slowly, toward my old friend. I knew what it would all come to, but I guess he wanted to fight on a mental plane before a physical one, so I went along with it… for now.
"So, you're trying to seal the Keyhole, Roy? It's really too bad… I can't let you do that." Brenton told me.
"Yeah! If we don't seal the Keyhole, the Heartless will consume the world and it will be plunged into darkness! We… no, I won't let that happen!" I shouted. I heard Amy coming down the stairs.
"You, afraid of the darkness? Now isn't that curious? You're the one who wields darkness, yet you insist on sealing the Keyhole and cutting off your strength?" he asked me.
"Roy… what is… he talking about?" Amy asked me through her panting.
"I… I don't know." I lied, though I knew the truth would come out seconds later.
"Come now, Roy. Tell her all about how you brutally murdered a defenseless man, about how you nearly killed a woman, and most importantly, about how you murdered Jason!" he said.
"Roy… is he right? Did you really…" she started, but I hung my head, afraid to face her and the truth. Brenton used this as an opening to attack me, and came charging at me fist first.
"Roy, look out!" Amy shouted at me, just in time for me to look up and get punched in the stomach, knocking the wind out of me and sending me flying to about halfway across the bridge at the same time. I looked up, holding my gut, to see Brenton running across the bridge toward me, flames at the end of the bridge. Apparently he wanted to do this duel-style.
"That was… a cheap shot…" I said after he was within earshot.
"Shut up, Dark Boy. You're not even worth talking to." he said back, that hateful tone the entire Order of Light used in his voice. "I just bothered to talk so I could break your companion's spirit. Knowing what you've done, it's likely she won't help you anymore."
"So, that whole thing was a ruse to stop my journey? Sorry, but that ain't gonna happen! I've got to get there for my friend… Jason." I told him. I drew my Zangetsu and held it in position. "I don't even want to fight you, old friend, but if you don't get out of my way I'll have to kill you, too."
"Come on, then, Hero! Let's see what you got!" he yelled back at me. After he did so, he snapped his fingers and greaves and gauntlets of fire appeared on his hands and feet, respectively.
I ran at him, Zangetsu posed so it would pierce him, but he moved out of the way easily and hit me in the shoulder, burning me. I wheeled around to hit him, but he again dodged it, knocking me against the concrete barriers on the bridge. I looked up and narrowly dodged one of his punches, thrusting my Zangetsu at his torso and making a little cut before he backed off.
"So you really want to play? Fine!" he yelled at me, and then he covered himself entirely in flames. Pretty much dauntless by now, I put away my Zangetsu and rested my hands on my Masamune, ready and in the signature batto-jutsu stance. He came running at me, and I used my superior reach to slash him again with the batto-jutsu. He staggered back, but came running at me again.
This time, I dodged a few of his hits, and then countered with a slash to his arm. He kept coming at me, even through two slashes to his torso and a cut on his arm. I dodged a few more hits, then skidded between his legs and slashed the backs of his knees. He staggered again, but I backed off, wanting a more fair fight.
He stood up again, flames burning all around him. Maybe I shouldn't have done something so underhanded, I thought to myself. Now all the ground within two feet of Brenton was on fire. It would be tough to even get within striking range without using my Masamune.
Brenton looked at me, a hateful look in his eyes. I was ready. I ran at him, jumped over the flames, and did my best to strike him, but his flames caused me to lose my focus, and he punched me in the chest. I hit the concrete barrier again, staggered to my feet, and narrowly dodged one of his kicks, then slashed at him through my pain and the flames.
"Roy! Hold on!" I heard someone yell… it was Amy. She ran toward us through the flames, blade already drawn, ready for battle. She came at Brenton and took a slash, hopping over the flames, and scored a good hit on his face, having caught him off guard.
That was a big mistake on her part. Brenton came at her, enraged, punching and kicking her several times like a kick boxer. She went flying to near the end of the bridge and dropped to the ground, clearly passed out.
"No… I won't…" I started. But I realized something: I needed to keep my emotions under control. Even my dark powers wouldn't save me… and if I relied too heavily on darkness, it could cost me a lot more than a little pain. But I couldn't bear to watch my friends suffer…
"What's wrong? Having a change of heart?" Brenton taunted me. "Why don't you tap into the darkness and we can really get on with it?"
"… no. I don't need darkness. I'll beat you with my own strength!" I resolved. "I'll guard my friends with my life, but not the darkness!"
"You really want to die today? So be it." he said, then came blazing at me, fist outstretched in a punch.
You... you're... not the Roy I knew!
