Endless Abyss, Other Side
As soon as Alexa was out of sight Sora climbed up to the top of the tree where she had been sitting. He sat up there for hours reflecting on what had happened to him. Thoughts of darkness enveloped his mind. Nothing had been the same since the great battle. Many good people had died to get him where he was and if someone had of asked him a week ago if he wanted to return to the realm of the light he would have said no. But now. . . with her there. . . well. . . things were definitely different.
Question's ran through his mind like whether or not he would be able to see his friends all together again or whether he would be able to reveal himself to Kairi. Oh how he wanted to jump off the tree and run to her and tell her everything and have her comfort him and tell him everything was going to be alright and...
But there were other more important things to be worrying about like what he was going to say to King Mickey when he saw him. To him it felt like ages since he had last seen King Mickey but he knew now the feeling wasn't going to be reciprocal.
"She's back!" Elchanans voice called out to Sora and it was then that he thought to check the time. He closed his eyes and felt inside his heart for he dream sword. A slight tingling in his hands told him it was still there after all these years. "Dream Sword!" Sora said. Suddenly the dream sword appeared in his hands and he swung it around and pointed it at the sky. A beam of light shone out from the sword and connected with something high above him and then poured off like a fountain would making a circle of light on some kind of barrior. That light sparkled for a minute before stabilizing and giving a clear view of a dark blue sky.
Sora gasped realising that it was night time already. He had been up in the tree far to long. He grabbed onto a brance and slowly worked his way down the tree. Sora couldn't believe that the King was there already.
"He's waiting for you in the throne room," said a voice behind Sora. Sora turned around with a jump and saw that Alexa was standing behind him. "He's not alone," she said. "He was with another man and refused to leave him behind."
"All is well Alexa," said Sora. "A friend of the King is a friend of mine."
Sora started to walk to the throne room and within minutes he entered it and saw the King standing with the last person he would ever have expected – Xehanort.
"What are you doing here?" Sora demanded Xehanort.
King Mickey stared Sora in the eye and Sora knew that hs secret was exposed.
"Sora?" The King asked.
Sora sighed. "Yes."
"Hmm, looks like we both have some explaining to do," said King Mickey.
"If you were anyone else I would kick him out of here," said Sora pointing at Xehanort. "But although it may seem foolish I still trust you. Stay for dinner and we'll talk afterwards," said Sora.
"Deal," said King Mickey.
"I just have one favour to ask you," said Sora.
"Anything," said Mickey.
"Kairi is here as well but I haven't told her about what happened to me. I'd appreciate it if you said nothing to her about this."
"Done."
Less then an hour later Sora was seated at the end of a long rectangluar table. Kairi was on his right and Mickey was on his left. Alexa was sitting next to Kairi and Sora had resentfully allowed Xehanort to sit next to King Mickey. There were many other people sitting at the table and most of them were looking hungry. Luckily for them the table was soon covered in all kinds of dishes of food and after taking an inquiring look at their master (Sora) they started to eat. Kairi and King Mickey were eating a little bit but mostly they were talking. After the meal Kairi pulled the king aside and asked him a question.
"Has Sora revealed himself to you?"
"Yes," said Mickey. "Even though he is now an old and wise king..."
"He is still just as foolish as before," Xehanort finished.
"Well I wouldn't say that," said Kairi. "He probably doesn't know what he would say, I mean, for him it's been such a long time."
Alexa walked up to them and immediately they stopped talking. "My master wishes you two to enter his private chambers," she said. "Go out to the main hall and speak to Elchanan and he will show you the way."
"What about me?" Kairi asked.
"I think it's time for you to go to bed," said Alexa. "Don't worry I will take you there."
Meanwhile in Sora's Chambers. . .
Sora and Mickey told each other everything and Sora learned of the chasers while Mickey learned of the three powerful wielders and their corrosponding keyblades. Sora explained to Mickey how everyone who served him were former keyblade wielders. Their previous allegiances varied but now they were united in the hopes that one day they would finally be able to get revenge on the unknown force that was responsible for them being in the endless abyss. In the end though it was Xehanort who clarified who exactly that force was – the chasers.
"Why should I trust you?" Sora demanded.
"Because I am on your side!" Xehanort replied.
"Very well," said Sora. He still didn't trust Xehanort but for now he decided to just suck it in and live with it. Mickey had said Xehanort was trust worthy this time and that was good enough for now.
"Why have you stayed here for so long?" Mickey said, asking a question which had been on his mind for quite a while.
"I had no choice," said Sora. "I am the chosen one to protect the people of this realm."
"What do you mean?" Mickey asked.
"Dream Sword," Sora said. Instantly the dream sword appeared in his hands. "This sword – it's from my dreams and yet here it is – a sign from the light itself." He paused briefly before continuing. "The light has not forsaken me even after all these years and so I cannot forsake it's followers."
"Oh," said Mickey
"You fool," said Xehanort. "You've spent your whole life down here protecting these people when you could have just helped them escape."
"It's not that easy," said Sora. "Only one of the three keyblades can truly open this place from the inside."
"So we're stuck here!" Xehanort said in disgust.
"Not for much longer," said Sora.
"What makes you say that?" Mickey asked.
"Come outside and I'll show you," Sora replied.
Mickey and Xehanort followed Sora through the side door in his chambers which lead outside onto an extremely high balcony. Sora held his dream sword up to the sky and did as he'd done before making a beam of light shoot up and bounce off some kind of barrior. It poured off like a fountain showing a clear view of a dark blue sky but only inside the large circle of light made by the light pouring off like a fountain. Mickey and Xehanort gasped as it stabilized and suddenly looked clearer then ever. After a couple of minutes it faded away and disapeared.
"What does it mean?" Mickey asked Sora.
"It means that one of the three powerful keyblades have been found."
"This might not be a good thing," Xehanort observed. "If it's the dark keyblade then do you really think that he's going to care about this place?"
"We would not be able to see the sky if an opening wasn't going to be made soon," said Sora.
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see," said Mickey.
7 months later. . .
Sora, Mickey and Xehanort were standing out on the balcony talking. It was night time again. Sora was looking much more happier then he had 7 months earlier. Kairi was in bed as she was still the youngest of the four. Sora had done his best to ensure that none of the others were bored but there was only a limited amount of fun to be had from exploring the endless abyss. It was after all, endless, and when something is endless it tends to get repetitive.
"Sora, how much longer do we have to wait?" Mickey asked.
Sora summoned the dream sword and done the same thing he had done every night for the last 210 days. The view of a dark blue sky was massive and covered the area of 8 rugby fields put together. It was definitely something that would be noticed by all of the people. In fact it was something which brought them all great hope.
"It will be this day," said Sora.
"What makes you so sure?" Xehanort asked. Over the past seven months the two had learned to get along and even to trust each other.
Suddenly a hole ripped open in the middle of the sky.
Aldan, Riku and Yen Sid floated down to the ground out of the hole but Roxas came crashing down to the ground.
"Ahhhhh," Roxas groaned.
Riku held up the Twilight keyblade and a beam of dark light shot out and sealed both of the holes in the sky making things pitch black again.
"Riku!" Sora called, filled with joy. He no longer had any doubt over whether or not he was going to reveal himself.
Riku glanced at Sora for a minute and then an expression of recognition came over his face. "Sora?"
Sora's look of joy evaporated to be replaced by a sheepish grin. "I was hoping to surprise you."
"I'm surprised alright," said Riku. Riku looked at Aldan, Roxas and Yen Sid and said, "See I told you."
"Told them what?" Sora demanded.
"That you'd be right in the middle of this mess."
"What's that supposed to mean," said Sora with a pout reminiscint of the one he used to be able to pull off as a teen.
After that everyone started to talk and by the time they finished they had managed to get most of the facts mixed up and everyone was twice as confused as before. It wasn't until Sora yelled for quiet that things were gotten straight.
"So we're clear," said Sora. "Our enemies now are the remnants of the chasers (present company not included) and the dark wielders.
"Once we take care of the dark wielder the chasers will return to normal," said Yen Sid. "There is no need to take care of them."
"You know you don't believe that," said Xehanort.
"How would you know what I believe," said Yen Sid. "And while I'm questioning you what is the meaning of these -" Yen Sid pulled out a large stack of notes and showed him the first one.
Forgotten Grave Yard
A barren deserted world. Or so I was lead to believe. When I decided to go there and check for myself however... well let's just say that it's not barren or deserted. The world is being used as a hideout for an ancient race of people known only as chasers. For some reason unknown to me they are all clothed in battle armour as if they are preparing for some kind of war.
I Xehanort will infiltrate their ranks and find out what it is they are planning.
"I... I've never seen this before," said Xehanort.
"Are you sure?" Mickey asked.
"No I'm not sure!" Xehanort yelled angrily. "Maybe I have seen them before and I've just decided to create an elaborate lie to fool you all."
"Calm your self," said Aldan. "If you didn't send it then we must think on who did."
"We must also remember to take care of our enemies," said Sora.
"Yes," said Riku. "But the dark wielder cannot be defeated that easily. The light keyblade has disappeared so we'd need an army to beat him because he can be sure he's going to be gathering one."
"I can give you that army," said Sora. "But first we need to take care of the chasers."
"Why?" Yen Sid demanded. "They will do no more harm once the dark wielder has been defeated.
"They are doing something to keyblades," said Aldan. "Roxas has lost the core to his."
"What?" Roxas said, confused.
"Did you think the chasers would trick you for no reason?" said Aldan.
"No. . . but I would know if. . ."
"Then hit me," said Aldan.
"But. . ."
"Just do it!"
Roxas held out his keyblade and swung it at Aldan. Aldan held out his own keyblade. They connected and Roxas's keyblade promptly snapped in half. Roxas dropped to the ground and disappeared.
"Where's he gone!" Sora yelled.
"I. . . don't know," said Aldan.
"Fool!" yelled Sora. "You know this is where people go when their keyblades are broken but where do they go from here?"
Darkness pulsated around Roxas. The strength of it overwhelmed him and it was all he could do to stop himself from joining it. After all it was the one single source of comfort that he still had left. Everything was so dark that he couldn't tell whether his eyes were opened or closed. He put his finger as close to his eyes as he dared but he could still see nothing. Suddenly a faint green light appeared to his left and revealed a narrow path to it's source. Roxas followed the path as carefully as he could but when he reached the end he was shocked. It was the gummi ship and it was barely recogniseable. Spikes were poking out all over the ship. The letters G-O-R-E-F-A-N-G were inscribed on one of the spikes.
"Ah Roxas, glad you could join us!"