Chapter Twenty: The Dark Judgment
After Riku helped me back to a bed in the castle, I slept for a few days. Considering the scope of the battle we were in, I wasn't surprised when Amy was still asleep after I got up. Jason was up and about, but I avoided talking to him before I got something to eat. After doing so, I went and asked Jason and Riku to meet me in the Borough. I went there myself, carrying my now-permanently fused Phoenix Sword.
"I'm sure you guys have questions, so go ahead and shoot," I said.
"Who was that woman you mentioned… Senka, or whatever?" Riku asked.
"I don't know much. She seems to have a strong dark affinity, considering she was able to control my darkness, or so she said," I answered. "That's all."
"Well, second and foremost, what happened to Sora?" Jason asked.
"He… went into a dark portal that Senka opened. She had told Sora that Kairi was somewhere on the other side," I answered, "but it's not that simple."
"What do you mean?" Jason asked.
"She's going to break him. Make him fall into darkness. Use him as a puppet. I know… she won't let him see Kairi. At least not until he does something for her, which will probably be to kill us when we attempt to enter her stronghold," I answered. "It's a trap, but it's one we have to spring."
"Kill us? Sora would never do that!" Riku shouted. "He's my best friend!"
"Don't you remember what the darkness does to people, Riku? Or have you already forgotten?" I asked.
"No… but Sora's…" he began.
"Sora's no less human than us. I gave in to the darkness as well, Riku. I didn't fall as far as you did, but I still gave in," I said.
"So what should we do?" Riku asked.
"Save Sora… from himself," I replied. "He hasn't fallen far… at least, not yet."
"So where should we go? If anywhere, I'd have to guess that this Senka woman's stronghold would be in the Realm of Darkness. So, where to?" Jason asked.
"Twilight Town. If we can get into the Dark City from the mansion there, we might have a chance of getting into the Realm of Darkness," I said.
"Then let's go," Riku replied. We beamed up to our Gummi Ship, then swiftly flew over to Twilight Town. Saying hi to everybody, we made our way quickly to the woods, then the mansion. Unfortunately, not much was left of the mansion… it looked like Cloud and Sephiroth had fought, and the place was in a shambles.
"Damn it, Cloud! What are we supposed to do now?" I yelled, kicking a wall. I jumped back in pain… I had hurt my toe.
"We could always go ask Yen Sid. He might know," Jason suggested.
"That sounds like a good idea. I don't have a better one," I said. We walked off toward the train station where, luckily, Yen Sid's train was waiting. I didn't take any chances this time and got on first. After Jason and Riku had hopped aboard, the train whirred into motion and we were soon speeding off to Yen Sid's tower.
We arrived shortly, and quickly filed out of the train. The three of us encountered a few Nobodies, but soon took care of them. We then made our way to the top of the tower, where Yen Sid sat, waiting.
"So, Roy, you have returned. Tell me, what has happened?" he asked.
"Sora's… Sora's betrayed us," I said hesitantly.
"Then it is just as I had suspected. You are the cause of this, Roy," Yen Sid told me.
"It's Roy's fault? How's that possible?" Jason asked.
"You see, Roy was meant to lose, if not die, in his first battle with Charon. But your willpower proved too strong; you refused that fate, and in doing so, broke the chains of destiny," Yen Sid replied.
"So I'm free to choose what happens to me. What does that have to do with Sora?" I asked.
"Your simple act of defiance rippled across the destines of all things, changing future events. I do not claim to know your future, but I do know Sora was never intended to be corrupted. Your presence alters the fates of those you come in contact with, changing and warping their fates," Yen Sid told me.
"So it's all my fault…" I said, looking down.
"Do not despair. Though you do hold potential for ruin, you also hold potential for salvation," Yen Sid said.
"What do you mean?" Riku asked.
"If one can destroy, one can create. To save Sora, you only have to come in contact with him and persuade him to give up the darkness," Yen Sid told us. "But you will not find it easy. Undoubtedly he now has a hostile view of you."
"So we'll have to fight. Nothing new," I told him. "How do we get to the Realm of Darkness?"
"There is a way. In the Dark City, simply go off the Edge of Despair. I would suggest a little training for you first, however," Yen Sid answered.
"Training? From who?" I asked.
"Merlin, of course. Though I am a far greater wizard than he is, I know far too much to teach simple lessons to children like you," he answered (and Jason cringed at being called a child). "So go find him, and perhaps Merlin can teach you some lessons you will need to confront Sora."
Jason and Riku went out the door, and I followed. But once again, Yen Sid closed the door in my face.
"What is it this time?" I asked, exasperated.
"I have noticed that your clothes are a little… ragged, to say the least," he said. "With that, and the lack of a scabbard for your sword, I thought you would appreciate some help from the fairies in the next room."
"Yeah, I suppose that would be nice," I replied. "But I'm not throwing away my coat. Send it to the Radiant Garden for me, will 'ya?" I asked, throwing it at him as I walked into the next room. I think he grunted with disgust at my old, musty coat (after all, I hadn't washed it in two years, and it had blood stains all over it).
In the next room, the fairies were waiting for me. They were soon all over me with tape measures, figuring out my exact specifications.
"So, dear, what'll it be?" the red fairy asked me.
"I'm not sure…" I replied. It would be nice to have some new clothes, but I hadn't given it much thought.
"Well, then, just close your eyes and think of something," the blue fairy told me.
I did so. A moment later, I could see a bright flash and then I opened my eyes…
-NEW Outfit!-
Roy: Dark Judgment - an outfit exactly like Kratos' Judgment costume (Tales of Symphonia), but with a red and black color scheme in place of the blue and white one. The outfit channels dark energy, but doesn't hamper the use of light-based powers.
"Whoa! This is… awesome!" I said at my new outfit. "Thanks a ton!"
"Any time dear! I just wish it had a little more green in it…" the green fairy mused.
"And a little more blue…" the blue fairy went on as I left the room with my new clothes and (thankfully) a scabbard for the Phoenix Sword.
"Well, thanks for some direction, master Yen Sid. But I've gotta get going," I told him.
"I understand. Do not forget your mission," he told me before I beamed back up to our Gummi Ship.