Chapter XLVII- Hollow Bastion (Part 6)
Sora looked up at the ruins of Hollow Bastion. Darkness was spilling out of every window of the castle. The once clear sky is now blanketed with grey clouds and lightning flashed. Darkness spilled out of the castle like a thick purple fog.
He frowned. This is almost like what happened to his home but much worse. If they don't do anything to stop this then all worlds will end up like theirs. But no matter how bad it gets they will keep going, they have to.
"Sora."
The group turned their heads and saw a familiar face. The Beast shambled towards the group looking badly wounded. He collapsed on one knee.
"Beast..." Sora went to his side and handed him a Elixir. He snatched it from his hand and drank it greedily. "What happened?"
"The Heartless, there were too many." The Beast said slowly regaining his strength. "They forced me out of the castle."
"What about the Princesses?" Koga said running to join his brother.
"Belle and the others are at the top of the tower."
"Against their will?" Donald asked.
The Beast shook his head. "No, I think they stayed for a reason."
"I wonder why?" Yuffie asked.
"Let's go ask them." Aerith said.
The Beast noticed the new members of the groups and huffed with apprehension. "Who are they?"
"Oh, these are our friends. We're going to fight our way to the Keyhole and stop Ansem."
"You'll need all the strength you can get. I'll go with you."
"You sure?" Koga crossed his arms. "Beast you've been fighting for days, take time to regain your energy." The Beast growled in defiance, licking his wounds. "See, even with an Elixir you're still injured."
"Excuse me I believe I can fix that." Said Fairy Godmother walking up to the Beast frowning. "Oh, you poor dear. You've fought so hard to protect your light. Now let me fix you right up." She pulled out her want and waved it in the air, sparkles coming out of the tip. "Bibbidi-bobbidi-Boo!" The sparkles covered Beast and in a flash of light his wounds have fully faded. He stood up straight and let out a soft growl.
"Wow, I gotta learn that spell." Koga said to himself.
"Thank you." The Beast murmured.
Fairy Godmother smiled. "Now now, don't make a fuss over a little magic. Your princess is waiting."
"She's right." Leon said. "Let's hurry before the Heartless increase any more!"
The journey to the castle was much the same as before except with a much larger obstacle. Together they ascended the rising falls and reached the castle grounds. Wyverns and Wizards came down to attack but Koga and Mushu took out the aerial opponents. Fortunately only a small wave of Heartless stood the castle grounds. They went through the gates and ran into a much larger wave of Heartless. They tried to charge them but Simba let out a powerful roar that blasted the Heartless back. Yuffie and Leon slipped behind. Leon slashed with his gunblade while Yuffie threw several shurikens at them, breaking up the crowd. As Sora ran up the grand staircase a Air Soldier tried to attack him. But Cid jump high and slammed down his lance at the Heartless.
"Hoo!" Cid laughed flicking his burnt out cigarette away. "Been awhile since I've done this. Never skip leg day kid."
Sora didn't have time to say anything as several shadows jumped at him.
"Freeze!" Koga shouted, freezing the enemies in midair following with a graviga spell. A Defender charged at Koga and he tried to blast it but he was out of MP. He reacted quickly and switched to melee, bludgeoning the Heartless's shield over and over but their defense was stronger. It bashed it's shield into Koga, knocking him on the ground. He quickly grabbed the edges of the shield, holding back the gnashing teeth.
A beam of magic struck the Heartless's back. It turned it's head and saw Aerith staring defiantly, stave in hand.
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size." She stepped aside to show Fairy Godmother waving her wand.
"Bibbidi-bobbidi-Boo!" And suddenly the Heartless shrank to the size of a mouse. Koga looked at the tiny Defender bash it's mini shield into Koga. He picked it up and flicked it over the staircase. Aerith helped him up.
"Thanks."
A Heartless snuck up behind Aerith, she twirled her stave and several orbs of magic shot out and locked on to the enemy.
"Guy's, the room's clear." Leon said.
"Then let's get going." Everyone advanced through the doorway to the rest of the castle. Sora and Koga were the last when a voice spoke out.
"You remind me of them..."
Sora and Koga turned their heads around. They were face to face with a man in a black coat. The two stumbled back surprised, he came out of nowhere.
"Wh-who the heck are you?" Sora demanded.
Koga tilted his head. "Ansem?"
"That names rings familiar. But I am nothing more than a mere shell."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It is beyond your comprehension, for now. Until we meet again."
"Sora, Koga!" The twins looked back and saw Goofy
They pushed onward through the halls of Hallowed Bastion. The higher up they went the more Heartless attacked them. As they kept fighting, Bambi pranced around, bouncing on the Heartless's heads. Every time he bounced on them he refilled everyone's MP.
Eventually they made it to the Castle Chapel still scorched from their battle with Maleficent. At the end of the room was five women, the princesses of Heart. They were sitting on ornate chair in a circle, looking to be in a meditative trance. The sounds of their echoing footsteps woke the princesses and they looked to their new guests. Alice and Jasmine were the first to react, standing up.
"Sora, Koga!" Alice exclaimed. "It's so good to see you again." She gave a curtsy.
"Alice!" Koga shouted laughing and wrapping the girl in a big hug. He then realized what he's doing and backed away, trying to hide his blush with a awkward cough. "Uh, it's great to see you again as well." Alice giggled.
"Sorry we couldn't save you when we could." Sora apologized scratching his head sheepishly.
Jasmine put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's alright Sora. You and Koga did the best you could."
"She's right, the Maleficent is to blame." One of the princesses said. "I would know, she's from my world." That earned an eyebrow raise from most of the gang. "Sorry, where are my manners? I'm Aurora, one of the first princesses captured. You already met Jasmine and Alice. The other two are Snow White and Cinderella." The other princesses did a polite bow. "We've been waiting for you to come back Keyblade masters."
"Cinderella!?" Fairy Godmother gasped stepping out of the crowd of fighters.
"Fairy Godmother!" The woman in the silver dress and glass slippers looked just as shocked. She ran up to her and wrapped her in a teary hug. "I was so worried, did you get to the Prince, Jaq, or Gus before our world vanished?"
"I'm sorry my dear, I tried to reach them but in all the chaos I couldn't find them."
"I've just been so worried, I don't know how much longer I can do without them." Cinderella said wiping her tears.
"Oh child..." Fairy Godmother smiled sadly. "Never lose faith. Remember that anything is possible as long as you keep believing."
"Where's Belle!?" Beast growled darting his eyes around the room desperately searching for her.
"I'm right here." He turned his head and saw a woman in a golden dress come from the other side of the room, a pile of books in her hand.
"Belle!" The Beast gasped before running to her side. "I... I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."
"Don't worry about that." She smiled brushing it off. "But thank you for coming to rescue me."
"How did the Heartless not get in here?" Aerith asked. She was right, the Heartless would've been clawing their way through the walls to get the Princesses of Heart. And yet this place is the only room clear of darkness.
"It's our light." Belle said, holding out her hand. Light glowed from it in a ball of energy, the other princesses did the same thing. "I've been going through the library, reading about what Ansem and Maleficent learned about us. We figured out how to use our light to push back the darkness."
"I discovered it back when I got captured in Agrabah." Jasmine said. "But it's much stronger when all of us are together. It's all we can do to hold back the full force of the darkness."
"But we don't know how much longer we can manage this." Snow White said. "Even if you brought Kairi with us this is only a temporary solution."
"So where is Ansem?" Leon asked.
"Gone." Aurora responded. "When the darkness came out of the Keyhole, he disappeared into it."
"Heh, coward was too scared of us so he fled." Cid chuckled.
"Glad he did, or I would've given him a piece of this!" Mushu huffed a small stream of fire.
"Not quite..." Cinderella said. "I cannot forget the look on his face. As the darkness engulfed him, he turned to us and he just smiled."
"He's going to the Heart of the darkness." Alice said dreadfully. " A world made of darkness, constructed by the fragments of the destroyed worlds. That is where the Keyhole leads to, as well where the Door to Darkness is. As long as the door is open, all worlds are in trouble."
"Then I guess we just have to stop Ansem and close the door." Sora said.
The Princesses nodded at his decision.
"A wise answer." Snow White said. "The only way to the 'End of the World' is through the Keyhole."
"Sora, Koga, a moment please?" Yuffie asked. She gestured to Leon, Aerith and Cid all waiting for them.
"Uh sure." The twins stepped away from the group. "What's up?"
"Belle told us that if you seal the Door to Darkness then it should restore all the worlds that were consumed by darkness." Leon said.
"Even the islands?" Koga asked. Cid nodded.
"Really? That's great!" Sora smiled. But the rest of the group didn't look too happy for some strange reason. "What's wrong?"
"When the worlds are restored, they'll all be separated again." Aerith said.
"Everyone will return to their own world." Leon said.
Koga's blood ran cold. "B-but Kairi is from Hollow Bastion. If she is from here then..."
Sora slapped his brothers back. "Don't worry about it, we can always take the gummi ship to go pick her up."
Leon shook his head. "It's not that simple."
Yuffie looked at them. "Before all this, you didn't know anything about the other worlds right?"
"It was because every world was isolated. Divided by impassable walls." Aerith said.
"The Heartless destroyed those walls long ago. It was then I figured out to use the material from these destroyed walls to make gummi ships." Cid said. "But when the worlds return the walls will return good as new. My gummi ships can't get through such a thing."
"So you're saying we'll never..." Koga backed away from the group, the words sinking in. "No." He shook his head.
"Huh?" Sora tilted his head.
"No you have to be joking." Koga said chuckling nervously. "I mean, this is ridiculous. Magic walls around each world, what kind of sense does that make? And how do we even know if closing this Door to Darkness will actually work? Maybe if we leave it alone the Heartless will eventually stop."
At this point Koga wasn't even trying to keep quiet and everyone was looking at him concerned, especially his brother. Sora reached a hand out for him.
"Koga, calm down. The fate of the worlds depend on us."
"Who care's about the other worlds!" Koga yelled, pushing his brother back. "I lost my home, my family, my friends, my entire world, I even lost my life almost a week ago! And now you're telling me if we do this I will never see Kairi again? NO, I WON'T LOSE HER AGAIN!" He screamed, fist meeting the wall.
Sora's eyes widened, not because of his brother's outburst but the aura that was surrounding him as he shouted. He saw the same aura surround Maleficent, Riku, and nearly every enemy they've come across. Koga was surrounded by darkness. Not only that but the part of the wall he punched cracked and made a fist shaped indention on it's stone surface.
"Oh dear..." Alice gasped. The other princesses were just as shocked. The rest of the gang looked fearful, unsure what Koga is going to do.
"Sora don't do this to me." Koga begged, tears filling his eyes. "I ca-an't lose her..." He fell to the floor on his knees , body shaking with sobs. "Please..."
"Koga.. I'm sorry." Sora said, kneeling next to him. "But Kairi wouldn't want this."
"But I don't want to lo-"
"I know, I don't want to say goodbye and I'm sure she wouldn't want to lose you either. But this is bigger than us, we don't do this then she will never be safe from the Heartless." Koga stared, eyes wide in realization. "Hey, do you remember that time Kairi got really sick?"
Koga nodded. "Yeah, she was stuck in her room for two weeks because of it. No one was allowed to see her."
"And yet you stopped by every day to check on her. Her dad wouldn't let you but he always told you about her condition improving. And yet you never got upset." Sora laughed remembering. "I remember what you said to me, 'It's okay if I can't see her as long as I know she's okay that's all I need'."
"Okay Sora I get the moral of this little childhood memory, enough." Koga said sniffling. He looked at him with a serious expression. "This sucks, like all of it. I'm scared to lose Kairi but..." He held out the seashell Kairi gave him. "If it means that she'll be safe then... I'll stay strong for her." Sora smiled seeing the darkness vanish. Koga turned to Leon and the others. "Let's do this before I change my mind again."
And so the group, now including the princesses, all exit the chapel into the hall that leads to the Keyhole. The door to the room is shut, but darkness is spilling through the cracks.
"The Keyhole is surrounded by a terrible amount of darkness." Aurora said. "We will clear the way for you."
The princesses spread out, forming a circle around the group, and concentrated. All six of them glowed with a bright aura. Then they released a flash of light that forced the darkness back. Beast roared as he threw the doors open. Heartless tried to jump at them but when they got close to the princesses they simply disintegrated to dust. They trudged through the darkened room, the princesses aura pushing the darkness away as they walked. Soon they reached the Keyhole, crackling with power.
"Once you pass through the Keyhole, there won't be any retreating." Merlin said. "It's a one way trip boys."
"So I guess then this is goodbye." Koga sniffled looking at the others.
"Yeah, it is." Leon sighed. "We may never meet again, but we will never forget each other."
Aerith put a hand to her chest. "No matter where we are, our Hearts will bring us together again."
"Besides, it's not like I could forget the two of you even if I wanted to." Yuffie laughed.
Sora's eyebrow twitched. "What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Mean's we're too awesome to be forgotten." Koga joked. He felt Leon put a hand on his shoulder.
"Koga, if Kairi ends up here, we promise to take care of her."
Koga's eyes furrowed slightly and he nodded.
"Good luck Keyblade wielders. Now hurry before it's too late." Belle said.
"Happy trails kid." Cid said.
"Don't let your strength falter." Beast said.
Koga looked to the friends he freed from their summon charm. "I guess this is the last time I'll see you guys."
Simba gave a low murr and nuzzled the side of his face into Koga's leg. Dumbo let out a sad trumpet noise as he put his trunk on his shoulder. Koga petted the top of Bambi's head.
"Go and kick some Heartless honey buns!" Mushu said.
"Oh, Jasmine!" Koga said, reaching into his backpack. "I forgot to tell you that genie gave me the ability to summon him. If you want he can take you back to Aladdin."
Jasmine shook her head. "No, I will stay here with the other's. I plan on telling Aladdin everything once this is over."
"Alright then, see ya."
Sora, Koga, Donald, and Goofy stepped forward in front of the Keyhole. They looked back at the group one last time, believing this is the last they will see of them.
"Are you ready fellas?" Goofy asked.
"No." Koga said. He looked at the other's with a sad but determined smile. "But when life gives you lemons you make lemonade."
"Hey." Sora said. "You know there might be a chance she will go back to the islands. She's spent most of her life there so maybe it's her real home now."
Koga looked at him with a hopeful look in his eyes.
"I really hope you're right."
And with that they jump into the Keyhole to the End of Worlds.
HAVE FUN!