A key chosen by darkness

by The Swordslinger

"Your dream has been shattered. Those who stand in the light cast you in their shadows. You who hide your true self behind that mask you call a face have seen and understood what darkness is all about. Anger. Sorrow. Despair. Is it any wonder the darkness accepts those like you?" Naruto finds himself in his own darkness and the biggest adventure he could have.

6. Breaking Hearts

I OWN NOTHING

Some of you have some pretty good guesses, some of you are far off, but I'm just doing this as I go and putting some effort.

X-X-X-X-X

Our heroes were unaware of the dark forces working together.

High in a castle's tower, concealed in darkness, was Hook bumping shoulders with other individuals that Maleficent had gathered. One was a man clad in black robes with a black turban, a long goatee and a golden staff with a cobra's head at the handle which red gems for eyes contained hypnotic powers. The skinny Arabian man looked as out of place as he did, but not more than the others.

Around the table was a blue-skinned and rather towering individual with a long chin, sharp needle-like teeth, and blue flames for hair. He wore a black robe and a smarmy smirk that annoyed the other dark-robed man. The Arabian man looked impatient while the blue man was patiently and eagerly waiting for the horned witch to arrive. And the other two took the cake.

For starters was an octopus woman, an obese witch of the deep sea with a lower black body and eight tentacles instead of legs, purple skin, and short white hair spiked up. She had a sultry and amused smile along a melodious voice with her ruby red lips. And near her was a literal bag of bugs, a sack which seemed to have sprouted tiny arms and legs with a large smirking mouth.

"Jaffar, buddy, so good of you to join us!" the fire-headed man exclaimed as he stood by the round table.

"Save me the display of fake good will, god of the dead." The Arab scowled, stroking his goatee, "Now, can someone tell me what the meaning of this meeting is?"

Hook smiled crookedly, "I could tell you, my good gentlemen, but I believe our mutual ally has as much of a right as I do."

"Hahaha, trying to tease and old lady, you fancy rogue!?" the octopus lady cackled, "Do tell, making a woman wait is far too impolite!"

"Hey, it's all fun and games until it has to be unfair, and we're all here to tilt the scales to our side!" the sack of bugs exclaimed.

"That is our plan." Maleficent had arrived, making them go silent, "Our dear key carrier seems to have made an unusual friend. One who has stopped our retrieval of one of our targets."

"Who!?" the sack exclaimed, "Who dares takes from the meanest Oogie Boogie!?" he then paused, "…what do we even use them for?"

"Patience, patience, gentlemen." The deity in the room said quickly, "I have been around long enough to tell those ladies aren't easy to come across."

Maleficent was unfazed, "Are you prepared for this?" she waved her hand, showing them an image of Naruto walking beside Alice, "Can you see it?"

Jaffar scowled, "This child is another Keyblade wielder? I believed they were very rare from what you told me."

"It's not just a Keyblade he wields." Hook started, twirling his mustache with his only hand. "His is proof that he is worthy of being a King of Darkness…"

Silenced, everyone felt the buzzing of a dead room in their ears, broken by the sea witch, "That shrimp?"

"Believe me, I am as shocked as all of you, but I'd bet my one good hand he is one." The pirate told them.

"Wait, back it up, sister." The sharp-toothed man groaned, holding up both hands, "Pipsqueak there is going to be as big as the others? Because I've been alive for...forever, you know!" he had an acted amused grin, chuckling forcefully, "And they've done all sorts of evil, like ransacking my domain to get undead servants by ruining my job." He growled lowly at that, his skin turning red briefly.

"It goes to show these failures aren't to be trifled with, Hades." The witch said, "With him, the number is now up to six."

"He is better looking than the previous ones," the octopus woman smirked, "Let's see, it was the Mad Tyrant, the Horde-Master, the Horned-One, the Demon Spawn, and the Seeker of Darkness. Out of them, two became just another Heartless, and the remaining three are bound to darkness."

Maleficent nodded, "And one of them was working with us, but I fear he may have seen our deal as an obstacle for a bigger goal." She gripped the orb on her staff tightly, "That is why you are all on duty to create far more Heartless. That foolish oaf of Pete can't be relied on after the Demon Spawn King killed the Coachman."

"Did that disgusting devil anger him?" Jaffar asked, "Not that I can blame that fallen monarch for killing such an abomination."

"Oh Jaffar, all smiles and sunshine, I see!" the sack of bugs laughed, "Isn't it obvious? If someone's not useful, discard them or make them into a delicious Oogie meal! Bwahahahaha!"

"Perhaps it was a demonstration, for I was told by that Failed King the boy met him." Maleficent explained, "He's still sealed in that mountain, but sees no further benefit to our agreement. All Heartless his lackeys made for us are no more. And all because his biggest target is our new possible heir to the Crown of Darkness."

"Oh, so a chance to get such power for ourselves..." Hades grinned at the idea which Maleficent frowned at and shot down coldly.

"Do try, but it will most likely devour your heart and body. Those who became Heartless cast aside their bodies to achieve greater power, and those who embraced it with soul, mind, body and heart became those failures we see now. A lunatic, a sealed demon, and a decaying body. All lords of nothing."

"Hey, I'm just saying, that crown would look good on me." the god chortled, then frowned, "But don't worry, I've been itching to show some of those guys the deepest parts of the Land of the Dead." He smirked at the others, "But I know you have a plan, so do tell what it is."

"Indeed, my dear, you've brought us here to do more than give us a history lesson." The octopus woman replied.

"Indeed, Ursula." Maleficent grinned, "If we are to control this new king, we can't be reckless. He is still a boy, and his will can be swayed... A child like him just needs the right push."

"BO-RING!"

And in came the Queen of Hearts' adviser, grinning from ear to ear, "Who are you!?" Jaffar asked, readying his staff to throw a fireball.

Grinning maniacally, the madman shrugged, "Did I forget to introduce myself? Many pardons." he mockingly bowed down, his forehead inches from the ground, "I am Kefka Palazzo. Current fake adviser of such a tyrannical queen I'm jumping up and down in joy to take a-" his eyes bugged out, "STAB!" and then they went back to normal, "-to quit my job."

"Damn lunatic!" Jaffar shouted.

Ursula's eyes widened in horror as the flame illuminated the jester's face in the darkness, "No, don't!" Jaffar ignored her. He squinted his eyes to better see the jester get burnt to a crisp. He didn't expect to see him just swat it aside like it were an annoying fly! Or casually pick up his ear before floating on his side as if resting on the ground, even using a hand to prop up his head.

"This is just so tedious, Maleficent!" he chortled, waving a finger which he lazily aimed at her, "Is this seriously your best?"

The horned woman bowed her head slightly, "Believe me, they are competent, Mad Failed King."

"Ahahahaha!" Kefka laughed as the others stared in shock, "Oh sweet thing, I care not for the title! I never did! Nor do I care who I work for, you know what I'm after!"

Grinning wickedly, the woman nodded and walked to him, "Indeed, to destroy the light and consume all in darkness."

"Forget the darkness, let's just destroy everything bright and meaningless!" Kefka laughed out loud. "Just now that queen is preparing everything... Oh, I can't wait, I just can't wait for the main event!" He started twirling around, happily doing so while waving his arms like a ballerina. Then, with his back turned to them, he twisted his spine to stare back at them, "Do I make him run before he walks?"

"Let us see how well he stands up." Maleficent replied while the others remained silent, standing as far away from the jester as possible. "What of the Demon Spawn?"

"Bah, the big guy's still making his own plans." The jester chuckled as he crossed his arms with his spine still twisted, and then bent it backwards so the top of his head was near the ground, "Plotting on ways to try to get to the new boy-king. And I am just bursting in excitement at what could happen if he wins!"

"Wait a minute!" Hades roared, his hair turning into a yellow flame as his body burnt red with rage, "I know my contracts, and you can't just let that guy win!"

"Oh, he is a special case..." Maleficent commented as she caressed the orb on her staff, "After all, he is useful and will be that way if we can keep our end of the deal."

"You can't trust him!" Ursula hollered, "He's a Failed King, he is far worse than any Heartless!"

"And he's still the one who can aid us with the new crownless king." Maleficent added, "As well as someone who wants to help us snuff out the light."

"Flattery will get you nowhere." Kefka said with a jump, then floated in the air in a cross-legged pose, as if seated. "Now, let's talk business!" he clasped his hands, rubbing his palms together in excitement for the many ways in which they could use the Queen of Hearts for their plans.

"Do you still expect ME to side with him!?" Hades exclaimed, "One of them is the reason MY Underworld's running dry! That blasted Horned-One's getting his supply of minions from the dead I'm supposed to look after and keep in check! Not to mention, he's now going to betray ANOTHER Failed King!"

"Is he always this loud?" Kefka asked nonchalantly, "Also, slow down a bit there, flame-head! I barely got any of what you're spitting out!"

"THAT'S IT!" Hades' body became pure red, his flames on his head a bright yellow, and a pillar of deadly fire engulfed him.

Kefka grinned, ready for a scuffle, but Maleficent wouldn't have it, "Silence, for we have matters to attend to." She said casually as she stood between them, "Keep in mind what has been said here." She lifted her staff, slamming it down on the ground, hard, "For it is time to meet one of our benefactors." As she said so, a bright red portal made of flames appeared, showing the king trapped in the mountain

Every other member of the meeting stood still, and Hades reluctantly stopped his flames, "Tsk..." he glared at the one on the other side.

Maleficent bowed politely, "Chernabog, you are looking most amused." She said with a charming smile at the Failed King on the other side.

"I am..." he said in a deep, gravelly voice, "Jester, do not make me lose my patience. Why are you trying to convince me to side with them after they know of our bigger target?"

"Why, enemy of my cute little friend's my enemy, that's why!" Kefka answered, leaning towards Maleficent and playfully patting the air over her head with a puppy-eyed look.

"And you expect me to believe this fallen fairy isn't plotting to get the boy for herself?" the demon asked.

"No, but let us all be frank." Jaffar started, sweating nervously before the powerful devil, "Are we all here because we are friends? No. We all look for benefits."

"And we can benefit each other." Maleficent continued, "Right now, a fool on my errands to create more Heartless can't compete with you or your men. I'd rather rely on an actually competent supplier. And for as brief as our companionship may be, I know how to nurture a child." She showed him an image of Naruto, "Right now, whether he wants to or not, he is following my advice on channeling hatred."

"And I can't be on all places near him, he knows I smell, nay, reek of how much I'd rather make his friends burn!" Kefka added.

Chernabog then flashed them a fanged smile, "That much is true, but if the fake sorcerer missed something, it's what my powers can do as a Failed King."

"A power to cure this new boy king of the light blinding him." Maleficent added, "But why do that when he can choose darkness more willingly?"

"Yet another fair point." Chernabog smirked, "Then, as my only request, I ask for something if you wish my aid."

"Listening!" Kefka exclaimed.

"Bring me those whose light he cherishes." The devil crooked his smirk into a disturbing image of desire to corrupt and destroy, "If they are capable of keeping him from reaching his true potential, from obtaining that cursed Crown of Darkness, I wish to see them. I crave a good show, and having them in my hands will be just that."

"A most fair trade." Maleficent's smile turned more wicked.

The other villains were on edge, but knew not to mess with the Demon-Spawn.

Kefka merely snickered, dying to see the results.

-In a world which does not exist-

Twelve individuals wearing long black cloaks, gloves and boots sat on high chairs. All of them waited for their leader, seated atop the highest one, to speak. None of them revealed their faces, but their presence was one that made such a thing unimportant. However, the leader, a tall and muscular man, stared pensively at the center of the room.

"Hey, boss, wanna start the meeting?" one with thin arms and a raspy voice asked.

"It appears a new King of Darkness has appeared." Said the deep-voiced man.

"What!? Are you serious!?" exclaimed one of the shortest one, clearly a young man without much muscle, "Um... I vote we send the newbie to check him out!"

"Why you little bedwetter!" growled the only female in the group, "Be a man for once and put your neck on the line before I wring it!"

"Enough." Said a very muscular man with a whispery voice, arms crossed, "Do tell, what is this king like?"

"Just a child, but a useful one." Said a slimmer man whose old age seemed apparent on his high-pitched voice, "Yes, with the proper experiments, he would be a great asset. Not to mention what a King of Darkness and their promising prowess is in terms of raw power. According to legends, they feed on darkness as much as they feasted on hearts."

"Sounds positively disgusting..." a man who smelled of flowers voiced his thoughts, "No different than a Heartless."

"No, but the Keyblade he wields devours them and their hearts." Replied the leader, "Used correctly, taken from him, it could be another way to accomplish our plans."

"So, we're keeping an eye on him?" a slim, tall man said, "Listen, boss, no disrespect but...aren't we already keeping track of another key?"

"Multiple probabilities add a delicious spice to any outcome." Commented one man flipping cards between his fingers, "Am I right in assuming you want to see which to bet on?"

"Or, perhaps, you wish to see both their limits..." whispered a short young man with an opened book.

"All are correct." Their leader told them, "We need to see which is the most useful. However, the crownless king can and should be considered a threat."

"If it's because of his Keyblade, let me just teach him not to mess with us." The only female smirked under her hood, "I'd like to have some fun already!"

"Recklessness will get you killed." The whispery-voiced man told her.

She growled, "You think being number three means you're better suited at it than me? I know how to make people twist in pain."

"Knowledge alone isn't enough." Said another equally buff and more deep-voiced man, "The men who fought for the title of king all perished. He may as well be another name to that list."

"Yes, but two became Heartless." Their leader reminded them, "One who discarded his body, destroying it for the sake of power. The second, the last one, is but a memory of which I remain." Silence. Buzzing emptiness that dulled their ears. Despite their outbursts, none gave much of a reaction until a calm, cold, calculating young man spoke up.

"Are you keeping any other surprises from us?" he asked dully.

Their leader answered in a calm monotone, "I have made my intentions clear to you. For us to recover our hearts, there should be no limit. Thus, I will tell you this promising king could be another key for our plans or an obstacle to be removed." He then snapped his fingers, an image appearing, "Thus, should he succumb to the darkness, he shall make a fine ally."

Giggling, the young woman spoke up, "Sounds fun... Can I have my fun now?" Another snap from the leader, and a portal appeared. She casually jumped down, walking casually to it.

"Here." Said the high-pitched man, throwing her a picture, "It's the blond one. Be sure to remember not to attack him or the other child with the Keyblade."

"Ugh, do I need to?" she grunted, drawling out her question slightly.

A third snap stopped her, "You are our newest member and I have no doubt in your abilities. That being said, they have barely started and one of our projects is still in motion. Keep them alive by any means needed and only test them should they require a push. There are more like us who will be interested in them."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll keep an eye on him." She groaned, "But know this, when I get my chance to fight..." she clenched a fist, "He'll grovel at my feet and understand his place."

The one that angered her spoke up, "Damn, that sounds so-"

"Not another word or I'll truly wring your neck!" she snapped before finally setting in Wonderland.

After the portal closed, the young man she snapped to whined, "Hey boss, are you sure she wasn't better where you found her? Um... No chance you could relocate me to someplace away from her?" The other ten cloaked figures disappeared as if they were never there. "Hey guys! Don't leave me hanging! She could actually kill my ass!"

PARASITES

HUNGERING

FOR

POWER

HAVE

NO

RIGHT

OVER

THEIR

KING

The hooded sadist was quick to find the group her main target was part of as they traveled through a giant forest, "What a bunch of clowns..." she groaned in disgust.

Unaware of what was happening, but still remembering what happened, Naruto had to ask something to his smallest companion, "Hey Vivi, that drain spell, is there a way I could reverse it?"

Vivi, who had been right beside him, hummed in thought, crossing his arms, "I'm not even sure. Perhaps you could try to learn it and counter it that way... It's a tricky one, though. I don't think I have nearly enough magic to do it, or the nature to do it."

"Nature?" the blond asked, "Like how the spiral shape of our hair on the top of our heads works?"

"Um...yeeesss...?" Vivi drawled out slowly, "I-I, uh, told you magic's a manifestation of one's self."

"Oh yeah, I still don't get it much." The whiskered boy rubbed the back of his head as he confessed that.

Donald huffed, "Seriously?"

Sora defended him quickly, "Come on, give someone a break. I've only just learned a couple spells just moments ago."

"It is a bit complicated..." Vivi admitted, "Anyway, a drain spell is very, very offensive. It requires you to want to steal from someone or something you despise. Mostly it's stamina or life energy... And I don't see you doing any of those." He was as honest and simple as he could to help his friend get the point.

"Then I better stick to my own style." the blond summed up, "If that clown appears again, it'll be a pain if he uses that trick."

"Or maybe it's something else..." Vivi poked his index fingers together, "I-I'm still not sure, but it could be dangerous. Maybe he's using a magic item for that one, which could be worse."

"What is it, then?" Laguna asked impatiently, "Come on, don't leave me hanging."

"Does it matter?" Naruto asked calmly, "All we gotta do is take Alice home. If that clown appears, I'll hit him before I run out of energy."

Donald's beak was fully open in utter disbelief, "That's stupid!" he yelled at the insane plan.

"It's not the riskiest thing we've done..." Vivi mumbled, poking his fingers together. "But I think we can do it..."

"Does your optimism rub off that strongly?" Alice asked her fellow blond and the brunet, "Are you really that intent on fighting?"

"Why are you also looking at me?" Sora asked.

"Feels like you two are birds of a feather." Goofy thought out loud, arms crossed with one hand on his chin, "I mean, you're both cheerful, and even look alike."

"As if." The two said in unison, immediately turning to each other in surprise.

"Hmm...spiky hairdos, blue eyes, and similar faces..." Laguna hummed, "Yeah, are we sure you two weren't separated at birth?"

"No, if that were the case then..." Naruto took a second-long pause, closing his eyes for that brief moment, "Sora would have to be an orphan."

"Oh..." Laguna felt like kicking himself and his expression showed it, "Kid, I'm sorry, I-"

"It's fine." The boy shook his head, then grinned at the others, "Hasn't stopped me from trying to show everyone how great I am!"

Everyone felt uncomfortable, even the spy could tell he faked the smile, 'Hmm, intriguing. Seems this new crownless king is good at hiding emotions.' A smirk of cruelty and sadism spread under the shadows of her hood, "Nice, seems I found a good spot to sink my teeth in."

Alice returned to her previous question, "Why are you so willing to fight such a dangerous man?"

"Because I know what it's like to have guys try to put others down, and he takes too much joy out of it." The blond growled out, "Nothing pisses me off more. And it's not only that he enjoys it, it's like he's getting a sick, twisted satisfaction out of it. He's far worse than any guy I ever fought, and I've dealt with lots of creeps."

"Like that Mizuki, right…?" Vivi asked, then got curious stares from the others which embarrassed him, "Um, long story."

"Well, yes, but Kefka's far worse." The blond stated again, "Like he doesn't even understand that what he's doing is cruel. Mizuki at least tried to make it sound reasonable, but not the clown."

Gulping, Goofy asked, "Are we really going to fight him?"

"Not like you have a choice," said the hidden sadist.

Suddenly, a quaking chill ran up and down her spine, a tingling sensation that alerted her of danger, "Ah, there they are." She hid as a new pair of eyes appeared, those of the insane jester, "Hmm, what to do with our little entourage, my fair lady?" he bowed to the fat woman walking in front of him, fewer cards than last time following her too.

"Isn't it obvious?" she growled, "Seize them!"

Sora was paralyzed by the voice, "Come on, not again!"

As he summoned his Keyblade, the seven travelers were surrounded. All six males did the same for Alice, their backs turned to her while they faced the soldiers. Both rec-clad boys stared as the queen appeared, a sight that worried Naruto when Kefka also showed his mug. Realizing the other Keyblade wielder's wariness, Sora didn't take long to realize who the jester was.

"Surrender now so we can end the trial!" the queen screamed, "All of you are guilty of defying the queen – that is me! – and trying to steal my heart!"

"Yes, yes, yes, how dare they!?" Kefka laughed, skipping around her on the tips of his toes, then he just stopped. He floated midair, feet dangling over the grassy floor before he used a hand block whatever little to no light was and observe the brunet, "Hmm, what's this I spy and missed in that beautiful trial? Is it the boy who dared stop the culprit from getting her due punishment?"

"That trial was a joke and you know it!" Sora exclaimed.

"And whatever trial held by you is bound to be no good, kabuki man!" the crownless king added, pointing at Kefka.

Said madman kept his smile, pointing at himself with both index fingers, "Me? But I am a loyal servant of the Queen of Hearts?"

"And in here, what I say goes!" she yelled.

Vivi – conquering his fears – stepped forward, "B-but none of us would steal a heart! Don't we d-deserve the benefit of the doubt?"

"Silence!" the queen's voice was loud enough her vocal cords nearly shot out of her throat, and the volume nearly blew Vivi off his feet.

"Lady, what happened to innocent until proven guilty!?" Laguna asked in disbelief.

"You're guilty because I say so!" she shot back with the maturity of a child throwing a tantrum.

"Well, far as I know, I'm a king!" the blond shouted, aiming his Keyblade at her, "Last I checked, I don't have to bow to you unless I want to."

As he glared, the monarch grew madder, "You insolent little brat! I'll-"

"Also!" Naruto knew everyone was ready to fight, turning to Sora he saw the boy nod. Getting permission from the others' silent actions, he started the fight, "I just feel like saying no so an overgrown brat like you understands the real world isn't how you want it to be!"

Boiling with rage near-literally with the deep red on her face and bulging neck veins, the queen hollered, "OFF WITH HIS HEAD!"

The spy giggled at the boy's sass, "Not bad, he should be fun."

"You heard her, get chopping!" Kefka laughed, clapping like an idiot.

"Sorry for this!" the blond told Alice.

"What fo- Ah!" Reaching to his side, Naruto pulled Alice to the side, the girl twirling along him to avoid a spear. Due to his direct approaches through brute force and crazy strategies, he had the stamina and strength to parry an axe as one of the spade soldiers got too close as he threw the girl up. Swiftly, he side-kicked him, making it wobble backwards while Alice yelped midair.

Laguna found a good spot from a nearby tree and fired his grappling hook, "I got her!" he told Naruto, who let the man carry the girl out of harm's way. He held the girl's hand and gripped her tightly, swinging up, and then on a tree branch, "Stay here and yell if they try anything!" he told her and swung back down while the girl kneeled near the edge to watch the fight worriedly.

Despite his odd weapon of choice, Goofy's shield did its job as it parried a spear before he pushed back the attacker. With a clear line of sight, the buck-toothed dog threw his shield at the card before him, rattling its head. Just to show an even crazier fighting style, he caught the shield as it bounced back to him, flipped in the air as he caught it, and stomped on a card soldier's head when it tried to tackle him.

Donald and Vivi were back to back, the first casting his barrier spell to give them some air to breathe. Donald wasn't as kind with the enemies and with a wave of his staff summoned sparkling lights like fireworks. If the comparison was anything to go by, it dazzled the soldiers with the light and burnt some of them. Every card ran off, but the ones closest were blasted by the explosions.

Sora and Naruto didn't let appearances full them and went straight for the one pulling the strings, "Dark Fire!" the blond shouted, summoning several blue fireballs.

"Fire!" Sora exclaimed, firing a large fireball from his Keyblade as if it were a large pistol.

Kefka chortled as the Queen of Hearts sweated nervously, and casually swatted aside the fireballs, "Not bad, not bad, not bad at all! But!" he lifted his left hand, "This one's better, kiddies!" he swung his hand, the foul magic energy crackling from his fingers put them on edge. Widely throwing his hand in an arc, he launched a series of fireballs that spread around before focusing on the two.

"Uh-oh!" Sora exclaimed, and then had an idea, "Freeze!" his spell cast a wide-spread freezing attack which countered the fire.

Naruto's was sadly a single-shot version with a lone ice spear, so he had to cast his barrier, "Shield!" he gritted his teeth when the heat clashed against his magic wall, and he could see how the flames tried to get to him around it. It was as if the magic was intent on destroying anything in its path.

"Ah, wonderful, just wonderful!" Kefka laughed dementedly, "Light and Darkness working together, but for how long!?" he blew a raspberry, like an immature child, "Pfft! Like it'll last!" he frowned at the young swordsmen, then casually scratched his butt, "Prepubescent pretty boys like you are so idealistic... Ugh, the wait for the inevitable downfall is so BORING!"

Both Keyblade wielders tried to cut him down, but the clown just let out a roar of laughter and leapt over them. Landing on top of a mushroom, he waved with a maniacal grin. The others were doing their best on their side. Laguna remained up and fired at the soldiers, shooting a spear out of one card man's hands before he could get close to the others, letting Goofy bash him on the face.

However, someone called Kefka's attention, "Blizzard!" Vivi called forth an icy wind which froze the floor, tripping the card men on their faces.

Donald wasn't as kind and zapped them, "Thunder!" his lightning strike nailed them easier due to their weapons conducting electricity, knocking them out cold.

"I think that's half of 'em, fellas!" Goofy said as he stood on their side to back them.

"Ah, I see!" Kefka smiled wider than usual, eyes glinting like a child in a candy store, "Tasty, wonderful magic!" he brought up his hand, a dark aura erupting from it.

Suddenly, Vivi cried out in pain, "Ack!" the tiny mage's body was engulfed with a familiar dark aura, an agonizing pain shooting through his body which threw him down on his knees. Naruto, who had watched it as he thought on how to get to the jester, recognized the event. It was the exact same thing that happened to him, and Kefka did it with too much ease against the small wizard.

"Let him go!" Naruto wasn't the only one who saw it and grew mad, he and Sora yelled in unison and threw their Keyblades in the air.

"Hmm!" Kefka went in a tight-lipped exclamation, eyes bulging out as he casually tilted his body backwards to dodge the swords, "Well, that was annoying and distracting!" he shot his body back upright like a bolt of lightning jolted his body, only to see the two boys running up to him, catch their falling Keyblades, and bring them down on his head! "And this is just annoyingly distracting!"

"We're not done, yet!" the two exclaimed simultaneously.

The boys ground their teeth as the clown smirked at them and summoned a barrier. Their magic weapons clashed against it, creating sparks which flew from the collision point. All the while, Kefka had to keep both hands up without losing his dementedly amused smile. Grunting, the two kids kicked off the barrier and got some distance from the insane jester, who merely dusted the back of his hands.

"Kids, not to rush you, but hurry!" Laguna shouted and took aim, which the clown didn't bother dealing with as he sent another set of fireballs at the group below.

When card soldiers and the otherworldly warriors ran away from the flames, the swordsmen grew angrier. "I'm wiping that smile off your face, damn kabuki!" the blond yelled, mad to the point of sickness.

Further mocking him, Kefka stomped a foot forward, then shoved an open palm in front of him in the air and had the other hand over his head, the palm aimed upwards, "Then let us put on a show! Hahahaha!" it brought him great amusement to see the blond so furious, "Let that feeling boil hotter, unbearably scorching, and then unleash it all! Let's make a symphony to burn everything to ashes!"

Understandably, the blond boy wanted nothing more than beat the guy to a pulp, but a shining from the jester's hand called his attention, 'Is that a ring?' upon closer inspection, it was a gold ring with a black gem which insides glowed with a dark purple magic energy source.

"Kefka, what are you doing!?" the queen screamed at him furiously.

"Just my job, eliminating pests and unneeded ones at that!" the fake adviser chortled.

"Sora, that ring." Naruto whispered to his friend, who nodded upon seeing the magical item.

"Alright, Kefka, you're done for!" the brunet exclaimed, he and his friend taking stances together.

Kefka chortled, "Oooooh~! Crispy, creamy, you'll be done, and rather well done~! Let's go~! Little King!" he then pointed a finger at the youths, the ring he had glowed briefly and soon materialized the dark power he had stolen. A dark fireball formed over the very end of one claw like digit.

"Think I'm scared of the darkness?!" came Naruto's automatic challenge.

And then, it all changed as Kefka stared silently at him, and with a shocking level of coherence and quietness replied, "You will be."

Those words put him on edge, 'What's this guy...? He's...' he glared harder, not daring himself to be afraid as memories flooded back, 'Just another snake like Orochimaru.'

He stood his ground, and the mad jester gained a wide toothy smile, "Ahah! That is a good expression on your face, oh young king! Let me see more of it, please~?" Trailing his finger across the air, a thin line of darkness was etched into reality. Like a line of pure black tar, an explosion of dark fire shot into existence.

"Run!" Naruto shouted, summoning his double, "Doppelganger!" the shadowy copy grabbed Sora, jumping away with him.

The fireball followed Naruto similarly to the ferocious howling hounds of hell. As if sentient, they kept following the would-be king who ran as fast as he could. Smashing his feet against the ground, he burst into an athletic roll, avoiding them as best as he could. Any misstep would result in certain death, the explosions engulfing and devouring him like the hellhounds they were evocative of.

Sensing the resemblance, Kefka clasped both hands together, pointing them at the running youth, with his fingers interlocked to resemble the jaws of a beast, "Run, run, run! Or you'll be charred a black crisp!" the fires morphed into a running canine beast the size of a bus. It possessed glowing red eyes, a long purple body and huge clawed limbs and a distended jaw made of black fire.

"Heads up, Kefka!" Sora, taken by the blond's double, had snuck behind the clown and finally landed a hit!

"Gah!" the jester yelled when feeling the Kingdom Key strike his back, "Argh, such insufferable light…" he growled like an angry beast, then caught the blade with a hand, keeping the kid at bay easily, "You're not a paragon of light, so let's see how much darkness I can take from you!" he chuckled and raised his other hand, the ring's gem glowing… but it had no effect, "What!?"

Kefka, astonished, shook his hand as if it'd awaken the ring. Sora took a page from Naruto's book to kick the clown on the face, getting him to grind his teeth angrily. The brunet landed safely on the ground and sent him a glare. Meanwhile, Naruto wanted to be proud of his friend, but at the same time he had to stop the beast trying to bite his head off by letting it bite his Keyblade.

Both the blond and the monster were at a stalemate, none giving an inch and the sword gaining no scratches despite the fangs grinding against it. Its claws burnt the forest floor and dug deeply into its scorched dirt to not lose its footing against the child. Just as it started to push him back due to its weight and size being that of an average truck, a certain gunman swung by.

"Catch!" he shouted and grabbed the blond, leaving behind a grenade. The beast glared at the duo swinging away, not noticing the explosive until it blew up right on its face. However, the explosion merely stunned it. It shook its massive head and had to deal with an annoying ring on its ears. Regardless of the small success, the man was happy to see the boy alive.

Although he had other matters to attend to, "Drop me here!" he said and Laguna trusted him.

"Take care, we'll deal with the big guy!" the long-haired man said and kicked off a tree, returning to the beast. Jumping off his arms, the blond readied his sword just as the insane jester started juggling fireballs while the queen watched. She roared at him to take out the brunet, whose magical weapon served perfectly for a game of tennis.

Every time a deadly fiery projectile went his way, the big-shoed boy lifted his key and it bounced back the attacks, or he simply smacked them right at the jester, "Am I glad Wakka pestered me to play." He decided to smile confidently at the colorful magician, whose face conveyed a twisted form of excitement.

"I don't know where you get that light to push me away, but no matter!" he raised his hand, his ring glowing, "Your friends aren't as lucky!" and he caught the whiskered child's blade, "Your little buddy didn't have a lick of darkness in him. You? Not as lucky!" he spun, dragging Naruto around in the air as Sora ran to help him, and easily crashed one boy into the other.

Watching them tumble away had him snickering, irking the two further, "Did he…really not see you?" the blond asked.

"Yeah, why?" Sora didn't understand why his friend gained such a large grin.

"I got an idea…" the blond whispered, "See the ring? Well, follow my lead." He gripped the brunet's shoulder, who nodded right back at him.

"What're you blabbering about?" Kefka asked, "Come on, I need to get to the punchline!" he urged them, and the blond grinned.

"Yo, kabuki, you're done for! Doppelganger!" he summoned his copy, the two racing at the demented man. Both aiming at the jester, "Dark Fire!"

"Ah, how delightfully hopeless you are!" Kefka leapt into the air, away from the blue flames and right towards Alice, "Let's see if I can make you even more hopeless! DESPAIRINGLY SO!"

"Like I'd let you lay a finger on her!" the blond and his shadow jumped after him, the two ran up the tree, throwing their Keyblades up in the air.

"Oh, don't worry!" the clown cracked a crooked smile as the girl attempted to run off, only to bump into him. Twirling around her, he stood behind the girl, leaning forward to grab her chin with one hand and keep his ringed hand near her face, "I'd be more than delighted to see what can become of her with the right friendship, like the king at the mountain."

Once on the branch she was in, the two dark-blade wielders ran at the colorful maniac, swords ready at their sides, "Gotcha!" the original shouted as he and his copy slashed at the clown, only to see his barrier one more time. As Alice shuddered in the man's cold grip, feeling a horrifying power emanate from deep within him, she clasped her hands and inwardly prayed to be saved by the blond.

"Pathetic, weak and slow on the head!" Kefka taunted with a smirk. Pushing the barrier forward, he made both his opponents crash back-first against the trunk of the tree, but he didn't break the spirit. As one, the two ran back to the clown, who merely sighed tiredly, showing intelligence as he raised a hand, "No wonder you're king, you aren't freeing yourself from the mentality set to you by those who chose your life…"

"Really!?" the blond smirked as he hopped in front of his copy and slashed at the jester, who caught the blade with his hand, "Because I'm making a fool out of you!"

The copy jumped over the original, swinging down his sword which Kefka caught with his other hand, "Hmph, is that your best?"

"No!" Sora's voice shouted from Naruto's doppelganger's mouth, "This is!"

The jester stepped back, "H-How-" he didn't know Naruto could imitate voices and in his moment of shock the real Sora replaced the copy and cut the man's ring.

Shock spread all over the jester's face, his eyes jumping as he let out a bloodcurdling scream, "NO! No, no, no! NOOOO! NONONONO!" in his yelling, dark energy exploded from the ring, which was absorbed by the blond boy's Keyblade, "I…I…I…" he backpedaled, letting Alice go as she ran to Naruto, who protectively put her behind him while he and Sora raised their Keyblades to fight back.

"That was it, wasn't it?" the blond growled, "Next time don't make your weak-point too obvious!" he ended with a large smile to mock the jester.

"I…I…" Kefka started to shake…and then burst out in laughter, "AAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"W-What's with this guy!?" Sora asked, "Shouldn't he have blown his lid?"

"Oh no, no, no, not at all!" the jester giggled, then his face and posture became serious, rigid, cold and downright unnerving, "You've taken out a little trinket to help me drain darkness from others… The power I have is all mine." He said coolly, relaxed, and with a most terrifying smile. Glad at having said his piece, he then snapped his fingers.

During his speech, the monster he created had left claw marks on the floor and exhausted the others, only to let out a deafening roar, "What are you doing, Kefka!?" the queen, who had been ignored all the time by her supposed adviser, yelled at the top of her lungs. All she got from the madman was a tired stare, his head hanging limply to the side like a sleepy child's.

"Consider this my resignation." the jester's soft voice was accompanied by the beast lunging to the Queen of Hearts, landing at her side, "Oh well, time to feed, my pretty!" he cooed cheerfully. The three with him widened their eyes in cold, nightmarish fright when the beast's claws sunk into the woman's chest, absorbing a large amount of darkness from her!

Sobbing weakly, Alice clasped her hands over her mouth, "Oh no..." she trembled, and the terror increased when Kefka's smile spread more over his face.

"Ah, nothing better than dethroning a worthless monarch..." he said nihilistically as the woman's body was engulfed by darkness, which was soon absorbed by the monster's body. All card men screamed in terror, only to run off, making the jester sigh, "All of them lived and died to please her, and she was never satisfied. What's the point on such pointless existence? Isn't it more liberating for it to just end?"

His creation's body shuddered, loud sickening crunching noises of bones breaking echoed in the forest. Spikes shot out of its back, crimson ones. Its claws gained an equal crimson tint. Suddenly, its tail swung out, cutting a three with a red heart-shaped blade on the tip. Horns sprouted over its head, mimicking the woman's crown. And for the final touch, it let out a powerful shriek which stunned everyone!

"Argh, what's that noise!?" a card soldier asked with his ears plugged with his fingers, only for the shrieking to suddenly stop. "Huh?" he turned to see the monster's maw opened, drool dripping from it and into a puddle. Before the card man could even cry in horror, it swung its claws and swiftly cut it into three pieces! A heart shot from the lifeless body, and the monster quickly devoured it with its jaws!

"Sora, we need the Keyblade!" Goofy called out.

"Coming!" the brunet said, turning to Naruto, who nodded to him. Grabbing Alice's hand, the blond pulled her close. All three jumped, the girl hooking her arms around the whiskered swordsman, and landed safely with their friends. Everyone made sure to keep an eye on the big monster and also Kefka, doing so with the intention to keep both away from the petite girl.

Kefka went wide-eyed, "HMMM…HMMMM…HMMMMM! No, no, no, no! This won't do! This won't do at all! You guys have more allies than I do! Let's make it fairer, more fun, more…exciting!" he said, rubbing his hands together in excitement and anticipation before he clapped them together in rapid succession.

"What's he doing?" Donald asked, readying an ice-spell as did Sora, Naruto and Vivi.

"If experience taught us anything with this guy, we'll probably want to run!" Laguna was right. Each clap made a floating fireball burst larger. Then larger. Then larger. Until it became a massive floating orb.

Then, as if drawing in the air, Kefka etched eyes and a jagged mouth on it. "And now~! I create for thee, a BOMB!" he smashed his hands together and sent a flying heart into it. The flame turned pitch-black, and a large heart-shaped hole appeared right between its eyes and mouth, manifesting it as a Pureblood Heartless. Upon seeing the warriors facing its creator, the newborn monster flew right at them at high speed!

"Should we run?" Alice asked, to which Naruto got ready to carry her.

"Yes!" Vivi exclaimed and fired his ice-spell as did the others. Sadly, their attacks only slowed down the charging fireball, which was followed by the other beast leaping from tree to tree to chase them. Laguna quickly pulled the tiny mage over his shoulders. They ran off, fast enough that their feet turned into blurs with Alice once again on the blond boy's back.

Soon, the Heartless started to outrun them like a stampeding bull, worrying the hooded spy, 'This guy's insane in more ways than one. I know Kings of Darkness are dangerous, but not that they can create Pureblood Heartless like they're clay sculptures!' she zipped close to the group and kept her eyes on the battle, intent on keeping herself alive first and foremost.

However, she couldn't let them die, "Hmm, what's that?" Kefka, who floated cross-legged, asked as he put a hand over his eyes.

"Stop being so pathetic and fight back!" shouted the hooded woman. Everyone turned to see the giant bomb Heartless shudder, a beam of light piercing it. Electricity coursed through the air as the giant monster's body convulsed before it blew up. And just like that, whoever was who saved them disappeared as the darkness floated away.

Kefka was livid, "Argh, who dares ruin my show!?" he floated down to stomp the floor in rage like a child throwing a tantrum. "Not fair, not fair, not fair!"

"Everyone, you heard the lady, let's fight!" Naruto said as they faced the beast Heartless after putting down Alice.

"Grr, Heartbreaker, enjoy your meal!" Kefka fumed.

Heartbreaker followed its master's orders and lunged at Naruto, grabbing him before the boy could react. It spun around, using its claws and bladed to push the others away. Its ridiculous speed let it easily shove them away. Once it stopped spinning, it used the momentum to fling the blond at a tree. A growl was heard as once again electricity tingle in the air, jolting his arm when a hand grabbed his.

"Hey, wake up!" the owned shouted and spun him around as quickly, throwing the kid at the monster, "And do your job!"

Naruto was flung back at the monster at high speeds and could feel the electricity crackling through his body and weapon, "ORA!" he shouted and slashed Heartbreaker's chest, shocking it and making it fall flat on its face. His landing wasn't as good, nor was it elegant. He skidded to a halt on his feet, and even then, he fell on one knee from the sudden rush and dizziness.

"Do you know who's helping us?" Goofy asked.

"I've never met her, I didn't even get to see her face..." the blond gasped.

"Wait, the Heartless is still stunned!" Vivi exclaimed.

"Let's give him all we got!" Sora exclaimed.

Everyone attacked without mercy while the monster saw stars floating around its head. Sora and Naruto slashed with Sora using more practiced moves and Naruto going for wilder strikes. Donald cast a powerful icy gale while Vivi summoned a fireball. Goofy slammed its face with all his strength behind his shield. And Laguna planted both feet firmly on the ground and fired like there was no tomorrow.

Kefka was angrier than before, "Wake up, you stinky beast!" he shot a lightning bolt at the monster, making it jump. "Eat, eat, eat! Sink your teeth into their faces already!" once it landed, the shockwave knocked everyone back. Alice gasped as the party of six trying to protect her crashed before her, giving the jester an idea, "Now, enjoy that girl's heart! Make them cry as you savor her light!"

She froze, seeing the monster jump at her with a claw ready...only to be blocked by a red spear, "Hold it!" a heart card shouted.

"Run!" a spade man yelled.

"But why!? Your queen wanted me dead!" the petite girl exclaimed.

"This monster has killed our ruler, we don't have anything!" a heart man said as he and his fellows used their spears to try to push back the Heartless.

Instead, they were flung away by a swipe of its claws, but the spades ran at it, "Get going!" they screamed and swung at the monster, which spun around to lash at them with its bladed tail. Alice gasped in horror, unable to believe what she was seeing. All of the card men were cut, and while they didn't bleed, the pain they suffered was obvious.

"Stop...stop it!" Naruto shouted as he got on his knees, "You can't fight it!"

"We have to!" a heart soldier replied, only to be slashed by the Heartless' claws.

"Why...?" Alice asked, tears streaming down her face, "Why do you...do this?"

To ruin everything, Kefka chortled, "Because that is life." He said coldly, "Clinging to something only to lose it. Anyone would fall into despair. With nothing worth fighting, what is their worth? It is for that reason a guy like me needs to show others that worth." He returned to his psychotically cheerful tone, "Besides, what else are they good for!?"

None of the otherworldly warriors could believe it and watched in stunned horror the card men didn't care for their lives as they attacked blindly. Alice's cheeks became waterfalls of tears at the sight of their pain and suffering. Feeling a deep sorrow in her heart, she fell to her knees, clasped her hands together, and closed her eyes. All she could do was pray.

"Please...please somebody... Somebody save them!"

Her cries stirred something in Naruto, quite literally, "What's this...?" he felt a tear run down his cheek, followed by pain, "Ah!" he fell to his knees, clutching his chest, "What's this...this sadness?" he shut his eyes tight as a dark aura overcame him.

"Naruto...?" Vivi asked in shock.

Kefka scowled, "Tch, such a precious heart's sorrow..." he groaned and stepped back, "Only a true king could withstand... What's he doing?" he was utterly shocked as Naruto stood up.

"Alice..." he started through clenched teeth, "If this is your pain..." his Keyblade started to absorb the darkness overcoming him, "I'll make this monster feel it tenfold!" electricity crackles through his blade, which he slashed the air with, "Lightning!" he shouted, his magical sword coated with a double-edged, narrow-tipped blade made of pure electricity.

The cloaked spy stared in disbelief, "He learned my magic? Who or what is this kid?"

Laguna felt confident once again, "You can make Heartless, but my little buddy learns fast!"

Sora stood beside his blond friend, "Ready to fight?"

"I'm ready to end this." He growled.

The brunet smiled, "That would be if I couldn't beat him faster."

The blond smirked, "Can you back that up?"

Instead of answering with words, Sora did so with actions: he ran forward with Naruto close behind him and their friends following. One of the card men acted as well and used his spear to block one of the swiping claws. It left the soldier opened for a wild slash across its body, but the other warriors didn't slow down. Jumping forward, Sora slashed the wrist, making the Heartless leap back.

Giving chase, Naruto jumped and slashed across its chest, leaving a nasty scar: a cut which was burnt thanks to the lightning. Sadly, his spell was a single-hit wonder, and the electricity disappeared. However, it left an opening for the two wizards. As Heartbreaker staggered back from the pain, the two wizards blasted it with a combined fireball, widening the burnt and getting it to fall on its side.

"Up and away!" Goofy cheered as he bashed the monster's face with his shield in an uppercut.

Seeing its neck exposed, Laguna kneeled on the ground and fired, "Here's the big gun!" he shouted and pushed a button. Suddenly, his machinegun morphed into a massive rocket launcher! A rectangular weapon with four square-shaped holes aiming dangerous explosives at the monster. The strike made it flip and land hard on its back with smoke and fire erupting everywhere!

"Where did you get that?" a baffled Naruto asked. "Wait, why did you keep it hidden!?"

"This gun's got its tricks." Laguna said, reverting it back to a machinegun, "Also, I don't use that attack much since I don't want to be burnt to a crisp."

"I'm glad it worked." Goofy said, "Now Donald and Vivi can help the soldiers."

"Oh, right!" Vivi gasped and went to aid them, casting his healing spell on them.

Donald frowned, "Goofy, they tried to cut off our heads!" he squawked angrily.

"Come on, they just lost their queen, don't you feel bad?" Sora asked, his kindness making the duck sigh in defeat.

"Fine…" he went to help, but the other four weren't standing by idly or letting their guard down.

"Alright, big guy," Laguna started and took careful aim, "we know you're playing possum, so let's have it."

Growling deeply, the Heartless spun its body around, swinging its bladed tail at the four remaining fighters. Goofy took the blow with his shield but was sent skidding back, Laguna jumped down for cover while the two Keyblade wielders dodged with a somersault. Once back on its feet, the monster snarled at them, the burn on its body was a reminder of its mistakes. Thus, it made sure to rectify that.

"What's it doing?" Sora asked as Heartbreaker lifted its claws over its head, then sunk them into the floor. Feeling the ground shake, he exclaimed, "Everyone, run!" They all jumped to the side, avoiding red thorns from impaling them, said thorns having sharp smaller thorns on them to screw them easier with.

And one of them wasn't as fast as the others, "ARGH!" Laguna tumbled down, his right leg sporting a nasty cut which was coating the floor with blood.

"Old man Laguna!" Naruto shouted and tried to go to him, only for a wall of crimson thorns to stop him, "Grr, outta my way!" he shouted as he cut them down.

"Naruto!" Sora exclaimed as his friend went straight for the carefree gunman, tackling him. Blood splattered on his face as Sora's side was impaled, the boy clenching his jaw to keep himself from yelling when he pushed Naruto forward. The wound was superficial, Sora had to put his hand to stop it from making a bigger mess, but the pain was obvious as he struggled to get up on one knee.

"Oh no…" Naruto panicked, feeling cold at what he saw, 'This is…my fault.' He ran to help him, "Sora, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" he turned to Laguna to try to help him too as the gunman used his machinegun like the cheapest crutch he could find.

"Careful, he's trying to split us!" Laguna shouted, only for Heartbreaker to jump at him.

"Oh no you don't!" Goofy shouted and used his shield and body to take the blow from the whipping tail, being sent to crash into a tree…unmoving.

Naruto snarled at the monster, "Damn you!"

"Oh boy, so fierce!" Kefka mocked them, floating on his back with his head hanging upside down, "Licking each other's wounds while you tough boys fight my pet? Brilliant!" they knew he was plotting something, and immediately felt nervous before the jester snapped, furiously yelling, "Too bad one of you has really annoyed me!"

Flying at the princess, he darted straight at her without bothering with anything in his path, determined to destroy her, "Oh no…" she got up and started to run, but Kefka landed right in front of her and shocked an already terrified Alice when he fell to his knees. The jester was gritting his teeth as a warm, glowing light emanated from the petite blonde.

"Argh, you blasted princesses, so pure and perfect!" he barked like an angry dog, "Die and take that radiance with you!" he lifted a hand to summon a fireball.

The sight drove Naruto to madness as he yelled at the top of his lungs, "Don't you dare!" he felt his blood go cold.

But instead of casting magic, an axe sunk into Kefka's chest, "Back off!" yelled one of the healed card soldiers.

"Grr…who…are you?" Kefka asked, playfully feigning confusion.

The card man gasped in fear as the fake adviser seemed to ignore the pain or accept it completely, "Die, you m-monster!" the spade man yelled when he readied another strike to the madman's heart, and then had his head grabbed by Kefka's hand.

"I said, who are you?" the jester growled, and when the others tried to fight him, his Heartbreaker jumped to block their path, baring its fangs and claws. "You're not important. Insignificant, pathetic, obsolete to a point of absolute absurdity!" he lifted the card before Alice's eyes, grinning far more wickedly than before, "Say, how much sorrow can your heart take…before it's dripping with darkness?"

"No, don't!" Alice cried, but Kefka tightened his grip… He dropped a petrified card, the stone body shattering before her eyes.

"Is that enough or not?" he asked impatiently, grinning with wide eyes as he gripped a heart tightly in his hands. "Well then, how about…" he put his face before hers, ignoring the pain, "I MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN HERE SHARES IN HIS DELICIOUS DESPAIR!? AHAHAHA!"

"No…no…" Alice shook, her cheeks covered with rivers of tears, "Stop…stop… JUST STOP!"

Finally, Naruto snapped. "KEFKA!" he roared as his body was enveloped once again with a dark aura.

The clown started clapping madly, "Oh here it comes, here it comes!"

Pain, anger and sorrow filled Naruto, blinding him to anything but wanting to harm Kefka, to kill him, to finally end a life. There were few times he had been furious enough to truly lose control. However, that was the first and only time he felt so much hatred that he felt true bloodlust. It was the first time he was burning with a killing intent, and the one responsible had made Alice cry.

Alice was crying, Laguna was bleeding, Sora was hurt because he tried to protect him… 'I…I will be damned if I let this guy hurt them anymore!' he thought furiously.

"Don't let him beat you!" the brunet he was carrying shouted, snapping him out of his enraged mindset, "Whatever he's saying, it's all to make you lose it! So don't let him win, not like this!" he bared his teeth in a rare display of his own anger, "So if he wants you to sink into darkness… Then, even if it's weak and laughable, I'll give you my light!"

EVEN

IN

THE

DEEPEST

DARKNESS

THERE

SHALL

BE

LIGHT

FOR

GUIDANCE

Naruto closed his eyes as a pure light appeared, "Protect Sora for me, alright?" he heard a familiar girl's voice echoing inside him, not in his head but deep in his heart. She tried to reach him, to keep a boy like him from sinking into endless hatred. Upon opening his eyes, deep cerulean was forever replaced with a glowing yellow like the Heartless he fought.

"Wait, what's this light?" Kefka asked in genuine surprise.

"You wanted me to sink into darkness…" Naruto started.

Sora smiled at him, "But we're not letting him go away that easily!" he handed the blond his Keyblade, Naruto's darkness sipping into it. But as the blond gripped it, he forced it on Sora's hand, giving the brunet his dark energy to heal him, 'What's he- Wait, this darkness… It feels…pure…'

"Old man Laguna, sorry but I don't know if you can handle darkness healing you, so wait for Vivi." Naruto started as he and Sora were good enough to fight.

"We'll take care of these two once and for all!" the brunet said as the two took their stances before Kefka and the Heartbreaker.

The monster lifted its claws again, sending thorns to destroy the floor as they moved to skewer the two kids, "Go get them, kiddoes!" Laguna cheered for them.

Reaching the incoming thorns, Naruto went low as Sora aimed higher. In the blink of an eye, the two had cut the attack and let the monster retrieve its claws to see stumps. Overcome with anger, it went right to a tree to latch on to, its maw opened. Going from tree to tree in big jumps, it tried to disorient the kids who didn't remove their eyes from the giant Heartless.

"Lightning!" the blond shouted, his Keyblade bursting with electricity.

Due to his pause to summon it, Heartbreaker went for him, but Sora didn't stay still, "Thunder!" he thrust his skywards, summoning a rain of lightning bolts. It froze the enormous beast with the powerful shock, leaving his fellow keyslinger to jump and flip midair. Naruto slashed the monster across the chest once again, slicing one of its limbs clean off and causing it to flip and roll on the floor.

"Let's go!" Sora called to him, crouching low with his Keyblade to his side as the Heartless approached.

"No, let's end it!" Naruto exclaimed as he ran after the tumbling monster. One sword glowed with light and the other with darkness. In a dual X-shaped slash, the two cut Kefka's cruel creation, watching its heart and darkness be absorbed by it as a ray of light crossed over a dark shadow which slashed the air. Upon landing, they smiled at each other, but knew the job wasn't done.

For starters, Kefka remained, "Such pathetic lives, and yet you saved them. Why?"

Again, his voice kept a rather eloquent, downright nihilistic tone, which pissed off Naruto, "Who are you to decide!?" he shouted, snapping Kefka's attention back to him, and then forcing him to block the boy's hit aimed to his face, clasping his hands on the Keyblade to keep it from cutting his nose, "I see now, you're just an oversized brat too bored to care about anything! Don't pull people into your sick fun!"

Kefka kicked him off, a solid strike to the kid's gut which sent him to his friends, Sora catching him with Alice's help, "Is that concern, little king!?" the jester mocked him, "Oh, I'd be more concerned about you! I'm not one to judge, but why bother!? All life ends, all that everyone works for has to perish! Dreams end up forgotten, so why bother!? Why not just have fun!?"

"That may be true..." Sora started, then aimed his Keyblade at the maniac, "But it won't stop us from cherishing our memories and what we do with them!"

"And if you want to take them from us, we'll take you out first!" the whiskered blond roared out.

"AhaHAHAHAHA!" Kefka kept laughing louder and louder, "I am having so much fun I...I..." he then frowned deeply in disappointment, "I gotta spit! Ptoo!" he did just that, disgusting Alice. "Ruining such a glorious slaughter like goody-two shoes, the nerve!" he snarled at them, "Can't you see I freed a country from a tyrant!? You should be thanking me! Ah well, ungrateful or not, I have grown bored!"

"Bored!?" the blond echoed furiously, "You'd kill just to get a laugh out of it!?"

"Hey, I didn't get much of one!" Kefka taunted him as if his words were any consolation, "Oh well, toodles!" he flicked his fingers in a mocking wave. A dark portal appeared right behind him as he did so, and with no time to lose, he jumped in.

And so, the warriors couldn't call their fight a victorious one.

X-X-X-X-X

And that's my rap!

Sorry for the wait and the rush at the end, but I was having fun and the fight was getting too long. I hope I made it entertaining regardless. Sora and Naruto can fight together, and as you can see, yes, Sora will be able to use some darkness like he does when fighting along Riku in KH2, but bumped up several levels. As for Naruto, he won't give in easily to darkness with good friends at his side.

However, this is Kefka, beating him won't be easy, and even if you think you have him cornered, the guy will do anything to destroy everything. He will do everything to make sure he gets either a new Heartless or a demon out of the boy to cause destruction. He doesn't care about anything but mayhem, so don't think he'll die easily.

Now, a few words from my best friend.

Beta's Notes: Hello and salutations! This is The Lord Of Pages per his usual amount of beta work here to announce what his contributions were. I was more or less responsible for part of the writing behind Kefka, his power over magic, and how he created a Heartless out of casual use of fire spells. I also helped contribute to the decisions behind his character, although as usual my good friend Swordslinger here did the bulk of the work. I was happy to help out as best as I could. And we hope you look forward to the next chapter as much as we like writing them! As for me, I'll be busy writing my own stories! So for now, so long, farewell, until we meet again!

Swordslinger out!