Kingdom Hearts III Keys of War
Hey there fellow readers and reviewers. I sincerely apologize for a somewhat late update...Aside from every writers enemy 'Writer's Block,' I've recently acquired my provisional licence and thus been trying to sort out a new career in the workforce as a new start. Though hopefully you should see some more updates soon as things are beginning to calm down in my world and ive been discussing my ideas with friends and fellow fan-fiction writers. So please read and review like always and don't be afraid to PM me; im always up for a chat about KH or anything anime related XD
Chapter 6: Welcome to the Dark
"Wow, look out Riku!" exclaimed Mickey with a heave of the wheel.
"Yeah yeah, I'm not the Donald in this situation," replied Riku; easing the ship for an impending crash landing.
The Gummi Ship sparked quite an entrance into the Realm of Darkness; its metal meeting ground rocked an echo through the silent realm. Startled, the pair breathed a sigh of relief as Mickey surveyed the ship.
"Hmm, not too bad at the last second there. But I don't think the ship was built for that darkness exposure…" muttered Mickey.
"Are you sure? It looks pretty knack to me," replied Riku with a tap on the console; controls sparking as the ship shutdown. "I spoke to soon…"
Mickey simply chuckled as the two friends made their way out of the grounded ship.
Hence its name, they'd landed well and truly into darkness: rugged terrain, black skies, and gazes of Heartless that unnerved the soul.
"I can sense them," muttered Riku; his green eyes dulled from the foreboding. "The stench of Heartless is almost rotting in this place, I'd suggest we forget about the ship for now your majesty."
"There's no doubt about that pal, but don't worry. Once we find Aqua it'll be all okay," replied Mickey as he retrieved a folded black square from his pocket, "you gotta trust me on this."
Before Riku could blink, Mickey was wearing his now unfolded Organisation XIII robe; the golden Kingdom Key D flashing into his hand.
Riku had no idea how the hell he'd managed to fit something like that into his pocket, and couldn't help but stare at the King awestruck.
Mickey simply giggled and pointed at Riku's armor guard. "Well are you gonna try out that new armor of yours? It's easier to mask our presence of light so the Heartless don't bombard us; they're like predators of the Pride Lands in this place."
As if on cue, dark pools of Neoshadow Heartless emerged around the duo; the two turned their backs to each other as Riku summoned Way to Dawn.
"Okay, I'll admit I was slow on that part," muttered Riku with a tap of his armor guard.
The Heartless horded with unnerve as the light around Riku faded into blue/ silver body armor: with wing ornaments similar to his keyblade, and two strips of cloth fashioned like capes from his shoulders.
"Let's go!" the duo shouted in unison as they charged forward into the cluster.
Riku split off first as he grinned beneath his helmet. Neoshadow's clawed their way at the keybearer with deranged pounces as he nimbly evaded and retaliated with swift slashes around the terrain; casting Dark Firaga at those leaping from a distance.
Riku couldn't help but think this was all too similar to his fight with Roxas, only more intense this time. He quickly spun and impaled a tailgater; dark particles spraying like an aerosol can.
He sensed a shift in the darkness as he looked up just in time to notice Dark Ball Heartless the loomed around him. Dark Balls were slow, but that wouldn't stop their gaping mouths as Riku summoned a Dark Shield to prevent his own decapitation.
"Hehe, oh you're really asking for it," Riku exclaimed as darkness emanated from his body; the Dark Balls jittering in confusion.
"Suffer!" he finished as he laid waste to the Dark Balls with the deadly strikes of his Dark Break attack.
Not too far away, his majesty proved to be a royal pain in the ass as Mickey engaged a group of Flame Core heartless. The mouse sped his way through the horde like a black and gold bowling ball; casting subtle Blizzaga spells before his blade slashed their frozen bodies. Despite the Heartless frantically spouting fire, no flames made contact As Mickey rested on his keyblade in a moment of calm, the ground beneath him shifted with the presence of hidden enemies. They erupted from the rubble as Mickey leaped high, narrowly avoiding a maiming jaw.
"Huh, they seem like the same breed but a different element," Mickey pondered as flung forward with fast slashes. Yet his blood ran cold as Kingdom Key D rebounded off deflective skin.
"Oh no, from above won't work!" the Mouse king yelped as a stray Earth Core pounced from his blind spot; sinking it's teeth into his forearm. Mickey clenched his teeth with a scowl as he drove his blade into the Core's underbelly; a floating pink heart escaping its speckled remains.
"I suppose they can reach Kingdom Hearts even from this place," Mickey muttered with a silent Curaga on his injured arm. He then turned to the remaining Earth Cores. The heartless' movements became erratic as the Mouse King unleashed a barrage of Pearl spells upon them; the light somewhat brightening the miserable realm.
With his enemies seemingly decimated, Mickey rested on his Keyblade to catch a breath; unaware of a lone Neoshadow from behind.
"You're Majesty!" Riku yelled in a flash of silver; the Neoshadow dispersing from a lunge of Way to Dawn.
Despite their bewilderment, the duo shared a sigh of relief at the now silent battlefield.
"I think we should be good for now. Yet there's no knowing how long it takes for them to re spawn in this place," commented Mickey with a scratch of his head.
Riku just remained silent as he gazed forward at the rigid pathway they'd come across. Unlike his previous experiences in the forsaken realm, he wasn't in search of a way out. Rather, he was battling his insecurities with the wavering Darkness as the search for Master Aqua led them into uncharted territory.
This place, the dark temptations, the nostalgia of these feelings was making him Master Aqua showed up soon, otherwise he didn't know if-
Riku stopped mid thought as he clutched his chest in agony; knowing what it was the instant it happened. His helmet dismissed as Mickey rushed to his side.
"Riku! By Kingdom Hearts are you okay?!"
Mickey's response was coughed up bile and a reassuring nod from his companion.
"Heh, don't you worry your majesty," Riku muttered after a deep breath. "If I dealt with being possessed by a Heartless for as long as I did, this place is just some hard labor…"
Surprisingly his staggering was held up by a comically straining Mickey.
"Geez pal, you're like a moose in shining armor," chuckled the Mouse. Have you been working out in secret?"
Riku couldn't help but smirk as he wiped his lips, "Why do you ask. Looking for tips to impress Minnie back home?"
Mickey's face reddened like a rose beneath his hood.
"Hah very funny. If you can crack jokes like that, then I guess we can make it," Mickey replied as he pointed toward a dim light in the distance.
Riku couldn't help but smirk as he re summoned his helmet.
"Huh, a light of sorts in this place? Aqua's gotta be there."
Mickey nodded in agreement as the duo sped off toward their promising destination.
"Hang on Aqua, you'll see the light again real soon."
Unbeknownst to the Key bearers, a lone figure in an Organisation robe stood watching from the dark cliffs above. His hood remained down to reveal his features: tanned skin, long white hair, and menacing orange that boded with his wicked grin.
"Oh Riku…Still dipping your toes in the darkness, too afraid to embrace its pleasures because of the path you walk toward the Dawn."
The Seeker of Darkness couldn't help but cackle as he restrained himself from engaging his former vessel.
"Reconnaissance. Such a petty task is more suited for the lesser amongst us."
"However."
The deluded Master's Heartless flickered with darkness as he clicked his fingers; a monstrous roar now present from afar.
"There's nothing wrong with a puppet show…"
Realm of Darkness – The Dark Margin
As the malevolent roar echoed the shoreline, Aqua jolted to her feet with forgotten worry in her eyes; her cloaked compatriot vaguely taking notice.
"From your hysteria, I'm guessing that sound brings no good will?" he asked; to lost in his head to move a muscle.
The ageless Master simply frowned as a keyblade flashed to her hand; an ebony blade with a white/maroon hilt.
"That sound is a beast I quelled some time ago. So someone or something has decided to bring it back."
She turned to him as her words were met with a simple nod.
"Don't worry, I'll be back once I kill it again," Aqua added as she sprinted up the shore.
"For all we know, it's just this place toying with our heads again..." she uttered with no reply.
Realm of Darkness – Upper Zone
As the newcomer Key bearers of the Realm swiftly finished horde of Shadow Heartless nicknamed the Demon Tower; courtesy of Riku's astonishment. The King and Master found themselves in an open area surrounded by rising darkness and dead silence…
"I don't know about you. But I don't think it being too quiet is a chance to take a breather," said Riku as he steadied his blade.
"I hear ya pal," replied Mickey as he twirled his own. "Though whatever that light is it's just up ahead…so tread with caution."
"Well you don't have to tell me twice," Riku chuckled before stopping dead cold; Mickey pausing also as he noticed Riku's change in demeanour.
"We're being watched."
Mickey said nothing as he backed closer to his companion. The duo waited with unnerve before a pair of glowing red eyes came into view from the shadows. They darted round several times before landing in front of them with a deafening roar.
"Well Riku, got any names for this ugly thing?" asked Mickey; taking note of the creatures beast like form shrouding in darkness.
"Hmm, let me see…I think Red Eyes suits this mutt," replied Riku as they steered clear of a deadly claw strike; the ground cracking from its missed targets.
"Well, its original I guess," Mickey pondered as the duo prepped themselves for battle once again; a flash of blue incoming from a distance…
To be continued
Sooo whose a fan of cliffhangers aye? I'm hoping your all pumped for the next boss battle chapter per say, it should hopefully be the last chapter in the Realm of Darkness before Aqua is finally rescued from her cursed fate...to a similar experience in the Realm of Light with a crazed old man and his conquest for the X-blade, and a hag who wants to use the futures knowledge as a weapon...so happy times indeed. (Oh if your wondering about the Destiny Trio's helmets, they are like Ventus, Aqua and Terra's with the different color schemes ;) )