I do not own anything of Kingdom Hearts or the characters thereof.
Tai: Now you have to admit that this one was good. 21 pages of none rewriting! So happy I would have gone longer but my dad was kicking me off the computer... I can't blame him it was midnight...
Chapter 6: Confronted
Tai drew in a deep breath, "Well... I can't blame you..."
I tightened up and looked toward her, removing my hand from my face. "Wh-what?"
"Maybe things will turn out better between you two...better than I could have ever hoped for..."
"You… your not mad?" this was the only thing I knew too say.
Tai didn't say anything.
"Then you two…" I paused. "Were you two?"
"No."
"I'm sorry."
"About what?"
"I'm just sorry."
Tai just sighed. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"You're in this Organization right?"
"So you do know about it? How do you know if I'm in it?"
"Kyde plus 'X', everyone in the Organization has an X in their name. Well everyone that I've meet so far."
I nodded. "You did get my hint."
"Well?"
"Well what?!"
"Never mind, let's just go." She stood.
"Go where? And how?"
"You're in the Organization, open a portal.
"I'm not too good at it yet so I don't know..."
"Can you or can't you?"
"I'll try!" I said firmly as I got to my feet. I raised my right hand and summoned a portal. A dark hole opened in front of me, "How's that?"
"Good enough." Tai said walking past me and into the portal. I walked in behind her and it closed. We were in a dark room, with another portal at the other end. "Where's your ship?"
"Just outside the world we were at."
"Alright then." I walked past her and put my hand through the portal, it changed to a gray color. "This should be right."
Not even missing a step she walked right on through.
I sighed, "She really is a lot like him…" I closed the portal without going through. "Sorry Tai, I have to find something out." I opened a portal in the same spot and passed through.
I stepped onto cold hard stone and passed into a room that was white and different lighter shades of blue and silver. To my left was a door, the door to my room, it was the only door in the hallway. That was the way I wanted it, well the way Xyked wanted it. I opened the door and walked to the closet, opening it slowly my coat hung in the center.
"You're back!" Demyx smiled as I approached.
"Can you not preach it to the world? Now where is Axel? I can't find him." I had found him on the balcony as always. That was his favorite place to practice.
"You mean your not staying?"
"Not at the moment, I just needed to know something. Now where is he?"
"He went out to the forest."
"The forest?"
"Ya, he said he had something to do." he shrugged. "Hey do you want to hear my new song?"
I smiled; I couldn't help but feel better with Demyx around. He was just like a kid but more mature in some ways. "How about this, I'll give you some music and you learn that. Then I'll even sing to it."
"Sure!"
"I'll get you the song after I find Axel alright?"
"Ok." He started to walk off.
"And Demyx..."
He stopped and turned his head, "Ya?"
"Don't tell anyone that I came back."
He gave out a laugh, "Sure thing Kyde." Then he walked off.
I turned and opened a portal, "The forest hu?" I walked into the portal closing it behind me.
The forest was right next to the Castle, and the Castle was on a world that used to be called Radiant Gardens, but it was changed to Hollow Bastion. The reason behind that I wasn't sure but after the name changed I do know that a forest popped up, or that what was said. It was a dark forest with a great abundance of trees and the tops twisted together letting just enough light in to see.
The walk was nice, but not something I wanted to do right now. I wanted to find him, the one who hurt my friend… and yet… the one I cared about. The fury in me started to engulf me; I was to upset to cry. I finally came to a tree that was set apart from the others; this was because the ones that were around it were burnt to the ground. I looked up to see a patch of red in the branches above. I grabbed a rock and chucked it at it, knowing it was Axel. It smacked him right in the head, and he yelped.
He turned and was about to tell me off until he saw it was me, "Kyde? What are you doing here?" he jumped down.
I didn't saw a word.
He walked toward me and put his hand on my shoulder, "What's wrong?"
"Tai." Was all I said.
His eyes looked pained at that name, "She told you…"
I just glared at him, "You left her, when she needed you most, and she thought you died."
He looked away from me, "I tried to protect her."
"Really? Explain how ditching her when everything went wrong was protecting her." My voice was harsh and cold.
He seemed shocked, "You don't remember?"
"Remember what?"
"Xyked ordered the Organization to get me."
This pissed me off, it was obvious to me that Xyked hadn't given me all her memories but I didn't think she did anything like this. "So you didn't tell her you were leaving?"
"How could I?" he seemed sad.
"You could have figured it out. I don't have all Xykx memories but I do know that if you really cared you would have found a way to tell her."
He started to get mad, he gripped my shoulder hard and it started to get hot. "I didn't want her thinking I was a freak! I cared for her! I didn't want her to get hurt! So I went with the Organization because the planted an attack on our… her home world." The heat got intense. "I didn't want to hurt her!"
'Well you're hurting me.' I thought as I tried to ignore the pain. "What would you know about caring? You don't even get that she still cares! Or if anyone else cares and-" Just then his hand burst into flames and I yelled in pain.
He immediately let go and the fire stopped. His face changed from hatred to fear. I gripped my arm just under my shoulder; he had burnt through my coat and other clothes. Now it was severely burnt skin, which had plasma coming from it. My eyes filled with tears.
"Kyde, I'm-" I didn't stay to hear it, to hear that word. I ran off into the forest.
I didn't know where I was going, I didn't care. I was to protect the ones I cared about. To love and be loved, that's what I was told. Now I was hurt by the one I cared about, and he had hurt someone else I cared about… why was my life so messed up.
I was laying down on the floor in the living room, my cat right next to me. She was just a kitten, a rag doll kitten. She was the only one I could talk to really. Today was a normal day, except for the planes flying over head. There weren't usually so many, but it didn't worry me any.
Today I was home alone, my dad was working and so was my brother. My Mother and little sister were off doing shopping. They hadn't been gone long but I couldn't go, I had to say home and watch the house. We had some real ass holes for neighbors…
I had just rolled over onto my side when I felt the house shake, then I heard the sound. Something smashing against something else, more like crashing and it was no small crash. I immediately got up and looked out the living room window. Nearby there was a plane smashed into the ground.
I ran outside, scared; I didn't know what else to do. I looked over the town, being on the highest hill I could see everything. More planes kept falling, crashing into houses and homes. Cars stopped in the streets, people ran around screaming, and then one fell close to home. Several houses above mine a plane fell, the crash made my ears ring and sent me to my knees. The street broke all the way down the hill and even into the street below.
"What the Hell is going on?" I gasped.
Without thinking any further I ran inside the house and grabbed my bag, naturally my cat jumped in. I placed it on my back and ran out the door again to my bike. I lifted it over the huge crack in the street and rode on down. I swerved around people and cars, finally making it to Main Street. There everything was wrong, cars crashed into each other, people arguing in the parking lots.
Rolling my bike into the Grocery Store parking lot I looked franticly for my Mother. After finding the car I found that my Mother and sister were safely inside but there was no way there were going to get anywhere in the car, the streets were chaos. I dropped my bike next to the car and ran to the front drivers' side door.
"Mom! Rachel! Are you ok?" I opened the door.
"I'm fine, but mom's not doing so well." Rachel replied from the other side of the car.
My mom was leaning back in the drivers' chair, "I'll be fine, I just need to get home."
"You can't get there in the car, but I got my bike. I'm not sure if that will help but…"
She pushed the button to raise the car seat, "I can walk."
"Ok then Rachel can take the bike." I said helping my mom out of the car.
My sister did take the bike, but she took it home and then met us half way home. We both helped my mother up the hill and into the house. The planes had finally stopped falling about half an hour after that, and my mom was lying down. I felt sick after I got her up the hill. My heart was pounding and it hurt, I could hardly breath. The sad thing was that this was normal.
The next weak my family stayed home. My dad and brother didn't go to work, there was no school, and the country was on 'red alert'. All the airports and such were closed, there was nothing about the planes yet on the news. They were still trying to figure it out. I tried not to pay attention to it, although I should have. If there was ever a time to think about your world it was when it had to do with you.
"I know Jenny, but what if it's true? I was surprised the phones were up and running so soon.
"Well what can we do about it?" my older sisters' voice replied over the phone.
"You can't do anything, but maybe I can."
"What is the story anyways? You've never told me the whole thing."
"It's kinda' stupid really."
"I'll be the judge of that."
"Alright, the just of it was: 'Those that are strong on the inside care about others. Enough to protect is a rarity in this world and the world to come. Everywhere is different but it has the same heart.
'Bring the one that will give all, sacrifice everything, just to continue to love and be loved. That will be the one to receive the power to protect those he cares about.'
"Well it makes sense, to me anyways." Jenny said after a few minutes.
"So what should I do?"
"If you really think that it's true then go for it. Nothing bad can come from following your heart. Especially yours, Elizabeth."
"Thank you Jenny." That always made me feel better, knowing that someone believed in me.
"So what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to see if it's true. I mean, if the people in town know about it then it has to be more than a story. Also I want to protect everyone."
"I know you do, you have a soft and kind soul and your heart is the same, but if it's true what will happen?"
"I don't know… I really don't know."
"Well it's late; I have to work tomorrow… I wish I could be there."
"I know you do, maybe someday." She lived in California and I lived in Wyoming… that was a distance in and of itself.
That night I hardly slept at all. I was worried, excited, scared, and for some reason happy. I was going to do something that could help all those I cared about, but I didn't know how it could. What if I got there and nothing? What if something happened that I didn't want? What could happen? So many questions flew through my head I couldn't get my mind to focus on anything else if I wanted it to.
I didn't want to leave my family that morning, but I knew in my heart that if I didn't I would never be able to do anything. I felt sick inside; was it because of my heart? Or was it because of all the different emotions swirling around inside me?
Everyone was still asleep when I got up, so leaving wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. The only problem was Rikku… if I left her then she would have woke everyone up and I wouldn't have had a good enough head start. So I grabbed my bag and she jumped in. The cat looked up at me with her blue eyes, almost like she knew. I carefully placed the bag on my back and got to my bike. I had everything I thought I would need, which wasn't much.
I took off down the hill and rounded the corner to head out of town. I had to be fast, but I had to save my energy. With my health problems I wouldn't be able to make it up the mountain, and I knew that. The whole way there I used the dips to help me go forward without using too much energy. I used the way of the land for my advantage.
I found myself at the loop road that wound its way up the side of the mountain, and at first it was easy, it was just a small incline. Then it slowly got harder, and harder. The slop got steeper and I was getting tired. My heart was pounding and it hurt, there were a few times that I had to get off the bike and walk, and even stop.
It was about eleven now and everyone would be up. Rikku was asleep in my bag, as usual, and I was past the loop roads. Now the road into the mountain was all that was left. Again I used the way of the land for my advantage, because there were lots of ups and down I was able to go fast enough down hill that I didn't have to work hard to go up hill.
I past about two lakes and finally made it to the entrance of the camp site. Of coarse it was empty but it didn't make me feel any better knowing I was alone. I made it across the plain and parked my bike behind one of the cabins. It was hot out now and the shade of the trees was a great welcome. The rest of the way in would be that way, and I didn't have a problem with that. The only problem I did have was that it was going to be damp and miserable.
The swamp was thick and wet. My shoes got stuck in the muck more than once and I almost ended up on my face a few times. Then there was the bugs, they didn't usually bother me much but it wasn't flying insects… it was spiders. Webs everywhere and I walked into my fare share of them. I felt creepy crawly and just sick to my stomach! I wanted to go home and shower, but that would mean going back and that was something I wouldn't do. I wasn't about to give up, after coming so far, after leaving my family, after following my heart.
The swamp only got worse the farther I went, but something strange happened. I stepped onto hard ground. Not mushy suck my foot down ground, it was dirt! There was an area where there were boulders piled around a hole. The hole was about the size of one of the boulders itself, and it seemed to be in use. Otherwise the hole would have been a new nest for spiders and other such things.
I debated for a while, thinking back. I had found a book at the library in town. It was old and when I asked the librarian about it she said that she found it and just gave it to the library. She didn't remember where she found it but I guess that didn't matter. I ended up reading it and finding out about this legend. That there was some kind of power hidden in the mountains that protected the town. Something that could give power to someone who looked and wanted it for others. There were stories about men going into the mountain and finding a swamp. Then they went into the swamp and never came out.
Not sure what to believe I asked around town, the older people knew about it and said that it was just a story, a legend. Mainly used to keep young children from wandering off when camping and stuff like that. I myself had cast it aside as a story, but now I wasn't so sure.
Rikku started fidgeting around in the bag, I put it down and opened it the rest of the way. She looked up at me and stretched; I took her out of the bag and placed it on my back again. I picked her up and went down the hole, I don't know why but she didn't seem to mind being in the hole. That eased some of my worry, but I didn't like the dark that much, and I had also nearly ran into some walls. I fumbled around in my pocket and found my cell phone. I knew it wouldn't get any service around here but it was still good for a light. I played around with it to make the backlight stay on and continued walking.
The hole turned out to be a long tunnel, and the air was stagnant. I could hardly breath some of the time, but I continued forward. I don't know how far I went before I ended up in a room. It was a large room with a high ceiling. At the top was a hole where light shot through and only lit up some of the surrounding area. I put Rikku down and turned my phone off, placing it in my pocket again. I looked around and found the room to just be a large hole in the ground.
Without warning Rikku growled and before I could do anything something slammed against me and threw me into a wall. I smacked it and fell to the ground, my head was throbbing and it took a while before I could get my eyes to focus again. When I did Rikku was next to me swishing her tail. She didn't like something and I didn't either. I looked at the direction where the hit had come from and found myself looking at a pare of eyes. Purple eyes! Big, purple, snake like eyes that seemed to glow in the shadows.
"What are you doing here?!" The creature said from the dark. It seemed very angry at me, as it's voice echoed through the room.
I was scared to death! I didn't know how to answer it.
'Answer me child!'it said again.
Being nearly 16 I didn't consider myself a child, "I'm not a child! I'm here for my own reasons, it has nothing to do with you!"
It seemed amused by what I said, "I can see right through you. Your here to save something."
It was right, I was there to save something. "I'm here to protect my family. I want to save my family more than anything. Their all I care about."
It laughed at me, "What can you do? Your weak, can you even protect yourself!"
Tears started to swell up in my eyes, I didn't like to be reminded that I was weak. "I'm not weak. My heart, mind, and soul are strong! I'm strong in the inside and the outside doesn't mattered to me."
The creature didn't speak for a moment, then it stepped into the light. I was shocked. It was a large serpent, a dragon as what my world would call it. It was purple, silver, and black in color with massive wings folded against its sides. It's tail swished around in the darkness as it sat down facing me. Rikku didn't move from my side but stopped swishing her tail. I guess the Dragon didn't want any harm or else she would be having a fit.
"You are strong, stronger then most adults in this world. Only your heart has been wounded, that will make your journey hard."
I didn't know what it meant, the story never told of any journey. It only said that the person would gain the power to protect the ones he or she cared about. I broke down crying, I wasn't sobbing but I couldn't stop the tears. I was on my hands and knees, "I'll do anything to protect those I love."
"Have you learned your true name?"
I was confused, "My name is Elizabeth."
The Dragon shook its head, only now did I notice its mouth didn't move when it spoke. "Your name, your true name, is Kyde. The rest of your name you will have to learn for yourself." The Dragon started to glow and it formed itself into a small orb, after that it floated down to me and stayed in front of me.
Without thinking I put my hands on it, and I heard a voice say to me-
"Strong in ways other can not see, now strong in the way they can. To Protect, to love and be loved. That is your path…"
That's the way it happened, I finally remembered. After that I was on Sora's world, with that voice inside me. To find out that that voice was Xyked, my other half. I don't know what happened to the Dragon, but I felt that it was still there. Almost like it was watching over me. I became the Protector, to love and be loved. It didn't seem so hard back then, but know I felt like it was a never ending struggle.
I was out of the forest where Axel was. I used my wings and flew out and found the part of the city where the Nobodies were that wasn't in use. I landed and found myself in a park by a river. It was raining and my shoulder was throbbing. I missed my mom, my sister, my family. It wasn't fair, why couldn't I see my family? And what happened to my cat? I didn't know how to get back home, otherwise I would have already done that.
I was really tired now, after using my wings and getting burned. I was also cold, the rain soaked my coat and made my shoulder go numb. That was a relief but I knew that it was getting infected. I didn't care, right now I felt like I was dead inside. Those I cared about… I don't know what happened. How did I end up like this? I was supposed to protect Sora but that's what Donald and Goofy were sent to do. I loved and was supposed to be loved, but I guess nobody can truly love a Nobody. Even though I'm not a 'true' Nobody…
It seemed to be hours out in the rain, but I didn't have any reason to complain. I loved the rain, just as much as I loved the snow. I may have been born in the middle of summer but nothing seemed to beat the pure clean feeling of winter. Everything was white and it never stopped snowing in the winter. Being in the mountains we always got a lot of snow, and I loved every minute of it.
By now my whole right arm was numb and it just hung there, I was extremely tired. The sound of the rain hitting the river and the river running still… it was peaceful. I closed my eyes to picture it in my mind, I felt a slight shock of pain go through my shoulder. The hand print would always be there, and so would the memory. Not even the river could wash that away, like it did the rain.
Suddenly I felt very warm, like the sun started to shin but I knew that wasn't it. I couldn't get my eyes to open again, I was to tired. I knew it was still raining but I couldn't feel it fall on my like it was just a few seconds ago. The warmth stayed there and my arm stung. The warmth was making me even more tired. I felt myself move but I didn't know how. The feelings felt good, and I fell asleep, listening to the rain hit the rivers surface and the river carrying it away.
I rolled over to my left side and felt the covers pull. I opened my eyes slowly, blinked a few times to get my vision to clear and looked at a silver wall. The room was dark, the door was shut and so was the window. I was back in my room with the Organization. I was out of my coat and was dry. I moved my left hand to feel my shoulder. It had been wrapped and now felt fine. My half-cut jacket was off and my sleeveless shirt was singed at the edges of my right shoulder. The wrapping was done to where I could still move my arm but I shouldn't, not for a while anyways.
I sat up and took another look around the room, I heard some breathing coming from the other side of the room. I looked and saw Axel with his head down on the desk that was in my room. He was asleep, I carefully removed my covers and walked over to him. I leaned over him and saw something under his hand that was also on the desk. I slid the object out from under his hand without waking him. Holding it up I saw that it was a picture, of him and Tai with two other people. A boy and a girl, Tai was on one side and the girl was on the other. With Axel and another guy in the middle, they looked as if they were kissing! Only I could tell that hey weren't from the shock value on Axel's face. He seemed so happy even though he was smashed in the middle.
What did Xyked do to him? What did I do to him? What did I do to Tai? I put down the picture and started to walk away but before I could remove my hand from the desk Axel grabbed it. I turned around to face him, he was looked up and me from the desk. He didn't say a word.
I frowned, "I'm sorry for what I did to you and Tai…"
He gripped my hand harder, "It wasn't you, I know that now."
"But it was me, Xyked wanted you in the Organization.." I looked away.
He pulled my hand closer and sat up, "That was Xyked, not you."
"How can you say that?" I held back some tears and my voice cracked, "Your home was destroyed and you lost everything. Both you and Tai…"
He turned in the seat to face me, "It's not your fault."
"Why did you want me to team up with Tai?" I had to know, it just didn't make sense to me.
"I wanted you two to be friends." He admitted.
"Why?"
"I knew that Tai would need one, and she was looking for you anyways. I'm still not sure why but she was. She's mad at me and wont understand what happened, what I tried to do. She needed a friend, even though she says she doesn't. She lost everything, and I want her to have something."
I started to cry, "How can I? You hurt her, you hurt my friend and you're my friend."
He stood, "I know," he let go of my hand and wrapped his arms around me. "I'm sorry. I can't do anything about some things but I can still be your friend. I'll protect you."
"But your more than that to me." the tears kept coming and my breathing was shaky.
He pulled me closer, "I know… it's the pain of having a heart I guess."
"No!" I pushed him away.
He looked at me his eyes his usually blank.
"You have a heart too! My heart! I gave you part of my heart."
He seemed shocked, his face changed and he stepped back. "Why did you do that?"
"Because I care about you." I felt something crack inside me, I felt like I was going to break.
"You gave up part of your heart for me." he said, as if disappointed. He started to turn away.
I ran to him and embraced him, I held tight and wasn't about to let go. I felt my shoulder sting, I moved my arm… I bit my lip but still didn't let go. Axel looked down at me, and put a hand on my back and the other behind my head. We stood there for a while and I just cried.
"You have to go back…" he said after we let go.
"But why? Sora has others to protect him."
"It's your destiny, it's something you have to do." he was still sad.
"He needs you, and after the journey is completed I think that we will be together again."
I looked away, I had found another jacket and it now covered my bandaged shoulder. I left the shirt alone; no one would see it anyways. "How can you be sure?"
He smirked, "It must be my heart."
I smiled, "Do you know where they are?"
He was quiet for a moment, "If I remember right when I checked with Number 1 he said that they were headed to Hollow Bastion."
"Luckily no one knows about what's really behind the secrets of Hollow Bastion." The thing was the world I was on now was Hollow Bastion, but it was a different part. Interesting enough only the Nobodies knew about it, not even that hag Maleficent knew about it.
He smirked, "Not like they're even looking."
"Even if they were." I shook my head.
"Well you could just go to the place where they land, that way you wouldn't have to do too much."
"I planed to." I sighed and looked at him, "You know what."
"What?" he cocked his head.
"Maybe you don't need a heart to feel."
He paused for a moment, and then smiled. "Tell that to the rest of the Nobodies."
"Then that would ruin the purpose of being a Nobody. They wouldn't understand, I'll keep it to myself."
"Then why tell me?" he raised one eyebrow.
"I think you know why." I opened a portal.
"So what are you going to tell the others?" he changed the subject, although I knew that he understood what I meant.
"That when I followed Riku I ended up here, where I'm about to go anyways."
"Good plan, and Tai?"
"You know as well as I do that she won't tell anyone. It took a lot for her to tell me about her life, and you." I grinned.
He nodded and walked over to me again, reached his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small box. "Here." He grabbed my hand and put it in it.
I looked at it, "What is it?"
"Open it."
I raised the top and looked inside, there were two rings. They were in the shape of his Chakrams and looked very much like them. Only there were more items in the box. I set it down on the desk and started examining the insides. Besides the rings there were hair clips, which I didn't usually wear, and a chocker necklace. There were also two bracelets and a pair of earrings, all in the shape of weapons, Chakrams.
I looked at him, "But, why?"
He smiled, "I've had these for a while and wanted to give them to you, but I didn't know the right time. They are just in case I'm not there, you can call me. Well part of me."
"What do you mean?"
"Each item has a piece of my Chakrams in it, together they can call my weapons."
"But I don't know if I can use your Chakrams." I didn't understand why he was doing this.
"You'll learn," he smiled and took the necklace and put it around my neck. "now if you don't hurry they'll get there before you and you'll have a lot of explaining to do." he winked.
I turned the necklace around to where it was backwards, "That's the last thing I need Tai to see…"
He nodded; luckily my hair could cover the necklace, the earrings, and even the hair clips. The only problem was the bracelets and the rings, I decided since they were easily taken on and off I wouldn't put them on just yet. If the time came I'm sure I would have the time to put them on. I placed them back in the box and stuffed it in my pocket.
I looked at Axel one last time then turned toward the portal. "I'll see you later." I walked through the portal.
I now sat on a rock that was floating, yes floating, on water. That wasn't the strange part, the water was flowing up, there were rocks floating and even moving in the air above the water. You could also walk on the water, and get into bubbles to go under the water. Hollow Bastion was a strange place ever since it went down hill, but that was a different story. Something about this great guy named Ansem disappearing.
I was sitting there for a while when Sora came from above, again not from heaven. He landed behind me and Donald, Goofy, and Tai were right behind him. I turned my head to face them. Sure enough they were surprised to see me.
"Kyde?! What? How did you get here?" Sora asked first.
"Ya!" Donald eyeballed me.
Tai was giving me her usual look, she hadn't told them.
"When I jumped in after Riku I ended up here." I smiled.
"But I thought both you and Tai jumped in after him, and you two were together." Goofy was scratching his head.
I got to my feet and faced them, "We did, but we got separated when a portal appeared. We went through it and I ended up here. I'm glad you're ok Tai!"
She smirked, "Thanks."
'She's going to want an explanation later…' I thought.
"So you think Riku might be here?" Sora asked.
"That's what I'm guessing."
"Then let's go!" He started to jump from floating rock to floating rock. Donald and Goofy were right behind him.
"I swear he's just like a monkey…" I sighed.
"You don't like monkeys?" Tai asked.
"Hell no! I Hate Monkeys!"
"Ok…" she walked past me and then looked back at me. "Where did you go?"
"To kick some ass." I winked.
She shook her head and jumped up, following Sora.
'Now I can't tell if she hates me or is just pissed.' I followed behind her.
After jumping from rock to rock Sora and the others were waiting for us near the top. We were about to continue forward when we heard something.
"No vessel, no help from the Heartless. So tell me how'd you get here?"
I looked up to see a big brown beast with a cape and Riku standing above him, I grabbed Sora to make sure he didn't do anything stupid.
The beast replied, "I simply believed. Nothing more to it. When our world fell into Darkness Belle was taken from me. I vowed I would find her again no matter what the cost. I believed I would find her so here I am, she Must be here!" every time he breathed he growled and he didn't seem too happy. "I Will Have Her BACK!" he yelled.
Riku smiled, "Take her if you can!"
The beast roared and jumped for Riku, a sword appeared in Riku's hand and he did a back flip. Just barely missing the beast's swing with his claws as he landed where Riku once was. Just as Riku got his feet on the ground he didn't waist time, he lunged straight at the beast hitting with a great amount of force. The beast fell…
Sora jerked from my grip and ran in front of the beast, "Stop!" Donald and Goofy stood right behind him.
"It's odd how they do that." I whispered.
Tai only nodded and we stepped forward to where the others were.
"So, you've finally made it." Riku had a slight laugh in his voice. "About time, I've been waiting for you." He paused, "We've always been rivals haven't we? You've always pushed me, as I've always pushed you."
"Riku?" Sora managed to say.
"But it all ends here; there can't be two KeyBlade Masters."
'Funny, tell that to whoever gave me mine and tell me why Tai has one…' I smirked on the inside. This was funny to me; Riku had changed so much it was sickeningly funny!
"What are you talking about?" Sora leaned forward.
'Again with Sora's innocence...'
"Let the KeyBlade choose, its true Master!" Riku raised his hand.
The KeyBlade started to pull away from Sora, he tried to keep a hold on it but he lost his grip and it appeared in Riku's hand. Not before everyone had their jaws drop to the ground, Tai and I just watched.
"Maleficent was right…" Riku was admiring the KeyBlade, "You don't have what it takes to save Kairi." He pointed to Sora. "It's up to me. Only the KeyBlade Master can open the Secret Door, and change the world."
"But that's impossible, how did this happen?"
'I'd like to know the same thing…' I sighed.
Tai looked at me, "Will you pay attention?" she whispered.
I ignored her.
"I'm the one who fought my way here with the KeyBlade!" Sora was mad, that was a first…
"You were just the delivery boy." Again with that laugh. "Sorry, your parts over now. Here go play hero with this." Riku tossed Sora a play sword, the same that we used on the island.
It landed right in front of Sora and he fell to his hands and knees. Riku walked off, then Donald and Goofy walked forward.
They looked at each other, "Goofy, let's go. We have to remember our mission!
"Oh, well I know the King told us to follow the Key and all, but…" he looked at Sora who was still on his hands and knees.
This was making me mad.
"Ow…", They started to walk off.
"Sora, sorry." Donald said as he walked away.
I picked up a rock and chucked it at Donald. It hit him in the back of the head. He yelped and turned to face me. I ran up to him and grabbed him by the shirt.
"What are you doing?!" he struggled.
"That's just not right! How could you do that?"
"We have to follow the Key." Goofy said.
"Quiet Goofy!" I glared at him then at Donald, "Your Sora's friends! How could you abandon him like that?!"
"You're the Protector, you should be coming with us!" Donald was still struggling.
"Like I would Protect someone that abandons others." I dropped him. "Now go! Do your mission." I turned away.
"Kyde…" Goofy said.
"I'm sorry Goofy, but I'm not going."
I heard him sigh and walk off with Donald.
The beast was up and walked right beside Sora; Tai was just looking at me with a smile on her face. The beast continued to walk past Sora then fell to a knee.
Sora jumped up and ran toward him, "Hey, don't move. You're hurt."
"Why, why did you, you come here?" the beast asked. "I came to fight for Belle." The beast stood up and tried to continue walking, "And though I am on my own I will fight! I won't leave without her, that's why I'm here."
Sora turned and picked up the toy sword, then stepped beside the beast, "Me too, I'm not going to give up now. I came here to find someone very important to me."
"And I'm not going to leave." I smiled and walked in front of Sora, "Not because I'm the Protector, but because I'm your friend."
"Thanks Kyde."
"Tai? You with us?" I asked giving her a grin.
She walked toward us, "Why not?"
After a maze of switches and such, we finally opened a huge door at this castle that we found at the end of the floating rocks. Sora had a hard time without his KeyBlade but Tai and I picked up the slack. Seeing as we were never really his body guards in the first place, and we also got help from Beast, that's what he called himself.
It seems him and Belle were in love and lived in a castle on a different world. Only that world was destroyed by heartless and Belle was taken here, as he says. He won't say how he got here; I would have loved to know how though. I didn't press it, I didn't want to get on his bad, angry, side.
After walking through the huge doors we stopped and Beast spoke, "Be on your guard. They're close, I can feel it. Are you ready for them?"
Tai and I smiled and walked forward with Sora, but Beast looked back. I looked back to see what it was. A woman in a yellow ball dress appeared in the doorway, and then turned into a small Heartless, a shadow. Small, black, antennas, yellow eyes, the works.
"Belle?" Beast roared as soon as she turned into a Heartless and jumped for the door. It slammed shut behind him.
"An illusion!" Tai said.
"Quit while you can." Riku said.
I turned around and saw Riku, Donald, and Goofy in front of us. 'They weren't there before…' I felt strange, was it because this was the room I appeared in after I jumped after Riku with Tai, and had my memories brought to life again? This was the same room, I couldn't forget it if I wanted to.
"No not without Kairi." Sora said.
"The Darkness with destroy you." Riku was surrounded by a dark light, and then is outfit changed into a body suit. Black, blue, and red colors with a Heartless symbol on his chest, and a white skirt around his waist… that made him look girly.
"You're wrong Riku, the Darkness may destroy my body, but it can't touch my heart." He put his hand to his chest, "My heart will stay with my friends, it'll never die!"
"Really?" Riku pulled back his arm and pushed it forward, "We'll just see about that!" Darkness came shooting toward us, toward Sora.
Sora immediately felt pain, and before Tai or I could do anything something blocked the blast.
Goofy now stood in front of Sora, "Sora aint gona' go anywhere."
"You'd betray your King?" Riku asked.
"Not on your life! But I'm not gonna' betray Sora either, because he's become one of my best buddies after all we've been through together." He did a thumbs up and looked at Sora.
'So childish…' I could feel one of those anime sweat drops forming on my head.
"See ya later Donald!" he waved at Donald. "Could ya tell the King I'm really sorry?"
"Hold on Goofy! We'll tell him together!" he ran toward us, and then stopped in front of Sora. "Well you know, all for one and one for all!"
Goofy nodded, "I guess you're stuck with us Sora."
Sora hung his head, "Thanks a lot, Donald, Goofy, Kyde, Tai."
"How will you fight without a weapon?" Riku asked with a smug look on his face.
'I'm going to smack him.'
Sora raised his head. "I know now I don't need the KeyBlade. I've got a better weapon. My Heart!"
Riku smirked, "Your Heart? What good will that weak little thing do for you?"
"Although my heart may be weak, it's not alone." He put his hand to his chest again. "It's grown with each new experience and it's found a home with all the friends I've made! I've become part of their heart just as they've become part of mine." He removed his hand. "And if they think of me now and then, and never forget me, then your hearts will be one." He made a fist and stepped forward.
"Moving." Tai whispered.
I smiled and nodded, he seemed so mature compared to what he was when I first met him.
"I don't need a weapon." He pulled out the toy sword, "My friends are my power!"
The KeyBlade started to glow and appeared in Sora's hands, Riku was shocked and now very mad.
"Kyde, Tai we can handle this." Donald smiled and winked at us.
"Besides, you owe me." I returned his wink, "I'm still going to save you if you screw up!" I grabbed Tai and got out of the way.
Riku lunged for Sora and the others and the fight began…
Needless to say the fight didn't last very long. Riku lost and turned back to his normal form, now totally exhausted. Then he ran off, if I was going to fight Riku it was going to be on my own.
The Beast walked through the now open doors, "So, your heart won this battle."
Sora looked at him and nodded. Tai and I jumped down from where we were, which was up the stairs, and joined the group.
"I say we split up. Tai and I will go and see what we can find. You do the same." I said.
"Alright, I'm sure we'll meet again somewhere in this castle." Sora smiled.
I nodded and looked at Tai. She nodded and we ran off up the stairs and through a door, which slammed shut behind us.
I will get started on the next chapter as soon as I wake up... or as soon as my dad let's me back on the computer. That might not be for a while... Time to beg!!!
This Chapter has been Edited