Chapter XXXIV: The Shadow of Xehanort
Nightshroud: Hehe you're probably like "OMG!" from the title. Haha well anyway you'll see. Yes, I actually did the ring of fire in fondness of Axel. I was so sad when he died...sniff. Oh an thanks for the get well, LauraCroft55:) Well let's get on, shall we?
Kai approached the next doorway and sighed.
"That's four down, and three to go."
He opened the door and entered the light.
"Blast it all! Where is he?!" shouted Dr. Veinslay. He had been fruitlessly searching for Voldo, but could not find him anywhere. Suddenly he stopped his angry tirade and stood perfectly still.
"Sommelier...I can't sense his presence anymore..."
He clenched his fists and sighed. There alliance had fallen apart, and he was the only one left now.
"So Kai was able to defeat him. That means he's in the next world. I have to find Voldo quickly."
The light faded and Kai looked around him.
"This is Radiant Garden. He first brought me here." (A little secret hint there hehe)
He found that he had just entered the Bailey. He heard a far off scream, and ran towards it. As passed onto Ravine Trail, Armored Knight, Morning Stars, and Surveillance Bots appeared.
"Out of the way!"
He pulled out Soul Eater as an Armored Knight slashed at him. He blocked its sword, then flipped over it and slashed down its back. He jumped out of the way as a Morning Star slammed the ground where he was standing. He blasted it with Dark Aura before grabbing a Surveillance Robot and mowing the other Heartless down with its Sparkle Ray. With the Heartless out of the way, he continued down Ravine Trail until he came to the Crystal Fizzure. He took out a potion and drank it before continuing out into the Great Maw. As he entered it, hundreds of Armored Knights and Sparkle Rays appeared. As they rushed at him, he summoned his shadow up.
"Shadow Possession: Doppelganger!"
His shadow rose up in front of him and formed a doppelganger. As they came closer, he said, "Shadow Tendrils!"
It shot darkness from its fingertips that tore through the Heartless like spiked tendrils. As more approached, he called back his shadow and used Dark Raid multiple times to slash through numerous Heartless, before finishing up with Cursed Judgment. As he looked around, there were still many more Heartless. Searching the area, he wuickly formulated a plan. He ran into the middle of the Maw and shot Dakr Aura at the walls until they began to crumble. He teleported out of the way as the avalanche of rocks destroyed the remaining Heartless.
He wiped his forehead and smiled. "Quick thinking."
Dr. Veinslay sat in his lab, his head resting heavily on his hands.
"I can't locate him anywhere...Then I suppose there is only one option left..."
He stood up and exited the door.
"I hope my luck, the last of the Twilight Impasse members, is better that the rest's..."
As he entered the Dark Depths, he saw a group of Armored Knights guarding the girl, who had brown hair and wore a red and pink dress with a matching red ribbon in her long ponytail, at the edge of the cliff. The Armored Knights turned and charged at him.
"Shadow Possession: Shadow Net!"
His shadow stretched his shadow out in a large circle in front of him. As soon as the Heartless entered it, shadow stretched up and entangled them.
"Exterminate!"
The shadow coiled about more tightly and split the Heartless apart, releasing floating hearts.
"You're control of the darkness is impressive."
Kai looked over as a man appeared through a dark portal in front of the girl. He had long silver hair pointed at the top of his head and long whisps on the side. His eyes were a piercing yellow, and his skin was darkly tanned. He wore a black and grey coat, with white gloves and black boots.
"Who are you?" asked Kai. The man laughed.
"Your sent...ah, you're Riku's son. Surely he must have told you about me?"
Kai looked at him hard as if trying to remember. Then a flash of realization came before he gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes in hate.
"Xehanort, right?"
He smiled. "Ah, I can see the hatred etched on your face. Yes, let it take hold of your heart so the darkness may come in."
"Save it. I'm getting rid of the darkness."
"Oh, how wonderful! Another demon of the dark trying to escape his fate. Not just torturing one, but both of you! Haha!"
Kai pulled out Soul Eater and aimed it at him. "Enough talk, I'll take you down!"
He grinned wickedly. "Let's see you try!"
Kai rushed forward at the seemingly defenseless Xehanort and slashed at him.
"Come, Guardian!"
Suddenly a hideous black creature appeared in front of Xehanort with its arms extended and blocked the attack. Kai leaped back as it disappeared and appeared behind Xehanort's back.
"Does your power over darkness let you do this, boy?"
"No, my sword couldn't even make a scratch on that thing. It's hard as rock!"
"No, but I can do this! Shadow Possession: Shadow Tendrils!"
Xehanort's eyes widened as he sensed the doppelganger appear behind him and shoot its shadow tendrils through his back. He gasped and turned around, extending his hand toward the doppelganger. It looked like it was shielding itself from him, but it suddenly burst apart and faded away. Kai narrowed his eyes and gripped his fists.
"Darn it!"
Xehanort smirked and turned to him. "Got any better tricks?"
Kai didn't reply but instead ran at him and shot Dark Aura. The Guardian appeared in front and blocked the attack, but as it disappeared back, Kai jumped forward and slashed at Xehanort, cutting across his chest. Xehanort flew back to put space between him and Kai. He growled and crossed his arms.
"Submit!"
Suddenlt the Guardian appeared in front of him and swiped at Kai with its massive claws, knocking him back. Suddenly the Guardian disappeared as a glowing spot of darkness appeared where it had hit him. He shrugged it off an jumped at Xehanort when The Guardian appeared behind him and grabbed him, holding him just out of reach to attack. Xehanort laughed and put up a barrier as he flew into Kai. The barrier sent shocks through him as the Guardian held him in place. Soon Xehanort backed away and the Guardian disappeared.
"So if I move, this thing attacks me, huh? Well then..."
He tensed himself, and suddenly sprang up, the Guardian appearing a moment too late to grab him. He luanched himself at Xehanort and slashed him away. Xehanort called back the Guardian and hovered a few feet away.
"Take this!"
He shot forward, a dark shockwave encasing him as he flew into Kai, throwing him back. He continued to batter Kai back and forth, until Kai summoned darkness to wrap around his feet and hold him in place. Xehanort crashed into him, and Kai managed to throw him back with Soul Eater. Kai watched Xehanort warily as he laughed darkly with a arrogant smile. The Guardian detached and flew into the ground.
"Open your heart to darkness!"
Kai jumped to the side as the Guardian flew up, unleasing a dark blast upward. He continued to run in a circle as the Guardian trailed after him. Finally the Guardian appeared by Xehanort and unleashed blasts of darkness all around. Kai dodged past them and jumped right at Xehanort, plunging Soul Eater into his chest.
"But-but how? Impossible!"
He cried out, and in a flash of light he disappeared. Kai ran over to the girl and helped her up.
"Are you okay?"
She smiled warmly and said, "Yes, thank you, Kai."
"You're the next manifestation of light, right?"
"Yes, my name is Aerith. Are you ready?"
He nodded and she placed her hands on his heart. There was a flash, and he felt as if a weight had dropped off his heart. Everything started to grow light, but as Aerith began to fade, he heard her say, "As you draw closer to the light, you'll feel the weight of darkness lift off of you, and it will be easier to face the light. Just keep searching for it with all your heart."
He saw the outline of a door, and passed through it...
...and was back in Twilight Impasse.
"One more seal to break, and then the final world."
Hethought about this as he made his way up the stairs. He stopped as he saw a figure standing in front of the next door.
"Another Organization member?" he asked coldly. The figure nodded and smirked.
"I am Dr. Veinslay. As the last surviving member of Twilight Impasse, it would seem I have to face you."
Kai laughed and crossed his arms. "What about your little Heartless?"
Veinslay growled. "You'll soon have more important things to worry about. Are you ready?"
Kai pulled out Soul Eater and smiled. "Bring it."
Nightshroud: Yay! I hope the chapter was good. Review and let me know! All you Fayt fans are gonna love this one!
Next chapter: The Kingdom in the Clouds