Chapter XLIV: Alister Takes Action
Nightshroud: Yes indeed, those flashbacks have a definite purpose. You'll see! Ah, yes, not many Heartless in the last chap, but there will be more in this one. And another Organization member decided to challenge the heroes for all or nothing. I'm sure you breathlessly await (haha) so I won't detain you any longer.
They passed through the doorway and down a corridor to the left. It zigzagged downward until they emerged onto a narrow bridge, strecthing across a chasm. They could see stairs leading downward on the other side.
"I guess we head that way," said Tyson, pointing across. They nodded and ran for the bridge. Promethean Heartless emerged and blocked their way. One leaped forward and punched at Tyson. He jumped back in time to dodge it, then used Strike Raid and cut through it. Another one emerged behind him and lunged.
"Spell Blast!"
Namé blasted the Promethean off the bridge, plummeting it into the darkness below.
"Halo Shuriken!"
Reyna summoned halos on her arms and jumped into the air, hurling them at the Prometheans. She sliced through the neck of one, sliced another one into pieces, and cut off the legs of another so Tyson could easily finish it off. With them out of the way, the hurried to the other end.
They descended down the stairs until they came into a huge hallway with pillars reaching up to the ceiling far above. They started to cross through when more Prometheans appeared. One of them slammed its fists to the ground and sent a shockwave off that blasted rock upward from the ground.
"Refleja!"
Namé cast a shield to protect them from the attack, then retaliated with a fire spell. Reyna sliced through them with her whip while Tyson hacked into them with his keyblade. One approached him from the side and threw out its fist, which stretched out and turned into stone.
"Tyson, look out!"
The Promethean knocked him off his feet and sent him tumbling to the ground. It lifted its fist to crush him, but Reyna sliced its arm off, then turned and sliced its head off.
"That was close," Reyna said.
"C'mon, we'd better go before more appear."
The three ran down the hallway until they came to a doorway with a small set of stairs leading down. They went down into a large room with water pouring through hideous carved statue mouths. There was water all around except for the wide path they were on. Down at the other end of the room was the statue of a vicious sea monster. As they approached, a dark portal opened and a unwelcome figure came out.
"Enjoying your little detour?" asked Alister.
"You!" said Tyson with a growl. Alister smirked and pulled out his swords.
"Yes, I brought you here to stop you from reaching Radiant Garden. So, better say your prayers."
"Tell us first, Alister, why is this world so empty, so...dead?" Reyna asked.
He sighed and crossed his arms. "Because it IS a dead world. This Heartless took the heart of this world long ago. But with the powers of the Kronos Stone, Master Amnael was able to sustain it for such a use. Now enough talk. I'm itching to kill you."
He ran at Tyson and swung his in an x-shape. Tyson blocked them and flipped over him, slashign at his back. Alister clapped hsi hand together and a slab of rock shot up in between them, blocking the attack. Tyson jumped away, eyeing his opponent.
Your element is earth, huh?"
"Perceptive little brat. Like my Earth Wall technique?" he said with a smirk. He smacked his palm to the ground.
"Earth Spear!"
Tyson looked down as a column of rock shot up and slammed into his stomach, throwing him several feet away. Reyna saw Tyson down and ran at Alister, slashing at him with her whip. He caught it with his one sword, wrapping the whip around it. Then he pulled her forward and slashed with his shorter sword. She pulled away in time to narrowly avoid the blade, but the next moment he had kicked her into the air, and she landed on her back next to Namé.
"Reyna!"
Namé tried to help her, but Alister was coming in fast.
"Refleja!"
Namé put up a shield to protect them, but the next moment she saw Alister's Earth Spear emerge from underneath her, shattering the shield and knocking her out. Alister laughed and looked at Reyna.
"Angel of Heart, it's time to die. You won't be a threat to us any longer!"
He flashed his swords and ran full speed at her, his eyes gleaming wickedly. Suddenly a blur shot in front of Reyna and knocked Alister away. As he stood straight up, Reyna noticed the person. He had a black jacket with a white collar and white cuffs on his rolled up sleeves, a white shirt beneath, and black pants with black boots and black, fingerless gloves with white outlines. She gasped as she saw the familiar silver hair, and the sword, reminiscent of his old one, now shaped like a white angel wing.
"You're helpless now. Let me end your pain!"
Vanessa fired another Dark Bolt at Reyna.
"Reyna!" Tyson called out. Suddenly something snapped. The purple in Kai's eyes vanished, and in an instant he moved passed Tyson and blocked the attack with his Soul Eater.
"What are you doing?!" shouted Vanessa. Kai smiled with determination.
"I'm not letting you hurt her."
"You traitor!"
"I was a traitor the day I turned my back on my friends! And I'm not going to watch them get hurt."
"But she turned away from you! That's why you dived into the darkness!"
"I don't care, because I..." he looked back over his head at her questioning face, then turned back to face Vanessa, "I love her!"
"Kai?" she whispered. He turned and flashed a smile.
"Hey. It's about time I caught up with you guys. Need a hand?"
Namé came over to her bed and flopped down on it. She looked over at Reyna and asked, "Hey, Reyna, do you like Kai?"
Reyna felt a blush come on, but fought it back. After all, she didn't like Kai like that, right?
"No...why do you ask?"
She stared up at the ceiling. "I dunno...it just...at Beast's Castle, there was something there between you. Did something happen between you before we got there? Like did he say anything to you?"
"Not...really."
Namé was quiet for a moment, then said, "If you say so. Well, I know you think he's cute, there's no denying that."
Reyna's mouth opened wide. "How did you-"
"Your diary. Don't ask."
Reyna threw a pillow at her. "Nosey."
Namé laughed and stuck her tongue at her. "Anyway, be that as it may, you really don't like him?"
"Well...I don't know! How am I supposed to know what it's like when I like someone?"
Namé giggled. "Trust me, when it happens, you'll know beyond a doubt."
Reyna's breath hitched in her throat, and when she looked at him, she felt her heart swell. She felt like the whole world could stop, and she would just be happy to stay in this moment, looking at him. And then, in a sudden flash, she realized the truth.
"I'm in love with Kai..."
Nightshroud: Yes, the stranger in Yen Sid's Tower and on was Kai! Good guess, LauraCroft55! And of course now you see why I had the flashbacks leading to this moment. Now, next chap is Kai vs. Alister. What new tricks has Kai got up his sleeves, now that he has harnessed the light? You'll have to wait and see. Drop a review and I'll update as fast as I can. 8D
Next chapter: Kai's New Light: The Wings of Evolution