That's right! I'm back! I hope you enjoyed that nice little intro but now we really start getting into the story! I would like once again to thank all those who reviewed my original novelization (That's right, all 10 of you) and hope you enjoy this story as well.
First Floor
Traverse Town
Sora was in shock as he ran forward and looked around. The familiar streets and buildings all around him.
"Wait, this can't be right," he looked around some more and Jiminy jumped out of his jacket again. "We're in Traverse Town!"
"It isn't reality that you see," the man appeared behind him. "This town is an illusion conceived by your memories ingrained in that card."
"My memories?" Sora raised an eyebrow.
"Forget about that Sora!" Jiminy jumped up and down. "We're two heads short!" Sora stopped and looked all over.
"Donald? Goofy?" he yelled out. "Guys, where are you?" He walked up to the man in the coat. "What did you do with them?"
"They are at the mercy of the cards now. Master the cards, and their strength will be yours again," the man motioned for him to get into a battle stance. "The laws of this castle require that your friends be transformed into cards." He tossed two cards on the ground in front of him. "If you value your friends, you will pick them up with out fail."
"Of course," Sora moved forward and picked them up. Staring at them he saw that one had a picture of Donald and the other Goofy.
"Use them, and your friends will come to your aid," Sora nodded and held up the Donald card.
"Donald!" he shouted and Donald appeared before him. Donald shot two Fire spells at the man in the coat and then disappeared. The man simply waved the spells off.
"Cards are the hearts of your friends. Everything in this castle is ruled by cards. Whether an enemy or a door stands in your way, cards are the way to proceed. But you mustn't forget your own strength," the man motioned for Sora to attack. Sora smirked and ran forward, Keyblade appearing in his hand. He swung it forward.
"Good," the man nodded and easily deflected Sora's attack. He stepped back and the Donald and Goofy cards glowed brightly. The two of them appeared before them.
"Are you two alright?" Sora asked. "Where have you been?"
"You tell us!" Donald shouted. "When you opened that door, there was this weird light and the rest is a big blank."
"Well, try to remember what happened," Jiminy interrupted. "I need to keep my journal up to date."
"Master the cards and make your way through the castle," the man seemed to be gazing hard at Sora from under his hood. "From here on, you walk alone."
"You mean we can't go with him?" Goofy asked quickly. "That's not fair!"
"Yeah!" Donald shouted furiously. "Sora can't do anything without our help!"
"Thanks a lot, Donald!" Sora shouted at him and the two glared at each other.
"You sure you'll be okay?" Goofy asked.
"Of course!" Sora grinned before turning serious and walking up to the man in the coat. "You want me to go alone? Fine. I can take care of myself."
"Hmm, the hero speaks boldly," the man chuckled lightly. "Go, then. The rest of Castle Oblivion awaits. Walk the avenues of latent memory, and you shall meet someone dear to you." Then he was gone.
"I have a really bad feeling about this…" Jiminy said quietly.
"Relax, Jiminy," Sora assured him. "I'm ready for any trick he's got up his sleeve. How hard can it be to figure out these cards?" With that Jiminy jumped back into Sora's jacket and Donald and Goofy were pulled back inside their cards. Sora began the familiar walk through Traverse Town.
He felt it. It happened all at once. The same dark energy all around him, the Keyblade burning with its pure light within him, and the hilt of the Keyblade resting firmly in his hand as the Heartless appeared. It was only two Shadows at first and then three more arose followed by five Soldiers.
Running forward he slashed through one Shadow then brought the Keyblade around in a wide arc and slashing another. He had to jump back as a Soldier slashed where he had been only second earlier. The Keyblade came down to slice the Soldier but it dove to the side. Sora was ready for this and was able to quickly flip the Keyblade around in his hand and then cut through the Soldier.
"Goofy!" Sora leaped backwards and held up Goofy's card. Goofy emerged from it with his shield raised and slammed through two of the three remaining Shadows. Sora quickly drove the Keyblade through the last Shadow. The three remaining Soldiers attempted to flank him but Sora dove away from their attack and cut through the one whom had his back exposed. The two remaining Soldiers watched Sora closely. With a quick burst of speed Sora ran forward and cut through both of them with a quick spin.
"Hmm, fighting alone isn't as easy as I thought…" Sora wiped some sweat from his brow. The Donald and Goofy cards flew from his pocket and the two of them appeared in front of him. "Aaaah! Don't pop out of nowhere like that!"
"It's not our fault," Donald argued. "We don't know what's going on either."
"Gawrsh, you're fighting's gotten kinda rusty," Goofy said with a look of concern. "You sure you don't need us?"
"I'm fine, honest," Sora dropped into a relaxed pose to punctuate the statement.
"Think like that and you're as good as Heartless fodder," a familiar deep voice spoke from behind them and they quickly whipped around. There stood a man with brown hair, wearing black clothes with the Gunblade at his side.
"Leon, it's you!" Sora shouted. "What are you doing in Castle Oblivion?"
"Castle Oblivion? What are you talking about? This is Traverse Town," Leon paused for a second, "And how do you know my name? I've never seen any of you before in my life."
"Quit playing, Leon!" Sora said with a shocked expression. "We all fought the Heartless together! You know that!"
"Look, I don't know what you're talking about. I don't even know your names."
"You don't?" Goofy asked with a sad expression.
"Sorry."
"I can't believe it," Sora sighed. "How could you have forgotten about us?"
"Hey, I feel for you. But you've got the wrong guy. Happens all the time. Don't take it so personally Sora," Leon said and the others eyes went wide for a second.
"You do know his name!" Donald shouted. Leon stared hard at them.
"Now, now hold on!" he said forcefully. "Why do I know your name?" Donald and Goofy turned to speak to each other.
"You think Leon's just kidding around?" Goofy asked.
"If he is, it's not very funny. Sora's really hurt," Donald gave Leon a glare. Leon seemed to have overheard the conversation.
"Who's kidding around, Goofy? You and Donald are the ones who…"
"Hey!" Goofy stopped him as he said their names.
"I don't get it…" Leon shook his head. "What's happened to my memory?"
"I dunno, Leon," another familiar voice said and a certain female ninja appeared. "Maybe Aerith was on to something after all. She said she sensed some kind of uncanny power and asked us to look into it. Well, we looked. And this is as uncanny as it gets. Maybe we should bring Sora and the others to Aerith."
"Yuffie, you know my name!" Sora pointed out quickly.
"Yep! Looks like you know mine, too," Yuffie smiled.
"A friend of yours?" Leon asked.
"Nope! Total stranger. But I definitely know his name. Strange, yes, but convenient! We can skip the introductions."
"Well, gee, Yuffie. I guess all our problems are solved," Leon said sarcastically. Yuffie smacked him on the back of the head.
"Anyways, I'm gonna run ahead and fill Aerith in. Leon, you give Sora and the others the grand tour. See ya later!" she ran off.
"Well, let's get on with it. Come on and follow me. Be careful though. There are still Heartless wandering around town," Leon started walking but then turned back to Sora. "Here, I found this. Maybe you can use it." Leon tossed a card to Sora. The name Simba was on the top and the familiar lion was on the card.
Leon lead through Traverse Town until they got to the house Sora remembered Leon staying in before. Inside, Yuffie and Aerith were talking.
"Aerith, tell me you haven't forgotten me, too," Sora cut Aerith off.
"I don't know whether to say nice to meet you or good to see you again," Aerith said in deep thought. "It feels like a little of both. I don't think I know you, but I still feel like you belong here."
"Yeah, exactly!" Yuffie interrupted. "Like we've never met, but it still doesn't feel weird knowing your name."
"But I'm telling you we have met. We took on the Heartless together. We were a team!" Sora shouted.
"It feels like you're right, but I can't remember," Leon shook his head.
"Then I guess you won't remember what you told me. In Hallow Bastion, when I sealed the Keyhole: 'We may never meet again…'"
"…but we'll never forget each other," Leon finished.
"See, you do remember!" Sora said forcefully.
"He's right, Leon! I remember you saying that, too," Yuffie nodded.
"I guess I can't write it off as a coincidence, then," Leon sighed.
"I don't think I have any memory of it, but somehow I still remember. Maybe Sora's heart is remembering for us," Aerith said.
"How does that work?" Sora asked.
"We don't know you, Sora, but your heart is full of memories of us together. Those memories must resonate in our hearts, too. Maybe they tell us things we couldn't otherwise know."
"So you're saying that Sora's memories are affecting ours?" Leon asked.
"His memories do seem to have a certain power," Aerith nodded.
"Maybe it's just like that guy said, then. This town is just an illusion. Something my memories created," Sora thought.
"And…there's someone special to you in this town?" Aerith asked and the three of them almost jumped in surprise.
"How did you? Ah, I get it. My memories are resonating with yours, telling you what happened. Anyway, yeah. A friend of mine is somewhere in this town… I mean, Castle Oblivion."
"Castle Oblivion? What's that?" Yuffie asked. "There aren't any castles in Traverse Town."
"That's not quite what I mean."
"Sora probably still has his own questions. Right?" Aerith asked.
"Right. We just got here, after all. It wouldn't hurt to take a look around."
"Then go have a walk around town. There are Heartless, but that's not a problem for you," Leon said with a smirk.
"So you know I can fight!" Sora said with a grin.
"I can't say I remember, but I am starting to believe."
Sora, Donald, and Goofy searched all through Traverse Town but found nothing. They entered a closed off space to see a familiar man with flight goggles one. The man turned around as he heard them.
"Well, whaddaya know? It's Sora!" Cid shouted. "Wait, what am I saying. I don't know you. But you do look like a Sora, what with the spiky hair and baggy pants. Guess I just call them like I see them."
"It's okay, Cid. That's my name," Sora assured him.
"So you've heard of me!" Cid grinned. "Well, I can't say that I'm surprised."
"Anyway, maybe you can help me out. A friend of mine's supposed to be somewhere in this castle, er, town," Sora said.
"Your friend, huh?" Cid asked. "Lately all this town seen is Heartless. Can't take two steps without getting attacked. This plaza's the worst. Word is we'll have a jumbo-sized Heartless on our hands when that bell rings. If you value your hide, you'll get out of here while the getting's good." Cid waved and walked away.
"Gawrsh, maybe he's right…" Goofy said.
"Don't you want to see the Heartless?" Sora asked.
"No, we don't!" Donald shouted. Then the bell tolled. "The bell!"
"Sora, look out!" Goofy yelled before he and Donald were pulled back into their cards. Then the familiar form of the Guard Armor slammed into the ground in front of Sora and let out a loud yell. Sora had to dive to the side as a large fist slammed into the area he was just standing on. Sora changed his momentum and rushed straight at the Guard Armor. He dodged two punches and leaped onto the Guard Armor's back. He went to bring the Keyblade down but the two fists came up and threw Sora off. Sora reached into his pocket and pulled out a card.
"Simba!" Sora held up the card and the mighty lion appeared. With a roar Simba unleashed a blast of energy and it knocked the Guard Armor back and stunned it long enough for Sora to run up and slash through the left arm, destroying it. He was unable to dodge the right arm as it lashed out and slammed Sora into the ground. Sora pulled himself off the ground and was able to dodge just in time as one of the feet smashed the ground he had been standing on. With a rush of adrenaline Sora ran forward and was able to dodge three attacks and block a fourth and then slash through the right hand of the Guard Armor.
The Guard Armor let out a roar and its legs began spinning around its body at incredible speed. Sora rolled underneath the attack and brought the Keyblade up into the swirling attack knocking one of the feet into the air and the other out of its spinning motion. With as much strength as he could gather Sora brought the Keyblade down in a wide arc and slashed through the left foot.
With only the defense of the right foot remaining Sora was able to sidestep the foot's attack and rush straight for the body. But the foot was quicker and it came back and slammed right in between Sora's shoulder blades sending him face first into the ground. Sora bounced along the ground until he stopped. Unfortunately, he was stopped by the meeting of the opposing force of the brick wall and the back of his head. His hands went straight to the back of his head where he felt blood flowing from it.
"Donald," Sora mumbled and the card dropped from his pocket. Donald appeared before him and shot the Guard Armor with a Thunder spell, stunning it and then turning toward Sora and using Cure. Sora stood back up as Donald disappeared, tired but well enough to finish the fight. Sora saw the foot flying toward him again and he ran toward it. He brought up the Keyblade at a horizontal angle and slashed through it.
The Guard Armor let out another terrible roar and went to tackle Sora into the wall but Sora spun out of the way and while he was spinning brought the Keyblade up and landed a large cut across the Guard Armor's chest. It gave out a weak roar and the head rolled of and smashed into the ground. Sora chuckled lightly and dropped to the ground. He was looking forward to some rest.
"So your friend wasn't here?" Yuffie asked as they all gathered together after the fight with Guard Armor.
"No, I don't think I'll find him in this town," Sora said. "But he's somewhere in this castle. I just know it."
"Castle?" Cid asked. "Like this whole town's inside some humongous castle? Hoo, that's rich!"
"He's probably right, Cid," Leon told him. "We may not understand what's going on, but Sora does. He can see that reality is bigger than just this world."
"I wish I was that sure," Sora sighed.
"You'll be okay, Sora," Leon assured him. "No matter what shape reality takes, you can handle it. I may not remember you, but I know you in my heart."
"Leon…" Sora muttered.
"You take care, Sora," Yuffie waved.
"I'm a little lost…but best of luck anyway," Cid shook his hand. With that they left and Sora, Donald, and Goofy headed for Traverse Town's exit. Donald and Goofy started walking but Sora was stopped as Aerith walked up to him.
"What's wrong?" Sora asked.
"I don't have all the answers but there's something I though you should know," Aerith said. "Your memories created this town, right?"
"That's what the guy who gave me the card said."
"If that's true, then this town is just a figment of your mind, and so are we."
"But you can't be a figment! You're standing right here. The town is here, too."
"But I'm not really me. I don't remember the things I should. I sense things I shouldn't. Sora, beware your memories. In the journey to come, you'll be faced with more illusions. Sometimes the shadow of your memory will deceive you, try to lead you astray."
"So, uh…what exactly does that mean?"
"I'm just another illusion, Sora. The truth is out of my reach."
"Don't say stuff like that. It's depressing…"
"No, Sora! You mustn't let illusions distract you from what's truly important."
"Okay," Sora nodded. For a second Sora just stood looking at Aerith and wondered and an intellectual and sensitive person like her was in love with the dark and battle hardened Cloud. They were almost completely opposite.
"Sora!" Donald yelled and Sora turned to them.
"Are you ready to go?" Goofy asked.
"Yeah, be right there," Sora told them. "Well, Aerith, I'd better be going." Sora turned back to her but she was gone. "Aerith?"
"What about her?" Donald asked.
"She's gone! I was just talking to here, and now she's gone!" Sora looked around.
"She left with Leon and the others, remember?" Goofy asked.
"Huh?"
"You were standing here by yourself," Donald told him. "We wondered what was going on."
"So this is what she meant…" Sora said to himself. He shook it off quickly and three of them headed out of Traverse Town.
After stepping through the door our heroes found themselves in another hallway of Castle Oblivion with the man in the black coat standing before them.
"Well, Sora? Did you enjoy meeting your memories?" he asked.
"It was good to see everyone again. But why show me an illusion? What do you want from me?" Sora asked giving him a stern look.
"That depends on what you have to give," the man began walking forward and the three of them pulled out their weapons. Before the man could attack another figure appeared in the room. He wore the same black coat, gloves, and boots as the first man except this newcomer's hood was down revealing spiky red hair that made it seem almost as if his hair was made of fire and bright green eyes.
"Boo," the man laughed.
"What do you want?" the first man asked.
"I got bored, what with you hogging the hero," the red-haired man said with a smirk on his face. The two stared at each other before the first man tossed the other man what appeared to be several cards.
"Perhaps you'd like to test him," the first man said with a slight edge to his voice.
"Perhaps I would," the other man chuckled. With that the first man disappeared and the man with red hair stepped in front of Sora and the others. "Looks like it's my show now, Keyblade Master. My name is Axel. Commit it to memory."
"Um…sure," Sora said with a confused look.
"Good, you learn quick," Axel grinned. "So, Sora, now that we're on a first-name basis don't go dying on me!" Axel held his hands out horizontally and with a slight burst of flames in each hand two weapons appeared. They were two large rings with spikes going around the edge.
"Here we go then," Sora said as he ran forward. Donald and Goofy were returned to their cards. Sora swung the Keyblade but Axel was fast and was able to dodge his attack and then jump into the air and land a swift kick into Sora's stomach. Sora was thrown back onto the ground but Sora flipped up on his feet quickly. He had to duck as Axel swiped one of his weapons at him.
While he was ducked down Sora shoved his shoulder into Axel's stomach and sent him to the floor. Sora swung the Keyblade at Axel's head but Axel rolled away and leaped back to his feet. Axel shot a burst of fire at Sora and Sora swatted the attack away with the Keyblade. Axel tossed a ring weapon at Sora. Sora ducked under it and was ready to make sure that Axel couldn't get it back. Axel grinned and suddenly disappeared, reappearing behind Sora and catching his weapon.
"Do you like my boomerang attack?" Axel laughed as he began to spin his rings so fast they just appeared to be sharp blurs. He swung one at Sora and then the other. The second caught Sora on his arm and Sora had to run back to avoid any further damage. Sora pulled out the Donald card when suddenly something snapped in his head. A memory of something. On instinct he held the Keyblade in the air and let magic energy swirl around it. It was a refreshing green light.
"Cure!" Sora called out the spell and he felt relief wash over his arm. Just in time too as Axel had dived at him. Sora held up the Keyblade and blocked his attack then he planted his feet into Axel's stomach and pushed him back. Both of them stood up and were staring each other down.
"While I would like to continue this little contest, there are more important things that require my attention," Axel spread his arms again. "So I hope you don't mind if I finish this now. Fire Wall!" A great wall of fire spread from one side of the room to the other with no room for Sora to escape. Sora was looking all over and saw that there was a small space between the fire and the ceiling. He ran forward and with all of his strength vaulted over the fire. On his way down he kicked Axel as hard as he could in his face. The cards Axel had been holding fell to the ground. Axel hit the ground and stared back up at Sora. With a sneer he disappeared.
Sora picked up the cards and stared at them. They were similar to the card he had used to get to Traverse Town.
"More cards?" Goofy asked.
"Hmm…they look like the card that made Traverse Town," Jiminy hopped out of Sora's jacket.
"Then we need these to go on…" Sora stashed them in his pocket.
"Correct," Axel's voice came from behind them.
"Axel!" Donald yelled.
"After an introduction like that, you don't think I'd just give up the ghost?" Axel asked.
"So you were just testing our strength?" Sora accused.
"Congratulations, Sora. You passed!" Axel threw his arms up in mock celebration. "You're ready to take on Castle Oblivion. Follow your memories. Trust what you remember, seek what you forget, and you will find someone very special."
"You mean Riku and the King?" Goofy asked.
"Well, I don't know," Axel said with a sly smile. "You'll just have to give some more thought to who's most important to you. Our most precious memories lie deep in our hearts, out of our reach. But you can find yours, Sora."
"Where? How?" Sora asked quickly.
"The light within the darkness. You've lost sight of it, Sora. You've forgotten forgetting."
"Light? I don't understand…"
"Would you like a hint?" there was a silence after his question.
"Well, Sora?" Goofy asked.
"No, I want to figure it out for myself," Sora said and then summoning the Keyblade to him and staring at Axel. "And if you get in my way…"
"He won't!" Donald assured Sora. "We won't let him!"
"That's my kind of answer. Just what I'd expect from the Keyblade Master," Axel smiled. "But be forewarned, when your sleeping memories awaken, you may no longer be you." With that, Axel disappeared. The three of them said nothing and headed up the stairs to the next floor.
There you have it, Traverse Town and Sora's first battle with Axel! Feel free to leave any reviews you so desire. See you in the next chapter and until then this is the Prince saying, Love and Peace!
