beyond a heart's REDEMPTION
WARNING; This fanfic contains massive amounts of slash and an original idea for my version of Kingdom Hearts that follows Kairi instead of Sora. So if you're one of those Kairi haters or just do not approve of such fictions as these DON'T READ THE STORY! And please please please no reviews that chew me out about my disgusting ways and vile writings, although I do appreciate constructive criticism so I'm open to mostly everything you'd have to say and PLEASE don't be afraid to say it. DISCLAIMER; I (unfortunately) do not own Kingdom Hearts or any related material. Kingdom Hearts copywrite Disney and Square Enix.
Chapter III : Mercy/Voyage
Ty was gently awoken by the gentle breeze wafting over the flesh of his neck. The slight chill sent down his spine made him roll around into an unruly position beneath the velvety sheets. As he turned, he had hoped to find Kyan lying there with open arms yet was greeted by nothing but open air. Opening his eyes he found himself asleep in the remains of his debut. Scanning the cluttered battlefield for any sign of movement he came to find nothing. Awakening with a start he quickly threw on his clothes and found his weapons. There was an eerie calm to his surroundings that did not sit well with him. Keeping one hand on a katana and the other outstretched in case of hazard, he sidestepped through the glass foliage. He called out for his companions a few times over and when the gestures were not answered he quickened his pace.
Unknowing of his surroundings he thought going back the way he came would be a good start. As he turned the corner a hand lurched out and pulled him into a large crack in the wall where Kane kept one arm tight over his shoulder and the other clasped firmly over his mouth to muffle his cries. Kyan grabbed his hand and Kairi smiled considerably trying to comfort him. Kane indicated the reason they lie in wait by pointing to several Defender Heartless that had been recklessly driving force around in demolition and searching their camp, how Ty had not noticed them was still a mystery.
Silently, whilst the demons had their backs to the buccaneers position, Kane stepped out into the dripping sunlight and drew out her pistols. Crouching down to one knee, she stuck out the firearms and set them shoulder length apart. Within three rounds she took out each one without the others realizing their own assignations. The silencers attached were only an added bonus in keeping their alcove, although Kane bear a grim look and cold eyes as she coaxed the trio into the winding roads of the dark waterways. They knew the look upon her face, even without the words, they knew the eve of battle was impatiently baying at their heels.
Kairi clutched her magic book tensely at her side as she marched alongside Kane through the endless tunnels. She fiddled with the Sora rag doll and kept her eyes lowered and locked on the road ahead of them. No thoughts passed through her vacant façade except those of hope, a hope of finding him. Kyan fingered Ty's hand and cracked his knuckles as he walked on, his eyes darted all around his surroundings as he sucked continuously on his lower lip turning it a deep red color. Ty saw the hilt of Kyan's sword keep hold a steady beat against the back of his coat and his eyes began to wander into the daydreams of a battle where they would come out so triumphant that the journey would be filled with not only light, but the warmth and laughter of true friends. Ty smiled in the misty glow and placed his hand in Kyan's back pocket as they continued to stroll farther into the anonymity.
Sometime later an unwelcoming drone began to build up in their ears. The dull buzz and roar of machinery clanked and clattered, reverberating across the caverns. The trio looked at themselves in confusion but Kane still wore that determined expression. But the faint weaken in her tense brow and parting of her pouty lips signified slight worry. The wrack hum continued to whirr as they approached a light in the tunnel ahead. It grew brighter and brighter as the machinery incessantly hissed and wheezed, clattered and clanked. It was loud and sounded like a miniature fireworks show bursting in their heads.
It soon came to pass that a nightmare beyond their wildest imaginations was being put into effect right before their eyes. When they had progressed further into the light it began to fade as their eyes fell upon the source of such fury. Ripped through the walls of the citadel, the remnants of the ancient machinery now burned brightly, steaming and processing like clockwork. Men and women rushed around speaking a strange language as they tended to each piece of equipment. Each one tan and slender with a very mechanic-like uniform, each one equipped with safety goggles. But what they did not notice was that their arms and legs bared chains, binding their limbs from excessive free movement.
They followed the assembly line to a large tank bubbling and oozing over with an unidentifiable black liquid. Several pipes were pumping the strange substance into tubes with robot skeletons embedded within them. Hundreds of tubes aligned the walls from top to bottom, each one showing the stages of development in the product. The first, a machina endoskeleton, each one varying with weapons and gadgets. The second, the very same structure bound with what appeared to be the black liquid forming veins and muscles, and the last a full fledged mutated Heartless. The garish figure, bulging with muscles and machinery, it was an abomination... a serious threat.
Kane saw the grief well up in the eyes of her friends and pulled Kairi from the wreckage and lead them back into the tunnels. Ty wanted to look back and yet found the will to progress onwards hand in hand with Kyan.
In these vast, empty waterways darkness swelled and burst through every crack in the wall. Small traces of light could be found from the torches burning dimly every so often along the walls. Countless passageways and staircases twisted up and down through the never-ending halls. Kept on their guard, the party carried on with one thought in mind. Eventually they reached an area with several locks that held water in for use within the castle but they had long since rusted over and were now slowly decomposing. They found solid ground and were thankful to get their feet out of the shallow murky water,
The darkness led them to a stairway that ascended up into a shaft of orange light that signified the rising dawn above ground. Counting their steps, they drew their weapons and proceeded with caution until they broke the surface. When they stumbled out into the light of day they found no enemies at bay. Scanning the perimeter it looked like life had long since abandoned this once glorious monument. Two doors stood before them, towering over the party's clouded minds. The great Heartless insignia that the doors bared sent a chill down Kairi's spine as her magic book slipped a little in her death grip. Kane's heart began to race as she knew what lie beyond them. Kyan clutched Ty's hand and buried his face in his shoulder while Ty grinned with anticipation. Taking two steps ahead, Kane lunged at the doors and picked up speed to slam her shoulder into them.
As she raced forward, the doors parted and she slid into the grand entry hall, collapsing at the foot of the stair. Ty rushed in to console her as Kyan and Kairi stood back to back, clutching their defenses and surveying the area. The corpulent pillars spaced evenly around the circular chamber bore the scars of prodigious battles as was noted by the shredded banners billowing softly in the empty draft. A barren fountain stood between the two stairways that curved downwards towards our hero's. These shady flights of stairs led to three ominous doors that did not seem to catch their attention except for the center, which bore yet another Heartless insignia.
Kane rose to her feet and dusted herself off and the group reassured their status and began to proceed onwards when a high-pitched cry echoed off in the distance. They threw their attention towards their entry as a shadowed raven flew in over their heads, crying out to the heavens as it made its perch on a staff held by a moving figure that had just emerged from the axis threshold. The slim, horned figure gracefully swept its tattered cloak towards the banister. The dark raven made its roost on the head of the staff that dimly ignited with each sweeping movement. As the portentous lighting allowed the figure in, it revealed to them the face of their captor; Maleficent greeted them with a sweeping bow and a sinister grin.
"Kane, my pet." she began in a misty tone. "You've done well." Maleficent beamed in her general direction as the tension broke across Kane's porcelain façade.
"Shut it hag." Kane threatened, drawing her pistols and aiming them towards the witch.
"I shouldn't expect any less from you, lovely." Maleficent permitted herself to glide down the staircase with caution. "They've revealed to you their identities, haven't they?"
"I won't let you hurt them!" she screamed, shaking so violently she dropped one of her firearms. Maleficent then threw her head back with a cackle and sighed.
"It's quite pitiful really, the affections you hold for these… scoundrels. Insolent fools, the lot of you! And as my spies have just revealed to me, you're still hiding from them, quite a significant fact that could consequently change their entire perspective on this meaningless pilgrimage of theirs." Kairi had now begun to cower behind Ty and Kyan, who had their weapons poised for combat, covering Kane's back. Kairi threw back the pages of her magic book, scanning the relics for anything that might help them escape. Kane, shaking her head aggressively and screaming collapsed with guilt. All the things Maleficent had just stated had been true. As tears streamed down her face she mustered up the confidence to rise and hold the valiant firearms steady. Soon the familiar click of the safety trigger, sounded in Ty's ear.
"Tell them then." Kane stated, standing her ground with her lips quivering and voice cracking. "You tell them EXACTLY what they deserve to know." she kept her aim on Maleficent without the slightest twitch. Maleficent couldn't find the time to be at a loss for words, she merely began to chortle as several dark figures materialized around the room.
"Well then," Maleficent's eyes began to sparkle. "You brats should know first hand that Kane works for me, as a headhunter. When you dove through the door I sent her in pursuit to return my prey to my sovereign king. But you Kairi… my pet, should know that she had been lying to you all this time. Riku is not dead; he lives on… trapped in Kingdom Hearts as a wandering soul. He has slain… and Sora has fall-."
Three rounds sounded from Kane's noble pistols as Maleficent gradually released her staff as she buckled over in a slow motion crossover, collapsing on the stairs where her wicked treachery stood. Her face blew off like a shattering porcelain mask as her shrieks reverberated through the still tension. All stood silent as a fragment of her mask skid across the floor and tapped Kairi's foot. The book fell from her grasp as she stomped on its remnants, crushing its immortal smirk.
A tear fell as her head sunk into her chest. Kane stood, gradually lowering her pistols as Ty and Kyan wordlessly surrounded their friend. All was still as the strangers stood their ground and the rag doll that resembled Sora began to steadily rise into the air from Kairi's loose grasp. "Show them now mercy." she spat. As the others began to face their opponents Kairi let out a bellowing cry of agony that caused the doll to vibrate so viciously it released a blinding light that erupted in flame around each adversary around them.
Another battle cry reverberated throughout the hollow halls of the citadel. Echoes of swords clashing and gunfire reverberated within the vast emptiness until the party could be seen safely crossing through the lift stops. It being Ty and Kyan's first time in battle they managed to pass through slightly unscathed. Ty whipped around slashing each opponent in two whilst Kyan sliced through his foes and blasted away all incomers with each round fired from his remarkable gunblade. Kairi, in a state of rage and frustration, managed to cast a few successful Flare spells before having to retire to first level elementals after draining all her remaining physical and emotional energy.
Struggling to escape this endless onslaught, Kane managed to fire her way through a group of gathering Heartless into the door that lead to the hall of lift stops. While many Heartless still tore at their ankles they managed to retreat into the halls once more. Maleficent had fallen at long last but they still carried a shadow of doubt in the back of their minds. A new enemy has yet to be faced, although the party lacked in causalities the fear of the unknown and Kairi's vision clouded their logic.
Eventually the halls grew silent until only the friend's heavy breathing and soft steps could be heard through the shadows. They were headed towards the Castle Chapel to face said villain and hopefully coax some answers out of him. Kairi's heart ached as she thought of what she might learn. Could Maleficent's foul words be true? Had her true love fallen in the heat of battle with Riku? How could two friends heartlessly slaughter one another without a second thought? The visions remained as Kairi's worry escalated.
The enigmatic king sat perched on his throne of thorns burying his rage into the arm rest. The Heartless had just informed him of Maleficent's demise and the sense of treachery that raced through his mind caused him to bellow in fury as a new figure emerged from the shadows dancing in the corner. Another woman who had been keeping close watch on him from the darkness now emerged to offer her services as a matriarch.
She glided elegantly towards him in a dress that held the color of melting snow. The wide, rimmed collar resembled a bell shape and revealed the delicate snowflake shade of her porcelain skin. Her frozen, delicately frost bitten features exposed the glamour graced upon her as it twisted into a high stretched bun she had trained her blonde dreadlocked hair into. A crown of icicles protruded from her hair and outstretched to the heavens. Her grim appearance that portrayed an ice queen of sorts had not impressed this solemn monarch in the slightest.
With a sweeping curtsey she greeted the king. "My sovereign king," she began in a misty tone strolling towards him with her staff. "I am Jadis, the White Witch who currently stands as the Queen of all that is Narnia. I have come here today with a proposal."
The king adjusted his position and leaned in a little further without taking off his hood. "Continue…" he beckoned.
She arose and stood profoundly before gracing the steps in front of the king. She spoke to him as she glided up the stair towards the intrigued gentleman. "I've been watching my dear sister, Maleficent from a distance in my realm for quite some time now. And it seems she has served you unjustly. Betraying you right and left and now she couldn't even bring you the children."
"What is it you want witch?" he snapped.
"I want only to serve you my king and sit by your side as your queen of this desolate kingdom. Also it seems you have a little pest problem and I know of your desire for that certain girl, Kairi. I can bring her to you if you allow me the privilege of killing the others." she smiled as she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"How do I know that I can trust you to deliver her to me?" he questioned her cautiously.
"The worlds' borders are overlapping and chaos erupts around every turn. If those children were to enter my realm it could cause devastation to my reign. Maleficent's predictions are correct the girl will receive the keyblade she will not let anyone stand in her way of returning to her fallen warrior." The king shifted swiftly so that her hand would slide off his shoulder. Somewhere deep within his heart he could feel a light warming the darkness that corrupted it. "I know your secrets." she whispered snake-like into his ear.
"Bring her to me." he sneered through gritted teeth.
Jadis began to giggle as she stepped to his side. "But my lord, she's only just arrived." Quickened footsteps could be heard in the entry hall to the Castle Chapel as enraged Kairi blasts open the door with a final Flare spell. She strut into the room spell book in hand as the pages turned themselves the doll floating above her still glowed as she muttered spells in a forgotten language. An empty draft picked up into a steady wind that howled through the hall as the ground began to shake. Kyan and Kane rushed in firing their weapons at the enemy as Ty managed to climb up onto the chandelier above them and swan dove in for a stealth attack.
The witch continued to laugh as the king raised a hand outstretched to the party before he threw it aside. The wind ceased and the doll dropped onto Kairi's open book, Kyan and Kane's weapons were torn from their grasp and thrown behind them, and Ty was thrown from his fall into a wall behind the rest of the party. Kyan rushed to Ty's aid as Kairi was determined to continue her spell casting. Kane raced to retrieve the weapons as Jadis called out to them.
"Give it up children," she began. "It's hopeless. You cannot even begin to afflict us. Return to your pilgrimage, you are not needed yet."
Kairi dropped her belongings and raced to the foot of the stairs infuriated as tears welled up in her eyes. "I demand some answers… what has become of Sora!?" The chamber stood silent as the party ended their actions. Jadis dropped her mask and looked towards her king. The enigma merely nodded as the witch glided down the steps once more towards Kairi. "You mustn't trouble yourself with such thoughts, you have a very important quest to embark upon." she tried to comfort by pulling her in for a hug but Kairi wouldn't have it. She pushed the witch aside and ran up to the enigmatic king. She grabbed his hand and shook him violently, screaming. "Where's Sora!? What has happened to him!? Tell me he's okay! Tell me he is safe! Please…" she began to weep and collapse into his arms.
"Kairi, no!" Kyan shouted racing after her bearing arms and getting ready to fire at the menace. Jadis would not have such actions and just as Kyan rushed past she stuck out her staff so that the sharpened end struck through him. It penetrated his abdomen and pierced through the other side. Kyan collapsed to his knees in shock and slumped over. Kairi saw the advent and shrieked in terror as her brother was slaughtered right before her eyes. Ty's eyes grew wide as his heart raced through his ears. He wanted to cry but the tears wouldn't come so he raced towards him and embraced his dying partner.
Kyan lie limp in Ty's arms choking on the blood that filled his mouth. He grew cold as his eyes glazed over and Ty showered his face in tears. Kyan reached up to stroke his face as Ty tried to smile down on his fallen angel. The witch began striding towards them and stopped as she ripped the staff from Kyan's wound. Ty let out a wail of agony as Kyan passed but Jadis was tired of this display. She took the bloody end of the staff and lifted Ty's chin with it. Kairi raced down to him just before she could strike again as an explosion was heard in the back of the room.
"Kane get them out of here!" a woman called as she sent a swarm of flying Heartless after Jadis driving her back into the shadows. And just as she read off the spell for Flare the enigmatic king vanished in a twist of smoke as his throne erupted in flame behind him. The woman, cloaked in black, struggled with Kane to tear Ty and Kairi away from Kyan's dead body. "Don't worry, I'll take care of him. He will be returned to you in time. Fly my friends, FLY!"
Just as Jadis began to come after the mysterious avatar she read off the Destruction incantation and the castle began to collapse in on itself. With heavy hearts the party began to race back through the castle as Kane directed them towards the Rising Falls. But although the remaining party was facing sudden death if they did not continue onwards, they sobbed with heavy hearts as they left behind a precious loved one. How could they place so much trust in this new friend, a traitor? Kane had lied to them once before and had not yet redeemed herself but if what her friend says is true then Kyan would be alright.
They raced blindly through the collapsing landscape and darted through new tunnels and passageways created in the destruction. But then as they darted sharply around an anonymous corner they dove into a collapsing passageway. The cave in, knocked them unconscious, and as the ground gave way beneath their feet they fell into the icy waters below.