Chapter 18
The Roads In-between
"How are her levels?" I hear my father say,
"It's not looking good. It seems that the Darkness is physically harming her body." A scientist said. I could recognize his voice as one of the scientists that conducted experiments on me.
"Is there any way to stop it?" Father asked,
"I can stop the Darkness from harming her body, but these readings suggest there's something else at work here..." the man said,
"Like what?" Father asked,
"I have no idea... If I had a guess... It's that it's the Darkness itself." The scientist said.
"For now stop the Darkness from doing any more harm to Sara." My father said as I open my eyes, "So you're awake..." he said, I look around. we were inside the ship we took when we first left Destiny Islands. I see that I'm lying on a table, unable to move.
"Have you known this whole time?" I asked, father simply nodded. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"How do I tell my own daughter that she was destined for evil?" He asked back,
"Good point..." I said with a laugh, "Is there any way to stop it?"
"That's what we've been working on this whole time." He explained. "But because of all the worlds you visited with Sora, It's going to be more difficult." father said, the scientist walks up and casts a strong spell on me.
"AH!" I scream. the sharp pain in my chest begins to burn as if it was trying to rip through my ribs,
"there, that should stop the Darkness from harming you anymore." the scientist said.
"Anymore?" I said gasping for breath. "Why is this happening in the first place?" I asked trying to relax.
"On my world, it is said that if twins are born from parents that are from different worlds, they are destined to become the Twins of Light and Darkness." Father explained, "When both twins are powerful enough, they will clash. This will create the X-blade needed to open Kingdom Hearts."
"So how did you know that Sora was the light and that I was the Darkness?" I asked,
"Two years after the two of you were born you already began absorbing the Darkness around you. It manifested into black clouds around your body, we quickly found a way to suppress it." He explained,
"Then why did you have to separate me from Sora?" I couldn't stop asking questions after I was finally getting some answers.
"We were able to stop the Darkness from manifesting, but we couldn't stop absorbing Darkness. And with Sora being Light, that only attracted more Darkness to you." He explained,
"That's why heartless began gathering on the island..." I said,
"Exactly, Sora attracts Darkness on his own. But when you two are together it becomes like a magnet," He said, "That's why the Darkness was causing you pain, you were absorbing to much at once."
"I guess it all makes sense now..." I said, "But! What about Organization XIII? Even if I need to stay away from other worlds, I can't just stop when were so close to finding Kairi!" I explained.
"What's Organization XIII? and Who's Kairi?" he asked,
"Organization XIII is a group of nobodies that are collecting hearts to create Kingdom Hearts, And Kairi is one of the seven princess' of heart... She was taken by Organization XIII." I explained. I could tell he was genuinely shocked.
"You're right, this must be taken care of... but, getting you home takes priority." he said, "Now, get some rest." Father and the scientist leave the room. I let out a large sigh, I know I should stay... but I gotta help Sora!
"C'mon body... Move!" I said as I feel the Darkness inside me energize my body, I manage to roll off the table and slam onto the floor.
"Ohhh... that had to hurt." I hear a familiar voice. I quickly sit up to see Axel leaning against the wall in front of me.
"when did you?" I said trying to stand up, it seemed that the Darkness didn't give me full control of my body.
"Just now, I've been looking for you." He said walking up to me and squatting down to look me in the eye. His green eyes were mesmerizing... they seemed so familiar to me.
"Why?" I asked,
"Because you're going to help me get Roxas back." He said, the same feeling of familiarity came back, like how I felt around Sora or Kairi.
"You did say you'd always bring us back..." I said... but those weren't my words, it felt like someone else was speaking through me.
"What?" He said confused,
"I have no idea why I said that..." I told him.
"A...anyway, You need to make a decision... Do you want to help Sora? yes, or no..." Axel said. The door opened as the Scientist walked into the room.
"Hey! You!" He yelled
"Yes, Axel!" I yelled as Axel quickly picks me up and opens a corridor to darkness.
"Who are you?" The scientist asked,
"Axel... Got it memorized?" He said as he carries me through the corridor on our way to Sora,
"Do you say that to everyone?" I asked,
"Yep!" Axel said,
"Why?" I wanted to know why saying that was so important,
"Because I want to live forever, not physically... but in everyone's thoughts." Alex said,
"Interesting way of doing things." I said as we both laugh,
"You remind me of someone I knew..." He said,
"really? Who?" I asked,
"... I can't, remember..." He said
"Weird," I said,
"Do you thing you can walk?" Axel asked,
"I think so." I said as Axel sets me down, we continue walking, "...Hey,"
"Yeah?" Axel said turning his head
"You were part of the Organization... Do you know about the princess that they all refer to?" I asked,
"Saix explained that she's the one who will open Kingdom Hearts," Axel explained.
"Wait! How can it only take one princess if it takes seven princess of pure heart to open Kingdom Hearts?" I asked,
"I don't know, that's just what I was told." Axel said.
"Do you know who she is?" I asked,
"Yeah.. that... I don't know." He said, "Sorry I couldn't be of more help."
"It's fine." I reassured him.
"Can I ask you a question?" he said,
"You answered mine, so I'll answer yours." I said.
"Why's your father crazy?" Axel asked, I couldn't help but giggle.
"He's just trying to help me." I said,
"Yeah... By sedating you?" He didn't buy it.
"He... shows it in different ways." I said and we both laugh, we look up ahead to see a huge horde of nobodies encircling something. "What's that?" I asked we our way through to see Sora fighting with Donald and Goofy, pinned down.
"It's no use!" Sora said, Axel takes out his Chakram's
"Don't stop moving, or the Darkness will overtake you!" Axel said as we both jump in.
"Sara!" Sora, Donald and Goofy said.
"Get goin' " Axel said,
"Why?" Sora asked him, he was confused as to why he was helping in the first place.
"Don't ask, Just do it!" Axel demanded, some nobodies plow Axel to the ground, Sora and I quickly run over to him and remove the nobodies.
"You ok?" Sora asked as Axel looks up to us.
"I kidnapped Kairi, But she got away from me. After that, Saix caught her. He's a member of Organization XIII. Saix, Got it memorized? Now go save her!" Axel said, more nobodies attack and we swing them away,
"Leave us alone!" Sora said as we all begin fighting the nobodies alongside Axel.
"I think I liked it better when they were on my side." Axel said,
"Feeling a little... regret?" Sora joked,
"Nah... I can handle these punks. Watch this!" Axel jumps up and charges a super attack that blinds us, Sora and I open our eyes to see that all the nobodies were gone.
"Whoa! Sora and I said astonished at the amount of power Axel just displayed we turn around to see Axel collapsed on the ground, he was beginning to fade away, Sora and I run up to him and kneel.
"You're... fading away..." Sora said, it was exactly like how Xaldin faded away.
"Well, that's what happens when you put your whole being into an attack. You know what I mean? Not that nobodies actually have beings...right?" Axel chuckles, "Anyway, I digress. Go, find Kairi. oh, almost forgot... Sorry for what I did to hear." Axel Apologized
"When we find her, you can tell her that yourself." Sara said.
"Think I'll pass. My heart just wouldn't be in it, you know? Haven't got one." He chuckles again.
"Axel, what were you trying to do?" Sora asked,
"I wanted to see Roxas..." Sora and I looked at each other, "He... was the only one I liked ... He made me feel... like I had a heart. It's kind of... funny... you two make me feel... The same..." Axel said, "Kairi's in the castle dungeon. Now go!" Axel opens a portal and his eyes close.
"Axel..." Sora said,
"Who are we going to have ice cream with?" I said, tears flowed down my face, but again... these were not my words nor my tears. Axel finishes disappearing. Sora stands up while I'm still wiping the tears away from my eyes. Goofy walks up and helps me to my feet. We all stare into the portal Axel made us.
"This leads to..." Sora became hesitant,
"Aw, come on! Let's get going!" Donald demanded as we all walk through the portal and arrive in a Dark alley. Mickey joins us and walks out of the alley, we run over beside him. We look over to see a darkened city with a huge white castle floating in the sky far in the distance, The moon was in the shape of a heart.
"Axel said Kairi's in the dungeon." Sora told Mickey,
"Then we better find a way to get to that castle." Mickey suggested, he split up from us to search more ground, We go another way until Sora stops in front of a strange sky scraper, Sora continues to walk forward but were stopped by some nobodies,
"Sora!" I yell but he collapses, Donald, Goofy quickly defeat the nobodies and run over to Sora as he sits up mumbling.
"You make a good other," Sora said standing up.
"Are you ok?" Donald asked,
"What just happened?" Sora asked.
"You collapsed." I said,
"Then we had to fight some nobodies." Goofy said,
"oh... he said... he defeated Riku..." Sora said, shivers went up my spine,
"Who said that?" Donald asked,
"That guy, in the black coat." Sora said.
"But nobody could defeat Riku!" Donald said, that relaxed me a little.
"Y...yeah, you're right." Sora said.
"A black coat mean Organization XIII, He musta been tryin to trick ya." Goofy said.
"you must be tired, Sora." Donald said,
"Huh?" Sora said confused,
"C'mon, let's just find a way to get into that castle!" Goofy said as we begin to walk forward, I begin to fell a sharp pain in my chest... but I couldn't breathe. I fall to my knees as my head begins throbbing, I begin gasping for breath.
"Sara?" Sora runs over to me and knees in front of me, "What's happening?" He asked as Donald and Goofy run up, My entire body begins to pulsate, the Darkness was burning up inside me,
"Cure!" Donald casts on me but has little affect, Sora lays me down on the ground,
"It's not working!" Sora screamed, everything felt like it was slowing down.
"Cura!" Donald yelled as my body begins to relax, I could breathe again, I looked over to Sora who had tears dripping off his face onto mine,
"You ok?" He asked sitting me up, I nod my head... what just happened? I thought the Darkness wasn't going to cause me any more pain... I think it almost killed me! Sora slowly helped me to my feet but I was dizzy upon standing,
"Let's get going," I said,
"Not until you explain what just happened," Sora said holding me up.
"The Darkness inside my heart is killing me." I said,
"What?" Sora, Donald, Goofy looked at me confused,
"My body absorbs Darkness. But it looks like my body is at its limit," I explained,
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Sora asked,
"Because I didn't know this before." I said, pulling away from Sora, "We don't have time for this!" I said as a bunch of heartless appear. "Come on!" I yelled as Sora, Donald and Goofy take out their weapons, I fallow but nothing happens.
"Sara, what are you doing?" Sora said taking out a heartless,
"I... can't feel my Keyblade..." I said as Goofy shields me from a heartless. Donald finishes it off as Sora runs up to me. "I can't summon my Keyblade..." I said, my heart sunk. the final battle is coming up and I can't use my weapon.
"Don't worry Sara, It'll come back," Sora explained how the same thing happened to him on his first adventure. We head out looking for a weapon while heading towards the castle...
"Sara, your eyes..." Sora points out,
"What about them?" I asked,
"they look more red than brown..." he said,
"It's just your imagination." I said as I look up at the castle... Were coming Kairi!