(Everything that has a copyright, is copyrighted to their respective owners. Well... that should satisfy the lawyers. Maybe...)

Oathkeeper

Chapter One: Heartless

'I've been having these wierd thoughts lately...'

Oh yeah, these thoughts were wierd alright. Strange dreams, AND catchy pop-techno music for the duration too. It sounded suspiciously like a song Kairi was listening to a day or two ago... She was a part of those thoughts, those dreams. Riku too... What could it mean? He vaguely remembered Kairi's sunny smile, Riku's calm face, and his hand reaching out to take his. He still didn't understand why he was so calm when there was a freaking tidal wave behind him. Then looking at a falling star, and then BEING the falling star, he had to have taken a hard hit that last game of blitzball. He never was very good at it, and as always Riku wiped the floor with everybody who had the inconvience of being on the other side. Yeah, that had to have been it. He took a blitzball to the face, courtacy of Wakka, and it rattled him to the point of having very wierd dreams.

That didn't explain the ones before this one though. The previous dreams, thoughts...

It took him the better part of a half hour sometimes, sitting in a daze on his bed to set apart what was real and wasn't. And even after that, he couldn't help but wonder if he had misplaced a detail here or there. And he would continue pondering as he set himself up for the rest of the day.

Riku would chuckle and Kairi would bop him on the head for spacing out. When he told them, they listened intently and nodded thoughtfully. They could offer nothing in the form of possible explination

When he told his parents, his mother 'hmmmm'd, making a sound to let him know she WAS in fact paying attention. His father didn't seem to care, writing it off as something going on in his fourteen year old mind. He knew this was the conclusion his mom came to as well, just in the way she patted his head and told him that 'It will pass, dear.'

If it was going to pass, he wished it could've passed earlier. He had been sitting on a stainglass floor for about twenty minutes, trying to wake up and it was not working in the slightest. He knew how to wake up. If he realized he was dreaming, maybe a nightmare or something, he could close his eyes, scream at himself to wake up and he would. It worked every single time but this one. There were three pedistals in front of him, and floating above each was an object. Each one inspired a sense of awe in him, but he was trying not to pay attention to them. He was trying to wake up.

'WAKE UP!'

Unsuccessfully.

'Dammit...' At the use of the language his mother forbade, he mentally flinched slightly. Such was the conditioning of a domestic life. However he didn't know the words 'conditioning' or 'domestic', or the principals behind the phrase. So, he mentally fliched, reminded himself that he shouldn't think or say that word, or a few others on a list that Riku had unknowingly provided for him through HIS daily life and mannerisms.

He finally gave up attempting to wake up, and got to his feet. Looking around, he was suprised by a voice speaking in his head. Not his voice.

'So much to do... so little time...'

So little time? And what were these things that needed doing? ...And why was he hearing voices in his head? Was he going crazy? So many questions... so few answers...

'Take your time... don't be afraid...'

Wait a minute, if there was so little time, why was he allowed to take as long as he wanted? And what should he be afraid of? Well... there were voices in his head first of all. Well, one voice, but it could be the first of many... Secondly, he was pretty sure this platform, made of stainglass, was floating above what might have been a bottomless abyss. A close study over the side of the platform confirmed his suspicions, and he scrambled quickly to the center, far from any edges. Then he realized that such activity on anything made of glass was a bad idea. So again he sat, carefully, and tried not to move a lot. There was a lot of inky black down there and not a lot of ground, however far it might be.

'The door is still shut.'

What door?

'Now step forward... can you do it?'

Well of course he could walk. Was the voice teasing him? He didn't half like it if it was, not like Riku's teasing... This wasn't friend teasing. Maybe it wasn't teasing at all. Still, he was very convinced moving was a bad idea.

The voice had fallen silent. So he should... get up and step forward? Maybe... if this was a dream, he wasn't going to get hurt. Might as well. A few steps wouldn't break the ground if his activity hadn't already. And they didn't. The objects still floated where they were, and they were the only thing his attention could grab, except for the girl depected in the glass. Or those seven strange looking men. No, the sword, wand and shield all floating there were much more interesting to look at.

'Power sleeps within you.'

Oh, the voice was back. Why was it quiet for so long? Maybe this place, this world... revolved around him? Maybe...

'If you give it form... it will give you strength...'

Power? Strength? What sort of strength could he possibly have? He was certainly nothing special. He was shown up constantly at nearly everything. Blitzball, racing, swimming, school grades... about the only talent he could claim was perhaps swordfighting. He and Riku both played at it often, and the fights were generally close. Riku still won mostly though... Riku was stronger, Kairi was smarter, and he was sort of stuck in the middle. He loved his friends so much, and though he obviously knew that word, he like most boys wouldn't be caught dead using it. He would be using it to describe Kairi and Riku, and saying he loved Riku was just wierd. Kairi though, everybody would take notice of that right away and the pair would never hear the end of it. Kairi would be embarassed, and that was something he didn't want to see.

And he was getting off task in his head again, thinking about just everything that wormed it's way in there. He snapped out of it just in time for the three objects to flash and start standing out a bit more. As if they had just lit up.

'Choose well.'

Wait, choose? He could keep one of these? Cool. So he took a closer look at one, the sword first. Blue handle, yellow pommel and guard, large blade... and a red insignia on that guard, something that looked like three circles, aranged in an upside-down trianguar shape. And as he took it in his hands-

-He rushed into a canyon, and a hundred- no, a THOUSAND black and malevolent creatures awaited him. Let them try to take him down. He was strong, insanely so. Not invincible, but closer to that then these things certainly. He was seperated from his companions but he could make out alone if he had to, at least until each of these were no more. His comrades were very strong too, but he wanted to help them just as much as he was sure they wanted to help him. These had to come first, though. He held the sword he chose and asumed a stance, confident smirk daring the first creature to step forth. Several did and he met them with a battle cry, swinging and cutting through the one on his left before-

-and dropped it as a vision of heroism entered his head. That was him, he was certain, using this sword to face down an army, and he knew that he would've come out of it alive, though not unscathed, he would've prevailed. This... this was defenately strength. Was that what the voice was talking about? Would that vision come true if he took this? When he dropped it, it had returned to the pedistal, waiting for him to claim it. Maybe... he should choose the sword?

But there were still two more, a wand and a shield. What did they have to offer? He should find out, maybe they were something better?

He walked, and then angled himself as he decided to examine the wand first. A green handle and on the top, a blue head shaped like that insignia on the sword. Was this shape important? What would he see if he touched it? He reached out with a finger, and touched it, expecting something similar. Nothing happened however, and he wondered if something was wrong. So he grabbed it-

-Fans cheered, several people from several worlds, all there to see HIM. It put a feeling of insurmountable pride in his chest. He knew that word, and several others, because he was smart. He could stare down any enemy and anyalize it and strategize, and deal with it efficiantly, and this made him strong, valued by his companions, his friends. He fought well, and it was a good thing he could, being in a place like this. The gate opposite him opened and black monsters spilled out and rushed him before the man on the sidelines had said the battle could begin. Dishonorable. He waved the wand he chose, and gave it a mighty swing, leveling it at the closest monster, and a burst of flame erupted from the end. One fell, and others rushed to take his place. He raised the wand and lightning began crashing down around him. Magic rushed through his veins as he whipped around to fire off another spell-

-and was shocked when another vision forced it's way through him. He seemed to be somebody completely different that time, and it was streange, but gratifying being that smart. He was not stupid, by any means. Some said he was a bit simple, but he knew he wasn't stupid. Just... for those few seconds, he was so intelligent. And that power he had, magic? Was this the power that rested within him perhaps? These abilitys? Was that what greeted him if he took the wand?

One remained to be seen, and he wondered what vision could possibly accompany a shield. The wand and sword were both weapons, and they promised great power... or did they? Maybe those visions were what they represented? Or perhaps he would aquire these powers, depending on what he took.

While he was considering this, he had already made his way over to the shield, and he gave it an apraising eye. A black shield with a red outline. In the middle, in the same red as the outline was that insignia again. Three circles interlocked. He chuckled to himself as he considered what the shape might be. The image of a head, and two large round ears came first, and he dismissed it because that was rediculous. Reaching out, he grabbed the side-

-In front of him was an enemy, leveling a sword and getting ready to run him through in an attempt to pass him by. Behind Sora was an unconcious friend, somebody he knew, cherished, and loved, who would be used for some decidedly evil purpose. He stood between his enemy and his friend armed only with the shield he chose. He regretted not his decision. He would use this shield to protect gladly. His was a life of self sacrifice, but every time there was something important at stake, and given the chance, he would make no past decision differently. He was forced to face this foe alone, but he would fight and he would win. Bravery surged through him, and a different brand of strength with it as he took the blow and pushed back-

-and released it after the vision. This was no different then the others. Circumstance, yes of course that was different, but at the core... each offered him something. A strength that he could use. The sword, floating there, looking as sharp as anything he had ever seen could cut down any enemy while the wand, almost a mace in it's shape, offered him a level head and calm hand. He could help his friends, or make important decisions, well... both were invaluable. Then...

Behind him the shield shone as if it had been polished for hours. Maybe a day's worth. This offered him valor, courage. In the vision of the warrior, he faced a thousand enemies alone. That was not him. His friends would be there, and if not, they would be shortly. Riku would stand for no less, and Kairi, despite not being anything special in a fight would be just the same. In the vision of the mystic, he thought quickly, stratigised, had a vast vocabulary to boot. He wondered why he couldn't recall the meanings of those words outside of the vision. However, that was still not him. Sora was not the smart one and so he didn't trust himself to make important decisions, ones where the wrong answer would mean a cost he would never want to pay. Riku wouldn't trust himself either, unless he only had himself to rely on at the moment, but that wouldn't be so. They would all discuss, and Kairi would offer some important point, and they would trudge on ahead, content. This was how it always was.

The shield was something different. He was prepared to die, if needed. He knew he wouldn't, but what shocked him about the vision was that he would indeed die gladly if it would save his friends. Death was finality, there would be nothing else. His future would disappear and if there was something after, he would be thrust into the unknown utterly alone. He would've made this sacrifice without hesitation or qualm, and he would be unconvinced that it was foolhardy. Sora didn't know if, should the circumstance present itself, he could commit himself without any sort of thinking first. But he wanted to, oh did he ever. This went beyond looking good to people. This was a degree of protection that would in many cases ensure safety. He wanted to be reliable, he wanted to be depended on, and he wanted to be brave. He didn't know if the vision of the guardian was him, but he wanted it to be, very much. He tenatively reached out for the shield, grasped it, and when he experienced no further visions, he took it into his hands and it split into several lights. These lights entered him, and after realizing what just happened, he also realized that he felt no different. Power? Strength? ...Maybe he already had it? Or maybe he was gyped. Stupid voice...

Then he noticed the shaking.

'Oh no, don't tell me-!'

The pedistals disappeared, sunk into the floor, seemed to break. The wand dissappeared into thin air, and for some reason the sword remained. And the ground began to shatter, from one side to the other, and he was sent spinning, falling into the abyss. The fall slowed and he was gently lowered onto more glass. This time the picture was that of a beautiful woman, obviously a princess. She had to be with that dress and tiara. He heard a whistling in the air, and looked up. Directly above, the sword had fallen and had not slowed at all. In an attempt not to die, he fell backwards, and the sword landed with an audible CLANG, sinking into the floor between his thighs. Sora sat like that, sweating, haunted by the thoughts of what would happen if he had not fallen, or worse, what might've happened if the sword had fallen just a touch closer...

He stood, and wondered why it was still there. He had made his choice, and now the shield was in him for some reason. The sword simply should've vanished with the wand. But it was now here, in the ground which was not shattering, despite the impact and now protruding spike of very deadly metal. Seeing nothing else to do, he touched it wondering if there would be another vision. There was not. He grabbed it's hilt and still saw nothing. so he wrapped both hands around the handle and heaved it out of the ground, and noticed with confusion that it left no mark in the woman's face where it had landed. It was as if it had fallen into his hand directly, no disturbance whatsoever.

'There will be times when you must fight'

'Oh, hello voice. Where have you been?' Then Sora noticed the sword he was holding, and the mention of fighting. 'Wait a sec, what now?!'

He looked around desperately for an enemy and found none. There were now black sploches on the woman's dress though. Why had the picture cha- no, why were those marks moving?!

'Keep your light burning strong.'

Well, light seemed like a good thing to fight shadows with, especially ones that were rising out of the glass. Still, since he had no light, the weapon would have to do. He took a ready position with the sword, and prepared to defend himself against whatever these things were. A small black creature crawled rather creepily out of the floor, and stood at about a foot's height, studying him with large yellow eyes. Horror movie entrence aside, it was actually very cute. Then it yelled a shrill cry and two more joined it. It advanced on him as it's brothers came into being, then lept with an agility he wasn't sure it should have. It stretched the claws Sora failed to notice the first look out at him as if it had been starving for weeks. And Sora was lucky the swing that was half reflex caught it. It tumbled to the side, and disapated in black smoke. And the boy marvled at the sword. It had cut the thing almost in two. It would have if the swing wasn't so awkward. He also wondered why this thing didn't have blood. The shock of actually bisecting a living creature was lost on him as he eyed the other two beasts critically. They were running forward to finish what the first had started. Sora, ready this time, managed to destroy them both as well. And as he grew confident, another hit him in the back. He was knocked to the ground as the creature began slashing his back as Sora reached for the sword. And then the most horrible feeling overcame him.

It felt like the inky creature was reaching inside. Inside of him. And he felt it's little fist closed around something and he grew cold and stunned. It was a different sort of pain as it felt as if something was being snuffed out, and he heard it's cry of victory. In a fit of despiration Sora grabbed the sword, elbowed the creature off, and ran the blade through it's belly, pinning it to the ground, and gasped as if he had not been breathing the entire time. He wasn't, but it didn't matter. Whatever that thing was doing to him...

His back hurt, and his chest felt hollow. Whatever that creature was trying to do, it hadn't suceeded, but it was close. What had it grabbed...? The draft he felt through the hole in the back of his vest and shirt didn't do anything to ease the pain of the doubtlessly bloody scratches below his shoulders. He released the sword, and fell backwards, leaving it stuck in the ground. His heavy breaths were the only sound in the quiet place. And as his heart's beat began to slow, he was terrified again as another black sploch, much larger, appeared directly under him and he fell in to what felt like a vat of molasass. He attempted to keep himself afloat in the strange substance that was once the floor and screamed and screamed for help but none came and he struggled and kicked and kept screaming, and then the substance was gone, and he realised that he was kicking and screaming and struggling on the floor of yet another stain glass platform. Looking around to see if he had embarassed himself in front of anybody, he winced as he felt his back still burning and the lances of pain that came with twisting around to survey this new place. There was a door, and he didn't bother to see what the new floor depicted before getting up and sprinting to it, ignoring how his back complained. Doors were an escape, and he wanted out of this place very much.

The other side of the door yielded nothing. The scenery changed drastically, but he was still in this wierd dream world. How did he know? He simply did. That, and the sword from before was there, stuck in the center of the wooden floor of the fort he remembered from the island his friends visited as often as they could. Why did this place change to resemble home? Why were people he knew here? Three other kids he knew were there, kids he played with ocasionally with Riku and Kairi, but they weren't here with these three. He recognised Tidus, a boy who sometimes played swords with him and Riku. Wakka was over on the other side, a blitzball under his arm. And Selphie, she was leaning against a railing, wearing that secret smile she wore sometimes when she talked to Kairi. They would say something in hushed voices, look at him or Riku, and they would giggle, and it confused them both to no end. All were studying him, and they all looked like they knew something he didn't.

'Hold on, the door won't open just yet...'

'Freaking voice!'

'First, tell me more about yourself...'

'Go to hell! If you don't get me out of here right now, so help me I'll take that sword an- huh?'

He was scared, he was hurt, and above all, he wanted his friends, badly. He had these three mockerys of people he knew, and it angered him because it felt like he was being toyed with. As such, he was threatening, something he wasn't inclined to do, and almost didn't notice Selphie approach him. She waited until he turned his gaze on her, and she asked him a question in her sing-song voice.

"What's most important to you?" That was a good question, one very out of place here though. However, he paused to think about his answer. He had learned the only way to get anywhere was to do the obvious thing, and that right now was to listen and answer this question. The sooner he did, the sooner he could leave this not-quite-a-dream and hug Kairi and Riku and forget it all ever happened. And his answer was there, he guessed. He thought again, thinking that he should answer truthfully.

"... I guess... my friends are most.. important."

"Is friendship really such a big deal?"

"Of course it is! I don't know what I'd do if Riku and Kairi weren't there to... oh... alright, walk away..." When the fake Selphie received her answer, she seemed to lose interest, and she left. Feeling somewhat dejected, he wondered if he had made the right choise. It was thrown back in his face, so perhaps it wa-
"What-da-ya want most outta life?" And he turned to see Wakka had approached him next. His think accent was something he could never place. Aparently he was from another island somewhere. Did they all talk like that there? But the question was one he managed to answer a little faster.

"Um... I want to keep my friends safe. I want to be strong so I can."

"Ya? Interesting... Strong, huh...?" And he too walked away, looking as if he were in deep thought. Sora didn't get a lot of time to think about this as the third question came when Tidus approached him directly after.

"What are you afraid of?" Everything about Tidus was cocky, even the way he talked. Sora got the feeling if he told him, Tidus would immedetely round on him and make fun of him. But, he had to answer, so... what was he afraid of? Sora doubted Tidus was talking about his fear of spiders... no, he was looking for something more complex... He couldn't really concieve being afraid of losing his friends, because the thought seemed preposterous. They would always be there, and he would be faithful to that thought. So what else could he be afraid of...? And then he remembered the feeling of that shadow reaching inside him, and getting ready to remove something. Devour it. Steal it. He shuddered. "...I see..." And that was all Tidus said. Sora's answer never came, but Tidus still knew.

'The day you will open the door is both far off and very near.'

'What the heck's that suposed to mean?'

And then everything was white. Then he could see again and he was back in that dark everything, wondering where all the light was coming from so he could see, standing on stain glass. This time, another beautiful woman, defenately another princess. But she was surounded by black thorns. He thought again of the shadows. And as if summoned, they began to appear. The sword was still stuck in the center of the room, and he scrambled to get it out of the ground, and brought it up, slicing through the first one to jump. He turned around, leading with the blade and cut through another as he tried to figure out how many there were. One rammed into his side, and he paniced, thrusting the weapon through it after he landed on his behind. He kicked one away, and another ran it's claws up his leg. Hissing in pain, he hammered it with the sword and scrambled to his feet, accidentally stepping on one that had made a mad lunge. He ran to the side of the platform, and turned to noticed that he wasn't being followed right away. Two dozen were facing him, spread out and slowly closing in. Three got too eager, and Sora managed to cut two before the third attacked his shoulder, and reached out a claw towards his chest. He knew what it intended to do, and yelled as he hit it with his hurt arm, before stabbing it into the floor. He looked up helplessly, and searched desperately for some form of escape. Behind him, more stainglass was appearing in the form of rising stairs. He was never paticularily religious, but he thanked any god there was anyway, smashing the next attacker aside with renewed vigor, he turned tail and ran up the appearing steps, hoping they wouldn't just decide to stop appearing. The shadows were in hot persuit,a few getting close and scratching the backs of his sprinting legs.

He yelled for help one last time, and sighted another large platform in the distance. Hoping against hope for somebody else to be there, or another weapon, one with the power to destroy each of these black monsters and make the hurting and the fear end, he ran to the stairs end, and was dismayed to find nothing. He turned, eyes wide, attempting to detect when the next would fling itself at him, but was suprised to see the stairs behind him empty of all threats. Whirling around, nothing was there either. He was alone again. The sword made a dull clang when it hit the ground, and he fell to his hands and knees, panting for breath, so glad to still be alive, and wondering feverently what was going to happen next in this dream hell.

'The closer you get to light. The greater your shadow becomes.' His heart and breathing stopped as he drew a bad conclusion from this cryptic message, and he grabbed the sword and looked wildly for any of the shadows. Or something greater.

His eyes settled on his own shadow, which hecouldn't remember casting before now. It was long, and spindly, a twisted version of what it normally was. And it began to rise out of the ground, distorting itself as it grew steadily larger.

'But don't be afraid.'

Long tendrals of whatever those shadows from earlier were made of twisted and writhed around the new creature, and Sora looked on in helpless terror as it continued to grow larger.

'And don't forget...'

He turned and ran to the edge of the platform, and almost fell off. There was no staircase to save him this time. This shadow had him exactly where he wanted him. The sword slipped out of Sora's shaking grasp, and bounced off the edge of the floor, slowly spinning as it fell into the darkness. Now completely defenceless and cursing his clumsiness, he turned to see his terror had stopped growing, and was now stalking towards him, intent unmistakable. It looked just as hungry as the others. It's hand flew out at him, and he would never know how he managed to gather the sense needed to leap away from it. Again, it tried to pin him down, but it missed, again and again the same thing. Once, just once, he lept closer to it in an attempt to get away from both arms, and it kicked him, an attack that blew the air out of his lungs, and caused him to fly close to the edge again. He landed, and coughed, and he was sure he tasted blood. It was so hard to move and again he wished for his friends. Kairi, to comfort him. Riku, to make him feel safe. But they did not come, and the colossus stared into his eyes from where it was, having halted it's advances. Darkness appeared under Sora, and it began to drag him down.

'But don't be afraid...' The voice repeated, as he struggled weakly to free himself.

'You hold the mightiest weapon of all.' Sora trembled as the cold darkness wrapped around him, and the monster stood by and watched his demise.

'So don't forget...' It became hard to breathe, and he screamed again as he felt something seeping into him and wraping around a part of him deep inside. Something shifted, and he became colder and colder as the shadows slowly took what they had been hunting the entire time. His vision grew darker, and he wondered if this was what it was like to die. That part of him was not gone, but it was slowly being ripped from him and it was agony in everything it was.

'You are the one who will open the door.'

'Riku... Kai...ri...'

"Sora!" And he bolted upright, quickly blinded by the sun, and he tried to collect what had happen. HIs mind was moving quickly and much too slowly at the same time, and it was overwhelming him. "Sora, are you alright? You were thrashing... I thought you were having a nightmare... were you...?" Kairi's pretty face was the next thing he saw, and her lips were pursed in concern. He said nothing. He could say nothing, because suddenly everything was okay, and whatever was happening barely twenty seconds ago had to have been worse then death!

"Sora! Kairi!" Riku ran over, dropping a log he was carrying as he came close. "Sora, you were struggling pretty hard... what were you doing? Are you alright?" When Sora again said nothing, he turned to Kairi for some form of explination. She gave none, being as clueless as he was. Sora's attention was now on the sand he was sitting on, the sand he had aparently been sleeping on. His back still hurt, his shoulder, his legs... a quick check showed that they were still clawed, and bleeding badly. And he felt his mysteriously mended shirt starting to stick to his back as blood started to soak it. Riku noticed the blood slowly running down his arm first, and put his hand on Sora's other shoulder. "Sora! What happened?!" Panic was evident in his voice. Kairi noticed right after, and softly placed a hand on his cheek to turn his face to hers.

"Sora, how did you get hurt like this...? It's..." He was bleeding, hurt, and every movement he made caused it to hurt worse. He was bloody and dizzy and tired, and he could still taste the metalic tang resulting from that kick, and that meant it was not a dream. As Kairi was the one he was currently facing, he wailed and threw his arms around her, holding her tightly, never wanting her or Riku to leave him alone ever again, and after a few moments of awkward confusion, she embraced the crying Sora back, and whispered into his ear things that Riku could not make out. He didn't have to make these things out, because he was in dispair seeing his friend in this state, so he didn't really care how Kairi was reassuring Sora. The only thing that mattered was that he had yet done nothing to contribute. He knelt down, and enveloped Sora in his strong arms from behind. His hands came to rest on Kairi's back, his arms having constricted around them both, and the two held Sora as he cried and wailed and they couldn't bring themselves to ask about whatever had horrified him so, or what had hurt him, so they just held eachother and hoped soon that the terror would stop, and they could find out what happened, and make sure that it never happened to him again.

They were on that beach until the sun set.