Kingdom Hearts III: Return of the Darkness
Chapter Two: Recovery
*With Sora: Dive to the Heart*
Sora opened his eyes at the sensation of falling. He looked down and saw a stained-glass platform underneath him, similar to those at the Station of Calling. Just from looking at it, he could tell that this was different.
There were two people were depicted on it instead of just one. The person on the left, looked a little like Roxas, but slightly younger and with different clothes. The other person, was covered in a muscle-like full-body suit slightly similar to the one Riku used to wear, his face covered by a mask of black glass. The outside of the platform was ringed with two symbols, on the Masked Boy's side, it was a spiky and menacing-looking heart-like, on the other boys side it was different, not menacing, in fact, there was something familiar about it, The shape looked like an upside-down flier-de-lis, but was more angular and had a heart shape at the top.
But what really struck him, was that both were carrying Keyblades. The blond boy's was brown and gold in color, a slightly different shape than most Keyblades, with the blade being offset from the handle, a slightly bent blade, and a wing-like fan of 'teeth'. It almost looking like it was being blown out of shape by the wind. He held it backhand.* The masked boy's was red and black, and had a gear-like shape on the tip of the blade, forming the 'teeth' and a similar shape as a handguard and a copper gear in the middle of the blade, the tip and pommel also held light-blue reptilian eyes.**
Sora touched down gently on the glass and looked around. "Where am I?" He asked, hoping that Roxas would answer.
"Doesn't matter." Replied a voice that definitely wasn't Roxas. "All you need to know is that you'll be spending the rest of your life here."
"Who's there!" Demanded Sora, the Oblivion flashing into his hand.
"Again. Doesn't matter." Responded the same arrogant, dark voice, this time coming from behind him.
Sora spun around to see the Masked Boy standing behind him. "Who are you? What are you doing in my Heart?"
"Wow, you are a slow learner." Replied the Masked Boy, his Keyblade materializing into his hand in a cloud of Darkness. "Listen carefully. It. Doesn't. Matter. Nothing will after I hijack your body and take care of your so-called 'friends'."
"Like that'll happen." Smirked Sora. "If you could have done that, you would have done it long ago."
"True. But thanks to my old Master, The chains that bound me were weakened, just enough for to snap them. I've been nice to you, letting you use my Dark powers when you needed them, but no more. Form now on, I'm calling the shots."
"I've never used any 'Dark powers'."
"Oh really?" Asked The Boy. "Look familiar?" He raised his upturned hand, and an image of Anti-Sora appeared.
"That was you!" Demanded Sora. "That form almost got me killed a few times!"
"You wouldn't have died. Your idiotic 'friends' would have taken taken care of you." He shrugged. "But I'm tired of sitting here, having my powers used for the purpose of Light." He declared, moving closer. "I'm busting out, and when I do, I'll be having a blast. Starting by destroying all that you hold dear." By now he was inches away from Sora. "Especially those two idiots you always hang around. What are their names? Riku and Kairi? I'll destroy them first."
"You won't touch them!"
"Sure I will. Especially the Redhead. I'll be touching her all over." Sora could practically hear his grin. "Who knows, if the behaves, I might even keep her around for a while, have some fun with her."
Sora roared and lashed out with his Keyblade. The Masked Boy blocked just in time, struggling to keep Sora's blade back. Sora pushed harder, and forced The Masked Boy back across the platform.
"Okay, you're stronger than I thought." He admitted. "But let's see how fast you are." He charged at Sora, and when he was a few feet away, he jumped into the air as if to slash Sora. But he froze in place, then faded out of existence, only to reappear behind Sora and slash downwards.
Sora, however, used a reversal to get behind his foe and attack him from behind.
"Okay, you're also faster than I thought. I guess that I can't take you out like this." He smirked. "So I'll have to go all-out." He concentrated for a moment, and an aura of flame-like Darkness surrounded him. He charged at Sora, much faster than before, and unleashed a flurry of rapid slashes with his Keyblade. Sora blocked them, but his Keyblade was knocked out of his hand and he was pushed back, sliding until his heels were hanging over the edge of the platform.
The Masked Boy brought his Keyblade down in an overhead slash. Sora summoned Oathkeeper to block it. The impact caused Sora to loose his balance and fall off the edge. He stabbed his Keyblade into the side of the platform to prevent himself from falling.
The Masked Boy kneeled down at the edge of the platform. "You just don't now when to quit, don't you?" He asked, bringing his Keyblade close to Sora's hands. "Say 'Goodbye'!" He brought his Keyblade down.
Light suddenly illuminated the inky blackness surrounding the platform. "Leave him alone, Vanitas!" Shouted a new voice.
"You!" Shouted Vanitas, sounding outraged. "You stay out of this! It doesn't concern you!"
"We both live in this body, it concerns me!"
Sora felt himself be lifted up, away from Vanitas, and above the clouds. Then he was dropped off on another platform identical to the one he vas just taken off of.
Sora got up. "Who are you?" He asked. He turned around and saw the Roxas-looking boy depicted on the platform.
"My name's Ventus." The boy introduced himself. "But everyone calls me 'Ven'."
"Nice to meet you. What are you doing inside of me?"***
"I guess you earned an explanation, so I'll try to keep this short. On the day you were born, I was dying. My heart had been fractured in a way that it couldn't repair itself. Somehow, your heart reached out to mine and gave me a piece of it." Explained Ven. "Thanks to you, I was able to survive." Then his expression turned serious. "And about four years later, I had to abandon my body in order to keep the worlds safe. So that's why I'm here. I'm asking you to return me to my body."
"I guess I can do that. But I need to know where it is."
"I don't know that. But I know who does. A friend of mine, Aqua."
"Alright, where is she?"
"I don't know." Said Ven, wearing an expression that was somewhere between sheepish and downtrodden. "She dropped my body off somewhere safe and never came back."
"Alright then. I'll find her as soon as I stop Xehanort." Promised Sora.
"No! You need to find her now!" Pleaded Ven. "Before Xehanort does."
"Why would Xehanort be looking for you?"
"Because I have something he needs for his plans to come to fruition." Explained Ven. "I have the χ-blade."
"Umm... So what? Xehanort has a Keyblade. I fail to see what the big deal is."
"No!" Exclaimed a frustrated Ven. "Not 'Keyblade'." He held out his hand, a glyph appearing above it. "'χ' an ancient letter. Some say 'Kye' but the meaning is the same. 'Death'. A letter that spells endings. The χ-blade can only be forged if two hearts of equal strength, One pure Light and the other of pure Darkness, clash. I unwillingly created the χ-blade in order to save my friends. there can only be one in existence at any given time, and it remains locked within my body, and if Xehanort finds it, he will use it to gain control over Kingdom Hearts. And rule all Worlds."
Just then, the pillar they were on shook.
"Vanitas is coming." Warned Ven, summoning his Keyblade (Wayward Wind). You need to get out of here. Once you do, ask King Mickey about Aqua. He'll know what to do."
"What about Vanitas, can you take him?" Asked Sora, concerned.
"Yeah." Answered Ven, not sounding too sure of himself.
"Here." Said Sora, pressing a Keychain into Ven's hand. "This is the Keychain to one of my most powerful Keyblades."
Ven looked at the Keychain and back at Sora. "You sure?"
"Yeah."
Ven swapped Keychains, taking a moment to admire the teal-blue and yellow Ultima** that had just appeared in his hand. He uttered a quick thanks and pressed something into Sora's hand.
"Go now!" He commanded, grabbing Sora by the front of his shirt and lifting him up.
Sora started to rise, high above the platform. Looking down, he saw Vanitas jump to Ven's platform, preforming several aerial flips in the process before slamming his Keyblade into Ven's. The rest of the battle was lost as the black clouds obscured Sora's vision, and he rose into the light of consciousness.
*Real World: Sora's barely-conscious Mind*
"Guys! I think he's waking up!" Shouted Riku's voice, barely penetrating the heavy curtain of sleep that wrapped around Sora.
He tried to open his eyes, but the lids felt like they were sewn shut, and his body weighed a million pounds.
Another voice, Mickey's. "He's right fellas! Sora, wake up!"
"Back up, give him some room!" Another voice
"Sora! Can you hear me!" Yet another voice.
'Ugh. This is too stressful.' Thought Sora and the multitude of voices were further muffled by the tightening grip of unconsciousness. 'Maybe I should go back to sleep. Yeah. That sounds nice.' He started to slip back into unconsciousness. 'I won't sleep for long... Just a few... more... hours...'
And he would have, were it not for one voice piercing through the blackness that he was falling into. One soft plea that cut through the curtain of sleep, heard over the crowding loudness of the voices surrounding him. It grabbed onto him and pulled him back to the surface.
"Sora... Please wake up." Pleaded Kairi.
Sora fought back against the blackness, and felt his body get lighter. Fighting harder, he slowly opened his eyes.
*Real World*
Sora opened his eyes, and soon felt two soft arms wrap around his neck, followed by a faint strawberry-vanilla scent. Even his sleep-addled mind recognized it instantly.
"K... Kairi?" He mumbled, his mouth felt like cotton., and he couldn't see our of his left eye.
She released him and stepped back. "Yes Sora. We were so worried about you."
"We?" Sora looked around and saw... everyone. Kairi, Riku, Donald, Goofy and... "Mom?"
"Sora. Good morning." She said, seeming out of it, as if still coming to terms with what had happened to her son.
"How is everyone?" Asked Sora. "Is anyone else hurt?" He tried to sit up, and felt pain explode across his torso. He yelled out in pain and wrapped an arm around it.
"Sora!" Shouted Kairi. She grabbed an elixir off of a nearby cart, pulled the cork, and held it to Sora's lips with her right hand. Supporting the back of his head with her left hand as he drank it.
After he downed it, Sora felt much less pain, and a lot less tired. "Thanks. How is everyone?"
Kairi couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Cuts and bruises at worst. Maybe a few stress fractures from fighting Xehanort." She reported. "But you were in really bad shape."
A Broom in a white labcoat walked into the room carrying a chart, which Riku promptly took.
"You has massive lacerations over your torso and your left eye." He reported, seeing Sora feel the bandages wrapped over the upper-left part of his head. "You also and a crushed ribcage, a collapsed lung and a stress fracture on your right arm from blocking Xehanort's attack." He gave the chart back to the Broom. "Ultimately, you were the most damaged by the attack, Donald and Daisy's relationship coning in second."
"Their..? What?"
Goofy chose to answer. "Well uh, After you blacked out and Xea... Zeh..."
"Xehanort!" Squawked Donald
"Right! After he escaped, Daisy started yellin' 'bout how her wedding was ruined." Explained Goofy.
"Donald got mad at her because she seemed more concerned over her wedding than the fact that you were bleeding out on the floor." Finished Riku. "They haven't spoken to each other in a few days."
"That's too b-" Started Sora, then something clicked. "A few days!" He asked. "How long have I been out!"
There was an uncomfortable silence in the room before Kairi finally said it.
"Two days. You've been out for two days."
"I've been out for three days, while Xehanort has been out doing who-knows-what?" Panicked Sora. "How long until I can get back up?"
"Welp, you should be clear to walk around, but I'd avoid anything too strenuous for a few days." Answered Mickey. "But why do you want to know?"
"I need to find someone. Someone important. And I need to stop Xehanort."
"No! Absolutely not!" Scolded his mother, coming out of her stupor for a moment. "Look at yourself, you almost died!"
"Mom." Said Sora, sounding very mature. "I've known that this day would come for quite a while now. I had hoped that I would have a longer time, but I guess that I won't. The Woulds need me. They need to be saved."
"But why does it have to be you?" Asked his mother. "Why not the King? He's been doing this for far longer that you have!"
"Mom. This is something I have to do. I didn't ask for it, but I got it. This is bigger than you, bigger than me, bigger than all of us. And I need to see it through."
"But... But..." She tried to find an argument, but looked around to see the faces of Sora's friends. "I know." She admitted. "It's just. The last time you went, you were gone for a year. I don't want that to happen again."
Sora grinned. "Don't worry. I wont. I was gone because I spent a whole year sleeping. It won't happen again." He promised. "I'll be back in a few weeks if it all goes well. A few months tops."
She decided to not ask what would happen if it didn't go well. "Be safe?" She requested.
"No promises." He joked.
Mickey smiled, glad that Sora was okay. Then he remembered his other reason for calling the Keybladers over and got serious. "I don't mean to break this up, but I need to talk to Sora, Riku and Kairi." Requested the diminutive King. "Alone. Keyblader's ears only."
"Alright. C'mon everybody. The king needs to talk in privacy." Said Goofy as he and Donald ushered themselves, Sora's mother, Riku's father and Kairi's parents (Who Sora had only just noticed) out of the room.
Once they were gone, Mickey turned to face Sora, Riku and Kairi. "Now, I'm sure that you all have some questions about what just happened. Ask and I'll do my best to answer them."
"Well. Let's start with the obvious." Shrugged Sora. "Who was that guy?"
"His name, is Master Xehanort. Keyblade Master of Darkness." Explained Mickey. "A decade ago, he tried to take over the universe and plunge the worlds into Darkness. And he almost succeeded. But he was stopped, by three Keybladers, named Ventus, Terra, and Aqua-"
"Ven!" Exclaimed Sora. "Your majesty, I don't really understand how or why, but Ven's heart is inside me."
"What?" Asked Mickey. "Are you sure?"
"Spiky blond hair, blue eyes, holds his keyblade backhand?" Described Sora
"Yes! That's him! I've been searching for them for almost ten years now! Does he know where Aqua is? Or where his body is?"
"No. All he knows is that Aqua dropped his body off somewhere safe and never came back." Answered Sora. "But back to Xehanort. Ven mentioned something about a 'χ-blade'? What is that?"
"The χ-blade is a very special Keyblade. The Keyblades that You or I wield exist to unite Kingdom Hearts. The χ-blade exists alongside Kingdom Hearts." Seeing the looks of confusion, he explained, "When two hearts of equal strength, one of pure Light and the other of pure Darkness clash, the χ-blade is created and Kingdom Hearts is revealed. Xehanort planned to use the χ-blade to open the lanes between all worlds and ignite a new Keyblade war, killing thousands. After that, he would emerge victorious and harness the power of Kingdom Hearts, and rule the Universe."
"Wait wait wait." Interrupted Riku, lost. "Okay, That guy we just fought, looked like he was our age. Ten years ago, he would have been a kid. Explain that."
"Okay. Ten years ago, Xehanort was an old man. You remember that Keyblader I mentioned, Terra. Xehanort knew that he would not survive the Keyblade war in his frail, old body. And when he net Terra, and saw the Darkness in Terra's heart. Xehanort schemed to stoke those flames of darkness, and transfer himself into Terra's body." Explained Mickey. "He probably won't look the same when you see him next. I'm sure that he only looked like that because Terra had control over the body when they reformed."
"Is that even possible?" Asked Kairi.
"With the Keyblade, many things are possible." Answered Mickey. "Not all of them good."
"I have another question. When I was in my heart, with Ven, there was someone else there. Ven called him... 'Vanitas'. Who is that?"
"Vanitas!" Panicked Mickey. "He's inside you as well!"
"Yes. Who is he?"
"After Xehanort realized that he would need a new body to survive the Keyblade War, he began to search. He found Ventus." Explained Mickey. "Xehanort took young Ven under his wing, training him to become a Keyblade Wielder of Darkness, but Ven was reluctant to use the powers of Darkness. So Xehanort used Ven as a part of his plan to forge the χ-blade. He used his Keyblade to extract a piece of Ven's heart, along with all of Ven's darkness, and created Vanitas."
"Xehanort took too much of Ven's heart. Didn't he?" Asked Sora.
"Yes. Something about Ven's situation must have struck a chord within Xehanort, who took him to Destiny Islands, his homeworld-"
"XEHANORT IS FROM DESTINY ISLANDS!" Yelled Sora, bewildered.
"Yes. Sora." grumbled Mickey, sticking a finger into his large ear in an attempt to relieve some of the throbbing that Sora's yell had caused. "Anyway, Something happened while he was there, and Ven's heart was repaired. Sora, you talked to Ven, does he know what happened?"
" Ven and Xehanort arrived at Destiny Islands on the day of my birth. Somehow, my heart reached out to his, and I gave him a piece of it." Explained Sora. "That's all I know."
"That's fine. I can fill in the rest. Xehanort took Ven to his old friend, and Keyblade Master of Light, Eraqus, who fostered Ven into a capable fighter. When it was time for Terra and Aqua to take their mark of mastery Exams, Xehanort put his plan in motion. Luring Ven, Terra and Aqua away from their home, he forged the χ-blade and took over Terra's body. But the χ-blade was destroyed thanks to Ven, fighting Vanitas from within, and Aqua fighting him from without." Mickey looked at Sora. "Don't worry Sora, Ven's beaten Vanitas before, and he'll do it again."
"Yeah." Said Sora. He then noticed that he was holding something in his hand. He opened it and saw two Keychains. The first was two silver feathers wrapped around a green crystal, and the other one was a heart with a piece missing, wrapped in two angelic wings.
"Sora!" Gasped Mickey. "Where did you get those!"
"Ven must have given them to me, after I gave him the Keychain for the Ultima." Said Sora. "But why would he give me two?"
"Well. That Keychain that looks like a broken heart, that's the keychain to one of Ven's most powerful Keyblades. He must have wanted you to have it if you were going to be fighting." Guessed Mickey. "But the other one is for the first Keyblade he ever got. I don't know why he would give you that one, it's not particularly strong."
"Well. I'll ask him the next time I see him." Shrugged Sora. "But for now, what should we do?" Asked Sora.
"Go home." Answered Mickey with finality.
"But Xehanort-"
"We don't know where he is or what he's planning. What I need you to do is to go back home and train. Especially Kairi. At her current level, she won't last five minutes."
Hearing no arguments to his statement, Kairi complained "Thanks for the support guys!"
"What?" Asked Riku. "He's right."
"I know, But I don't like being reminded that I'm the weakest link."
"Don't worry Kairi. We'll get you up to snuff." Promised Riku.
"Yeah. You'll be just as good as us when we're done with you." Said Sora, grinning.
"Alright then. If you're ready, I'll get you a Gummi ship and get you back to the Islands." Offered the King.
"That would be nice." Said Sora, accepting his offer.
They exited the room, Sora being brought out in a wheelchair. Proceeded to the Gummi Hanger, and set off for Home.
*With Xehanort: After He Left Disney Castle*
Xehanort stumbled out of the Dark Corridor. He then fell to his knees and leaned on his Keyblade, panting in exhaustion.
"The time I spent divided must have taken a greater toll on me than I thought." He muttered.
He looked around and saw that he was in an alleyway surrounded by tall buildings as black as night. Staggering out of the alley, he looked out into the distance and saw a huge, white castle looming in the distance.
"I must be in The World That Never Was." He observed. "Why did I come here? No matter. There must be something here that I need, else the Darkness would not have brought me here." Focusing, he felt a pull towards the Castle. "In there."
He had not taken three steps when a Shadow Heartless popped out of the ground and lunged at him. Grunting, he lashed out with his Keyblade and destroyed it in one hit. A small, pink, crystalline Heart was released from the inky cloud that was once the Heartless.
But what was most interesting, was the inky cloud itself. Rather than dispersing, ti flowed into Xehanort. He suddenly felt stronger.
Three more Shadows lunged at him, he destroyed them all. Again, the Darkness flowed into him.
"Well. If I am going to get my strength back, what better way than this." He thought. "I'll remind these pitiful creatures who's in charge later. But for now, they'll serve for the purpose of making me stronger than I ever was before." He grinned. "COME HEARTLESS!" He roared. "I KNOW YOU WANT MY HEART! TAKE IT!" He challenged, then added quietly; "If you can."
He was pleased when countless Heartless arrived, all intent on turning him into one of them. Gripping his Keyblade tighter, Master Xehanort waded into the sea of Shadows and Neoshadows, swingign his Keyblade every which way.
*End Chapter Two*
Yo, This is Khaos.
Sorry it took so long, but I had a bad case of writers block, and an even worse case of research papers.
So, there was a little plot development in this, Not as much as I would have liked, but still, some.
Another reason it took me so long to get this out is because of an excellent fic:
'Looming Darkness: Daybreak' By: Shadow Horizons. It is, without a doubt, one of the best fics I have ever read. Those of you reading this, check it out.
Remember to Review. I got two reviews for the first chapter. Reviews will get these chapters out faster. So click the button and tell me what you think.
*Wayward Wind, Ven's default Keyblade.
**Void Gear. Vanitas' Keyblade.
***That's what she said. There, I said it. Happy now?
-Khaos