What's this? Another update, it is my friends! :)
The tall walls of the castle cast eerie shadows in the hallway. There was definitely something off about this castle, it just seemed, so... dark and desolate. It was hard to feel comfortable in there, the darkness felt heavy. I'm glad that Ventus is here by my side, I would be scared if I were by myself.
"Still no sign of Terra." Ventus stated sadly, yanking me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah," I sigh, "I guess not, but soon. I'm sure of it." I said trying to reassure my companion as well as myself.
After that we remained silent. The only sound was our own footsteps on the hard stone floor. We continued this way for awhile before we came upon a single wooden door.
"What do you think's in here?" I inquire. Not waiting for a response I pushed open the large door and walked in. "There's some nice furniture in here."
Ven looked around at the furnishings, "It's the only furniture we've seen here, in this castle I mean."
I nod in response. He was right after all, there's been nothing but brick, after brick, after brick. I turn around and my eyes widen at what I see, "Uhh... Ventus?"
"What?" He asked absently as he looked at his reflection in a gold-rimmed mirror.
I sighed, "Yes, Ventus, you're cute, so stop looking in the mirror and come here!" I whine but blush slightly after realizing what I told him.
Ven walked over and stood at my side a quizzical expression in his clear blue eyes, "Wha- Oh..." He trailed off once he saw what I did. A sleeping woman.
"How did we not notice her until now?" I pondered out loud. I silently crept over to the edge of her bed. I check behind me to make sure Ven is following. He was.
"Wow..." Ven breathed out as he looked on at the sleeping princess in awe. Her sandy blonde hair, her beautiful golden necklace and tiara set. Not to mention the stunning violet-colored dress she on, I had to admit. She really is, like Ven said, 'wow'."
"Stop! You get away from her!" A voice that belonged to a woman echoed throughout the room. The sudden noise startling me, causing me to jump and Ventus to whirl around.
I cautiously turn around to face the same direction my friend is looking at. I let out a sigh as I noticed our 'offenders' were nothing but three old ladies dressed in red, blue, and green dresses.
"Wha? O-oh, I'm sorry." Ventus stuttered, taking a few step closer to the women, "It's just, I've never seen anyone so beautiful." He awkwardly scratches the back of his neck for a few breif seconds.
The woman dressed in red glided a few inches off the ground and came toward Ventus and I. She landed in front of us, my dumbfounded gaze followed her.
"Who are you?" She inquired, flying in tight circles around the both of us.
"I'm Ventus. But you can call me Ven." He pointed at himself.
"Cyrah. Just Cyrah..."
The green fairy smiled at us, "Oh, you don't bad, dear. I'm certain you have a pure heart. Just like our precious Aurora." She looked at my companion before averting her gaze towards me, "And any friend of his can't be too bad. Even if your heart has lightly touched upon darkness."
"What do you mean?" I asked defensively, "My heart's pure, just like Ventus'!"
The green fairy simply stared at me, not knowing how to respond. I noticed the shortest fairy slowly shaking her head.
I looked down in defeat and realization, 'There is darkness residing within my heart... how did this happen? How could I have let it happen?'
"Sorry, for... you know." I managed to squeak out my apology to the fairy. I look up and see Ven staring at me. I smiled at him to let him know I was fine.
"Can you tell me why she's sleeping?" My spikey-haired friend asked, finally taking his attention away from me.
"Long ago, Maleficent put a curse on her. Now, she's stolen her heart." The red fairy explained with a sad expression.
Ventus crossed his arms in thought, "Hmm... Well then, why don't we get it back for her?"
"That's impossible, dear." The green fairy stated, "Maleficent's home is at the Forbidden Mountain. It's not safe."
"We're not afraid. We can't just leave Aurora like this. We can help, you gotta beleive us." Ven convincingly stated.
I nod my head causing my bangs to fall in front of my eyes, "C'mon, let's go get her heart!"
All three fairies exchange a questioning glance amongst themselves before back to face us, "You know, you're absolutely right," The red dressed one chimed, "The Forbidden Mountain is through the forest. Come along- follow us. After all, we wouldn't want you to get lost."
We all left Princess Aurora's castle and began the trek to The Forbidden Mountain. The dark, ominous trees were leafless, or barely had any. The gnarled branches cast scary looking shadows on the dirt path.
"So, Cyrah," Ven started, a grin spread across his lips, "You think I'm cute, huh?"
I look at him, "What?" I ask bewildered.
"Earlier, when I was looking in the mirror. You said I was cute." He placed his hands behind his head and looked at me with his cute lopsided grin.
"Uhh... yeah, about that- Oh! What's that?" I point at a strange green, glowing barrier, "Looks like we're stuck."
Ven nods but still stares curiously at me, but I ignore it, not wanting to tell him how I really feel.
"This must be Maleficent's doing." The red fairy examines the barrier carefully before gliding back to the group.
The green fairy aimlessly waved her wand back and forth. She suddenly glides toward the green barrier, "I know,"she waved her magic wand and the barrage slowly diminishes, "Shall we?"
I smile seeing the smug look on the fairy's face, "Yup." The other fairies look at the air where the barricade once stood before nodding.
Continuing the trek in calmed silence the fortress which Maleficent calls home gradually came into view. I look over at my friend, a mischievous smile on my lips, "Ventus, bet I can beat you there."
"You mean... like, a race?" He asked staring at me.
"Noo..." I sarcastically stated, "Of course not a race, Ventus."
Ven softly chuckled, a goofy grin appearing, "Okay, Cyrah. I get it, a race." He nodded, accepting the challenge, "Ready?"
I nod, "Go!" I took off sprinting as fast as I could, Ven trail only but inches behind. I was so focused on the race, I hadn't noticed the trees of the forest fading and being replaced by towering castle walls. I slightly tripped but was able to retain my balance, but Ventus ran ahead of me.
"Ventus?!" I call worried as I saw him trip and fall to the ground, "Are you okay?"
He rubs the back of his head and slightly winced, "Yeah, I'm fine," he stands up and looks around, "Where are we?"
I look around, just now noticing we were no longer in the forest, "I'm not too sure, " I admit, "I guess we were pretty absorbed in that race of ours."
"Yup." My shy friend agreed, "Who are they?" He asked pointing to a bunch of small, people in brown suits of armour. They were all standing on the outside rims of a circular room.
"Careful, they're Maleficent's." The fairy dressed in red explained with a warning.
Ven examines the weird looking guards from a distant, "Well, they ain't guardin' nothing."
I rolled my eyes and a playful smile stretched across my lips, "Really Ventus? I don't anyone noticed that!" I giggled.
My companion rolled his eyes and lightly chuckled, " Come on! Gimme a break, Cyrah." We both laughed for a bit, before getting back to our mission.
One of the guards lets out a loud, obnoxious yawn that echoed around the small round room. Ventus and I share an amused glance.
Ven summoned his Wayward Wind keyblade before nodding in my direction and sprinting to the center of the circular room, "Ten-shun!"
All the guards woke up and leapt to their feet. I dashed over to my best friend's side and smirked, "No sleeping on the job!" I called out as my own keyblade materialized in my hand.
The guards, clearly shaken, began advancing toward us with small swords and shields. I swung my blade at the nearest guard causing it to fly back. Jumping in the air I swung my weapon in a downward motion, hitting two of the undersized men. I watched as they both dissapeared, slowly fading into the ground. I turned around just in time to get hit in the side of my face by a shield. I let out a quiet squeak of pain before kicking my attacker as hard as I could against the wall. I looked around for more only to watch Ven take out the last of them.
"We make a pretty good team. You and I." I boasted with a grin as I tried ignoring the stinging pain in my cheek. I look at Ven and smile encouragingly, "You're getting better, like, seriously."
Ventus nodded, "We do make a good team, a great team, " He agreed, "Thanks, Cyrah. You're getting better yourself." He praised.
"Thanks!" I chirped happy to be praised by my best friend. He nodded and the both of us continued trudging through the evil, dark, and forbidden castle.
Abruptly stopping in front of the same glowing green gas as the barrier was. The diabolical looking gases were springing up from a circular platform, floating at the very top was a shining orb.
"How do we get that down?" I wondered out loud.
My blonde friend stayed silent as he closely studied his keyblade he held in hand. He calmly looked up at the levitating ball of light. Then taking a step back he pointed his keyblade at the orb, causing a bright light to rush out of his weapon and destroy the green gases. The orb flew in circles around us before zooming away out the door, "That should do it."
I stay quiet pondering how my friend knew exactly what to do. A startled squeak managed to escape my lips as a blinding white light engulfed the whole room.
The white light faded to reveal Aurora and another guy standing in a lush green forest. The small birds were singing a lovely tune, the sun was shining, and the air carried a faint breeze.
"Don't you remember? We've met before." The guy, most likely a prince, said trying to jog Aurora's memories.
The princess tilted her head, "We... we have?" She asked feeling genuinely confused.
The Prince nodded his head, "Why of course," he took the princess' hand in his, "You said so yourself- once upon a dream." He finished his sentence before wrapping an arm around her waist and gently guiding her to the edge of a cliff. Below the steep hillside ran a crystal blue river, which was in direct sight of their location.
Aurora sighed joyously, "I never thought I would get to meet you-" she affectionately rested her head on the princes shoulder, "Outside of my dreams, that it."
"Who are you? What's your name?" The brunette prince questioned.
Aurora stayed quiet for a moment before answering his question," Hmm? Oh, my name... why it's..." She began before trailing off, "Oh, oh no, I can't..." she shook her head causing her blonde locks to sway. She turned and started running away, "Good-bye!"
Prince reaches for Aurora, only to catch the air, "I must see you!" He pleaded.
Aurora turned around and smiled in a sweet manner, "I don't know! Maybe someday." She stated turning back around and continuing to run.
"When? Tomorrow?" The prince called out to her vanishing figure.
The beautiful blonde princess didn't stop her sprinting, "Oh no. This evening! At the cottage in the glen."
The light fades away revealing the same castle we were in before the flash.
"What was that?" Ventus and I said in unison. I turned around at hearing one of the fairies speak.
"Aurora's memory. She must've gotten her heart back." Merriweather explained with a humongous smile plastered her .
"So, her dream came true!" Ven smiled just as a child would. Seeing everyone smile around , it was hard not to join in.
"Yes, not to long ago." Merriweather began, "Dreams are very strong beleifs. Aurora's led her to her true love." Shesmiled kindly.
Fawna softly gazed at Ven and I, "I see you hold strong beliefs too, don't you, dear?"
Ven and I exchanged a brief glance between us, "Yep." She said in unison before lightly laughing at how similar we thought sometimes.
Merriweather stared at us for a long moment, not moving until she finally spoke to us, "You also have a strong light... both of you."
I stared at her in astonishment, "Both of us? But... earlier you-"
"All right. Hurry, we can't stay here!" Flora warned. She turned and led the way out of the current room. We ended up in a wide room at the end of a long, narrow corridor.
"Someone has released Aurora's heart. Tell me children, was it you?" Asked a tall, pale woman as she turned around.
"Maleficent!" Merryweather, Flora, and Fauna called out in shocked unison.
"Only because you stole her heart in the first place!" Ven screeched angrily, summoning his dark gray keyblade. He ran at the wicked witch and swung his keyblade at her.
"Ventus!" I cried out worried for his safety. Maleficent disappeared in a puff of gastly green smoke. I ran up next to Ven, keyblade in hand.
"A keyblade... you must be Ventus and Cyrah." The evil woman's voice echoed throughout the room. I looked around as my comrade did the same, he pointed up to a high ledge. She was standing on it, looking down upon us.
"Huh?" I breathed dumbfounded ad to how Maleficent had sudden reappeared in a different location then when Ven attacked her.
Ven stared up at her, a dumbfounded expression on his face also, but for a different reason, "How do you know about us... and the keyblade?"
Maleficent's lips twisted into a devil-ish smirk, "My powers ensure I'd know of the key to bringing me hearts. Terra gave me a demonstration."
"Terra?" I started in question.
"He was here?" Ven finished, a hopeful glint in his eyes.
Maleficent nodded in an evil way, "Why, yes. In fact, it was he who stole Princess Aurora's heart." She smirked, obviously enjoying the reactions she was receiving from the both of us.
I clenched my fist tightly and stared at the stone ground before quickly looking up and yelling, "Shut up, Maleficent!Terra would never do anything like that! No matter what!"
Ventus nodded agreeing with me, "Yeah, that's nothing but a lie!" He shouted.
Maleficent glared daggers at us, "I was asked to leave you both unharmed... but it seems I have no choice." She said seething with rage.
Maleficent jumped from the ledge she was standing on and used dark magic to attack us. I jumped dodging out of the way in the nick of time. I struck her with as much force as I could manage to muster. I was about to swing when Maleficent threw a ball of magic spiraling towards me.
"You're finished." I said holding my keyblade up to reflect the magic, it hit the blade and sent it hurling back toward it's original sender. Maleficent gave up and went to the edge once more.
"Good going, Cyrah." Ven smiled before averting his blue gaze back to our assailant, "There's no way Terra would hurt someone like that."
"You don't believe me? That's unfortunate," she spoke, acting as though she had never lost, "He agreed so easily." She crossed her arms.
Both Ventus and I looked down, "H-he did?" Ven stuttered sadly.
I wanted to speak, to tell Ventus it wasn't true, but I couldn't. Guess I was too shocked and hurt for words to be able to form.
"Cyrah, Ven! Don't be fooled!" Our blue haired friend called to us while running to stand at our side.
"Aqua!" Ventus and I shouted joyously in unison at seeing our older friend. She was okay, nothing happened her. I'm glad she came, I really am and I think Ven is, too.
"Terra would never do anything like that. You both know that as well as I do. He's our friend." Aqua said placing a hand on each of shoulders.
Ventus nods and he smiles, "Yeah." He looked at me and smiled wider.
"Why did we ever doubt, Terra? He's one of our friends." I stated feeling relieved, a large smile stretched across my cheeks as I looked at Ventus.
"Ahh... the truth can be most cruel, even amongst the closest of friends. After all, one never knows the secrets of another's heart. I'm sure you agree... Ventus... Aqua... Cyrah." She swept her gaze across the three of us.
The three of us stiffen once she says our names, "The master sent me. Ven... let's go home." Aqua said looking at him.
The young boy looked down in sadness, "But... Terra..." he pleaded.
Aqua slowly shook her head, "Terra is not ready to leave yet."
"Sorry, Aqua," Ventus looked down at his shoes, "But, I can't go with you."
Aqua looked at the younger boy, shock written on her face at his response, "What?!" She asked bewildered.
"It's just... I have to find Terra. Before it's too late!" Ventus determinedly explained before running off.
"Ventus! Wait up!" I yelled after him, but Aqua held me back, "Aqua! I gotta after him!" I cried frustrated at my older friend.
"Cyrah, you have to stay with me for now, okay?" Aqua ordered. I simply nodded, slightly irritated at Aqua for holding me back from Ven.
"I see you, too, wield the keyblade. A source of power... a key that opens the hearts of men, of entire worlds... and allows one to obtain anything and everything. Such a power I find most fascinating." Maleficent explained in lengthy detail.
Aqua looked down in disappointment and sighed, "So, Terra... you mean... he really..." She clenched her fists before looking at me.
"Terra would nev-" I started saying, not wanting to believe anything that was coming out of her mouth. My eyes closed almost automatically, I didn't even want to look at Maleficent and her lies.
"Quiet fool! Do not argue against the truth." Maleficent's voice boomed as she glared at me. "Now, my dears, would you like to assist me, as well?"
I shook my head, I would never help Maleficent even if my life depended on it, "Never!" Aqua and I yelled in unison, summoning our keyblades into our hands at once.
Maleficent stared at Aqua, "I see, Xehanort was right about you, Aqua. You are a most stubborn girl." She then looked at me and I watched her lips twist into a smirk, "He was also right about you, Cyrah. You really are nothing but a worthless tag-along."
"What?! I'm not just a tag-along, I'm a keyblade weilder and a strong one, too. Xehanort , I can't believe he would say something like that... or maybe it's true." I thought in despair llooking down at the ground trying to hold back tears. I shook my head, "It's not true. I'll make Xehanort see that some day..."
"It seems you need time to consider my offer. Fortunately, I have the perfect place." Maleficent opened up darkness underneath Aqua and I. I was falling through the floor, the darkness swallowed me up and I hit the stone hard floor.
"What is this place?" I looked around at the darkened room. It looked almost like a dungeon. It was really dark, darker than any of the other rooms in the castle. I saw a familiar man chained to the wall, "Who are you?"
The man looked at Aqua and I, "Prince Phillip. Who are you?" He asked wearily.
"Cyrah, nice to meet you Prince Phillip."
"My name is Aqua. It looks like we got caught in a trap. Why are you here?"
The Prince looked at his hands, which were neatly placed in his lap, "To prevent me from breaking her evil curse. I was to meet the most beautiful girl at the cottage in the glen, but now my true love lies in an eternal slumber... and only I can break the spell."
Aqua had a heartfelt smile on her face and put her hand over her heart, "You must really love her."
Merryweather, Flora, and Fauna appeared in the room and flew over to Prince Phillip, "Is what you said true?" Phillip simply nodded, "Oh, Prince Phillip! It's you!" Merryweather cried, quickly releasing the prince from his chains and shackles, "Now, Phillip. The to true love may be barred by more dangers which you alone will have to face."
Aqua stepped forward, "I'm going with you. There's something I need to know, and Maleficent has the answer."
I nod, "I have to come, too. I need to find Ventus." I stated with conviction, "I'm sorry Aqua, but I can't go with you. Not now."
Fauna nodded, "Yes, of course, dears. Now come along. We must hurry to Aurora." She quickly whipped out her magic wand and we were suddenly out of the dungeon.
I look over at Aqua and smile, "I'm glad you're safe, I really am. It's just..."
"I know. You need to find Ven." Aqua smiled, " You hold Ven special to heart."
"Yeah, same with you and Terra. All three of you have a special place just for you in my heart." I placed my hand over my chest where my heart is located.
"Ventus holds an even more special place, doesn't he?"
I feel my cheeks start to burn with embarrassment, "Yeah..." I admitted, "But do I make it that obvious?" I asked hoping I didn't.
Aqua shook her head, "Not at all. I wasn't even sure about it, that's why I asked." She let out a soft laugh, "Be careful, Cyrah." She walked away with the prince.
I smile and press the armour on my shoulder, "Well, looks like for now... I'm on my own."
So there's chapter seven! It is by far my longest chapter, so how'd you like it? It had a couple sweet moments, some difficult moments and now Cyrah's on her own!
Oh yeah! I want to thank my most frequent reviewers! So thanks to; Deiru Tamashi, XD-Woem, Call Of Zombies, and Puja723
I got a question for everybody reading this. I have ABSOLUTELY NO idea how i'm going to end this story, so if anyone has any suggestions, i'm all ears!
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to review! :)