Author's Note: Happy belated Holidays everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. Enjoy and thank you for reading and reviewing.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or any or the characters. I am just a fan. A very big fan, who likes to write.
Chapter 6: The Broken Man
Leon and the gang walked with the group to the giant oak doors of Transverse Town to bid the group off.
"Good Luck. Please bring Sora back." Yuffie said giving a giant hug to Kairi. The King and Riku nodded. Cid came up from behind Leon carrying giant boxes.
"These are some gummies and supplies. This should keep you going for awhile. Now please be careful with my baby. She's new." Cid said, glaring at Donald. Donald scowled and walked onto the ship with some of the others close behind.
As everyone was loading onto the ship, and saying their goodbyes, King Mickey found an open spot on the floor of the ship, and sat down. He tucked his legs close to the his chest. He sighed as guilt surged through his veins, wishing that he had left sooner to see Sora. Then again he wondered if it really mattered. He thoughts were broken when he he heard footsteps and saw a shadow of a figure approach . He looked up to see Aqua staring down at him.
"Mind if I sit here?" She asked pointing to an open space right next to the King. He nodded, unable to form words still deep in thought. She sat down next to the King.
"I was thinking we should talk properly, just you and I." Aqua said. "I have some questions, and I am sure you do too. And I think I should come clean." She paused, carefully forming her words. "I lied when I said that I didn't know the reason as to why I am still here. I am sorry for lying to you, but I could not say it in front of everyone. I am here because I made a promise to Ven, that if any danger were to come to Sora, one in which his secret was exposed that I would protect him."
The King looked at Aqua in disbelief. "Why would you jump into such a promise knowing the danger that would ensue?"
Aqua looked down and smiled. "Because, I was in love with Ven. Ven loved Sora, and I loved Ven. I would do anything for Ven, even if it cost me my life. And Sora was the person dearest to Ven, the only family he had left. And in time, I came to see Sora like a younger brother. Love bound me to this world, and it will continue to be that way, until the job at hand is finished."
"Aqua, what happened when you and I departed, I never knew what really happened?" the King asked.
Flashback
"I must go. Ven is waiting. I have to go to him." Aqua said in a broken voice that was tinged with determination.
"Let me come with you, you are still recovering from your injuries." The King suggested as Aqua turned and started to walk away. She paused upon hearing the King's offering of help.
"I would suggest that you not get in my way. It could get ugly." Aqua replied.
Endflashback
Aqua sighed. "I followed Ven. Terra had fallen into darkness." A lump formed in her throat and a tear fell from her eyes. " I wasn't strong enough to save my two best friends. I really rather not talk about it."
"Aqua but that can't be. Terra would never fall into darkness. He came to me after you had left looking for you. He was very concerned about you. Nothing about him reeked of darkness at that point. Yet, he was the one I found after everything was over. He.. He never was the same after." The King stated now confused.
"How can that be?" Aqua asked shocked."All of his actions in the worlds we visited proved he had started to walk to close to the darkness." She banged her fist against the side of the ship in frustration. Nothing made sense. "And when I had left I found Terra, I fought him. All of his actions, stances, smell was Terra!"
"I think you need to read this letter before coming to any more conclusions." The King said, now holding out a letter in his shaking hand. She stopped pacing and grabbed the letter from the King. " Do you remember Wise Ansem?" The King asked. Aqua nodded. "Well Wise Ansem was studying the heart of all worlds, along with 6 apprentices. One of his apprentices just appeared in Radiant Gardens one day with no history before the day he appeared." The King reached down to his pants pocket and pulled out a big picture that looked like it came from a painting. "This is what he looked like."
"This is what Terra looked like when I fought him." Aqua stated, now more puzzled than before.
"He stopped the research realizing the danger it could lead, but his 6 apprentices betrayed him, banished him and continued his research. They all became heartless, but also nobodies." The King said.
"The Organization." Aqua concluded now piecing the together what the King was saying.
"Yes. The strange part is, this letter is from Wise Ansem, warning me of the pending danger. It was dated after the day he passed away. Please read." King Mickey said.
Aqua began to read and reread the letter, now looking for clues.
My Dearest and Oldest Friend,
I hope this finds you well my old friend. If you are reading this, then I am no longer bound to our world. I am sorry for all the trouble I brought you old friend, I felt as if the burden of my sins was mine to bear alone. Though, there is one thing I failed to mention to you, something I learned in my studies. Everything is born from sleep, even you and me. Our hearts are what bind us to this world, interlocking and connecting has become part of its fate. Kingdom Hearts is heart of all that binds us, the heart of all worlds, it is the center of all that connects us together as one world. But after the Keyblade War, everything was scattered and disconnected, and Kingdom Hearts disappeared. The truth is this world has been nearly swallowed by darkness many times. The world has been made of both darkness and light, never has there been a balance. The darkness has always won, tainting the hearts of those who crave the light. But every-time it has been saved by a boy holding a keyblade. Perhaps if it were him though, the boy who can connect his heart with anyone, then he will be able to open the door, and save all those unhappy souls. That boy, his name is, Sora. Yes, Sora. Sora is the heart of everything. I am sorry my old friend, but I have been keeping this from you for some time. I swore to Ven that I would keep it a secret until Sora's awakening. In his heart there is power that is unmatched to any power seen in our world. It is possible that it could bring balance and stability to the worlds. But my friend, you must make haste. An old threat lurks in the darkness, and he now knows Sora's secret. Beware of Vanitas, part of him still walks the worlds. Never trust his face, for his true face is that of a mystery. You must protect Sora at all cost. I am out of time, good luck!
Much Haste,
Ansem the Wise.
"Strange," Aqua said after reading the letter a fourth time. "The letter is very disjointed and a bit hard to read."
"Indeed. Aqua, I will ask this again, I know it's hard, but please tell me, what happened that day, the day you left and went off to find Ven? I think some of the answers lie in the details of your memory." The King asked.
Aqua sat quietly now trying to remember, her head started to heart. "Every-time I try to think back on that day, my head starts to hurt and my heart aches. The only things I can remember is watching Ven die and starting to fight Terra. After that, I draw a blank."
The King looked at Aqua grimly. "If that is the case then, I think the danger is even greater than we thought based on your account and Wise Ansem's letter. We must be cautious on the journey ahead. Also, Aqua there is someone I think you should see."
"Who?" Aqua asked.
The King said nothing. He stood up and walked up to the pilot's chair where Donald sat. "Donald, please take us to Disney Castle." The King instructed.
"But your majesty, that's not the first place where Sora was." Donald said indigently.
"I know, but there is someone there we need." The King said.
"Okay! If you say so your majesty! Hey everyone, hold on to your seats were are about to take off on warp speed." Donald Duck stated. A screen popped up in front of the dashboard with the face of Cid on it. "Hey Duck, be careful with my baby okay?"
"You got it Cid." Donald said with an annoyed expression. He started the engine by pressing a few buttons on his right. He then pressed a giant big red button in the center that moved the ship to warp speed. The crew clutched on to the ship for dear life. Aqua closed her eyes, now reminiscing on what it was like to be aboard a ship. In what felt like seconds they heard Donald's voice again. "Ladies and Gentlemen we have now arrived in Disney Castle. Please watch your step while exiting." Aqua followed the crowd out, amazed by the hanger to Disney Castle. Everyone's jaw dropped in awe at the detail of the hanger, as two small creatures slide down the staircase to where the group was.
"Welcome back!" Dale greeted first, jumping up and down in excitement.
"Your majesty the Queen wishes to speak with you, all of you!" Chip exclaimed excitedly.
"Where is the Queen?" The King asked now bending down to get a better view of the chipmunks.
"This way!" Chip exclaimed excitedly now jumping up and down again. "Follow me." Chip ran up the marble stairs with the group close behind. He knocked on a white door at the top of the stairs that seemingly opened on it's own. The group gasped as they gazed past the doorway into a giant garden. The garden was filled with lush green grass and various sculptures and arches made out of green bushes. One in particular that caught their eye was the sculpture that held the door they came through that was in the shape of a giant castle. They continued to follow Chip and Dale through another white door and up more steps until they were greeted by a long hall. They walked quickly down the hall to a large set of doors on the right. The King knocked on the door four times with his ring outward and the doors opened automatically. The group gasped as they were greeted with a large hall that was made of pure white marble. On some of the marble, the face of a mouse etched on various places on the walls.
"This way quickly!" said Chip. "We have to move it! Quick to the Cornerstone of Light."
The group followed Chip as he ran to the red throne chair at the end of the hall. The King walked up to the chair and pressed a button that was hidden underneath one of the arms. The chair moved out and a set of stairs was revealed. The King walked down the stairs with everyone close behind. Donald and Goofy shivered slightly.
"Something doesn't feel quite right again. I get this feeling we are being watched." Goofy whispered.
Donald sneered now looking around. "Weapons out." Both duck and dog summoned their weapons, just in case. Aqua, Xion, Riku, Roxas and Axel followed suite. They continued down the stairs until they reached the floor.
"This place reeks of darkness." Axel pointed out, moving forward to the Cornerstone of Light.
"Where is the Queen?" Riku asked.
"Right here," came a voice, and out came Queen Minnie from behind the Cornerstone. The group lowered their weapons and put them away quickly upon seeing the Queen. "I am sorry for troubling you, I felt like I was being watched so I came down here to seek refuge. I felt like I was in danger."
"Don't worry Minnie, we are here now!" the King said greeting his Queen.
"Oh Mickey!" Queen Minnie replied now running towards her husband and embracing him. "I was so worried, you disappeared again."
Kairi was glancing at the Cornerstone when something caught her eye peeping out from behind. "SORA!" She cried now running past the cornerstone. Sora smiled and waved at her and then disappeared into a cloud of star dust. Kairi fell to her knees, starting to let the tears fall from her eyes, and started pounding onto the ground. A pair of footsteps came from behind and a hand gently grasped her shoulder. Kairi looked up to see a Aqua staring at her with sad eyes.
"You miss him don't you?" Aqua said gently. Kairi nodded, the words not reaching her lips. Before Aqua could say another comforting word, more footsteps came from behind.
"Aqua, there is someone here you must see." the King said. Aqua turned around to face him.
"Come on your majesty, just tell me who." She said impatiently.
"Turn around." The King instructed. Aqua turned around and noticed a purple vortex now six feet in front of her. She walked forward. Kairi started to walk forward as well but was stopped by the King.
"This is something she must do alone." The King said. "Now go forward."
Aqua stepped forward into the vortex, her stomach started churning. "I wonder who it could be," she thought. She closed her eyes and continued through the vortex until she reached the other side. The first thing she felt was warmth. She opened her eyes and noticed she was now standing in a dry desert. Two great plateaus stood around in a circle of where she came out of. Sand sifted back and forth beneath her feet. She squinted and saw a suite of armor kneeling in the distance. His large Keyblade sat in front of him, waiting for the next battle. Her breath caught. "The armor looks familiar. It couldn't be." She ran until she was within a few feet of the armor.
"Aq...ua....Ven...Xe...ha..nooort." A voice came from the armor. Aqua knew she could not mistake that keyblade or warrior anywhere.
" It is you. Oh Terra, what have you done to yourself?" Aqua thought. She pressed forward and leaned down to where the armored man was kneeling.
"I...am...sorry." came the voice again, now recognizing the figure that stood before him.
"Terra, I forgive you, there is nothing to forgive." Aqua said. Tears started to brim her eyes. "We need you, now more than ever. Please come back." It was as if Aqua had said the magic words. The armor started to fall off and revealed underneath a young man with spiky hair and sharp blue eyes. He breathed and looked up at her. Tears started to fall from his eyes as well. "Aqua." He whispered.
"Terra." She said hugging him, now letting the tears fall freely. After so many years of regret, the words had finally been spoken. The words he had wanted to hear. He was free.
"Aqua is it really you?" Terra asked now looking up until her blue eyes.
"Of course it's me you dummy." She replied now breaking the hug. She wiped her eyes of tears with her shirt.
"Your hair is longer." Terra said now stroking her shoulder length hair. She slapped his hand away. "You haven't changed much. Come on we have to get back to the others." She stood up and brushed the sand off her leg After a good brush, she walked back to the vortex with Terra close behind. Taking a deep breath, she walked back through the vortex, a churning sensation still nestled in her stomach. She looked back to see Terra was close behind.
"Welcome back" greeted the King. "Terra it is good to have you back." Terra breathed through his gritted teeth nervously. "Thank you, your majesty," was all he could reply.
"Now to get back to business, we need to figure out what is going on in the castle," instructed the King. "Things haven't felt right since we came in. Come on everybody if we work together we can figure it out for sure." The King started to walk forward towards the door, with the group close behind.
"Ah King Mickey is it? It I am glad to see you are doing well." came a voice. The King stopped, and turned around to move forward back closer to the Cornerstone.
A black vortex appeared right next to the left flank of the Cornerstone and replica Riku emerged seconds later. The real Riku gritted his teeth.
"Where's Sora?" Riku demanded.
"Well, well ,well, if it isn't the dark wussy. Still looking lively I see." Replica Riku taunted
"Hey asshole, he asked you a question." Aqua said now turning around as well. Everyone else followed suite.
"Oh really? I didn't get the memo." The replica blurted sarcastically, Aqua scowled and summoned her keyblade.
"Your hero is fine, sleeping like a baby. He will be fine, for now" came another voice that sounded like silk. "I would put away that keyblade if I were you."
"SHOW YOURSELF!" Bellowed Terra.
"Aw, Terra I am hurt that you don't remember me after all this time." came the silky voice again. Another dark portal appeared, and out came a balding short man with yellow eyes. Riku shuddered at his eyes. Everything about the man reeked of darkness. Axel scowled and lit his chakrams. Roxas and Xion summoned their keyblades.
"Master Xehanort." Terra hissed now summoning his keyblade as well.
"You do remember me! I am flattered! And Aqua, looking even more lovely than ever. Ten years has served you well," Master Xehanort purred.
"Don't talk to me like that!" She hissed, now raising her keyblade upward. She started to put her weight on her left foot to move forward.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Master Xehanort warned catching Aqua's stance. " Now, we are forgetting one person aren't we?" Master's Xehanort's voice was now tinged with delight. "Oh yes I remember who. Come forth, my apprentice." A figure emerged from behind Master Xehanort, wearing a red suite and a giant helmet. Aqua froze in place, her eyes wide in shock. The boy summoned a keyblade as well.
"Vanitas," Aqua spat with venom.
"Yes the gang is all here aren't they? A very happy reunion." Master Xehanort cackled. King Mickey summoned his keyblade from behind and started to charge.
"I told you not to do that." Master Xehanort said, now annoyed. He placed his hand on the Cornerstone. The King stopped in his tracks.
"No, don't," cried the King. Master Xehanort licked his lips hungrily as a dark cloud began to emit from his hand down to the Cornerstone of Light. "The Cornerstone of Light, the protection of this castle, bred from pure light. Truly a marvelous treasure," Master Xehanort purred. He lifted his hand and the cloud disappeared.
"We will be going. We wouldn't want to keep you from your mission. Make sure you find all of the pieces of the Keyblade Bearer's Heart. You wouldn't want to miss a piece. Oh yes and one more thing before I bid you adieu." He walked back over to the Cornerstone and placed his hand on it once more. The dark cloud began to emit from his hand back onto the Cornerstone.
"Don't do that. please." The King pleaded. Master Xehanort ignored his pleas and eyed the cornerstone with malice.
"No, don't please." Queen Minnie shrieked. The room started to grow dark and then, the Cornerstone shattered, glass flew everywhere. Terra ran in front of everyone to block the group as best as he could from the flying debris.
"The clock is ticking." Master Xehanort said now fading back through a portal.
Don't let the light go out.