Heartless were being tossed through the numerous trees of the forest as if they weighed naught but air. Massing, one after the other, they crawled over their obstacle, hungry for what was mine.
Shrouded with a spiralling dark aura, the dark creature towered before me. Its claws had a Shadow's neck in a firm grasp, crushing its windpipe with ease as it tried to leap for me. Slanted with fury, golden eyes blazed. Its intent to kill was solidified with its twisted grin of white fangs.
"Touch what is mine," its hissing voice cackled through gritted teeth as its grip twitched, cracking the Heartless' neck and spine, "and you authorize your own death."
The Heartless evaporated into a wisp of black smoke, as did every other twisting to flee as the creature blazed around the army, slashing with its claws with lightning speed. A tornado of darkness and death.
My pitiful cry as I tried to gain my footing – the pain of my ankle crippling me - startled the creature, turning its full form my way. It seemed almost human. Built like that of a young man. The raven mane of hair shone in the sun as it shifted towards me, head tilted to one side.
Golden pupil-less eyes burning with a deep desire. A row of hissing white teeth clenched tightly, shining against its black skin and clothes. Hues of blue swim through its black ragged clothing.
The hair on the back of my neck prickled as I clawed my way up against the tree bark, pressing my back heavily against it as not to put pressure on my limp ankle. A Heartless in human form. A human Heartless killed my family.
"Danella..." it whispered, drawing close, voice rippling through the creature's lips. My arms were bound by my very own name. How did this Heartless know my name?
Breaking out in a cold sweat, I wanted to melt and mould into myself – away from it.
It chuckled, tongue darting across his canine teeth, it whipped out its claw and clamped it around my throat.
Can't breathe. Coughing and choking, I grappled at its hooked fingers crushing my windpipe fearing it would do to me what it had unleashed on the Shadows.
"-elp." I sounded so feeble. No one could hear me here. I'm fighting a losing battle.
Its teeth shone menacingly, applying more and more pressure with each beat of my heart.
Sora. Help.
"...Sora..." I cried as my scraping fingers lost their strength on my captor's grip.
"Dan...ella." My eyes were drawn by that voice.
Sora. He was here. But...where?
The pressure loosened on my throat, granting me one pull of breath before it was back in full force.
The creature.
Its face. Twisted in a grimace, hissing and snarling as it clawed its mane and temple.
"Danella!" it said, but it wasn't the Heartless' voice I heard.
I froze in my struggles, transfixed as he stared back into my eyes. Flashes of cerulean were fighting through the gold.
"Danella – run!" and again his voice called through the diming haze that clouded my mind. He snatched the claw away only to whiplash it back into the bark right by my head, embedding itself deeply through the tree – splinters and all.
"Sora." I gasped desperately for air, I could not help the relief that seeped into my bones. He was here...but...
What was he? What is going on?
I moved to take a step closer to him while he flinched back as far as his trapped hand could allow.
"No!" he snapped, jaw clenched tightly as his gaze burned into mine, "Don't! Run. Get away!"
"Wha-? No. I won't run! What's happening to you?" I tried laying a hand on him.
"Danella. Please! Julian – he's not too far from here. Please," he pleaded, form trembling as I hear the fist torn through the tree start to yank free.
"No – let me help you!"
"You can't...I can't hold it back for much longer. Please, you must go now."
"But-"
"Go!" the gold was back in full force as his voice was distorted into a howling scream of rage. With Sora no longer able to control it, I had no choice but to limp away as the Heartless belted itself against the tree, tearing at its tresses, screaming at itself.
Julian cantered round to my side, saddled and ready for escape as he butted his nose against my shoulder franticly. Nodding to him, I gripped the saddle and used what strength I had left to yank myself into the curve of the leather, slipping my good foot into the stirrup as I jerked the reins. Julian screamed loudly, driving himself into a wild gallop as I heard the Heartless roar at the loss of its kill.
The incessant belting of my ankle against Julian's side was pushing me to the brink of nausea. A surge of cool air burst against my right side as my white stallion leapt through the gagged spines of trees, jarring my ribs. Chancing a glaze to my side, my grip on the leather reins loosened for a fraction of a second as the Heartless burst forth from a portal of darkness, missing its grip by a breaths length as it leapt over us. Its claws, however, did not miss.
Julian shrieked as the entire right side of his abdomen was torn, hurdling his weight back on his left, tossing me free - along with the shredded saddle - and onto the ground. Helpless to stop it, I watched as he staggered back from another Heartless swipe aimed at his neck, only to lose his footing and collapse his side on my knee.
My left leg free, I bit my tongue as my broken ankle was crushed beneath the stallion's weight, blinding me with anguish, torturing my nerves as I tore at the roots by my head to pull free. Julian's calls came weaker and weaker as his harsh spurts of breath stirred the golden leaves scattered in the path his muzzle. Crimson fluid running down his ribs, into the ground, he was losing his strength to move as his legs ceased their struggle to stand.
A recognizable chuckle churned the still air as I looked back to see the human Heartless towering over the wounded stallion's stirring form. "I cannot believe he thought such a miserable little animal could outrun the likes of me," it hissed while dark claws traced over Julian's quivering neck, "It's quite pathetic really."
Don't kill Julian.
If Julian was killed by the Heartless...I don't know what that would do to Sora.
Julian must live.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked, biting past the pain of my trapped leg. The human Heartless tilted its head, pondering my question or my sanity as its claws were drawn away from the snow white neck.
"Well, why not? The last of your family to die by my hands. It seems almost poetic. Besides, you have a trinket of mine that I want back."
Darkness caressed throat, cold burning my veins as the silver chain was ripped from me. "No. That's my mother's!"
"Not anymore it's not," he hissed, "And once I'm rid of you, it won't belong to anyone but I. Along with your very own heart."
Gasping for air, I pounded my fists into Julian's back.
"Get up! Come on, get up." He only shifted his head weakly against the fallen bed of leaves.
"So much trouble..." the Heartless said dazedly, "Why prolong the inevitable, little one? One day, you will die – weather you be taken by darkness or time. The sooner you yield, the less pain you shall endure."
"I fight because no matter how old I shall live to, at least I would die knowing I lived my life to the full," I snapped, staring it in the eyes with far more courage than I felt I had, "A life not stripped from me by darkness. A life that shall not be exchanged for that of an eternity of Heartless hunger!"
"Ah, but such an eternity it is!" it delighted, licking its gleaming fangs, "to live forever with this power. No fear. No sadness. I am a god amongst mortals.
"Join me." It purred. The glassy eyes softened as its smouldering fingers trailed along my jaw, "And live forever by my side. Together, we could rule this world. Nothing could stop us."
Closer and closer, its face drew forth as its claws locked on my face, keeping me in place.
No, stop this, I clenched my eyes closed as I struggled to free myself from its grasp,I can't let this happen.
"No!" I whipped my hand against his iron grasp, stunning him long enough to yank my face free and to shove my readily clenched fist in its gut.
Its raged hiss spat against the side of my face as I was pinned to the ground by the Heartless' weight. I shrieked as I felt cold razors bite into the flesh of my wrists, immobilizing them.
"You have courage," it growled in my ear as I kept my head turned away, gnawing my bottom lip against the sobs, "A strong heart is hard to truly destroy. I can see why that wretched boy chose you."
Chose me?
"No matter, no matter. I've dealt with a strong heart many times over."
I was reminded of a snake as the human Heartless reared its right claw back above its shoulder as its golden eyes centred on the core of my chest.
"Sora – stop!"
I gasped, eyes dancing across what little terrain I could see. Aeris!
There she stood, void of emotion as a plump white duck waddled up by her side carrying a blue wizard-head staff. Donald. The harsh curl of his brows sharpened his anger as he pointed the staff towards the human Heartless stilled above me.
"You don't want to do this, Sora." Axel. He flicked a finger at his top hat, pushing the shadows free from his eyes to stare 'Sora' down. Aerial snakes of flames engulfed his arms, dancing around his clothed flesh, but never burning, before a pair of twin, stainless steel chakrams materialized within his grasp.
The irritated growl that erupted deep within the Heartless' throat shuddered right through its form, "I am not Sora!" it spat at them, no doubt wishing to return to killing me without interference.
"You may not be," Axel said, eyes flickering over my motionless form, "But we know he can hear us. He's stronger than you, got it memorized?"
Sora? He can hear me?
It chuckled, truly amused, "This boy could not stand against me then, what makes you think he can now?"
He can hear me.
"She's still alive, isn't she?" Axel smirked, raising a challenging brow at the Heartless' scowl.
"Not for long. And there's naught he can do to stop me this time. No one can stop a Heartless - not even you pathetic mortals."
"Sora?" I called, gulping as the Heartless' surprised expression snapped back to stare at me. The grip on my wrists loosened as the dark creature flinched as if struck across the face.
"I wouldn't be too sure of that, Heartless." Axel said tauntingly as his chakrams spun circles around his dancing fingers, ready to strike if need be.
"No!" it rebelled, snapping its jaws and raising a determined claw for the kill. Its entire arm trembled and flexed, battling will.
"Sora, please, fight this." I said, my gaze never wavering from its own.
I can get through to him. I must.
"Be silent!"
"Sora."
"Stop. Fighting. Me."
"Come back to us. I know you can."
It growled, face curling into a menacing snarl as a flash of wounded blue filled its eyes, "I can't do it."
Sora. He's trying to break through.
"You're stronger than the darkness."
"No he's not!" it fought, glaring me down as its grip tightened on my arm, its life-threatening claw still held at the ready.
"You can't hurt her, Sora." Aeris' voice filled the air with warmth, settling my nerves.
"Your heart is your own. Don't let this creature control you, man." Axel said, taking a step closer towards us.
"We're here for you, no matter what." Donald's shrilled, ruffling his feathers proudly.
"Silence!" It roared. The air burst forth from my lungs as the Heartless tossed itself back, sending the leaves cascading around the tornado of darkness engulfing its thrashing form.
"I-I can't do it," Sora yelled from within the Heartless.
"Sora! Fight it!" Donald exclaimed in panic.
"Get out of my head!"
"You can't escape me, boy."
"I won't let you hurt her! I won't."
"You have no choice, your heart belongs to me."
On and on, their battle raged. I could do naught but stare, motionless and helpless, as Sora fought his inner demon. My saviour is protecting me. He is fighting against the Heartless to protect me from himself.
Why me?
"Aaah!" his scream was short and final as the cool darkness burst from its enclosed twister, blowing us back like a sonic boom, before dropping the young man to the ground like a rag doll.
"Sora!" I screamed, crawling desperately for freedom from Julian's weight as all fell into silence. Wisps of darkness breezed into the hushing wind, drawing away from Sora' still body. One last pull and I was free to crawl my way to Sora side as the others joined me.
"Sora?" I called attentively, brushing my hand across his shoulder before turning him on his back. So pale. The morning sun shone a ghostly sheen upon his skin, his aging scars appearing far more harsh in comparison. His dress shirt is strewn with holes, allowing scarce glances of beaten and scarred skin beneath. Sweeping my fingers over his lips, breath brushes past his mouth.
"He's alive..." I cannot help the weight of relief that plays on my words. Lashes fluttering, he seems to be peacefully resting as Axel moves to gather Sora across his back.
"Donald - see to Julian." Axel instructed as Aeris brushes her fingers across my discoloured ankle, "I'll bring Sora back home."
The plump young duck nodded his head sharply, waddling quickly to tend to the scabbing wounds of the horse's side.
"Can you feel anything below the knee, Danella?" Aeris said anxiously, biting her lip as we noticed the misshapen curve of my lower leg. Wrapping her hand around the swelling of my ankle, I yelped in confirmation that I, indeed, could feel below the knee.
"I'm sorry. I had to check," Aeris reassured me, looking at me with wary eyes. "We'll take you back, if you so wish, and we'll tend to your ankle there."
If I so wish? Why should I not? I frowned, confused as to why she was being so reserved.
As if she could read my thoughts, "Was it not your desire to leave Sora behind when you left us last night?"
"Oh, right." The blood burned within my cheeks at my immaturity last night. While I was justified in my terror, I should have stayed for an explanation...
I knew that now.
"I want to go back with Sora. With you all." I said, grasping her hand, "If you will have me?"
She beamed, eyes alight as she wrapped her arms around my shoulders, drawing me into a stunned embrace.
"Thank you, Danny." I raised a questioning brow as she pulled back, "For not giving up on him. He needs you, more than you could possibly know."
"But why me? He has you, his good friends, as well."
Her smile became knowing, a secret smile. "I'm not the one who ought to answer that question, Danny."