UltimaShishigawa: Hey everyone! Just wanna apologize again if ya didn't like the last chapter, but hopefully you'll like this one! Thanks for reading the story so far and I hope you continue to read it. Anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: UltimaShishigawa doesn't own Kingdom Hearts, or it's characters.
Chapter 7: Hollow Bastion part 1
Neo was walking through the castle as he made his way to the source of the roar. "I'm not gonna let anything stop me. Especially when I'm this close." said Neo as he came to the main hall. He looked at the fountain before snapping his fingers. Immediately, several Heartless (Dark balls, Wizards and Defenders) appeared.
"Scatter throughout the castle! Don't let anyone into the Grand Hall!" ordered Neo. The second he gave the order, the Heartless disappeared. He then turned toward the door that led outside before he stopped as he noticed the figure in the brown hood and cloak.
"You..." said Neo.
"You'd best be careful. Allowing your heart to yield to the darkness too much will turn you into a Heartless." said the figure. Neo glared at the figure.
"Tch, I don't need to hear that from you. My heart is untouchable and if the Heartless dare to even try, then I'll cut them down." said Neo. The figure chuckled.
"Heheheh, just heed my warning. If only just to be cautious." said the figure before he disappeared. Neo continued to glare at the spot where the figure had been before shaking his head.
"I don't need him warning me about anything." said Neo before he continued on. He made his way outside the castle.
"RRRRRRRRRRAAAAAGGHHHHHH!" the sound of the roar echoed out. Neo looked toward the area of the Rising Falls.
"There you are." said Neo as he made his way toward a lift. Once he stepped on it, the lift took him down to a fountain in the Rising Falls. He then walked over to the fountain and sat on the edge of it.
"I'll wait here for him. He'll have to come this way to get to the castle anyway." said Neo.
-A few minutes later-
The Beast (AN: Beauty and the Beast) came walking by. "Took ya long enough." said a voice. The Beast looked toward the fountain to see Neo sitting there.
"Stay out of my way, boy. I'm taking Belle back!" said Beast. Neo chuckled as he stood up.
"Heheheh, sorry, but I'm afraid Belle is gonna be sticking around for a little longer." said Neo. "You can have her back when Maleficent is done with her." Beast growled.
"You're in league with that witch?" asked Beast. Neo smirked.
"Yes and no. I'm only working with her until I can save a precious friend of mine." said Neo. "You can tear her apart afterwards."
"STAND ASIDE!" roared Beast. Neo summoned his Soul Eater sword.
"Why don't you make me?" Neo suggested.
"RRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!" roared Beast in fury as he lunged at Neo, but the boy jumped to the left to dodge. Beast then turned and swung a clawed hand at Neo, but the boy side-stepped the attack. Beast followed up with swinging both clawed hands down on the boy. Neo, however, held up the Soul Eater sword to block the attack. Neo then forced Beast back.
"Is this all you've got? Honestly, what does Belle see in you?" asked Neo. Beast lunged at Neo again, but the boy quickly rolled out of the way.
"If this is all you've got, then you might as well just give up now." Neo taunted. At this point, Beast was seeing red.
"YOU LITTLE...!" Beast trailed off into a roar before he swiped at Neo, but the boy back-flipped to avoid the attack. As soon as he landed on his feet, Neo rushed at Beast and swung his Soul Eater sword, cutting into the Beast's side.
"ARGH!" Beast grunted as he dropped to one knee while holding his side. Neo walked back over to the fountain as he dispelled his sword before looking at Beast.
"Brute strength is all fine and good, but it doesn't help if your opponent has any sort of speed." said Neo. He then turned toward the castle.
"Do yourself a favor and give up. Like I said, you can have her back when Maleficent is done with her." said Neo before he started walking toward the lift.
"NEO!" shouted a voice causing said boy to stop. He smirked as he recognized the voice.
"I knew you guys would show up sooner, or later." said Neo as he turned around to face the source of the voice. "Sora, Riku, Donald and Goofy." The four friends were standing by the beaten Beast. Sora looked toward Donald.
"Donald, can you fix him up?" asked Sora. Donald nodded his head.
"Of course I can!" said Donald before he turned to face Beast. He then held his staff in the air.
"CURAGA!" shouted Donald before Beast was enveloped in a green veil. Relief washed over Beast as his wound healed and he stood up as the green veil faded. Sora grinned at Beast.
"Feeling better?" asked Sora as he put his hands behind his head.
"I didn't need your help." said Beast. "But...I appreciate the aid." Sora's grin grew wider before he looked back at Neo with a glare.
"Neo, why are you doing this?" asked Sora. Neo glared at Sora.
"Tch, why am I doing this? Why did you guys waste time goofing off instead of at least trying to find Kairi?" Neo answered with his own question. Riku spoke up.
"We weren't wasting time! We were trying to keep the other worlds from falling to the Heartless like our own did!" said Riku.
"Then why did you two replace Kairi and I with them?" asked Neo as he pointed at Donald and Goofy.
"WE DIDN'T REPLACE YOU AND KAIRI!" shouted Donald. Goofy nodded his head in agreement.
"Donald's right! All throughout our journey Sora and Riku have told us all about how good friends you four were and how you four would hang out together. You two were always on their minds and they spent this entire journey trying to find ya!" said Goofy. Neo growled in irritation.
"JUST SHUT UP! YOU CAN'T FOOL ME!" shouted Neo. "I'm so close! I'm so close to figuring out where Kairi's heart is! I won't be stopped now!" The four friends looked at Neo in surprise and shock from his outburst.
"Neo..." Sora said with sadness. Neo then smirked.
"However, once I find Kairi's heart I'll need a way to take it from the Heartless that stole it in the first place." said Neo. He then raised his right hand in the air.
"It's time to let the Keyblade choose...IT'S TRUE MASTER!" Neo shouted the last part. Suddenly, Sora's Keyblade appeared in it's wielders right hand before it began vibrating.
"Huh? WHOA!" said Sora as his Keyblade jerked forward. He grabbed it with both hands, trying desperately to hang on to it. Riku looked at Sora with alarm.
"Sora, what's wrong?" asked Riku. Sora gritted his teeth as he held on to his Keyblade.
"I...don't know! It's like...it's trying to..." Sora trailed off as he felt his grip slipping. Suddenly, his Keyblade disappeared in a blaze of light before reappearing in Neo's right hand.
"WAK! WHAT THE...?!" exclaimed Donald. Neo chuckled.
"Heheheh, I knew it. Only a true Keyblade Master can open the secret door and change the world. With this, I'll be able to open the door and find Kairi's heart." said Neo as he looked over the Kingdom Key Keyblade. The four friends looked on in shock at what happened.
"But...why?" asked Sora. Neo smirked as he dispelled "his" Keyblade. At that moment, Jiminy spoke up from his perch on Sora's shoulder.
"WAIT, I THINK I KNOW!" said Jiminy as he drew everyone's attention. "It's possible that Neo was meant to receive the Keyblade instead of Sora, but since he chose darkness over light it must've went to Sora instead." Neo chuckled.
"Heheheh, if that's the case, then you were nothing, but the delivery boy." said Neo as he turned to leave.
"WAIT, NEO!" shouted Sora. Neo looked back at Sora.
"Hey, I've got an idea." said Neo as he walked over to the fountain. He then reached in and pulled out a wooden sword.
"I found this just before my confrontation with Beast. Here..." said Neo as he tossed the wooden sword toward Sora before it landed at the former Keyblade wielder's feet. "...Why don't you go play hero with that." Sora dropped to his knees as he looked at the wooden sword, unable to believe that this whole time he was using someone else's Keyblade and that it was never his to begin with. Neo smirked before walking to the lift.
"See ya." said Neo before the lift took off to the castle.
-Castle-
The lift stopped before Neo stepped off and walked toward the entrance to the castle. "I finally have it. I finally have the Keyblade. Now I can open the door and find Kairi's heart. It's so close I can almost touch it. I'm almost there, Kairi. Soon, I'll be able to wake you up." said Neo as he pushed the large door open and walked into the main hall. He walked over to the fountain and looked at his reflection. As he watched his reflection, he could've sworn he saw the image of himself, Kairi, Sora and Riku standing on the shore of the Destiny Islands.
"NEO!" shouted a voice snapping Neo from his thoughts as he turned toward the group that consisted of Sora, Donald, Goofy, Riku and Beast. Neo sighed.
"Don't you know when to quit?" asked Neo. Sora just grinned.
"Not when my friends are counting on me. I understand that your wanting to save Kairi drove you to this point, but we'll save you and Kairi." said Sora. Neo shook his head.
"I don't need saving and I can save Kairi on my own." said Neo. "So just back off." Beast growled before sensing that someone was watching. He then turned toward the entrance to see Belle (wearing a gold ball gown) standing in the door.
"Belle?" asked Beast. Neo smirked.
"I wouldn't believe everything you see." said Neo. Belle was then surrounded in a dark aura. When the aura disappeared, a Heartless (Shadow) stood in her place.
"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" roared Beast as he saw red before lunging at the Heartless, the door shutting behind him. Neo chuckled.
"Just give up already." said Neo. "You're no match for me." Sora shook his head as he pointed the wooden sword at Neo.
"No way. Not until we save you and Kairi." said Sora. Neo shook his head as he was encased in a dark aura. When the aura dissipated, Neo was seen wearing a black and white body suit with the Heartless insignia on his chest (AN: Think of Vanitas' Lingering Sentiment outfit, but with the Heartless insignia on the chest.)
"Then the darkness will destroy you!" said Neo (D-Mode) as he summoned the Kingdom Key. Riku then spoke up.
"That won't happen." said Riku as he summoned his Way to the Dawn Keyblade. Donald and Goofy then pulled out their staff and shield, respectively.
"Yeah, because we'll be right by Sora's side!" said Donald.
"And we'll protect him, A-hyuck!" said Goofy. Sora then tossed the wooden sword away.
"The darkness may destroy my body, but it can't touch my heart." said Sora. "Because my heart is with my friends. My friends are my power and I'm theirs!" Suddenly, the Kingdom Key began to vibrate before it jerked forward.
"WHAT?!" shouted Neo as he tried to keep his grip on the Keyblade. However, the Kingdom Key disappeared in a blaze of light before reappearing in Sora's right hand. Neo stared wide eyed at his empty right hand, unable to believe that the Keyblade was no longer his. He then gritted his teeth as he clenched his hand into a fist.
"You claim your friends are your power? Fine." said Neo before he summoned his Soul Eater sword and glared at the four friends. "THEN I'LL SHOW YOU MY POWER IS STILL GREATER THAN YOUR'S!" He then rushed at the four friends and swung his Soul Eater sword at Sora. However, Goofy stepped between the two and blocked Neo's attack with his shield. Neo pressed his attack before turning his sword to where the tip pointed at the ground. He then swung upward, forcing Goofy's shield up as well, before kicking the Royal Guard Captain and sending him flying back.
"YYYEEEEEEOOOWWW!" screamed Goofy before he crashed into a suit of armor. Sora looked toward Goofy.
"Goofy, are you okay?" asked Sora.
"Uuuuuuuuhh..." groaned Goofy as he saw mini shields floating around his head. Donald glared at Neo.
"Why you...! BWAAAAAAAAAAA!" shouted Donald as he pointed his staff and fired a large fire ball at him. Neo, however, cast a dark barrier around himself. Once the spell hit the barrier and dissipated, Neo dropped the barrier before pulling his left hand back as a dark blue fire ball formed in it.
"TAKE THIS!" shouted Neo before he tossed a Dark Firaga at Donald. The spell hit the Royal Court Magician head on and sent him flying back.
"WWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" screamed Donald before he crashed into another suit of armor. Riku looked toward Donald.
"Donald!" said Riku.
"Ooooooooooooohhh..." groaned Donald as he saw mini staffs floating around his head.
"Looks like it's just us, Sora." said Riku. Sora nodded his head.
"Yeah." said Sora before he and Riku charged at Neo. The boy growled.
"Bring it!" said Neo. As they reached him, Neo blocked a strike from Sora before forcing him back only to block a strike from Riku. He then forced Riku back before slamming the blunt side of his sword into Riku's stomach and sent the Keyblade wielder flying back. Riku sailed past Sora before slamming into the wall. Sora then ran and jumped at Neo before swinging his Keyblade at him. Neo, however, held up his sword and blocked the attack before sending Sora flying back by a punch to the gut.
"I was the only one who cared about Kairi!" Neo shouted as an image of a smiling Kairi flashed before his eyes. Riku dug himself out of the hole his body made in the wall before running at Neo and swinging his Keyblade. Neo parried the attack before kicking Riku in the gut, sending him hurtling back.
"I was the only one who played with her when she first started living on the islands!" shouted Neo as an image of a younger him and Kairi making a sand castle flashed before his eyes. Sora leapt to his feet before firing a Firaga spell from the tip of his Keyblade at Neo. The boy, however, swung his sword and cut the fire ball in two before firing a Dark Firaga spell from his left hand at Sora, hitting him square in the chest and sending him flying back into the wall.
"I was the one who shared candy and ice cream with her the most!" shouted Neo as an image of him giving Kairi an ice cream cone flashed before his eyes. Riku stood up and threw his Keyblade at Neo, but the boy swung his sword and batted it away.
"I was the one who helped her the most!" shouted Neo as an image of him climbing a tree to get Kairi's kite down flashed before his eyes. Sora dug himself out of the hole in the wall before rushing at Neo with a Sonic Blade attack, but Neo cast a dark barrier around himself. When Sora hit the barrier, Neo shattered it causing the shards to fly outward and strike Sora, knocking him back.
"I was the one who protected her when others picked on her!" shouted Neo as an image of a younger him defending a younger Kairi flashed before his eyes. Riku then stood before pointing his Keyblade at Neo and shooting a Blizzaga spell at him. The spell struck Neo in the chest before he retaliated by shooting a Dark Blizzaga spell at Riku. The spell struck the ground at Riku's feet freezing his feet in place.
"IT WAS ALWAYS ME!" screamed Neo as an image of Kairi standing on the shore during the sunset flashed before his eyes. He then launched a barrage of Dark Firaga spells at the two Keyblade wielders. The Dark Firaga barrage struck the two and clouded them in smoke. When he stopped, Neo breathed in and out deeply to catch his breath.
"And yet, why do I long for the days when we could all four laugh and hang out together again?" Neo asked as an image of him, Sora, Riku and Kairi all were sitting on the bent tree watching the sunset as all four were smiling and laughing flashed before his eyes. At that moment, however, Sora and Riku came running out of the cloud of smoke as they rushed at Neo. The boy quickly cast a dark barrier around himself just as the two Keyblade wielders swung their Keyblades. The moment their Keyblades connected with the barrier, it shattered causing Neo to go wide eyed.
"It's because deep down..." said Sora as he struck Neo with an Ars Arcanum attack that sent him reeling back on the last strike.
"...within your heart..." said Riku as he fired an Aeroga spell that sent Neo flying up into the air. The two then jumped up at Neo and held their Keyblades above their heads.
"WE'RE STILL YOUR FRIENDS!" shouted Sora and Riku as they swung their Keyblades down on Neo, hitting him square in the chest and sending him crashing to the ground. Sora and Riku landed on the ground before looking at the battered and bruised Neo as he stood up. Neo looked toward the battered and bruised Sora and Riku before he changed back to normal and his Soul Eater sword disappeared. Neo (normal) looked at the two with wide eyes before running away.
-Castle Chapel-
Neo ran into the Castle Chapel panting as he had ran all the way there after losing to Sora and Riku. "WHY?! I HAD IT! IT WAS MINE!" shouted Neo as he stopped and pounded his fist into the wall.
"It's because your heart was weaker than his." said a voice causing Neo to turn his head and see the hooded figure.
"What do you mean my heart was weaker than his?" asked Neo. The figure chuckled.
"Heheh, exactly as I said. In that instant, when he claimed that his friends were his power, his heart proved stronger. A strong and truthful heart shall win the Keyblade." said the figure. Neo growled.
"Then how do I get stronger?" asked Neo. The figure walked closer to Neo.
"Give yourself to the darkness, and in exchange, it will give you power. Just open your heart completely to darkness." said the figure. Neo gave the figure a skeptical look.
"Will...will it be enough to save Kairi?" asked Neo. The figure nodded his head.
"Of course." said the figure. Neo then closed his eyes as he opened his heart completely to darkness. His body became cloaked in a dark aura as the figure walked toward him and disappeared. Suddenly, a pillar of darkness shot to the ceiling. When it dissipated, Neo was in his D-Mode state, but his eyes were closed.
"Finally." said Neo whose voice sounded like a mix of his own and the figure's. He then opened his eyes to reveal that they were gold instead of jade green. The possessed teen then proceeded to the Grand Hall.
-Grand Hall-
Neo walked into the Grand Hall and stopped between six containers, three on the left wall and three on the right, that contained six of the seven unconscious Princesses of Heart. He then held out both hands toward the containers before six tendrils of darkness shot out and impaled the princesses' chests. When the tendrils retracted, they pulled out six orbs of light. The tendrils then released the orbs as they floated in the air before the tendrils disappeared. Neo looked up at the orbs.
"And now, with the princesses' hearts..." said the possessed teen before he lifted his right hand up. The princesses' hearts began to rotate rapidly in a circle before they disappeared. Suddenly, a Keyblade (Keyblade of Heart aka Dark Keyblade) appeared in Neo's right hand. The possessed teen looked at the Keyblade and smirked before dispelling it and walking toward the incomplete Keyhole.
"So this is the Keyhole?" asked Neo. Maleficent nodded her head.
"Yes, but it's still incomplete. Plus, we'll need a way to unlock it." said Maleficent. However, they were interrupted by a loud bang that erupted in the Castle Chapel.
"Hn, it looks like they're here. I'll deal with them." said Neo as the possessed teen attempted to leave only to be stopped by Maleficent.
"No! You stay here and guard the princesses. I, the Mistress of Darkness, will deal with them personally." said Maleficent. Neo smirked.
"Such confidence." said Neo as he held his right hand out and summoned his Keyblade. Maleficent looked at it with wide eyes.
"Ooh..." said Maleficent as her evil smile grew. Another loud bang erupted before Maleficent disappeared in green flames. Neo, however, only smirked as he dispelled his Keyblade and a dark aura surrounded him.
"The self-proclaimed Mistress of Darkness has no idea that she has allowed darkness to rule her heart. Now she will have to face the consequences by herself." said Neo as he sat down in front of the Keyhole and closed his eyes.
-Later-
Neo's golden eyes popped open as he felt a shift in the air. "She's losing..." said Neo before he disappeared in a dark veil.
-Castle Chapel: Back Room (AN: Don't remember the name of the room you fight Dragon Maleficent in)-
Maleficent was gasping for breath as she held her chest. She couldn't believe she was losing to those four. Her! The Mistress of all Evil! Neo then appeared in a dark veil with Keyblade in hand.
"Need some help?" asked Neo before he turned to see Sora, Riku, Donald and Goofy running into the room.
"NEO!" shouted Sora. Riku then noticed the Keyblade in Neo's hand.
"Sora, look! Is that...?" asked Riku. Neo chuckled as he held up the Keyblade of Heart for all four to see.
"Heheheh, a Keyblade? Yes, but unlike your Keyblades, this one has the power to unlock people's hearts. Perhaps a demonstration is in order." said Neo. "BEHOLD!" As he said this, Neo quickly turned toward Maleficent and stabbed the Keyblade of Heart into the evil fairy's chest. Darkness poured from Maleficent's body as she grinned evilly.
"This is it. Darkness! THE TRUE DARKNESS!" shouted Maleficent as a pillar of darkness shot toward the ceiling. Neo flashed a crooked grin as a corridor of darkness appeared before he stepped through it.
-Grand Hall-
A dark corridor appeared before Neo stepped out of it. As it disappeared he looked at the incomplete Keyhole.
"Soon your heart shall return, Princess. When it does, I shall unlock the Door to Darkness." said Neo as he turned to look at the comatose Kairi. "And then it'll be over." However, a loud bang interrupted him as he sighed.
"Even with all the darkness I released in her heart she still lost." said Neo as he allowed his Keyblade to dispel before he disappeared.
-Castle Chapel: Back Room-
Neo arrived via dark corridor to find Maleficent's cloak on the ground, but the evil fairy was no where to be found. "She was so caught up in her own ambitions that she never realized the Heartless were using her from the very beginning. Because of this, the darkness in her heart overwhelmed her." said Neo as he stepped on Maleficent's cloak and ground his shoe into it, making it disappear. "A fitting end."
"Neo, what's wrong with you?" asked Sora. The possessed teen looked toward the four friends with a smirk.
"Come to the Grand Hall. She's waiting for you." said Neo as he disappeared again via dark corridor.
-Grand Hall-
Neo reappeared on a ledge above the Keyhole and sat down while waiting for the four friends to arrive. Sure enough, they came running in and up the steps to the Keyhole, however, as Sora, Riku and Donald reached the top Neo threw up a barrier. Goofy hit the barrier causing him to fall back as he saw mini-shields again. Upon seeing Kairi laying on the ground, Sora and Riku rushed over to her. Sora fell to his knees as they reached her before pulling her into his arms.
"Kairi!" exclaimed Sora as he tried to gently shake her awake. Riku patted her cheek.
"C'mon Kairi, open your eyes!" said Riku. Neo then spoke up.
"That girl has lost her heart. She can never wake up." said Neo causing Sora, Riku and Donald to look up at the ledge to see the possessed teen. "And without her heart, the princess will never be able to tap into her power. The Keyhole will remain incomplete...so long as the last Princess of Heart still sleeps." Neo then jumped off the ledge and floated down to the ground before landing on his feet. Sora, Riku and Donald looked at Neo with wide eyes before looking at Kairi and then back at Neo.
"Princess? Kairi is a princess?!" said Sora. Neo nodded his head as his Keyblade appeared.
"Yes. One of seven in fact. You passed the other six on the way over here." said Neo. Sora then laid Kairi back down before standing up and glaring at Neo.
"Whoever you are, let Neo go! Give him back his heart!" demanded Sora. Neo smirked as he pointed his Keyblade at Sora.
"Of course, but first you need to give the princess back her heart." said Neo. Sora gave the possessed teen a questioning look before he dropped to his knees whilst clutching his chest.
"Don't do you see? The princess's heart is responding. Kairi's heart rests within you!" said Neo. Sora looked back at Kairi.
"Kairi is...inside me?" asked Sora. Riku then glared at Neo.
"You're not Neo. Who are you?!" said Riku as he summoned his Keyblade. The possessed teen's gold eyes glinted with glee before he flashed a crooked grin.
"It is I, Ansem. The Seeker of Darkness." said Neo before he started walking toward the three friends.
"BWWWAAAAAAAAAAAA!" screamed Donald as he rushed at Neo/Ansem with staff in hand. Neo/Ansem, however, backhanded Donald and sent the Royal Court Magician flying out of the barrier. Riku then rushed at Neo/Ansem and swung his Keyblade, but the possessed teen held out his left hand and caught the blade.
"WHAT?!" shouted a surprised Riku before Neo/Ansem kicked him in the gut and sent him flying back. Neo/Ansem then approached Sora before pointing his Keyblade at the Keyblade wielder.
"I will release you now, princess. Complete the Keyhole. Open the door. LEAD ME INTO EVERLASTING DARKNESS!" Neo/Ansem shouted the last part before swinging his Keyblade down on Sora. Time seemed to slow down as the blade of Neo/Ansem's Keyblade got closer and closer to Sora. However...
"SORA!" shouted a voice in Sora's mind. Reacting quickly, Sora summoned his Keyblade and blocked the attack.
"What?!" asked a surprised Neo/Ansem at having his attack blocked. Sora then stood up.
"Forget it!" said Sora as he forced Neo/Ansem back. "There is no way you're taking Kairi's heart! I'm taking Kairi AND Neo back!"
"We're taking Kairi and Neo back." said Riku as he stood up and moved to stand next to Sora. The two Keyblade wielders looked at each other and smiled before glaring at Neo/Ansem. The possessed teen smirked.
"COME!" shouted Neo/Ansem as he cast a barrier over Kairi's body to protect her. Sora and Riku rushed at the possessed teen. Neo/Ansem blocked a strike from Riku before forcing him back and blocking a strike from Sora. The brown haired Keyblade wielder used Strike Raid and flung his Keyblade at Neo/Ansem, but the possessed teen caught it and flung it back at him. Sora barely managed to roll out of the way before his Keyblade impaled the spot he had been standing in seconds ago.
Riku then shot a Graviga spell that appeared as a dark sphere above Neo/Ansem before it fell on him. Neo/Ansem, however, rolled out of the way to dodge. He then rushed at Riku and swung his Keyblade down upon him. Riku held up his Keyblade and blocked the attack. Sora then ran at Neo/Ansem and swung his Keyblade, however, the possessed teen quickly forced Riku back before spinning in place whilst swinging his Keyblade. The attack struck both Keyblade wielders and sent them flying back before landing on the ground and skidding to a stop.
"HAHAHAHAHA! You're going to have to do better than that to win!" said Neo/Ansem. He then warped a few feet in the air above Riku while point his Keyblade straight down and descended on him. Riku saw this before rolling out of the way as Neo/Ansem's Keyblade impaled the ground where Riku had been laying. Riku then moved to attack Neo/Ansem, but the possessed teen threw out his left hand and shot a Dark Firaga spell that hit the Keyblade wielder square in the chest and sent him flying back.
Sora, having saw this, quickly stood up before firing a Ragnarok attack and shooting tons of lasers at Neo/Ansem. The possessed teen, however, let go his Keyblade and used both hands to fire a barrage of Dark Firaga spells. The shots collided with the lasers causing them all to explode. Neo/Ansem then grabbed his Keyblade and yanked it out of the ground before rushing at Sora and swinging his Keyblade. Sora blocked the attack, but was then punched in the gut causing him to double over. Neo/Ansem then backhanded Sora causing him to hit the ground.
"Is this the best that the Keyblade's chosen ones can do? Pathetic!" said Neo/Ansem before his hands became encased in electricity. Sora and Riku stood as they watched Neo/Ansem start to float a few inches off the ground.
"LET ME SHOW YOU THE REAL POWER OF DARKNESS!" shouted Neo/Ansem before he flew straight at Sora who managed to block the attack only for Neo/Ansem to disappear. Riku then spotted Neo/Ansem coming straight at him and blocked the attack, however, he disappeared again. Neo/Ansem kept reappearing, attacking and disappearing another ten times before appearing in the air.
"VANISH!" shouted Neo/Ansem before he came down and slammed his Keyblade into the ground causing thousands of dark energy pillars to shoot up from the ground. Sora and Riku ran as fast as they could to avoid the pillars of darkness. Once the pillars dissipated, Sora and Riku looked at each other before nodding their heads. Riku then ran at Neo/Ansem and swung his Keyblade, but the possessed teen blocked the attack.
"I told you that it would take more than that to win!" said Neo/Ansem. Riku then smirked.
"SORA! NOW!" shouted Riku as he jumped back earning a questioning look from Neo/Ansem before he looked behind him to see Sora. The Keyblade wielders then performed a twin Sonic Blade attack and struck Neo/Ansem six times each before following up with a twin Ragnarok attack, shooting multiple lasers that struck the possessed teen. The two landed next to each other before pointing their Keyblades at him. A sphere of light formed at the joined tip of their Keyblades.
"H-how is this...p-possible?" asked Neo/Ansem with wide eyes.
"NOW GIVE NEO BACK!" shouted Sora and Riku as they fired a beam of light that pierced Neo/Ansem's chest.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!" screamed Neo/Ansem in pure agony before he was blown back. He landed on his back near the Keyhole. Sora and Riku panted as their Keyblades disappeared when they saw the Keyblade of Heart disappear.
"Is it over?" asked Sora. Riku nodded his head.
"I...think so." said Riku. Just then, Neo stood up before opening his now jade green eyes.
"S-Sora? R-Riku? What happened?" asked Neo. "And what hit me?" Sora and Riku looked at each other before looking back at their best friend with grins on their faces.
"Us." they said in unison. Neo nodded his head before looking at the ground.
"I'm sorry...for everything I put you guys through...and for everything I said." said Neo. Sora just grinned as he held his arms behind his head.
"Ah, forget about it! The point is that you're okay!" said Sora. Neo looked at Sora with wide eyes before looking at Riku to see him nod his head in agreement.
"H-how can you two forgive me so easily? After everything I've done?!" asked Neo.
"Because we knew you would never do that when you were in your right frame of mind. You were lost in the darkness is all. That's why." said Riku. Neo looked between the two before getting a big grin of his own.
"T-thanks gu-ARGH!" Neo shouted the last part in pain as he held his head. Sora and Riku looked at their best friend in alarm.
"Neo, what's wrong?" asked Sora.
"You are my vessel. My puppet and as such you will obey." said a voice in Neo's head as he dropped to his knees.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!" Neo screamed out in pain. A dark aura surrounded him as his hands went limp at his sides before the Keyblade of Heart reappeared in his right hand. He then stood up as the dark aura dissipated.
"Neo...?" asked Sora. Riku shook his head as he summoned his Keyblade.
"Not anymore." said Riku as he glared at their best friend. Neo then lifted his head to look at them before opening his now golden eyes.
"I commend you both for managing to break my control, but as long as his heart belongs to darkness I can always take back control." said Neo/Ansem as the possessed teen smirked. Just then, the barrier around Kairi's body and the stairs fell allowing Donald and Goofy to rush to Sora and Riku's aid.
"Don't worry, fellas. Donald and I are here to help! A-hyuck!" said Goofy. Donald then raised his staff in the air.
"CURAGA!" shouted Donald as Sora and Riku were engulfed in a green veil that healed their wounds.
"I've had enough of this. It's time to complete the Keyhole." said Neo/Ansem. Riku then stepped forward.
"We won't allow you to have your way!" said Riku. Neo/Ansem looked toward Riku with a glare.
"I've had enough out of you! DISAPPEAR!" Neo/Ansem shouted before he ran at Riku and pointed his Keyblade at him. Time seemed to slow down as Neo/Ansem got closer to Riku with Donald and Goofy moving to intercept him, however, Sora suddenly jumped in front of him. Riku, Donald and Goofy's eyes all widen as the Keyblade of Heart pierced Sora's chest. An aura of light surrounded Sora as Neo/Ansem removed his Keyblade and jumped back. An orb of light came out of Sora's chest before floating toward Kairi and disappearing as it entered her chest. Kairi's eyes opened as the Keyhole began to glow now that it was finally complete. She sat up and looked toward Sora to see him slowly fading away.
"SORA!" shouted Kairi, Riku, Donald and Goofy as they ran to him and couldn't understand why he was smiling even though he was fading away. Neo/Ansem looked on with an evil smile, however, that smile fell as he grabbed his head while dropping the Keyblade of Heart.
"N-not now!" said Neo/Ansem as his eyes flashed between gold and jade green before stopping on jade green. Neo panted before looking toward Sora to see him fading. Neo's eyes widened as memories of his and Sora's time on the islands flashed before his eyes.
"SORA!" screamed Neo as he made a mad dash toward his best friend. As he reached him and tried to catch him before he fell, however, Sora disappeared as what remained of him in the form of light droplets floated into the sky.
"SORA! COME BACK, SORA!" shouted Donald as he, Neo, Goofy, Riku and Kairi watched as the light droplets disappeared.
"S-Sora...?" asked Kairi as tears fell down her face. Neo continued to look up at the ceiling in disbelief.
"W-what have I done?" asked Neo. "I never m-meant for any of this to h-happen." He was engulfed in a dark aura as he gritted his teeth and tears ran down his face.
"NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" screamed Neo as darkness shot out of him in a torrently gust of wind. Donald and Goofy were blown back, but grabbed the rail to keep from being blown away while Riku grabbed Kairi and turned so he was shielding her. When the torrent of darkness ceased everyone looked toward Neo and went wide eyed. Floating behind him was a demonic looking creature with a heart shaped hole in it's chest (Guardian.)
"Neo!" said Kairi as she tried to go to him, but he shook his head and backed away.
"STAY AWAY!" Neo ordered causing Kairi to halt. Riku gave Neo a questioning look.
"Neo, what's wrong?" asked Riku. Neo looked at the group and they could see his eyes rapidly changing from jade green to gold and back again.
"I c-can feel it! H-he's trying...t-to take control!" said Neo as he grabbed his head. "R-Riku...Donald...G-Goofy, please get...K-Kairi...out of here!" Kairi went wide eyed.
"What?! No, we're not leaving you here!" said Kairi as she tried moving closer only for Neo to back away again. Neo shook his head.
"NO! Y-you four need to l-leave now! I c-can feel it! I'm l-losing...this f-fight!" said Neo. As he backed away again he felt his foot hit something and looked down to see the Keyblade of Heart, the very Keyblade that cost him his best friend. Getting an idea, Neo knelt down and picked it up before grasping the blade and pointing the tip at his chest. Everyone went wide eyed.
"Neo, what are you doing?" asked Riku.
"Don't do it, Neo!" said Goofy.
"Are you crazy?! Put it down now, Neo!" said Donald.
"No Neo, please don't!" begged Kairi. Neo looked over at the four with a sad smile, his eyes still rapidly changing between gold and jade green.
"Everything I've done, I did to try and save you, Kairi. But I was a fool! I let darkness rule my heart and I hurt a lot of people because of it. Now I've destroyed Sora, but I'm not gonna let Ansem take away anymore of my friends! I refuse to let him! If I'm going down, then I'm going down fighting!" said Neo. He then pulled the back a bit.
"Good-bye." said Neo. He then pierced his own chest with the Keyblade of Heart. He became engulfed in a golden aura as the Keyblade floated out of his chest before changing into six orbs of light that flew toward the containers and entered the other six Princesses of Heart's chests. The Guardian behind him dissolved as Neo's body began to fade, however, he wore a smile on his face. His eyes finally changed to jade green as he dropped to his knees. Kairi rushed forward to try and catch Neo, but as she reached him, he disappeared.
-Next Chapter: Hollow Bastion part 2-
UltimaShigawa: That's it for this chapter! Hope ya enjoyed! Read, review, comment, but don't flame! Peace, I'm out!