"Where are they?" Leon asked himself, sitting by the window in the destroyed library. At first, he had been steamed at the children, ready to kill them almost. But now that they'd been gone three days, leaving without a word, he found that worry over-rode anger.
"Don't worry." Leon spun around. Across the mess of books and trashed shelves stood the dark Auron, leaning against the doorframe.
"You sent them there. You know where they are. What's going on?" Leon piled on, his mind brimming with questions. The older man sighed, looking Leon straight in the eyes, which was something rare for him.
"I haven't the slightest idea, overall. But whatever's happening…" He trailed off.
"It will not end well."
Dream-Catcher, whoever you are, I promise you, if you let Roxas and Sora, and those friends of their's get hurt, or even killed, I swear you will die next.
Got it memorized?
… Hinode …
Sora walked behind Saix as the group continued to walk through the shallows of the water, talking over the riddle yet again.
"So, we did the "follow the Way to Dawn", didn't we?" Sora asked. Riku, looking to the ground, shook his head.
"I have a feeling that part isn't over. But the tide thing is done, I believe." The younger boy looked over to Saix. When he looked back to Riku, Saix nodded.
"So now we're doing the "Sun" thing, right?" Roxas asked. "The end of the day and all that."
Luxord, at the head of the group, stopped walking.
"I believe we've found the end." He muttered.
Sora looked ahead just in time to shout and topple back, keeping himself from falling off of a massive cliff.
The ocean simply ended at a craggy cliff, the clear water pouring off in a small waterfall effect. After a few feet, it disappeared, as if it had never existed.
"Well, that's interesting." Luxord sighed, distraught.
"Now what do we do?" Roxas moaned.
Sora looked up across the end of the ocean, looking out. There were many stars, not far away, but small, and floating nearby. One was larger than the rest, and it was drawing Sora towards it. He looked back to Saix, and the two were both thinking the same thing.
"We trust the sun." Saix smirked, beginning to understand what was going on.
"The sun?" Riku asked, following Sora's line of sight. He looked around, not seeing the stars Sora could see. Roxas could see them, and stepped forward.
"Come on. Let's go." Saix nodded, and he stepped forward as well. Luxord summoned cards, letting him and Saix ride them to the large "sun". Sora, Roxas, and Riku flew, with Riku following his friends.
When Saix touched the sun, it began glowing brighter, and in moments, everyone was blinded.
When Sora opened his eyes, he saw that he and his friends were in what looked like a church, a large, empty, domed room with a high ceiling. The glass windows in the roof were stained glass, and the floor was tile, old and cracked. Standing, Sora looked around the room, as his friends followed suite.
"I don't get any of this." He whispered. "Is this just a random game?" He spoke louder, directing his question to Saix.
"I believe… were in the imagination." Sora blinked.
"What?" Roxas questioned.
"I don't think that was my memory. I was in it, but I think… it was hers. And this is her imagination. The darkness that was the dark that is present in all hearts. The beach, which looked like… something from our past." From the way Saix ended that sentence quickly, Sora knew not to press the subject. "The end, with those stars, was also like something from our past. And this church… it's where we were born. This is how she remembers it." He finished, looking around in awe.
"But what about Riku not being able to see the door? And the other stuff?" Sora asked, looking from Riku to Saix.
"I'm not sure. Perhaps it has to do with… my sister." Saix whispered. "Yes." He answered himself. "She was my sister." Luxord looked to the children, who looked as confused as he did.
"My sister… was different. She could see some things others couldn't. But, in turn, some things were blind in her sight. Like doorways. She could see the doorways into the heart, but she could not see doors into simple rooms or houses." Roxas arched his brows at just the same time Sora did. Only Riku noticed it, and chuckled at the sight.
"Also, light could hurt her eyes, so she would usually keep her head down to avoid light. There was also something about water… but I cannot remember it." He finished finally, spinning around to look at the others again.
"Well, we've got most everything down, right?" Sora asked, looking around at his friends. "All that's left is the 'mist of hate and despair'." Sora sighed.
"That sounds lovely." Riku moaned, rubbing his forehead. Roxas nodded in agreement, disheartened, tired, and hungry.
Luxord looked down at his feet, collapsing against the wall of the round room. Pain ached in all his bones and muscles, and he was starved. Was he getting dizzy? Because, from his point of view, the rocks beside his feet were shaking.
"Luxord!" Saix called. The man looked up. The building was shaking, and so were the rocks by his feet. Apprehensive, Luxord leapt to his feet, his deck of cards in his left hand.
Saix looked up as the roof was shaken and the glass shattered, raining down. Riku heard it and summoned his Dark Shield over both him and Roxas. Luxord covered himself with his cards, and Sora used Reflectra. Saix prepared for the onslaught, never backing down.
Just as the shards were about to impale him, Sora's shield spread and covered the man.
"You an idiot?" Sora asked. "We're here to help you, y'know!"
The emotion "Trust" was growing larger.
Saix nodded, summoning his claymore. Once the glass had fallen, the building ceased to shake for the moment. Roxas looked around, stepping away from Riku as the boy put down his shield.
"Is it over?" He asked.
All of a sudden, a terrifying screech broke the silence, and the ground shook violently as a massive worm like beast crashed through the tile floor, feelers outstretched and tongue lolling. A heartless symbol decorated its' under belly, as it crashed into the ground were Riku and Roxas stood. The two leapt away as it dove underground again, sending debris flying.
"Just had to ask, didn't you?" Riku yelled sarcastically. Roxas stuck his tongue out at the boy.
"Prepare yourselves!" Luxord demanded. "The beast returns!"
Just like that, it leapt up into the air again, sending its toxic saliva in Saix's direction. He disappeared and reappeared behind the creature, running up its back and dragging his claymore through the beast's thick, black skin. Slimy puss spouted out behind him, spraying the ground as the beast roared in anger.
Luxord took the chance to summon more of his cards, rushing away from the spray of poison breath and towards its side. He flung a plethora of cards, all of which exploded on contact.
Sora and Roxas leapt up to its head, beginning an onslaught of combos and attacks. But before any real damage could be done, an ear-splitting roar echoed again, sending the two boys careening into the stone wall.
Watching his friends fly, Riku soared up and took their places as he unleashed his fury on the beast. Glad he could finally see, he took complete advantage of the situation and used his Dark Aura attack as much as possible. The beast reared its head as Saix ran up onto it, sending him flying into the wall as well.
After sending Saix flying, the beast bent its head down, crashing into Riku and sending the teen on a crash course with the tile floor. After, the beast dove down on him, going underground. Riku disappeared beneath the earth.
"Riku!" Sora called, leaping up and running towards the hole. As he did, the ground began rumbling again and the worm beast came up right under Sora, sending the boy flying. Spinning around in the air, Sora turned to attack the beast head on when he saw Riku in its jaws, pressing his fists against the roof of its mouth, The Way to Dawn stuck in its teeth.
"Riku!" Sora called, falling towards the open mouth of the beast. Spinning again, Sora flew against it teeth and grabbed its upper canines, hanging on for life.
"Sora! What was that? What use are you there?" He questioned, amused. Sora shrugged.
"Could always annoy you, I guess." He grinned. It was then the beast spit up a bit, greenish, nasty smelling saliva covering both boys' backs. Sora's grin slacked.
"Sickening." Riku muttered the poison burning through his jacket. Sora nodded in agreement, now focusing his strength of pushing the beast's mouth open.
Down below, Saix was running about the beast, his right leg going limp from the rock fragment embedded in it. With a smug grin, he leapt up, lifting his claymore to smash it against the beast's forehead.
With a sound "thump", the claymore pressed against the beast, pressing harder until the skin caved in and puss sputtered out, splashing against the Luna Diviner. The beast's mouth first came in, and then flung out, loosening its hold on the two boys. It also freed Riku's blade, and it plummeted into the throat of the worm.
"Uh-oh!" Sora grinned sheepishly, and he let go, diving in after the blade. Riku rolled his eyes.
"Show off." He grinned.
Sora flew down towards the blade, both arms outstretched, his keyblade in his right hand. With a spin for momentum, he took the Way to Dawn in his left hand, bending his arms to keep the blades near his body, spinning faster.
Outside, Riku leapt away, preparing to summon his Dark Aura attack, flying towards the ground on an angle.
Sora unleashed the wrath of the two keyblades on the worm's innards as Riku attacked its heartless symbol on the outside. As the two boys did this, Saix rushed towards the beasts head again, and insured its death by shoving his claymore into his skin twisting, spreading puss everywhere as he flew across the room and landed on his feet, falling onto one knee.
Off to the side, as the rain of worm carcass headed towards them, Luxord placed his deck away and sighed.
"We sure did a whole lot." Roxas told him sarcastically, laughing. Luxord shrugged.
"Always another fight, my friend."
As the mist cleared and the blood splattered all over the room, Sora rose to his feet in the midst of it.
"Just had to show off, didn't you? I could have summoned it out of its stomach." Riku chuckled. Sora laughed, looking to his friend.
"Then you would've gotten all the glory." He complained, throwing the Way to Dawn to his friend. Riku caught it easily, smiling at Sora.
"Well, now that that's over." Sora sighed, trudging through the puss mess on the floor that clung to his feet. It was soaking his entire body.
When he walked up, Saix looked him over, limping over to him.
"You're a fool." Saix stated. Sora looked at him quizzically.
"And you're point is?" He joked. Riku grinned, shaking his head, and Roxas laughing, running over. Luxord sauntered over in his own sweet time, laughing as well.
Saix smiled.
Riku looked himself over with disgust.
"This is lovely, isn't it?" Riku moaned. Sora lifted his arm, and the gunk made it look like he had a wing. With a sigh, he let his arm down, squelching.
Saix looked behind them as the younger ones joked around about their conditions. Limping forward, Saix stepped up towards a white door.
"Sora? Sora?" He questioned, looking back to the boy. Sora perked up, looking to Saix. The older man nodded towards the door. Roxas gasped happily, Sora whooped, and Luxord sighed. Of course, Riku couldn't see the door, but he smiled.
Squelching all the while, Sora ran over to the door, past Saix. He touched the door handles, but when he pulled, it wouldn't budge.
"Step aside." Riku spoke. Sora looked back to him, stepped aside, and Riku stepped forward. He was sure of where the door was since Sora was standing right by it.
Lifting the Way to Dawn, Riku unlocked the door, and slowly, it swung open, bathing everything in light…
Follow the Way to Dawn and over the tide. At the end of the day you'll see the Sun is on your side. Through the mist of hate and despair, you'll find Sunrise awaiting you there.
"I understand; you don't trust me."
Hinode.
"You have to go with the tide, Sai!"
Hinode.
You'll find Sunrise awaiting you there.
The room was a small bedroom, the walls covered in paper, and the floor messy. One window was on the wall, showing Twilight Town Tram Common outside.
The walls had drawings galore on them, stick figures, colored in messily. The bed was made, and covered in pillows and stuffed animals. A desk was in the corner, clean, but a stack of books sat on its edge. The floor had some stuffed animals, some clothing, but mostly had paper, both written on, drawn on, or some even balled up and tossed aside.
Sora found he wasn't slathered in worm guts anymore, and stepped in after Riku. Roxas and Luxord were after, but Saix stood just outside the room.
Sora walked up to the desk, reverently looking over the room.
"What is this place?" Roxas asked, looking it over. He ran over to the window, as Riku looked the bed over, shrugging.
Curious, Sora picked up a paper on the desk. It was a drawing, a childish one, of a boy with blue hair walking with a girl with long black hair. Above the two was a girl with white eyes, and wings, floating over them with a smile.
Sora tucked the picture into his pocket.
Saix sighed, finally stepping into the room. The door disappeared behind him, and Riku looked to him.
"What is this?" He asked.
"We moved around. But this was her room… when we lived in Twilight Town." He answered. Riku nodded, sitting down on the bed.
"So this is sunrise, right?" Sora asked. "This room?"
"Not the room." Roxas answered. "This."
Sora spun around to see Roxas at the window, looking down on the sill. In his hand was a small treasure chest, and on it was a note.
"What's it say?" Riku asked as Sora stepped up to Roxas. The blonde removed the note, set the chest in Sora's hand, and began reading aloud.
Dear Saix, Sora, Riku, Roxas, and Luxord:
Congratulation! You have won your first game. The object of this game was simple: to bring some of Saix's old memories to the surface, to teach Sora and the others a bit about Saix and "Sunrise", and to bring Saix closer to Sora. The bonds of friendship will be needed in the games after this one.
I thought Luxord would be needed because of his level mind, Riku because of his polar personality to the reckless Sora –
"Hey!" Sora complained. Roxas rolled his eyes.
And Roxas because of his friendship with the boys. Saix is obvious, of course.
Now that you know a bit more about the situation (you've only broken the surface, but it will have to do), you may return home and rest. Your next game will be in a few days, giving you a good time to relax. Luxord, Riku, and Roxas can all relax: they will not be included in the next game.
"Yes!" Roxas cheered. Riku grinned at Sora's grumpy frown.
Now, for your prize. In the girl's memory, you saw her give a younger Saix something. That something is called Hinode. "Hinode" means "Sunrise" in Japanese, the language of Saix's home world. Of course, he can't remember yet.
"Hn." Saix complained.
Anyway, Hinode is inside this box. Use it well, and it will lead you further down the path of memory to the truth. Good luck, fellows!
Dream – Catcher
"Hinode, huh?" Sora spoke softly. Roxas put the note in his pocket, and leaned over Sora's shoulder. Everyone crowded around the child as he touched the chest.
"Ready?" He asked, looking around. Everyone nodded, except for Saix. Sora looked to him, the brooding Luna, and after he gave a curt nod, Sora lifted the lid.
A bright light came, and after, Sora crashed onto a hard stone floor. Groaning, he looked around to see he and the others were once more in the Great Maw.
"So, what is it?" Roxas asked, sitting up and scooting to Sora. Shrugging, Sora lifted his hand and opened it.
Sitting in his palm was a keychain. It was shaped like a star, with a crescent moon in the center, and silver daggers pointing out. It immediately connected itself to the Keyblade, transforming it into the Hinode Key.
"Hinode…" Saix whispered.
What was it that was so important? He had forgotten something… important…
What was it about Hinode?
Sulhadahne here. I been writing a lot today because I'm bored. I go to year round school, but I didn't go to school today because my brother is getting married Sunday, and I have a lot of family around. My grandmother, my brother, my other brother, my sister, my parents, my great aunt and uncle, my aunt, and my cousin are here already. Tonight, My cousin and her friend arrive. Man, this house is getting crowded.
I don't know if I'll be able to write again today or tomorrow, but I'll try. See ya, guys!
Sulhadahne