Author's Note: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or anything affiliated with it. The rights to it belong solely to their respective owners.
Ch.59 Final Stages
(Point of View Change: Sora)
After we had freed Goofy, he, Dexal and I had to fight the Face of the World of Chaos. It snarled at us and snapped its massive fangs, each the same size as my entire body. We flew back to avoid it and I cast Aeroga on everyone, creating shields of wind. The face's eyes flashed and it unleashed a rain of energy blasts around it, two hitting me and one hitting Goofy. He blocked it with his shield and I blocked one with my Oblivion, but not the other. I cried out in pain but quickly cast Cura, healing the injury. I came close to the Face and flew over an attempted bite, giving it a cut between the eyes. The face closed said eyes and roared, reopening them and opening its mouth wide. The inside glowed orange before it unleashed a massive blast of fire, nearly scorching us just from the heat alone.
Dexal cast Deep Freeze around himself and managed to absorb the flames, not having been quickly enough to avoid them. I did the same with a volley of Blizzaga spells, but rather than stay put I actually moved forward, going through the fire. The Face saw this and stopped, trying to bite me in half. But I cast Firaga and hit the roof of its mouth with a ball of fire, which exploded and further burnt the Heartless. It roared and summoned another rain of energy blasts. This time I managed to dodge them and Dexal and Goofy did the same. This only served to further infuriate the face, and it tried swallowing us whole. Near the back the Guardian waved its arms and created a trio of Bit Snipers, which flew at us. They all fired lasers that came at with the accuracy of real snipers, and I just barely avoided the shot aimed at me.
Goofy deflected another which his shield, and Dexal's Aeroga barrier knocked the third one away. I flew at the Bit Snipers and used Strike Raid, hitting one of them while my Keyblade. It was destroyed instantly and the other two retaliated, shooting another pair of lasers and hitting me in the right arm and left leg. I gritted my teeth and struck back, cleaving one of them in two while Goofy smashed the third. Dexal came near the side of the Face and cast Thundaga, pelting it with bolts of lightning. It turned and was about to swallow him whole when I moved back, flying upwards and stabbing his Oblivion into the beast's right eye. It roared and in pain and shook from side to side, creating countless energy blasts that flew in every direction.
The three of us scattered and I had to leave my blade where it was, moving so as to not be hit. The Face glared at me with its good eye and unleashed another bellow of flame, enveloping me. "Sora!" Dexal called, seeing me disappear into the fire. I could hear him as I screamed in pain and he flew forward, but the face kept he away with a wall of energy blasts. "I got ya, Dexal!" Goofy said, tossing him his shield. Dexal caught it and nodded my thanks, using it to block the flames as he flew through them. He saw the shape of my body and grabbed my arm, flying back out of the fire. I was covered in burns and nearly unconscious, prompting Dexal to give Goofy back his shield and cast Curaga. The burns mostly healed and I opened his eyes, groaning. "You okay?" he asked, despite knowing those burns would hurt. "I can still fight," I replied, and he nodded.
We flew back at the Face, who tried biting us and missed. Dexal focused his efforts and cast Ice Barrage, creating a volley of ice spikes that pierced the side of the Face. It turned and was about to blast him when Goofy used Rocket and slammed into its chin, nearly breaking it. It changed targets again, but then I came close and shot a Firaga into its remaining eye, setting it on fire. The Face howled again, but before it could do anything else Dexal flew inside its mouth, casting Meteor Rain and sending a volley of flaming comets down its throat. The beast stopped and gasped, seeing him fly back out. I smiled and gave him a high-five, watching the Heartless. A few seconds later the meteors exploded, burning the face from the inside out. It moaned weakly before going stiff, it's mouth wide open. A portal of darkness appeared inside, and we flew it.
What awaited us was, just like the first two times, a room made of only darkness and a glowing blue Heartless symbol on the "floor". At the other end was Donald, who jumped when he saw us. "Sora! Dexal Goofy!" he called. "Donald!" we all replied. Before we could rejoice in being together though, half a dozen Invisibles appeared, all with their swords at the ready. Dexal frowned. "Guess we'll talk later," he said, and held up Stormfell. I re-summoned Oblivion and Goofy raised his shield, while on the other side Donald raised his staff. "Let's get 'em!" he called, and charged. We did the same and half the Invisibles automatically vanished, leaving their swords behind. Donald cast Aeroga and shielded himself as well, casting a trio of Graviga spells on the Heartless we could see.
Dexal used Barrier and blocked a pair of swords from either side, using Counter Blast to hit the blades' invisible owners. They reappeared, and Goofy used the edge of his shield to cut one in half at the waist. It faded away into shadows. The Heartless that had been hit with Graviga could no longer fly, and were hauled to the floor as a result. I took that chance to use Sonic Blade and hit one of them, going back and striking the same Invisible again and again. By the time he was finished that particular one was covered in cuts, and it only took a single weak Fire spell to bring it down. Donald froze a third Invisible with Stopga, proceeding to use his staff like a club and beat it mercilessly. The third sword's owner reappeared, slamming said blade against the ground and creating a shockwave. Dexal jumped over the wave and cast Firaga Burst, hitting the Invisible with an exploding ball of flame.
The Heartless burnt to ashes and that left just three, one which swung at me. I blocked and countered with Strike Raid, hitting the Invisible in the chest. It fell back and the Keyblade flew back to my hand. The one that Donald froze became unfrozen, and all the damage Donald inflicted during that time hit it at once. It faded away and Dexal hit the Invisible he was targeting with Thundaga, zapping it. The Heartless froze and Goofy dealt the finishing blow with Rocket, while I killed the last Invisible with Blitz. When it disappeared there was a small burst of light, the final Room Core appearing. I was about to destroy it when Donald walked in front of us, saying "Let me." I smiled and stepped to the side, while Donald charged a Firaga spell. He kept gathering strength for a few seconds, until he finally called "Take this!"
He fired the spell and it hit the Core, exploding with such force that it was instantly incinerated. The room turned black and we were all forced out of the Portal of Darkness. Once we were out the Face began glowing, until it finally exploded, leaving just a massive stump behind. At the same moment the energy field blocking the World of Chaos's Main Core vanished, leaving it open to attack. I looked at Dexal, Donald and Goofy. "Well, now that we're together, let's finish this, huh?" I asked. They all smiled and nodded, and we charged. The Artillery surrounding the Main Core fired at us, but we blocked it. While Goofy and Dexal targeted the Artillery, me and Donald went for the Main Core, attacking and casting magic respectively. One of the Large Artillery aimed at Dexal but he dodged, using Reversal and then following it up with Reversal Slash.
The blow alone nearly destroyed the weapon, and Goofy spun around a circle while holding his shield out. The Tornado attack hit the Artillery and destroyed it, also hitting two other in the process. The use of the attack did leave him unbalanced though, and so he fell and landed on the ground. A pair of Artillery aimed at him from front and behind, firing. Goofy managed to turn and block the one from behind, but that left the other one to hit him in the back. "Ouch!" he called, striking back and slamming his shield against the Artillery that hit him. I pulled a Potion out of my pocket and tossed it to him, also striking at an Artillery that was about to hit me. At the same time Dexal and Donald both cast Graviga, causing the Main Core and Artillery to shudder as their health was cut down. Donald tried freezing it with Stop but failed, and the Artillery tried aiming at him.
Before it could succeed Dexal destroyed it with Glacier, and I smiled. We had started out with four regular Artillery and two Large ones, and with another Thundaga spell that number was decreased to one Large Artillery and two smaller ones. I used Ars Arcanum and swung at the Main Core with a devastating flurry of blows, cutting and slashing repeatedly. It shook from side to side from the force of the attack, and the remaining Large Artillery aimed at me. It fired and managed to knock me away, but I countered with Ragnarok. The move unleashed a dozen shots of light, all of which hit the weapon at once. It exploded and all that was left was a single smaller Artillery, which Goofy destroyed with his Tornado attack. Now the Core had nothing to defend itself with, and Dexal attacked with Meteor. The flaming rock came down and exploded, dealing serious damage to the Main Core.
Goofy ended his Tornado attack with a vicious blow to it from his shield, Donald cast Graviga and Firaga and combined the two into a wave of crushing heat, and I used Judgment. My Keyblade glowed blue-purple and I threw it, hitting the Main Core and tearing right through it. Up above the Guardian groaned, still connected to the World of Chaos and feeling its pain. Dexal sighed; we had gotten so far, but there was one more thing we had to do. To prove his point the Heartless crest protecting Ansem vanished, and the man himself rose back up. He glared at us and summoned his halberd without a word, taking a fighting stance. We glared back, and I said "Let's end this!" We flew back up to Ansem and he called "Turn to darkness!" He spun his halberd and swung at us, but we moved out of range.
The Guardian's mouth glowed and it stole Dexal's magic power, which he quickly restored with a Mega-Ether. "Come forth!" Ansem called, and he summoned another trio of Bit Snipers. Donald aimed and destroyed one with Stopga and Thundaga, also injuring the others. I used Ars Arcanum again and swung at Ansem, but this time around he blocked every strike and even countered, casting Aeroga and creating a blast of wind that sent me away. Goofy tackled one of the Snipers and crushed it, blocking a laser from the third one. Dexal destroyed that one with Zantetsuken, killing it instantly before he turned back to Ansem. He was swinging at me and I was doing his best to keep up with Ansem's speed. This time around he was a lot faster, and it showed in his attacks. "Welcome the darkness into your heart!" he called, and waved his hand. A series of orbs appeared around him, which fired lasers at me.
I flew around to avoid them, also trying to not be hit by Ansem's halberd. Dexal came in and attacked with Blitz, which he blocked. He sneered, saying "Even if you four can defeat this Heartless I am part of, you'll never destroy me. I have become one with darkness. I am darkness itself, as are you!" He shoved and Dexal struggled to stay in place. "Maybe, but I still have a weapon that can use the light. And I will use it to stop you!" he said, shoving back. They were of equal strength physically, and before Donald or Goofy could help the Guardian created a massive gale of wind, sending them back along with summoning more Bit Snipers. Ansem chuckled dryly, saying "You are a fool, Dexal. Even if you find me despicable, at least I accept the nature of my existence as a Heartless. You do not, and as such will never taste true power!"
He shoved even harder and Dexal fell back. He pointed one end of the halberds above us, and said "Now, witness real power!" The lasers firing at me faded and we all looked up, seeing an actual black hole appear above us. It began sucking us in as it gathered power, and Dexal flew as hard as I could to get away. He began slowly gaining distance, but Donald and Goofy weren't nearly as strong, and were slowly being drawn to the hole. The Bit Sniper Heartless were sucked right in and vanished, broken down into energy for the hole to absorb. Even I was starting to get closer, even if at a slower rate. Dexal frowned. He knew that this attack wasn't meant to suck us in. It was just gathering power until it would release it all in one massive explosion, and if he didn't do something me and the others would be caught in the blast.
Making his decision, he stopped trying to fly away and instead flew towards the black hole, angling myself so that he would reach Donald and Goofy. Dexal reached them and grabbed both their arms, saying "Here!" and throwing them as hard as he could. They tumbled through the air and stopped beyond the reach of the black hole. It began glowing as it nearly reached full power, and Dexal flew to me. "Sora, grab my hand!" he called. I listened and did, and he threw me with all of his strength. I was also sent beyond the reach of the explosion, and Dexal smiled... just before the back hole exploded. "Dexal!" we called as he was consumed. For a few seconds he was gone, Ansem laughing all the while, until we could see his body fall from the explosion and land on the surface of the World of Chaos. He didn't get up.
"Dexal! No!" I called, flying towards him. Ansem tried to stop me but Donald and Goofy stopped him, enraged. They didn't care if he was stronger. Dexal was hurt, so now... "You're gonna regret that!" Donald yelled, firing Blizzaga four times over. He blocked each one, but Goofy attacked at the same time. He frowned, working harder to stay ahead. I landed next to Dexal and shook his shoulders. "Dexal! Dexal! Wake up!" I called. His body and his clothes were covered in burns from the explosion, and I could feel a massive lump on the back of his head. But no matter how hard I yelled, he wouldn't wake up.
(Point of View Change: Dexal)
The reason I couldn't wake up was very simple- I had been knocked clean unconscious. Perhaps even pushed to the border of death. Either way, when I opened my eyes it wasn't the dark abyss that I saw. I was standing in the middle of my old home, the Land of Departure. My clothes were perfectly fine, as was the rest of me, and crickets chirped while stars twinkled overhead. I was just about to wonder what was going on when I heard a voice behind me say "You've done great, Dexal." My eyes widened and I spun around. Standing there, acting as if he hadn't a care in the world, was... "Terra?" I began. He smirked, and just then I heard another voice say "He's right, you know." I spun again and saw Ventus walking towards me, also looking fine. "Ven?" I said. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder, I looked to my right to see Aqua standing right there.
She smiled serenely, and said "You've been fighting so hard Dexal, and for so long. Now, it's our turn to help you."
Oh no! Dexal is hurt, but what's going on here? What does Aqua mean by helping him? These answers shall be revealed next chapter!
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