Chapter 130: The Radiant Prince
Kwehs of excitement was heard from Steve as she followed Brian to the Cliffside, looking around the surroundings of the market below at the sight ahead. The castle entrance was guarded by two huge Seeker Nobodies guarding the wooden doors as the Dusks scouted the area below. The Chocobo looked up at the Aversion Endless, looking up at him with concern as he held his head. "Kweh?"
"Don't worry, Steve. I'm fine." Brian groaned before grabbing the communicator handed to him. "Okay Leon, I've made it."
"Good. Sora, Riku and Hikari are in place." Leon's voice replied. "Now, you have to make sure that the distraction hold backs the Seekers. If it doesn't hold them back, we might have trouble preventing them from following Sora and the others." He instructed.
"Right." He nodded as he aimed his staff at the castle entrance. He groaned in pain as he watched the castle front change appearance at a trippy state, looking more broken than usual. "Ahh!" He quickly lowered his staff, his claw to his head. "Damn these memories. I can't see straight." He looked down at Steve, leaning down to stroke her features. He looked at his surroundings, watching some of the battles going on in the distance.
"Where are we?"
"I'm not sure…we can't be far from somewhere though."
"Aiddie!" Brian quickly shot up, looking around the area with widen eyes. He looked out to the distance before a sharp pain struck his head, making him grit his teeth as he looked at the edge of town. His memory kicking in.
"We can't waste any time." Haru crossed the path in front of the two, keeping his hold on Aiddie's hand as they walked. "The quicker we find Little Devon, the quicker we can warn Daniel about the cure and figure out a way to save Nikolai."
"Daniel should listen to us." Aiddie told him. "With Angel there, he should listen anyway."
Haru chuckled at this. "This is Daniel we are talking about."
"This is Angel we are talking about." Aiddie countered.
The two mages continued their way down the concrete path, laughing along as they discussed the Devon family, the sight of a town coming into sight. "Haru! Look!" Aiddie pointed out to him.
Haru covered his eyes as he looked far ahead, seeing the sights of a castle being rebuilt. "Hollow Bastion!" he grinned.
Aiddie looked at him in confusion. "Where the outpost is?"
Haru nodded. "Me and Sora came here back in our time, We came here when we were looking for the Resistance." He looked back at the town ahead. "From the sight of the construction beams, this should be about the time where the HBRC have begun their reconstruction of the city."
"You think we might find a clue to Little Devon whereabouts?" The white mage asked.
"Only one way to find out." He grinned before letting go of her hand. "Race ya!" He laughed as he begins to run down the path.
"Hey!" Aiddie giggled as she followed. "Wait up!"
Brian could only sigh in sorrow at the memory, the memory of their last laughs together, the very thought of the memory made his heart ache as if someone had just stabbed him. "Aiddie…" The feeling of despair filled the anger within him as he aimed at the castle once more, changing more into the broken, burnt down version that he was so used to knowing in his mind. "DAMN IT!" Out of rage, Brian quickly turned his staff away from the castle entrance and quickly blasted at a lone Dusk wandering through the town.
"Nice shot, Haru."
Breathing heavily, Brian quickly turned his attention to the person next to him, slowly to calm himself from his anger as he looked at the person in disbelief. "Jun?" Brian questioned.
Jun, who was last seen in The Land of the Dragons, stood in front of the Aversion Endless, grinning as if nothing was going on with the world. "Finally!" She cheered, changing the mage off guard. "You have to be the only person that has called me Jun." Her voice was filled with relief as she sat by him, smiling as his chocobo scattered over to her side. "Everyone in the Order seems to be calling me 'Jenova' for some reason."
Brian raised an eyebrow at this. "Even Nikolai?"
She nodded. "Yes. Yes. Nikolai is always the one reminding Storm to call me Jenova as well." She stroked Steve's features as she spoke. "I think that it's because his being protective."
"Of you? You think?" Brian questioned.
"Of what's to come" She simply said.
"Of what's to come…" Brian repeated in a mutter. He knew that Jun was referring to the future; he could only guess that her ability to see the truth in things had carried on when she began a Neutral Endless. The memories of Aiddie was still fresh to his mind, the mention of her Endless brother reminded him of their last encounter before going to the Pride Lands, leaving him quiet worried for his friend. "How is Nikolai?" he asked, keeping his eyes on his surroundings in case the Nobodies spot them.
"He's changed, Haru." She told him, standing up once more as she looked in the distance. "Ever since he went to visit you, there had been times when his control on his virus process has been slipping, as if he was beginning to lose hope."
Brian groaned at this. "It's my fault." He said with remorse. "If I didn't mention Aiddie to him then maybe this wouldn't have happened." He shook his head, looking back at Jun. "You think I'll have to fight him?" He asked her, hoping that she would say no.
June only shrugged. "I dunno."
Brian blinked in confusion. "What happened to seeing the truth?" he questioned, feeling quiet annoyed that she wasn't telling him anything, consider that Jun told him everything while on The Land of the Dragon. "Besides, I asked if YOU think I have to fight him-"
"Haru." Jun spoke firmly to him, pointing to his chest. "What does your heart say?"
The sudden serious act reminded him of Jun in the future, his teacher in the Order. The sudden thought that if Jun is here then so are Nikolai and Colonel. Was Jun supposed to serve as a distraction to stall their distraction? With anger still pulsing through him, he scoffed at her. "I don't think I can trust my heart's judgement at the moment." He said dully to her, turning away from her and quickly called Steve over to him. "Why don't you go back to Nikolai, make sure he doesn't turn into a walking iceberg." He told him. He aimed at the castle entrance again, his mind focusing on the present this time as he readied his attack.
"What would you rather do? Die for the world of light or live in a world with your loved ones?"
Brian quickly shot back round after the comment, only to see that Jun was nowhere to be seen. He could only glared at Steve as the chocobo began to tell him off. "Does it matter? She's gone now." Maybe if he wasn't raging minutes before, his encounter with Jun could have gone better.
BOWBOWBOW
Hikari wore a worried look from the lack of contact that they seem to be having with Brian. He had gotten into position ten minutes ago and Leon had reported that there was something blocking the signal to Brian's communicator. She looked back at the two keybearers, seeing that the two were impatiently waiting for the signal, the three of them waiting at the Postern. "What's taking him so long?" She wondered, sounding slightly annoyed.
"You think he ran into trouble?" Sora raised an eyebrow.
"If he did, he should be able to handle it." Riku assured the two of them.
No sooner as the words were spoken, an explosion was heard from the other side of town, the sight of flames flew within the air, as well as seeing a number of Dusks.
"That's the signal!" Sora jumped up, summoning his Kingdom Key into his infected claw. "Let's go!" The three didn't waste any time as they rushed into the castle.
Hikari quickly rushed ahead, breaking the back entrance down as the three entered the forgotten corridors. "Which way?" She asked.
Riku looked at the surroundings. "According to Leon, if we can get to Ansem's study, there should be a way to the castle halls from there.
"This way!" Sora quickly took the lead as he ran down the hall, only to be halted by the sight of Nobodies amerging from their portals. "Get out of my way!" He raged, slightly through the Dusks within seconds, before blowing the rest away with his wind abilities. "Let's G Another portal appeared from Sora's side as a huge white fist slammed into the unexpected teen, slamming him through a couple of walls.
"Sora!" Riku rushed forward gigantic hand and quickly slammed his keyblade down on it, making the hand withdrawn.
Hikari remained wide eyed, "That was too big for a Seeker!" She gasped.
Riku quickly gave Sora a potion as he helped him up. "Whatever it was, we better try and avoid it." He quickly looked back at Hikari. "How much longer?" he asked.
"Half an hour." Hikari quickly aid Riku with Sora, placing the Keyblade Master to his feet. "Let's go!"
It didn't take long for the three to find Ansem's lab but it took them a while to find the secret path leading into the main castle hallways, while fighting Dusks and Seekers on the way. They hadn't seen any signs of the huge nobody hand that had struck Sora earlier but they didn't want to relax just yet. As soon as they had reached the end of the secret path had lead them to the castle hallways. The castle hallways were more repaired and brighter than the halls that lead to Ansem's lab, all expect the sense of smoke in the air from Brian's distraction. "Where now?" Hikari asked.
"This way." Riku took the lead, knowing the halls slightly from his recovery at the castle.
Time begun to tick closer until the hour was up. The three smiled as they took sight of the final hallway, leading to the castle royal hall. "And five minutes to spare…" Riku smiled, only to get hit in the arm by Hikari. He didn't react to the punch, only looking at her in confusion. "What was that for?" he asked, showing as Sora scouted down the hallway first.
"Wait for it." She held her finger up. Within seconds, the two fighters watched as Sora was struck back by the huge Nobody that had appear before, the Keyblade Master skidding across the floor back towards the two. "That's why."
Riku just looked at the huge Nobody arm with slightly surprise, "You would have thought that I would have sense that." He simply said.
Sora jumped back up, looking at the Nobodies arm that blocked their path. "C'mon, we need to get rid of this thing before Kasper makes the trade." He quickly pointed his keyblade towards the arms. "THUNDERAGA!" A black cloud appeared from atop the arms and struck a huge thunder strike at them, making them slam down on the ground in pain and anger. They remained in place though, refusing to retreat. "Get out of the way!" Sora raged.
"Riku, I have an idea." Hikari placed her blade by her side, charging her sword up. "Sora. Keep throwing spells at the arms. Riku, when I say, use your earth ability to push me forward." She instructed them.
RIku blinked at her request at first before catching sight of her sword. With a smirk, we quickly aided his friend with the spells being dealt. "FIRAGA!"
Bursts of fire and thunder mixed together to attack the Nobody arms, but the arms stood still, no matter how much the two keybeareres fired at it. Minutes were slipping passed, the arms still remain, slamming powerful blows at both of the keybearers when they had gotten too close, knocking them both on the floor. Hikari tilted her head to the side, allowing her to see the injured two, calling out to them. "Are you guys alright?"
The two keybearers groan as they slowly got back to their feet, Riku being quicker out of the two. "Keep charging!" The Wielder of Dawn instructed as he quickly placed a shield in front of Hikari, stopping the arms from their sneak attack. Seeing that the tomboy went back to charging her attack, the Wielder of Dawn dashed towards and jumped on the shield that he had just created, hovering right above the Nobody arms and blast down at the arms, angering them as they tried to reach him. "Hikari!" he shouted, dissolving his keyblade.
"Fire!" From her command, the teen was forced through the air by the power of the moving ground as Riku's earth ability aided with her movement. At such as speed, Hikari sliced through the arms multiple times before ending on the other side, disposing of her sword. As soon as she disposed of her sword, arms flinched as each attack took place, finally making the arms withdraw.
"Quickly!" Sora bounced to his feet, pulling Hikari up as he ran past, the three of them charging their way into the throne room. "Stop right there!" The Keyblade Master commanded.
Kasper halted himself from shaking Colonel Devil's claw that stood in front and turned to face who had interrupted his deal. He smirked evilly as he held the unconscious Kairi in his arms, listening to the Colonel disappearing as the others rushed in. "So! If it isn't the great Keyblade Master…the one that caused this mess."
Sora ignored the prince's words as he pointed his keyblade at him, a deadly glare in his eye. "Let her go." He demanded in an eerie calming tone.
"You ruined my kingdom!" He countered before looking at the princess with concern. "I will not let a peasant like you to ruin my sister as well."
"So your solution is to trade her to the enemy like goods?" Riku questioned hatred in his voice. "She's safer with us then you."
"I have you know, Riku. I saved her from destruction." Kasper informed them. "She would have been founded by the Endless that had been scouting those disgusting islands for the day she had returned if I didn't intervene!" He turned deadly to Sora as he said this. "Who would have thought that my dear sister would be living in such filth?"
"Just because Destiny Island is small, doesn't make it filth!" Sora declared, his anger building up. "Let her go!" he demanded once more.
Kasper scoffed at the keybearer. "You think just because you saved the worlds, you can the right to boss a prince about?" He shook his head as he glared back at the spiky haired wielder. "She's in danger if she's with you, I was going to trick the Colonel into giving Kairi, and I would never sell my own sister." He quickly defended. "You, on the other hand, are a disgrace! And as much, I give you this one and only chance: GET OUT OF MY WORLD!" The Prince roared as he slammed his staff down, creating an energy wave to pulse through the throne room, making the three fighters struggle with their balance.
"It's not your world, Kasper." Hikari stepped toward, watching Kasper look at her strangely before recognising her. "It's a time where the people have to rule." She told him.
"The people cannot rule, Hikari!" He slammed his staff down once more, blasting the teen back into Riku's arms. "Our dear leader chose me as his heir! It's my turn to take Ansem's place and make the gardens radiant once more!
"So no matter what, you're not backing down?" Riku questioned as he helped Hikari to her feet.
Kasper chuckled evilly. "Correct."
"Well…" Sora grunted as his claw started to pulse rapidally, flashing with white and partly red as he glared at the mage. "We're not backing down either…" He shot up, pointing his keyblade at the prince once more. "We'll fight all night if we have too."
Kasper chuckled at the Keyblade Master's words, finding them more amusing then deadly. "If you say so, Keybearer." He smirked mysteriously as he clicked his fingers.
Sora, Riku and Hikari quickly jumped back as they watched the huge Nobody arms appear in front of them, only this time the arms balanced itself on the floor as it begun to pull the rest of itself out of the portal. Bearing the Nobody symbol on his armour helmet, its demon like figure emerged from the ground, slamming down on the floor as the size of the Nobody only managed to fix half of its body into the room. The three watched as Kasper jumped upon the huge demon like Nobody, laughing before gesturing at the creature he stood on. "You like my trusted knight?" He asked, the Nobody summoned a huge sword in one of his hands and swung down at the three.
The three fighters quickly dodged the attack, looking at the Nobody in disbelief. Hikari's jaw had basically dropped. "This thing is huge!" She exclaimed.
"We've fought bigger." Riku smirked before looking over to Sora. "There isn't any restrictions here, Sora. Prepares we could do this the old fashion way." He suggested.
The Keyblade Master smiled at the idea and smirked, walking towards the Nobody Knight without any fear. He turned his head back to Hikari, "This might feel weird, Hikari." He quickly warned her.
Hikari blinked in confusion as she looked at Riku. "What is he doing?" she asked him, only to receive silence.
"One last time, Sora." Kasper told him. "Leave this world."
"I won't leave!" Sora replied. "Not until Kairi is safe with us again." He pointed his keyblade up in the air, gaining a golden like colour around him, he looked back to see that Riku and Hikari was glowing the same colour. With as might as he had, he cast his ability. "Light! Give me strength! DRIVE!" Within seconds, the three was engulfed in light.
A/N: Woo the chapter is done. Now to plan the fight scene. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. See ya laters
Kingdommad