Hey sorry for the long update. I have no excuse, so sorry for taking too long to finish this chapter.
I've written it best as I could, I hope you like it guys and the last chapter. I felt out of depth in writing the last chapter regarding the original world, and it was made obvious by what I think is its lack of depth, still I did the best I could. Hehe
Anyways, on with the story.
"Hey freak!" an older boy called Sora, but he ignored it. He knew what will happen. He, she, they would just mock him for no reason. But Sora was a good boy! Fighting is for bad people like them! They're the ones who starts the fight and just defends. Yet he still gets the bad looks! It's unfair! "Ooh, grew a backbone, didn't we?"
Sora spits sand out of his mouth when he fell. His anger was slowly rising, he could feel the limits of his temper. The temper that only his mother could soothe. The hybrid growled. Turning to the older boy, he glared vehemently at him. "What did I do to you!?" it was sudden but nevertheless the boy felt it. A strong wave that pushed the boy so strong he landed a few meters away. He felt his back ache that he screamed but he ignored it as he ran towards the downed boy. Any thoughts of anger he had pushed away by the will to help his mocker.
"Are you okay!" he said frantically but the one Sora was trying to help looked a t him with genuine fear. His eyes wide filled with clear terror.
"Get away from me, freak" The boy shouted as he slipped and ate sand. Sora didn't know what happened, but his heart stopped when the boy said it this time. This was not mocking but one of great fear, like one of those hunted preys. "Get away from me witchboy!"
On the shores of the island Sora stared where the kid was earlier, but he felt down by what happened. He was just being nice and when he was pushed his body moved on its own. With a sad sigh he remained there, stood unmoving as the trees and wondering what he did wrong. The boy just wanted to help him up. Was it wrong for him to want friends? He really wanted to know how friend feels like. Maybe it will be different from the feeling his mom described? Unfortunately, he didn't have luck in making one.
"Why?" Sora not caring the boy telling others of what happened because all he felt was great confusion, self-loathing, and anger. "Why are they afraid of me? What did I ever do?" he said to no one as tears threaten to flow out of his eyes. His heart constricted in pain. For once he wished he had the answer; was he really a monster as the villagers said!? Mama said he was his son and nothing more. "Is it wrong for Sora to have friends?"
"They fear your power," the sudden reply made him turn around, but he saw no one. "They fear you because they don't know what you are." The voice laughed, not one of those loud laughs some of the adults did but one that was relax. Controlled.
Power? He has power? Maybe the wind was talking about his super strength? Was he going crazy? Sniffing the air, he did find a little of the invisible man's scent. It was there but it was hard to smell with the ocean filling his nose.
"What I…. am?" Sora was lost what the wind meant.
The wind blew making the boy scream in the suddenness of it and then he found himself back on the islands. On the night of the Heartless attack. People he knew gathered in front of him. He ran towards them to save them from the Heartless and the ominous looking red sphere floating above them. "Everybody, get away! The Heartless will get you! Mom!"
He ran and ran but they were getting farther and farther with their backs turned on him. "It's not safe there!" he warned them, but they wouldn't listen.
Sora's heart choked when one by one they all dropped to the ground. Not dropped dead, unconscious, but simply dropped into it. Nothing was left of their presence from where they stood. "Mom! Run" The fear in his heart slowly turned to anger. Whoever did this will pay!
"You let them kill us Sora."
Hushed voices of accusation echoed in the darkness.
"It was your fault witch boy!" Hissed another. A myriad of 'yes!' 'Killer!' 'Why! I thought we were friends!'
"No!" He vehemently denied it. Every word said was crushing his heart. Why would they accuse him of that? He'll never do that! "I'll save you all! I promise that!"
Their sneering turned to laughter. "Ha! You! You save us! You couldn't do so the first time and never will!" the shadows danced and jeered at him. It hurt him for them to say that.
"You can only destroy! Give fear! Ever wonder why you had and never will have friends!?"
Sora's body froze as his heart constricted. He knew that! Despite knowing it why was he feeling this way? What else don't he know? It's been that way for how long? Since he was born! People feared him! Ignored his existence as if he wasn't there! It broke his heart every damn day! Only his mom would cry and lull him songs of joy that tethered him back to reality. Riku bringing a sense of normalcy into his life and Kairi being the light that kept him under the sun.
"I never loved you," The brunet hybrid felt time stop. It wasn't a shout. It wasn't a jeer. Nor was it an insult that made his heart crumble slowly. It was as if something inside him was decaying and rotting.
"I…," it couldn't be true, right? Sora though desperately clinging to a tiny hope it wasn't as he remained rooted on his spot. Unmoving as a statue. "It…. it... couldn't be tru-"
"True?" the voice scoffed on their reply. "I'd never said anything truer my entire life. A handful child if there ever was one. You were a cursed child! I nearly died giving birth to you!"
Why? The boy wanted to say but he couldn't as tears fell. His hand shook in pain. His breath became ragged and he could feel his sorrow shift. He didn't care as to what. Just that the voices slowly being of his hearing and the shadows writhed! They all writhed in pain! They should be! An eye for an eye! The shadows danced as they all wailed together, the feeling it gave him made him feel alive!
He was transforming, that much he knew, and he wouldn't dare to stop it. Let the beast out! Why should he care!? Let them burn! The very angry Sora let the flames of rage consume him and let the shadows burn, literally he thought gleefully grinning from ear to ear, with flames dark as they night sky. Looking at his hands it was burning with the same dark fire and he felt it flowed within him erratically. He liked it the way it rolled off him, it felt natural just as his tail. It completed him.
With a swipe of a hand all of them became ashes and the land, the night skies all disappeared and changed.
A crying boy wearing a white shirt and brown shorts laid on a dark place. He felt the boy's loneliness hit him in waves. "Hey, you alright?" Sora asked the boy.
"Sora!"
The thundering voice caused him to scramble forward and slipping and kissing the ground. "Sora, ya okay?" Goofy's face peered closely to his. No, he was not okay, he wanted to say but he was breathless. That dream left him shaken.
What the hell was that? Shame was what he felt. Self-hatred for feeling good harming others as his dreamself bathed in dark flames. The hybrid was at a crossroad. Despite his shame for hurting them, it was scary how the dark flames felt. It filled the empty part of him.
His confusion didn't help because as much as he wanted to deny the euphoric feeling of power, he couldn't! Not because the power was addicting but simply it… it… it completed him, the boy thought avoiding the dog knight's worried gaze. It made him whole, like finding a long lost part of him.
Realizing he was silent for a while he dusted himself off to see it was already dawn and silently commenting that the world didn't look much better with the sun's life-giving light. "Another nightmare," he replied, albeit a bit reluctant on his part.
"We know," Donald's stiffly replied. "You were moving all around Spring tried to wake you up but then you started transforming." Looking at his arms and feeling the environment, King Mickey's court wizard was right. He was halfway through it already. "You nearly clawed her!"
Sora winced and looked at the woman apologetically. "Sorry Spring," he said, and the woman smiled back and gave him a gentle smile. Spring looked lonely, even sad but the smile she gave was genuine. "What happened to Phoenix?"
The green woman waved her hand and leaves floated creating an image of the world. The world spun, the world grew old as trees became taller. Sudden as it was the volcano exploded like they'd seen and with it came the malevolent being burning everything as Spring was helpless to stop it. Nothing survived it. Nothing. Then the world as Phoenix slept, a mini-Spring came about and flourish the world. Animals came back, from where since they all died, he didn't know. The images repeated and repeated until it clicked to him. A cycle? Everything that happened was a cycle? Spring brings life to the plants and Phoenix destroys it all! The boy was confused. Why would that happen? Why let her bring back life when everything would be destroyed in the end? This also struck a chord in him, embrace your nature, Phoenix said to him.
Did he mean this!? That I can only destroy things? It didn't help that his dream went like that. He can think about that later, the Keyblade wielder thought of only one thing: all her life Spring was alone. No one to talk to. Not until Odin, Wakka, because everything dies when her rival wakes up. How? How can she still smile so much?
Looking at Spring she smiled and kneeled patting the ground. A plant grew and grew fast that it immediately became old and withered. Sora didn't know what she was trying to say. He was left grasping sticks as to what she was saying.
"With every end there is a new beginning," Wakka said. He knew that quote, his mother use to tell him that every time that he thought he made a friend then they just ended quickly than they began. It made him see the world better. It was a quote from a poet from long time ago that got passed down from generation to generation that they didn't know who made the poem. The poem titled as "Hearts" talks of things ending, how in the end life will come back to nothingness.
"That's deep Spring," his older friend stated. He detected the slight hitch in Wakka's voice. "Ya were alone for a very long time because your immortal."
"So, this Phoenix fellar will wake up again and destroy everything you help grow?" The woman smiled weakly and nodded. "Gee, maybe we can keep him asleep forerver?"
The immortal woman shook her head, no, we can't, he seemed to think she was saying. Their new friend then made a circle depicting her and Phoenix circling each other. They were two parts of a whole? That came to him as a surprise.
Spring then opened her arms wide and spun. Everything was starting to grow back. Only it was faster this time around than when she showed them earlier. Her show took his breath away. It was simply beautiful watching nature at work. No words can comprehend it for him. It was surreal. Leaves greener than ever bloomed and blossomed with flowers of different variety. There was a big green flower on the top of a tree! The trees, they grew big, thick, and strong. Larger than any tree he'd ever seen. After that show she flew to the skies and with her every movement everything came back to life as if the calamity didn't happen at all.
Sora wished he had that kind of power, he only had a penchant for destruction. He may lose control of himself if he transforms. Spring's power was amazing. It made everything around her better that the hybrid felt envious but only a little. Why would he be jealous of something out of his control? If that's what he got then he had to live with it and do the best with what he had!
"Cool!" Sora gushed. "Come on guys!" Sora abruptly followed Spring running and tracking her through scent.
The world gave a very vibrant feeling that it gave him energy to run after their goddess friend. The cool wind blowing added to his enthusiasm. Sora could see Spring, flying from afar. "Hey Spring! Wait up!" He must've heard her because he yelped when a tree grew under him and the branch led him to her who was smiling from ear to ear.
The view given to him was breathtaking. It was not simply green, all sorts of trees, plants grew! Trees with red, pink, and varying colored leaves. It was teeming with plant life than what it was earlier. No more were the dead grounds. The trees danced with the fresh wind blowing. Spring was dancing and with every movement she did plants grew. A graceful sway of her arms, spinning flexibly, beautifully moving to and fro every plant life danced with her. It, she…. Was beautiful and awe inspiring to watch.
Sora's new friend lead him around as they flew (on her back, it was awkward for Sora at first but then relented since she was the one that insisted) around enjoying the wind caressing their flesh. His body shivered in joy that he couldn't help but feel the need to endlessly grin. Oh he'll definitely bring Kairi and Riku here.
Both of them landed on the tallest tree and saw that everyone was already there sitting and eating fruits. "Hey, no fair! You started eating without us." Said a very indignant Sora.
Donald rolled his eyes good naturedly, "It's your fault for leaving us behind. We were hungry and Wakka led us here since it has the most fruits and the tallest one." Goofy just handed him a strawberry which he accepted with a thanks.
Jiminy from his hoody popped out, "I think the view we've seen is more satisfying than any food. Don't you think so Sora?"
"Uhmm!" he nodded while chewing the tasty fruit. "You guys should've seen it. Spring here was dancing like a fairy and everything grew!" His compliment made said woman blush when he grinned at her.
"Gee, we could have if someone didn't leave us behind," Donald grumbled which made Goofy laughed.
Ignoring the duck's grumbling he turned to his friend from Destiny island, "I can't wait for you to see Traverse town, Wakka!" Sora explained happily wildly with gestures as to what it looks like as they ate throughout the afternoon laughing.
When all was said and done they had to leave and Spring silent as she was, was very expressive when it comes to her facial expressions. And right now, the woman was smiling weakly at him. "Well, see you later Spring. We'll come back, that's a promise," Sora declared holding out his right hand with only the pinky finger uncurled. Spring looked at his gesture weirdly then followed it and crossed their pinky together.
His gesture made the woman smile with teary eyes and Odin the deer pushed her forward making her suddenly hug him. Sora felt a kindred spirit at Spring. He knew what loneliness felt, it was dark times before he met Riku and for her to live through it for uncountable years with a cycle that destroys what you enjoyed creating with no end? That's more than any person, deity could bear for Sora. The fact that she could still smile is a wonder and miracle! It takes a strong heart to do that.
When they separated the green woman opened his palm and put something in it. "What's this?" he said eyeing the objects given to him. It was a seed and a leaf Keychain. His confusion must've been obvious because she made an illustration as to what the seed was. It was the only one thing he requested from her the other day; a small Sakura tree. As for the other one, she made him summon the Keyblade and attached the lead keychain. The Kingdom Key swallowed by a brief light became something else. This made Sora gawked openly.
The simple design of the Kingdom Key Keyblade became a slightly Keyblade whose shaft was made of golden brown finely sculpted bark intersecting leaving a diamond whole which had a glowing green seed inside it. The teeth of the weapon was like any of the keys hed seen but slightly jagged but the center of the tooth of it also glowed green and the hilt was made of Odin's horn. Gaia's Heart, it whispered to him. His Keyblade's new form gave him a different feeling. A warm feeling, the one that one feels when they home. The sense of ease and belongingness.
"I…," he stuttered. No one except his close friends gave Sora a gift. He in turn give something in return for them too. So, when Spring, his new friend gave him a nice gift he didn't know what to say but feel a fluttering feeling inside his chest. The same feeling that made him cherish his friends deeply. "Thank you. I like it. Wish I could give you something in return though," he smiled closing his eyes before they saw a tear threatening to spill.
He had a feeling she was shaking her head and the hybrid was proven right when he opened his eyes a second later. Spring with her other hand, her palm created an image of a Paopu fruit that had all their faces on it like an art project. Your friendship is enough, he interpreted it silently. He thanked her for accepting him but still he wished he could give her something in return.
Suddenly he had an idea. One that really made sure he will come back and give it to her. "I promise when we return I will bring you something amazing," Sora promised, and he meant it as he stared sincerely into her golden eyes.
"Gee, what a thoughtful gift Spring," said their goofy knight.
They made their goodbyes, they had to make it short so that he won't be tempted to bring her with him to see the worlds (which he won't because the Keyblade wielder knew she had a responsibility as the guardian of the world and he won't make her choose between friends and responsibility) or stay with her for a while.
"Don't forget to call on us when that big palooka Phoenix tries to do anything nasty again," Donald quipped raising his fist threateningly.
Sora rolled his eyes at his friends' antics, "Oh please. You can't even open a jar of mayonnaise Donald!"
"Hah! That's what you think," Donald replied as they walked back
"See you later guys," Sora repeated waving back as they walked back towards the Gummi ship. "Oh boy, I can't wait to guide you on Traverse town, Wakka," the hybrid talked excitedly but he noticed Wakka stopped following them. "Come on, Wakka. Times are wasting."
"Sorry, Sora li'l bro," Wakka ruffled his hair making it more of a mess than it usually was. "I'm stayin'."
"Wak!" Donald nearly screamed in disbelief. "No, no, no, no, no! It's not possible. You don't belong in this world."
Wakka stood his ground on this one. "I want to, but I can't leave her behind. She's been alone for far too long."
"Uh, are ya sur' bout this, Wakka?" Goofy asked. "We won't be back for a while, ya know."
"Hundred percent sure, ya?" his older friend grinned at him. "So, ya better take of yourself out there Sora. God knows how much of a trouble magnet you are without us keeping you in check.
"Hey! I am careful!" he shouted at his friend. "And keep yourselves safe Wakka."
"I promise li'l bro," the hybrids friend turned to look at Spring and smiled at her gently. "We'll keep ourselves safe. Now you do the same with Kairi and Riku, ya?" He wished that he could convince Wakka to come with them, but he didn't want to do so. He knew Wakka just wanted to keep Spring accompanied for as long as he can till their world is saved.
The trip to Traverse town was fortunate enough to have only one attack from the Heartless and the town was still the same when they arrived. People talked on the plaza in front of Cid's shop but Sora felt confused. He was happy but at the same time sad, and it all came back to because Wakka chose to stay behind and accompany their new nature fairy friend.
"We're back!" Sora proclaimed loudly when they entered Cid's shop who sat relaxed in his chair behind the counter as he smoked.
"So, you three made it back in one piece," the shop owner replied with his usual gruff attitude, but Sora knew he meant well. "What got you back here?"
"This," Donald showed the blond man the Gummy piece. "We wanted you to ask you what this is. Chip and Dale couldn't make heads or tails of it."
Cid's expression then turned blank and looked at them incredulously. "Ye'r kidding me, right? You don't know what ya got?"
Sora grinned hands behind his head, "Should we know?" Cid was so easy to rile up, Sora waved his head side to side.
Cid's face became red is annoyance, "This here's a Gummi navigation piece. If installed in a ship it can lead you to new world registered on this thing."
"We'll then get on to it, chop chop. We'll pay you later," Donald said hurriedly, tapping his foot. It's his quirk, when he's in a bad mood the duck tended to do that. Just like how he was when not in the mood he's quick to anger than usual and may possibly lash out. It got him on trouble than he could count.
"Yeah yeah," the blond mechanic grunted his reply with a wave of dismissal. Sora intended to leave to visit Kairi and show her the cool knick knacks he got but Cid called them and Goofy caught something midair.
"A book?" the Knight asked in confusion. "Ya want us to read 'em?"
Cid replied while searching for something under the counter, "It's for someone else. Ya' see the gate with a fire symbol on the third district? It's for him. Give it to him and I'll consider that as payment."
Well, that's better than I thought. I was sure he'd charge us leaving poor Donald's wallet lighter. "I'll just give this to the guy as Cid asked," Sora stated taking the book from Goofy. "You two just rest or whatever. We don't want your old bones to crack when we continue our journey, would we?" Smirking at Donald's direction.
"Oh yeah, I'll show you old you, mangy cat," the wizard replied. "I'll show you once I beat Maleficent. Alone."
"Hyuk, well ya are old Donald. Aren'tcha already," Goofy smiled lazily and his friend covered his mouth in panic before he could finish that sentence. The duck turned around with Goofy huddling.
"Shhh!" he whispered to Goofy, but the hybrid wielder could still hear them talk with his sensitive hearing. "We don't want him to know that ya big palooka. We don't need him teasing us more."
Clearing his throat Sora decided to butt in their "secret" conversation". "Don't want to spoil your conversation but you know I can hear you right?" Sora grinned at his two friends, Goofy had his always easy-going expression while Donald didn't look amused. Probably because he forgot about that little fact. "Hey Donald. How old are you really?"
Donald shooed him away by pushing him towards the gate to the second district convincing him to go to Kairi and kiss her or something which easily flustered Sora in embarrassment.
"Hey Sora, I didn't know you were back," Sora screamed when he heard someone behind him and he suddenly summoned his Kyeblade in defense. "Nice Keyblade."
Yuffie got me again. One day I'll find out how she does that. Sora planned to even the odds with the elusive ninja. "Oh Yuffie, I knew it was you," rolling his eyes and pretended to let her scare him. This got a smirk from the raven-haired teen that challenged his claim. "You know I just got back. Was asked by Cid to deliver a book to some guy in the third district. Is Kairi okay?"
The ninja's response was a slight wince and small smile. He already knew that Kairi didn't get better while he was away. Still, he asked in hopes it would be not true. "Nothing worked," Yuffie solemnly said. The response didn't ease his worries despite knowing it. "Leon sent me to say that he needs to see you now."
"For what?" he asked but Yuffie shrugged then flipped away and jumped of the ledge. It wasn't a surprised when he didn't hear the teen land. "Wonder what Leon needs from me," he muttered and walked towards the man's sacred spot hands behind his head while humming a tune.
The swordsman was practicing on a dummy when he got there. "Hey Leon, Yuffie said you wanted to see me?" Leon didn't reply suddenly and kept at his movements. The man's attacks were fluid and flowing. Each strike was not wasted then the last move of the man was so fast he barely caught it and the mannequins fell not a second later.
"Yeah," replied the swordsman as he drank water and leaned against the wall. The way the shadows covered his face made his expression grim, but he hoped whatever news Leon had was not bad too. "I wanted to know your progress. How your quest went"
So, Sora told the whole tale from Wonderland of how they fought the tall and fat heartless and missing the kidnapping of Alice, the Deep Jungle and Clayton's demise at the hands of his own darkness, the Olympus coliseum and their fight with Cerberus and Cloud (Sora noticed a twitch of expression on Leon but he chalked it up as his imagination) and finally to Spring's world where they met Spring, and found Wakka to how they fought off they lost the fight against the destruction of that world from Phoenix's fiery flames. He told the tale very excitedly especially when they fought Leon of how the Keyblade automatically comes to him and locks something. Sora didn't hide anything from him, he included the parts of the transformation, how he nearly lost control of himself.
Throughout the tale Leon had been silent and didn't utter a single word to interrupt his tale. "Is Cloud still on Olympus?" was the first question the raven swordsman asked.
"Uh, yeah why? You know him or something?" Sora replied not bothering to keep his curiosity on that matter.
"Nothing," Leon said his voice blank. "Now about the locking part, do you know what that is?"
The hybrid didn't know what that was. Even asking Goofy, Donald, Jiminy, Chip, and Daly, they had no idea what that was and only saying that King Mickey would know. So, since His Majesty King Mickey was absent to teach him the way of the Keyblade he had to resort to other sources of knowledge, and maybe Leon had an idea as to what it was? "Nope," he shrugged.\
"You see every world has a heart," his trainer began and sat leaning against the wall. "It is-"
"The one that holds the world and is the source of light in the world. That's why the world glows and is seen as stars when we look up in the sky." Sora turned to see Aerith approaching them. He was already resigned that these three (maybe even Cid but since he hadn't shown it once he'll put it under consideration) can evade his senses and didn't react visibly.
"Aerith," he smiled at the older woman. "What're you doing here? Who's guarding Kairi?"
"Don't worry, its Yuffie's turn to guard her," replied the woman. "Leon was tellign you about the heart of the worlds, right?" at her inquiry he nodded not seeing where they were going with this. "You might ask why we are telling you this. It's not just a simple lesson, you see, every world's heart is very important because without it the world will disappear."
Sora was shocked. So, Destiny islands heart disappeared? How is that possible?!
"The Heartless," the man followed quickly. His face not revealing anything. "when they swallow the world's heart, it disappears. That's why you are the most important out of everyone here. Your Keyblade closes the worlds heart from the heartless, or anything that will do it harm." Sora found the words hard to swallow, the Keyblade is the only one standing between a worlds end and survival? So suddenly he felt a heavy feeling, as if a heavy object was dropped on his shoulders.
"I…," he was speechless. What was he supposed to say? What? He was at lost for words. Summoning his Keyblade the other two were surprised at his Keyblade by their expressions. "How can this small object save world? Why me?" Why him? A person who had no real roots and had uncontrolled power. How can he be given such responsibility?
Aerith frowned when he looked at the woman, "We don't know but it is said the Keyblade does not choose lightly. It may have chosen you for an important reason. Nothing is ever coincidental."
The hybrid blushed at the compliment but quickly rebutted. "I'm not strong. I don't even know what am I."
"That is why you're on this journey Sora," Aerith said kneeling and giving him a very sincere look as if she knew what he was feeling. "The knowledge, wisdom you will gain on this will help you find you who you are. In time you will know, for know take it nice and slow."
"But not in training," stated Leon and he had a feeling he was smirking at him.
"No way in hell are you going to go easy on me are you?" the woman chuckled before stepping away from him and went to Leon's sides.
"I have to, it's my duty as your trainer," The man stared at him which he met equally for about a minute then broke the silence; "Show me what you learned," he said. Sora summoned his Keyblade, Gaia's Heart. He couldn't get enough of it because it was beautiful. Beautiful as the woman who gave it to him herself.
Leon without warning lunged at Sora which he barely intercepted with his own hasty defense. The downward strike of the raven swordsman made him backwards from the froce behind it. Gritting his teeth, the brunet hybrid pushed it back, or tried to as he struggled from the effort.
Seeing as he was defeated in that area, Sora kicked his left side to topple him but a single hand from his trainer was all it took to block it and yanked him forward with more strength than necessary. He turned and palmed the ground with his free hand to stop his rough landing. The hybrid turned again and swiftly kicked his other side but Leon was ready to meet that as well with his own kick deflecting it and Sora twisted prompting his sparring partner to let go.
The brunet Keyblade Wielder didn't waste any time when he was freed and summoned a fire towards Leon. The man beat it aside easily like a ball then dashed towards him, but Sora knew that was gonna happen and he met his opponent.
When Leon swung Sora slid under his strike and his tail grabbed Leon's right foot and pulling it. Leon's reaction was what the Keyblade wielder did not expect, because when he tripped Leon the man used his left arm to support his whole weight spinning then slashed at his vulnerable backside which his sword reached.
Sora jumped forward and turned around. Hearing the sound of blade cutting the air Sora prepped his defense but it was futile as the attack sent him sprawling and rolling while his pain intensified. The hybrid casted reflect and heard Leon's sword clash against it but it gave in easily to his trainer's strength but he rolled left then used his left to push himself into the air and partially transformed. His senses enhanced and he knew where his sparring partner was immediately from echoes of sounds.
Smirking, Sora pointed his Keyblade and then let loose a thunder spell followed by a blizzard as he landed softly on all three's. He didn't give the man a chance and immediately went to offensive, which the brunet began with a jumping downward strike. He felt the power of Leon on his defense as his hand shook and dropped to the ground and ducked by a hairs length the gunsword passed upside his head and he retaliated with a kick to his ankles. I got him now! excitement of defeating the man before him filled him when Leon jumped and immediately his tail coiled around his feet to pull him, but he was not prepared when his tail grabbed Leon he was pulled by the man backflipped midair causing him to meet the pavement face first.
He ought to roll but the first thing he saw was smirking Leon. Sora who stopped once he realized that he lost when Leon pointed his sword at his neck. "Still not enough," the man stated pulling him up and handing him a vial of healing potion. "Work on your defense, it's your weakness that could be exploited by your enemies. Your strikes are good, but you leave yourself vulnerable. Attacking is not everything."
"Damn," Sora muttered as he began feeling the wound stitch lessen in pain. "You're relentless."
The man's lips quirked upwards in response, "I should be, otherwise you'll kill yourself out there."
Sora noticed he dropped the book given by Cid and dusted it off. His joints complained a little but nothing he could handle.
"I know that your rest is quick, so I'll just give it to you now," Leon fished something is his pocket and threw it at him. When he caught it, it was a stone, a gem, of some kind that had myriad of hues. He didn't know what it was, so he asked Leon. "It's my good luck charm. I had since we first arrived here. I know it will serve you better than me."
"Thanks," Sora turned towards the exit. "Thanks for the warm up. I better go t othis Merlin guy."
He resisted the urge to go to Kairi when he passed by Aerith's house. Yuffie was with his redhead friend and that eased his worries knowing she was in good hands, so he did as he was asked to first. The teen waved at him and the boy returned the action.
The door was magical in nature that he had to cast the designated symbol to on it just to open it and what laid behind it was what he never expected. He was inside a big dome cave and a house surrounded by a lake. The brunet hybrid had to jump from a moving stone to another just to reach the house. He knew whoever lived here was powerful too because he or she never left any scent for him to identify. The house was dirty and unused too, but otherwise livable if cleaned. The interior was all stone and there was a circle elevated on the middle of it. A door was barred shut by wooden pieces nailed to it. Cid said the guy lived here?
Whoever lived here needs some general cleaning. For some reason this remind me of the cave than the canal. Leon's purpose for using it reminded him of it but this place reminded him of it because of how cut off it was from the outside.
"It does, doesn't it?" Sora turned to look for the source, but when he turned Kairi walked towards him then to the wall where she caressed it. He was sure he was gaping like a fish.
"Ka….i…," he struggled to say and his eyes welled up as tears threaten to fall. "Kairi?" he just couldn't believe it! Kairi was awake!
"Ah, finally," said an older man in blue robes and sharp hat with long scruffy beard as he entered the empty house. The man dropped his bag then gave Sora an appraising look. "I was wondering when you were coming young lad. Certainly, you're not what I expect you'd be, but it is a good thing that the worlds can still astound me! My name is Merlin, his Highness, King Mickey sent me to teach you everything I know and that includes how to use the Keyblade. We mustn't dilly dally come along, we don't have much time."
Sora was filled with joy to see Kairi already up and awake, planning to introduce her to this man but when he turned no one was there. He could feel his tail drooped in disappointment and his face morphing to a frown. Was it all a hallucination?
"Uh," Sora wanted to ask the old man if he saw a redhaired girl but didn't because he didn't want to sound crazy. He looked sheepish, but he had to just ask it. "Train here?"
"Silly me," the old man laughed and grabbed something from his bag, a wand, he noticed. With a flick of his wand, the old man made objects from the bag float and into various places of the abandoned house. Only minutes had passed before the house was filled with household items in a half haphazard and half organized way. The elevated circle on the center was a table with candle lighting the whole interior beautifully. Books line up on the sides and the topics of it made no sense for him. The written words were incomprehensible for the hybrid.
This is Merlin? The boy observed the man and he was very weird in a good way. Fun too. He smelled rather odd also, it was a combination of other things like spices? Even animals. "Uh, Mr. Merlin-" Sora was cut off by Merlin who waved him off saying he could call him just Merlin. He gave the book to the man.
"Thank you, lad," replied the old wizard scanning the book. "Poor fellas, you see Sora, this book is a world. A world as much where you and I came from. When the heartless attacks came they nearly destroyed this one, so I asked Cid to see if he can fix."
A world in a book! That shocked him. It was so bizarrely weird and somehow, he found himself asking how but didn't because maybe it was all above his head to understand. "A shame really. The books pages were scattered throughout the world."
"I can help find it," the brunet boy found himself saying without prompt. "We can find it together with Ansem's notes when we get back to travelling."
Merlin nodded massaging his beard, "Certainly nice of you boy. Now, then," the man clapped, and they suddenly found themselves in a bigger square room and tables and chairs were set up ahead of them just a few meters. Sora had to massage his head from the sudden nausea he experienced. "
Merlin, my friend, Kairi, she's sick. Can you help her?" he immediately asked before they began training because he didn't know how long it will last and he would forget it later.
"Oh ho ho ho," the old wizard gave a hearty laugh. "Certainly, I could! Tis the great Merlin you are speaking too. I healed lots of people before! Now banish the thought of the worry for your friend for a while. I need your whole attention if we are to learn with the limited the we have been given."
He nodded and quickly summoned the Keyblade. "Aerith has told me of your magical prowess and I wish to see it myself. I want you to show me what you have learned. Say ready when you are prepared."
The brunet lion hybrid could now better cast magic and he felt the strain as Aerith and Donald, finding the statement told him to be true. Still, he breathed to relax himself and nodded at his new trainer. The household items flew towards him, but he didn't let it cut into his focus and fired a fire at the middle one which was the closest. An ice deflected and sent the left one to the wall and a thunder quickly destroyed the last one.
"Woah!" he screamed when another appeared before and just like the last time headed to him, but a single horizontal wall made them into wooden scraps. Another set appeared but this time it circled him. The hybrid wasn't even surprised when it hurled at him at the same time. "Reflect!" he raised his now summoned Keybalde and he had to block out the many harsh sounds of the house furnitures breaking at the same time near him. His ear twitched in pain that after the attack was over he covered his ear instinctively.
"I'm sorry 'bout that m'boy," Merlin said apologizing. "I forgot you had sensitive senses. I did not take into account that your hearing would be hurt by the furnitures."
He shook his head, "It's okay. I'm used to it," he replied as the sensation faded and his strained face morphed to a grin. "So, how I'd do?"
Merlin massaged his beard and kept nodding. "You had good grasp of basic magic but you seem to lack control. I noticed that when your red magic were more powerful than what was required. Nevertheless, you only need refinement in control and you'll be able to master those in no time!"
Sora wasn't expecting that comment, but he swallowed it all nonetheless. He was still learning after all. "Red magic?" he asked.
"Yes, red magic," from Merlin's hand came a trio of color. Red, white, green and black. The color orbs circled lazily. "So you see, there are four type of magic. The most basic one is red, it is what you would call the elemental spells like fire, and blizzard. It is what one would say offensive magic but that is generalizing, and we would learn later simple spells such as a firework fall under this category. Green, is healing spells, from healing wounds to curing poison. White is what you would call Light magic," as Merlin explained each talked about color, the orbs talked about glowed. "This spell cancels any dark spells cast upon, such as sleep, or those nefarioius sorts. And dark magic," here on the old man gained serious look. His eyes sharpened as he went on, "is the forbidden part of magic one must never delve into. You may control others by overwhelming their conscious mind and doing your bidding but at a cost. For using it can destroy the caster. Many things can and will be forfeited, it could be your life, soul, or even others soul and life, it will ask for an equal exchange for the casting of the spell. So, the more powerful the spell the bigger the exhange."
Sora swallowed hard upon hearing that. Trinity was a dark magic didn't Donald say? That it could kill the users by being really uncontrollable. Maybe that uncontrollability walso affects the speed it saps the casters magic and thus the life?
"Can one go around the effects of it then?"
"Oh no, no, no….," he shook his head fervently. "It is the nature of the magic itself. No one can circumvent around that. To do so would mean one is not of the living anymore. That they are more than human or living, unnaturally so."
That was a scary thought for him. For a minute he remembered the Keyblade dream he had. The thorny goat designed Keyblade that he nearly chose because of how it fit his hands and the power it gave him. How the darkness slithered, called upon him all around him when he fell after the glass broke.
"Eh heh heh," grinned Sora. "That's good to know. So, will I learn how to defend myself from it?"
"Oh yes, yes, you will. How else will you stop that dastardly fairy Maleficent if you don't know how to stop her dark magic."
Oh he was so excited to learn new things. Like maybe that slow down spell Donald did at the Coliseum? There were so many possibilities and he can't wait to learn magic to use it!
Sora didn't regret ever agreeing to the training, because when they were done and as sweat profusely came out of his pores, his fur drenched that he looked like a wet cat the hybrid didn't mind it. He learned something new, achieved something, that despite his many failings and tries up to his fatigue both mental and physical, he achieved a new milestone. One step closer to defeating Maleficent and her Heartless army.
Right now, the hybrid was lying on a sofa provided by Merlin while he waited for the potion to take its effects. The training Merlin set up took a lot of him, more so than when he started training with Leon and Aerith.
"That…," he said breathing heavily before continuing, "Was intense. I didn't know that the advance spells could drain me this much! Its really hard to control how much energy I could put in a spell." Every spell that he did came out bigger but left him drained, but he continued because he knew he will get used to it.
"As it should be, otherwise it would not be called advanced magic, Precisely the reason why we must train you in your control of it," Merlin replied drinking tea while he waited for Sora to recover so that he could go home and rest for the night. They have an early journey tomorrow. "You have great aptitude and potential for the mystic arts but we'll make a wizard out you yet."
"I'm sore," the boy complained when he stood and stretched. "Donald is gonna kill me if I don't wake up early tomorrow for our trip."
"Come, I'll give you a special gift before you rest for the night," before Sora could say the it's always evening in Traverse town they found themselves back in Merlin's house. His attention shifted from Merlin who rummaged for the said gift to the plump woman in blue dress looking at the book Cid repaired. She smelled of nature, not too much nature like Spring was but like she occasionally goes for walk in the forest.
"Oh poor dearies," she said lamenting. "The darkness reached you too."
"Ah…, what do you mean?" Sora found himself saying so suddenly.
When she turned to look at him she was smiling at him. "You see, with every missing pages, this book has their friends are missing too." That was a sad thought, and wincing slightly when he remembered that the same was true for everyone. Because of Heartless, Maleficent, everyone on Traverse town are missing their loved ones, friends. All the more for him to grow stronger and lock the hearts of every world out there from the darkness.
"Hi," he said greeting the strange woman, "I'm Sora."
She patted his cheeks and pinch them slightly, "I'm the Fairy godmother."
A real life Fairy? In front of me? He almost spluttered. It was an awesome day for him! Is she like the fairy that is in their world? Does she give life to their world like theirs too?
"I sense a life in something that you are holding," he was confused as to what she was referring to. Life in something he was holding? "Did you, by chance are ahold of a gem?"
The hybrid Keyblade wielder nodded, "How did you know?"
Fairy godmother winked at him, "We just know these things dear."
When he showed Fairy godmother the stone, her reaction was a slow shaking of her head. "Poor little dear," she began. "I've seen this many times before. When a world loses its heart, its inhabitants disappear too. But this creature had a strong heart it became a gem instead of vanishing."
The thought of being a gem made him worried for whoever the person, creature inside the gem was. "Can they regain their form?"
"I'm afraid not, Sora. They can do so, only in spirit and must eventually return to being a gem unless their worlds are restored."
He couldn't think of how anyone could be so cruel as to inflict this kind of pain to anyone. To be a gem indefinitely unless he was found and temporarily released? That was heartless of them to do so! It was lucky that Leon found the gem. "How can I release them?"
"This little creature will need outside help is they are to be released from the curse, if only for a moment," stated Fairy godmother waving her wand. "Bibbity bobbity boo."
Sora had to squint from the sudden flash that happened when the plump fairy's magic hit the gem. The light gave off a strong feeling that wash over him. When the flash died Sora went on the defensive when a giant lion appeared and roared, then without warning lunged at him. His Keyblade caught the open mouth and pushed it back.
"What have you done to my kin!" the golden fur lion snarled, its tail whipping back and forth ready to spring again should Sora's answer be not enough. "What have we ever done to you that you attacked us! Explain yourself halfling!
"It wasn't us!" rebutted by him. "The darkness swallowed your world. It was the Heartless." He hoped that the enraged lion would listen to him. A wild beast is what you didn't want to deal with.
"You smell of the dark creatures. You look like one."
Releasing his Keyblade from his grasp returning it to nothing, he relaxed. He needed to ensure that he was not a threat.
"The boy is telling the truth," Merlin said from his table. Sipping his tea as if nothing was happening. "Dark creatures known as the Heartless had destroyed your world." Wait, Sora mentally backtracking for a second, Merlin can understand animals?
The lion, who had yet to introduce himself, sagged as if he doubled in age and is taking a toll on his body. Their large feline friend was silent for a while and settled for looking elsewhere. "I'm Simba," the lion, now known as Simba, introduced himself. They all introduced themselves briefly.
"I'm sorry for attacking you earlier," Simba said apologetically. "I was just so angry. Every friend I had was killed by this dark creatures."
"That's okay, all of us are the same., Heartless had taken over our worlds too. Its why we go from every world we encounter, to protect them from the same fate," Sora stated but resisting to yawn. He was still exhausted from Merlin's extensive training and he just wanted to go sleep in a nice bed.
"Oh dear," the fairy said alarmed. Simba was fading, each part of him turning to light particles which disappeared like flickering night flies. "It is the limit to is form."
"Don't worry Simba, I'll call you again and maybe help you regain your body."
The Keyblade wielder wanted for Simba to stay permanently but he knew it was impossible unless the Heartless was stopped. For every pain the Heartless brought, he will be there to ease them from their pain to the best of his abilities.
With a quick goodbye to the two adult, Sora left Merlin's house. He supposed he can sleep on the safehouse where Kairi was? He hoped that Leon and the gang wouldn't mind but he was really tired.
So tired that by the time Sora realized he sensed something, a shuffling sound that he recognized, it was too late. The hybrid heard the clicking armor of the armored heartless behind him and its claws threatening to sink into his skin. A swift sword cut (he would recognize it by now) cut it down before Sora could turn and making it turn to dust. Could it be? Sora's heart raced when he detected the scent of the newcomer. Sora didn't dare hope that maybe it will turn out to be another hallucination just like with Kairi, but still he gave in to that notion that it was true.
The person he faced was a sight for sore eyes that his worried expression turned to a wide grin. His tired body now regaining its lost energy and trembled in excitement. Yellow tank top, blue shorts, worn by a tan teen with peculiar silver hair. "Riku!"
R&R guys! Hehe.. Hope y'all like it.