If anyone's still reading this. Guys, I'm terribly sorry for the long update. I have no proper excuse. I was supposed to update on the holidays, but I didn't feel the writing urge. I was going to update it on January, but it was a hectic time, too much projects and such crammed in one month that I didn't feel the need for the writing of this story to distract me.
Also, I am freaking excited for KH 3! I saw the trailer and I was speechless (more like squealing). I cannot wait for it and how they will end the Xehanort saga. I was freaking pumped in seeing the trailer. Marluxia's back. Riku's Keyblade broken. Vanitas's return. Monsters inc. Ariel as a summon. Who knows what else? All in all, I am so pumped and hyped to the max! I can't wait for the release.
Anyways, on with the story. If you'd like you could R&R, just say what is wrong with it, what you like, how I could possibly improve the quality, or address any concerns you may have. Your advice would be greatly appreciated, and I'll see if I can do anything about it. Hehe.
Anyways, here goes nothing.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, and Disney Characters and Worlds in any way nor do I profit from it. This is merely for entertainment. All characters, worlds, and etc belong to its respective company.
Sora couldn't contain his excitement when he saw his best friend! He was glad that Riku was okay but still, for the brunet hybrid lion boy, he couldn't help but feel unsettled. Last time they parted it was under strange circumstances. Like… like Riku was not himself when he said those things. He put those thoughts away, only the feeling of happiness was allowed for the moment. "Riku! Is that really you and not my imagination!?"
The brunet boy pinched and stretched his silver haired friends' face just to be sure. He ignored the protest from Riku and checked it if it is real and that he was not going crazy by seeing things that weren't there.
"It's me, Sora," Riku said pushing him away and he let himself be. "Jeez, and I thought Kairi was the most worrywart of us."
Examining Riku, the lion boy found he was using a sword made of bat wings? The eye that it had reminded him of the eye of the dark Keyblade on his dream. It released essence of darkness, less of what he felt the teen disappeared but still, it was still there.
"Aw men," the boy pouted, complaining. "Why do you always get the cool stuff!? So not fair."
His best friend smirked, "One of us has to."
He sagged in relief, the coolness factor of the sword forgotten in exchange for happiness of finding Riku. "I'm glad you're okay. After our world fell, I came looking for you guys. I even found Wakka!"
"Where's Kairi?" the moment his older friend asked that, the hybrid didn't know what to say. What would he say? Kairi was in a coma because he couldn't protect her when she needed him the most? Still, he wouldn't lie to them. Not ever. They promised to each other.
"She….," he started slowly. Riku gave him a worried look, not that it was obvious and only his actions, and expressions says it. Especially his silver haired friends' eyes. "She's in a coma."
"A coma?" He nodded not able to look him in the eye. How could the hybrid look him in the eye and say that? An ugly feeling swelled in his chest saying; It's all your fault! You didn't do good enough to protect her!
The Keyblade wielder bit his lip, try as he could, the boy couldn't hold it. "I'm sorry."
"What for?" questioned the other and grasping his two shoulders as Sora clenched his fists.
"For not being able to protect her. I was the one protecting her when it happened," even if Riku would be angry towards him he would accept it.
For a moment neither one of them spoke and tit felt like forever. Sora wanted Riku to react. Anything that would tell how he was feeling! If he'll punch him then it's fine! His beating heart was anxious for the reply of his best friend.
Riku took a deep breath and let it out. "It's not your fault. Where is she now?" An inner voice doubted his friends' words, Easy for you to say, it said, you weren't there! I was the only one left to protect her, and the islands! I! Me! While you disappeared and left us! The boy shook those words away. No use for bitterness, what's done was done, and unless he wants to stay bitter or angry then he best forgets those salty words. It never helped him in anyway before, he doubted it would help him now.
Somehow, he was not reassured, it wasn't that Riku's word didn't help, but the brunet could just accept it easily. If he was strong then it wouldn't had happened to her. Talking about his adventures would come about later.
The scene they came upon when they entered was when Merlin was stroking his beard and muttering. "This is really peculiar. When Sora said in a coma I would've expected something with an identifiable cause but this…," the old wizard muttered. Sora didn't need to know why Merlin was here, nor when he got here but he was more focused on the examinations of Merlin.
"Hey Sora," Yuffie greeted. "Who you got with you?"
Putting an arm around his best friend, "This is my best friend Riku. Can you believe it!? I found him wandering the town and he saved me from a Heartless."
"The best friend Riku?" Sora nodded at her question. "Nice to meet you, name's Yuffie! Ninja extraordinaire. You wouldn't believe all the things Sora said about you guys." At this he blushed. She didn't need to tell her that one, that'll only made Riku's ego bigger and tease him about it.
Said best friend smirked and shook Yuffie's hand, "Nice to meet you too. I hope it was all nice things Sora said." Quick as wind, his silver haired friend's mood turned from jovial to serious. "How are things looking for Kairi?
The teen ninja returned to her seat and looked at his childhood friend neutrally. Everyone was silent as the peculiar wizard examined their girl friend.
Seriously, the brunet hybrid was tired, tired than a thirsty or hungry person, that it took everything he had from collapsing. The boy was running of fumes on what strength was left. And he would do so until Merlin was done with the examining Kairi.
Minutes flowed easily, and silence reigned as the old wizard continued his thorough scanning whilst muttering to himself. He could feel his body's demands of rest catch up to him, maybe a sleep would help me, the boy leaned back on the chair yawning and feeling his consciousness give way to darkness then giving silent good nights to his friends.
Sora yawned and stretched upon waking up. Looking around, no one was in the house, Kairi was still asleep and sniffing the air, the others were nowhere near them. "Where are they," he muttered going outside to check, gods know these people can hide their scent easily like one would breathe unconsciously.
He wasn't surprised when the outside of the house was empty, not one soul can be heard milling about. So, the young hybrid Keyblade wielder came to the conclusion that they were asleep already and they just left him beside Kairi because they didn't want to bother him. Blinking away the sleep, he just realized that he didn't had a nightmare! Not one bit. That was a shocker to him.
"A great night is it not, Sora," the boy quickly turned around when he heard someone behind him talked in a greeting. A pale horned person with dark golden yellow eyes wearing a black robe that looked belonging only to the owner walked to him with grace as if she was floating. She had a staff that had a green sphere on top of it. "I like these peaceful nights. Night time, such beautiful time for the darkness to take its rightful place." She may look older and thin but the brunet hybrid Keyblade wielder couldn't help but take a step back, he knew this person was powerful, and threatening just by the aura alone.
"Wh-oo who are you?" he silently cursed himself for the stuttering. Gathering himself, the boy shook away the oppressive feeling of the woman in front of him. "What do you want?" he said narrowing his eyes, muscles taut ready to spring in case she tries anything. He just knew she was dangerous because she, just like Aerith and the gang, hid her scent but also the boy could feel a slight tremor, or a pulse from her.
The pale horned woman smiled so sweetly that it made him shiver and caused his fur to stand, "Me? You already know who I am Sora."
What? He racked his mind searching if he knew the person and glared at the mystery woman. "I'd like to think I would know every people I meet."
"Most unfortunate then, that Merlin, the kings' lackeys had not told you about me," she stated, her smile never fading and proceeded to bow and introducing herself. "I am Maleficent."
Sora's blood stopped and ran cold at the mention of the name, Maleficent. The one who destroyed our home! The destroyer! The fey of darkness! His mind raged. It was hard not to ram his Keyblade into the faeries' body as his anger ran rampant like storm. Clenching and unclenching his fists in hopes of subsiding his tempered rage. Kill her! A part of him said. Kill her! Kill her! Kill her! End the worlds' suffering now!
As much as he desired to kill her, the brunet knew he was not powerful enough. Was he fast enough to call for help or even strong enough to distract the dark fairy? "I sense your anger, Sora. Yes, I see it, quite strong. Stronger than anything I felt before. There is also conflict. You do not know yourself, do you child?"
Sora slowly backed away, Maleficents' strong aura was overwhelming him, and it was really hard pressed to deny his instincts shouting for him to get away. "What do you want with me?" he nearly lost his composure there, he mustn't, for his own sake. What more do you have to take away from me! Wasn't it enough I lost our world! Kairi! My mom! He wanted to scream at her but the Keyblade wielder didn't because the boy wasn't sure it would be answered. How did she know that?
The evil fairy had the gall to look abashed at his words, "Why, to see you of course my dear Sora." Said fairy gave him an obvious poisonous smile, "I sense great power within you, but also great conflict. The darkness in you has yet to reach its peak, you are hindering it and thus yourself. I am only here to foster that power; such potential cannot be allowed to be wasted."
"So that you could use me!"
"Take it as you may," the dark fairy said calmly. Her demeanor not affected by his harsh tone. "I care not for your thoughts of me, but if you truly wish to know yourself, one must accept the whole." Was she spying on him? He wasn't allowed to dwell on it as the heartless fairy continued speaking, "If you wish to learn I will gladly offer my services."
A lot of red flags blared, and his paranoia set in when she said this, questions like; why does she want me? or what does she have to gain from this? Sprang from his curious mind. Was it all a trick to abduct him by luring him with the lie of mastering the darkness within. Can darkness even be mastered? He felt how the nothingness felt, a temptation, not just any ordinary temptation. So many times had he wanted just lashed out, it was so much easier! But he couldn't, wouldn't take the easy way. It was for cowards, he'd rather be all scraped and bruised than take the easy way because it was always worth the effort. So, he resisted, denied his anger to satisfy its lust for violence.
Sora could feel it now, his own darkness, connecting to that one Maleficent's in a smooth pull. Pulling him towards her! The boy could detect only detect truth from her, she controlled her own power, she didn't let herself be swept away by it. Swallowing hard, he mustered his voice and replied not long after.
"I'll find answers on my own," he stared at Maleficent defiantly. "No matter how long it takes, I will do it myself."
Why was the fairy smirking at him? It sent shivers down his spine, "So be it." She wasn't offended of being rejected? That was odd enough, the brunet had expected her to be trying her damnest to convince him.
A single wave of her staff a black portal appeared behind her, but the woman didn't retreat to it immediately. "A gift to you would have to suffice then." When the dark fairy raised her staff, green fire covered her being. The flames burned his nose in its intensity! Blinded his eyes as it roared like chaos itself. "Stars of night, fires of blight. Reveal this one's true form, to ease the storm. I call upon Morpheus the dream, help thee reach the end of stream." A heavy feeling settled in him when the staff sphere glowed an eerie green. The hybrid found himself stuck, he tried to say something, but the boy couldn't move! Pain racked his whole body that he could only hunch himself in reflex and found himself shouting, shouting on the ground. Fire, a strange green fire enveloped his vision that he felt bathed his body in its warmth. The boy's throat grew hoarse, he tried to push the pain, but it was a futile endeavor. Oh, his back, especially his back throbbed worse than a beating heart. It knocked, kept knocking, against his will.
Flames covered him, but he could still see Maleficent then. The woman walked through it. Sora's companion throughout this ordeal was pain. It greeted him harshly and came from the inside. It burned his body, smashing against him that he screamed. Screamed for help. Screamed for anyone to hear! Anyone! Anybody! Roared his inflicted mind. I lasted for maybe a lifetime before he found refuge in the realm of sleep.
Dark fire burned all around him. It consumed everything from his surroundings that he could not make out what it was. Just fiery flame that ate everything on the horizon. Dark as the flame was, it wasn't dreary, or even frightening to him. He thought of the urge it brought to him as he stared at those soul piercing black blazing fire. It… it… he can't find the words… it seemed to call for him, was pulling him. Where, he hadn't the slightest idea.
So, he decided to walk without a thought, direction or idea. Just him, treading towards whatever will greet him. Whatever it was, he had a bad feeling about it.
Eternity was what it felt like with is trek when he felt a really tight pounding in his chest. It screamed at the hybrid boy, too primal to be defined.
A roar thundered unlike he'd ever heard before all across the landscape! His balance swept away with its power as the young Keyblade wielder fought to stand whilst defending his overstimulated ears. Whatever was roaring, it made him shiver, his fur standing and his heart pounding in fear. The darkness it released was so powerful its scent overwhelmed his nose. Quick as it was, that left him shaking, not so much in fear, but of how its presence dominated him. Sora was but a prey in its presence.
"No turning back," he said and steeling himself for what was to come. If he would face it, then so be it. When has he ever backed down from a challenge? Win or lose, it was a go for the brunet half lion boy. With a determined self-push, he treaded forward.
Seconds turned to minutes, and minutes became hours. Everything was the same old landscape. He was stepping on nothingness, and shadows ruled the land with the dark fire as its guiding light. Dark as the night sky the fire was, it heated him. Even soothed him the more he stayed in its presence regardless of distance.
Sora couldn't decide if that was good or bad. Was it so bad that he felt complete with it? On the other hand, he remembered the darkness that ate Destiny islands, his hatred at the endless darkness continuing to consume other worlds out there. Both were at an impasse, it threatened to tear him into two.
Deciding that his thoughts may possibly led his astray on his mission, he quieted anything that could distract him. He'd deal with the problem later.
The walking was worth the wait when he saw on the horizon an arch, and it was where the fire was the strongest too. The lion hybrid boy shivered automatically just looking at it.
Getting nearer with every step, his pace slowed gradually. It's as if something was stopping him from approaching it. Rattling chains made him stop in his steps. Why was it so familiar? Those chains… it was on the back of his tongue, but yet so far away.
The chains groaned continuously not getting louder but he could feel its distance kept getting closer with each rumination he did of it. For the life of him, Sora could not discern whether it was dangerous, the place was crawling with darkness he found it hard to detect any unnatural feeling surrounding it. Still, his wariness had saved him a few times, the lion boy willed his magical weapon to appear that he couldn't help but sigh in relief upon having the warmth of the Kingdom Key wash upon him. The relief turned to a slight disappointment when the… wholeness... vanished on his being. What the hell was happening to him?
Clank.
He whipped around and found nothing.
Clank.
The boy gripped his weapon tighter. Ready for what it was heading his way.
Clank.
Centering himself, he couldn't afford to let his emotions get the best of him.
Clank.
Instinctively raising his weapon, two swords clashed. Sparks raining as he battled against this dark being. Sora knew he'd seen this person before. He just couldn't remember where!? This being proved to be stronger than him as he was immediately but gradually being pushed back, easily. The rattling chains floated around the being and darkness eased off of the being and rising upwards. Oh god, the smell, it reeked of darkness. Darkness strong as Maleficent!
"Who. Are. You?" He managed to say with his gritting teeth. The strike was strong that he can barely hold it.
He had the feeling whoever was behind the mask was smirking. "Wouldn't you like to know, beast."
Beast. The anger that came from that name was coming upfront and hard to restrain. Hard nights of primal urges to let loose came upon his thoughts invasively. With a growl, he smashed him away, his vision seeing black all over. "Release it, Sora. Show me what you got!" the mask man fired dark fire towards him. It was so fast that his hastily erected reflect couldn't withstand it for more than a few of it before it cracked entirely and making him bat away the remain dark fires. Or at least that was the plan. From the moment the hybrid deflected one, his sword, and in turn, his hand and partly his body vibrated from the force of the spell! Such strength was not lost on him.
His opponent, with his sword arm raised behind him and, in a pose reminiscent of Riku, the chains clattered when the man taunted him with a come hither gesture of his hands.
The youth growled instinctively at such action. His patience and temper running out. No! berating himself mentally. Don't let the enemy dictate the terms. Leon had said upon their first training. Shift the battle in your favor. So many times had he rushed into battle with uncontrolled rage, his self-discipline was abysmal he knew that he gets taunted and angered easily but he wouldn't (no, couldn't) let himself be goaded this time. Breathe, think like Riku. Calm and Collected. Not taking his eyes off his opponent, he did breathing exercises that would calm his raging self and reassured that the beast within him slept once again.
Once he was sure that he was calm, the lion boy's gaze sharpened on his enemy. Whoever this was, he was strong. Can he risk his Fury form to defeat him. More like can you control yourself this time, a cynical voice within him stated.
Sora was sure, he'd need everything he had to defeat this man in front of him. Delving deeper, images long buried crashed to his mind. It was too quick to see, nor glimpse to remember it. He didn't focus on it, instead dived deeper than before in his soul. His very being. His heart. All this while keeping a wary eye on his enemy on the opposite side. Which was difficult, but with the help of training of Merlin, Aerith, and Leon, it was doable to a certain degree.
When the boy felt his powers, his Fury, he gripped it tightly. Controlling his self, the young Keyblade warrior let his innate power flow freely within him now. The shifting, he could feel its subtle change upon his physical form, along with it, the anger. Wild as fire and volcano but he tried to stamp it with control like a great rain down on a burning and exploding mountain. It was there, it created a balance in his person. A very taut balance.
The fire that was his primal side, he let it flow, all throughout his state as he growled lowly. His shock was very evident when the Keyblade morphed. Morphed! Slowly, the rounded shaft of the Kingdom Key became sharper with bladed edges. The guard of the hilt, changed to that of dark wings and on the center of its hilt, an azure diamond. Even the reach of the blade became longer. The name… it eluded him.
With a barely controllable balanced, he basked in his newly found powers. Trying to get a feeling of it to better prepare himself.
Smoky man was smirking! Smirking! Sora could feel it all the way to his position. Not wasting any time, the boy dashed towards his enemy in a bid to test his self and not let the opposing Keyblade warrior compose himself any defense. Swinging his Keyblade horizontally, both blades, once again sparked as they battled. His newfound power was able to help him push the stronger man back, it was a victory for him no matter how small his opponent sliding back was. Anything was better than nothing. Sora, deft as he can, swiped his foot but all he received was pain instead of his enemy becoming out of balance. He found himself the one gradually being pushed as he resisted it before he flipped back and sent a Blizzara to his enemy.
He cursed when the ice spell was easily broken like a nuisance before he could strike again. One minute his chained opponent was there, and the second he was gone! Only the rattling of the chains alerted him as he spun right to block its first strike. When he disappeared again Sora jumped and barely evading the rushing man zooming passed his place. "Reflect!" The boy screamed as suddenly fell on the dark fireballs homing in on him.
Landing in all fours, Sora used his other hand, with a force strong enough psuhed himself to cartwheel right. The heat of the attacks warmed his skin and fur as they passed barely an inch from his face. His automatic reaction was to pull away from the darkness that close to his face!
That annoying smirk made him growl. He could feel that expression pointed at him. The boy knew when he was outmatched, stinging as it may be to admit he was not on his opponent's level but, he would be defeated trying! Without pause, the brunet hybrid lion dashed forwards again. "Ahhgh!" the boy caught himself struggling to stand. His back flared and groaned in pain, even so, determination filled him. Rising against the odds. A spell of cure to himself, the mending wound was a welcome relief, but it was only a second of a pause when behind him the boy registered a Keyblade swinging towards him.
Sora's tail curled more as he turned only to as he spun, only for him to look wide eyes and spluttering as he was sent sprawling and rolling. Every hit on the ground, a grunt, bouncing like a ball, a grunt. It took forever for him to right himself again with his claws and Keyblade digging in the dark sand. The boy huffed continuously quickly trying to recover lost air. He hadn't seen that strong of an attack coming. Even if it took everything he had, he was still reeling from its effects. At this point, Sora saw red, his rage ran free.
Growling, the angry hybrid boy felt more! More power surging and revitalize his being. This power, he gritted his teeth in anger, was painful than what he had experienced before, something in his back ached deeply but he ignored it and settling for glaring at his target.
It annoyed him that his enemy was playing with him. Defeat him and humiliate him, but the boy would get up and show you wrong! He would get up again and again to show them that he was strong! Insulting and then fighting him was similar too but playing with him just to show the hybrid he was powerless? Not only was he getting his payback but returning it tenfold.
Control Sora! Control yourself! He caught himself in time and reigning in his untamable anger with great effort. It was like wrangling water with one's bare hands. The voice that said it was soothing to the core. It lighted his soul that he could see the skies clearing but only for the tiniest illuminations. It was familiar one, he knew it so but cannot recall it.
The power remained in his grasp despite the calm settling to his very bones. The darkness was his weapon. It completed him. Darkness is my friend, my companion in light, he uttered silently feeling the waves of power succumbed to his touch. Darkness is a mystery knowledge must pass, the words flowed to him naturally. He didn't have time to contemplate its origin when he recited what he knew was the last line, Darkness is the beginning, it shall be the end.
Closing his eyes, Sora imagined he was back in the islands where everything was calm and lazy. The sweet chirps of birds and waves crashing into the shore echoed in his sensitive ears oh so melodically. Opening his eyes, he focused on his target with steely determination.
The young wielder uttered nothing and pour his newfound strength into his step to close the gap between them. Raising his sword hand to strike down the chained man, his lips quirked upwards in the tiniest motion as he then rotated poising the Keyblade on his enemy's lower back. The weapon with a flash of his swing hit its mark and he registered the sound of tearing flesh that nearly made him flinch had he not steeled himself.
Sora knew how powerful his current enemy was, what was a hit needs to be capitalize upon. He threw his dark weapon and jumped preparing himself for a spell. The rush! Of the rush of his magical energy was unlike he'd felt. It was a euphoric and complete feeling in an incomprehensible feeling. "Thundaga!" he chanted automatically without thinking. A great zigzagging spire from the heaven fell on his only choice of target and slamming with great pounding roar. Electricity sizzled and frizzled around his opponent, snapping all those close to it to crisp. His spell, it reached even in their gap of eight meters that it made his fur stood on one end.
He summoned the Keyblade, prepared for anything. He would not -or could not- think that settled it. The man's power was greater than what he showed before and the young Keyblade warrior doubted that his spell would settle it.
His assumption was proven correct when a figure stood up. From his distance, the body was shaking, head bowed looking at the ground. The mirth, he was sure it was, reached him that he shivered. The being laughed, all the way into heavens even with its normal volume.
"Good, that was better than before," said the man clapping when he released his Keyblade as the clanging chains chorused with it. It made for a disharmonious kind of music. "Do you understand it now?"
The younger warrior did not respond to its bait. Silence was his answer, let him talk all he wants but he wouldn't fall into its trap.
His enemy walked towards him with a sure gait, each step thundering louder than the spell he did. The smirk so evident behind the mask. Mystery man continued walking until he was a few feet away from the boy.
No words were uttered but the feeling he had just from gazing at the black empty mask was unusual. No words could describe it, nor could he determine its nature.
"Wake."
Sora gasp for air when his consciousness came back, the boy found it hard to open his eyes. What's happening!? He ought to speak but again, even the tiniest movement held him down. Still, this didn't stop Sora from opening his eyes! The world was a blur he had trouble identifying things. His body felt on fire, subduing fire.
"Merlin! He's awake!" he recognized the voice of Yuffie on his left, but he can't see her. Her distress was evident in the voice alone. Damn it, why can't he move?! What did that Maleficent do to him? His anger silently boiled just thinking about that fairy. He may be unable to move but he was extremely angry. The hybrid can't stop being angry, it fueled him as much as he hated it.
Merlin literally closely examined Sora, "Oh don't move yet lad. That nasty fairy did a number on you on whatever she did. It took all four of us to heal you to your state right now, so it'd be best if you rest for a while. Rest assured, we will look after you and Kairi until you are fit to travel again."
He wanted to move right then and there, to show that he was alright. To let the others know that he was fine. They had no time to waste.
"You better rest Sora," Riku said somewhere near the chimney of the house he was in. Sora's best friend said it as if reading his mind, at this point the three of them knew each other like the back of their hands, so the young Keyblade wielder supposed it was no wonder. "I've decided to-." All he heard then was garbled sound and maybe he was delirious but the smirk in Riku's voice was obvious.
Sora couldn't shake it away and he let sleep take him once more.
When Sora's consciousness returned, he found he was in the safe house where Kairi was in. He recalled what happened, meeting Maleficent, the burning feeling. The pain that wrecked his body…. After that? The dream was clear as day. How'd he found himself in the house, in a bed next to Kairi that is. Just what the hell happened? His body ached, but it was bearable, a nice sleep would cure it.
The grasp he had in his dream, he tried looking for it, but it was unreachable, no, not unreachable but… missing? This fact made him sad for some reason. Finding himself walking towards the bathroom, and weirdly in simpler clothes because his regular ones were hanged in the open dresser.
He yelped in shock upon seeing his form in the mirror! It shook the hell out of him upon seeing his reflection. The first thing that came to him was to defend himself against it but realized sooner that it was him. Him! He can't believe it! his body was full of strange marks of sorts. From his jaw was three claw-like grey tattoo, not only that but scanning his entire body, it was also on his elbow, on his tail and shins. What shook him the most was his eyes. The blue eyes staring at him, was looking back at him with sharp slits that served as pupils! It made his gaze sharper. The boy shivered in his reflection gazing back at him.
Just what did that fairy do to him? Was his question. Just thinking of what Maleficent did was enough to make his blood boil. Nowadays, his temper kept flaring up uncontrollably that breathing exercises doesn't help much.
He knew something had happened. That Maleficent did something to him, the brunet lion boy could feel it, something had changed but to this extent?!
Breathing heavily at last, he felt calm enough to asses himself more after a few minutes. As he observed the marks more, why were they there anyway? Did that fairy curse him, after all, he was a thorn in their plan when he sealed the heart of a world.
Staring resolutely at his reflection, he promised to himself that he would get strong. Strong enough to defeat the cause of all this mess. She got him the first time, it would not happen again. Looking at his grinning self, he went out in search for others, but this time, a little careful in case she was still around.
Every step Sora did, he made sure to sense everything around him. Watching vigilantly like a predator would. The brunet Keyblade wielder didn't want to have a repeat of the incident. He kept the annoying nagging feeling that said as if he was in a foreign body. That what he experienced in that dream was more real than the reality he was in now!
Eventually, he found the others in Cid's store, Leon as usual, stood somehow far away from the others. Riku, sitting a couch facing Aerith, with Donald and Goofy on his sides. "Hey guys," Sora said, deciding to greet them since the boy noticed they hadn't noticed him enter. "Whatch'a guys doing? Where's Yuffie?"
"Mornin' Sora! Yuffie wen' back to ya guys just right 'bout now," the knight replied.
"Maleficent," the stoic man simply then said. The raven haired swordsman didn't move or show anything while he said this. "We knew why she was here. She was after this worlds' heart. Without this world, we don't know where people would appear when a world disappears."
"Sora," Aerith looked at him carefully. "What did Maleficent did to you? What are those marks?"
The boy only shrug in return, hell if he knew then he wouldn't be angry at the fairy. He was seething just by thinking about the damn fairy. "I don't know," he breathed out. Another question to add to the mystery. "All I remember was this burning feeling. It was all over me, she casted a spell, I can't remember what, but only that she did it, and it happened."
"Was it a curse?" Donald had asked. Curse are supposed to be harmful right? In truth, it was far from that, it didn't feel bad now. He'd heard of curses before, like how people would suddenly fall ill or maybe die, but he didn't feel any different.
"I don't know."
He plopped on the couch besides Aerith. Everyone seemed to be watching him, "What?" he said a little harsh. Realizing his outburst, "Sorry," he mumbled loud enough for them to hear.
"It's okay," Goofy said, offering him a smile. "Ya know what'll cheer ya up? Riku here," the dog knight side hugging his best friend and he had to chuckle at the uncomfortable look Riku gave for a brief second, "Is gonna come with us! Ain't that awesome?"
Awesome!? That doesn't cover awesome at all? It's awesomest thing ever! His thought rang loud and excitement that he couldn't help but grin at his companions. All they needed now was Kairi and his adventure would be complete.
"You're right, it is awesome!" If Riku felt something, he certainly didn't show it. That was always Riku for him, so he sent those worries away. "Oh, where will he stay? Isn't the ship already full? There's only three rooms." Six if you count Chip, Dale and Jiminy's rooms.
Donald smirked at him, "That's what you think. I've had Cid covert some part of the storage room to a room."
"That's good news! For a minute I was worried that Riku would have to sleep in the engine room or share room with one of us." Sora grinned when he turned to Riku,
"Heh, I wouldn't mind sharing bed with Donald."
The boy exaggeratedly palmed his chest in mock hurt, "Why not me? It could be like those sleepovers when we were young."
"You're not exactly the most silent sleeper, are you?" Riku quirk a brow upwards in a challenge. Here, Sora had the decency to be sheepish. Damn it, he does not snore! It was just one time! Riku just couldn't let it go.
Sora laughed as the pups chase him relentlessly. He thought of anything about the past day. Dark fairy related. He just wanted to spend time with Riku but, Leon was currently testing him because he was going to be their newest companion in their journey to save the worlds. So, the boy decided to make true of his promise to the Dalmatian pups. He let loose his stress and had fun.
Tried as the little ones as best as they can, they couldn't. The puppies kept chasing him, and when he noticed that their barking stopped, they young hybrid turned to look to see the pups were out of breath.
The boy chuckled at them, all of them hugged the floor in fatigue. The oldest pup barked at him, "No fair! You are much larger than us." The puppy looked ready to faint when he said this.
Sora was quite surprised when they found out that the parents of the puppies had been living in Traverse town all along. They were thanked profusely by the couple for returning some of their pups but then said sadly that still, a lot of them were still missing. Sora, being the bleeding heart that he is, has decided to help them. Now, he was fulfilling his promise to play with the pups.
Smirking and poking their helpless form, he said, "What's the matter, tired?" the pups barked weakly at him, but they were helpless, so he carried them back home and ignoring their weak protests.
The couple dogs gave a mischievous look at them and it was evident in the wag of his tail. The mother, on the other hand only shook her head in mock exasperation. "Oh poor little pups," their mother cooed as Sora laid them down on a cot. "Thank you for taking to play with them Sora."
He just waved and shrugged easily, "It was no problem. After all, I did promise to spend time with them. Just call me anytime I'm here if they're okay to play."
Sora then left the place, he was about to enter the first district when the bell tower above the now abandoned Gizmo shop echoed throughout the town. He had asked Cid why the bell rang at certain time, but the man was unsure, it's more of a legend here. It only rings at a certain time. It wasn't that annoying, so we left it alone. If you want to, you can look at it, the gruff man words repeated on his mind. It took a second of decision making for him to check it out.
Skipping any courtesy of using the stairs, the young hybrid jumped towards the corner of a wall just beside the door of the shop, bouncing upwards like a ball defying gravity. He chuckled upon remembering how annoyed his mother when she found out he went out at night and sneaked back because he can easily jump the window.
The roof was surprisingly empty when he got there. The boy expected someone to be playing with the bell but no, it was ringing on its own behind a stack of boxes. He huffed in annoyance when he tried to push it, okay, so it's heavier than one expected.
Willing himself to transform, at least partially, Sora was slowly pushing the damn stack of boxes aside, but it was still heavy for him that it made him breathe for air after the exercise.
"That's weird," he thought out loud and scratching his chin in confusion. Why was it moving on its own? Was his dilemma. He had an idea and so he closed his eyes and sensed for something, and he was right! There was a thrum of magical energy that was making the bell ring! A magical bell! Ooh who would've expected?
He waited for it to stop and when it did, the boy (out of boredom really) rang the bell. He grinned when he did so, "Well, that was-" said Sora as his words were cut off when a deep rumbling reached his ears. It was far, somehow. Where exactly? Slowly, the brunet Keyblade wielder followed its source and on the edge of the building with a spectacular view of the second district. Gasping, in excited when he saw the wall on the fountain rotating showing a wall of another design. Excitement filling him, he tried it again, and it once again changed. It was too far for him what design specifically, but it did change, of that the boy was sure.
"Third times the charm," he said running towards the bell again and rang it for the third time. Whoever made that function made Traverse town a whole lot more fun. Once again, it changed to another pattern, the boy was to repeat but stopped when he saw a familiar symbol glowing in white. "A keyhole!" He shouted that he ran in excitement Keyblade already in hand.
The hybrid boy only skidded to stop when a huge object fell between him and the Keyhole. A huge circular cone metal body with blue collar and yellow and read streaks on its body, with its hands and foot floating. It looked like a huge version of those armored Heartless for Sora and he was already on alert upon seeing it. He was about to question its lack of head but as if by chance, it fell in place. Dammit, the boy cursed. He just had to jinx it, didn't he?
The giant armored Heartless didn't waste time and marched towards him threw a punch, which he jumped on its metal wrist, "Thunder!" he said as yellow thunder fell on his foe, and the boy barely evaded the punch it threw to ward him off his other arm by backflipping. Its footsteps thundered as it didn't let up and ran to him once again, its arm spun like a tornado.
Casting a wall to serve as a jumping platform, Sora landed behind it and threw his weapon at it to which he followed with a focused form of his hands close to each other. "Blizzara!" he chanted as he then released the giant ice. His spell screeched in hitting its tough metal hide as the then called the magical weapon to his hands. The ice proved to be a distraction he needed as it somehow staggered, not a moment was wastes as he took the chance to get close and personal as he dashed then jumped bringing the brunt of his Keyblade on the monster.
Only to jump back when it spun its arms once again, he ducked, weaved under it rolling beneath it only to scream in pain as he was sent rolling. The boy didn't have a chance to recover quickly as he pain racked his body. Groaning as he pushed himself out of the hole he made. His senses were a blur, he could feel his poor tail stiff and injured. The white and blue blurry figure of the Heartless was nearing from his limited sensing. Creating a wall, it punches the wall to destruction and giving him time to balance himself.
The young lion was prepared best as he can when the shield between them cracked and he was finding it hard to stand up currently. The boy was prepared to evade the incoming kick, but a powerful fireball impacted its side sending it to crash into the wall and a light feeling washed over his battered body.
"Sora, ya okay?" Mish mash of colors invaded his vision, but he shook it best as he could and could see that Goofy, Donald, and Riku covered him.
"Get up, Sora," Riku stated not looking back. "It's coming back."
"It's after the Heart of Traverse town." The three of them stared
Sora rose up to see Riku and Goofy charging towards the metal Heartless. The knight blocked its strike as his best friend ran passed him. With struggling shaky knees, the hybrid Keyblade wielder didn't waste time and got back into action. He jumped reaching for its head with Goofy and Riku taking its attention away from him and upon within its reach his Keyblade clashed with its armor but for a second as he fell, the boy saw it being dented. He flipped back and ignored his still hurting tail and back beast as he can and dodging the fist that nearly hit him.
Casting a Reflect spell, he then crossed his arms in defense as the punch cracked his shield.
"Sora!" Goofy said, calling him and saw the Knight approached him and followed by Riku.
"Thunder!" the armor was spasming as electricity rolled off of it.
Once releasing his spell, Sora then followed the two warriors who faced the Heartless. He conjured a wall and covering Riku's vulnerable left side from one of its floating arms aiming at his best friend but it wasn't enough to block it this time, "Riku! Move!" he shouts.
Sora ran to his best friend when he flew with a strong hit from his sides, Riku's shout was evident and ringing in his ears. He flinched when he thought of how powerful it was to to his earlier strike. Riku's thunderous landing on the wall echoed on the battlefield and he ran to his aid. "Riku! Riku!"
Coughing and groaning was heard by his sensitive ears, tapping into his limited healing magic, Sora casts a Cure spell and beyond the veil of smoke a light penetrated it from within. "Riku, can you stand?
"Than-k..s" his friend wheezed. While focusing on his injured friend, he tried to listen at the battle way behind him. It looked like they were in a tough spot with this one. It was stronger than any they've face on their earlier part of the journey. The hybrid tried t ofocus on where the Other's are but the fight between them and the Heartless made it impossible so with their clashing sounds. Fishing his pocket, he threw a potion at Riku and casts a reflect spell as his silver haired friend chugged the whole thing down.
Relief flowed when he heard the older boy sigh in relief, he also drank a potion. The young Keyblade wielder could feel his aching parts mend. Turning to Riku who now stood beside him, he then said, "Ready?"
A grim nod from Riku was his response. They joined the fray once again, Goofy was looking troubled with the speed and force the metal monster was dishing out. Pound after pound it clashed against his shield and he counterattacked.
"Donald!" he called.
The boy gave signaled King Mickey's wizard and received a brief nod from him. Stopping and putting all focus on his spell. Fire, think fire. Those intense summer and double it. These advance spells were still beyond him somehow, but he knew how to do it basically. "Fira!" he roared.
"Goofy! Riku! Move!" Donald shouted before he unleashed his powerful ice. He didn't worry for his silver haired friend because he knew he would evade it. Sora trusted him to do that. Both of them moved aside as the fists of the monster missed them and left its torso wide open for the spell. He had to cringed at the shattering ice, it was screeched a very grating sound for his ears. It was quickly overpowered by the roaring fire and making it stagger back just from the sound alone as everything was concealed by the mist of the combination spells.
He readied his magical weapon, even as the battlefield went silent as the dead, and focused on extending his senses.
Thud.
"Look out!" He made a wall between him and the smoke as a white fist barreled towards Donald and he realized his mistake. Their friend was able to cast a Reflect. Sometimes, Sora found it hard to believe under that feathers Donald was powerful. After all squawks, grumblin, he was the Royal Wizard and advisor of King Mickey. His barrier held better than Sora ever could but he could see the cracks spreading like a spiderweb.
So, without prompt, the hybrid dashed, and swinging his weapon upwards with his strongest strike and sending it upwards and relieving Donald of the trouble. He didn't stop there, the boy moved towards its legs. The boy made sure to stay underneath the beast and continuously hitting the right leg. Mustering all his strength on every hit, the leg shattered into two and he could hear his friends battle it too. "Thunder!"
His spell ran throughout it as sizzling sound of electricity coursing made it evident.
The other leg moving nearing him was heard by him now and he was prepared to dodge by rolling backwards and unleashing another spell of ice. He was on his knees with the Keyblade as support. He could feel the incoming headache and his breath haggard but ignoring it and looking at their group now, they were close to defeating the Heartless. Its right arm, was destroyed by the combination of Riku and Goofy while Donald, who provided long range support made a short work of the other one.
I will not give in! I will not give in! he chanted in his head like a mantra as his natural power. His own locked power surge through with its limited freedom roared within his body like a lightning. It took a minute of resisting primeval urges to, one that really wants to claw anything its way, and joined the fray. The thing was on its last legs (literally!), it couldn't survive their combined might any longer.
Throwing his Keyblade at its head, he watched it clanged against it and bounced. Jumping on the edge of then proceeding to jump higher, the boy recalled his weapon. The brunet let gravity do all the work as he fell and slashed the things head before it turned its attention to him. He wasn't sure he did it with that one attack before he landed on all fours to support his landing. The view of its body did not help too, the damn thing was just too tall.
Sora was one the move again, but the thing tumbled side to side before it fell on its left side and destroying the path near the hotel entrance. As if that wasn't enough, a giant heart came out of it and its body turned to dusts of darkness.
The boy nearly lost his balance, swaying to and fro, upon releasing his beast form as the headache he withheld earlier came back full force. Still, he somehow managed. Riku, on the other hand fell on his butt. Must be because of earlier injuries.
With sluggish movements, the hybrid boy raised his Keyblade, and just like the other times before the Keyhole, the magical weapon released a white beam as a locking sound echoed in the silence of the second district. With that done, he fell on his rear ungracefully with a loud thump and groan. His groan turned to chuckles as he stared into the eternal night sky.
"What's funny?' Donald asked, healing Riku first while he could hear the Knight approached him.
Shaking his head, he then replied, "Nothing. Just that, that was one of the toughest Heartless I've fought."
Goofy then joined his chuckling, "I think ye'r right Sora. That thin' nearly turned me to mush with its poundin'." Emphasizing his point, he continued his speech "My shield's busted."
From his peripherals, glancing at the said object, It really was. Looks like he'll be needing a new one then.
Riku's snort reached his ears easily, "Why don't we use the head as the material for your new shield." Looking at where the thing used to be, there really was a left over of it. One of its hand to be exact.
"Serves the Heartless right," Sora stated in between his wheezing, of laughing or exhaustion, he didn't know. "Think it would defeat four of us and take this worlds heart."
"You guys are okay!" Yuffie's voice suddenly heard. She got him again, dammit. "We were about to chase you but those other Heartless were targeting the civilians." The soft footsteps of Leon followed. He knew it because it had Leon-esque signature shoes all over it.
"What happened."
It was not a request, not a plea but a demand with urgency. Sora would let others do the explaining, he was tired, from using magic to utilizing his Fury mode, it was taxing. Still, he found it hard to believe he was not tired as the other times before. Had time really gone that fast that the boy was already getting use to it?
The brunet relaxed as the others discussed what happened. If this had Maleficent all over it or was she still around when Sora saw the Keyhole. Speculations at best, but he didn't know the answer and decided to rest his battered body by lying shamelessly on the ground with his arms behind his head serving as makeshift pillows.
He smelled Riku trudging towards him and then shuffling to seat next to him.
Silenced reigned between them and he could imagine Riku was watching the stars silently just like they would when they were younger naïve boys who had a normal life. Well, normal as his could be, the discrimination against him for being a half animal didn't help one bit in experiencing normalcy, but it instead became his normalcy.
"So," his silver haired friend began. "You're already using that. What changed?"
Sora sighed tiredly, "I…," he stopped to think what he would say next. Riku knew how he hated his power, how he hated how people judged him for being the way he was and thought little of him.
"I just needed to," he whispered just enough for Riku to hear. "I couldn't save Kairi because I didn't use it when she needed me." Releasing a powerful breath again as he ignored the guilt buried in him, he continued. "I didn't know when I started entertaining that thought but, it just was and decided to use it, so that I could help save the worlds out there." To prevent another Destiny islands fall, was his silent promise.
Was it the correct thing to do? To unleash the wild and chaotic part of him? What if he lost control of himself, what would the others think and do? Sora couldn't dare think of that because he may not like the answer. He wasn't prepared for it. Not right now. Nor should he think of it now, it was detrimental to his state of mind by worrying what would be in the future.
"Sora, Riku," Aerith said, calling them.
"We'll catch up with you guys a bit," his best friend replied.
The young Keyblade wielder waited for Riku's reply expectantly. "That's good," his friend gave a low sigh he easily detected. "It wasn't your fault. You did the best you could," the silveret then spoke again with gentleness his friend could only have. Sighing, the older one of them rustled his hair, "I'm sorry for leaving you and Kairi alone to face the danger. I should've waited for you guys."
Did my best? A critical voice in him scoffed. It was hardly his best! If it was his best why didn't he transform? Maybe it could have done something to change the outcome of their world.
"Yea-," he said but was interrupted by Riku.
"Don't deny it, Sora."
Imagining the piercing look his best friend was giving him, he gave in. "You're right," he said clinching and unclenching his fists in his bubbling anger. "I still blame myself, but I do my best to move on and by hoping to defeat Maleficent I would, in a way, banish the guilt."
Riku moved, he sense Riku moved to stand beside his lying form, "Sora." Opening his eyes, his silver haired friend was really standing, but the younger boy didn't expect his friend to reach out a hand to him. The older boy was smiling as he did so. "You don't have to do it alone. That's what friends are for, we carry each other's burden."
He can't help but to slightly tear up and ended up imagining how they first met. How he distrusted Riku while doing his best to earn his friendship. Now, look at where they are now? Friends trekking through other lands back to back with faith to each other stronger than Destiny Islands strongest hurricane.
"Yeah, you're right," he smirked accepting Riku's reaching hands as he was pulled up.
Again, terribly sorry for the long update. Also, Happy Valentines Day everyone! Hope everyone's having a blast!
Also, how was it? Terrible? Good? Comment if you like to let me know so I could improve it. :)