A/N - Well, I didn't expect this story get so much love right off the bat, or to update it so soon, especially given my track record.
A shout out to Haxorus Knight for helping out a little, and, though they no had involvement in making of this fic, the YouTubers, My Name is Byf and Myelin Games, for their amazing lore videos.
And just to clarify something, if I use light or darkness with lower case letters, it's just normal light or dark. If it's Light and Darkness with upper case like this, then it's the supernatural stuff.
Now, Happy Reading, Oh Followers Mine.
King of the Sky
Chapter II
The Path to Balance
Sora had a lot to be thankful for.
He was thankful that he was still alive and not a mindless zombie, even if it had come at the cost of his memories.
He was thankful for the company of his Ghost, who was giving him a somewhat animated explanation of things in the Soul System, which actually helped him to keep up with it all.
But most of all, he was thankful for the vast collection of music that Chirithy had the foresight to download before leaving earth. Otherwise the already boring and endless trek over the endless waters of the Final World, would have been unbearable.
Sora sighed as more water splashed under his shoes. It was no wonder that he'd lost his mind, wondering this endless world. He pushed those thoughts aside though as he listened to the music that Chirithy was belting out like a speaker.
They had gone through a few songs over their several hours of walking and Sora quickly learned that he and his Ghost had VERY different ideas on what classified as "classical" music. Currently, they were listening to "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" by Journey.
One might think it a cruel joke, playing that particular song, but Sora was actually liking it. Didn't mean that Chirithy wasn't still amazed by how little the whole situation was effecting his Guardian though.
The boy had barely been fazed over the corse of his story. The only thing that had seamed to stall him at all, was when his new immortality came up, but even that didn't keep him down long.
Now though, the boredom was setting in as they just continued walking. Every now and then they'd run across the occasional disembodied heart and strike up a conversation, but it didn't get them any closer to escaping this place.
As the song came to a close, the two stopped in their tracks and looked to each other before sighing simultaneously "well, this isn't getting us anywhere" Sora said as he crosses his arms "well, you got any more ideas, cause I'm stumped" Chirithy added.
Sora hummed as he closes his eyes in thought "this doesn't feel right…" he muttered to himself and his Ghost perked up a little as Sora held his hand over his heart "I feel like I'm missing something…like a piece of me is missing…" he trailed off.
Chirithy tilted his shell as he gave a thoughtful hum. He hadn't actually scanned his Guardian since he first ressed him. They had both been too caught up in getting to know each other and he hadn't considered that maybe something was wrong with him. After all, his resurrection hadn't exactly been normal.
So, the Ghost shot his beam over his Guardian, scanning every inch of him. Sora noticed of corse but payed it no mind as he pondered the feeling in his heart "uh oh" Chirithy said suddenly and that got Sora's attention "what's the matter?" he asked.
Chirithy looked a little uncomfortable as he tried to think how to explain it "well, your Light's messed up" he finally answered bluntly.
Sora looked mildly concerned as he arched an eyebrow at his Ghost "messed up how?" he asked and Chirithy tilted his shell back and forth in a so-so jester "it's hart to explain but…it feels like your Light's all twisted up. Like it can't take root in you but already has…it's really confusing" he tried to explain.
Sora hummed as he thought on that but then just shrugged "well, let's just fix it then" he said, prompting his Ghost to just stare at him blankly "and um…how are you planning to do that?" Chirithy asked and Sora just folded his hands behind his head "just do what feels right. Let your heart be your guiding key" he said.
The Ghost gave a curious expression at hearing the old saying. It was the second time he's head Sora say it. In the end though, the Ghost just gave his equivalent of a shrug "ok, but don't blame me if I mess up" he said but Sora just gave him a radiant smile "I have faith in you" he said as he held his arms out, waiting for whatever his Ghost was about to do.
Chirithy felt warm and fuzzy inside at the reassuring words. He really had lucked out with his Guardian. That still left him to figure out what he was actually supposed to do though.
But then again, Ghosts themselves didn't fully understand the whole resurrection process themselves, and every Ghost had their own ideas on how it worked, so just winging it and fallowing his heart didn't seam that far fetch in the ground schema of things.
So, just trusting his instincts, Chirithy expanded his shell and let his Light, shine onto his Guardian, and instinct seamed to take over, as he found himself focusing the Light on Sora's heart and before ether of them knew it, there was a bright flash.
The first thing the two of them noticed when the light faded, was the black void they found themselves in.
The second thing was that there was nothing below them, and the both of them looked down into the void momentarily before looking back to each other and blinking dumbly.
"AAAHHH!" they screamed as gravity suddenly decided it still existed and Sora quickly grabbed his Ghost before they could get separated.
Sora quickly rotated so that he was facing downward as he held his Ghost close, and that's when a platform suddenly appeared in the distance. A beacon in the infinite darkness.
As they fell though, the fear Sora had felt before, suddenly vanished as muscle memory kicked in and skills he'd thought long forgotten, came bubbling back to the surface and he braces for impact with the rapidly approaching platform.
Only for their momentum to suddenly slow and Sora to gently touchdown on the mosaic, stained glass platform.
Sora took a few breaths to calm his nerves before he released his Ghost "well…that was a thing" he said with a smile that told of an adrenaline high.
Chirithy chucked uneasily "yah…definitely a thing" he said. It wasn't so much that he had been so high up, that got him but the fact he had been falling so fast with no way to control his flight.
The Ghost shook himself free of his unease though as he looked around, and then down at the stained glass image of himself that was the platform "what is this place?" he pondered "the Station of Waking" Sora blurted out without realizing it, earning the Ghost's attention "I can't remember the details, but this place exists deep within a person's Heart. It's like the line between the Final World and the Realm of Dreams" he gave a brief summary of what little he knew.
Chirithy's shell pulsed out in surprise "wait, so this is suppose to be my Heart?" asked but all Sora could offer him after a brief head scratch was a shrug.
"Your Light is in turmoil"
The pair's eyes widened as those words suddenly appeared in their minds. There was no audible voice, but the words themselves were still clear. "Chirithy…you heard that too right?" Sora asked and the Ghost bobbed his shell in a yes.
"Two Lights now exists within you. Different and yet the same. One is trapped by Darkness, and the other cannot take root until the first is free"
The words continued, headless of the two, and suddenly, three doors appeared on opposite sides of the platform.
"Choose the form your new Light will take"
The two looked around at the three doors. Each one had a slot that looked like a Ghost would fit into it, and below that slot, a unique symbol. Symbols that Chirithy recognize wait, he gets to choose? he though with surprise as Sora approached one of the doors.
This door had a symbol that looked a little like two overlapping triangles and he placed his hand over it.
"The Attunement of the Warlock. Endless curiosity and knowledge. Terrible power and devastation"
"Is this the form you seek?"
Sora frowned as he felt a sense of déjà vu, but retracted his hand all the same. This door just didn't feel right to him, and so he moved on to the next, which held a segmented hexagon on it.
"The Code of the Titan. Discipline and order. A blunt instrument and a bulwark to defend that which matters most"
"Is this the form you seek?"
Sora frowned yet again. He was so tempted to take this one. The power to protect others spoke deeply too him. But something about being chained down by such a strict code didn't feel right to him, and plus, he still had one more door to check and so he stepped away and moved to the last door. This one looked kinda like several small triangles stacked on top of each other.
"The path of the Hunter. Freedom and competitiveness. A wolf among sheep"
"Is this the form you seek?"
Sora blinked upon touching this door. Something about this one spoke to him more deeply then the others. The desire to fallow his heart wherever it may lead seamed to resonate with whatever lay on the other side "this is the one" he said with determination.
Sora then looked to his Ghost, who had been watching him intently. He then gave a nod and his Ghost returned it as he floated over to the door and slotted himself into the hole.
Chirithy felt his Light pulse and the door suddenly opened, letting in a blinding light as they walked through.
On the other side, they found mosaic tiles, floating in front of them, forming steps up to another platform and they quickly climbed up, only to find another Station of Waking. This one with a hooded robot with a blue horn, leaning casually against the edge of the glass, with a pistol held up.
The Station was also divided up like the doors had been. Three pedestals stood on the platform, each with another Ghost slot and glowing ether yellow, blue or purple, respectively and a different weapon floating above each one.
Chirithy floated up to get a better look at the image on the platform "wait, this is Cayde-6. The Hunter Vanguard. Is this his Station of Waking? Does that mean we're in his heart?" he asked.
Sora crossed his arms and tilted his head as he thought the question over "maybe…hearts can be connected to one another. The stronger the bond, the stronger the connections" Sora explained.
He quickly turned his attention to the weapons though and decided to approach the flaming, purple bow.
"The power of the Void. The empty vacuum between all things"
The disembodied words spoke as he reach up towards the bow and found and invisible barrier blocking him.
"The Dusk Bow. A powerful weapon wielded only by a fearless predator of the night. A steep price to pay"
"Is this the power you seek?"
Sora frowned before stepping away from the bow. Not because he feared it but because it simply didn't feel like the right fit for him. Oddly enough, the bow seamed to almost flare brighter and resonate with him at his lack of fear. Perhaps he would attempt to reach for this bow one day. But not today.
Sora moved to the next pedestal. This one held a knife, cracking with blue lightning.
"The living lightning of the Arc. Power immeasurable"
The voiceless speaker intoned as Sora held his hand up to the knife.
"The Arc Knife. A beautiful dance of grace and power. A dreadful trance of death and deception"
"Is this the power you seek?"
Sora frowned yet again. Perhaps in another form he would take this power, but as it was now, it felt too cold and uncaring.
And so, he moved on to the last pedestal. This one glowing a brilliant gold and atop it floated a blazing golden gun.
"The providing warmth of Solar Light. The scorching burn of life giving power"
Again the words came as he held up his hand.
"The Golden Gun. A weapon of extravagance and precision. The freedom and justices of a gunslinger"
"Is this the power you seek?"
Sora smiled upon feeling this warm glow. He felt it stoke the fires of his competitive spirit and resonate with the warmth he wished to share with others "this is the one" he said.
Chirithy floated up next to him and silently asked for confirmation, to which Sora nodded and the Ghost slotted himself in.
There was a sudden burst of Solar Light and the Golden Gun floated down to Sora, who gripped it firmly in his hand. Before he could get a feel for it though, it suddenly burst and the flames seeped into Sora's body and he felt the warmth of Solar Light burn in his chest.
A pillar of light suddenly appeared off to the side and Sora and Chirithy moved to the edge of the platform to look down at another Station, far below them, where the light was originating from.
The two looked to each other and Sora's radiant smile was now literal as Solar flames flickered behind his mischievous eyes "you're going to jump aren't you?" Chirithy deadpanned.
"Yep!" Sora replied with a grin and Chirithy chuckled "well, you're not dragging me down like before" he said before flying at Sora's head and vanishing in a flash of pixilated sparks.
"Don't worry, I'm still with you" Chirithy quickly explained and Sora smiled "good. I can keep you close without having to worry then" he said before looking off the platform and holding his arms out, and then leaping off, spread eagle and without a hint of fear.
As he fell, Sora saw that the next Station was covered in a writhing black shadow, with only a small point in the center proving the pillar of light that had lead them to it. More then that though, both he and Chirithy could feel the Darkness emanating form the Station "be careful, I got a bad feeling about this" Chirithy warned on their way down "I feel it too, but don't worry, I'm sure everything will be fine" Sora reassured his Ghost as they drew closer.
Like before, Sora slowed down before landing gently on the platform. He felt a little uneasy though as the Darkness shifted beneath his feet "I've never felt so much pure Darkness before" Chirithy voiced his own unease as Sora looked around "I have" he muttered, though he couldn't remember when or where.
Sora shook his head clear and looked to the pillar of light and saw something floating in it, but he couldn't make out what. Sora felt drawn to it though, like it was a piece of him that had been missing.
He started walking up to it, but before he could reach in, a black, clawed hand of pure Darkness, burst up from below and grabbed what was in the light.
Sora yelped as he hopped back and watched the pillar vanish as the shadows completely covered the Station and whatever was held within the light, was now covered in the same Darkness. It's long and roughly sword like form, now blackened and seething with corruption "hay, give that back!" Sora yelled as he ran for the blade but the claw retracted, taking the sword with it.
Sora came to a stop in the middle of the Station and instinct told him to prepare for a fight as he saw some of the Darkness covering the station begin to rise up into the form of a small created with pure yellow eyes and antennas.
"What is that thing!?" Chirithy yelped in surprise "Heartless" Sora answered as he narrowed his eyes at the Shadow and all of it's brethren, also rising up.
Some Shadows leaped for the Guardian while some merged with the ground and moved closer before rising up and striking. All of them baring their claws at Sora with reckless abandonment.
Sora soon found himself dodging and running from the Heartless swarm "dang it, I need a weapon" he muttered to himself.
As he dodged another swipe, Sora found himself instinctively reaching out with his hand, while simultaneously reaching within himself for something.
Nothing came forth though.
The part of his heart he was reaching for was deep, and right now dark and cold. It was disconcerting to the boy as the power he trusted did not come forth.
Three more Shadows came for Sora at once and he had to duck between them, one's claws raked his side though, drawing a grunt of pain and a new red patch on his clothes "what are you doing!? Call outthe Light!?" Chirithy said as Sora happed back to avoid another slash "I'm trying" he grunted out.
And he was. He was constantly reaching for that familiar Light within but it wouldn't come to his hand.
A Shadow jumped on Sora's back and started clawing at him, Sora felt a weight suddenly form in his hand but was disappointed to see it wasn't what he had hopped it was. Still, he was grateful to Chirithy all the same for Transmatting the knife into his hand, as he yanked the Shadow off and stabbed it.
The Shadow didn't die though, it just reformed as Sora jumped away from the ever growing swarm "your reaching too far in" Chirithy said and Sora hesitated a moment before dodging another slash and slashing out with his knife.
Was he reaching too far?…
In truth, Sora didn't know what he was reaching for, he was just running on muscle memory and instinct.
Sora leaped away form his attackers yet again and hurled his Knife at his pursuer. A sloppy through, but it still lodged itself in the Shadows's head and bought him some time to stop and think.
The swarm was now massive and filled most of the platform, Sora didn't let that distract him though, as he reach within himself once more. This time he payed attention to where he was reaching though and found that indeed, he was reaching deeper then he should have. His Solar Light was far closer to the surface and this time he felt the flames leap hungrily to his touch.
The entire swarm converge on Sora at once now, but he payed them no heed as he held his hand next to his thigh and flexed it in preparation.
Then, just as the swarm was upon him, Sora felt the burning in his chest surge out. Up his shoulder, down his arm and finally out his hand, tanking form and like a Gunslinger of old, Sore made the quickdraw, and fired directly below him.
The next thing anyone knew, the Darkness on the stained glass below him, shrieked in agony as Solar fire engulfed and consumed it, leaving Sora standing unharmed in a pillar of fire as the Light below was released.
The Shadows closest to him were immolated, sending countless crystalline hearts into the sky, like embers, while the other Heartless covered their eyes and backed away from the flames.
Eventually, the inferno died down, but when Sora stood there in the light, he was still engulfed in the flames. Unharmed and grinning down at his Golden Gun "I don't think I've used guns much in the past" he said as he looked the gun over, then looked up at the Heartless "guess you better start practicing then" Chirithy added with a mischievous chuckle and Sora grinned as he stepped out of the light and raised his gun.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Three shots range out in quick succession and three crystal hearts flew into the sky.
Sora couldn't help but pout slightly though. His aim was far from perfect and the moment he fired the last shot, the gun vanished "oh come on" he said as he hoped back, away from the claws and back into the well of Light he had opened up.
Sora perked up immediately though, as he felt the Light seeping into his bones and replenishing his supply and he immediately thrust his hand up and re-summoned the Golden Gun.
Sora noticed that this Light felt a little more sluggish in forming the gun then what he had called upon before and when he fired, he only got two shots. He still grinned though as he just summoned another and further whittled down the Heartless' replenishing numbers "now this is more like it" he said as he repeated the process again, and again, pulling power from the well and quick-drawing while dodging and dispatching more Shadows.
By the time he reached his fifth Golden Gun though, Chirithy took notice of something "uh, Sora" he said nervously "yah?" the Gunslinger responded, only for the well of Light he'd been drawing from to dry up and the shadows to reclaim it "oh" he deadpanned as he jumped out of the way of the remaining Heartless.
Chirithy Transmatted another knife into Sora's hand as he rolled away "Chirithy I'm out of Light. Got any ideas?" Sora asked his partner "wait for it to recharge then open another well" the Ghost replied.
And so Sora resumes his dodging while lashing out with the knife a few times. Only this time, when he sunk the blade deep, the Heartless died and released the Heart trapped within "huh?" he sputtered and received a slash to his side for his trouble. He quickly retaliated with the knife though and then he realized what he had done differently. He was instinctively channeling his Light through the blade now.
Sora smirked, in spite of the numerous cuts and scrapes he was accumulating and went on the offensive again and felt his Light surge brighter with each Shadow slain, until the fire in his chest felt like a blazing bonfire.
Sora then thrust his arm up and let the liquid fire flow up his arm as he called forth his Golden Gun again and fired his first shot into the ground, opening a new well.
This time Sora didn't waste his shots though, and instead of firing on the Heartless, he fired at the ground, opening more wells of Light, until the area was filled with them and the shadows covering the Station screamed in agony.
Sora surveyed the area as Chirithy materialized and shined his Light over Sora, healing him and Sora smiled at his partner before he vanished again. Sora now had plenty of places to replenish himself, and the Heartless had less space to restore their numbers.
Sora spun the Golden Gun on his finger as he smirked at the Heartless "time to end this" he said as he opened fire.
And so for the next minuet, crystal hearts rose form the station at a steady pace, like the never ending embers of the Solar flames that burned them, and more wells sprung up faster then the Darkness could close them.
Now, with one final shot, the Station was completely devoid of Darkness, leaving it shining like a beacon, and the few remaining Heartless were burned to ashes by Sora's Solar Light.
Sora stood there for a moment, breathing heavily as he held the Golden Gun a little longer, making him look like a mini-sun against the pure white Light that engulfed the Station.
The flames and the gun extinguished themselves with a heavy sigh from Sora, as he then plopped down on his but and started laughing as Chirithy appeared and began healing him.
Sora rolled his shoulder as he felt the Light reinvigorate him, and yet he still felt a form of exhaustion. It was a weird combination but one Sora could ponder later "well, that was pretty cool" he said while looking down at his hand.
Chirithy then floated down to be eye level with Sora "I'll say! Just wait 'till I tell the other Ghosts about this!" he said excitedly and Sora laughed some more.
Sora frowned a little though as he looked around the Station. He was getting the feeling he was missing something.
Sora would learn to listen to his instincts more, as a geyser of Darkness, suddenly burst from the middle of the Station and Sora hopped to his feet.
The Darkness tried to spread, but the Light had grown too strong for it, leaving the well open as it and the geyser fought for dominance.
Then, out of the geyser, a figure began to emerge "sometimes I hate being right" Sora muttered as he and Chirithy watched the figure emerge, and the former gasped as the enemy was revealed "is that…you?" Chirithy trailed off in shock.
The enemy did look like Sora, except it's face was almost featureless, with two, yellow orbs for eyes, and pure black shadows for skin, that writhed over his form. And in his hand, the sword from before. A blunt looking thing with a hook on the end and full hand guard, with a chain hanging from it.
The Guardian narrowed his eye as he stared down his inner Darkness. His Anti form.