Drasil's Gambit
(Kingdom Hearts OST Organization XIII Theme)
"That was more difficult than I thought but at least things are on track."
Around the room were bodies dressed in white or grey coats, all of them unconscious. The only ones who were awake was one man with a scar on his left cheek and an eyepatch over his right eye.
"Lord Xemnas is nowhere to be seen, so that means…the party's already begun, huh?" He turned and looked at the other person with a smile.
"Yes."
"Man, does that Xehanort scare me like nobody's business, the way he can see into minds." The man with the eyepatch commented as he strolled around the room. "And it doesn't help that no one knows what it is that the old man wants. I wonder if even you know what's going on inside your own head." He said, pointing to the other person.
The person was a young man in a dark coat with silver hair, tanned skin and golden yellow eyes. "I will be led…wherever it is that I am destined to go."
"Sounds to me like you don't have a clue of your own." The one-eyed man commented.
"Every Keyblade Master is bequeathed a Keyblade of his very own. With the passing of time, as you can imagine, more and more Keyblades were forged to be handed down. But of all the Keyblades in existence, Master Xehanort's is the most ancient. That is my destiny." The young man spoke. "But it has yet…to become a reality."
"Hey, it's okay." The one eyed man shrugged. "This is all connected to the ancient Keyblade War, isn't that right? Whatever. I got my hands full with my own plans."
He then made a grand gesture to the unconscious bodies lying around them.
"So, which poor soul will it be?"
The young man, the younger incarnation of Xehanort chuckled.
(Kingdom Hearts OST Organization XIII Theme Ends)
Xxx
In what looked like an office, an elderly man with a long grey beard wearing blue robes and a pointed hat, along with a young man with silver hair and none other Mickey Mouse perked up as the door opened.
"Sorry we're late."
In walked two boys, one with spike brown hair and blue and the other had light brown hair with blue eyes and wearing a dark coat. They were followed by walking dog with black fur and a duck with white feathers.
"It's okay. You got here as fast as you could." Mickey said simply with a smile.
The boy then crossed his arms as he and the others went over what they had been told. "The Organization claims to have their thirteen darknesses."
"Do we believe it's true?" Mickey asked skeptically.
"Possibly but this source was Larxene of all people. She's not exactly what I would call a reliable source." The other boy answered.
"Yeah and there's something else they keep mentioning." The first boy continued. "They're after a 'New Seven Hearts, which seems to be code for 'let's go bother some more princesses'."
The old man then spoke. "Well, as the original princesses of hearts' time for protecting the pure light has ended, they have passed the light to others. Our enemy must certainly be cognizant of this. If the 'New Seven Hearts' is what they wish to call them, so be it."
The first boy then brought a hand to his chin. "But Kairi hasn't passed on her power. Is she one of the new seven?"
Mickey turned to him. "She must be. But still, she chose to wield a Keyblade and fight with us as one of the guardians of ligh."
The boy looked at Mickey, looking somewhat hesitant but accepting. "Yeah…"
"We haven't found Terra yet." The duck squawked.
"Hey, at least we tracked down Ventus. Vanitas told us he was in Sora's heart." The dog stated.
"After he thought Ventus was for me for a while." The other boy stated.
"And so did Ansem the Wise in his data, so it almost certainly must be true." The fifth member, a small but larger than normal cricket dressed in a suit with a top hat said from Sora's shoulder.
The dog and duck nodded in agreement.
"That's great!" Mickey said happily. "Now we can rescue Ven."
"Maybe," The silver haired teen finally spoke. "But Aqua's the only one who knows where he's hidden. We still have to find her first."
"And if we find her, we might Xion and Namine." The other boy agreed. "I remember that much when she somehow made contact with Sora and Kairi's hearts. She's the reason I awoke the same time Sora did and we regained our memories of Xion."
"To make contact with all your hearts, it is likely Aqua had somehow attained the Power of Waking." The old man stated. "While this would be possible for a true Master, Aqua never had the chance to gain this power as her apprenticeship had just ended. Something has indeed happened to her while she was trapped in the Realm of Darkness. Though, based on what I have been told, it's likely Aqua has been misusing the power."
"Misusing?" Mickey asked.
"The goal of the Power of Waking it so awaken hearts from a deep slumber and to travel to worlds through the hearts of others. However it sounds like Aqua has been somehow traveling to people's hearts and other worlds." Yen Sid rubbed his beard. "If the power is misused too much then there is a deep price to pay."
"A deep price?" Roxas questioned.
"If one misuses the Power of Waking too much, they are likely to disappear from this world." Yen Sid answered solemnly. "I fear what may have caused Aqua to act to such extreme measures."
Sora closed his eyes before speaking. "I'll go."
"What?!" The dog and duck exclaimed.
"Is that wise?" Mickey asked.
"You need the Power of Waking, Sora. Do you have it?" The old man asked.
"Uh…" Sora rubbed the back of his head. "No. Probably not."
"Without that power, you are not ready to face the Realm of Darkness." The old man stated.
"C'mon…" Sora groaned.
The silver haired boy chuckled and then laughed.
Sora turned to him. "What's so funny?"
"Sorry. Master Yen Sid knows you a little too well." The teen then looked at the old man, Yen Sid. "He said you'd try to stage a half backed rescue."
Sora had a stunned look on his face while the dog and duck chuckled behind him, followed by Mickey. "Yeah! Laugh it up!"
The silver haired teen brought a hand to his hip. "Sora, I know you're volunteering because you're worried about me, Mickey and Roxas."
Sora looked down. "Yeah…Wait, Roxas gets to go?!"
He looked to the other boy named Roxas who shrugged. "I was a member of the original Organization before I left. I have the coat that protects me from darkness and I can open a pathway into the Realm of Darkness."
Sora looked crestfallen before Riku put a hand on his shoulder. "Well, thanks. But, the Power of Waking's important. You can come to the rescue once you've got that. Sound fair?"
Sora managed a small smile and nodded. "Yeah, all right. But be safe. No reckless stunts."
"Yes sir." Riku snorted.
The dog and duck turned away to whisper to each other with the duck speaking first. "Sora's the reckless one."
The dog nodded while the cricket replied. "No, not exactly. He just doesn't think."
"If only he listened to Master Yen Sid the way he listens to Riku. That would be a good start." The dog muttered.
"I'm listening now." The three turned to Sora who had his arms crossed and he was glaring at them.
Everyone aside from Sora just laughed before Yen Sid got them back on track. "Very good. Sora will continue his journey to build his powers while Mickey, Roxas and Riku will focus on the search for Aqua."
"Yes sir." They all replied respectfully.
Xxx
(Kingdom Hearts OST Organization XIII Theme)
"So, why are you back?"
The meeting place was not as extravagant as their former headquarters but it was symbolic all the same. Thirteen pillars for thirteen members in the middle of a desolate wasteland, two of which were present.
A man with gorgeous pink hair opened his eyes, not even glancing to young blond haired woman on the pillar next to his, both of them wearing the same identical black coat.
"Nice way to greet your old partner in crime." The girl said sardonically to which the man snorted. "So, why do you think the old geezer took us back? He must know we backstabbed the Organization when Xemnas was running it."
"Xehanort doesn't care about you or me." The man, Marluxia answered. "To him, we're nothing but empty husks. The old Organization was the same. Xehanort needs thirteen vessels to hold his essence."
"Husks? Not me." Larxene replied, offended by the mere thought of it. "You up for another coup?"
"Oh please." A voice said from behind. "You couldn't do it last time. You got to play it smart, like me."
Behind Larxene was another man in a dark coat like her and Marluxia, playing a blue sitar.
"What?! You're not smart!" Larxene retorted.
"Well, you heard what Marly said. I don't have to be smart." The man, Demyx retorted.
"Or capable, or likeable, or attractive. A cereal bowl would make a better vessel." Larxene pointed at him.
"Whoa now, you are way out of line." Demyx argued. "I am extremely imposing…When I want to be. Which is, admittedly, almost never."
The fact that Demyx was not cowering before her like he used to really did not sit well with Larxene as she glared at him. "Why haven't you gone to any worlds? Are you slacking?"
"Course not. I got benched."
"Huh?" Larxene just stared in confusion before Marluxia cleared things up for her.
"Saix brought Vexen, Xaldin and Lexeaus onboard. Though, they are not officially members like before. They were placed in the reserves to help in search of something important." Marluxia explained.
"Oh, so they were brought back in only to be benched. Kind of mean." Demyx commented.
"Their recruitment was not one by choice but by necessity. They are needed to locate a world, possibly deep within the Realm of Darkness where one of the Lost Guardians of Light is said to be found, along with Ansem the Wise." Marluxia replied. "The real goal is to use Replicas."
"Those wind-up toys?" Larxene asked skeptically.
"Oh no. The Replicas are way more real than you remember. I mean, one stole my spot!" Demyx complained.
Larxene just threw her head back and laughed. "Of course it stole your spot. You're as dumb as a brick."
"Har-dee-har." Demyx didn't seem too upset as he continued playing with the strings on his sitar.
"Vexen's Replicas are no mere puppets. The Riku Replica we used in Castle Oblivion was just a prototype. The next Replica, the one crafted from Sora's memories, was real enough to join our ranks." Marluxia continued. "And Vexen claims the new ones will be real in every way. If he ever finishes them."
"Oh…" Larxene brought a finger to her lip with a somewhat embarrassed smile. "The thing is…I kinda told Sora and his nitwits that we're ready. My bad."
"Let them believe as much." From a corridor of darkness, the original Superior appeared on a higher pillar.
"Ugh…Xemnas." Larxene drawled, not happy to see her former leader again.
"If they think we have all thirteen darknessess, then they will panic." Xemnas continued while ignoring Larxene's disrespect. "And panic leads to a lack of preparation."
"Yeah, totally." Demyx absently agreed.
Larxene pointed at Demyx again. "Why is this thing a member again?"
"Hey now! Pointing is rude!" Demyx complained but dropped it.
"The first six members of the original Organization were all apprentices of Ansem the Wise, and the seventh and eighth members joined thereafter." Xemnas continued. "The thirteenth member was Roxas, a Keyblade Wielder. So, what about you? How do you suppose I chose numbers nine through twelve?"
Marluxia frowned in contemplation while Larxene answered with an arrogant smile. "Because our hearts are uber powerful."
"Wrong. You have been brought together for another purpose." Xemnas answered.
"What? So we can rot away on the bottom rung?" Another former member, Luxord appeared on the pillar next to Demyx with a smile.
Larxene sighed. "You're in too? What is this, Organization Rehash?"
"I happen to play an important role. No one 'benched' me." Luxord retorted.
"You were listening? So not cool." Demyx muttered.
"One must hold one's cards as long as necessary." Luxord simply said.
"What 'important role'? That stupid box that Xigbar claims is real, but won't tell us thing about?" Larxene questioned.
"You'll just have to ask Xigbar that." Luxord answered, holding up a hand full of cards. "Now then, Xemnas, what is this 'purpose'? You didn't invite us back for old time's sake."
"You four are going to reveal your greatest secret: the ancient Keyblade legacy that slumbers within you." Xemnas answered, shocking the four with this knowledge.
It was even more shocking and scary when Xemnas actually laughed.
(Kingdom Hearts OST Organization XIII Theme Ends)
Xxx
(Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep OST Black Garden)
Vanitas leapt up into the air and swung his Keyblade in an arc, releasing bolts of dark lightning down on Aqua who somersaulted forward and dodged the bolts.
"Seeker Mine!" Aqua shouted as Vanitas fell towards her.
She jumped back and Vanitas landed where she had been, only to be shot back up into the air by a blast of light from Aqua's Seeker Mind spell.
"Gather!" Aqua shouted, pulling Vanitas who was still in the air into her spell and held him there temporarily. "Thunder!"
Bolts of lightning rained down from the sky and slammed into Vanitas who didn't seem effected or in pain because he didn't make a sound. The spell wore off and Vanitas landed on his feet, launching a powerful slash at Aqua who ducked as it sailed over head. Aqua jumped forward, creating a Barrier Surge slammed right into Vanitas but as her spell knocked him down he vanished into a puff of black smoke.
"Gotcha!" Vanitas reappeared from above and swung his Keyblade down.
Aqua dove forward dodging the attack and spun around, clashing her Keyblade with Vanitas'. The two slashed for several seconds before Aqua cast a Blizzard spell that knocked Vanitas back.
"Freeze!" Aqua shouted, firing an ice shard at Vanitas, hitting him dead on.
Only for him to disappear in a puff of smoke and reappear from above again. "Too slow!"
Aqua cart-wheeled as Vanitas fell down towards her, slashing at the ground where she had been. Vanitas chased after Aqua, slashing at her but she kept on dodging as he chased her around the garden.
"Sleep!" Aqua shouted, casting a Sleep spell on Vanitas that would only work for a few seconds but long enough for her to use her next spell. "Gather!"
Once again Vanitas was lifted off his feet and into vortex of magic while Aqua jumped up, slashing her Keyblade at him and then used her Barrier Surge again as the spell wore off, slamming head on into Vanitas as he landed on his feet. Vanitas went on the full attack but Aqua danced and cart-wheeled around his strikes, going on the offensive and then quickly retreating.
"Freeze!" Aqua fired another ice shard at Vanitas who shattered it with one hit from his Keyblade just Aqua cast her next spell. "Thunder!"
A bolt of lightning hit Vanitas, seemingly zapping him but he shrugged it off and shot a large fireball from the edge of his Keyblade at Aqua who activated her Spellweaver power as she dodged the fireball that split into three smaller versions of itself.
"Sleep!" Aqua shouted, her spell now enhanced by her Spellweaver and as Vanitas was temporarily stunned she utilized the quick magical combos of her Spellwaver, following up with a blast from her Keyblade that hit Vanitas right in the face and knocked him right onto his back.
(Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep OST Black Garden Ends)
Vanitas grunted before shattering into shards of light, not much different from Neo's Semblance.
Aqua sighed, taking a moment to catch her breath. "Drasil sure knows how to make a real copy…I swear that one hit as hard as the original Vanitas."
She turned to see Neo's fight with the woman called Cinder.
(RWBY Volume 6 Soundtrack One Thing)
Neo leapt at Cinder, swinging her Keyblade down and Cinder blocked with her blade. Cinder pushed Neo's Keyblade aside and swung her blade at her opponent. Neo parried and ducked as Cinder lashed out with a kick to her head and pivoted on his right foot, maneuvering around her former boss/partner and slashed at her back.
Cinder spun on her other foot and blocked the black and red Keyblade. She lashed with out with her blade, slashing aggressively while Neo dodged or parried her attacks. Neo focused on deflecting each attack with either her Keyblade or her magic, maintaining a safe distance to keep Cinder from gaining the upper hand. Cinder in the meantime struck with high speed blows and lashed out with her free fist or feet when she had the chance to batter away at her opponent's defenses. Neo remembered how aggressive Cinder fought but she compensated with using her Barrier spell whenever Cinder was too fast for her Keyblade to block.
They battled down the road, their weapons moving too fast for the ordinary eye to see. Neo wanted answers and resolved to end this fight as fast as possible so she aimed her Keyblade at Cinder's arms and legs after understanding her fighting style, attempting to disable or disarm her while at the same time using the occasional punch, kick, or flip when called for. However Cinder realized what Neo was up to and resorted to only using her Keyblade to block Neo's strikes.
"Impressive, Neo." Cinder commented as she blocked another strike. "But not enough!"
Cinder conjured a bow and fired three flaming arrows at Neo who hastily jumped out of the way.
BOOM!
The arrows hit the ground behind her and created a giant explosive that actually knocked Neo off her feet. It wasn't over as Cinder continued to attack, moving at high-speed while leaving a flaming comet trail in her wake, attacking too quick for Neo to fight back or defend herself.
"You should have accepted your place as my puppet!" Cinder laughed as she knocked Neo away. "To serve me until your usefulness is ended just like your boss!"
Neo's eyes shot open and she pointed her Keyblade at Cinder. "Lightning Ray!"
Neo was cloaked in light and she rushed at Cinder, delivering a series of attacks that caught the Fall Maiden off guard and with each hit she was electrocuted, causing her Aura to surge and she staggered from each hit.
Growling, Cinder slammed her hands into ground and a literal tornado of fire blasted from the ground and surrounded her, knocking Neo back. They both jumped back onto their feet at the same time and Cinder was the first to make the next move as she ran forward, slashing at Neo who spun out of the way and slash at Cinder who quickly blocked with her weapon. Neo broke away and spun back with Cinder leaping after her in a spinning fashion and aimed her Keyblade down at Neo's head.
However Neo was well prepared as a Barrier blocked Cinder's attack and sent her back.
Neo followed up by pointing her Keyblade at her enemy. "Fire!"
Cinder landed on her feet and ducked as the fire ball flew over her head. "Is that the best you got?!"
"Come and find out." Neo beckoned.
"With pleasure!" Cinder shouted as she ran forward, summoning flaming swords in both of her hands.
That was when a pink light surrounded Neo as she grinned, feeling the surge of power surrounding her. "Crystal Light!"
This was no mere spell.
This was a Command Style.
Neo remembered Aqua teaching her about this while they were training in the Realm of Darkness.
"A Command Style is an advanced form of magic that allows Keyblade Masters to undergo a Style Change that grants increased strength and new forms of combat. There are many forms of Command Styles that can be used by many Keyblade Warriors but some are unique to a select few that manage to become strong enough through intense training and experience. The Keyblade serves a way to unlock this strength hidden within us."
What was this Command Style?
It was already at work as the area glittered with glowing glass mirrors and in each one of them was a copy of Neo. Before Cinder would even react, each of the Neo's shot out from the mirrors, moving at blinding speed and attacking her from all sides. In a matter of seconds, Cinder's Aura broke…
"You're right about one thing!" Neo shouted as she appeared in front of Cinder and stabbed her Keyblade forward… "I shouldn't have threatened you."
And stabbed Cinder through the chest.
(RWBY Volume 6 Soundtrack One Thing Ends)
"I should have killed you." Neo kept her eyes on Cinder as the Maiden's eyes blazed with fire. "When I took the Lamp, I should have just left you to hang when your boss came back and found out that the person you called useful was the one who took it. When we boarded the airship to Atlas, I should have stabbed you in the back when you weren't looking. When we met in that bar in Mistral, I should have just brought the roof down on you and stabbed you in the face when you crawled your way out."
She shoved her Keyblade deeper into Cinder's chest, a tear slipping down her cheek.
"No…The day we met when you forced Roman and me into working for you…I should have just killed you then and there!" Neo shouted, glaring hatefully at the woman who had used and betrayed her and Roman. "All this time, we were too scared to act against you but I finally see now, I could have done it even without a Keyblade."
Cinder snarled, even as her body began to break apart.
"Because you're weak. You're pathetic. You're a parasite that leaches off of everyone around you to get what you want and then have the nerve to act like it was all you're doing. As if you deserve any of the credit for making it as far as you did." Neo spat. "I can't believe Roman was ever scared of the likes of you. Without us or those stooges of yours, you would never have gotten the Fall Maiden's powers or brought down Beacon. You needed us and have the gall to act as if you did it all singlehandedly. Even when you had us all knocked into the pit of endless darkness, you still screwed up and you were too stupid to realize it."
Neo pulled her Keyblade out of Cinder's chest and watched as the Fall Maiden fell to the ground and shattered into shards of glowing glass.
"I hope when I get back, I have the chance to do this again." Neo muttered, watching as the shards all vanished. "I actually have a reason to go back to my world, even if I end up being an enemy from both sides. My reason: I want to look in your eye as you die a pathetic death, the exact kind you deserve. I want to see you realize how stupid, gullible and pathetic you are for thinking you could just steal some fancy powers and act like you were Queen of the Gods. I want you to realize that you shouldn't have forced Roman and me into working for you, that you shouldn't have tricked me, that you shouldn't have betrayed me…that you were the one who shouldn't have been born."
Neo just stood there; watching as the remains of the Phantom Cinder conjured by Drasil vanished for good.
She held up her Keyblade and looked at it.
It was a demonic looking wing with a single small angel wing at the end.
The demonic half representing her ruthlessness and the small angel wing representing the small part of her that still had small bits of mercy, maybe even compassion.
She didn't realize how much it fit her until now.
"Neo!" She looked over to see Aqua running up to her. "I take it you won your fight."
"Yep." Neo simply said, shaking her head. "Now what?"
Aqua looked up at the giant tree, watching as a light appeared above it. "I think we better move and fast."
Xxx
(Kingdom Hearts OST Squirming Evil)
Drasil started the battle by thrust his arms forward, releasing bolts of lightning at Oscar who quickly started rolling and cart-wheeling to avoid getting hit.
After a minute of dodging lightning bolts Drasil ended his attacks and vanished in a flash of purple fire, reappearing in underneath the glowing orb above the platform, spreading her arms out. "May all who stand before me be sent into sleep!"
The pool released a pulse of energy that spread throughout the chamber, hitting Oscar who suddenly fell asleep while standing.
"No!" Penny called out.
Drasil laughed as she approached Oscar. "Foolish boy, thinking you could defy me."
Penny was far enough that she avoided being sent into sleep but she had no weapons or magic to help Oscar fight Drasil. 'There must be something I can do.'
"There is…" A disembodied voice whispered.
Penny looked up when she heard the voice. "Jaune."
Just as Drasil was within striking distance of Oscar she was repelled by a white aura that surrounded Oscar. "What is this?!"
Oscar opened his eyes and he looked around in confusion. "Wha-What's going on? Where am I…Did I fall asleep in the middle of a fight?!"
"Jaune Arc…Even now you still defy me." Drasil growled in anger.
"Well, looks like I owe him big time." Oscar said as he charged forward.
Drasil thrust her arms out, summoning dozens of wooden tendrils to grab Oscar who slashed through the bandages with his Keyblade.
Drasil teleported again before Oscar could hit him and reappeared back in front of his coffin. "I may not be able to put you to sleep, but my powers are still too great to be stopped by you…boy!" Drasil held her hands above her head. "Behold, the power of your friends turned against you."
Oscar watched as glowing suits of armor sprouted from the glowing pool and surrounded him, numbering in four while carrying giant swords that were big enough that even Yang or Nora would have trouble lifting them up and realized Drasil was using and enhancing Weiss' Semblance.
"Is that it?" Oscar asked a bright green aura surrounded his body. "Clockwork!"
Oscar rushed forward, delivering high speed combos that caused the specters to shatter on impact which Oscar finished with a spin attack that utterly destroyed the remaining specters and left five slash marks of light on the ground that traveled towards where Drasil was who warped away just before the light touched her.
Drasil reappeared in the center of the room as blue flames erupted from the glowing orb. "Burn it all!"
The flames exploded from the orb and headed straight at Oscar who braced himself just as the white aura from before, the manifestation of Jaune Arc, surrounded and protected him from the flames. Oscar held his Keyblade up as the aura condensed itself at the end of his Keyblade and he pointed it at Drasil, watching as it shot at the walking corpse and slammed into him, seemingly stunning him.
"Thank you." Oscar whispered as the flames and the aura vanished.
He rushed forward, using a quick striking combo against Drasil while she was still disorientated knocking the spirit back. Drasil held her hand as it sparked and from it came a bolt of blue lightening that Oscar barely dodged by rolling out of the way. Oscar quickly tried to attack again in a feat of surprising strength Drasil backhanded Oscar's Keyblade, knocking it and its owner aside.
"Behold the power of Yggdrasil!" Drasil shouted as her body morphed into a vortex shaped cloud of dark blue light that shot at Oscar.
"Whoa!" Oscar started running as fast as he could around the chamber with the vortex hot on his heels.
He had almost run himself to death until Drasil had finally given up the chase, floating back in front of his coffin and changing back into his human form.
Oscar jumped up, pointing his Keyblade at Drasil and shouted. "Ragnarok!"
From his Keyblade came a cluster of energy bolts that slammed into Drasil's face, knocking her back and earning screams of pain as the light blinded her and burned her body.
(Kingdom Hearts OST Squirming Evil Ends)
Drasil panted as she staggered back, seemingly exhausted by the battle. "…Damn you, Ozma."
"Wrong, I was Ozma once but now I am Oscar Pine." Oscar replied, pointing his new Keyblade at the rogue spirit. "And I am going to stop you here and now."
"Don't get cocky with me boy!" Drasil barked. "I am much stronger than I was the last time we fought!"
Oscar moved to attack when suddenly everything froze around him and he felt something kick him in his chest, sending him flying back and nearly over the edge.
"Oscar!" Luckily Penny grabbed him just in time and pulled him back up.
"Thanks Penny." Oscar coughed as he slowly got up.
Looking up, the two were greeted with the surprise appearance of…
"Hazel?!" Oscar gaped.
Hazel Rainart, a man who had once sworn allegiance to Salem was standing next to Drasil, looking the same as he did when he died fighting Salem with multiple Dust crystals embedded in his body.
"Have you forgotten what I can do?" Drasil asked with a taunting smile. "I can manifest anything I want here, even exact replicas of people you have known and fought. And I believe this one was rather powerful in life. Want to see how powerful he is without the danger of Dust overdose limiting him?"
(Kingdom Hearts II OST 13th Struggle)
Hazel let out a distorted beast sounding roar as he charged right at Oscar and Penny, thrusting his fists forward and unleashing several fire balls.
"Defend!" Oscar shouted, blocking Hazel's attack.
In the past, Oscar was scared of Hazel and had good reason to be afraid. Hazel Rainhart had been an extremely dangerous enemy and was perhaps the strongest enemy they had faced next to Salem. His strength combined with his Semblance that allowed him to control and manipulate Dust was beyond anything Oscar had seen at the time.
However, while Hazel was perhaps one of the strongest on Remnant things were different now.
With Gungnir in his hand, Oscar now had magic on his side and it even restored the magical reserves that Ozma had lost through the centuries of reincarnating, meaning he could now fight Hazel, copy or not, on equal grounds. Hazel continued forward, rearing back his fist and swung it down on Oscar who dashed out of the way, leaving afterimages in his wake. He then delivered a series of jabs and strikes to Hazel's back before the giant spun around and tried to swat him away. Oscar jumped back and pointed his Keyblade right at his opponent.
From the tip of his Keyblade came a beam of green energy but Hazel knelt down and created a barrier from the Hard-Light Dust crystal embedded in his shoulder that blocked Oscar's magical blast. Just as Oscar stood up Hazel lashed out with a gravity blast, powered by a Gravity Dust crystal embedded in his shoulder and Oscar was suddenly lifted off his feet and then slammed into the ground. Oscar felt himself being lifted and slammed into the ground several times before he suddenly pulled towards Hazel who was rearing back a fist…
"Oh boy." Oscar closed his eyes.
"OSCAR!"
Luckily before the fist came into contact with the boy's head, an armored bronze figure landed between the two and blocked Hazel's strike with a familiar key shaped sword. Oscar flew into the armored figure's back, grunting in pain before falling on the ground. He looked up and saw it was Terra who had arrived just in time. The armored Wielder was holding back Hazel's fist as the giant snarled at him.
Penny gasped at seeing Terra blocking Hazel's fist and felt a hand on her shoulder. "Are you all right, child?"
She looked up and saw it was Ansem who had asked that question.
Terra shoved Hazel back and stood in front of Oscar with the clear intent of protecting him. To Hazel, or at least the copy of him, that meant he was just another enemy, another obstacle to break through. Hazel leapt up and bought hands together, forming a giant spiky sphere shaped rock that he then slammed down on Terra. However, Terra's Keyblade morphed into a shield, protecting him and Oscar from the rock as it shattered.
Hazel went on the attack, his fists blazing with fire as they collided with Terra's Keyblade and electricity surged through the armor. Luckily, Terra didn't have a physical body so he felt no pain, much like how Hazel felt no pain as Terra retaliated with a series of powerful slashes.
As the fight continued, Drasil looked up and saw a glyph was beginning to form over the giant tree that was her true form. "Yes, just a bit longer."
Hazel roared as he unleashed a gravity blast that actually forced Terra back. Terra managed to remain standing, 'staring' down Hazel as he charged forward.
"Ultima Cannon!" Terra called out and his Keyblade transformed into its giant cannon.
He aimed at Hazel who stopped and looked shocked at the new form of his Keyblade but Terra paid it no mind as he fired a giant orb of energy. Hazel used his Hard-Light Dust crystal again, forming a barrier around him that blocked the blast but the sheer force of the attack still knocked him back. Hazel grunted as he slammed down rather hard on the ground but managed to get back up a few seconds later. He growled at Terra, ready to continue fighting.
"Who is this guy?" Terra asked, having not expected Hazel to seemingly recover so fast.
"His name is…or was Hazel Rainart. He's someone a friend once said is sheer willpower." Oscar spoke up, standing next to Terra.
"Will power huh?" Terra looked at Hazel as he stood up.
Hazel roared and began throwing elemental attacks at the two. Terra transformed his Keyblade into a shield again, blocking Hazel's attacks while Oscar hid behind him. However Hazel had left himself open as two blurs landed down from the sky and kicked him in the back, making him stagger forward while the two blurs jumped off of him and landed next to Terra.
"Aqua, Neo." Terra greeted.
Oscar peeked out from behind and spied the Way to the Dawn in Neo's hand. "You have a Keyblade?"
Neo glanced at him. "…You have one too?"
Hazel roared, seemingly finally snapping as he peppered the four with elemental blasts. From ice, fire, lightning, earth, water, wind and plant boosted by gravity.
"Reflega!" Aqua shouted.
"Defend!" Neo, Terra, and Oscar shouted at the same time.
Hazel's elemental blasts were reflected back at him, much to his surprise but his Hard-Light shield protected him from his own attacks. Finally having enough, Hazel brought his hands together, forming a ball of Hard-Light and compressed every element into it.
"What's he doing?" Neo asked, keeping her guard up.
Oscar's eyes widened. "No. He's channeling all of his power into single blast that will take out everything!"
Hazel roared as he unleashed the massive attack on them.
"We have to try and stop it together!" Aqua shouted.
The four Wielders pointed their Keyblades at the incoming attack and all four mystical weapons began to glow and released a powerful beam of light that overpowered the massive elemental attack and hit Hazel in the chest, earning a scream of pain from the warlord as the light engulfed his form.
'Holy Cannon.' A voice whispered in their minds and they found the name appropriate.
Hazel let out one final scream before his form exploded in blast of light that blinded the Wielders and their allies.
(Kingdom Hearts II OST 13th Struggle Ends)
The Wielders lowered their weapons, taking a moment to catch their breath. Well, Terra didn't need to which is why he was already looking at Drasil when the others turned their gaze to her.
"Drasil." Aqua called out.
"Ah, Aqua. I see you've made it." Drasil noted sardonically. "And you even brought back some new friends."
"Whatever you're about to do, stop it." Aqua simply ordered, not stopping to engage in small-talk.
"Now why would I do that?" Drasil pointed up.
The rest followed her gaze and looked up to see the massive glyph forming overhead.
"No…" Penny's eyes widened in horror.
"The path to Remnant is open to me now. You cannot stop this and even if you could, you are interfering in the affairs of another world." Drasil noted with a smile. "You could only interfere if I allowed Darkness to enter this world, which I have not. In fact, I have gone out of my way to help you restore Remnant. So, Keyblade Wielders, why not fulfill your duty to restore Remnant to the waking world and then be on your way."
"You have a skewed perception of what a Keyblade Wielder stands for." Terra stated. "You're not from Remnant, despite what you claim. You're not a natural part of that world so you can't accuse us of meddling."
Drasil frowned. "I'm more apart of them then you are."
"No, you're an unintended part of the failed experiment that the Brothers began." Oscar retorted. "We don't need you or whatever gifts you might offer. We'll stand on our own, no matter what comes our way."
"Release our friends now." Penny stepped forward, glaring at Drasil. "This is your only warning."
Drasil narrowed her eyes. "You dare to command me?"
The giant tree they all stood on began to shake as wooden tendrils sprouted up and surrounded the wielders. Penny growled, wishing she could fight but even if she had a weapon she was still bound to Drasil…
Wait, that was right!
"Everyone, the orb above us is Drasil's core!" Penny shouted, pointing to the large white/blue glowing orb hanging above them. "Destroy it and she'll die!"
Oscar looked up at the orb, a look of realization appearing on his face. "Of course, that's why I-Oz couldn't destroy her before! She didn't reveal her core at the time!"
"SILENCE!"
(Kingdom Hearts OST Black Powder)
"Defend!" A hexagon patterned barrier appeared in front of Terra as he held up his Keyblade, blocking the energy shot and sending right back at the person who fired it.
Drasil gasped and jumped out of the way, shot sailing past her and hitting the wall, creating a large hole.
Drasil landed on her feet, summoning her staff as Terra settled into a sighting stance. "You take it down! I'll handle her!"
Drasil was the first to start as she attacked, swinging her staff at Terra who raised his Keyblade and clashed with her staff. Both fighters grappled against each other for a moment before pulling back. Terra swung at Drasil's stomach and Drasil stepped backwards to avoid the blow. Drasil fired a blast from her crystal again but Terra side-stepped, spinning to the side and slashing at Drasil who raised her staff over her head and blocked the Keyblade. Crystal Staff and Keyblade swung and clashed in showers of sparks with their owners each have a grimace on their faces as ducked and stepped around each other.
Terra slashed at Drasil who parried and spun her staff in her hand, slashing at Terra's face only for the Keyblade Apprentice to step back, the edge of Drasil's staff missing his nose by mere inches.
"Wind!" Terra shouted, a gust of wind blasting out of his Keyblade and knocking Drasil backwards.
Drasil flipped through the air, landing on her feet and skidded to a stop. Growling she leapt forward, seemingly flying through the air towards Terra who jumped up to meet her and the two clashed in mid-air with their weapons, their owners struggling to overpower each other. Both fighters fell to the ground, landing on their feet perfectly and Terra quickly kicked off the ground just as he landed, pushing Drasil back and swing his Keyblade out, knocking Drasil back again. Drasil landed on her back and rolled out of the way as Terra stood over her and jumped to her feet.
Drasil was panting slightly while Terra remained perfectly fine as he settled back into a ready stance. In became obviously clear to Drasil that Terra was physically the stronger of the two and though he was not as fast as Drasil he used power blows in his strikes.
"You're good but you're not the only one with tricks." Drasil said with a smirk.
Terra didn't say anything but his eyes slightly widened as Drasil suddenly lifted herself in the air, hovering above Terra. Drasil pointed her staff at several large pieces of rubble and a blue beam blasted from her crystal, engulfing the debris in blue light that slowly lifted it off the ground. Terra stepped back as the debris now floated above Drasil's head. Drasil gave a shout as she thrust her staff forward and the debris shot towards Terra.
"Thunder!" Terra shouted as he pointed his Keyblade forward and a bolt of Lightning shot out, destroying the debris in mid-air. Terra was not done quickly took the chance to make his move. "Gather!"
At the edge of his Keyblade appeared a vortex of magic and suddenly Drasil found herself being pulled towards it. "Wh-WHAT IN THE-"
It drew her in close enough that Terra released and her attempts break free sent her spiraling across the room and into the wall. Drasil let out a pained grunt as she slid down the ground. She opened her eyes, gritting her teeth as she glared angrily at Terra and pointed her staff at him again.
"Freeze!" Terra shouted and fired a shard of Ice that shot at the crystal in Drasil's staff, shattering and the staff along with it.
Drasil gasped as she stood up, stepping back as Terra walked towards her. She then glared and let out a scream that caused the entire island to shake.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Terra stumbled and looked around, seeing the giant tree beginning to rise up to the massive glyph still hovering in the sky above.
"I WILL JUST TAKE MY CHANCES IN THE DREAM REALM!" Drasil raged.
Meanwhile, below the massive orb that was Drasil's core, Aqua, Oscar and Neo aimed their Keyblades up and just like before, their Keyblades releasing a burst of light that combined into single beam.
"Holy Cannon!" The three shouted as the beam collided with Drasil's core.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Drasil screamed again, her spirit form grasping her chest and began to dissipate.
Penny clutched her chest, feeling the pain as Ansem rushed over to her. "Are you all right?"
"Don't worry about me. We have to focus on stopping her." Penny immediately answered.
As Holy Cannon beam broke through Drasil's core, causing cracks to form, Drasil's spirit form started dissolving into a blue mist.
She growled as she tried to summon something to attack them before they destroyed her core but Terra knocked her away with a single slash.
"DAMN YOU!" Drasil screamed as she dissolved into a mist.
She needed to do something…
She spied Penny as she fell to her knees, no doubt feeling the same kind of pain she was feeling because of their connection.
That was when Drasil got the idea.
Their connection!
The blue mist shot towards Penny and engulfed her. She let out a scream as the mist entered her body through her nose, mouth and even her eyes.
"PENNY!" Oscar shouted just as the orb shattered…
And Penny's vision went completely black.
Xxx
When Penny opened her eyes again, she found herself back on the glass mural platform in her heat with a cage surrounding her and Drasil standing in front of it. "Drasil!"
She tried to force open the cage but a surge of electricity knocked her back.
"Nice try, Penny but I am taking extra precautions this time." Drasil remarked with a smile. "You made a big mistake revealing the existence of my core to those Key Wielders. Fortunately my plan to make you the Avatar of Yggdrasil has paid off. Even if you forced my spirit form out, a piece of my core is still inside you. You're still connected to me."
"Maybe but you can't invade Remnant now." Penny retorted as she stood back up. "It's over."
"Not yet. Now that the core of my true form has been destroyed I can only play this one last trump card." Drasil leaned forward. "I am making you into the new Drasil."
Penny's eyes widened and she stepped back. "…No."
"I needed your form to coerce the Maidens into following my plan to open the way to Remnant. Now you will become the one who will take the place of the Brothers!" Drasil proclaimed with a maddened grin. "Fulfill your destiny Penny and become Remnant's first actual…Goddess!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Penny screamed as the cage around her lit up with electricity.
Xxx
Penny's eyes shot open and she screamed as an azure colored aura surrounded her, forcing the others to step back.
"What's happening?!" Aqua called out over the sound of Penny screaming.
"I think Drasil is trying to possess Penny again!" Oscar answered with a look of horror on his face. "We have to stop this or we'll lose her again."
"She's doing to her what Xehanort did to me." Terra muttered, looking down at his armored body.
Penny stood up as the aura around her intensified and she grinned manically as her now azure colored eyes blazed with power. Her green dress was burned away and was replaced by a white dress, resembling the kind of gown only a bride would wear and a golden tiara even appeared on her head with a white veil falling over her face.
"Penny, you have to fight it!" Oscar called out, not wanting Penny to lose her life…again.
Penny shot forward to attack Oscar but Aqua teleported between them and used a barrier to block Penny's strike. Aqua grunted as Penny gathered energy her hand and blasted at the barrier pushing it and its owner back. Penny was grinning madly now as she continued pushing against the barrier.
"Aqua!" Terra jumped in and slashed at Penny, forcing her to jump away from Aqua and Oscar. "We need a plan."
"A plan? Just take her down." Neo said, jumping down next to the armored wielder.
"No! Not this time!" Oscar exclaimed, glaring at Neo. "We're saving her!"
"I said take her down, not out." Neo rolled her eyes. "We can't help her if she is trying to kill us."
"We need to remove Drasil from her heart." Oscar immediately said as Penny got back up. "If Drasil is removed from Penny, she might just die for real."
"Then there is only one thing we can do." Aqua said as she stepped forward.
Penny snarled and raised her arms, calling forth a literal hurricane above them with the winds rapidly picking up and threatening to blow them all away. Aqua raised her Keyblade, followed by Terra, then Oscar and then reluctantly Neo. From the tip of their blades all came a beam of light that shot towards Penny and colliding with her chest.
Right where her heart would be.
Penny's eyes widened and she let out a scream.
Xxx
"NO! You cursed Keybladers!" Drasil screamed, feeling the Keyblades pushing to unlock Penny's heart.
And it caused Penny's cage to shatter and she immediately summoned her blades in an act of desperation and instinct and then she slashed right through Drasil's body.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"