(Chapter 4: The Arrival of Light part 2)

Sora and his friends had landed in the launching bay of Disney Castle, where the Gummi ship was often held for repairs. But now it welcomed old friends and some new guests.

It was a new experience for both Riku and Kairi as they stared around at the blue and yellow piped interior of the launch bay. Both of them were fascinated, "Wow! You never know how much work goes into the ship until you see it yourself!" Kairi commented.

"You're telling me!" Riku agreed while Sora had his arms behind his head as he smiled, remembering the happy times he had trying out new prints and designs.

Donald and Goofy had now both walked out of the ship doors. The clumsiest of the duo spoke first, "The kings waitin' for us all in the Audience Chamber fella's and oh boy! He's been really anxious lately."

"Yeah, I know; he mentioned something in his letter that he found something, also he mentioned a strange arrival and weird goings on with the World that Never Was," Sora replied as they all started to walk up the stairs to enter the upper levels.

"Yeah, but what's strange is, he hasn't let us see the visitor yet, and most of the time, he's been pulling book after book in the library…he only just stopped this morning!" Donald said with worry in his tone as he wandered on up ahead of them.

Sora was taken by surprise by this, "Huh? It's so bad he needed to go that far?" He asked.

Riku knowing the king well, answered as he couldn't help but feel concerned now, "He's probably doing it to be cautious, but whatever it is to make him have to go to that extreme... even that's got me worried."

Sora looking at Riku as he said this, had to protest and say, "Well, okay, but at least he could have let Donald and Goofy in on it! It's no good to deal with that kind of thing alone!"

"He must have his reasons... he never does anything without one," Riku replied, turning his face the other way. They looked at the castle's grand interior as they finally made it out of the underside.

"Yeah," Kairi replied, then feeling unease, she added, "I just hope we can help in whatever way we can..."

Seeing the worry on everyone's faces, Sora wanted to reassure them, so he said, "C'mon, guys! I'm sure it'll be fine! Let's just see what we have to deal with before we start fretting!"

Riku hearing his friend, couldn't help but reply, "Glad to see you haven't lost your cosy cloud optimism!"

Kairi then couldn't help but chime in and say, "Well, if he did, he wouldn't be himself anymore."
Though Riku couldn't help but add, "Though he might actually get more stuff done if he came back down to earth?"

"Hey!" Sora responded, mad.
Everyone laughed at his reaction, finally making their way into the Royal Gardens. There they walked through luscious, well-tended lots of grass and saw many beautiful multiple-coloured flowers, interesting plants and funny pieces of architecture as they all passed. This all brought more smiles to their faces.

This all helped to ease the edge of unease that had been lingering, but they all knew this was a serious matter at hand. They couldn't ignore it anymore as finally, with their friendly guides before them, they all stood before the grand white throne room doors. Donald walked up, then hit them gently with his right hand, in a precise set of knocks that miraculously revealed a smaller door.

Sora couldn't help but whisper, "Kind of a wasted effort to make something so big for such a small entrance, huh?"

Kairi smiled and replied quietly, "True!"

Then as this smaller door opened up for them, they all entered, making it into the Audience Chamber, with the way in closing behind them quickly.

Inside were queen Minnie and her handmaiden Daisy, who stood together, "Oh, you're here!" The queen called as she looked at them happily.

"It's good to see you again, your majesty!" Sora said as he bowed, as did Riku, while Kairi did a simple curtsey.

"So, where's the king?" Riku asked as he stood up from his bow.

The queen looked from them down to the revealed passage that led to the Chamber of the Cornerstone of light, "He is down below waiting for all of you… he is most worried." She finished looking troubled herself.

Sora lifting up from his bow, replied, "Yeah, we know; he said so in his letter." Then walking towards the stairs that led down, he continued, "We better go and see him, quick to get this all sorted!"

"I hope you're able to," Minnie said. However, she added, "Just please come back up if you need assistance of any kind." With that, she left to be on her way.

With a simple nod, Riku replied, "We will, thank you, your majesty."

The queen smiled at this, and with that, she left the heroes to proceed with their talk. However, before following Minnie, Daisy said, "Donald don't you forget about our date later!"

"Of course, I won't!" Came the cry from the easily perturbed duck!

Everyone laughed at this, and with that, they were on their way as Sora led them, and Queen Minnie with Daisy left to attend to other matters that concerned them in the castle.

Making it into the white hall where the mystical treasure lay. They saw the king seemed deep in thought as he looked over something. However, as he heard their footsteps, he turned around and greeted them with a warm smile at their arrival, "I'm glad to see you all made it, fella's!"

"Same!" Sora said brightly, but remembering the reason they were there, he asked, "So, your majesty, why did you call us here? What have you found out exactly?"

The king, hearing this question, immediately looked troubled, looking down to the floor. Was it a look of sadness? This was worrying, for what would cause their usually cheerful friend to become like this?

Mickey then decided it was time; moving aside, he let them all see who lay before the Cornerstone of Light.

Puzzled, Kairi asked, "A girl?"

"Yeah," Mickey replied, getting closer to their unconscious arrival but not enough to trigger the stone again.

Looking at her sleeping state and seeing the Keyblade in her hand, Riku knew quickly that this was the 'strange arrival' the king must have been talking about. Turning to him, he asked, "Do you know who she is?"

Mickey shook his head and replied, "No, she hasn't woken up yet..." With that, he turned to look at her; he added, "She's been this way for some days."

"Huh?" Sora uttered, looking at her too, noticing the keyblade, became puzzled and then asked, "She's been asleep that long? How did she get here?"

Mickey, hearing this question, replied, "It's part of the reason I asked you all to come here, so I can explain..." With that, he revealed what he had witnessed the previous night before.

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Finally defeating all the beasts that surrounded her, she looked around, unsure of what else would occur... After waiting a few moments, the peaceful silence seemed to have returned. It was finally safe, so sighing in relief, she felt her weapon leave her hands in another sparkle of light.

Blinking at this strange phenomenon with puzzlement, she heard-!

RING...RING...RING...

Something like a bell in the air. Turning to where she thought she could hear the sound, she saw a strange light glowing a little away from her in the far distance within the darkness, beyond the stained glass platform.

Curiosity taking over, she ventured closer to the edge of it, hoping she could better see where this light was shining from.

GLOW! GLOW!

Suddenly she was weightless! Looking down quickly, she saw that her feet now had white wings on either side!

Looking at this with surprise, she was suddenly lifted into the air as she started to step upon seemingly nothing! She gasped in fright; her feet seemed to be moving on their own, guiding her to the light in the darkness far away from the stained glass platform! As she reached her target-!

FLASH!

More lights appeared, making a glittering pathway towards something. Confused as she looked at this dazzling sight, she suddenly felt the terrible sensation of being dragged down!

She saw below herself that the wings on her feet were getting smaller! She lost altitude as they decreased in size. The darkness below threatened to swallow her whole! Panicking, not knowing what to do, she saw one of the far-off lights pulse as though beckoning her.

Looking at the pulsating light that seemed to be calling her ahead. She was still puzzled; then, she almost tripped forwards from sudden surprise as the control of her legs had been returned to her again! She knew that these lights were her only chance for survival! So mustering what courage she had, she started to leap to each light as it led her through this dark threatening abyss...

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Within the darkness of their portal, Pete and Hari stared at the guarded Disney Castle, that was shining with a shield of light around it. Its purpose? To repel any force of darkness that might try to come and invade it. Pete scratched his head at this inconvenience, trying to figure out precisely what they would do to get past it.

Then looking to their newly acquired associate, who continued to stare ahead at their intended location, he asked her, "So, from what yer was tellin' me, is that one of them things we need, is there in that castle, right?"

She responded without looking at him, "Correct…." With that, she moved towards the portal's exit, but before she could entirely leave, Pete called out to her, "Hey, ah wait! Wait!" He moved closer to her.

At this cry, Hari looked at him finally as he caught up. Then he explained, "You can't go on in there! That place there repels people of darkness, and since yer on our side, there's no way that yer gonna make it in!"

Hari looked at him silently, her eyes still cold… Pete stared back at her. Feeling awkward, he wondered if she had even heard anything he said?

As the silence lingered for a while, she turned away from him and proceeded towards the still exit. Pete stared wide-eyed at her. Annoyed, he cried out, "Hey, wait! You're-"

"There is no need to concern yourself," Hari interrupted him.

Struck into silence, Pete saw she had opened her metallic wings again through her cloak. She continued, "I am going to do as my master commands, whatever obstacle may be before me… and this shield will not repel me, for after all, how could it deem a mere object like me as a threat?"

Looking at Hari, not understanding what she meant, Pete knew that it was reckless for her to just go off on her own, "But yer still gonna need help gettin' in there!" He further argued with determination in his eyes, "Sides if yer dead, you ain't no use to anybody, are ya?"

Hari, however, countered back, " I will be fine on my own; besides, my lady requested that no one find out that I am with you… it'll be easier to keep up the deception that way."

Pete remained quiet; at Hari's precise and correct words, he couldn't help but feel he was being useless again. Turning his head away, his ears lowered, feeling frustration at this fact. He couldn't think of a single word to say back to this girl.

"There is no need to fret; I shall return soon… Pete," Hari spoke as she then left through the portal.

Surprised that she'd remembered his name, Pete turned and then he saw-!

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

She had taken off with her metallic wings and was heading straight towards the castle to carry out their appointed mission...

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Going from light to light as they guided her higher and higher in this realm of endless darkness. This feat had left her exhausted, as finally, by some miracle, she had landed upon another stained glassed pillar. She collapsed onto her knees, her hands on the cool glass as she breathed in and out slowly, trying to recover as she sweated from the anxiety...

Then after staying like this for some long moments, the wings on her feet finally faded away, and all was quiet as she got to properly relax. Then feeling well again, she lifted herself off the floor and looked down upon the new image.

Upon this yellow and orange one, she saw first a man. His eyes were closed as though he was asleep; he had brunette messily spiked hair that reached down to the base of his neck. His skin was tanned, with his hands were over his chest in a cross pose.

He was dressed in a grey and black, high-collared shirt. She also saw that he had a long gold and red armour piece on his left arm, darkened in sections; it looked like a long knightly gauntlet.

On either side were two silhouetted figures with their hands reaching out to him. Their shadowed poses indicated a desperateness, as though wishing to be with this sleeping man or maybe to help him.

Staring down at this image somehow caused the pain of sadness in her heart, making her hand rise up to her chest as it ached. But why was this? She couldn't understand; she didn't even know who these people were.

Suddenly she heard the voice speak again, "The power one holds can lead to a great many things; they can bring both the greatest of joys or the deepest of sins," as these words echoed. Something dangerous, dark and menacing was beginning to materialise behind her.

"But such powers can lead to great strife, especially those..." It was then that the shape behind her had fully formed, turning into a being shrouded in thick knightly armour, it held a grand coloured key ended weapon in its hand. It crept up on her, and raising the blade high above her unsuspected being, the voice warned her," Who chase after them..."

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As king Mickey had finished explaining everything to everyone, he gazed on quietly to see what everyone's reactions were.

They looked mainly surprised at what he had told them, especially when he talked about the "VII" symbol that had appeared.

But that still didn't explain one particular thing, "So she's one of something I get but..." Looking at her, thinking of how long she'd been lying there, Sora asked, "Your majesty, why have you just left her there on the floor? It's not exactly hospitable to do, is it?"

The King began to answer, "Well ya see, Sora, it's because-"

But the chosen Keyblader was already walking over to the girl, assistance clearly on his mind when-!

FLASH!

On heavy alert, as the Cornerstone began to flash angrily with white light, Mickey immediately cried out, worried, "Sora!"

Baffled, already reaching out a helping hand, he asked, "What's-!"

ZZZAAAPPP!

"AAAGGGHHH!"

A vast white barrier suddenly appeared out of nowhere! It produced an electrical force field that flashed its power and sent Sora off his feet and crashing into the floor with a huge blast!

"SORA!"

Everyone gathered around him in worry, "Sora, are you alright?!" Kairi asked in a panic.

Wincing from the terrible blast of power he'd been struck with, Sora groaned in pain before he pulled himself up. He felt awful goosebumps as whatever hit him prickled like pins and needles all over his nerves, "What... the heck...was that?!" He uttered achingly.

Riku spooked and confused, looked at the girl. There, he saw that the shield had vanished, and she was still unconscious, not hearing any of the painful commotions that had just happened.

"Why did that happen!?" Then looking at the one person who could give them answers, he asked, "King Mickey, wha-!?"

Riku stopped, though, as he saw the look on the King's face. It was one he had never seen before, a mixture between a grimace and definitely, he realised sadness.

But why would he-?

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As the words of the silent voice echoed away, she noticed a huge shadow over her. Puzzled, she turned and saw something metallic glint in the light! She gasped and-!

SMASH!

Reacting fast, it came straight for her; she rolled over hurriedly in a different direction! Backing away in fright, she saw the knight fully; it was tall and brooding. Fully armoured in black and silver, with a grey cape blowing gently behind it.

As it turned itself to look at her, she was terrified as she saw its faceless black visor mask staring at her. The aura that she could feel from it was clearly dangerous, and it then took up its key sword again, making splinters and shards of glass litter the floor. Showing the heavy power that she could have been struck with!

The horrible aura was overwhelming and made her try to back away again, to get up and run, but as she reached her hand behind herself. Turning around, almost unbalancing, she saw that she was right at the edge of the stained glass pillar!

If she fell now, she'd be lost in the endless abyss! She had to get out of there! Then looking back up, she saw again the knight was already on top of her! It cared nothing for her terrified state as her scared face was reflected in its visor! It went to strike her down!

Wide-eyed as the sword came down to smite her, she cried out in fright as she braced herself!

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CRASH!

"Huh?" Hearing this explosive sound, Kairi was spooked. She jumped back and, turning to look, asked, "What was that!?"

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Suddenly something arrived behind them; looking to the doorway was someone walking down towards them dressed in a black cloak.

Baffled at the sight of this intruder, Mickey realised they caused the noise and chaos up above, so he demanded, "Who are you!?"

However, the figure said nothing. Instead, they revealed their cold green eyes and long brown hair as it flowed down behind them in a long ponytail.

Mickey seeing this rude behaviour, as they didn't respond, told them mad, "How dare you! You decide to wreck the castle and not even give us an answer!? Have you no shame!?"

An uneasy feeling surrounded everyone as a tense silence filled the air. Then finally, a voice spoke, a female one that declared, "I have nothing… only a wish…." They threw away their cloak!

FWOOSH...

As it landed on the floor, they all saw an older teenage girl dressed in black, purple and red before them. Her clothes formed into what could best be described as a dark leathered top, with a black choker around her neck. She also was donned in black leather shorts; these were overlaid by a purple and red ripped skirt. Then on her legs were long grey and black boots with red straps over the fore-feet, held in place by silver buckles. And in her long black leather gloved right hand was a devastating-looking Keyblade.

No one could believe the sight they were looking at! Who was this girl!?

Her cold, emotionless eyes cared nothing for them as she looked and saw her intended target ahead of her, as a helpless heap upon the white floor. She went through the doorway and finished her earlier sentence, "And I am here to have it granted."

The king seeing where she was looking, quickly saw who her goal was! Becoming fiercely determined, he knew he couldn't let her get any closer!

FLASH!

"Don't you dare!" He rushed forwards to stop her advance!

Hari seeing the mouse king jump in the air, his Keyblade ready to strike her, quickly moved to block it with her blade!

CLASH!

"Your majesty!?"

Seeing her fast counter as everyone cried out, worried for him, Mickey was surprised! But he couldn't falter! He moved again and-!

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!

She moved effortlessly as he tried to strike her, dodging each blow with a perfect counter, as she stared at him unchanging.

CLASH!

Again they struck once more as he tried to push her back, grating against her blade, making her halt. In this still moment, Mickey looked into her eyes, and as he did, he saw a sight that chilled him inside. For he could see no light in her eyes, none at all! His determination wavered as he uttered, "You're-?"

"Mickey!" Then Sora came in fast, having quickly changed into his Valour form! His fighting energy echoed through the red energy that flowed out of him as his two Keyblades were poised to strike her!

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

CLANG! CLANG!

Then before anyone could even think, enormous metallic wings suddenly appeared out of nowhere, forming a shield repelling Sora with its vibrant red energy! Sora looking on at this unbelievable sight, cried out, "What's going on?!"

It was then when they were both distracted, that she quickly moved and-!

SLASH!

"Agh!"

Struck the king away with one decisive, sharp blow that made him fall to the floor. Then looking up at Sora, still striking her winged shield, she moved and quickly folded her wings away!

Sora was wide-eyed in shock as the wings vanished, but then he lost sight of his opponent as he fell in the air. He looked around for her, but before he knew it, she suddenly appeared in a flash before him!

Her eyes were cold and dark. He stared back in shock as she was only centimetres from his face!

"Wha-!"

Suddenly she thrust her left hand into his chest and-!

FLASH!

A red charged light flowed out from her fingers! It spread quickly into him, straight to his heart as he felt a horrible pain inside as something within him was cut!

"Aagghh!"

He cried out in agony and-!

BLAST!

He was struck back by another red glowing strike from the girl's Keyblade! It sent him flying straight into the wall opposite them. Gasping in pain, he collapsed onto the floor in a helpless heap! As he fell unconscious, Goofy appeared mere seconds afterwards, out cold. For even he hadn't escaped the wrath of that red power!

"Sora!" Donald cried out, alarmed. He rushed to his friends' sides, leaving Riku and Kairi alone!

"Sora!" The princess of Heart cried out! She moved to get him too, but-!

GRAB!

"Don't!" Riku stopped her, grabbing her by her right arm, as the mysterious female intruder was coming in their direction!

Feeling him stop her, Kairi said urgently, "But if we don't do something, Sora-!"
"If I get knocked out, there won't be anyone who can help the rest of us!" Riku told her, then looked towards the girl. She was unaffected by any of this distress, as all she did was pass straight by them both! She flexed her fingers in her other free-gloved hand and proceeded towards her target again.

"Why is she doing this?" Not understanding her motivations!

Riku looking on saw that it was clearly one thing alone that this intruder wanted. It was the girl that was being guarded by the Cornerstone of Light! With anger brimming, he told Kairi, "Whatever it is she wants, I'm not going to let her have it so easily!" With that, he started to prepare a dark attack that he hoped would be enough to knock her out with one blow...!

The intruder was now standing over the unconscious girl. As she did this-!

FLASH!

That same dangerous barrier of light came to shield her target!

The sight of it did nothing to faze her. Feeling its silent intentions, she closed her eyes and said, "So you are attracted to this Vessel's light, it seems…." But, lifting her Keyblade into the air, she informed the magical stone, "However, I cannot allow it to remain here…."

GLOW!

In seconds her red power ignited as the end of her dangerous weapon glowed with viscous energy! It immediately became a blinding red light as it burned with intensity, and everything became still in the wake of this sinister might!

FLARE!

Her Keyblade came swiftly down upon the barrier. It glowed violently with destructive red power as it reacted against the protective blue energy. The opposing forces crackled and quaked as one tried to overcome the other, when-!

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

The magical forcefield was cracking; it couldn't combat this destructive power!

Seeing this, Kairi asked Riku, worried, "Are you ready yet?"

"Almost!" He told her, "I just need a bit more time and then-!"

SMASH!

The shielding power was shattered, as the barrier once around the girl was wholly destroyed. It disappeared into the air like sad broken shards of glass...

Seeing there was no time left, Kairi urged her remaining friend, "Hurry up!" For she knew there was nothing she could do against someone this powerful!

Riku tensed and continued his preparations, just a little more, and he was sure he'd be able to take her out!

The intruder, lifting her Keyblade over the helpless girl, told her with deadly intent, "And now, it is time…."

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CLASH!

As the girl cried out fearfully, the weapon she had chosen appeared in her arms as it blocked the knight's attack! Shivering, she looked up in distress and fright as she couldn't hold him off for long with only her power.

"Never forget who you are…" the voice spoke once again.

She looked on with wide eyes as she heard these words, trying again to see who was speaking to her.

"For your true essence is the one that has strength, and the name you were given is…?"

Her name? What was her name? How could she forget something so important!? As she looked back to the knight, it pushed into her weapon, and she felt like it would break under this monstrous strength any moment!

Though she was scared, she could feel a fire burning inside. Did she want to lose to this thing and never find out what was happening? No! She had to do something.

Determined, she tried to remember her name! To find her true inner strength, as she concentrated and looked inside herself...

The knight was close to finishing her weapon as it shook and cracked under the weight of this terrifying power! The girl, though, burned with fierce determination as she closed her eyes, doing her best to remember, concentrating hard!

My name is…

CRACK!

My name is!

Her weapon had reached its limit and-!

SMASH!

The knight moved back as it went to strike her down for the last time! However, the girl opened her eyes as she finally remembered and cried out her name!

"NOZOMI!"

SHINE!

She shouted loudly as a bright light came alive inside her! As it shined out, the knight before her stumbled back, as it crumbled away into nothing but dust! Then with the threat removed, it was finally, as the space filled with blinding white light, that she truly opened her eyes and escaped that dark space...

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Opening her eyes tiredly for the first time in a long while, Nozomi uttered, "What was that before? Wha-!"

SLICE!

"AGH!"

Gasping loudly in pain, she suddenly felt something pierce through the centre of her stomach! Her terrified and widened eyes looked up; she saw the mysterious girl she had seen in Bamboo Town!

In agony, she felt the Keyblade that was now inside her body, twisting and turning in the emotionless girl's hand, as she seemed to be moving something inside her! Paralysed in pain and terror, her thoughts echoed, 'What is this…?!'

Click!

Something inside her body was moving like some kind of mechanism in a clock! 'Something's-'

Twock!

'Opening inside,'

Twist!

'No, stop it!' Nozomi wanted to move to stop this, to do anything at all! But as she arched back in pain, she couldn't do anything to stop this horrible onslaught! It was so awful that she couldn't even cry out in distress!

The black leather-clad girl looking down at her felt no remorse as she continued her terrible onslaught. As she prepared to take what rightfully belonged to her.

"Zantetsuken!"

Hearing this loud cry from behind and sensing a strong surge of dark energy distracted her, making her remove the Keyblade from Nozomi.

SLASH!

Slicing the intruder with as much dark energy as possible, Riku's anger strengthened his attack as he pushed forward!

The girl's eyes widened ever so slightly as she looked from the attack and then back to him. However, letting her own burning red power grow within her right hand, she went to move and strike him back. When-!

GLOW!

Suddenly a bright light began to grow from behind her and him!

Riku seeing this sight, saw that it was coming from the girl's body! He watched, shocked, as a pair of long white wings appeared from either side of her feet!

"What's-!"

But he had no time to react, as the wings created a vast turquoise blue, glowing circle of power! The sight of it blinded him and the attacker, stopping them instantly in their movements!

"Oww, that smarted! Just what-!" Mickey stopped in his voiced thoughts as he turned over and saw what was happening! "This is bad!" With that, he went to charge in to help, as the growing circle of light was sucking everything near it!

"Mickey!" Kairi cried out, worried for him!

That moment, Donald had managed to wake up and heal Sora as he tried to work on Goofy next. Then as the chosen Keyblader looked up disoriented, he quickly saw what was happening to his friends and cried out, "Guys!?"

Riku looked back towards them all, but he had no time to call back, nor did the king as-!

VII

SHINE!

Everyone was blinded by the sheer force of this light. As he shielded his blue eyes, he suddenly felt weightless and-!

"WHOA!"

They were both quickly drawn up and away into the beam of light that had been created, while the attacker brought out her wings, creating a defensive cocoon around herself, as she was shot higher into the air above them!

"AAAGGGHHH!"

FLASH!

Shouting in panic, Riku and Mickey, along with the two girls, vanished in a flash as the light took them. Taking them all to a place only fate could know, as Sora, Kairi, Donald and Goofy were left behind…

(Art found: www . Deviantart Lrme87)