Chapter CCXXXVIII: The Fragmented Revelations Part V
Still fighting away within the corridor that connected to Wairu's room, Kairi and Mickey were doing their best to stop Jona along with the overweight Pete, from going to the dark apprentice's aid! The exotic Sphynx running forwards drew out her claws and in another moment-!
CLASH!
She came into contact with the keyblade of the Princess of Heart, Kairi. Seeing her keyblade shake against her strong claws yet not fall back from her blow, Jona couldn't help but grin and say, "You know for being a petit little princess, you can sure hold your own, huh?"
Smiling herself though, despite the desperate battle situation they were in, Kairi replied, "Of course! What do you expect from a girl raised with two troublemakers!"
Laughing with at this comment, Jona then responded, "You got spunk too!" But then as a more mischievous devilish smirk appeared she said, "However!" With that she glowed all over with an orange light and-!
SMASH!
"Agh!"
Kairi was thrown back and fell hard onto the floor, as she did so cringing from the impact she looked back up to Jona who was coming closer her way. She had her claws raised and ready to attack her again as she told the shocked princess, "But you gotta learn to not pull your punches, otherwise you'll never win against me!"
Seeing his comrade on the floor and hearing Jona's cold words, the Mouse King cried out, "Kairi!" However he couldn't move from his position for-!
BASH!
"Don't ya be distracted by that prissy runt!" Pete told him, he was still angry for being struck in the head by his former ship hand as he declared, "For ya still gotta pay me the dues ya owe me!" With that he punched into his Keyblade again!
Seeing the terrible situation that was occurring, Oralee was terrified for Kairi and it was clear that Cait sith was too as he cried out, "Oh geez! That lass has gotta get out there! Jona could smash right through her with that strength she has on hand now!"
Nodding, Oralee was uncertain but in another moment she knew she couldn't hesitate! For she didn't want to be a useless liability in this fight, so running forwards she cried out, "We gotta help her!"
However not realising her feelings sooner and now terrified for her as she left his shield, Cait sith cried out, "Yer highness! Wait a minute I'm not-!
But it was too late, Oralee was running forwards! She was quickly approaching Kairi and she was just seconds away from pulling her out of danger when-!
FLASH!
Suddenly from high in the distance a bright light shone! As it did so, the keybladers and villains were distracted! Looking in the direction where the light was shining from, quickly Oralee uttered, "What's-!?"
SHINE!
However quickly the light became all encompassing and absorbed everything into it's brilliance practically blinding everyone who was in attendance. As it did so, Cait sith couldn't help but cry out, "Hey! What's happenin' here! What's-!"
…
Suddenly there was nothing more and as the light died slowly away... all who were present one by one in that moment fell into unconsciousness. It left the entire space in eerie silence with nothing but the wind blowing in the starless night sky...
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
However, after a few moments one metallic winged figure appeared and quickly as she had her mechanical wings held aloft about her, she looked down at the sleeping figures before her. As she did so, she then said with cold eyes, "So? This is where the remaining two were hiding was it?"
This was clearly directed to Oralee and Cait sith, who were lying unmoving upon the cold floor. Then nearby seeing Jona and Pete who were also sleeping away, along with the helpless keybladers, Hari was silent. However in another moment she made a sweeping motion with her right arm and quickly portals of darkness appeared silently underneath each and every one of them, as this occurred they were all absorbed into the swirling dark ominous pools.
Seeing her work was done, the long brown haired girl then said, "Now, for the final remainder." With that she turned her eyes in the direction where the light had originated from...
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"Mmm..."
Drowsy, Nozomi shaking her head couldn't understand something. Why had she been asleep? Hadn't she been doing something? Aching as she gradually regained herself lying upon the floor, she finally started sitting herself up with her arms. She felt odd somehow... she could feel a chill about herself. Shivering slightly as she felt this, she rubbed her arms and asked, "Geez, why am I so cold? I feel awful!"
This shivering she was feeling, she didn't understand why she was experiencing it, but other than the cold of the darkness that surrounded her she felt like the chill wasn't coming from just around herself. It was coming from within inside of her body. But how though? Continuing to feel these terrible shivers throughout her body, she got herself up and hoped that maybe some movement might help generate some heat in her.
As she did this act, she then finally noticed, "Huh? Where am I?" For looking around herself, she saw that she wasn't where she had started from. For she remembered, "This isn't the room I was in before, it was-!" Quickly at that moment it was then she remembered, Wairu, her imprisonment and-!
"Riku! Where's Riku and Wairu is he-!" Suddenly though Nozomi was distracted for she noticed that something was glowing upon herself, looking down at her body. It was again that she saw the keyhole that Wairu had revealed upon her body, seeing it again she asked, "This thing is still here? But why though and-?" It was then she realised the flower of darkness that had been blooming upon her chest had all but vanished now! Seeing this she asked, "And the spell it's gone?"
"You seem to be enjoying simply mumbling to yourself in the dark like this, aren't you?"
Hearing this unknown feminine tone, Nozomi turned and quickly asked, "Who is that!?" It was then quickly becoming illuminated by the sudden lighting of the green torches along the walls around them, that there sitting upon a tall throne far across the darkened hall, a woman clad in long black robes with a single staff in hand was revealed.
Seeing the startled looked upon the young female keyblader's face, the woman in black had to ask, "My what is wrong my dear, you appear to be distressed by my entrance?"
Nozomi silent hearing this question couldn't think of a single thing to reply with... for looking at the witch before her, the chills she was feeling only seemed to increase inside of her! As they did so, she almost seemed to be frozen with fear! But why though? Why would she feel that way when-?
"So now you finally choose to awaken do you?"
This voice, Nozomi quickly did recognise! Turning her head to look behind herself, she saw that there standing behind her, it was none other than her nemesis, "Hari!?"
Seeing that Nozomi's attention was now focused on her, the cold green eyed girl was at first quiet. However she then finally said, "I suppose it is natural since you're now the first to initiate."
"The first?" Not understanding this, Nozomi then asked, "The first at what?" She was not to get an answer then for-!
"Hari, come this way."
SWOOSH!
These words spoken, in seconds Hari unfurled her wings once more and flew to the woman's right side. Kneeling down beside her throne with her head bowed, she said at first nothing but then after a few moments, "I hope my actions have been able to please you now my lady."
With these words said, Nozomi then asked, "My lady?"
The woman then smirked and replied, "Indeed I am," then reaching one of her long nailed hands down, she started to playfully handle some of Hari's long strands of hair. As she did this, stroking through them carefully and smoothly, she decided to ask, "And I trust you have my Heartless prepared for when they awaken?"
"Yes," Hari answered with that opening her cold eyes to look at Maleficent for a moment she added, "They will be thoroughly entertained when they awaken."
This question asked, Nozomi asked, "Your Heartless?" It was then she realised, "You! You must be Maleficent!"
The witch of darkness then smiled coyly turning attentions back to Nozomi and replied, "Oh? You already know of me?" Then feeling further amused she couldn't help but add, "And to think I haven't given you a proper introduction of myself!"
Nozomi was far from amused and quickly she drew out her keyblade! As it appeared in a shimmer of light, she then angrily declared, "It is you! You're the one that's put me and all my friends through hell all this time with Pete and Hari! And the rest of the worlds too! You-!"
"All this time?" Maleficent repeated, then looking to Nozomi she became curious and asked, "So you knew all this time Hari was under my direction?"
Becoming quiet as she heard this, Nozomi didn't respond for she was confused. Maleficent seeing she wasn't going to get any response immediately from the baffled keyblader, the witch narrowed her eyes and then decided to say with some slight disappointment, "It looks like you failed in keeping your connections to me concealed, Hari."
The kneeling girl hearing these words kept her eyes shut, however she responded simply saying, "Indeed."
Maleficent seeing that this was all that Hari was going to say, was quiet for a moment more before she decided, "Well I suppose it doesn't matter, you did manage to gain me a high number of Hearts and once more the Vessels themselves, so for that I believe I can forgive you, Hari."
With these words said to her, the obedient servant replied, "Thank you my Lady."
Nozomi seeing she was being ignored didn't like this, she had questions of her own that needed answering, "Hey! What happened before!"
Hearing this demanding tone, Maleficent turned her eyes to Nozomi. As she did so, she questioned, "Before?"
Nozomi annoyed then told Maleficent angrily, "Don't play dumb with me! What happened to Riku! Wairu and the others!" With that she pointed her keyblade at her and then said, "What have you done to them!?"
"Your friends?" Maleficent asked. Then doing so she smirked and replied, "Well it depends on which ones you mean?"
Puzzled Nozomi repeated, "Which ones?"
Maleficent keeping her eerie smile in place then informed her, "If you are to mean your meddling friends, the rest of your so-called band of keybladers... they are waiting to be devoured by my Heartless." With that she pointed her black nailed hand forwards and added, "Beyond that door behind you."
Horrified to hear this, Nozomi turned around. However as she did this, she saw suddenly others who were there, tied to two columns in the room. Looking at them Nozomi recognised them to be, "Timbre Oralee!" Then quickly she also realised, "Cait sith!" For she'd almost missed him there tied next to his beloved princess, due to his small height.
Also looking on, she saw that Kagi was before them too! However unlike Timbre and Oralee, he was left untied and lying upon the floor. Then just a little away from them, unconscious too and untied, lying upon the same floor was Pete and then another person. Looking on at them, Nozomi had to really stare on at them, until she saw those familiar emerald green earrings. Staring on, she realised who that person was, "Jona?"
"Yes, my henchman who are sleeping soundly amongst the rest of my acquired Vessels, Jona of which you can guess already is one like yourself," Maleficent told her and with that she also added narrowing her eyes, "And with you all now present, I have all eight Fragments in one place."
"Eight?" Nozomi asked, for somehow that didn't feel right to her. For looking at her friends who were there, along with herself and Hari who she assumed met these numbers... there was one who was missing! She had to correct the witch and tell her, "No that's wrong!"
"Wrong?" Maleficent clearly was intrigued and so asked her, "Why am I wrong?"
As this question was put to her, Nozomi then told her, "Wairu! Wairu's not here!"
Quiet as she heard this, Maleficent tilted her head to the side and asked the female keyblader, "Wairu? Who on earth is that?"
This question put to her, Nozomi was quiet. However quickly she became angered and she responded, "Don't play games with me! My friend, Wairu! The one who you've brainwashed into becoming your Apprentice! He said he called himself Uriax and was serving under you! He was-!"
"I have never had an apprentice, " Maleficent told the female keyblader.
Becoming silent as she heard this, Nozomi looking on at Maleficent's face saw she looked bored and irritated. There wasn't a trace of amusement and listening to her previous tone, it didn't feel like she was playing games with her. But still she persisted and said, "But! He told me so himself! You took him in and taught him all sorts of dark magic! He-!"
"You are my dear mistaken, as I have repeated I have never once taken an apprentice nor do I ever intend to, for there is no-one with grater magistracy over the mystic arts like myself," Maleficent told her, becoming more annoyed with this fictitious character. However as the female keyblader became silent she did though quickly make her calculations and had to admit "However, you are indeed correct, there is one less number here...and yet I have been told all are present now in this very room." With that she looked down to Hari who continued to kneel silently beside her.
Nozomi seeing Maleficent's behaviour could tell somehow, the witch of darkness wasn't lying. She didn't know her friend, but how could that be? He'd clearly shown great power and darkness, she'd already felt and lived through that terror...something was wrong! This was-!
"Unless..."
It was then distracted out of her own thoughts that Maleficent was now speaking again, it seemed as though she had a strike of realisation as she then looked to her servant and asked, "Hari? Is this the phenomenon you mentioned would happen after the said event?"
With her eyes remaining shut, Hari then replied, "Yes, the first stage of the Interfusing has already occurred."
Not understanding, Nozomi repeated, "Interfusing?"
Ignoring her though, Maleficent continued on to ask, "And was it you who took it?"
Shaking her head, Hari then responded, "No, it was not I," with that she opened her eyes and looking beyond herself she stared at Nozomi and answered, "The seventh before us is the one who initiated it, she has taken the Second Fragment into herself."
As this was said, something inside Nozomi didn't understand...no, it didn't want to accept was being told to her. All she could do was utter, "What?"
Maleficent hearing this, then realised what had occurred and in seconds, she couldn't help but laugh. Hopelessly amused at the irony of the situation as she said, "I see! I understand now! Oh how cruel fate can be!"
Hearing her laugh so maniacally like this, Nozomi then said, "Hey! C'mon stop laughing and joking like this! Bring Wairu out now! You've just got him hidden somewhere in this place! I don't need mind games like this! I-!"
"My poor, poor dear..." with that Maleficent stood up. With that walking towards the female keyblader her staff making an almost ominous boom, with each and every step it made with her, Nozomi trembled as though she was being approached by the living incarnation of doom itself.
Seeing the fear stricken look on her face, Maleficent only grinned all the more and as she did so. She then told Nozomi, "You simply don't want to realise the truth of reality now do you?"
"What truth?" Nozomi asked, the chill inside of herself was becoming worse and worse. Also her heart was now beginning to hammer in fear, every cell in her body was telling her to leave. To flee! To not be there near this witch, to not hear-!
"That you yourself," Maleficent cooed chillingly and with that reaching her right hand down, she placed her cold hand on Nozomi's right cheek and informed her frozen scared form, "Have ended the life of your supposed friend and have stolen his very essence and power, absorbing it into your own body!"
Her eyes widening as these earth shattering words were spoken to her, Nozomi felt like time had come to a halt! This couldn't be the truth she was hearing! It was impossible! All she could do was say, "...No, there's no way!"
Maleficent though only continued to smile and looking to her exposed abdomen where the Keyhole was perfectly displayed and visible for all to see, she saw a coloured ring of colour waver and change around the border of it, one shade was of a lighter blue and the other a darker hue blending in to each other gradually over and over. Seeing this, she told Nozomi, "I'm afraid yes, for that Keyhole is the symbol of what you are, and what you now have inside of you."
Hearing this, Nozomi looked down to her own body and seeing the changing colours. She felt realisation somehow, that one light was hers and the other was-!
"You are a Vessel of the Seventh Fragment otherwise known as the Seeker, the one who has the ability to trespass into different worlds without the use of an astral vehicle nor the roads of darkness, the one that creates it's own path!" Maleficent declared and looking at Nozomi's horrified expression she then added, "And you have now acquired the Second Fragment! Known as the Mage that brings great ruin and chaos through the most powerful devastating acts, those that can transcend all other magic!"
Nozomi hearing her true title and being and what she now had, uttered feeling shock after shock within inside of herself uttered, "I-!"
BABUMP!
Quickly inside Nozomi's mind, she saw the scene of the past play out... and she remembered the truth of what had really occurred!
SHINE!
In seconds Nozomi's keyblade ignited with light and as it did, distracting her with confusion. She gasped asking, "This is-!?" However there was no more time to speak, for then a single beam of light raced out from the tip of her blade and then smashing through the shield it-!
"AAAAGGGGHHHH!"
Entered the Keyhole that was on the back of Wairu's head! As it did so and both she and Riku looked on in shock at what was occurring, in another moment there was-!
CLICK!
As this terrible sound was heard, it was as though Wairu had lost all his strength. For then Riku was slowly released from his once strong grip and the white haired keyblader fell onto the roof weakly. Nozomi was too distracted by Wairu's being, for looking on she saw that the person who was her friend was quickly dissolving away, his body becoming nothing more than dark blue shards as if all he'd ever been made of was simply glass.
Seeing this happening to himself, he slowly turned and reaching out to her. Tears of shock and sorrow quickly replaced the malice of darkness that was once there. His widened eyes upon her he asked her hauntingly as each drop of sadness flowed forth, "Why...?" That was all that he could do, for quickly his body disintegrated completely and there emerging within this shattered storm of pitiful shards was a single glittering Fragment which shone brightly with Dark Blue light.
Nozomi was so overcome by this unspeakable sight, she couldn't process this horror in her mind and quickly she fell backwards into unconsciousness from the shock. The Fragment then moved itself, quickly drawing close to her until finally it reached it's destination entering into the now fallen keyblader's chest and ultimately into her heart. Then quickly with this done she came to lay upon the rooftop merely a few meter's away by her beloved who'd she'd saved but had sadly caused great tragedy in doing so...
"NNNNOOOO!"
Maleficent seeing this scene of distress and horror overcome the female keyblader as she realised the truth, she was highly amused as she saw the tears fall from Nozomi and she shook and quivered in fear and horror. Knowing the terrible Sin she had committed as she mumbled repeated over and over, "Wairu...Wairu...! I, I'm sorry I! I'm sorry...!"
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Stirring from her unconscious state, Oralee couldn't understand what was happening. Why did she feel so-?
"NNNNOOOO!"
Shaken to hear this cry, the princess of Alexandra turned and there she saw from her distance it was none other than, "Nozomi!" She cried out! For there her friend was, clearly traumatised and in pain as she held her head in her hands, with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Oralee was pained for her, but quickly she saw two things. The first, Maleficent standing and looking over her, then second the Keyhole that was revealed upon her friend's body. Seeing this, she had to ask, "Has it already begun? The Interfusing and-!"
"Do not weep so my dear,"
Listening and distracted from her own thoughts, Oralee saw that Maleficent had now moved her staff and with it, she had it held underneath Nozomi's chin. As she did so, she told her, "You will not have to suffer for much longer."
Oralee quiet hearing this, could sense this was not good! She had to do something! But with herself tied up, there was nothing she could do! She couldn't make it over to Nozomi or-!
"Hari!"
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Quickly hearing these wingbeats, the princess of Alexandra saw that the Heartless servant to Maleficent was now stood next to her. As she was, the witch of the darkness then told her with a grin on her face, "Put this poor girl out of her misery, let her become one with you along with her now non-existent friend."
Hearing this, Oralee then uttered, "No!"
Hari though hearing this order responded, "Very well," With that, the unfeeling girl brought forth her keyblade, 'The Subtle Scythe.' Doing this, she aimed it as Nozomi and was ready to take her Fragment and Wairu's from her.
Seeing Nozomi was unmoving and lifeless at the sight of the blade, the blonde haired girl had to do something! With that she struggled and struggled against her bonds! Then as the light on Hari's Keyblade began to gather at it's end, there was only one thing for her to do, "NOZOMI!"
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"NOZOMI!"
Hearing this cry, even within the midst of her sorrow. The female keyblader turned and saw it was, "Oralee?"
Seeing the fearful look that was on her face, she then heard her blonde haired friend cry out to her, "Don't give up! We need you! Please! You have to move right now or-!"
"Huh?" Baffled, Nozomi didn't understand but-!
"Now!"
FLASH!
Oralee closed her eyes in terror! However in another moment-!
CLASH!
She quickly turned and there she saw that Nozomi was on her feet and was holding onto her keyblade tightly with both hands! "Don't play dirty like that! I won't let you!" She declared, her hands were trembling, but she couldn't give up without a fight!
Relieved to see this, Oralee revealed a small smile. However it was clear that Maleficent was disappointed, however not letting this get to her she then decided, "So? You will not allow despair to devour you..." but putting a hand to her chin, she made an observation and concluded, "No, you're restraining yourself from it, to protect your friends who are in dire need of you at this moment." Then seeing the struggling expression on Nozomi's face as her tears continued to flow forth as she struggled against her own internal pain, she couldn't help but chide her saying, "How foolishly noble of you."
Nozomi didn't answer Maleficent, her sole aim was fixed upon only Hari. Seeing this, the witch of Darkness, walked closer to her servant. Doing so, she leaned in forwards and whispered into her right ear, "I want you to break her Hari, thoroughly physically and mentally... I want you to truly break her heart."
With these words given to her, her servant then replied, "Very well." Smiling with this response given to her, Maleficent then moved herself and sat herself down to watch the battle unfold.
Oralee looking on could tell that thing's wouldn't go well, she had to do something and fast! So moving, she quickly uttered, "Cait sith! Cait sith! Please wake up! Please!" With those words given and with all the shaking she could make, finally the crowned cat began to move and murmur.
"Mmm..." licking his lips, Cait sith then murmured, "Anchovies, me Anchovies, stop them divin' away from me! I need ta get into the-!"
"Cait sith!" Oralee said harshly.
In moments, Cait sith was startled awake with one last hard shake. Feeling this, he looked up and saw that there beside him it was none other than, "Yer Highness!"
Seeing he was finally with her, the princess of Alexandra then told him, "Cait sith keep your voice down! Please you gotta hurry up and get us untied!"
Surprised he asked, "Untied?" Then seeing the predicament they were in, he asked, "Hey! How'd we get like this!? What's goin' on! We-!"
CLASH!
Suddenly hearing this distracted Cait sith, turning he saw along with Oralee the fierce battle that was occurring between Nozomi and Hari! As he did so and he also saw the Keyhole that was revealed upon her body he immediately became quiet.
Seeing he'd realised what she had already observed, Oralee then told him,"You see, now I need you to hurry! You have to get us untied! And we have to get the others! We need to get help badly!"
With those words given to him, Cait sith knew he needed no more explanation and replied, "Right yer are ya highness!" With his claws then extended out of his gloves, as they did he added, "I'll have us out of here quicker than a whippet full of dynamite!" With that he began his furious work to scratch his ropes off and then as quick as he could also his highness's!
Oralee was silent, however looking back to the fight that was occurring-!
"AGH!"
She could see it was progressing badly! For Nozomi in her emotional troubled state couldn't concentrate well against Hari and if she couldn't do that... she wouldn't survive, nor herself or the rest of their allies!
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"Urgh..."
Meanwhile, aching from the pain he'd experienced Riku remained in a deep state of unconsciousness and as he did so, so did the rest of the heroes around him. Mickey, Kairi, Sora and Zidane. All of them blissfully unaware of the Heartless that were swarming around them, ready to devour and harm them as soon as they awakened. To taste the true flavour of terror and despair that would envelop their hearts upon seeing their many countless haunting glowing yellow eyes...
