Chapter 28: the keyblade war
I do not own kingdom hearts or the properties shown in this fanfic. They belong to the respective owners and the original story is based on the works of Darius Almighty. Kingdom hearts and trials of the keyblade is owned by square Enix, Disney, and Tetsuya Nomura. Please support the official release.
Right. Now about this rapid response thing you guys need to do this more often if you want to catch up to your new or old unfinished fanfic! Anyhow this chapter will include some cameos of keybearers Disney or non-Disney characters!
With that out of the way, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
Sora's slowly awoke from his sleep. His blurred vision began to clear and he found that he was in the medical bay of the Shera, laying in one of the beds. How did he get here? He recalled the hanger and...
The Chaser!
Sora shot up to a sitting position and felt a weight shift on his bed. "Sora?" he heard Kairi 's voice call. Before Sora knew it she was by his bedside. "You're awake! That's good."
"Aradan," Sora gasped. "What happened?" Kairi smiled reassuringly.
"He's gone," she said. "And we've put a lot of distance between him and us."
Sora sighed in relief. "Thank goodness. Is everyone alright?"
"Everyone's fine. Well..." Her smile wilted away. "...almost everyone." She turned to another part of the room and Sora turned his head with curiosity. Floating in a tank that was hooked up to many machines was Shalua. Her robotic arm was missing and she was apparently unconscious. Sora hoped it was just that. Standing in front of the tank was Shelke, staring up at her big sister with a blank face.
"Wade said she suffered extreme head trauma," Kairi continued dismally. "We don't know if she'll wake up or not." Sora's heart ached at the news. He was there and he couldn't do anything to help Shalua. She sacrificed herself so Shelke could get away.
"Why?" Shelke said suddenly. Sora and Kairi turned to her. "Why did she do what she did? Why would she do something so...foolish?"
"Shelke," Sora began. "Shalua has been looking for you for over ten years. You're her very reason for living."
"So?" Shelke replied. "I don't understand how someone could give their own life for that of another." She turned around to look into Sora's blue eyes. "Do you understand?"
Sora understood all too well, thinking back to when he held that black Keyblade before he plunged it into his heart to save Kairi's. "I can't speak for Shalua. But...when you care about someone that much, giving your life is sometimes the least you could do." Kairi placed her hand over his and smiled.
Shelke looked as confused as ever. "The...least...?" She turned back to the tank which contained Shalua. But for a moment, Sora thought he saw a look of understanding pass through her features, but maybe he was just imagining things.
Over on the bridge, everyone else was recovering from the Chaser attack. Although they were battered and broken, they were all generally okay. The rest of the Keybladers were also present, having exterminated the last of the Nobodies that haunted their ship. It hadn't been easy and it left their bodies tired and their clothes slightly ragged, but they got the job done.
"A Chaser?" Leon asked. "That's what he's called?"
"Yup," Beast answered simply.
"What is he?" Quistis pressed. "A Heartless?"
"Not a clue," Jack replied lazily.
"Where did he come from?" Barret questioned.
"Don't know," Mulan said tiredly.
"How many are there?" Tifa asked.
"No idea," sonic sighed.
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW!?" Adelbert snapped, fed up with their simple answers. Lula, back in her sheath, zapped his neck making him yelp in pain.
"Look," Jack sighed. "All I know is for the past hour we've been blown out of the sky, forced to walk through a burning hot desert, been swindled out of our money by Hano Solan and his walking shag rug, attacked by a bounty hunter, had our arses kicked by a black knight, and then had to fight an army of guys in white pajamas! I think I speak for us all when I say we just want to refill our rum bottles and get some rest." The Keybladers all nodded wearily in agreement. "Now where's the loo?"
"You're saying you don't know anything about this guy?" Leon growled.
"Not really," Mulan confessed. "All we know is that he's after our Keyblades."
"And the fact that he's not limited to hurting other people to get them," Kim said as she dabbed a dazed Ron's head with a wet cloth and Rufus bandaged her cheek.
One of the panels in the floor slid open. Out of the hole crawled Cid, covered in grease and oil. "No good," the mechanic sighed. "The engines are shot. That last jump we took completely blew the propulsion system. We're stuck." Wade crawled out the hole right behind Cid, also filthy from working.
"I am not made for physical labor," he panted.
"Great," Leon growled, pacing around. "We're tired, injured and now we're lost in space! And we don't even have any info on the guy who did this! How could things get any worse?" On cue, the flushing of a toilet was heard by everyone. The door to the bathroom slid open and Jack Sparrow strolled out.
"Don't go in there for at least two hours," the pirate informed. "Actually better make that three hours. You know what? Just avoid that room all together." Everyone sent Jack dirty looks.
"Wait a minute," Denzel suddenly said, gaining everyone's attention. "That girl...Shelke. She knew something about that guy!" Everyone's eyes widened in confusion.
"Come to think of it," Lula intoned. "That little twerp did seem to know quite a bit about that tin can."
"They must be in cahoots!" Adelbert declared, jumping to conclusions as always.
"That can't be it!" Marlene said. "That guy was going to attack Shelke! If hadn't been for Shalua..." Barret held his daughter as she began tear up.
The door slid open and everyone turned. Sora, Kairi and Shelke entered the bridge and were instantly met by the stares of everyone else on board.
"What's up?" Sora asked nervously. But no one payed him any attention, all focused on Shelke.
"Shelke," Aerith said gently. "Do you know something about the man that attacked us? That Chaser?"
"Yeah, kid! What are you hiding!?" Adelbert hollered. Lula shot a blast of energy at his neck to keep him silent. Everyone's expectant eyes fell upon Shelke but she didn't seem to care about their stares.
It was true, Sora realized. When the Chaser was still on board, Shelke did seem like she knew quite a bit about their Keyblade stalker. More then Sora could tell from his dreams. But how did she know? He also stared at her expectantly.
Shelke, finally fed up with their gazes, spoke up. "It was my assignment. Given to me by the Horned King. It's why I was accepted into the Tsviets. To collect fragments of research data across the universe to complete the research."
"Research?" Barret repeated.
"On what?" asked Quistis.
Shelke looked them all in the face before she continued. "The Keyblade War." Those two words were enough to catch the interest of everyone on the bridge. Those same words also sent an unexplainable chill down a certain flower girl's spine. Aerith shook the feeling off and listened to what Shelke had to say.
"War?" Leon whispered. Wars were never good. "What kind of war?"
"And what has that got to do with the Chasers?" sonic asked.
Shelke looked the same as ever. "I can answer all your questions. All the data is stored within my mind. But perhaps it would be better if I showed you. To give you a better idea of what you're up against. It's...the least I could do." She briefly glanced at Sora who smiled back. "Do you have a net diver on board this ship?" she asked Cid.
"Yeah, it's in the back," Cid answered. "Why?"
"I need to use it to access the data in my mind. Everything you need to know is within me. Then I'll show you all. Please take me to it." Cid shrugged and motioned for her to follow him. Shelke stepped in behind the Shera's pilot but and motioned for the Keybladers to follow her.
They were lead to the heart of the ship, to a lounging area containing a large screen in the wall and comfortable seats about. It even had a bar in one corner. In the middle of the room was a holographic projector.
"I didn't know this part of the ship even existed," Kairi muttered.
"You've got everything here," Beast said, amazed.
"Is that a mini-fridge?" Mushu asked.
Cid smiled proudly. "Yeah, I admit it. I'm the greatest. Secret's out. Now you guys wait here while I show Miss Shelke the net diver. And don't touch my fridge!" He and Shelke turned round and left the room.
As soon as they did, Mushu scampered over to the mini-fridge. "What Papa Bear don't know won't hurt him," he said, grinning. He opened the fridge; it was stocked to the limit with a familiar alcoholic drink.
"Not enough space in my room," Jack said, nervously.
"I never thought someone would actually get to use this thing," Cid said to Shelke. He had lead her to one of the rooms within his ship. This one contained a reclining chair and on it sat a large metal helmet. Thick wires sprouted from the ceiling to connect with the unattractive headgear. "It makes me wonder why I installed it in the first place. I just use it to make microwave popcorn!"
"This will be perfect," Shelke said. Approaching the chair, she lifted the heavy helmet and placed it over her eyes and atop her head. It was much too big for her small body but she managed fine on her own. Once seated comfortably in the chair she faced the pilot even though her eyes were still covered. "I'm ready."
"You're the boss," Cid shrugged. He inputted commands into the chair arm. The large helmet illuminated into working order. The wires glowed with bright blue light. Information began to pour out of the small girl's mind and into the Shera network. It was not just the data that entered the network, but Shelke herself.
Back on the bridge, the holographic projector in the middle of the room blared loudly alerting everyone on deck. "Is it supposed to be doing that?" Jack asked worriedly.
"If not, I see a lot of pain in our futures," Mushu whimpered. The projector continued ringing and humming until finally a bright, blinding light shone through the entire bridge. Everyone was forced to cover their eyes as the light engulfed them.
When he was sure the light had subsided, Sora reopened his eyes. He gasped at the sight he was met with once his eyes had fully opened. He and everybody else were surrounded by a beautiful grassy plain. No longer were they on the bridge of the Shera, but in a large green field with rolling hills and intricate rock formations. The sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky but he felt no heat from it.
"What the...?" he breathed.
"How did we get here?" Mulan asked, looking around.
"Don't you lads see?" Jack said walking in front of them all. "I think it's quite obvious what's happened here."
"Which is...?" sonic intoned.
"We've died and gone to heaven!" Everyone slapped their foreheads. "It's really not what I expected though. I expected clouds and angels and all that. And there should be rum. Lots of rum! This place is kinda empty. But no use living in the past. I accept my fate." He stopped his rant when he noticed that no one was paying attention to him, but kept their gazes behind him, their eyes wide with fear. "What?" Turning around he saw the source of everyone's unease and looked straight into the face of Aradan the Chaser. Jack yelped in shock and fell backwards, crawling away from the armoured man with haste. "This isn't heaven! It's the other place!" Everyone drew their weapons and prepared for the Chaser's assault.
They waited and waited but Aradan didn't budge. In fact, he wasn't even looking at them at all. He was staring across the grassy plain, apparently looking at something. Sora raised an eyebrow and relaxed out of his fighting stance. He walked over to Aradan cautiously and reached out. His hand went clear through the armour and out the other side.
"He's not real," Sora realized. "This whole place is one big hologram!" Kairi bent down to a flower and her hand passed through just as Sora's did through Aradan. The whole field was just a very impressive illusion.
"So what's he doing here?" Beast asked, glancing at the Chaser.
"You know, now that I get a good look at this guy, he's not so scary!" Jack Sparrow chuckled, walking up to the Aradan hologram. He summoned his Keyblade and poked it through the image again and again. "Want my key? Oh! Can't have it! No, seriously, take it. Oh! Too bad! You want it? Take it. Too slow!" This went on for several more seconds. That is until a hologram of Aradan's Keyblade appeared in his hand and Jack jumped back in fear.
Armageddon's Key flashed through Sora's head. The name of the man's Keyblade. By looks on the other Keybladers faces, they heard the same thing he did.
Aradan suddenly started walking forward on the false grass. Despite the fact that he wasn't real, no one dared get in his way. They all parted for the Chaser as he strode down the field with his Armageddon Keyblade in hand. Something had apparently alerted him.
"Where's he going?" Kairi asked.
All at once they saw what it was.
Over a hill in the distance emerged a charging army. Hundreds of men, women and creatures they had never seen before rushed down the hill heading straight for the Chaser. They all shouted in unison as they charged down the hill This was surprise enough for the onlookers, but what really shocked them all were the weapons that the army wielded.
Keyblades. Every man, woman and creature in the attacking force wielded a Keyblade. Each was as different and unique as those who wielded them. They gleamed in the daylight sun and rang as the battle cry echoed through the prairies.
"Who are they?" Mulan whispered.
"Keybladers," Sora answered, equally amazed.
The Aradan hologram continued walking forward as if the Keyblade army wasn't even there. But then, the others heard him laugh a low and cruel laugh. Suddenly he broke out into a run to meet the attackers head on. The army rushed but Aradan didn't falter. He was one man against over one hundred Keyblades. In a bright flash of light that blinded everyone once again, they connected.
Once again Sora uncovered his eyes. Once he did, he immediately wished he hadn't. The green sunny field that had captivated their eyes was completely destroyed. Flames littered the once beautiful prairie, incinerating every blade of grass and flower. The bright blue sky was painted crimson as the embers from the fires rose into the air. And everywhere lay the Keyblades of the attacking army. They were all that remained of the warriors as far as they could see. In the middle of it all stood Aradan the Chaser with his Keyblade still in his strong grasp.
"What is this?" Kairi whimpered. "This is horrible."
Suddenly, from out of nowhere came another Chaser. The same one that had attacked their Gummi Ship Shuttle. Charon was his name. They wouldn't forget it any time soon. He walked through the barren battlefield with his axe-Keyblade in his right hand. Hell's Ferryman was the name that the Keybladers heard. A fitting name for such a deadly looking weapon. He stood beside Aradan and looked around the field in sadistic giddiness.
Again, from nowhere strolled a Chaser none of them had ever seen before. Judging by its shape and posture, this one was female. Her Keyblade was shaped like a thin and lithe sword. Serpentine was its name. For it truly did resemble a twisting and winding serpent. She walked to her fellow Chasers and stood on Aradan's other side.
The Keyblade War. The voice of Shelke echoed through the air, startling the Keybladers further.
"Shelke?" Sora called. He and everyone else looked around but the little girl was no where to be found.
The Keyblade War. Shelke's voice said again. The greatest battle ever to be fought. A destructive conflict that ravaged the worlds and claimed many lives. The opposing forces were the pure-hearted Keybladers and the dark and powerful Chasers.
"Everybody who is confused raise your hand," Mushu stammered. They all promptly did so.
"Wait. There were more Keybladers?" Beast asked. "Like us?"
"But where? When?" Mulan stressed.
"And what are the Chaser's doing here?" sonic exclaimed.
"I'm more confused then I usually am!" Jack sighed.
"Shelke!" Kairi called out. "We need more information! This is still too much!"
What would you like to know?
"Tell us about the Keybladers," Sora requested. He wanted to know more about the Keybladers before him
Very well. The burning field and the Chasers were suddenly washed like the sand on a beach and they were left in utter blackness. Then in another flash they were somewhere else. They were in the middle of space standing in mid-air. Stars and planets were all around them.
"We're in space!?" Jack exclaimed. "Ack! Can't...breath...no...air." He collapsed to his knees spluttering and gasping. He managed to crawl to Mulan and took her hand in his. "Quick! Need...mouth to mouth!" Mulan recoiled and instantly withdrew her hand.
"Are you done?" Beast growled.
"Yeah, just about!" Jack said hopping back up.
Long ago... Shelke spoke again. When darkness was just starting to take root in people's hearts, the Keyblades were born, created by powerful servants of the light to stay the shadows of evil. Only the purest of heart was bestowed a Keyblade. A small ball of light appeared before them all, floating in front of them and captivating their eyes. It then began to descend beyond their feet to a planet that floated below them. They looked to the other worlds and saw that more small lights were flying off towards them. One for each world.
All across the universe the Keybladers brought peace and justice to their worlds. The image changed to a large mountain. A mountain with the appearance of a gorillas head. A large tropical jungle surrounded this unique rock formation. Through the vines that hung from the luscious trees swung a man in a loin cloth hollering loudly and happily. And in the man's hand was a Keyblade named Ape Mountain. A monkey head key chain hung from the hilt. At first, Sora though it was Tarzan but this man looked much goofier and laid back then his old jungle friend. The strange man was having such a good time in his swinging that he failed to notice the tree he was heading straight for. The Keybladers winced as he hit it head on.
With the power of the light, they were able to accomplish many heroic deeds. In a poor village full of ragged animals and peasants, a cry of surprise went out. Standing on a ramshackle house was human/fox man dressed in green tights and a matching hat with a red feather. He held a Keyblade that was curved in the shape of a bow. From Rich to Poor. The key chain was that of an arrow. He pulled a bag filled with gold coins from his satchel and threw it over the crowd. A string and arrow made entirely of light appeared took form in his bow-Keyblade. He pulled back, took aim and released the arrow to split the bag over the crowd. Gold coins rained down on the cheering peasants as the fox/man grinned proudly.
Many were respected as great leaders and warriors. Some to the point of gods. A young woman with flowing silver hair and dark skin flew over a large city in strange flying machine. A Keyblade rested on her back. Heart of Atlantis. From the keychain hung a shining blue crystal. The city sat in the middle of a large lake with a large stone dome over head, apparently underground. The people of this amazing civilization turned their eyes to the sky and waved to the girl as she flew overhead. She smiled and waved back, flying for a large blue light floating in the sky.
"Whoa," Kairi breathed. "All those people. All those worlds. I had no idea."
"I don't think any of us did," Sora assured.
"This is a nifty club I'm part of," Jack said grinning. "Respected as gods, eh? I could get into that! All hail me!"
"So, these things," Mulan said, looking at her Hidden Dragon, "when given to someone, they're responsible for the safety and well-being of their entire world. That's a lot of responsibility."
"Oh, no one told me about responsibility," Jack whined. "Can't I just lord about with the thing?"
"But here's a question," Mulan said slowly. "If there were so many Keybladers before us, what happened them?" No one could answer her but they were just as confused. According to Shelke, there were more then the six of them. A lot more.
"Shelke," Sora called. "What happened to the Keybladers?"
The Chasers. Everyone stiffened in fear.
"That is not a good way to start an explanation," Mushu whimpered.
Sora took a deep breath before he asked his next question. "What are the Chasers?"
The Chasers. Once revered as the greatest Keybladers in all existence. Like all Keybladers, they protected their worlds in the name of the light and were called heroes among the populace.
But there were three who questioned the nature of Keyblade's choice. They believed that their fellow Keybladers were unworthy of such a bestowal, and that only they were strong enough to possess such power. Their jealousy and envy became an opening for darkness to take hold of their hearts. No longer were they warriors of the light, but became...the Chasers. Three silhouetted figures stand in the total blackness around them. Suddenly one of them starts screaming in pain, clutching his head in agony. The others start to do the same, collapsing to their knees as shadows wrap around their bodies. The Keybladers looked on in horror as the shadows harden, becoming impenetrable armour, silencing their screams as it covers their faces.
They rose to their feet once the transformation was finished, now completely covered in black armour, their faces obscured by the helmets they now wore. Three Keybladers turned to darkness. It sent shivers down everyone's spine. The Chasers' Keyblades appeared in their hands. They held them up and crossed them together in an unspoken pact of diabolical intent.
With their new powers they traveled to each of the worlds, found its guardian and relieved them of their Keyblades. The guardians were hunted down like dogs. A young large muscled man dressed in ragged red clothes and red headband ran frantically through the crowded marketplace of a large village. In a sheath slung on his back was a Keyblade. Bejabbers fluttered through the heads of the watching Keybladers. A strange name for a Keyblade they all thought. The man vaulted through the village streets, screaming like a little girl, earning him the stares of many villagers. That is, until they saw what he was running from. The female Chaser suddenly crashed through a building, turning it into a pile of rubble and sending people into panicked screams. Picking herself up and readying her Keyblade, the Chaser took after her prey.
Nothing got in the way of the Chasers. Many were killed in their pursuit of power. For each Keyblade that was taken, their power grew, acquiring a bit of the wielder's strength...and soul. Charon stood over the body of a defeated Keyblader, barely distinguishable after a bout with the Chaser. Bending down, Charon ripped the Keyblade from the warrior's cold, dead fingers. Once in his grasp the Keyblade melted away and was absorbed into Charon's armoured body. Once completely assimilated, he let out a contented sigh like one who had just consumed a large meal, then giggled insanely at his own work.
Recognizing this threat, the Keybladers banded together to stop the Chasers. Warriors from many worlds came to the aid of their allies to destroy the darkness. Thus began the Keyblade War. Aradan the Chaser's Keyblade clashed with the steel another man's Keyblade. The one who wielded it jumped all around the armoured man with the grace and skill that only a master of martial-arts could pull off. He back flipped away from Aradan just in time to avoid a killing blow. Once at a safe distance, he faced the Chaser with determined eyes and readied his Keyblade, shaped like a scimitar. He was dressed in old fashioned clothes, with long black hair and had a face that reminded Mulan of her own people. Tenth Tiger was his Keyblade's name and from it dangled the keychain of strange Chinese symbol. He was calm and composed as Aradan approached, unflinching in the face of danger.
What the Chaser didn't notice was a small green Keyblade-wielding creature that rushed straight for him. He wore light brown robes and had large wilted ears. His Keyblade's name was One with the Force and was as green as his skin. The creature leapt for Aradan with no second thoughts, instantly meeting the Chaser's weapon with his own. Bounding, cascading, and hopping all around the Chaser with amazing speed, agility and swordsmanship that would put even King Mickey to shame. As he watched them dual, Sora couldn't help think he had seen that creature before...
Many fought the Chasers and many fell before them. After the theft of many Keyblades the Chasers had nearly become unstoppable. None were able to defeat them. In another scene, the Keybladers were once again brought back to the burning battlefield where all three Chasers stood amongst the now owner-less Keyblades. And as the Keyblade Wars progressed, it was doubtful anything would. All the Keyblades in the field faded away into pure energy that was channeled directly into the Chasers. Hundreds of Keyblades absorbed into their evil forms as the three laughed loudly and cruelly, the sound of them reverberating rough the air.
They stopped their laughter when they sensed an approaching presence. Sora's heart skipped a beat when they looked their way until he realized they weren't looking at them. He turned around curiously. There, in the distance, someone was approaching. Sora couldn't make it out through the flames and the heat but there was definitely something about the figure that struck a cord in Sora's brain. He could almost make him out now. Just a bit closer and...
The figure, the Chasers and the field all around them began to fade away. As everything was washed out like the laundry, they found themselves on the Shera once again. Sora's mouth hung open and tried to recollect what just happened.
"Well that was nice," Jack praised. "Do have any dating sims?"
"Wait a minute!" Sora cried. "That's it? That can't be it! I mean, what happened? Who won? The Keybladers did, right?"
"But the Keybladers had to have won!" Kairi exclaimed. "We wouldn't be here if they hadn't, right?"
"Yeah, but neither would the Chasers," sonic stated. Kairi frowned dejectedly.
"I apologize," Shelke said, entering the room through the door. She looked tired. Net diving must take a lot out of her. "The data is incomplete. The rest of the research is lost to me. I'm afraid I cannot tell you what happened all those years ago."
Sora sighed. "I can't believe they used to be Keybladers, just like us. And yet...they're monsters. How could it have happened?"
"Those without strong wills can easily be turned to evil," Mushu said thoughtfully. "Anger, hate, jealousy. All paths lead to darkness. Not even those of purest heart are immune to its influence. The Chasers are a prime example." Everybody gave him incredulous looks. "I mean, uh, I'm hungry where's the kitchen?"
Not for the first time, Sora's thoughts were drawn to Riku and why he had joined the darkness. He was jealous of him he had said. Jealous and angry. If Sora and Kairi hadn't saved him, brought him back to the light, what would have happened? Would Riku have become just like a Chaser? Sora shivered at the thought.
The view screen on the wall switched on and everyone looked expectantly. "Hey, guys!" Cid's grinning face spoke from the monitor. "If you're done with your little lesson, then get down to the bridge! We're approaching a world!" The screen changed to show a crescent moon shaped planet. From there they could see that the entire world was one big city. They could also see space ships flying too and fro. "I figure we can get some repairs to my baby down there! It's worth a shot! Come on!" With that, he switched off. Everyone shared glances before they rushed off to the bridge.
"I wonder if they've heard of Keyblades there?" Jack said aloud before he left the room. "I'm still looking into that worshiping thing! Rum offerings everyday! No, every half-hour!"
As Shelke was about to leave, Sora stopped her. "Thank you, Shelke. You were a real help today. Shalua would be proud." The little girl with the mind of an adult's eyes momentarily flashed pain. But as fast as it came, it was gone. She nodded a thanks and set out for the bridge.
As Sora left he couldn't help but wonder who that mysterious figure was. All he could see before Shelke ended the hologram was a glimpse of silver hair...
KHKHKHKH
Aradan the Chaser sighed as he strode through the shadowy steel halls. His cape, not cat-less flowed behind him as he walked. His mission didn't exactly go according to plan. While he had managed to put the fear of the darkness in them, he had not managed to come back with a single Keyblade. Not only that, he'd never hear the end of this.
He walked through a pair of sliding doors and into a huge chamber. Inside was a large cockpit window that had a full view of the stars in space. In the middle of the room was strange set of controls. Only two sleek metal pillars. Other than that, the room was completely empty. No one was inside as far as Aradan could see. For once, he thought he could actually gain some peace.
But luck wasn't on his side today.
"All hail the conquering hero!" laughed the annoying voice of Charon as he emerged from the shadows. Aradan sighed. "Oh, sorry Aradan! Thought you were someone else. Someone who didn't get his butt kicked by a bunch of kids! Ahahahahaha!" The Chaser with the accent shrieked with laughter at the other Chaser's expense. "Man, I can't believe you let them get away!"
"No more than you did," Aradan countered.
"Are you sure, Aradan?" Aradan's head turned to the other side of the room where from the shadows emerged the last female Chaser. "It's been a while since you last fought against a Keyblade. Perhaps you're just losing your touch."
"Brisen," Aradan acknowledged. "Have you all come just to bear witness to my failure?"
"Yup!" Charon chuckled. "I mean, they were right in your hands! All those Keyblades just ripe for the taking! You royally screwed up!"
"Complications arose. Including the meeting of an Ancient."
"What?" Brisen gasped. "That's impossible. They're gone. We destroyed every last one of them. You must be mistaken."
"There was no doubt about it. That magic was unmistakable. She even wielded the same weapon."
"She?" Charon laughed once more. "Oh, man! Don't tell me you got beaten by a girl! I've lost every bit of respect for you!" That sent Charon into a laughing fit.
"I wouldn't laugh, Charon," Brisen said. "It was your reckless actions that alerted them to our presence. Not only that, but you revealed to them our control over the Nobodies." Charon winced and stopped laughing.
"You got a problem, girly?" he growled, summoning his axe Keyblade. Brisen brought out her rapier Keyblade in turn.
"Enough!" a commanding voice hollered through the darkness. Charon and Brisen froze on the spot. "You were chosen by the Keyblade. A singular honour for only the greatest beings in the universe. Are you truly the great warriors you claim to be? Or are you nothing more than delinquents? Now cease your senseless squabbling!" Brisen nodded and put her Keyblade away but Charon was not so cooperative.
"You got some nerve, pal," he hissed at the shadows. "Where do you get off telling me what to do?"
"Maybe it's because he's our master," Brisen said dryly.
"He ain't the boss! He ain't nothing but an empty shell! A piece of leftover trash not worthy to pick the gunk out of my finger nails! And he treats us like we're his employees! I should just - urk!" Aradan's strong fingers gripped around Charon's throatstopping him from saying any more.
"Shell or not, he is still our master," he whispered with killer intent. "And you will show him the respect he deserves. Now put it away." He released the smaller man from his grasp. Charon growled and reluctantly put his Keyblade away.
"Thank you, Aradan," the voice complimented. "You are obviously the most dedicated of my servants." Aradan bowed on one knee as did Brisen and, again reluctantly, Charon.
"We live to serve you, Master," Aradan praised.
"That is what I like to hear. If what you say about me is true, when I am complete, your rewards will be great. But for that to happen, we need one more piece of the puzzle." The owner of the voice finally stepped into the light. His unique orange eyes pierced through the darkness. His spiky silver hair fell from his tanned skin. And he wore a black cloak that most people were all too familiar with.
The former leader of Organization XIII : Xemnas.
"And I'll deal with that myself," Xemnas said evilly. He walked over to the large window and stared outside into space. The Nobody smirked an evil and knowing smirk as he gazed out from the cockpit window of the large dragon shaped vessel as it flew through space, the same vessel that Sora and Riku had fought so hard to defeat. It flapped its giant metal wings and glided for parts unknown, carrying its cargo of some of the deadliest beings the universe had ever known.
And that concludes another chapter. Be sure to write nice reviews, adapt the original story (Darius Almighty's work) on DeviantArt, turn it into a webcomic or post the story on TV tropes or follow and favorite it. And remember may your heart be your guiding key!