A/N- Wow, I haven't updated this consistently in about a year. That said, expect future updates to be slower. I have, after all, been neglecting my other story for far to long.
That said, Happy Reading.
King of the Sky
Chapter III
Darkness Within, Light Without.
There was a moment of deathly silence as Sora and Chirithy stared down Anti-Sora. The geyser of Darkness clashing with the well of Light in the background.
Sora and Chirithy both winced as Anti-Sora suddenly roared at them and then practically blinked next to them.
The poor Ghost barely escaped his Guardian's dark counterpart by Transmatting out, and even then, the tip of one of his shell's triangles had been chipped.
Sora at least was able to react in some way, calling forth his Golden Gun as he dodged one of the swings, but it wasn't enough to avoid the remaining dozen or so attacks that Anti-Sora unleashed in the span of three seconds and sending Sora flying with more then a few injuries that would be fatal a hundred times over, even for some experienced Guardians.
Fortunately for Sora, he felt some of his old power seep into him the longer he stood in it's Light, so he was a little tougher, but only just enough to survive the initial barrage. However it also allowed him to empty his gun into his Anti form while he was open.
Sora coughed up blood and felt his bones snap as he hit the barrier surrounding the Station. He looked up and prepared to dodge however much he could, but Anti-Sora was writhing on the ground as Solar flames ate away at him.
Chirithy took the opportunity to quickly appear and heal Sora while he could "hold on, I'll- AH!" Chirithy was cut off as Sora grabbed him and bolted. Pumping as much Light into his legs as he could to avoid the ballistic missile that was a burning Anti-Sora.
Sora landed on his feet but had to use his slowly returning superhuman reaction time and speed to jump out of the way again "hide first, talk latter!" he yelled and Chirithy quickly fallowed his advice and vanished.
Sora quickly turned on his heel and crouched as he raised the Golden Gun, but Anti-Sora was already on him, unleashing another barrage as Sora once again unloaded point blank into him.
Sora collapsed, his body broken again as his darker self was also sent flying back but still alive "how is that guy still alive!?" Chirithy exclaimed as he once again healed Sora, but didn't waste time before vanishing again "that attack would have killed a Guardian several times over!" Chirithy continued as they watched Anti-Sora rise again.
Sora didn't have time to respond though, as he held tight to the still summoned Golden Gun and he was now very thankful that the well of Light was still open and basically giving him unlimited ammo.
Anti-Sora charged in with blinding speed that Sora was remarkably able to track and he fired his gun.
Only to miss all but one shot.
Sora grunted with equal parts pain and frustration, as he was sent flying once again. Sora really wasn't used to using guns. At least not one that had major recoil and didn't automatically track the target. It might not have seamed like it from his previous engagement with the Heartless, but it's kinda hard to miss when fighting point blank and with enemies in literally every direction.
Now he was fighting an enemy that was both smart enough to dodge, but was also capable of moving faster then the normal Human eye could see.
Sora coughed as he pushed himself up from the ground, only to be set upon again by his dark self. He dodged as best he could but he just couldn't keep up. His only saving grace was how powerful the Golden Gun was, but that didn't matter if he couldn't hit the target.
"Gah!" Sora grunted as he took a hit to the chest and felt his ribs collapse under the strain.
Sora's mind went into overdrive as his survival instincts kicked in. This was very bad. He couldn't keep up with Anti-Sora and he couldn't let Chirithy out to heal him, or he'd be exposed. Sora simply wasn't experienced enough in his new Light to handle this fight.
Sora looked up to his dark self as his vision tunneled no… he thought as a flame lit behind his eyes I'm not loosening here like this…and I'm not letting Chirithy die to my own Darkness! Sora screamed within his mind as that fire grew and surged outward. Sora then held his Golden Gun up and gripped it tightly, until cracks started to form on the grip.
Anti-Sora charged at him and Sora yelled, as with the last of his strength, he then shattered the gun in his hands and drove the resulting inferno into the ground, causing it to erupt in a well of Solar flames.
And then the light in his eyes faded as he slumped over and all went black.
The sound of a hawk screeching filled his ears as light filled his vision.
"It's my good luck charm. Promise to bring it back to me, ok"
A familiar voice rang out like a melody.
"This time, let me protect you"
Imagines flashed though his vision.
A girl with rose red hair.
An old cave drowning of two kids sharing a fruit.
A silver haired boy standing over him with a practice sword.
A good luck charm made of sea shells.
A promise to keep.
"No matter how far away we are, we'll always be connected"
FLASH!
"Gah!" Sora gasped as life returned to him and he scrambled to his feet in a frenzy "w-what…" he stuttered "eyes up Guardian, we're not finished yet!" Chirithy interrupted his train of thought before vanishing again and Sora looked around.
The well of flames he had ignited was still roaring up into the sky, and Anti-Sora was pacing outside of it like a caged tiger.
Sora knew his little sanctuary wouldn't last forever, but he had to take a moment to get a grip on his emotions.
Being told Guardians died and revived on a regular basis was one thing. Actually experiencing it for the first time was another matter entirely.
Needless to say, it left Sora a little rattled. But he actually moved passed that fairly quickly as fight or flight, kicked back in, with Anti-Sora stabbing into the pillar of flames occasionally, only to scream in pain and withdraw.
Sora felt something inside him as he stared down the dark imitation.
He felt embarrassed.
Sora may not have been able to remember everything, but he just knew he had fought stronger enemies before. He knew he was better then this, so why had he been so easily killed. Why couldn't he keep up.
Anti-Sora screamed as it plunged it's sword into the flames for a moment and the well seamed to shrink a little, causing Sora to lean away from the blade "how the heck is he so powerful!" Chirithy exclaimed in exasperation and a little fear.
And that's when it clicked for Sora.
That's when he finally understood, that this thing in front of him, really was a mirror reflection of him. Anti-Sora was so powerful because Sora had been that powerful. That was HIS power that was being used against him and that was HIS sword.
Sora had basically been reduced back to square one, while this guy was practically maxed out.
Sora clinched a shaking fist as he stared down his doppelgänger and for a moment he thought he saw a silver haired teen in his place, which only caused the fire in his chest to burn hotter.
"Uh, Sora?" Chirithy said with concern as Anti-Sora stabbed his blade though the fires, stopping only inches from the original's face. And yet Sora didn't so much as flinch.
What Chirithy might have thought was anger at first, turned out to be something else though as a determined smile spread across Sora's face.
He felt something burning in him he hadn't in a long time. A competitiveness and desire not to be outdone that was further stoked by the Solar flames.
I will not loose to this thing…not while my friend's life is on the line! he though as he reached out to the Light that surged up from the well and sucked the remaining fires back up into his hand, along with the Light from the original well, and he reformed his Golden Gun, this time pouring everything he had into it as he waited for the rage monster to do what it always did.
It charged at him with a feral scream. But this time Sora was ready. He fired once, and that was all he needed. One overcharged shot that let out a shockwave of fire in it's wake and pushed Anti-Sora back.
It wasn't over yet though. Sora knew that. He knew he needed more. He needed power he was familiar with.
"No matter how far away we are, we'll always be connected"
The words from his vision replayed in his head. His own voice speaking words he didn't remember saying but felt resonate deep within him and he let his hand moved to his cest "that's right. We're all connected to each other" he muttered, even as Anti-Sora came at him again.
Sora held his hand to his heart as his counterpart dashed to him as a blur and a light began to shine from within as Anti-Sora swung his blade.
Only to completely miss Sora as there was a sudden flash and another station appeared above them, with an image of a silver haired teen on it and Sora vanished in a flash of purple light and what looked almost like broken glass.
BANG!
Anti-Sora screamed as Solar fire burned into him, and he looked back, only to see Sora glow again and dash away with speed equal to his.
"Whoa, what the heck!?" Chirithy exclaimed in shock as he was dragged along for the ride. Sora didn't answer though, as he smiled up at the other Station and felt another Light filled the void he had reached for before, when he still couldn't summon his Golden Gun "thanks Riku" he whispered as he felt a familiar power corse though his veins.
Flow Motion.
"Try and keep up with me now!" Sora taunted as Anti-Sora charged in, head first, like the feral beast it was and Sora used his Air-step to dashed away with the same speed. Hopping all around and firing at Anti-Sora before moving again. The both of them leaving zigzagging trails of Light and Darkness all over the Stataion.
As this game of cat and mouse continued on though, Sora began to notice that no matter how many shots he fired, his Anti form just wouldn't die "man, how many shots can this guy take?" Sora complained.
That's when Chirithy finally took notice of the geyser of Darkness again "Sora, look at the Darkness spilling out!" he said and Sora spared a glance as soon as he finished his Air-step.
And that's when he saw a tendril of Darkness split off and meld with the floor, like a shadow and shoot to his Anti form, filling in the gap that was burned away by Sora's Light "you gotta be kidding me!" Sora exclaimed before dashing away again.
It would seam the two were trapped in a stalemate. Sora would draw Light from the well to keep fighting, and Anti-Sora would do the same with the dark fountain that was spewing up into the sky.
"We have to seal it up if we want to win" Chirithy advised and Sora didn't hesitate to take aim and fire at it.
However, in the first sign of intelligence it had show so far, Anti-Sora intercepted the shot. Deflecting it off it's blade.
Sora groaned as he prepared to Air-step away again. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep this up though. His legs were aching and his Light was starting to burn him a little. He needed to end this soon "I got an idea. Dash by the geyser and then keep shadow butt busy" Chirithy chimed in.
Sora hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to trust his friend and he gave a nod. He then bent his legs and let the purple glow of Riku's Flow Motion, wash over him again.
Sora dashed by the Geyser again, but this time a little slower. Just enough for Anti-Sora to take the bait and fallow him "ok, now what!?" Sora asked as he focused on dodging his Anti form.
No answer came to him though and Sora's eyes widened with concern "Chirithy!?" he called out "busy!" the Ghost called back…
From the fountain of Darkness.
Sora gasped and glanced over to see his Ghost shining his Light on the fountain, hoping to keep it at bay, and every time it sent out a tendril, he quickly chased it down and shot a beam of Light at it "I got this end, you do your thing!" Chirithy called.
Sora didn't like the idea of putting his Ghost in the line of fire like this, but he gave the little guy a nod and a smile before focusing back on Anti-Sora.
Now he was starting to see results. As each shot that connected, burned away more of the shadow and didn't reform. It's movements become sluggish, it's strikes less powerful, until it looked like it was holding on by a thread.
Unfortunately, Sora was wearing down too, and eventually his luck ran out as Anti-Sora caught up with him and knocked him to the ground before he could escape.
Sora groaned as he prepared to defend himself, and Anti-Sora lifted it's blade up to strike, but stopped before it could swing.
Perhaps it's waining supply of Darkness and with it, the endless rage it induced, allowed the shadow to actually stop and THINK for a moment, because it looked to it's own burned and barely holding together form. It then looked to it's source of power and saw the Ghost holding it at bay.
Sora's eyes widened as he say his dark self make the connection and lifted his gun to fire, but Anti-Sora slapped it away before screaming at the Ghost and dashing for it "NO! Chirithy!" Sora called out and made to fallow, but his shadow looked back at him and raised his sword to the sky as the tip glowed yellow.
Suddenly, Sora smelled a hint of ozone in the air and instinct screamed at him to dodge, but even as he leaped out of the path of the golden lightning that came down, some still arced to his body and he screamed in pain as his leg went numb.
"Sora!" Chirithy called with concern but yelped as he was forced to doge Anti-Sora's blade. The Ghost tried to fly up, out of the shadow's range, but it just lifted the blade again and this time a vortex of wind formed and tossed the screaming Ghost around before sending him to the ground.
"No!" Sora yelled as he re-summon his Golden Gun while trying to force his limp leg up, and fired at Anti-Sora.
The shadow just deflected the shots though as it ran up and snatched the Ghost out of the air.
Sora saw the fear in Chirithy's eye as he stared up at the reforming, dark reflection of his Guardian.
Sora felt his heart drop into his knotted stomach as a feeling of helplessness washed over him, no matter how many shots he fired, as they were deflected.
Sora felt tears start to form in his eyes no…no, no, no! I can't let it end like this! Sora thought desperately as he kept firing and racking his brain for a solution.
"This time, let me protect you"
Sora's eyes widened as his vision replayed again, and without thinking, he dropped the Golden Gun and shoved his hand into his pocket and yanked out the first thing he felt.
Meanwhile, Chirithy was vibrating with absolute terror, in Anti-Sora's clawed hand. They had been so close. He had finally found his Guardian, just for it to end like this?
Before ether of them could find out the answer to that one, there was a sudden flash of beautiful and pure Light.
And the next thing Chirithy knew, Anti-Sora was screaming as the claw holding him was severed and the shadow was sent flying and Chirithy quickly found himself in another set of far more gentle hands.
He looked up to see Sora standing there with an intense look on his face, and in his hand, a beautiful weapon of Light.
Shaped much like a sword but blunt, and made of silver, with two parallel rods for the shaft, two wings for the hand guard and the Japanese kanji for light, on the end, like a hook, with the good luck charm that Sora carried, hanging from a chain attached to the handle.
The Oathkeeper, Keyblade.
Chirithy couldn't help but gawk at the weapon for a moment, but quickly turned his attention to the screaming Anti-Sora.
The real Sora simply swatted the shadow's attack aside and got some sweet payback as he unleashed a barrage of attacks, sending Anti-Sora flying again.
Sora then let the blade hang at his side "hands. Off. Of my Ghost!" He yelled as he gripped Oathkeeper tightly.
Anti-Sora struggled to it's feet but managed as the Darkness leaped from the fountain to restore him.
Chirithy did the Ghost equivalent of a shiver as he got over the shock of what had happened "Sora I…" he trailed off with a little shame at getting caught, but Sora looked to him with a confident smile "it's ok. You did good. Just leave the rest to me" he said with no hint of doubt or fear.
Chirithy was stunned by the confidence his Guardian exuded, but gave a nod before vanishing.
Sora then looked to his counterpart and held Oathkeeper at the ready. Anti-Sora screamed in kind as it brandished it's own blade and crouched in an almost animalistic stance, and the two stared each other down for a moment.
Then they were gone in a flash.
Sparks filled the area as they matched each other blow for blow, with blinding speed and Sora felt his confidence spike.
This was a weapon he knew. This was a power he knew.
Now he could fight. Now he could win.
But that still left the geyser of Darkness, spewing in the background and clashing with the Light that rose from the floor beneath them. And Sora knew he couldn't keep this up much longer. He was exhausted and running on borrowed power.
He needed to end this now.
So as he traded blows with his dark self, blocking and striking in a blur of motion and whittling the monster down as fast as it reformed, he built up power.
He pulled from both the momentum of the fight and the well of Light below him, until he suddenly flexed and an aura of light formed around him before shattering like glass. And when he emerged, his clothes had changed colors to white and black with the light kanji stitched on.
But more importantly, he was now stronger, faster, and his attacks now carried a devastating Light with each strike as he made full use of Light Form.
The power difference was now so great that Anti-Sora couldn't reform fast enough to keep up. And it began to get desperate.
It jumped away and summoned more lightning to strike Sora, but he simply turned into a ball of Light and dashed up to Anti-Sora, dodging the lightning and diving into another set of attacks.
Anti-Sora tried to strike back but Sora just grabbed the sword with his free hand "this is mine" he declared before Anti-Sora pulled it free to try and strike again, only for Sora to knock it out of his hand with Oathkeeper, sending it spinning though the air until it imbedded it's self in the ground, far way from them.
Sora prepared to finish it. All it would take is one final blow. But his dark self wasn't quite finished yet.
It let out a honorific screech that made Sora wince and took the opportunity to meld with the shadows on the ground and speed away.
Sora half expected it to go for the sword, but instead it went for the geyser, and all the Dark power it could give.
Suddenly, Anti-Sora burst up from the geyser again, only this time he was one with it and he was massive. At least as big as a Darkside Heartless, but missing it's legs, leaving it just the upper body, rising out of the ground.
Now even Chirithy was starting to get annoyed "ohcome on! We're really going with the "this isn't even my final form!" Cliché" he said while mimicking an anime villein's voice. Anti-Sora roared at them, almost as if in response "this is starting to feel like one of those old Japanese games where the boss just won't die" he deadpanned in exasperation.
Sora couldn't help but agree, even if he didn't fully understand all of the terms used. But as he looked up at the super charged enemy, he suddenly got an idea.
He then looked down to the well of Light below him before looking up to his now massive adversary "if he can get a boost, then so can we!" he said with a smirk and Chirithy would have done the same if he could, as he picked up on his Guardian's line of thought.
Anti-Sora roared as it brought it's fist down on them and Sora dashed away as a ball of Light and as soon as he reformed, he reached deep into the well as he reached into himself and felt the flames leap to his fingertips. Eager to devour the Darkness within him.
Sora thrust is left hand into the air as he held Oathkeeper in his right and the Solar flames took form.
But this time something else happened.
Devine Light met Purest Light, and the two wove themselves together in a harmonious dance of power.
Suddenly, the Solar flames that engulfed Sora bled into silver as the revolver formed, also forged of silver, with a cross on the side. The flames didn't stop there though, as they spread down and enveloped Oathkeeper. And finally, Sora's hair turned pure white as his eyes glowed silver and a single, ethereal wing, sprouted from the right side of Sora's back. Memories of him and Kairi that he could no longer grasp but still felt deep within, reflected in each feather.
The one winged angel hovered over the ground in all his flaming glory, as he gave off a powerful radiance. A holy blade in one hand, and a divine peacemaker in the other.
"Whoa…" Chirithy trailed off as he witnessed and to a degree felt the transformation.
Sora smirked as he spun the Silver Peacemaker on his finger "alright, let's finish this" he said with an echoy voice.
Anti-Sora roared as Darknesses accumulated in it's fists and it brought them both down on the Station, sending out waves and waves of Darkness.
Sora wasn't down there anymore though, as a magic circle appeared above Anti-Sora and the real one appeared out of it and aimed his Peacemaker down at the abomination and opened fire.
Rays of silver radiance, poured from the barrel and struck true, severing one of Anti-Sora's arms and setting him ablaze in holy, silver flame.
Anti-Sora then looked up and opened it's previously indistinguishable maw, letting loose purple flames.
Sora simply flew into another portal though, and reappeared closer to the ground and immediately he dashed forward, leaving a trail of silver Light and feathers as he sliced clean though Anti-Sora's other arm.
The monster roared before slamming it's stump into the ground and black spikes erupted from it to impale Sora, but the Guardian moved with blinding speed, forgoing teleporting as he raced around the Station as a blur and sliced every spike into tiny pieces.
Anti-Sora tried spewing flames again but Sora just rapped his wing around himself and a shell of Light formed around him, causing the dark flames to just roll off him.
Once the flames died, Sora allowed himself to drop until he was floating just above the ground. He then held up Oathkeeper and flipped it into a reverse grip "game over" he said with a smile before pulling the weapon behind his back and letting loose a volley of silver rounds into Anti-Sora and then dashing forward and slicing though the dark creature, over and over again, in a fashion similar to his old Sonic Blade ability, until finally he sliced though the trunk of the monster.
The shadow roared as it fell. It's form dissipating as the silver flames devoured it.
Sora then flew up and let his Peacemaker fall from his grip and dissipate as he held Oathkeeper with both hands before letting out a yell and diving down, plunging the blade deep into the source of the Darkness and letting the holy flames surge though the blade and devour all, until not a hit of Darknesses remained within the Station, which shined even brighter in response.
Sora breathed heavily as he felt his power finally reach it's limit and the silver bled out of the flames that enshrouded him before they too went out. His clothes, eyes, and hair returned to normal and the wing slowly vanished as the feathers fell from it.
Then, tears formed in Sora's eyes as he watched Oathkeeper's metal become a dull gray until it crumbled into dust in his hands, leaving only the good luck charm that hung from it's chain "thank you…Kairi" he whispered as he held the charm reverently in his hands.
Chirithy appeared and looked to the charm "oh no…is it…" he started but Sora smiled at him "no…at least not permanently…it just means I wouldn't be using Oathkeeper for a while" he explained.
Sora then grunted as he stood back up on unsteady legs and smiled at his Ghost "so, was that awesome or what?" he said cheekily and Chirithy just stared blankly for a moment "ARE YOU KIDING ME! THAT WAS AMAZING!" he exclaimed while spinning his shell.
Sora laughed as he rolled his sore shoulder. His eyes widened though and he grabbed Chirithy, holding the Ghost protectively behind him "hay, what are you……you……you have got to be kidding me" he trailed off as they saw Anti-Sora, laying there on the ground, broken and beaten.
Sora hummed in thought before letting his Ghost free and he started walking over to Anti-Sora "what are you doing?" Chirithy asked as Sora stood over his dark doppelgänger, who weakly tried to claw at him, to not effect.
Sora stared thoughtfully down at Anti-Sora as his actual shadow overlapped with him "you are a part of me" he began and Chirithy tilted his shell in confusion "everything you are was born from the Darkness in my heart…everything you are…all the power you wielded…was once mine" he continued. Sora then flexed his finger and the Golden Gun appeared once again in his hand "everything you are…I could become…" Sora said, somewhat darkly as the shadow looked up at him with rage.
"But I don't hate you" he said and his trademarked smile returned "I'm not doing this because I want to destroy you or lock you away. Trying to deny your own Darkness just makes it stronger. Makes it dangerous" Sora continued as he leveled the Golden Gun with his shadow's face "I'm doing this to be in control again. Not to purge you, but to put you back where you belong" he paused to let his shadow finish screaming "so…see you around" he said and pulled the trigger.
The Solar flames quickly consumed all that remained of Anti-Sora, leaving only the original there, staring at his true shadow.
Sora then took a deep breath and let it out as he felt the storm in his heart subsided. The light and Darkness within him returning to proper balance.
"So…are we finished here?" Chirithy asked and Sora chuckled "not just yet" he said and turned around to see Anti-Sora's corrupted sword, sticking out of the ground.
Sora walked up to it and took a deep breath before reaching down and grasping it tightly.
Sora hesitated for only a moment, before pulling the blade free and holding it to the sky as he called forth his Solar flames and poured them into the weapon.
The flames slowly licked their way up the weapon, eating away at the corruption until Light began to shine from underneath. Then the Light burst out, clearing the rest of the corruption away and revealing the silver and gold key that hid underneath.
Sora's first and true Keyblade.
The Kingdom Key.
Sora smiled as he looked the weapon over "it's a…key…"Chirithy commented and Sora smirked at him "oh, I thought you said it was awesome before" he jabbed, jokingly.
Chirithy looked like he was about to give his own rebuttal, but Sora looked down at the still glowing station and smirked before hopping into the air and gravity seamed to loose it's effect as he slowly drifted up and twisted in the air so he was facing the Station.
Sora then took the Keybalde in both hands and pointed it at the Station of Waking and the tip of the key began to glow as a Keyhole appeared in the center of the Station.
Sora fired the beam into the Keyhole and the distinctive sound of a door unlocking, range out and suddenly all the Light was released from the station. It shot up and swirled around Sora before flowing into his heart and Sora felt his powers returning to him. Not all of it, he was still notably weaker, but the Light Within and the power of the Keyblade were once again his.
As the last of the Light, lifted from the Station of Waking and into Sora, Chirithy floated up next to him and they both looked down at the picture that had been hidden underneath.
A picture of Sora, sleeping in the curve of the glass, with the Kingdom Key held in his drooping hand and pictures of his closest friends next to his face.
However, they noticed a sparkle on part of the Station and suddenly the picture changed a little. Sora's free hand now rested on the upper part of his chest, cradling a sleeping Ghost. And in one corner of the Station, the symbol of the Gunslinger appeared.
The two stared for a moment, pondering the significance of the change.
Before ether could speak though, a screech filled the air and they both looked to see an ethereal hawk fly by them. Injured and flying as if it were half asleep, but it put in the effort to fly past them "that hawk" Chirithy said in wander as they watched it disappear into a Keyhole that suddenly formed.
Sora may not have understood the significance of the hawk, but knew what to do with the Keyhole, and he lifted up his Keyblade and repeated the process he had with the Station and the Keyhole and the space around it shattered like glass, leaving a gateway of swirling colors open for them.
Sora looked to his Ghost "so, ready for more adventure?" he asked and Chirithy gave a sigh "I still don't understand what's going on, but I'll take adventure any day…especially if it's with my Guardian" he replied.
Sora smirked as he held up a fist and Chirithy gave it a bump before they floated up to the portal and the adventure that waited beyond.
A/N - So, the boss fight is done.
So, where would you like to see Sora begin this new grand adventure. What planet or otherworldly plain of existence do you want to see next. Let me know in the comments.