King of the Sky
Chapter VII
People Of The Reef.
Sora found himself waking though a graveyard.
No headstones or great monuments decorated the orange desert terrain though. Only the rusted and decaying forms of countless Keyblades, sticking out of the ground, marked the resting places of their former wielders.
Sora felt something gripping at his heart as he walked the path through the Keyblade Graveyard. He pushed onward though, eventually coming to a large white door, just standing in the middle of the graveyard that opened for him as he approached and he walked through without question.
Sora next found himself standing atop a large building, overlooking a beautiful city, built upon several islands, connected by cables and gondolas.
Each island had an identical design. The buildings tiered up, towards the center of each island, making them look like mountains of marble and windmills.
Sora looked around at the familiar and yet alien world. Taking in the beauty and eeriness of the lifeless city. It's streets and buildings pristine and spotless, and yet completely deserted.
"Of all the places to be sent" an old voice suddenly spoke and Sora turned to see an old man with a bald head, pointed ears, yellow eyes and small white chin beard, wearing a black, long coat, standing behind him "to the nexus from which all worlds spring forth. The former seat of power for Keyblade wielders. Scala Ad Caelum!" The man proclaimed as he spread his arms out, as if presenting the world to Sora.
Sora did nothing though as a phantom of himself stepped forward and summoned the Kingdom Key while the mysterious man summed his own Keyblade. A deadly looking, black weapon, with jagged edges that actually looked sharp as opposed to other Keybales. The teeth of the key, a menacing hook and a blue, predatory eye at the end of the blade, where the hook met the body of the weapon.
Sora watched as his phantom and the man did battle. The man dawning dark armor that resembled a goat. Sora's phantom changed his Keybale several times throughout the fight but he couldn't remember them and the memory blurred and skipped through the fight so quickly that he couldn't keep up with them or get a good look at them.
Eventually the old man summed a new key. This one looked like two Kingdom Keys, crossed and with a green blade protruding from the joining.
The next thing Sora knew, the city, literally folded in on it's self, forming a box around the combatants. Gravity inverting and twisting constantly as the two fought.
The fight skipped forward quickly though. Leaving the ground in favor of the moonlit skies, upon a massive, magical glyph, like a platform.
Sora could barely keep up with the battle. The vision going by so fast that it was over as quickly as it had began, and before he knew it, Sora was back on the highest building. His opponent beaten and barely standing.
The memory shifted in an instant though, with the man standing before him with something almost like pride on his face, as he held the massive Keyblade out for Sora "very well done" he said and Sora hesitantly reached out and took the blade.
Sora gasped as he suddenly found himself on his Station of Waking and looked around in confusion before his eyes landed on a man in a black coat, identical to Luxu's but somehow Sora could tell it wasn't him.
The man in the coat clapped a few times as his silky voice rang out from under the impenetrable shadow of his hood "congratulations!…Keyblade Master…"
"Gah!" Sora gasped awake.
He blinked a few times as his mind retreated from dreamland what a weird dream he thought with confusion.
Said confusion hit him for two different reasons though. The first and obvious reason being his dream.
The second being that the world was upside down and Sora felt a pain in his neck.
"Rise and shine Guardian" a voice called out and Sora looked up to see Chirithy laying on his chest. It was then Sora realized that his head was hanging off the side of the bed he had been lent by the Awoken. His body sprawled out and a little drool ruining down the side of his mouth, that he quickly wiped away.
"Chirithy?…how long have I been out?" Sora asked as he stretched and sat up, letting Chirithy drop into his cupped hands "about six hours. You were out pretty much the moment you hit the bed" the Ghost replied while Sora rolled the stiffness out of his neck and gave a yawn "you sure do sleep a lot" Chirithy commented as he floated out of his Guardian's hands and Sora stood to his feet "well, considering how much I've been fighting without brakes, I'd say I've earned a little sleep" Sora said with a chuckle.
Chirithy just shook his shell, but he was actually kinda concerned though. So far, Sora had yet to actually get a healthy eight hours of sleep and he had been fighting quite a lot.
Meanwhile, Sora was looking around his room. The architecture of the Reef was certainly interesting. Mostly being a city, or rather, several cities, cobbled together from ship wreckage from the collapse and asteroids, so his room looked a lot like a starship's bunk.
A luxury ship's bunk admittedly, but still.
It was definitely a stark contrast to the Dreaming City. Sora couldn't help but let his memory wander back to that beautiful place I hope we can go back there some day he thought. It really was a shame that the Awoke had used Transmat to jump them around the City until they were out, so Sora only got to see a little of it.
His reminiscing just ended up leading Sora back to his unusual dream though.
No, not a dream…a memory.
Distorted and twisted by the dreamworld but a memory all the same. Perhaps something about running around in the Ascendent Plain and then the Dreaming City, had drawn out his memories of Scala Ad Caelum.
Sora let his gaze fall to his nightstand and his effects. Kairi's good luck charm and his busted phone. Perhaps his other memories would fallow in time.
Sora was pulled from his musing though, as a rumbling filled the room and Sora blushes as he gripped his stomach "ok, how is it fair that I don't age anymore, can grow back limbs and can be revived just like I was was before, but I can still starve to death, even after being revived from it" he grumbled as his hunger caught up with him.
Chirithy just gave the Ghost equivalent of a shrug "who knows. We barely understand how this stuff works ether" he replied as he floated over to Sora "at least you CAN still eat. Now get dressed and we may be able to get you some food before they come get you for whatever trials they're setting up" he said.
Sora just blinked in confusion though as he looked down at his clothes "but…I already have clothes…" he said and Chirithy just rolled his eye "yah, old cloths. And besides, you're a Guardian now, so you might as well look the part" he replied.
Chirithy then looked to the metal desk in the room and Transmatted an armored space suit and pistol, onto the desk "the Queen's people decrypted your Engrams while you were out" Chirithy explained and Sora looked over the suit. It wasn't anything fancy, just a skintight, grey suit with white armor over the chest, gauntlets and boots, with a fighter pilot style helmet.
The pistol was much the same, being just a small, simple thing. Gunmetal grey and rather old looking.
None of it was particularly good in quality but it at least appeared dependable and Sora smiled as he went to change into the suit. He quickly stopped though and blushed before looking to his Ghost, who was just floating there, watching him "um, do you mind?" he asked.
Chirithy just blinked though "mind what?" he asked innocently. Sora just shifted uncomfortably for a few moments as he glanced between his Ghost and his clothes. Eventually, Chirithy realized what the problem was though "oh! Sorry, sorry!" he said as he turned around and Transmatted out of the room, leaving Sora alone.
The Guardian sighed as he shucked off his hoodie and set his personal effects aside. What little he had at least.
Meanwhile, Chirithy just floated outside the door to their room in the hotel-like building.
It didn't take long for the door to open and Sora to step out.
The suit was a little baggy on him, but it fit well enough, with his new pistol strapped to his left thigh. He opted not to wear the helmet and instead held it under his right arm while he held his old shirt, shorts, gloves and shoes in his other hand. Sora still wore his hoodie over the suit though and his crown necklaces was still visible around his neck.
Chirithy chirped happily as he looked Sora over "lookin' good Guardian!" he complimented and Sora smiled in response but he frowned as he shifted on his feet and looked to his oversized yellow shoes, hanging from his fingers "yah, but I really wish I could wear my old shoes with this suit" he said.
Chirithy blinked a few times. He was honestly amazed Sora was able to walk in those things at all. But if that's what he was comfortable with "well, I'm sure we can figure something out once we get to the City and get you some better gear" he said and Sora smiled in response.
Chirithy quickly stored Sora's old clothes and helmet before taking his place over his shoulder as the Guardian got ready to head out. He paused mid step though and looked to both sides of the door to his room, where two of the guards from before stood "have…you two been standing here the whole time?" He asked with concern.
The two guards looked to him "we've been working in shifts" one said simply and Sora sighed with relief "that's good. I'd hate to make you guys have to stand here waiting for me for so long" he said with a smile and the two guard started shifting uneasily on their feet damn it, why does he have to be so innocent they both thought as they began fallowing the Guardian down the metal corridor.
Navigating the capital city of the Reef was an…interesting experience, to say the least. The two guards ended up being, oddly willing, impromptu guides, and by the time they found a relatively nice but inexpensive place to stop and eat, Sora had practically befriended the two guards, though they wouldn't admit it, and it was proving very hard to refuse his numerous offers to buy them something to eat as well.
Sora was currently finishing off a sandwich of some kind. He wasn't quite sure exactly what it was made of, though he was certain he could identify a few ingredients. He was curious where the Awoken got their food, out here in space. Maybe the Dreaming City or something similar?
Sora set those thoughts aside though as he took a sip from his drink and looked around. He was kind of amazed at how the Awoken could take ship wreckage and junk, and put it together in a way that almost looked regal. Looking around, you wouldn't be able to tell it was anything other then a five star restaurant, aside from the grey and purple metal, covered by tapestries and banners. Even outside, you could still see open plazas, market squares and homes, in spite of the open vacuum of space being visible in most directions and the "land" being held together by cabling, cobbled together bridges and chunks of asteroids.
One thing struck Sora as odd though, as he looked around. Aside from his guards and the restaurant staff, no one was here. That, in and of it's self, might not be odd, but even outside, while walking the streets and corridors of the Reef, people had been scarce or shied away from him. He even saw a few peeking out from their windows at times, only to duck away or pull their kids inside their houses when he looked their way.
Sora hummed as he looked out the window at the little square "hay, is something wrong or is there something happening today?" he asked one of the guards. Both of which grew a little uneasy at the question "how do you mean?" one of them asked and Sora scratched the back of his head with a downcast expression "well, everyone I've seen so far looks like they're scared or something, and I haven't seen many to begin with" he said.
The two guards looked uneasy as they glanced at each other "it's your Light" one of them eventually said and Sora looked to her with confusion "my Light?" he asked and the guard nodded "we Awoken, are born of both Light and Dark. Even the most unskilled of us can feel it and you…" she trailed off for a moment "you're too bright, for lack of a better term" she finished.
Sora blinked as he sat up in his chair and looked to his two guards "I'm…too bright?…" he trailed off himself, as he pondered that. His other guard gave a light groan in response "it's almost unbearable. Being around you is like walking next to the sun, and it's making everyone uncomfortable. Plus you're the first Guardian to actually walk this deep in the Reef, with it's actual people, so that doesn't help ether" she explained.
Sora's head fell a little as his eyes turned downcast "oh…sorry, I didn't realize" he apologized with slightly subdued voice, causing the two guards to shift uncomfortably damn it, why is he so pure!? one of them thought as guilt began to grip them, in spite of their better judgment.
Before ether of them could think of anything to say though, the boy just bounced back with a smile "well, I won't change anything just sitting around here" he said cheerfully and hopped up, out of his chair, much to the surprise of his guards, who fallowed him outside.
Sora took a deep breath as he stepped outside and rested his hands behind his head. The Guardian looked around at the almost desolate square. The emptiness of it feeling almost in opposition to the boy's very nature.
Before he could ponder that any further though, he heard something bouncing in his direction and looked down to see by his feet, a small yellow ball, with a blue strip around the middle and two red stars on ether side.
Sora looked down at the inflatable ball for a moment before reaching down and picking it up. He froze though, as he heard a small gasp and looked over to see a small child, no more then six. Her skin was blue and her eyes glowed yellow. Her hair was black and reached her mid back and she wore a blue dress.
The girl held her hands close to her chest as she trembled slightly while watching Sora. Not really knowing what to do or if she even should do anything.
Sora was somewhat concerned where here parents were, but didn't let it show. Instead he just gave a smile as he kneeled down to her level and held out the ball, before gently tossing it back to her.
The ball bounced the distance between them until it landed at her feet and the girl hesitated before reaching down to pick it back up. She then looked up at Sora again, with bewildered eyes. Sora just kept his smile though and the girl gave her own timid smile in return, before sending the ball bouncing back.
Sora laughed a little as he caught the ball and sent it back. It wasn't until his third pass, that he noticed the group of children peeking out from behind the building, just past the girl.
Very soon though, the group of children, probably the girl's friends, began to come out and the windows and doors around him were cracked open so the people could see the chain reaction of events that was about to take place.
Later, Petra Venj, was tapping her finger against her opposite arm anxiously, as she walked to where the guards had reported the Light Bearer to be. She didn't quite know what to make of the young Guardian. She didn't outright dislike or distrust him like Uldren, in fact she was probably one of the only Reefborn who'd had positive relations with Guardians before, such as Cayde. But she also knew the effect a Light Bearer could have on her people and this Guardian was especially bright and in a heavily populated area, so her mind was running wild with all the things that could go wrong.
Petra was so engrossed in contemplating all the worst case scenarios, that she didn't notice the commotion that was going on until she was almost in the square she knew the Guardian to be.
"Oh no" she muttered as she quickened her pace but slowed again as she got closer and heard…laughter?…
Petra froze as she entered the square and her jaw promptly dropped.
Where she had envisioned confusion, mistrust and paranoia, she instead found an atmosphere more reminiscent of a festival. And at the center of it was Sora, hanging upside down from one of the trees planted around the square, by one leg and with Awoken children laughing and swinging from his outstretched arms and the Ghost flying around, just out of the reach of another group of kids.
It took a moment but Petra eventually started walking again as she moved into the crowd. Clearly a lot had happed that she was not privy to though, if the music and dancing were any indication, along with the windblown hair of some of the laughing crowd, the swirling patterns of smug marks on the ground where Sora had been performing, and the tables that the local restaurants had brought out and set up to start serving people.
Petra just stood in the crowd and stared for a moment what is happening? she thought a little numbly. She eventually saw the guards assigned to watch the Guardian and approached them and they quickly dropped their drinks as discreetly as possible and saluted. Petra noticed of corse but elected to ignore it for now "at ease" she said before glancing around at the sudden gathering "how did…" she trailed off but one of the guards held up her hand "don't ask. We don't understand how it happened and we saw the whole thing" she answered.
Petra sighed as she rubbed her face what is this Guardian? she thought as she turned to the boy, surrounded by laughing and playing children.
Eventually, Petra composed herself again and walked up to the Guardian. The little party slowing to a pause as she approached and Sora finally noticed her "oh, hi! Petra right?" he asked cheerfully and still hanging upside down.
Petra looked a little uncertain how to respond as the children released Sora and he gave an elegant flip before landing in front of Petra, earning more laughter and clapping from the kids. Petra shook her head clear though as she focused on the boy "Variks is finished preparing your trials and is waiting for you" she explained.
Sora blinked before smiling again "oh, ok" he said before turning back to the running group of kids "Chirithy! It's time to go!" he called out and one of the kids, who had just caught the Ghost, turn to face him along with all the other kids "aww, already" they all whined, Chirithy among them.
Sora chuckle as he knelt down to their level "sorry guys, but it's time for us to go" he said as they gathered around and the boy released Chirithy to float up to Sora. The Ghost's shell sagging a little in disappointment.
Sora laughed as he gave a few head pats and waved goodbye "see yah later!" he called as he started fallowing a stunned Petra away from the crowd and the kids and adults alike all gave their own goodbyes before the music and dancing started up again.
Petra just stared back at the slowly shrinking sight of the square, then down at a smiling Sora and pouting Chirithy what is happening to the Reef? she thought as she lead them to the waiting Prison of Elders.
A/N - If any of you noticed the Pixar reference I added, your childhood was awesome.