**Set Post Kingdom Hearts 3**
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Hinata walked ahead of the group, the echo of her footsteps resonating through the walls of the cave. Water dripped from the rocks hanging from the ceiling, rippling the puddles pooled between the cracks in the floor. The roar of the waterfall pouring over the entrance to the cave vibrated through the tunnel with its voracity, making it difficult to remain calm as they ventured further in.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Sam asked, sighing when there wasn't a response. "Hinata?"
"Hmm?" Hinata glanced over her shoulder, noticing the glow from Sam's arm illuminating the faces of her comrades.
Sam stood beside Velcia and Riku trailed behind by a few paces with a flickering ball of dark fire settled in the palm of his hand.
"Were you even listening to Master Yen Sid when he gave us the mission briefing?" Riku asked before Hinata said anything.
"Of course I was," Sam scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I'm just asking because as far as details go, your Master didn't really give a lot of them."
"It's- complicated," Hinata admitted, looking back forward to continue walking. She traced her fingers along the slicked rock walls, feeling the vibrations in the water and using it to lead her further in.
"We know there was a surge of darkness detected here." Velcia explained, her gaze fixated on a tablet in her hands that showed a crude map of the cave system they were in with varying degrees of dark masses throughout it. "But we don't know who or what could have caused it."
"Sooo, basically you're saying it could be anything." Sam surmised, ruffling her hand through her hair as she sighed. "Why can't we be sent on easy, straight forward missions?"
"No one said you had to come with us." Riku pointed out, huffing out a breath of amusement when Sam flipped him off behind her back. "Master Yen Sid probably chose us for the mission because we've dealt with things like this before. Plus, I can tell we're getting close."
"What, can you smell it?" Sam jested.
"I can," Hinata spoke up before Riku could, ignoring Sam's attempts at teasing him. "It's only going to get worse in a damp place like this."
"Are you able to sense the density of it, Hinata?" Velcia asked, "The tablet is starting to lose its signal, but I believe we're getting close to a cluster."
Hinata wordlessly nodded, even though she knew they couldn't see her do it. She slowed to a stop, summoning a ball of flame in her palm to see that they had reached a crossroad where the cave's tunnels split into separate directions. Riku slipped by Sam and Velcia, stopping beside her.
"Which way?" Hinata asked him. "Can you sense where the darkness is stronger?"
Riku looked down both tunnels, closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath. "I can sense the darkness itself, but I can't tell where. There's too much of it."
"Remind you of anyone?" Sam asked.
"Thaanix's darkness was different," Hinata replied, "but this does remind me of it."
She looked behind her towards Velcia, about to ask about the tablet, but its screen was flickering in and out of existence.
With a sigh, she lamented, "Of all the times not to be able to bring Ben and Jack along."
Looking down at her hand, Hinata placed it back against the wall, closing her eyes and focusing on the vibrations in the water. It was hard to decipher between the waterfall and their own footsteps, but she could feel something in the distance. A deep rumbling that sent goosebumps up her arm and caused her to suck in a sharp breath as she pulled back her hand in a rush.
"Hinata?" Velcia asked, placing her hand along her shoulder, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Hinata shook her head, "I think we should go this way. I felt something in the water."
"Creepy." Sam noted, following as Hinata continued moving.
Hinata whisked the fire in her palm out of existence, allowing Riku's flame to light the way as they walked side by side further into the cave. The roar of the waterfall lessened in intensity, its vibrations ceasing and making it easier for Hinata to follow the rumbling as she placed her hand back against the rocks. The uneasiness it creeped into her gut festered further with every step, but she kept her eyes focused forward, absently listening to the chatter of the others.
She stopped abruptly when Riku gripped her shoulder.
"Wha-" she attempted to ask, stopping short when Riku's placed a finger over his lips.
He stepped forward, summoning his blade, which was followed by the others doing the same. Looking back to Hinata to make sure she was watching him, he held out his hand with the dark fire into the pitch black tunnel. With a whistling wind, the flame was snuffed out, making the group gasp. Hinata stepped forward, summoning her own flame in her palm. It glowed, but released no light ahead of them, until it was snuffed out the same way Riku's was.
"What the hell?" Sam whispered, the crystal in her arm charging as she held out her hand.
"Wait, Sam-" Riku grabbed her wrist to stop her, but she fired a blast of energy ahead of them, the laser disappearing into the void of black before a shriek of a hundred voices hissed in reply.
The group covered their ears, seeing dozens of glowing eyes appearing in the dark that trembled with rage at Sam's attack.
"Oh shit," Sam said under her breath, noticing Riku irately letting go of her wrist. "Oh please, like I was supposed to know that would happen."
"Maybe less arguing, more figuring out how we're supposed to get through this." Hinata suggested, diffusing their frustration.
The shadows weren't like the Heartless they had come to expect. Instead they were shaped like long straggly humans climbing on the walls and crawling towards them on all fours. They growled and clicked their teeth, despite not having visible mouths, surrounding them with darkness where the only light came from Hinata's tattoo and Sam's glowing arm.
"Get close to me!" Velcia exclaimed, holding up her blade and surrounding them with a shield of shimmering light.
The creatures hissed and shrieked in response, bursting in smoke and scattering like roaches into what appeared to be a large open room.
Sam shuddered as the shield dissipated, running her hands along her arms.
"That was disgusting," she muttered, stepping forward to enter the revealed room that was no longer shrouded by darkness.
"Well maybe don't go shooting things without knowing what they are next time." Riku called her out, making Hinata let out a long breath as she stared up at the ceiling.
"For like, five minutes, can you two not be at each other's throats?" Hinata cut Sam off before she could say anything. Turning towards Sam, she told her, "But he's right. We need to be more careful, alright?"
Sam glanced over at Riku, then back at Hinata, "Alright, fine. Sorry." As Hinata turned to walk away, she added, "But we were going to have to confront them eventually anyway."
Hinata bit her tongue- noticing Riku doing the same as he shook his head- while she examined the new area they found themselves in. Streaks of thin sunlight peeked through cracks of rock in the ceiling, allowing thin, straggly vines to hang down with droplets of water dripping from their leaves.
"This doesn't appear very stable." Hinata noted, still looking up at the ceiling.
"I was thinking the same." Velcia agreed, coming up beside her. "I'm curious why those creatures would choose a room with sunlight to group in."
"Maybe to snuff out the light." Riku suggested.
"But for what?" Hinata asked, her hand to her chin.
"Someone else further in? The big bad?" Sam guessed.
"That's possible." Hinata looked over to Riku, "Right?"
Riku looked to her, then towards the multiple tunnels that led various directions.
"If there's something here that's trying to become stronger, it might be absorbing as much darkness as it can." he explained, "But the actual dark of a room without lighting won't do much for it."
"It would need the element of darkness itself, not just a dark room." Velcia added with a nod.
"Maybe it's dumb." Sam shrugged, her simple idea making Hinata snicker. "I mean, anyone that actually wants to follow the darkness is pretty dumb already... Right, Riku?"
Despite the blow, Riku chuckled, pushing Sam's arm and making her stumble with a string of curses slipping from her mouth.
"You might be right though." Hinata ignored their antics, quickly adding on when she noticed Riku look over at her, "I mean the creature being dumb, thing… A lot of the Heartless and Nobodies we fought were just husks with a simple purpose. It would make sense that a creature of darkness wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an actual magical element and a dark room. They'd think it was the same thing."
"I suppose the only remaining question is which way do we go to find this creature?" Velcia asked, looking towards the multiple tunnels. "The tablet your Master provided us with is no longer working."
"Do you think you can feel the vibrations again?" Sam asked Hinata.
"I can try," Hinata looked at her hand. "If there's more groups of those creatures though, it might be hard to tell."
"Worth a shot," Sam shrugged, "Might actually help to take those things out. Maybe the big bad has the right idea and those groups snuffing out the light only makes it stronger."
Hinata hummed in thought, nodding as she went towards the center of the room. Shallow puddles of water splashed beneath her feet, filling the cracks in the floor and flowing towards the numerous tunnels. Kneeling down, Hinata pressed her hands to the ground, closing her eyes and taking in a long, slow breath.
"There's definitely more of them," she told the others, "I can feel the same vibrations from before… They all seem to be in a linear path."
Sam snorted a laugh, "Seriously? They're basically leading us right to the target."
"Better than getting lost in here," Riku pointed out, helping Hinata stand back up.
"We know the creatures are weak to light magic, so it should be simpler to dispose of them." Velcia agreed. "We'll scare them off and allow them to lead us to their possible leader."
"Lead the way then, Hinata." Sam stepped aside, allowing Hinata through.
Hinata shook the water off her hands, looking over to Riku and wordlessly asking him to light the path. He understood with a nod, holding out his palm and summoning another flickering dark fire. They walked alongside each other into the dark tunnel, leaving the rays of sunlight behind.
It didn't take long to discover another cluster of the dark creatures. Now that they had been recognized, the group could sense the heavy atmosphere as they approached. Velcia took point, summoning a Pearl of Light that immediately parted the sea of darkness. They walked through the center of the parted darkness, ignoring the hisses and growls that objected to their presence. None of the creatures lashed out towards them, seemingly knowing how their last encounter had gone. Instead, they allowed the group to pass, filling the room back in with darkness the moment they were through.
Sam walked backwards, staring at the void as the others went on ahead, and asked, "Don't you think we should take care of them?"
"If we're right about their being a larger darkness at the heart of this cave system, then the groupings of shadows will most likely scatter on their own after its defeat." Velcia explained.
"In other words, we don't need to destroy them unless they come after us first." Hinata clarified.
"Fair enough," Sam muttered, turning back around to meet the pace of the group. Sniffing the air, she nearly gagged, bringing her hand to her nose. "You weren't kidding about the smell getting worse. Even I can smell it now."
"How do you think we're feeling?" Riku asked, seemingly unphased by the festering stench of darkness that only grew more fragrant the further in they went.
"We should be getting close to another cluster." Hinata told them, her fingers tracing along the slick rocks of the wall as her tattoo glowed brilliantly.
"I sense it, too." Velcia agreed, readying her blade for another light spell.
Before she could raise her blade, the hiss of the creatures surrounded them, snuffing out the flame in Riku's palm. The four of them went back to back, their weapons readied in hand.
"Guess all of them don't feel the same way about us." Sam surmised, yelping when a shadow reached out towards her with an arm dripping with darkness.
Without hesitation she fired a blast of energy from her hand, impacting the creature's chest and causing it to burst into smoke. The attack only angered the rest as they trembled with growls and clicked their teeth.
A purple glow covered Riku's blade, causing the creatures to reer back as he lunged forward and slashed towards their wispy bodies. Hinata followed suit, summoning her plasma pistol into her grasp, powering it up and taking precise shots into the creatures that corralled them back into a corner. A blinding pearl of light illuminated the room, being thrust into the shadows from Velcia's blade and decimating them in a single spell. The light fizzled away, leaving the group in darkness as the remaining few creatures scattered back into the tunnels.
"You alright?" Riku asked quietly to Hinata, getting a soft smile and nod in response.
"Ready to find the leader," she told him. "It's hard to know what to expect from these shadow creatures. They're either scared of us or they're trying to protect whoever, or whatever, is leading them."
"I might guess it's a little bit of both." Velcia added.
"Yeah," Hinata agreed, pushing back her hair, "I guess we better go find out."
With Hinata leading the way, they ventured further in. The occasional comment was shared between them, but between the stench of the darkness and the ever growing tension that rose higher with every encounter with shadows, their conversation was stilted. The banter dissolved into worried remarks, wondering if they were being led into a trap or if there was actually any leader to be found. Their eyes had adjusted to the darkness, even the light from Velcia's magic making them wince and look away from the intensity.
Perhaps there was something to the creatures' logic on snuffing out the light for a stronger darkness.
As they pushed through the final group of shadows, Hinata placed her hand along the wall, closing her eyes and feeling the vibrations in the water. The last creature fell, the footsteps of the others quieting, all that remained was….
Nothing.
"This doesn't make sense," Hinata muttered, her eyes remaining shut. "I'm not- I'm not feeling anything."
Riku took a few steps further into a tunnel, looking into the dark abyss. "I can still sense darkness. Whatever we're after is still here."
Velcia hummed in thought, looking around the group with her hand to her chin. "Those shadows led us down this path," she thought aloud. "Maybe if we continue down the same path, we'll find it."
"It's a long shot," Sam pointed out, restlessly ruffling her hands through her hair as she groaned, "I'm getting real tired of being in this damn cave."
"You and me both," Hinata agreed with a sigh, shaking off the water on her hand as she stepped back from the wall. "But we came here with a mission to find the source of the darkness. We can't leave until we do that."
"Velcia's idea is the best one we've got." Riku told her.
"Alright fine," Sam waved them off. "Let's keep moving. I can't take sitting still anymore."
Sam took point, leading the way with a quickened, anxious pace with the others close behind. The glow from her arm illuminated the dark corridors of the cave, the blue light glistening off the rocks that were slick with water. Their steps echoed around them, filling the silence as none of them spoke a word. The path narrowed the further they went, the rocks jagged and blackened; even the water itself seemed to carry a black hue.
The stench of darkness permeated in the thick, putrid air. Their eyes watered, their throats tightening, all the while the cave became tighter and sharper with every step.
Then with a single step, they found themselves in a cavern.
The floor shimmered with a coat of even black water, reflecting the bioluminescent moss growing on the rocks towering above. It was the largest cavern they had come across yet, with countless tunnels in every direction as if it was the central heart of the cave system where all the paths met.
"This has to be it," Hinata whispered, not sure why she felt the need to keep her voice quiet as she looked over the lake. "This isn't normal water…"
"It's as if it's somehow combined itself with darkness." Velcia agreed, careful to keep her feet out of the water by stepping on some protruding rocks. "I didn't know such a thing was possible."
"Can you control it, Hinata?" Riku asked.
Hinata looked over her shoulder at him, then back at the lake of black. Holding out her hand, she focused on creating a simple spiral of water. She could sense the refreshing invigoration that came from the water, as well as the thick, heavy darkness that seemed latched onto the element, dragging it down. With a harsh breath and a loss of footing, Hinata stumbled forward, her hand dropping to her side along with the spiral of water splashing back into the pool.
"The darkness must be stronger than the water itself." Velcia surmised as Riku checked with Hinata to make sure she was alright. "There might be a way to separate it."
"Why would you want to?" Sam asked, "This is the source we've been looking for, right? Why don't we just try burning it or something. Dry it up."
"Even if it were that simple, we still wouldn't know where this came from." Riku pointed out, leaving Hinata's side to climb up a rock and get a better look at the blackened lake. "I don't think we should walk into it."
Sam leaned up against the wall with an irritated breath, crossing her arms. She looked around, picking up a stray pebble off the ground. Tossing it in her palm, she looked out at the water, feeling as if she could see it moving. Her brow quirked up as she looked up at Riku.
"Hey, I have an idea," she called up to him, getting his attention, "I think whatever it is, it's alive. So-" she tossed the pebble up so he could see it and then caught it, "-why not take the first move and get its attention?"
"By throwing a rock at it?" Hinata asked, slightly exasperated, "Sam-"
"No, she might have a point," Riku interrupted, sliding down from his perch to go to Hinata's side. "Better than waiting for it on its terms."
Hinata looked out at the water, a frown tipping her mouth. "Don't you think it would have done something when I tried controlling it?"
"Sort of did," Sam recalled, "You weren't able to do much with it."
"I'm ready," Velcia walked back over to them from the rocks. "I think Sam's plan might anger it, but that might be what we need."
With a wistful sigh, Hinata looked between everyone in the group before throwing up her hands, "Alright, fine. Let's anger the- whatever that thing is."
Sam grinned, about to throw the pebble before Hinata stopped her.
"If you're going to antagonize it, maybe use something bigger." Hinata suggested, looking around, "Like maybe-"
Before she could finish, a blast from Sam's arm shot straight through the rocks Riku had perched on top of moments before. The rocks shattered upon impact, shooting in every direction. Riku summoned a dark shield in front of him and Hinata as shards came whistling their way, Sam and Velcia hiding behind shields of their own.
With a heavy splash, the rocks scattered over the water, sinking and disappearing completely as the lake violently rippled. It swirled and swept towards the center of the room, a shrieking voice piercing out of it. The black, watery mass grew out of the ground, forming claws and a face that loosely resembled a skull with flaming black eyes. The shrieking grew into a roar that resonated through the cavern and shook the walls. Rocks crumbled and fell from the ceiling, cracking as they hit the ground before disappearing into the darkness that billowed around the room like a smoke.
The massive creature they had awakened was indistinguishable as a black mass, until with another roar, its back illuminated with a blue, fiery glow that rippled and dripped as if it were made of water. It stood on four legs, sharp curved claws on each foot that scrapped against the rocks as it stepped towards them with its teeth clicking and chattering together.
"That's great, just great." Hinata grumbled, summoning her daggers as she walked further into the cavern. "Are you happy you made it mad?"
"Hey at least it's not a puddle anymore." Sam countered, charging up a shot from her arm. "As far as I'm concerned, we have a chance to actually do something to it now."
"You can argue about it later." Riku told them, stepping ahead of the group with Braveheart at the ready.
"Sam, stay near the back with me." Velcia ordered, holding out her Keyblade with the beginnings of a spell sparkling around its tip. "Riku and Hinata will attack close in and we will provide support and distraction with our long ranged shots."
"Alright," Sam nodded, stepping back to allow Hinata and Riku to remain up front.
The creature's claws scraped against the ground, etching the stone with deep lacerations as it eyed the intruders. With a roar, it lunged forward, blackened water shooting out to separate the group from each other.
Hinata ran forward, rolling and skidding underneath the creature as it leapt over her. Before back on her feet, she threw her dagger, embedding it on the monster's side. With a blue mist, she warped straight to the dagger's hilt, using it as leverage to climb onto the beast's back. It reared its head back, blindly clawing for her before a Pearl of Light struck the side of its face.
A shriek filled the cavern, echoing down the tunnels and receiving a chorus of cries in response as its shadow minions came crawling back. Suddenly Velcia and Sam's attention was taken by the returning creatures, leaving the monster to Riku and Hinata alone.
Hinata dissipated her daggers, summoning her plasma pistol in return and charging a shot before firing a blast into her mount's neck. Its cry in response shook the cavern, loosening rocks to fall to the ground below.
"Hinata!" Riku yelled out, just before appearing in a flash of darkness above her with Braveheart pointed downwards.
She jumped back, vaulting herself off the creature completely as Riku pierced his blade into the back of the creature, warping away in a wisp of darkness just before sharpened claws swiped for him. He reappeared at Hinata's side, grabbing her arm and helping her to her feet.
The monster bucked and growled, turning its full attention back to them as its eyes burned ferociously. Despite the attacks, it seemed only angered, rather than debilitated. Blackened sludge dripped from the lacerations in its back, splashing against the rocks and growing new shadowed creatures to crawl out of it.
"That's not good," Hinata noted breathlessly. "Are we just making it worse?"
Riku glanced towards Velcia and Sam, seeing their attacks bursting the shadows into pure smoke. Shaking his head, he looked back forward towards the stalking monster glaring at them and clattering its teeth.
"The shadows can be destroyed," Riku told her, "the more darkness we make it lose, the weaker it will get."
Hinata swallowed, nodding as she looked around the cavern.
"We need to attack from both sides," she suggested.
"Alright," Riku nodded, quickly exchanging a glance with her. "Let's do it."
Hinata summoned her shield, watching Riku disappear in darkness before she hurled her shield towards the wall of the cave. It struck the rocks, embedding itself into them as Hinata warped herself to it. She pulled it out of the wall, just in time to see Riku firing a strike of lightning towards her. Bracing herself, she held the shield up, catching the lighting and allowing it to absorb into the shield. The metal glowed white, crackling with electricity as the spell dissipated.
"Got it!" she yelled to him, just about to throw her shield into the creature's side before it spun to face her with a blinding speed.
She gasped, stumbling back as it roared in her face. Almost as a distant echo, she could hear Riku calling out her name, getting ready to warp to her and create a shield to protect her. Instead, Hinata gripped the sides of her shield, forcing it into the mouth of the monster. It bit down, the electricity sparking through its face, cracking the bone before it spit out the dented shield. Blackened sludge seeped between the cracks in its skull, dripping to the floor as it stalked forward.
"Riku!" Sam yelled, breaking Hinata's stare with the beast just long enough to see Sam vaulted into the air.
Sam's arm glowed brilliantly, before firing a blast of pure energy straight through the beast's head. She pulled out her staff as she fell, slamming it through the skull as she landed on its back, forcing the entire creature to the ground. The remaining bone on its face crumbled, gushing out the blackened sludge that quickly covered the ground to recreate the lake they had walked into initially.
Was it actually possible to defeat the beast?
"Right- back at the beginning… Great," Sam complained, her voice out of breath as her chest heaved.
"At least now we know what this stuff is." Hinata told her, patting her hand along Sam's back. "Thanks for doing that. You two are getting better at that move."
"Helps that she's light." Riku commented, lifting his foot from the thick black water. "But I wouldn't relax yet. I doubt that thing's done."
As if in response, the surface of the water rippled around a central point that twisted and swerved underneath the sludge.
"I suggest we get to higher ground!" Velcia called out to them, climbing onto jagged rocks protruding from the wall.
The shadow creatures had seeped back into the ground, conjoining in the blackened sludge that covered the floor, only making it thicker.
"Come on," Riku motioned towards the girls, trudging through the dark water.
Sam followed without objection, struggling to keep her balance as her feet stuck to the ground as if encased in mud. Hinata held onto her arm, helping her steady until a heavy force pushed against her legs, shoving her back and forcing her to release Sam's arm. Riku caught Hinata before she fell under the sludge, but the force that had attacked her instead focused on Sam.
"What the hell…?" Sam griped, pulling at her legs, but they didn't budge. "I-I can't move!"
All at once, the monster burst out of the water, grabbing Sam before she could scream and dragging her back under the sludge and disappearing beneath its surface.
"SAM!" Hinata cried out, her voice breaking as she lunged forward, stopped by Riku grabbing her arm, forcing her back with him towards the rocks. "Sam, oh my God-" she cried, her body nearly trembling as she stumbled onto the rocks Riku led them to.
She fell to her knees, flashes of past terrors phasing in the forefront of her mind. The chaos, the pain, the life leaving their eyes while she laid their helpless beside them, begging them to keep fighting.
She couldn't handle it again…
Not with Sam...
"Hinata!" Riku yelled her name, though Hinata suspected it wasn't the first time he had called out to her.
She blinked rapidly, snapping out of her panicked memories with Riku's hand firmly grasping the side of her face to focus her eyes on his.
"Hinata, we have to finish this," he told her with a softer, yet still firm tone.
She looked back at him, seeing the pain, yet determination in his eyes that focused back on hers. No matter what had happened to Sam, they didn't have the time to panic or fall prey to their memories.
They had a mission to complete.
Swallowing hard, she nodded, placing her hand over Riku's and giving it a squeeze before both of them turned to look out over the darkness before them. Velcia had distracted the beast with her spells, sending spirals of fire on the opposite end of the cave to keep it off their scent.
Hinata glanced towards where Sam had been pulled under, dearly hoping she was somehow down below holding her breath, or had been teleported to another part of the cave. She flitted her gaze away, noticing the darkness lapping against the rocks as if they were at the foot of the ocean.
"It's still water," she murmured, still able to sense the cool sensation of the element mixed with the heavy weight of darkness.
She was about to speak again until Riku pulled her behind him and summoned a shimmering shield to block a tidal wave of darkness as the beast thrashed, sending darkness in every direction. Spare droplets leaked over the edge of the shield, dripping onto Hinata's skin. She focused on the black spot, absorbing the water and leaving the festering darkness alone in its stead.
"I can separate them," she whispered, before shaking her head and calling out, "Velcia! I can separate them!"
"What are you talking about?" Velcia called back.
"Just- focus your magic into mine, alright?" Hinata explained in a rush, crying out when Riku was shoved back against her as the beast slashed its claws against the shield, shattering it upon impact. "And hurry!"
"I- alright!" Velcia complied, pointing her Keyblade towards Hinata and focusing her magic into her.
The rush of adrenaline filled Hinata's chest, rising like an icy breeze that both overwhelmed and invigorated her. She sucked in a breath, holding out her hands and summoning back the water from the sea of darkness before them. The darkness fought against her, as if it were playing a child's game of tug of war.
A roar from the creature resonated through the cavern, recognizing what Hinata was trying to do. It leapt towards them, its dripping claws slicing down. Riku wrapped his arm around Hinata's waist, dissipating them in a flash of darkness and reappearing them on the other end of the cavern. Hinata's focus wavered, but swiftly reformed at an even stronger rate as Velcia now had a clearer shot towards her. Velcia surrounded herself with a shield of light, catching the eye of the monster and interrupting its search for Riku and Hinata's whereabouts.
Faint whispers filled Hinata's head. Promises to make her stronger, to fulfill her wildest fantasies of power that she often hid away. Images of Sam poured through her mind, the whispers promising to save her, to provide vengeance and justice. All she had to do was let go, to give in and allow the darkness to take her.
They were whispers she was well used to when she interacted with darkness. That dull ache the darkness clung to and nurtured in hopes of leading the helpless astray.
But Hinata was far from helpless.
A trail of blood dripped from her nose, her legs trembling and threatening to buckle as the whispers of darkness became heavier and more persistent, begging her not to separate them.
"You can do this, Hinata." Riku's voice cut through like a wave of light, washing over HInata and giving her the final push to tear away the darkness.
Her body stumbled forward as the weight had suddenly broken. Clear, glistening water shot into the air, leaving behind a thickening black sludge that blistered and boiled against the rocks. A shriek echoed throughout the cave as the beast's form collapsed and formed into pure darkness. Hinata rose the water, summoning and separating more of it from the darkness before forming it into an orb and making it shimmer away in sparkling light.
The moment it was dissolved, the adrenaline from Velcia's focused magic drained away, leaving Hinata weak as she crumbled to the ground. Riku watched her fall, but was unable to pay her much heed as he focused his attention on the separated darkness and forced it to rise into a festering sphere.
Without needing to say a word to the other, Velcia raised her blade, the tip of it shining with a shimmering light. The orb of darkness warbled and warped, thin beams of light tearing through its center before bursting completely from a focused Pearl of Light.
A chorus of shrieks followed the explosion, burning in the brilliant light that forced its demise.
Riku released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, the tension in his chest lessening as the familiar stench of darkness evaporated away. He looked over towards where Hinata had fallen, his heart lodging in his throat when she wasn't there.
"Sam, Sam, talk to me!" Hinata's voice caught his attention, spotting her lower down in the cavern, kneeling beside Sam's limp body.
Dark sludge was caked to Sam's clothes, covering the crystal housed in her mechanical arm. Hinata used water to wash it away, then placed her hand along Sam's chest, her eyes shut. Leading her hand up towards Sam's mouth, blackened water lifted from her loose lips.
Riku and Velcia stood by Hinata's side, watching as Sam's chest rose and fell with shallow breaths. Sam shot up in a coughing fit, before anyone could breathe a sigh of collective relief.
She rested her head in the palms of her hands, taking a moment to regain her breath.
"We did it," Hinata told her, a strain of emotion in her voice. "We're alright."
"That-" Sam began to speak, her voice hoarse, "That was disgusting."
Hinata laughed- despite the situation- rubbing Sam's back and glancing up at Riku, who was also smiling.
"Yeah," she agreed, "That was new."
"Are you alright, Sam?" Velcia asked, kneeling beside her and rummaging through her satchel. "Here," she handed Sam a green vialed potion from her collection. "This will help you regain your strength."
Sam took it with a small nod, her hands trembling as she unscrewed the lid. "You mean- there's more to do?"
"Just making it back out of here." Riku told her, "We finished the mission."
Hinata watched Sam drink the potion, keeping her hand along her back as she asked, "What was that thing…? Where did it come from?"
The group went silent, their victory seemingly short lived.
"I don't know." Riku admitted, shaking his head.
"I've never seen anything like it," Velcia agreed. "Darkness combining with other elements… It can be done, but I've never seen it happen without direct intent from a magic user. This seems as if it occurred naturally. As if… the darkness was acting of its own fruition-"
"Rather than being controlled," Hinata finished, her gaze downcast as she thought it over. "That doesn't make any sense."
"We'll figure it out," Riku assured them. "It's what we do."
.
.
**Author's Note: Hey! Long time no see! I've been working little on canon and have instead gotten inspired for Aus and random ideas. This piece was specifically written for KHOC Week on Tumblr! The prompt was Power Within and I thought I would write a one shot that showcased a lot of the different abilities my little OC team has.
It was a lot of fun to write for them again, even more so as a dream team.
Anyway, I hope everyone has a wonderful week! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my drabbles.**