Chapter 68: The Beast Within
Luigi leaned over, taking deep breaths. He felt like a desiccated orange; every drop of physical and mental endurance was squeezed out of his body. Although this sudden sense of pride was demur in leaving. It was such an incredible feeling to experience; he felt validated as Mario's brother, but his own person, too.
Luigi no longer had to espouse over being an amorphous footnote in his brother's biography of life. He leaped from the pages of his own story in bold, variegated letters; they scintillated the vacillating sky with a new confidence. He never wanted this new feeling to surcease. But, given his timorous deportment since childhood, those usual feelings would not become errant anytime soon.
In fact, a part of him was overwhelmed from everything, balked in receiving that prodigious honor yet. But he wasn't allowed to ruminate further on these incongruous emotions, as Yoshi ran into his arms, crushing every bone and organ like putty.
"Luigi was amazing!" Yoshi said, jovial.
"That's…great…" Luigi said, groaning in pain. "Me and my spleen appreciate your honest feedback."
With a sheepish grin, Yoshi released his grip from Luigi. The others hurried over to enter the concourse of celebration. Sora placed both hands behind his head; he exhibited his usual grin of gaiety. But Fox circumvented being in the homogeneous presence of triumph. No, he was still bewildered over Luigi's incredible feat of strength.
Too stunned to speak, he gestured for Luigi's attention, reenacted the throw, and demanded an answer through his lineament.
"Oh, that," Luigi said with a light chuckle. "He's a lot lighter than he looks."
Fox's expression narrowed, acceding to the candor of disappointment. "Well, glad that cleared up the ambiguity. I can go through life with a clean head."
"Hey, it's best not to think about things like that," Sora said, leaning into Fox. "Trust me – you may be able to live for a few more years because of it."
"And keep my boyish charm in the process?" Fox asked in a joking manner. He became amenable towards Sora's suggestion, and smiled. "Guess you're right. That was pretty incredible."
Sora pat Luigi on the back, contributing to the gamut of praise. "I'll say. You da man!"
"Thanks," Luigi said. But the overwhelming emotions he felt remained immutable, spinning through his chest like a Ferris wheel. "But right now, I don't want to be the man. I just want to dive into my bed and hide."
Sora chuckled. "Good ol', Luigi."
But their victory was ephemeral, as it wilted away from the sudden, arid heat of malice. Each pedal dropped onto the floor like discouraging tears. The entire fortress started to rumble, as if insatiate from the life teeming within its dark, concrete lining. Sora summoned his Keyblade, feeling the verve of Bowser's rage rattling every bone.
Luigi's pupils shrunk as terror surmounted courage, reclaiming its throne, free to give injunctions of cowardice. "Is it not too late to take anyone else up on that offer? I smell sleepover." Sora frowned at him. "I wish you'd stop giving me that look."
The lava below them clamored in agony as the vibrations grew stronger. Soon, Bowser leaped out from its lethal form, and landed in front of the group. For a moment, his eyes were closed; he was immobile, reflecting on everything that transpired. But his breathing was loud and rapid. Any second, his inexorable anger would burst from the dam and consume the group in the process. They would be swimming through an intense, immutable currant, struggling to find a shore.
But they had to be ready. They wouldn't flee from redoubtable strength. Not when they thoughts of their loved ones impelled them forward. Turning back would be unconscionable – basically disavowing that entire relationship they shared. Through an unseen force, Bowser called the Star Rod to his hand. He opened his red eyes; nothing but anger flickered around the irises. Mercy had been reached the limit of its sojourn. He was implacable to any laconic remonstrance.
Only revenge could ameliorate his lividity.
"Man," Sora said, addressing Luigi, "you weren't kidding about how persistent he is."
Bowser clinched his fist. A dark aura surrounded his body, regaled by the unrestrained negativity thumping against his heart. "Every time…I lose. Why can't I just win for once? All I want is her to be my side." His body trembled. "No one else can make me happy." He glared at the four. "Why do you always take her away from me!?"
The group covered their ears as Bowser once again roared, letting his sufferance traverse throughout the sound barrier. Spiraling darkness encircled the group; its form grew thick, until the environ could no longer be seen. Moments later, the darkness vanished; they found themselves on a large, white, circular platform, with eight small circles protruding around it.
Hovering around the entire arena was a metal fence, with deluge of spikes attached to the bars. Beyond the fence was a thick, purple mist. What lay beyond its vast, intimidating veil was imperceptible. But there was an axiom that Sora and his friends couldn't deny:
They were trapped in Bowser's world, and were forced to inure his rules. Only by defying them could they obviate their demise. But this truism wouldn't be easy to obtain. Not when the malodorous darkness congested the air. It continued pouring from Bowser's body, as if an unseen force, in pure alacrity, twisted the faucet of his emotions.
"Can you guys feel that?" Fox asked, as the darkness' slender, slithering, freezing hands caressed through his fur, making him ague.
"I can taste it," Luigi said, with a repulsed expression. "Knew that clam chowder was a mistake today."
"We gotta focus!" Sora said, as he hurried into his battle stance. "Looks like he's ready for a rematch!"
The Koopa King stared at the group with sinister radiance reflecting off his countenance. "The princess will be mine…even if I have to cast my own heart aside. I'll send you all to oblivion."
"Sure," Sora said, sarcastic. "That'll make the princess fall in love with you."
Bowser's own behavior was tantamount to Riku's. It disgusted Sora with how the darkness turned people into monomaniacs, throwing away everyone and everything they cherished in the process. Hearing this familiar litany carved a pang of contempt in Sora's stomach.
Sora continued: "Face it. You're nothing but a miserable beast with a one-track mind. If you truly cared for her, you wouldn't be putting her through such turmoil."
Furious from Sora's upbraiding remark, Bowser launched a large fireball from his mouth. Only now its form was pitch black, having slipped into the dour skin of the darkness. Sora leaped to his left, avoiding the blast. But he could feel the intense sensations of hot and cold conflate into an uneasy alliance within the fireball – an unnatural fabrication born into existence despite the universe's expostulations.
After it exploded behind them, Luigi turned to Sora with repine. "Great idea. We totally need to rile him up further."
"Think we're well pass that," Fox said. "Right now, he hates us for sharing the same oxygen with him."
Utilizing the power of darkness, Bowser dashed towards Sora at incredible speeds, preparing to deliver an upward, diagonal slash with his sword. Sora brought the Keyblade downward to deflect the strike; he felt his arms jitter from the collision. It was salient that Bowser's strength had ascended past the precipice of his limits.
And if Sora wasn't circumspective of what he did, his life would plummet off a similar cliff. Bowser threw a punch at the boy, but he sidestepped to his right. Sora tried going on the offense, by leaping at the Koopa King's shoulder with a downward slash. But the darkness had engendered Bowser's speed to conquer its own doubts. With incredible agility, Bowser alight the blade on his shoulder, catching the strike. He then pushed Sora back onto the ground, spun around, and swung his blade at him. Sora had just enough time to bring the Keyblade up at a diagonal angle (with one hand on the tip) to catch the strike.
However, the force was strong enough to knock Sora afield from the others. Luigi could feel the anxiety beetling over his head again. Were his efforts futile? Was only Mario allowed to beat the Koopa King himself? No. Don't acquiesce with the paroxysm of self-doubt. He had to keep fighting, even if his chest was replete with inquietude.
Fear wasn't insuperable. The slightest bit of courageous effort could overmaster its paralyzing ailment. He took a deep breath to let those nerves sink. Meanwhile, Fox and Yoshi were next in line to begin their assault. But Bowser would not them pass through the rope barrier of success. He thrusted the tip of his blade into the ground. Two beams of energy emerged, and moved straight towards Fox and Yoshi. All they could do was dodge in response.
Bowser pinched his index and pointer finger together. Placing his hand above his head, a top hat made from darkness appeared. Like a boomerang, he tossed it straight at Luigi. The hat spun around until its inner lining faced Luigi: a dark, empty, quiescent maw; moments later, it expelled an energy beam with a mixture of purple and black colors.
Luigi leaped to one side, avoiding the blast. The hat turned upside down, with the top facing the ground; it flew over to Luigi and tried crushing him. Luigi leaped back before becoming green graffiti within the platform – a permanent burial ground. He tried retaliating with a swing, but the hat dodged it by ascending into the air.
After facing right side up, arms with boxing gloves materialized on the sides of the hat. Moving downward, it tried punching Luigi, but he raised the hammer's head, catching the attack. Then, it tried punching with the opposite glove. Luigi swung the hammer over his head to knock it aside. Seeing an opening in the offensive lane, he leaped into the air, preparing to bring the hammer down on the hat's crown. It raised both fists to catch the attack.
After Luigi leaped back, Sora cut the hat in half with the Keyblade
"Was that a giant top hat?" Sora asked, raising an eyebrow at the object he destroyed. "Who throws something like that, honestly?"
"Part of a phase he was going through," Luigi said.
Meanwhile, Fox and Yoshi had tried to rush Bowser with their weapons. The Koopa King thrusted his blade at Fox, who blocked it with his staff. The force from the collision was strong enough to push him backwards. Bowser, becoming adroit to his new power, once again used incredible agility to swing his blade at Yoshi, knocking him backwards, too.
He swung his tail at Fox, releasing a horizontal beam of energy. Fox leaned back to avoid it. Then, Bowser leaped at Yoshi, preparing to deliver an elbow drop. The dinosaur rolled into an egg, retreating before getting crushed. With Bowser on the ground, Fox moved in to strike. But the Koopa King wouldn't let opportunity become ajar for him. He shot another fireball from his mouth; Fox was forced to use his dash move to dodge. Pressing a hand onto the ground, Bowser pushed himself back onto his feet.
It was at that moment Bowser heard Luigi's last sentence. All he could do was smirk. "Afraid that's the wrong definition, since this is going to be an everlasting occurrence."
Bowser tossed four more hats at the group in a straight, horizontal line. They dove onto their stomachs to avoid being rammed by the lavish, yet dangerous, entourage of headwear. After flying past the group, the hats stopped, pointed their inner linings at them, and fired more lasers. Sora never would've imagined that top hats were culpable for their struggle in this fight.
But it was an incommode that had to be overcome, despite the bizarre script that had been written. Everyone rolled out of the lasers' path. One flew over to Sora, calling forth the same boxing gloves, and threw a punch at the boy's face. Sora was quick to bring the Keyblade up at a diagonal angle to block.
But the force from the punch made him slide back a few feet; his back soon collided with the fist of a second hat, causing him to stumble forward. The first hat prepared to punch Sora in the face, but an intrusive, long tongue wended its path away from success. Yoshi had wrapped his tongue around the hat's arm, forcing it to become outstretched.
Sora then slashed the arm off, spun around, and destroyed the hat with a horizontal strike. Yoshi leaped in front of Sora, deflecting a punch from the second hat. Sora retaliated by throwing his Keyblade into the hat, causing it to explode into unrepairable, infinitesimal fragments. Fox was caught in the middle between two hats. They hovered around their prey, staring at him with their inexpressive inner lining.
Soon, those blanks eyes brightened with energy, and they fired another laser. Fox used his hexagon shield to deflect the blast back at them, destroying both in the progress. Luigi ran towards Bowser, trying to remain determined while an undercurrent of trepidation tugged at his legs. He swung his hammer, only for the Koopa King to leap backwards. Upon landing, he released a powerful earthquake that knocked Luigi onto his backside.
Bowser conjured a large, circular boulder above his head, and tossed it straight at the immobile Luigi. But before it could roll him over like a steamroller, Sora intervened, slashing the boulder in half. Like defeating the Heartless, it exploded into dark dust. The two tried a Thunder spell, but Bowser leaped forward, dodging their combined blast.
Bowser ran over to Sora, delivering a downward, diagonal slash. The boy deflected it with a horizontal swing of the Keyblade; he retaliated with a downward slash. Bowser's defenses would not dilapidate, as he brought the Star Rod blade to his chest and parried Sora's attack. He then thrusted his blade into the side of Luigi's hammer, knocking him aside.
Sora tried thrusting the Keyblade into Bowser's stomach, but he deflected it with an upward, diagonal slash. Becoming nettled from their interminable persistence (which just belied their desperation at this point), Bowser unleashed a wave of fire from his mouth. Sora and Luigi leaped back just in time, and regrouped with the others.
Flames crackled in a submissive manner towards their master, illuminating his smug lineament within the darkness. He was so close to being knighted by a blade of victory. Pride perched itself on his shoulder, whispering a recapitulation of what he was about to acquire: his Peach. She would pull him out from his elegiac rut, leaving it derelict, no longer able to harangue the Koopa King's thoughts.
He once again donned the blinking coat of invincibility; its spasmodic flashes pulsated throughout the vicinity.
"Growing bored of this fight," Bowser said, crossing his arms. "Can't afford to waste anymore time. I gotta kid that needs a mom, and I don't want to disappoint him."
But Sora and his friends stood obstinate, despite their disadvantage humming a melody bereft of confidence.
"Afraid he's gonna have to deal with it," Fox said. "Some disappointment builds character. Unlike the constant pampering you give him. Sora! Summon the Star Spirits again!"
With an amenable nod, Sora called on them, and they started spinning around his body. This time, Bowser seemed taciturn towards their presence, as if having tacit confidence in stopping their attack. Still, Sora would try anything, and was fain in challenging his temerity. Once the energy reached its peak, the Star Spirits flew straight at Bowser, surrounding him.
"You know how this went down last time," Muskular said, in a threatening tone. "We can make this a lot less painful – and humiliating – for you if you hand over the rod now. I'd take those fatuous lumps out of your ears and heed my advice. Do you yield?"
Bowser responded with a soft, sinister chuckle. "I do not."
"Welp, glad I get to witness this up, close and personal," Muskular said. Eldstar gave him a disapproving expression. "What? Being wise and perfect is overrated. You know I like me some action!"
The Spirits spun around Bowser and called down a raging, ethereal waterfall of pure energy. To their shock, he wasn't affected in the slightest. Bowser unleashed a burst of darkness that knocked the Star Spirits onto the ground. They were immobilized from the its toxic touch. Sora and his friends were left speechless; even their trump card had been shredded to pieces.
Luigi's determination started tapering off before the immense shadow of discouragement. Maybe he had cozened himself this whole time – that his newfound fortitude didn't exist. It was a masquerade that hid his everlasting anxiety behind an eroding mask: weak, unable to maintain sustainability.
"But…how!?" Sora asked, hit by a torrent of shock and confusion.
"The darkness must be too overwhelming for them!" Fox said, gripping the handle of his staff with every hand muscle. He didn't want to know where this presage would go.
Bowser couldn't help but release a triumphant laugh from his vocal chords. A huge realization bowed before his presence, showing him the end in sight. It was clear; not even an oppressive drizzle slid down the windscreen. The horizon was ornate with a dazzling light. He was so close to touching its form.
"I did it!" Bowser said. "After all this time, I've finally won!"
"Hey, scaly and stupid," Sora said. "We're still standing, y'know?"
Bowser lowered his gaze towards Sora, staring into the boy's eyes with sinister delight. "Then we better rectify that little hiccup."
He rushed pass Sora at incredible speeds, appearing in front of the others. With a fierce swing of his blade, the Koopa King unleashed a powerful wind that knocked them onto the floor. He unleashed a fireball that landed in front of them; it soon traveled around the group, trapping them in a ring of fire.
"Guys!" Sora said, aggrieved.
Bowser turned around to deliver a downward slash. Sora leaped back to avoid it. The Koopa King then thrusted straight for the boy's face. He brought the Keyblade up at a diagonal angle to parry. And, at this point, blocking was all he could do. Bowser's strikes were too fast. Even if an opening peered out from the crevasses, it was still protected by an impenetrable shield of invincibility.
Sora repositioned his hands and held the Keyblade overhead to catch another strike. He spun backwards, trying to gain some distance. But, upon turning around, he saw Bowser storming right up to him, swinging at a horizontal angle. Sora was able to thrust the Keyblade out with one hand to deflect the attack.
However, he had no change to avoid an incoming punch. Sora's only option was to brace himself and supplicate the powers that be for his survival. The force from the punch knocked him back a fair distance; he found himself tumbling onto the floor, landing on his back. Pain arrogated every muscle, causing them to whimper in intimidation.
As the others stood up, still in their abode of flames, they were horrified to see Sora on the ground. Every fiber in Yoshi's being wanted to offer their succor, but instinct pulled him back like a magnet. Bowser ran over to Sora; he was prepared to thrust the blade straight into his chest. An idea prodded at the back of Sora's head, and he pointed the Keyblade at the Koopa King's face.
"Fire!"
Upon making contact, the spell exploded, obstructing Bowser's vision. And that's all it would do; it was a harmless distraction that could be flicked away like a fly. Sora hurried to his feet, and leaped back to gain some distance.
Bowser emerged from the smoky vestige of the fire spell, amused by Sora's desperation. "How disappointing. If I wasn't indestructible, that would've tickled."
He lunged forward, delivering a downward slash. Sora had just enough time to raise the Keyblade with one hand – while at a horizontal angle – and deflect the attack. Once again, he found himself trapped within the eddy of Bowser's assault. Not a single opening beckoned to him. All he could do was repel every attack.
Sora swung the Keyblade downward, at a diagonal angle, to block another attack. He then pushed away another one using the Keyblade's hilt. Bowser's attacks become more aggressive, hitting harder and faster. Or, maybe Sora's confidence started to falter before the odds, and he was becoming lassitude.
Either way, Bowser was relishing in this moment. But he couldn't linger. Not when receiving the prize that mattered most. He delivered a powerful upward slash. Sora blocked it, but the force from the attack knocked him into the air. He then fell onto the ground – fatigue had left his stamina gaunt, unable to scrounge a smidgen of vitality.
In between taking deep breaths, Sora could hear Bowser's footsteps pounding in his ears, growing closer with each passing second. "Tough luck, kid. I'll tell that Kairi girl how loud your screaming was."
Luigi fell onto his knees; every sense became numb from the harsh realization of defeat. They had no chance of seeing a glimmer of hope. Only silent indifference answered their calls for salvation. Their whole journey had been for naught. He was about to lose everything he cherished; and was all because he couldn't make a difference. A bystander forced to watch their demise from behind thick glass.
"It's…over," Luigi said in a solemn tone. "Sora, I'm sorry I couldn't save you. Or anyone for that matter. I let them all down."
But a sudden awning of optimism loomed overhead, offering mild protection from the dismal rain. It took the form of a green dinosaur, refusing to obey defeat's injunction.
"Stop it!" Yoshi said, in a sharp tone that pierced through the cacophony of doubt. "Luigi wrong! Sora no give up!" He turned to Sora. "We here for you! You've been in worse spots!"
Sora appreciated the support, but it was meaningless – noise that lacked substance. Just like Luigi, he couldn't see an avenue that could debar their fate. Bowser just rolled his eyes at Yoshi for refusing to relinquish that false hope. Wasting more time; that's all they could do now. Helped them prepare for their eternal slumber in darkness.
Yoshi's adolescent mind couldn't comprehend that nothing ever goes right. Reality sometimes had to make difficult requisitions that we have no control over. But Yoshi wanted to stay in that idealistic world, believing the lie he fabricated. It kept him going.
What a way for it to end.
But, then, to Luigi's surprise, Fox swam out to surf with Yoshi on that mental wave. "Sora, you're one of the toughest guys I've met. Are you really going to let some giant oaf stop you? You battled through the Heartless without the Keyblade. This should be a cakewalk."
Luigi was in absolute shock. How has their faith not retrograded before the inevitable overcast? What kept their motivation airlifted? He looked at Sora, and ruminated on their previous battles. They had faced the toughest foes born from the same grain of darkness, endued with its incomprehensible power.
Yet, every time, despite trudging through the pitch-black caverns of turmoil, a key would unlock the path forward; its golden luster was never daubed in discouraging dross. The darkness would flee after being bitten by the key's sharp, fierce teeth. Nothing could ever fracture its fangs. They found a way through, despite the darkness' imperceptible gamut.
Sora was an inconstant that corrupted the darkness' perfect sphere into a disfigured oblate. He effaced the word 'impossible' from his vocabular. And Luigi extrapolated that he would continue that tradition. Sora still reminded him of his brother: they both espoused to pushing pass the boundaries of possibility.
Dejection had purported Luigi's faith. He wouldn't be persuaded by negativity. Sora needed every last syllable of encouragement to satiate his low morale. Joining the others in their zealous circle, Luigi said, "Hey, stop keeping us waiting and beat this guy already!"
Their words ascribed to Sora finding a second wind bellowing within his stomach. They were right; quitting wasn't the answer. He came too far to be lacerated with the opprobrious mark of failure. His entire being would remain restless until Riku and Kairi were safe – a sentiment he refused to heft as unwanted baggage till his dying breath.
Sora closed his eyes; the tranquil blue sky appeared above him. Not a single aberration interrupted its peaceful torpor. Kairi appeared in his vision, looking down at him with those gentle blue eyes and uplifting smile. His chest felt warm again, as if reminding him of the reason he was fighting. Riku appeared next to her with crossed arms, exhibiting his usual playful smirk.
The desire to see them again accrued into a blooming garden of determination. Nothing could ever mow over it.
"C'mon, lazy bum." Kairi extended her hand. "Wake up."
Sora grabbed her hand. He found himself struggling to his feet. Bowser turned around upon hearing the boy's grunts. For the first time since this battle began, concern tugged at his eye sockets, causing them to widen. Upon standing up, Sora used Cure to recover some of his stamina – an invisible crutch that loaned him extra time to find Bowser's weakness.
"How is this happening?" Bowser asked, perplexed; aggravation became eminent before contentment. "You should be exhausted!"
"Why should I worry about being tired when so much is on the line?" Sora said, buttressing his voice with unwavering conviction. "Everyone is putting their trust in me. I'd never betray them!"
Bowser rolled his eyes in annoyance at the platitude. "And you say I have a one-track mind! Your friendship speeches disgust me! What can they possible do? Words are meaningless in a fight."
"Sure, I may tend to bring up friendship now and then," Sora said, glowering at him, not letting his resolve become timorous. "But it's not wrong to hold onto something you believe in! That's what keeps ME going!"
"Don't worry," Bowser said, stretching his neck. "At the rate you're going, you'll die of exhaustion before I get ahold of you."
Sora raised the Keyblade. "Force!""
The tried using Gravity to knock the Star Rod out of Bowser's hand, but he moved away from the spell. He was exasperated with Sora's efforts; they were just a dilatory in his grand scheme. A temporary barrier that restrained him from reaching the princess. But it would collapse soon enough.
The two continued their fight. Or rather, a one-sided struggle for survival. But Sora was determined to find a weakness. Sora's friends showed their support through uplifting shouts, keeping his spirits elevated, as if they were alight on secure pylons. The Star Spirits managed to regroup, despite the lingering pain continuing its joyride.
They watched Sora's battle, in awe of his tenacity. Discouragement didn't bat an eye at his predicament. It remained diffident.
"This young man is quite extraordinary," Klevar said. "Despite the disadvantage, he continues to persevere. Fascinating how encouragement can profoundly affect one's willpower."
Eldstar gasped; an idea leaped out from the hopeless morass of thought, leaving behind an inspiring splash. "Wait a minute! I may have the solution to our problems!"
"What is it?" Misstar asked, as her visage beamed with excitement.
"Remember the last time we were in this predicament?" Eldstar said. "Princess Peach simply prayed for us become stronger."
"Of course!" Skolar said. "How could I be so dense?"
Without wasting another moment, the Star Spirits flew over to Sora's friends. Eldstar, in urgency, said, "Quickly, young ones! Pray to us! Wish for us to become stronger. We can transfer that power to your friend."
"Think that'll work?" Fox asked, turning to the others as skepticism leaned on his shoulder.
"As crazy as it sounds," Luigi said, "we have no other options."
Yoshi shut his eyes without hesitation, enthusiastic. "Me pray really hard!"
Luigi and Fox followed suit, letting their prayers fill up their headspace with tumultuous voices. The Star Spirits started to glow with power. Each prayer was like a fulfilling repast; the salubrious nutrients revitalized them. They felt like young, zealous Star Children, prepared to storm life's battlement and overtake its challenges
Meanwhile, Sora leaped back to avoid another fire blast. His physical endurance was starting to wane before exertion's grim lullaby. Sora's loud breathing wandered into the empty sky, declaring its unfortunate status.
"Gotta be honest," Sora said, under his breath. "Not sure how much longer I can hold out."
The fight was interrupted as bright, flashing lights perked up the arena's brooding mood. Everyone turned to see the Star Spirit's had been engulfed in that light; only the ghosts of their silhouettes remained.
"Sora!" Eldstar said. "Raise you blade in the air!"
"Huh?" Sora asked, confused.
Luigi groaned in aggravation. "Just hurry up and do it!
With a nod, Sora did as Eldstar instructed. The Star Spirits fired a beam of flashing colors into the dark sky; it then descended faster than a rocket, merging with the Keyblade. Sora's arm shook as the Keyblade absorbed every ounce of energy. It wasn't long before it started flashing with the same colors.
Sora examined his weapon; incomprehensible power flowed through it. Any moment, the energy would be unleashed from its trammel like a wild beast, and abolish the unconscionable that stood on life's peaceful soil. Sora managed to stabilize the Keyblade. He had never felt such power before. It was beyond imagination.
And he would expel every last ounce until the Koopa King was swallowed into a wave of defeat.
"Thanks, everyone," Sora said, closing his eyes. "I'll use every pray uttered."
"Is that supposed to be a joke?" Bowser asked, unimpressed. "The only that little glow stick will dent is any chance you have to beat me."
Sora smirked. "Maybe. Maybe not. Why don't you humor me and see if that's true?"
"Fine by me. Just so I can finally shut your blathering trap!"
The two ran straight for each, accumulating every ounce of strength for one powerful strike. Sora felt like it was fliting around his chest, looking for an escape route, terrified of the forthcoming results. If this didn't work….no, it will work. He would not let the Bowser obtain impunity for all he has done: from destroying his home to harming Riku and Kairi. He couldn't live with that ignoble gesture.
This was his everything.
Their blades collided, causing sparks to disperse at frequent intervals, like miniature, aggressive fireworks. They struggled against each other. Neither side would budge. Sora felt his body tremble, as exertion ran through every muscle like a stampede. But he had to gainsay his limits if there was any hope for success. Sora could hear his friends cheering for him; he imbibed every last word, and promised not to disappoint them.
Sora pushed Bowser back somewhat, lunged forward, and knocked the Star Rod out of his hand, reverting back into its original form. It landed right beside the others; their faces brightened in joy as the odds had a prepossession for them. Time had entered a state of suspended animation. Bowser's sensed had become numb from this outcome. His mind kept trying to process how this could've occurred.
But no answer could put him at ease right now. Especially as he watched Sora unleash a flurry of combos on him. Each strike was quick, yet painful. Indelible. His perfect picture of the future had been ruined by an intruding light, lost in a white void of overexposure. He would never be able to restore it.
Sora delivered the final strike, causing Bowser to slide back a good distance. He clutched his chest to lessen the pain. Although, in a strange way, it did take his mind off from the internal turmoil, if only for a brief moment – a conflict that had no resolution. The flames around Sora's friends vanished, and Luigi snatched up the Star Rod.
"I can't believe it," Fox said, stunned by the whole ordeal. "He did it!"
"Never a doubt!" Yoshi said, grinning.
The Star Spirits celebrated the victory. At last, they could decompress in a soothing whirlpool of relief. It had been too long since they experienced such elation; previously, they had been tugged along by a string of distress. But the feeling was finally liberated. They could go home and resurrect their halcyon lifestyle.
The arena vanished before everyone eyes. They had returned to the dark castle, in the area located behind the chapel. It was a large, circular place that had been infected by the same vines; they twisted around old, corroding pipes that were no longer in use. Various holes were cut into the walls, allowing the pink sky to gaze inside without interruption.
Luigi and the others hurried over to Sora's side, with their weapons drawn.
"You're always full of surprises, aren't you?" Luigi said, giving Sora a gentle pat on the shoulder. He used Cure to restore the boy's stamina.
Sora chuckled. "Nothing wrong with being consistent."
The invincible glow had vanished from Bowser. He was trapped like a meek, wounded herbivore; there was no escaping his fate. His pride was in an ignominious ditch. This was his biggest undertaking. And yet, he still failed. What type of king experienced defeat on a regular basis? But more importantly, how could a father disappoint his own son?
He promised Jr. the world, and came back broke, unable to deliver.
"It's over!" Sora said, pointing the Keyblade at him. "Tell me where Riku is, and how I can save him!
Finding a voice between his shallow breathing, Bowser glared at Sora, saying, "Kid, chew on a poisonous shroom. He's gone forever."
Stung with anger from Bowser's sharp, insensitive words, Sora prepared to run right for him. But a sudden, dark wind had barged into the conflict unannounced; it was strong enough to push Sora and his friends back a fair distance.
"What was that!?" Fox asked.
And it responded with a vague answer, in the form of dark lightning that electrocuted the Star Spirits. Their entire being had donned a shawl of paralysis, and they collapsed onto the ground.
"Oh, no!" Luigi said, horrified. He hurried over to them. Each spirit groaned in agony. Some were prostrated, while others faced the ceiling. But they were trussed together in misery. "Are you guys alright?"
"I…I can't move," Kalmar said, trying to squirm free of his paresis. "My powers are weak."
Luigi raised the Star Rod. "Hang on! I'll just—"
Another lightning bolt struck the Star Rod, knocking it out of Luigi's hand. It slid onto the ground, discharging black electricity. Luigi couldn't even approach the rod; electricity continued hissing at him like a distressed feral cat. The rod's tip closed its bright, yellow, singular eye; it had fallen into a deep slumber from the devastating attack.
"No, no, no," Luigi said, growing anxious. Misfortunate had tilted the boat of fate again. "This can't be happening! What's causing this!?"
Sora saw a dark figure in his peripheral vision like a splotch. He felt the familiar chill of the darkness gesture him towards this person. He turned to face them. Even before making eye contact, Sora's instincts already averred this person's identity; and, despite wanting to believe otherwise, it was incontrovertible.
"Riku!" Sora said.
Riku let out a small smirk, as if that name no longer had any meaning to him – a pejorative defined as weakness. He was no longer a child with fantastical ambitions; his goal was unequivocal, parting ambiguous knots with a refined brush. Sora knew something was wrong. Even the smallest amount of humanity was no longer present on Riku's physiognomy – a whiteboard drawn over with ineffable definitions.
Yoshi, being the second to notice him, growled at Riku. "Back for more, huh? Yoshi just brushed his teeth, and he ain't afraid to bite down on any part of you. He no picky!"
"Wait!" Sora said, holding out a cautious arm. "He's probably the one that hurt the Star Spirits. I don't want you to be his next victim."
Riku heard the harsh breathing of Bowser echo throughout the vicinity. He walked over to him, examining his exhausted state. "Do you need some help?"
But Bowser only responded with the same, raspy breathing, His stamina was still struggling to reach the promontory of vitality, thrashing against fatigued waves. Riku heard footsteps, and spun around to see the others hurrying over. Luigi glowered at the silver haired boy for hurting the venerable Star Spirits. Especially after they had been dragged through an uneven dirt road of emotional toil from their captures.
But before Luigi could open his mouth, he noticed Riku wielding a certain sword akin to Sora's. "Is that…what I think it is?"
"Yes," Riku said, smiling in pride. "A Keyblade."
Sora was taken aback. It was his own Keyblade had a dark, deformed shadow. "Wh-what? Where did you—"
"Questions best not divulged right now," Riku said. "But I suppose showing a fraction of its power would quell your curiosity."
The dual, inharmonious voice that expelled itself from Riku's throat was disconcerting. What happened to him, Sora thought? Speculation submitted a yellow envelope containing an disturbing theory. And he didn't want to open it, know what the contents contained.
"You see," Riku said, "unlike yours, this Keyblade holds the power to unlock people's hearts. Allow me to demonstrate." Spinning around in a sudden, abrupt manner, he thrusted the Keyblade straight into Bowser's chest. "Behold!"
Bowser let out a loud, anguished roar that reverberated throughout the room, making it tremble, as if sharing the intense pain. Everyone (especially Luigi and Yoshi) were in absolute shock by this sudden, horrifying twist in the battle's narrative. A mixture of black, purple, and pink energy stared seeping out of the Koopa King's chest. He was paralyzed, forced to endure the conflation of sensations spinning through his body.
"Now, open your heart," Riku said; he started turning his blade to unlock the king's true potential – a terrifying, dormant beast that should not have disturbed, "surrender it to the darkness. Become darkness itself!"
Riku released the Keyblade from Bowser's chest, and vanished into a dark portal. The Koopa King was bathed within a green aura. Pain had become numb as darkness spread across every fiber of his being like an incurable plague.
And yet, he invited the darkness into his temple of flesh. He was cajoled by its immeasurable power, and wanted to relish in its nondescript form.
"Oh, yeah, baby!" Bowser said, in utter excitement. "Now this is what I'm talking about! The true darkness!"
He raised his arms into the air, becoming consumed in a massive wave of darkness. Everyone braced themselves as it momentarily consumed them. When the commotion ceased, they opened their eyes, and were horrified upon seeing Bowser's form – a massive, grotesque caricature of his former self. He had grown twice his size; every feature had become more pronounced.
His bloodshot eyes stared right at the four. He let out a blood curdling roar that sent a jolt of distress throughout the group's bodies. The beast made its grand appearance; it was unhinged, unable to be persuaded by logic or reason. All this creature knew was destruction; and if the group didn't act, it'd spread across the universe like wildfire. Nothing could extinguish its malicious flames.
"H-Have to admit"—Luigi was trembling in unmitigated fear— "he really got a quality upgrade in the horrifying visage department."
Bowser tried crushing the group with his giant paw. Everyone leaped back just in time.
"THAT'S what you're concerned with now!?" Fox asked, annoyed.
"I try not to think about the possibility of my impending demise," Luigi said.
Ignoring Luigi's frivolous remark, Sora turned to Yoshi. "Keep the Star Spirits safe! We'll handle this!"
"Okay," Yoshi said. "But me joining battle if things get out of hand."
Sora nodded in confirmation. Yoshi gathered up both the Star Spirits and the Star Rod; he brought them to the hindmost part of the room. Upon setting them down, he stood in front of them, shield raised.
"Be..Be careful, young ones," Eldstar said, finding enough strength to pluck at his vocal chords.
Bowser leaped into the air, preparing to slam down on Sora, Luigi, and Fox with his backside. The group leaped back to avoid becoming an imperfection in the gravel's design. A spring of courage pushed Luigi forward; he leaped into the air, preparing to strike with his hammer. Bowser's claws were hazed within a light blue mist; he swung them at Luigi, who blocked the attack.
But the force was strong enough to push him back onto the ground. Upon recovering, Luigi noticed the tip of his hammer was frozen within ice. Well, that's a new trick, he thought. Bowser stomped the ground, causing Luigi to stumble over. He then launched a massive fireball at him. Fortunately, Fox used his dash move to tackle Luigi, avoiding the blast just in time.
Distracted, Bowser had no chance to dodge a powerful slash in the hip from Sora. The beast roared in pain, spun around, and attacked with his tail. Sora brought his Keyblade up to block the strike, but the impact was strong enough to send him flying into a wall. He fell straight onto the floor, landing on his chest.
The ground stared to rattle against Sora's body. Giant footsteps pounded in his head like an uncontrollable headache, growing louder with each passing second. Sora scrambled to his feet as Bowser was in close proximity. The Koopa King threw a massive punch at the boy. Rebelling against physics' established laws, Sora leaped onto the wall, avoiding the attack.
The torch of offense was passed onto Sora, as he kicked off the wall, landed on Bowser's arm, and ran up it. But the Koopa King launched a fireball at him. Sora was forced to leap onto Bowser's opposite arm. It was a mistake that couldn't be retracted. Bowser swung his arm, sending Sora flying across the room.
Sora managed to regain control of himself and land on his feet. Although he tottered forward. Luigi and Fox were quick to catch him before being at instability's mercy. Bowser shot another large fireball at the group, forcing them to roll away from each other. Fox recovered first, and sprinted right towards the Koopa King, moving headlong into danger's path.
Bowser stomped the ground, releasing a stream of dark energy. Fox sidestepped the attack. Despite his intellect anesthetized by darkness' mask, instinct had commandeered Bowser's senses, knowing that Fox was a threat; he wouldn't take one step into Bowser's personal space. Bowser swung downward, at a diagonal angle, releasing dark energy in the form of his claws.
Fox delivered an over the shoulder strike to destroy the blast. But Bowser was determined to keep his boundaries from being defiled by Fox's presence. He launched energy beams from his nails, which took on their sharp likeness. Fox drew his gun and fired at them, obliterating each one. When Fox was in range, Bowser exhaled a stream of fire, in hopes of cleansing the whole body with flames.
Fox slid onto his backside, dodging the incoming fire. He was positioned right under Bowser's chin. Placing both arms above his head, Fox used the flame attack to ram right into the Koopa King's chin. Unfortunately, he was forced to swallow a rock of disappointment, as it had no effect whatsoever.
Fox landed on the ground, leaped back a few feet, and faced Bowser, who stared at him with those bloodshot eyes; they mulled over his punishment for being an annoyance that disrupted their waking existence.
"Guess I'll have to try harder to break that jawline," Fox said, keeping a lapel of courage from folding inward. "Hope you don't mind losing some choppers in the progress!"
Bowser raised his hand, preparing to slam it straight down on Fox. But Sora threw the Keyblade right into the hand, momentarily startling the Koopa King. This small break was just wide enough to permit Fox's escape, just as Bowser tried slamming his hand down on him. Frustrated fumes exhumed from the Koopa King's nostrils.
He unleashed another fireball. Fox jumped high into the air, landing on one of the pipes, and retaliated by firing his blaster at Bowser's face. Each successful hit was as effective as splashing water. But it did distract the Koopa King long enough for Sora and Luigi to strike together at the hip.
Their combined strength was adequate enough for pain to ascend a precipice of nerves. Bowser filled the silent air with agonizing roars. Although stronger than ever, he could no longer conjure a protective, impenetrable, transparent armor to take the blunt of each strike. Furious, Bowser swung in low with his claws at the two, but they hopped backwards to avoid being torn apart.
He slammed his opposite hand into the ground, knocking Sora and Luigi off their feet. They were helpless for the moment. Bowser curled into his shell, taking on the appearance of giant green boulder with spikes protruding everywhere. His plan was to flatten the two while punching them with holes. Overkill at its finest.
Sora and Luigi were able to sit up, noticing the giant shell rolling right towards them. With no time to stand up, Sora and Luigi combined their Stop magic, freezing the Koopa King in temporal chains for a brief moment. It wouldn't hold for long, but that extra few seconds would suffice. They were able to move out of the shell's path just as the spell expired. Bowser rolled across the room, slammed into a wall, and fell onto the back of his shell. He rocked back and forth like a capsized boat, appearing helpless. But then, Bowser curled into his shell again, rolling right at Sora like a livid bowling ball; he was the derelict pin that would fall before Bowser's might.
Continuing to be an anomaly in nature's complicated gestalt, Bowser leaped into the air, preparing to land straight on top of Sora. Once again, the boy was quick to move away before being crushed. After landing, Bowser unleashed dark, pointed energy blasts from his spikes. They chased the group around the area. While they were distracted, Bowser noticed Yoshi and the hapless Star Spirits.
Nervous drops of sweat slid down the uneven terrace of Yoshi's scaly skin. He was about to face Bowser alone for the next few moments. But Yoshi was resolute in not lingering for even a millisecond. Bowser leaned over towards the dinosaur with his mouth wide open, as if ready to swallow him whole. Before the vicious maw could close, Yoshi placed his shield in between it; the Koopa King winced as he bit down on the shield.
His teeth jittered like wind chimes from being disrupted. Bowser spat out the shield, opened his mouth again, and prepared another fireball. Yoshi grabbed the shield with his tongue, flinging it straight into the Koopa's cheek; it knocked the fireball's trajectory off course, missing everyone in the process. Luigi leaped onto the nape of Bowser's neck, and slammed the hammer down on his head.
Bowser's skull jolted from the impact. Although it didn't faze him, hitting someone over the head wasn't going to conciliate well. With a fierce roar, Bowser stood up, jerking his neck around, trying to remove the annoying green mosquito. Luigi held onto Bowser's hair with all his might; his screams for help peeped in between the threatening screeches of Bowser.
But this distraction did lure him away from Yoshi and the Star Spirits. They were once again under safety's watchful eye. At least for the moment. Bowser stomped backwards towards the middle of the arena; he was still flailing around.
"Hang on!" Sora said. "Force!"
The Gravity spell appeared above the two's heads. Luigi's eyes bulged out in a panic. "No, wait! Don't do it! Don't do it!"
He did it.
Bowser and Luigi plummeted onto the ground, as if having been pinned down by a robust wrestler. Fortunately, Luigi was able to pull himself off the Koopa King, and stumbled onto the ground. He then sat up, groaning, rubbing his head from the pressure that squeezed inside it like a compactor.
"Um, oops," Sora said, as a streak of guilt glided by hi face. He hurried over and helped Luigi to his feet. "Sorry about that."
After regaining feeling in his head, Luigi turned to Sora with a scowl. "Do you just keep residual sand from your island in your ears or something!?"
Bowser tried standing up, but Fox ran over, thrusting his staff straight into the Koopa King's tail. Once again, he roared as the pain spread like a hostile virus; every receptor became obeisant towards its omnipresent will. Luigi leaped at Bowser's face, swinging the hammer straight into his cheek. Yoshi was next on the conveyer belt of their assault, as he threw his shield straight into the Koopa King's forehead.
Both Luigi and Fox appeared underneath his chin, combining their powers to deliver a fierce, flaming uppercut. This time, the attack did damage. Sora became the Grand Finale in this explosive display of teamwork: he leaped high into the air, summoning every ounce of energy in the Keyblade, and delivered a powerful, diagonal slash right across Bowser's chest. The result was a laceration opening its shimmering eye of golden light.
But Sora would be sedulous in making sure this battle reached its conclusion. He fired his spiral beam straight into massive cut, exploding within the Koopa King's innards. The agony felt was beyond excruciating. Not even emitting a loud roar could quell the infiltration of pain.
"Let's do it together, guys!" Sora said with a powerful shout.
Sora and his friends ran right for the laceration, putting forth every bit of vitality. They were going to end Bowser's looming presence over them once and for all. Everyone struck the laceration at the same time, causing the scar to grow in size. More light poured out from Bowser's chest. His roars grew meek from exhaustion. His sense had become desensitized from the pain.
The group leaped back from him. They still kept their weapons drawn; their alertness remained rigid like an impenetrable pillar. Bowser let out one last miserable roar. Stamina poured out through a strainer of exhaustion. Not even a fragment could be salvaged. The Koopa King collapsed onto his chest, causing the room to shudder one last time. Soon it would return to its peaceful, lackadaisical status.
But Bowser wouldn't receive that same luxury; he'd slip into the next life, forever marked with a cicatrix of failure. His future was unobtainable – a futile dream that would take the voyage with him into the unknown. He was enveloped within green flames, and soon vanished, becoming a relic of reality. Only the vestiges of his legacy were left to perambulate the waking world.
Fox wore a skeptical monocle. "Is it finally over?
Silence seemed to infer the Koopa King's status.
"It would appear so," Riku said, interjecting.
Everyone turned to see Riku had reappeared. Sora could feel his stomach grow heavy with concern over his friend's state of being. Everything about him…was wrong, as if someone or something had dressed in his skin. It was unnerving. This wasn't the same person he knew his entire life.
"Yeah," Fox said, with a frown. "Didn't need your opinion there."
Riku glanced down at the floor – a smudge of darkness was all that remained of the Koopa King. "It's quite ironic, isn't it? He was just another puppet after all."
"Wh-What do you mean?" Luigi asked, with a nervous tickle in his throat.
"The Heartless were using Bowser from the beginning," Riku said. "He failed to notice the darkness in his heart was eating away. Maybe he thought the princess would be the light that held it together. Nothing more than a fallacy." He brushed away the remnants of Bowser's darkness with his foot. "A fitting end for such a fool."
He created another dark portal and vanished from sight. Sora could feel his heartrate increase. He wanted it to be over: that they slain the monster and saved the day, being honored as heroes. Wish fulfillment of the adolescents. Reality was painted with a gray brush – a colored that couldn't be scraped off life's mural.
There was one more challenge Sora had to overcome. And it may end with a friendship that could never be reassembled.
N/A: So, yes – Giga Bowser was used for this fight. I am planning to use Fury Bowser at a later time. I've got a few ideas for how I want to incorporate him into the KH: Nintendo Story. And I'm very excited to show you them. :)
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