Kingdom Hearts 4: Fractured Memories
Chapter 3: The Fated Night
Everyone was still silent as they stared at Sora with his keyblade completely forgetting about the Forgottens from earlier.
"Sora? Why are you holding a... key... blade?" Asked Kairi as she tried to understand what was going on.
"Uhh." That was all Sora could say as he still hadn't come up with an explanation. 'How do I explain this!?'
"I think it safe to say that Sora doesn't know what that is, Kairi." Said Riku. "He's just as equally confused as us."
'Okay, I can work that.' Thought Sora.
"It's impressive, whatever it is." Said Yuri. "Could that bright light have come from the... well I guess there is no other way to say this, that keyblade?"
"Wait, that wasn't your camera, Yuri?" Asked Kairi.
"I don't think so." She said as she examined her camera. "There doesn't seem to be any damage to it and it didn't develop a photo."
"So we are calling this a "keyblade?" Asked Sora as he followed what Riku said.
"I guess we are." Replied Riku.
"Should we tell Sora's mother about this?" Asked Yuri.
"NO!" Exclaimed Sora, startling his friends. "I mean, let's not do that. It helped me save you guys, so it has to be something good."
"I guess." Said Kairi as she looked at Sora with worry and doubt.
"We can't exactly tell our parents about those things." Said Riku. "Especially where my mother is the chief of the police."
'Oh, she will definitely come to my house and ask why Riku and I got hurt once she learns about it.' Thought Sora as he shivered in fear.
"Hey guys we heard an... holy shit Sora! Why do you have a giant key!" Exclaimed Tidus as Lulu, Wakka, and Selphie arrived.
'And it just got harder.' Thought Sora as a sweatdrop fell from his head.
X
Meanwhile in an unknown location...
"The hell was that!?" Exclaimed a man as he stood up from his chair and looked into the portal showing Sora and his friends.
"I believe our associate just revealed the Forgottens to these islanders." Said a calculated voice. "The question is why?"
"Yes, why did you summon them?" Questioned a woman who held a polearm with big metal ends at each side.
"Look, I thought if we eliminated the problem before it could reach us it would be beneficial to our plans." Said a man in a calm voice.
"Last I checked, we weren't supposed to harm the keyblade wielders until they got off the island." Said a woman as she played with an arrow. "And yet you did it anyway."
"And keeping them there permanently isn't going to help us?" Questioned the calm man.
"I believe what she is trying to tell ya is that it was foolish to attack them young varmints seeing how we need their darn keyblade to get what we need, slick." Said a man with a western accent.
"Ugh, I thought we told you to speak normally." Said the woman with the arrow.
"If y'all have a problem with my voice just vamoose." Said the western man. "We don't exactly need ya here."
"The same can be said with you." Said the woman with the polearm weapon.
"ENOUGH!" Shouted a man with a commanding voice as everyone stopped arguing. "If you're all so upset about it, I told him to do so."
"You let him do that?" Asked the calculated man. "I don't see how that benefits us in the slightest."
"It's all part of the plan." Said the leader. "If it weren't, I would have summoned all of you here."
"Would explain why our posse is so small." Said the western man.
"I still find it idiotic." Said the woman with the arrow.
"Are you questioning me?" Asked the leader.
"O, of course not my liege." She said with a stutter as she dropped her arrow. "I know my place and I know I wouldn't exist again without your help."
"That's what I thought." Said the leader. "If there is nothing else then this meeting is adjourned."
"There is one thing." Said the woman with the polearm.
"That being?" He asked in an irritated voice.
"I noticed a man with a brown robe watching the scene. I assume that's Ansem?" She asked as she zoomed in on Ansem watching from afar.
"Great!" Shouted the man who got out from the chair as he summoned a scepter. "Now the Organization knows about us!"
"Not necessarily." Said the calculated man. "Sure he discovered them fighting the Forgottens, but do they even know what they are?"
"...No." Said the man with the scepter as he sat down. "And if they had, then "he" would have done something."
"Exactly. If they truly knew about us then the leader of the Organization would have come for us by now." He said with a grin.
As the discussion was going on, the calm-voiced man looked at Sora and his friends. 'Did I make the correct judgment?'
X
We see Sora and his friends on a boat back home.
"So let me get this straight." Said Lulu. "A sentient coconut tree caused those explosions?"
Sora and Riku looked at each other and back to the group with a shy chuckle.
"When you put it like that, it makes us sound crazy." Said Sora.
"Come on, Lulu." Said Wakka. "Why would they lie to us? Even Kairi and Yuri got attacked by those creatures."
"Still, it sounds like something is missing." She said as she stared at Sora with doubt.
"What's there to miss?" Asked Tidus. "Sora and Riku fought monsters and Sora gained a giant key weapon after a mysterious light shined. Sounds pretty explanatory to me."
"Of course, you'd think that, Tidus." Said Selphie. "You just think Sora's key sword thing is cool."
The group chuckled as they reached home as a woman with silver-blue hair stood in a blue jean jacket, black shirt, blue jeans, and black boots as she stared at the boat coming towards her.
"Did you get grounded, Riku?" Asked Yuri. "Because that would explain why Astrea is scowling at us."
As the boat docked, Astrea marched over to Riku. "What part of grounded did you not get?" She asked as her glare pierced into Riku's eyes.
"I had a promise to keep." Said Riku.
"I don't care that you had a promise to finish that raft." Said Astrea as Sora, Kairi, and Riku's eyes widened. "Yes, I know about the raft. I've checked the island looking for those wild boars and found it."
"Ast... I don't care about the raft, Sora." She said as she interrupted him. "What I care about is that you kids could have gotten hurt."
"We're not exactly kids anymore." Said Wakka as Astrea just glared. "...I'll shut up."
Astrea then notices the bruise on Riku's arm. "What happened there?"
"Just us a bruise from a little race me and Riku had." Said Sora with a nervous chuckle.
"Uh huh, and this wouldn't have anything to do with the explosions we heard in the distance would it?" Questioned Astrea catching Sora's lie.
"It was fireworks!" Exclaimed Yuri.
"Fireworks?" Asked Astrea not exactly believing her story.
"Yes, fireworks." Replied Yuri. "I asked Tidus if he could pick some up for us because I wanted to see them."
"Is this true?" Asked Astrea as she looked at Tidus.
"Y, yeah, fireworks. That's what it was." He said a little nervously.
"...Right." She said with a blank stare. "Seeing how there's not any burn marks on my son's clothes I'll believe your story for now."
The group sighed in relief.
"As for you Riku, your grounding has extended up to three weeks." Said Astrea as Riku nodded silently. "And Sora."
"Yes ma'am?" Asked Sora.
Astrea lets out a snicker, confusing Sora. "No "aunt" this time? When did you grow up?" Sora let out a shy chuckle as he blushed. "Anyway, your mom told me to remind you to meet up at the Town Hall."
"Just Sora?" Questioned Selphie.
"I guess it's more of a reminder for all of you." Said Astrea. "The mayor has called a meeting at night to discuss the sudden appearance of the wild boars and other animals."
"It's just not boars?" Asked Sora.
"No, it's just not boars." She said with a serious tone. "A fisherman saw this animal with crooked horns rush into the forest when it was spotted.
Sora froze as he heard the clear description of the animal and could only think of one thing. 'Heartless.'
"Sora?" Asked Astera with a look of concern on her face. "Have you seen it too?"
"U, uh, no... well not in real life." He explained trying not to reveal too much.
"From your dreams, maybe?" Asked Lulu.
"Yeah, my dreams." Said Sora.
"Well, if you do see it, awake that is. Tell me as soon as possible." Said Astrea as she, Riku, and Yuri walked off.
"We should get home too." Said Selphie as she, Lulu, Wakka, and Tidus walked off leaving only Sora and Kairi.
"I'll walk you home." Said Sora and Kairi at the same time making them chuckle shyly.
"You don't have to Kairi." He said as he rubbed his neck.
"I could say the same thing to you." Said Kairi with a giggle. "But, I want to."
"What about your father?" Asked Sora.
"He'll know where I am." Said Kairi. "If I'm not at home, I'm with you, Riku and Yuri, or someone else."
"If you're sure." Said Sora as he and Kairi walked to his home.
Meanwhile, a member of the Forgottens was watching from a distance.
"You are not from around here." Said a male voice.
As they heard it, they turned and saw Ansem in his brown cloak.
"Neither are you." Said the Forgotten member.
"Then I guess that makes us both men out of place." Said Ansem. "The question now is, who are you, or should I say what are you?"
"What I am is none of your business." He said in a calm voice.
"I should think so, seeing how your heart is broken." Said Ansem as the calm-voiced man flinched.
"...Again, it's not your business." Said the man as his voice became aggravated. "Now take your Heartless and leave."
Ansem let out a chuckle after the man said that. "Is that a threat?"
The Forgotten member summoned their weapon. The light green weapon was attached to their forearms as two curved blades pointed outward from the base. "It's a demand."
Heartless started swarming the two as the Forgotten member glared at Ansem
"I see." Said Ansem. "I guess I can abide by your demand."
"Just like that?" Questioned the calm-voiced man. "I didn't think you'd give in so easily."
"Normally, I wouldn't just walk away, but the gears are in motion." Said Ansem as a Door To Darkness appeared. "But, someone has sped up the process."
"Who?" Asked the man as he tried to get closer but the Shadows wouldn't let him.
"Let's just say I have allies outside of the Organization now." Said Ansem as he went through the portal.
"Damn." Said the man as the Shadows attacked him as he spun and slayed them with wind magic. "...I know you're there."
Out from a corner of the appeared the calculated voiced man. "It seems you could use a hand."
"I could care less what you think about, Talma." Said the man as he opened a portal of white.
"I know what you're doing." Said Talma making the man stop.
"What do you mean?" Asked the man.
"You think I haven't noticed you leaving the base and going to different worlds?" Said Talma. "I couldn't ponder why you were doing such a thing until it dawned on me." He then held a letter in front of his face. "You've been communicating with someone from Organization XIII." The man flinches as he turns away from Talma knowing he's been caught. "Have to say, you betraying us like this is especially shocking seeing how your master trained you to get into our group. I wonder what will happen if I speak up about this?"
"...What do you want?" He asked as Talma just grinned.
Back with Sora and Kairi...
Sora and Kairi sat in Sora's room talking.
"No way." Said Sora with a chuckle.
"It's true!" Said Kairi. "I saw Tidus checking out Yuri in school yesterday. He totally has a thing for her."
"It just surprises me that he does." Said Sora. "I honestly thought he liked Selphie."
"Speaking of surprises." Said Kairi. "Why are you lying to me and our friends?"
Sora froze for a second before speaking up. "What do you mean? I'm not lying about anything."
"Yes, you are!" She exclaimed as she got closer to him. "You know what that keyblade thing is. I could see the look of shock on your face!"
"I... And me and Yuri saw your fight!" Said Kairi interrupting Sora. "I saw the look on your face there as well. You knew what those things were!"
"..." Was all Sora could say as he knew he couldn't keep lying. "Let me tell you a story, Kairi."
"How does a story... trust me." Said Sora as he interrupted her.
And he did. He started with the beginning of his journey. From Destiny Islands to Scala ad Caelum. How he and other keyblade wielders fought off the darkness over the years to save worlds and the hearts of others and nothing stopped him from saving his friends, the worlds he visited, Kingdom Hearts, and most importantly, her. Which led to now and how he has to save everyone from a new threat.
"...So those white creatures are called Forgottens?" Asked Kairi as she was still processing this all.
"Yeah, and a whole new organization made from them will do terrible things to these worlds." Replied Sora. "And that's not including the Heartless, Nobodies, Unversed, and Nightmares."
Kairi sat there on Sora's bed looking down at the floor. "So, ... you're not "my" Sora?"
Sora hesitated, but then put an arm around her. "I mean... yes and no. I have memories of us together, but not of this me. That doesn't mean I don't care for you, Riku, and the rest of the gang." Sora then smiled. "I look forward to learning new stuff about you all, including Yuri and Lulu."
"...But you said our world will be taken by the darkness." Said Kairi as tears rolled down her face. "Our families, our friends, our homes are going to be consumed by it."
"Yes, that's going to happen, but it all comes back after I defeat Ansem." Explained Sora.
"And Riku will fall into the darkness and be alone in pain." Said Kairi.
"But not forever! We will meet up again at The World That Never Was and... You don't get it!" Shouted Kairi, shocking Sora to the floor.
"All this pain, all this darkness leads to a world where I die in the end and that scares me, Sora!" She shouted as she stood up.
"We don't know if that will happen this time!" Exclaimed Sora. "Anything can happen because of this new timeline." Kairi just looked over to a corner as she was still crying and upset. "..."
Sora then hugged her from behind startling her for a second then embracing it.
"...You promise you won't let anything bad happen to us?" Asked Kairi.
"I promise." Replied Sora as he tightened the hug.
"Sora, Kairi, what's going on up there?" Asked Sora's mother from downstairs, startling the two.
"N, nothing Mom!" Shouted Sora.
"J, just competitive spirit over a board game, Mrs. Atsuo." Said Kairi.
"Alright, but it's time to go to the town meeting." Said Mrs. Atsuo.
"Sora..." Said Kairi.
"It's going to be okay." Replied Sora as he went downstairs with Kairi to go to the meeting.
X
"Did ya find out anything from your trip, your majesty?" Asked Dale as they returned.
"We did, but I would rather keep it under wraps for now." Said Mickey.
"Well, the ship is ready to go, your Majesty." Said Gadget.
"Great." Said Mickey turning to Goofy and Donald. "Now I know I asked you to come with me, but, if you want to pull out I won't stop ya."
"Your Majesty, we've been through everything together from thick and thin." Said Donald.
"Yeah, we aren't letting you go on this journey by yourself." Said Goofy.
"I appreciate it, pals." Said Mickey. "But this journey is going to be a lot more dangerous than before with these Forgottens around and you have families."
"Why Mickey, your family to us too." Said Goofy.
"Yeah, our hearts are connected so that means your family too." Said Donald.
"Gosh, 'sniffles' you guys." Said Mickey as he hugged Goofy and Donald.
"Aw." Said Gadget as leaned on a ledge. As she did, she fell into the gummi ship and right into the glove box making it close.
"Enough of this sappy talk!" Said Monty. "There's worlds that need to be saved!"
"Right." Said Mickey as he, Donald, and Goofy got into the ship. "Wait, where's Jiminy?"
"I'm right here your majesty." Said Jiminy as he lifted Goofy's hat.
"Why are you in Goofy's hat?" Asked Donald.
"Well seeing how Jiminy is so small and the seats are so big, I figured my hat would be a safe place to be." Explained Goofy.
"That's very considerate of you, Goofy." Said Mickey. "Chip, Dale, start the launch sequence!"
"You got it!" Said both Chip and Dale as they lowered the gummi ship to the docking bay.
"...Wait, aren't the main launch exits closed for maintenance?" Asked Donald.
"Gwarsh, I think they are." Replied Goofy.
"Wait, then how are we..." Was all Mickey could say as the gummi ship fell through a door below them.
"AAAAHHHHH!" Screamed Donald, Goofy, and Mickey as the ship started up and floated in the open space.
"...Note to self. Make sure the docking bay doors are fixed when we get back." Said Mickey gripping the seat. He then grabbed the wheel and drove the ship towards Traverse Town.
Back on Destiny Island...
Everyone made their way to the town hall for the meeting about the recent "animals" on the island. As they did, Sora kept looking at places hidden by the night where he could see the Heartless moving around.
'Why aren't they attacking?' Thought Sora. 'I know they can act on their own, but something about this seems coordinated.'
"Hey, there you guys are!" Exclaimed Selphie as she, Wakka, Lulu, Tidus, and Yuri were waiting outside the town hall.
"Sorry, we are late." Said Kairi.
"Did something happen between you and Sora?" Questioned Lulu. "You look like you were crying."
"Oh, I uh, bit my lip." Said Kairi nervously.
As everyone talked until the rest of the town arrived, Yuri pulled Sora beside the building.
"Is something wrong, Yuri?" Asked Sora.
"Something appeared in my pictures." Said Yuri.
"What do you mean?" He asked with concern.
Yuri then pulled out a picture and Sora's eyes went wide. The picture showed the Forgotten he killed with the keyblade and its broken heart pieces floating away.
"Nothing like this has appeared in my pictures at all since my time here." Said Yuri as she pulled out other pictures that showed the hearts inside of people. "But ever since those creatures attacked us, my pictures have been showing glowing hearts with white and black either sharing each side of the heart or the other taking over the other side."
'Could Yuri be a Princess of Heart?' Thought Sora. 'It's the first time I've seen this with one if she is.'
"Sora!" Exclaimed Yuri.
"Ah, sorry, I was just deep in thought." He said as he recovered from Yuri's sudden shout.
"I could tell." Said Yuri with a serious look. "You do know why this is happening don't you?"
"W, what gave you that idea?" Asked Sora.
"Because your lying face is garbage." Said Lulu as she appeared around the corner.
"Lulu!? You were listening to us!" Exclaimed Sora.
"I told Yuri to show the pictures to you to see if I could catch you lying again." She said with a hand on her hip. "And you did."
"...It's... complicated." Said Sora.
"Just how is it... Attention everyone!" Shouted a man interrupting Lulu. "It's time for the meeting. Everyone who is outside please come inside."
"This conversation isn't over." Said Lulu as she and Yuri went inside.
Sora sighed and went inside and sat with his mother with his friends sitting with their families as
Kairi sat in a chair on the stage where her father was. As he looked around to see if anyone seemed off when he noticed that Riku wasn't there.
"Psst, Tidus?" Whispered Sora.
"Yeah, Sora?" Whispered Tidus.
"Where's Riku?" Asked Sora.
"His mom said that something didn't agree with him at supper so he stayed home." Answered Tidus as he turned back to view the stage.
'That's weird. Riku was fine earlier.' Thought Sora.
"Attention everyone, attention!" Said Kairi's father as everyone turned their gaze to him. "Thank you. Now we are here to discuss the local wildlife issues we've been having."
"Issues!?" A man shouted. "One of those animals tried to enter my child's room!"
"I hit one of those antenna-looking animals with my car!" Exclaimed a woman.
"Now, now everyone, let's calm down." Said Astrea. "Mayor Nagai has heard your concerns over the phone and in person. He has a plan to make sure... Yeah right." Said a man who had his feet resting on the back of an empty seat.
The man was dressed in a black jacket with red lining on his sleeves, a pair of black gloves with red decoration on the knuckles, a pair of blue jeans, and black boots. His hair was a greyish blue and his eyes were a dark green.
"Would you like to repeat yourself, Raijin?" Asked Astrea with a glare.
"Raijin? Who's that?" Asked Sora.
"He recently moved here from another city." Whispered Yuri.
"I thought after that discussion we had outside the town hall that we weren't talking?" Whispered Sora. "And why aren't you sitting where Riku and Astrea would be?"
"Look, I admit I'm hurt that you are lying to us, but, this couldn't wait." Whispered Yumi.
"What are you... Attention." Said Raijin as he got on the stage and interrupted Sora.
"Do I have your attention?" Asked Raijin as everyone looked at him. "Good. Now you may think the mayor has a plan, but, let's face it." He then gave a sinister grin to Mayor Nagai. "He doesn't know what he's dealing with."
"And you do?" Asked Nagai. "You've only been living on the island for three weeks. I hardly doubt you know anything about these animals."
As Sora listened in on the conversation, he saw darkness surrounding Raijin. "Yuri, is the thing you wanted to talk to me about involving him?" He asked as Yuri nodded and showed a picture she took of him before the meeting showing his heart surrounded in darkness. Sora then got up from his seat and walked up to the stage as his mother tried to stop him.
"Believe me, I know more about them than you do." Said Raijin.
"Because you brought them here, right?" Asked Sora with a stern look.
"Sora!" Shouted Mrs. Atsuo as she grabbed his arm. "Forgive him, he just got over a cold. He's not thinking clearly."
"Well here's the thing." Said Raijin as he grinned. "He's right."
Everyone went into an uproar as Raijin confessed. Astrea then pulled her pistol out and aimed it at Raijin.
"You brought them here!" Exclaimed Nagai with anger in his voice. "Just why would you bring such dangerous... Urk!" Was the last thing he could get out as Raijin had summoned and stabbed him with a dagger that had a small Shadow head emblem at the end of the grip.
"Dad!" Screamed Kairi as she ran toward her father as he fell to the floor gripping his side.
Raijin then cleaned the bolt-shaped blade with his tongue horrifying the islanders as Astrea went to fire her gun.
"Now that's foolish." Said Raijin as he summoned a small burst of thunder from his fingertips which hit Astrea sending her flying into a wall.
"Why...?" Asked Nagai as he coughed blood.
"Why?" Questioned Raijin with a grin. "Because I'm Heartless."
"You're just someone who needs to be brought down a peg!" Shouted Sora as he summoned his keyblade, shocking the other islanders who didn't know about his keyblade.
"S, Sora?" Asked his mom as she stepped back in shock.
"I'll explain... eventually." Said Sora as his gaze remained on Raijin.
"Now you decide to show your blade." Said Raijin. "Wonder how much longer you were going to play this game of yours, Sora."
"You know my name?" Questioned Sora. "And what do you mean by game?"
"Oh don't play dumb." He said with a grin. "We met on Destiny Island days ago before you fell sick."
"This is the first time I'm meeting you in person." Said Sora as he swung his keyblade at Raijin. Raijin dodged it with a backflip and landed perfectly.
"Hmm, could the spell have made you lose your memory?" Questioned Raijin as he scratched his chin. "That Maleficent bitch said that it would kill you, but, yet you are standing before me today." He then squinted his eyes. "Wait... your heart seems different..."
"What are you talking about?" Asked Mrs. Atsuo. "My son's heart is healthy!"
"Not the literal heart you idiot." Said Raijin in annoyance as he continued to look at Sora... then he grinned. "You're not Sora."
"Yes, he is!" Shouted Tidus as he got out of his seat.
"Yeah! We grew up together so we should know him better than you!" Exclaimed Wakka.
Raijin rolls his eyes with a sigh. "Okay, let me dumb it down for you islanders." He then points his dagger at Sora. "This isn't your Sora. He's a different one from another timeline."
"Now you're just saying shit." Said Astrea as she tried to get up only for Raijin to shoot a small bolt of lightning near as a warning, making her remain on the floor.
"I don't blame you for not believing me. I admit it, it's really hard to swallow this information when you hear it, but, look at the facts." Said Raijin. "Those "animals" are called Heartless and they didn't start to appear until I arrived, Sora has a giant key sword called a "Keyblade" in his hands, and surely you must have noticed the differences between Sora and his behaviors when he recovered. After all, you are his friends, you should know him better than I do."
Wakka, Tidus, Yuri, Sophie, and Lulu were silent and so were the islanders and Sora's mom.
"So what?" Said Kairi. "Yeah, he's not the Sora we know, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care about us. He may have different memories than ours, but he's willing to learn about us."
"Your point?" Asked Raijin.
"Just because he's a different Sora, doesn't mean that he's different from our Sora. In fact, there are similarities I see between the two which makes me know that this Sora was just as caring and protecting as our Sora!" Exclaimed Kairi.
"How cute." Said Raijin with a mocking tone. "Just because you love him doesn't change the other's minds."
"You're wrong!" Shouted Yuri. "Sure he's not the person they have grown up with and not the one I got to know over the past two years since coming here, but we treated him the same as we did with our Sora!"
"You're kidding me, right?" Asked Raijin as he gripped his dagger tightly. "That, Isn't, Your, Sora!"
"Doesn't make him any different!" Shouted Selphie. "Sure, he's not our Sora, but, he's still Sora!"
"You guys..." Said Sora softly.
"...Ha." Laughed Raijin. "Hahahahahahaha!"
"What's so funny?" Questioned Lulu.
"The delusion of it all, of course." He said with a grin. "Your hearts connect so well with each other that it's sickening." He then snapped his fingers and Shadows burst through the windows onto the stage. "But can they survive the darkness?"
The Shadows leaped towards the crowd causing panic and screaming, but Sora charged and started to fight them.
"Oh no you don't." Said Raijin as he snapped his fingers again, summoning a Heartless that stood tall as a person. The Heartless had a squared-shaped jaw with three horns on its head, its claws sparked with electricity, and its legs arched to attack. It wore a dark blue robe with the
Heartless emblem on the left side of the robe and had what looked like a braided beard, but it was made of shadow. "Kill him."
The Heartless charged at Sora as he slew another Shadow. Sora then saw the other Heartless but was too late to block its attack as he got sent flying through the door onto the ground.
As Sora got up, he saw the Heartless had started to attack the town as buildings burned. "No." He said as the large Heartless was now outside with him.
"How ironic." Said Raijin as he stood on the porch of the Town Hall. "Your story just started and it's going to end here."
"Why are you doing this?" Asked Sora as he got off the ground. "How are you doing this?"
"My reasoning is none of your business." He said with a psychotic grin. "As for how, well, you must have seen people control the Heartless before?"
"Not to this kind of extent. It's like…" Was all Sora said as the realization hit him. "Your a Heartless."
"No duh, genius." Said Raijin as the two large Heartless got closer. "I said so earlier. Though I guess that could have been easily seen as a euphemism. Regardless, your tale ends here."
One of the two large Heartless raised their arm to attack Sora and he got ready to block it… for it to only get stopped by a chain wrapping around its wrist.
"We got your back, Sora!" Exclaimed Selphie as some villagers helped her hold back the Heartless' attack.
Sora then slashed his Keyblade against the neck of the large Heartless, killing it.
"Oh for the love of…" Said Raijin as he gripped his fists around his daggers in anger. He then summoned another of the large Heartless followed by Shadows and Soldiers. "Kill them!"
(Tension Rising by Yoko Shimomura)
As the Heartless attacked, Sora dodged their attacks as he took out some Shadows and Soldiers. As Sora did, one of the large Heartless went for a sneak attack to only be hit square in the face by Wakka as he used his Blitz Ball.
"Take that, ugly!" Shouted Wakka as the large Heartless glared at him and charged towards him. "Uh oh." Wakka then dodged out of the way as the large Heartless slammed into a building.
The large Heartless then shook it off and raised its claw as it sparked with electricity to strike Wakka only for it to roar in pain as knives were thrown into its back.
"Stay away from him!" Shouted Lulu as she threw more knives at it, getting its attention. It then jumped towards her ready to strike her down as a flash of light blinded it causing it to trip and crash into a parked car.
"A, are you okay?" Asked Yuri as she gripped her camera tightly.
"Yeah… Yuri, look out!" Shouted Lulu as she threw knives at some Shadows charging towards them. As she did, one of the knives missed a Shadow as it lunged at Yuri.
"Ancestors protect me!" She shouted as she accidentally pressed the camera button taking a picture of the Shadow. After the flash, the Heartless shook, like it was in pain. "Huh?"
"Yuri, your camera!" Shouted Selphie. "It's doing something to them!"
Yuri then aimed her camera at the Shadow again and took a picture of it causing it to dissipate as its heart flew away.
"It's never done that before." Said Yuri as the large Heartless roared, making her take a picture of it again making it shake in pain.
As it did, a gunshot was heard and the large Heartless had a bullet hole in its head causing it to die and its heart to fly away.
"I need all civilians to evacuate the area!" Shouted Astera as she shot at more Heartless.
'This isn't going how I thought it would.' Thought Raijin as he saw how the fight was going. He then heard a loud thud behind him and saw the villagers carrying the injured mayor away as Kairi had accidentally knocked down a speaker. 'Though I think I can even the playing field.' Raijin with a smirk, charged towards Kairi ready to put his plan into motion.
Back with Sora, he had finished off the Shadows attacking him and only a few Soldiers were left along with the large Heartless.
"This is 'pants' getting a little 'pants' difficult." Said Sora as a Soldier charged toward him. Sora went to strike it down, only for it to be slain by Tidus who was holding a real sword and not a wooden one.
"Sorry, I'm late to the party." Said Tidus as he slew the other Soldier heartless. "Had to grab my dad's sword from its case."
"Isn't that a part of the museum?" Questioned Sora as the large Heartless roared. "Though I guess that doesn't really matter now, does it."
As the large Heartless struck, Sora and Tidus dodged its attack and did a series of slashes to the chest of the Heartless making stagger backwards. Tidus then jumped into the air and called out to Sora to throw his Keyblade which he did. Tidus then kicked the back of it and sent it straight into the large Heartless' head killing it as it faded away.
(Tension Rising by Yoko Shimoura, End)
"Nice shot!" Shouted Wakka as Sora picked up his keyblade and Tidus chuckled.
Sora looked around to see the villagers put out the fires as best as they could as some Heartless ran away from the arrival of some police officers.
"Sora." Said Astera getting his attention. "You know these Heartless creatures better than us. Is this the end of the fight for now?"
"Not likely." Said Sora with a stern look.
"S, Sora." Said Nagai as he held his bandaged stomach.
"Sir, I'm so… He's got Kairi." This caused Sora to flinch when Nagai told him that Raijin had Kairi. "S, save her."
"I will." Said Sora as some villagers helped Nagai to safety. Sora went to leave only for Astera to stop him.
"Where do you think you're going?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"To Destiny Island." Replied Sora. "That's the only other place Raigin could have run off to with Kairi."
Let us help you!" Shouted Selphie as the others surrounded Sora.
"Yeah, Kairi is our friend too!" Exclaimed Yuri.
"No, it's too dangerous for you." Said Astera. "Help the villagers get to safety."
"We can take Raijin!" Exclaimed Tidus.
"I'm afraid she's right, guys." Said Sora. "Raijin is not like any of the other Heartless here. He's likely got more Heartless surrounding Destiny Island then here right now and people need help."
"We're not letting you go on your own!" Shouted Wakka.
"He's not." Said Astera as she cocked her gun. "I'm going with him."
"...Please stay safe." Said Selphie as the others went off to help the villagers.
As Sora and Astera began to go to Destiny Island, Sora felt a hand on his shoulder and saw it was Lulu.
"I'm sorry I was giving you a hard time earlier." She said looking around at the scene. "I can see why you didn't want to tell anyone."
"You were just trying to protect our friends." Said Sora. "I can't exactly blame you for that." Lulu then placed something in his hand and it was a charm. "What's this?"
"It's a charm I got from my mother. She said it would protect me from harm, but you obviously need this more than me." Explained Lulu. "Go get your girl, Sora."
Sora blushed but nodded understanding her reason and left with Astera.
X
On Destiny Island, Raijin patiently waited with an unconscious Kairi for Sora's arrival.
"Any minute now." He said as tapped his foot on the ground. As he stared off at the ocean, he heard something from behind him, making him summon his daggers. "Who's there!"
"It's just me." Said Ansem as he walked down some steps.
"Oh, it's you." Said Raijin with some annoyance in his voice. "I got this handled, you can go back to wherever you were hiding."
"I believe you underestimate your position of power here." Said Ansem as darkness appeared off him. "I'm the stronger one of us and you know it."
"...Why are you even here?" He asked with an eyebrow raised.
"For her, obviously." Said Ansem pointing to Kairi.
"Oh hell no! That's my bargaining chip right there!" Shouted Raijin. "I'm not letting you take it away!"
"I'm afraid you don't have a choice." Said Ansem getting ready to attack Raijin.
"Neither do you." Said the calm voiced Forgotten member with his weapons ready and a small army of Forgottens behind him.
"Who the fuck are you?!" Exclaimed Raijin as he summoned Heartless to his side.
"I see you survived my attack." Said Ansem. "You won't be getting another chance this time." As Ansem went to attack, he felt his chest ache in pain. "What did you do?!"
"Oh? Did you think you were the only one with time travel abilities?" Asked Talma as he appeared out of a white portal and held a jar with a heart piece inside. "You of all people should know that there are other powers out in the world that can use The Realm Between."
"But, I would 'grunts' have sensed you." Said Ansem with a glare underneath his hood. "How did you manage… to slip by you?" Asked Talma as he finished Ansem's sentence. "Let's just say that we are very easy to miss and leave it at that."
"Okay, the hell is going on here?" Asked Raijin with an irritated look. "Are you here for the girl too or another reason entirely?"
"Let's just say my associate here has his reasons for keeping this girl with the Keyblade Wielder and leave it at that." Said Talma as twirled the jar. "Besides, your boss there is dying. I'm pretty sure he liked his missing heart piece back."
"...HA!" Laughed Raijin, making Talma tilt his head in confusion. "You think I follow that man's orders?"
"Given who he is, yes." Said the calm voiced man.
"Please, he may be stronger than me, but I work alone." Said Raijin with a grin.
"I see, you're a bounty hunter." Said Talma. "Then let me offer you a job."
"Talma." Said the calm voiced man with an irritated tone as Talma held a hand up making him stop.
"Depends, what's the price?" Asked Raijin. "My current employer is offering me a hefty sum to take out the Keyblade Wielder."
"Please, whatever that witch is offering you…" Said Talma as he made a small portal appear as something shined outside of it. "We can make a better one and promise to keep our word."
Raijin looked at the contents of the portal and grinned. "I'm listening."
X
"...That's a lot to take in, Sora." Said Astera.
"I know, but given everything that's happened so far, can you honestly believe that i;m lying?" Asked Sora.
"I guess not… dammit!" Shouted Astera as she slammed her fist on the boat's railing. "I can't believe my son was so foolish to believe someone like that."
"To be fair, we were just kids." He said, trying to ease her tension.
"You still are." Said Astera as she took a deep breath. "But kids do grow up, and he learned in the end that he made a mistake."
"This is as far as I can sail." Said the captain of the ship.
"What do you mean!" Shouted Astera. "We're almost there!"
"I know ma'am, but I don't want the ship to go anywhere near that!" He shouted as he pointed to the island which was swarmed with Heartless and Forgottens fighting each other.
"I take it those pale white creatures are Forgottens?" Asked Astera as Sora nodded. "Well, at least we have an advantage against the Heartless."
"As long as they don't attack us too." Said Sora.
"Right." Said Astera getting into a boat only to be stopped by Sora. "What are you doing?"
"I got a faster way." Said Sora with a grin as he made his Keyblade turn into a Keyblade Glider.
"Heh, you're full of surprises today, Sora." She said with a chuckle as she hopped on and they flew to the island.
As they reached the island, the Heartless started to attack them only for them to be shot down by Astera.
"Fucking gremlins." Said Astera as she cocked her gun as more Heartless looked their way.
As the Heartless tried to go for them, the Forgottens kept attacking the Heartless making them fight back.
"Glad that's something we don't need to deal with." Said Sora as he and Astera ran by them to the hidden cave.
Inside the cave were drawings made by Sora, Riku, Kairi and others done by their friends.
"Neat little place, isn't it?" Asked Raijin with a grin.
"Where's Kairi!?" Shouted Sora as he whipped out his Keyblade.
"Oh she's somewhere around here." Said Raijin. "Though I'm surprised you're not looking for Riku as well."
Astera gripped her gun and pointed it at Raijin. "What are you talking about!?"
"Oh yeah, you wouldn't have known he left your house and came here." Said Raijin. "Imagine to his surprise when he found out that he was being lied to by his friend here."
"What did you tell him?" Questioned Sora as he glared at him.
"Only that his best friend knew what the Keyblade was and along with those Forgottens." He said with a grin. "He was pretty hurt that you lied to him. Enough to manipulate him into a deal of a lifetime with my previous employer."
"YOU BASTARD!" Shouted Astera as she fired her gun multiple times at Raijin only for them to go through him like it was nothing. "The hell?!"
"Oh you thought I was actually here?" Asked Raijin as he still grinned. "My new employers added a little illusion around the island to give you a false sense of safety."
"You mean… that's right, Sora." Suddenly the door behind flew open with a powerful wind. "The door is open."
As the wind sucked Sora in, Astera tried to grab out to him for her to only be pulled back by something as Sora went through the door.
"Sora!" Shouted Astera as she tried to go back into the cave to only be held back. She turned and saw the calm voiced man holding her back. "Who are you!? Are you the employer that Raijin talked about!?"
"I mean you no harm." He said as he raised his hands. "I'm here to get you to safety."
"Forgive me, if I don't buy that for a moment." She said as she pointed her gun at him.
"And I don't blame you for that." Said the calm voiced man. "But I do mean to help."
Astera lowered her gun a little, but still had it pointed to kill. "Explain."
X
"Where am I?" Questioned Sora as he got up from the ground. "Wait, this is where I fought…" As Sora got up and looked at his surroundings, he saw that he was on the torn piece of island where he fought the Darkside. As he did, he saw Kairi near a palm tree. "Kairi!" Sora then ran to her to only be stopped by a burst of lighting where Raijin stood after the smoke dissipated.
"And here comes the hero." Said Raijin with a grin. "Come to get your girl?"
"S, Sora?" Asked Kairi as she woke up.
"Don't worry Kairi!" Exclaimed Sora as he summoned his Keyblade. "I got this!"
"Do you now?" Asked Raijin as he started to walk around Sora. "I have the upper hand here, Sora."
"I know things are grimm, but as long as I believe in my friends and have a strong heart. I know I can beat any threat!"
"Even a Pureblood?" Asked Raijin as he separated into four versions of himself as a whirlwind of electricity surrounded them.
(The Corrupted by Yoko Shimomura)
The four Raijins then jumped into the whirlwind making them disappear as Sora kept a close eye on his surroundings for his eventual surprise attack.
'Okay, I have to listen carefully for him before he strikes.' Thought Sora as he cleared his mind. In a second, he heard a break in the whirlwind and blocked one of the Raijin's attacks as the others jumped and struck. Sora saw this and managed to block them and then swung his Keyblade into each copy of Raijin making him fuse back together and send Raijin flying backwards.
"Well damn. Here I thought it was going to be easy." He said with a manic grin. "I'm glad I was wrong." Raijin then gripped his daggers tightly as held them behind himself and attacked with a series of slashes as Sora struck and blocked each one.
"What are you even getting out of this!" Exclaimed Sora as he managed to land a few hits on Raijin making him slide backwards.
"Not going back to that hellhole of a nightmare for one!" He shouted as his daggers sparked with thunder and threw them at Sora.
Sora managed to dodge them in time, but got hit by them when they came flying back to Raijins hands.
"Sora!" Shouted Kairi as she tried to get up only to find herself tied to the tree.
"Do you mean 'grunts in pain as he brushed it off' The Darkness?" Questioned Sora as he charged towards Raijin making him block it.
"What else do you think I'm referring to!" Shouted Raijin as kicked Sora in the stomach and went to hit him in the throat only to be sent flying back by Sora. "If you knew what it was like to live inside it for so long you would too!"
"It?" Asked Sora as he casted fire spells at Raijin who jumped around to dodge them. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh this is rich!" He shouted as he casted thunder at Sora making dodge and stop casting fire. "You mean you don't know it's a living being?"
"But The Realm of Darkness!" Exclaimed Sora as he threw (a.k.a. Used Strike Raid) Keyblade towards Raijin.
"Is just a place where the Heartless reside and grow!" Exclaimed Raijin as he front flipped over the attack. "The real origin of Darkness resides in a trapped realm where others like me ended up for being too… horrific." As he said this, the Keyblade had struck from behind knocking the wind out of him which allowed Sora to strike him and send him to the ground.
"So in other words, it's a prison for those whose hearts were so corrupt that even The Realm of Darkness couldn't hold you." Said Sora as he looked at the motionless Raijin. "... Did I win?"
"Sora!" Shouted Kairi, gaining Sora's attention as he ran to her.
"Told you I got it." He said with a smile.
"I'm just glad you're alright." Said Kairi as Sora worked to untie her. "...What happens now?"
"Now I…" Was all Sora got to say as he was stabbed in the back by Raijin.
"Rule 1 of fighting someone like me." He said as he twisted the blade and used thunder causing Sora to be shocked violently. "Always go for the kill."
"Sora!" Cried out Kairi as she could only watch in horror as Sora fell to the ground.
"Now." Raijin then raised his other dagger up for the kill. "Die!"
"No!" Shouted Kairi as a bright light flashed blinding Raijin.
"The hell!?" Exclaimed Raijin as the light blinded him. The next thing he knew, he was hit square in the gut making him roll to the ground. "The fuck was… Are you kidding me!" What Raijin saw before him was something he couldn't understand. Kairi was the one who struck him and it was with a Keyblade with flowers on the tip as a vine swirled to the handle where it connected to a wave on the other side of its handle and at the bottom was a keychain of a paopu fruit.
"This is a…" Was all she said as she heard Sora groan in pain. "Sora!"
"I'm 'grunts' all right." He said as he grabbed the hi potion that Kairi gave him and healed himself with it.
"Oh this is such bullshit!" Shouted Raijin as lightning swirled around him as he got off the ground. "Those two didn't say she was a Keyblade Wielder! If I had known that, I would have asked for something up front!"
"Go take cover, Kairi." Said Sora.
"No way! You need help and I can help you now!" Said Kairi as she held her keyblade.
"Help… Wait, I think I got something to help even this out!" Shouted Sora as he grabbed Lulu's charm.
"Isn't that… I'm going to kill both of you!" Shouted Raijin as he interrupted Kairi casting a surge of lighting towards them.
"Give me strength!" Shouted Sora as Lulu's charm glowed. As the charm glew, a sakura tree appeared as it bloomed with blue flowers as they fell from the tree.
"What the fuck?" Questioned Raijin as he saw the flowers fall in front of him. The next thing he knew, a blade almost hit him in the face as he spins to dodge it. "The hell was… AAH!"
As Raijin screams in pain, he looks to see a dog has bitten him and goes to attack it only for it to dodge and run to Sora, Kairi, and a tall man in wearing colorful robes in a gradient of gold, orange and purple with full body armor, top heavy pauldrons that protrude gold whorling spirals, a jinbaori jacket and hat, geta shoes, and a fanged face mask evoking menpo masks on samurai armor.
"W, who is that Sora?" Asked Kairi.
"Someone who can help us." He said with a smile.
"How interesting." Said the man. "It's been ages since I was last summoned."
"Summoned!?" Exclaimed Raijin. "The hell did you get a summon you Keyblade Wielding brat!"
"A Keyblade?" Asked the man as he turned to Sora and saw the Keyblade in his hands. "So it is. It's been eons since the last Keyblade wielder appeared."
"I hope that's not an issue, sir?" Asked Sora with a nervous look.
"My name is Yojimbo." Said the man. "And this is my loyal companion Daigoro." Yojimbo turned to Raijin who held his daggers tightly as thunder surrounded him. "As for you, I have not met such a dark force in a while." He then pulls out a short sword and points toward Raijin. "I normally charge people for my services, Keyblade Wielder, but given this is a momentous occasion, I shall do this for free just this once."
"N, now hold on." Said Raijin. "W, what if I told you that there are people willing to pay?"
"...Hmph, you dare try to bribe me?" Questioned Yojimbo as Sora and him get ready to attack. "No matter of gil could change my mind given this occasion." With that said, Yojimbo and Sora charge toward Raijin as their blades clash.
The sound of blades colliding with each other is the only Kairi can hear as Sora and Yojimbo clashed with Raijin because of the speed they were moving at. 'Sora is so strong. How could I ever keep up with him?' Thought Kairi as she watched.
'Okay, time to play dirty.' Thought Raijin as he leaped backwards into a whirlwind of lighting.
"Careful Yojimbo! He did this to me earlier and used copies of himself to strike!" Exclaimed Sora as he was on guard.
"A cowardly method of attack." Said Yojimbo as he holds his short sword sideways and slashes it in the air causing the whirlwind to disperse, the palm trees to be cut in half, and the ground to crack as Raijin fell from the whirlwind as blood spurted out of his mouth as he hit the ground.
"W, what the 'coughs up blood as he holds his side' fuck did you do?!" He shouted as thunder struck.
"Simple tricks like that won't defeat me." Said Yojimbo as a dark portal in the ground appeared as a katana appeared and he grabbed it. "Let's end this Keyblade Wielder."
Sora nodded as he got into a sword stance.
"I'm not dying here!" Shouted Raijin as he summoned thunder around his daggers making them bigger and charged towards them.
Sora and Yojimbo also charged toward him as Sora performed Zantetsuken with Yojimbo's attack.
As they clashed, lightning struck as it blinded Kairi for a second to see them standing there with their weapons out on different sides. After a few seconds, Raijin fell to the ground as blood spilled from his stomach.
(The Corrupted by Yoko Shimomura, end)
"We did it!" Exclaimed Sora.
"That we did." Said Yojimbo as his Daigoro rubbed against his leg. "This has been an honor… Sora." He said as Yojimbo nodded. "Sora. May our paths cross again without violence." Yojimbo then gestures his hand toward the cherry blossom petals falling from the tree as dust starts moving around him and as Daigoro goes into the dust, ending the summon.
"Sora!" Shouted Kairi as she hugged Sora. "I'm glad you're okay."
"Me t… This is 'coughs' bullshit!" Shouted Raijin as he interrupted Sora. "I had this 'coughs' in the bag and then 'coughs' you summoned that 'coughs a lot.'
"You're the one that tried to harm my friends and family, Raijin." Said Sora with a stern glare. "I wasn't going to let you hurt them!"
Raijin huffs as he stands up gripping his daggers. "Yet I'm…" Was all he said as darkness started to float around him and as his daggers faded away. "No… NO!"
"Sora, what's happening?" Asked Kairi.
"He's fading away." Replied Sora.
"Those bastards promised 'coughs' me that this 'coughs as he falls to his knees.' happen!" Shouted Raijin as his eyes were filled with panic. "I can't go back to that 'coughs' hell!" He then looks at Sora and Kairi with anger in his eyes. "If I'm going down 'coughs' I'm taking you with me!" Suddenly a huge burst of darkness explodes from Raijin as it surrounds Sora, Kairi, and the entire island and town.
X
Back at The Forgottens' Base of operations…
"Good job you two." Said the leader as he watched what happened through the portal. "You have put things in motion."
"I just wanted to make up for my mistake my liege." Said the calm-voiced man.
"Let this be a lesson for you to be more careful in the future." Said Talma with a knowing smirk.
"...So they should be at Traverse Town, correct?" Asked the calm-voiced man.
"Yes, their lights should have sent them there." Said the leader. "Why do you ask?"
"Just wanted to make sure that's all my liege." He said as he bowed and walked away.
"...Talma, keep an eye on him." Said the leader. "I don't want any more unexpected surprises."
"Yes my liege." Said Talma with a bow as he followed the calm-voiced man.
"I hope my apprentice isn't causing you much trouble my liege?" Asked a man with grey hair and blind eyes as insects surrounded his feet.
"Not at all." Said the leader. "He's just been a little careless, that's all."
"Careless?" He asked with a hand to his chin. "Oh that's right, that event happened today, didn't it?" The leader nods as the grey haired man chuckles. "I will never understand how his heart is capable of caring for people." He then walks into the direction where his apprentice and Talma went off to.
"Ento." Said the leader.. "If he gets out of line, I won't hesitate to end him."
"I'll make sure that doesn't happen my leigie." Said Ento as he walked off.
The leader then sits in his chair as he looks at the portal. 'Everything will come into place. It's only a matter of time.'