Chapter 101: Cold Fate

Sora and his group had searched for a few hours to see that there wasn't any signs of Elsa Grainhart in the current city they were stationed.

This made the keyblade master feel a bit frustrated, however he didn't give up on the Bowel Hunter.

He knows that there's still a connection between the two, meaning that she's still alive.

"Theeeeere's no need to be frustrated, Soooora-kun. We will fiiiiind her."

"...of course we will." Sora said with a serious expression before looking ahead as they noticed that they were moving onto another city of Gusteko.

While the travel to the next city took a day and a half to reach, Ram can't help but point out something suspicious on this journey.

"Things have been going too smoothly."

As she pointed this out, Sora and Louis Arneb were the first to turn towards Ram.

"What does Ram-san mean by that~tsu?"

"It seems that things have been...too easy as of late." Yabuto said as he also felt the same thing after they had arrived on the last city they were in.

"Are you saying that we are walking into a trap?" Kishida asked, something Sora had also thought of when Yabuto added his thoughts on Ram's comment.

"It's a possibility. I wouldn't be surprised if the Witch's Cult are sending us on a fool's errand while the real threat is with the others along with the Bowel Hunter."

"No. I know she's here." Sora spoke with a confident tone. "I felt the connection with her grown strong when we entered this kingdom."

"I trust that gut feeling of yours, but if this pathway we are going is where she could be...then perhaps should reconsider."

"Why?" Sora asked Yabuto with a curious tone. The green haired knight remained silent for a moment as his attention turned from the keyblade master to the direction the ground dragon was taking them towards.

"It's not a place we wish to go...however, it seems like I don't have a say in the matter."

"If you don't wish to go, we don't have to—"

"B-But what about the Bowel Hunter~tsu? They'll need our help!" Louis rebutted what Sora had said, knowing that they are on a quest to save an ally and can't get distracted. Sora was conflicted, to which Yabuto sighed before pulling out his sword.

"We will need to be ready for combat. Where we are headed is not a fun place to be at."

"What kind of threats are we dealing with—" Right as Kishida said this, the wagon was suddenly pushed to the side with the ground dragon, being knocked off course and landing in snow.

As everyone was on the ground, Sora and Rem were the first two to get off the carriage and to see what exactly had knocked them all of course.

To their slight surprise, it was Young Xehanort himself that was standing in the part of the road they were at.

"Xehanort? What are you—"

"What are you doing all the way here, away from your apprentice? Away from your friends? Away from your responsibilities?"

"Be quiet!" Rem shouted as she pulled out her morningstar and tossing it towards the Organization member.

Young Xehanort without needing to pull out his keyblade managed to knock Rem's attack to the side.

"Unless you wish to meet your end, stay out of this, maid."

With time stopping for a moment, Sora and Young Xehanort were the only two that can move around.

The Organization member attempted to attack the blue haired oni maid only for Sora to block away the attack.

"I won't let you harm her."

"..."

Young Xehanort looked at the Keyblade Master as the two were locked in a blade lock of sorts with their keyblades before Young Xehanort jumped back and put his keyblade away.

"Then let's speak here, where nobody can interrupt us."

"I have nothing to say to you!" Sora exclaimed, though Young Xehanort didn't really care for this. He turned around as he looked around his surroundings in a calm composure.

"Such a beautiful place, a nice breeze compared to the desert and yet, this place is also a place for death to many."

"What's the point you're trying to make." As Sora said this, he had himself in his fighting pose, certain that a fight's about to break out.

Young Xehanort remained in a calm composure though he was not pleased with the disrespectful tone Sora was being towards him.

He closed his eyes before he turned back towards him to ask:

"Why go on a risky mission for a serial killer? For someone that killed innocent people for a living?"

"People can change—"

"Are you certain about that?" Young Xehanort interrupted right at the end of Sora's response with a sharp tone.

"Not everyone deserves to stay in the darkness forever."

"And not everyone on the light stay forever as well." Young Xehanort added. He turned towards the sky as he thought back to his time before the mark of mastery before continuing is thought process. "Some people are just made for the darkness. Some that are in the light are fated to go out. And others will forever be a fake light, even if they attempt to be a real light."

"Those that want to be in the light deserve the chance! I won't abandon those that reach their hand for help!"

"Of course, ever the hero. But you do realize that she can snap at any moment, return to her true dark roots at any moment."

"..." Sora was silent on this, only being able to give a serious expression at his adversary. The silence was something Young Xehanort noticed. He smiled as he had gotten Sora to not be able to respond.

"You know that's a real possibility."

"...If the darkness does try to get her, I will do everything to save her! I refuse to abandon her!"

"You say that, but we both know that if she returns to killing the innocent and chooses to remain in the darkness, you'll be forced to take her down."

"I—"

"We both know that you would. Similar to any of your other friends." As Young Xehanort paused himself, he snapped his fingers which caused a few dark shadows to appear. Those dark shadows started to shape form into looking like Subaru, Rem, and Emilia though the other four were shaping form into Donald Duck, Goofy, Riku, and Kairi. Sora was taken aback from this, allowing Young Xehanort to continue to speak, "If any of them fell to darkness and chose to remain there, you would be force to strike them down."

"They would never!" Sora shouted with determination and a bit of anger. "Neither of them would fall to the darkness."

"Riku did." Young Xehanort rebutted.

"He may have, but he still remained to be in the light." As he finished saying this, he charged towards the Organization member as he swung his Kingdom Key at said Organization member. Young Xehanort looked unfazed and unimpressed as he summoned his keyblade to block off Sora's attack.

"Perhaps, but that was a fluke. The next person who falls to darkness won't be someone you can save."

As Young Xehanort said this, he tossed an orb at Sora. At first the keyblade master was going to knock said orb only for his instincts to tell him to grab the orb with his right hand.

"If you really desire to find that serial killer, that orb will help you out."

"Why?" Sora questioned this. "Why are you helping me?"

"Don't think this is out of kindness. My older self wishes to know what path you will choose, destruction or hypocrite."

"..."

Sora had no words for Young Xehanort, not liking that Xehanort is involved here.

As Young Xehanort began to head towards the corridor of darkness he created, there was some last words Sora had for him:

"Did you even care for Wilhelm? For Theresia? They were you and Eraqus's friends, no?"

"..."

Young Xehanort paused on his tracks when hearing this, not expecting such a question to be asked.

The atmosphere was intense as Young Xehanort continue to remain silent before turning towards Sora with an annoyed expression.

"That business is none of your concern." He snapped his fingers which caused the shadows to all start to approach his opponent. Sora quickly went into his fighting stance as he saw them quickly approaching him. This forced him on the defensive as he began his battle with the shadows Young Xehanort had created all the while Young Xehanort himself was leaving the area. Right before the corridor of darkness faded away, he had one last thing to say to Sora:

"There's no saving you."

As this was said, the corridor of darkness disappeared and right on this time, the sphere of time that had stopped everyone but Sora.

Once the flow of time resumed, Rem was confused by where Sora's at as well as the fact that he's facing against a few dark entities all the while Young Xehanort is nowhere to be found.

"Sora-kun!" Rem without hesitation jumped into the fight to assist her love.

Once in the thick of things, she faced off what was a shadow version of herself.

This caught her off guard for a second since she wasn't expecting to see a dark version of her though after a moment, she had her mind focus on destroying this dark entity.

As she was taking on her dark self, Sora was able to take down the Subaru and Emilia looking shadows before turning towards his dark self.

He looked at the reflection of himself in complete darkness, being reminded of the time he had encounter a shadow version of himself back in Captain Hook's pirate ship.

Being reminded of that made him drop his guard for a moment which nearly allowed the shadow versions of Riku and Kairi to land a hit on him only for Kishida and Yabuto to jump in and block the two shadows' attacks.

"Careful, Keyblade Master Sora." Yabuto said with a serious expression.

Kishida smiled as he looked at his shadow opponent, having been a bit since he's been in combat.

As the two knights were fending off against their individual shadow opponents, Sora got his guard back up and began to face off his dark shadow self.

While that was going on, Ram and Roswaal got out of the carriage, Ram quickly noticed the shadows that resembling Donald and Goofy attempting to attack Rem while she was on a battle against the shadow version of Rem.

She didn't hesitate to jump into battle to protect her sister.

As she closed the gap, she used a basic wind attack to strike down one of the shadows down before using a portion of her oni strength to take down the other one.

Right as Ram had taken down the two shadows, Rem was able to avoid her shadow version's self attack before managing to eliminate the shadow with a powerful hit from her Morningstar.

Kishida and Yabuto both with a simple strike were able to eliminate their respective opponent with the last one to destroy the last shadow being Sora defeating his shadow self.

Unlike in his first adventure on how it took a while before he along with Donald and Goofy were able to beat his shadow heartless self, this one was about the same strength which meant that it wasn't on his level of current strength and speed.

As he was able to take down the last of the shadows, Roswaal with Meili and Louis Arneb by his side approached the others.

"Weeeeeeell now, that was quiiite the spectacle."

"I'm surprised that you didn't join in, Margrave."

"I haaaaad confidence in all of you, especially in Sooooora-kun!"

Sora had no comment to Roswaal's words though his focus was on what Young Xehanort had given him. He pulled out the orb and looked at it with a curious expression, thinking on the words he said.

("Perhaps, but that was a fluke. The next person who falls to darkness won't be someone you can save.")

Sora was bothered by this comment since it implies that if they don't get to Elsa soon, she will fall back into the Bowel Hunter side again.

He felt that he was barely able to reach her the first time though he's felt that he's had a connection with her since they first met.

She could've tried to kill him on their first meeting and yet she remained friendly with him.

They only began to fight when she tried to kill Felt and Old Man Rom.

He closed his eyes as he began to try and regain his connection with the Bowel Hunter once again, worried for her sake after what Young Xehanort had said in regards to her.

"Sora-kun, what happened?"

"..."

Sora remained silent as he continued to try and feel that connection before opening his eyes and turning towards the worried Rem.

"It's what Xehanort said."

"What did he say?" She spoke in a sharp tone, wishing death on Young Xehanort for making her love worry. Sora noticed the anger beneath her words before turning his attention towards the orb once again.

"He said that this would take us to Elsa."

"Could we even trust his word?" Kishida asked as he crossed his arms, having a bad feeling on getting some assistance from an Organization member. Rem, Ram, and Yabuto were all in agreement in asking this question to the Keyblade Master, distrusting Young Xehanort's orb.

"What if this leads us into a trap?" Rem questioned.

"..." Sora remained silent as he continued to look at the orb, understanding the worry Kishida and Rem were asking him. "I know that it could be a trap. Xehanort could have set this whole thing up to prevent me from actually reaching her before it's too late..."

"Hmm." Roswaal paid close attention to the words Sora was saying as well as his attitude and voice. After a moment of analysis, he closed his eyes and began to say, "Well, there's got to be mooooooooore to the story. What else did they saaaaay to you?"

"...Elsa's in trouble."

"How much trouble?" Louis asked, a question that both Yabuto and Kishida were about to ask themselves.

"If we don't get to her soon, we will lose her."

That response from Sora could be interpreted in many different ways though all versions were clear that they needed to get to her quickly.

"Understood." As Yabuto said this, he along with Kishida, Ram, and Rem to get the carriage back up all the while Louis Arneb and Meili checked on Frufoo. As they were doing this, Roswaal approached Sora.

"There's soooomething that's still bothering you."

"…what do you mean?"

"I can tell that something else was told to you. You caaaaan trust me on the matter."

"..." Sora was silent as he felt a bit uncomfortable with what Roswaal had said, only because he has a point, there was still something that bothered him.

"It's not important—"

"Soooooora-kun, hiding things woooon't help you at all."

"..." Sora was silent once again, a bit caught off guard by Roswaal's confrontational words, making a point that they need to trust each other. He looked at the sky with a calm expression before responding to what Roswaal had said:

"Do you trust Elsa?"

"Hm?" Roswaal titled his head for a moment before responding to this curious question, "She's goooooood at being an assassin. I can trust heeeeeeer with accomplishing the job."

"That is true, but not exactly what I was thinking. I was hoping to know if you think she would turn back into the assassin that will harm everyone, that will want to kill the innocent again."

"Ah, I seeeeeee. Did someone mention that she woooould?"

"..." Sora's lack of answer was an answer within itself, prompting Roswaal to have a smile before turning towards the carriage that had been placed back up by Rem and Ram's efforts.

"You shoooouldn't doubt yourself. If I may be so bold, she placed her trust in you. I dooooubt she would be one that'll switch sides when her faith in you is juuuuuust that strong."

As the Margrave said this, he patted Sora's back to reassure him before starting to make his way towards the carriage, seeing that it was prepared to head back into the main road to resume their journey into Gusketo for the Bowel Hunter.

"Don't give up juuuuuust yet. We may still be able to save the Bowel Hunter."

With that being said, Roswaal went to join the others as they prepared to have Frufoo pull the carriage towards the next city.

Sora looked Roswaal walking towards the others for a moment before turning towards the others, seeing that they are ready to continue their journey.

He looked back at the orb, having a sense of hope that they can still save Elsa Grainhart before it's too late.

Despite the fact that this chance was given by the enemy, which could also just be a trap for them, he isn't going to hesitate for a moment to try and save his friend.

'Don't worry Elsa, we are going to save you. I promise you that.'

With that promise etched in his heart, he quickly joins the others as they get onto the carriage to continue the path towards the next place to look.

As Frufoo resumed their journey, Rem and Louis Arneb hugged each of Sora's arms as they were wanting to be close to him as well as reassure him that he isn't alone.

As they were doing this, Louis Arneb noticed the orb which prompted her to ask,

"What's that~tsu?"

"Oh...that's just something to help find our missing friend."

"Did you have that the whole time?" Kishida asked, a little curious.

"No. This was given to me by...Xehanort."

"Xehanort?"

"Was he the one that flipped this carriage over?" Ram spoke with a stern tone, having now figured out who was the cause of flipping them over which nearly resulted in Roswaal getting seriously hurt.

"Yes, though to clarify it was the young version of him."

"I see." Ram said before closing her eyes and asking with a stern tone, "What did he wanted?"

"He gave me this orb, it should be able to find Elsa according to him."

"Or lead us into a trap." Yabuto added, not liking this at all. "I don't mean to sound rude, but this orb could be a distraction."

"That is something I also thought of, but I don't want to risk the chance of this being an actual way of finding Elsa." Sora commented on what Yabuto said.

"Are we sure that the risk is worth it? I understand that we should take any chance we could have at finding her a go, but I also don't want us to also end up in a dead end ourselves."

"Not to mention from what you said, we are on a timer now."

Sora remained silent for a moment, understanding the two knights' concerns though before he could reassure them, Roswaal took this chance to jump into the conversation:

"We shoooooouldn't dismiss the help we are receiving. I won't deny it's suuuuuuspicion on why they woooould assist us, but we can't let her stay with the witch's cult any loooonger."

"That's true..."

Both Yabuto and Kishida looked down for a moment, understanding that although their concerns are valid, they also must account that they don't have time to waste. The two sighed before Kishida spoke first with:

"I guess the Margrave does have a point. Not to mention, we've made it this far into Gusteko, we should take every kind of help we can get to save that crazy Bowel Hunter."

"Yeah...though I wish she wasn't held in Gusteko of all places. It's not exactly a fun place to be at." Yabuto said as he was starting to feel himself get a bit cold.

This only annoyed him immensely though he was able to keep that part of him under control.

Sora looked at the two before turning towards the orb, attempting to see how said orb works.

While he was observing it, a memory played in his mind, one of his interactions with Young Xehanort.

("Find the hearts joined to yours.")

Although he wasn't sure why this memory had popped into his mind, he had a feeling that this was the key to finding Elsa.

He held the orb close to his chest where his heart is located before closing his eyes and doing his best to focus on the connection he has with Elsa Grainhart.

After a few seconds, the orb starts to glow which caused everyone to be on high alert at first since they weren't sure what was going on.

Before anyone did anything, a bright light shined on the orb which began to blind everyone before they were engulfed in said light.

After a few seconds, everything seemed to be back to normal, which they all didn't trust.

"What was that?!"

"Not sure...let me check outside."

As Yabuto said this, they were all caught off guard when Sora and Louis Arneb both suddenly got up and left the carriage.

Rem and Ram followed behind to see what had caused the pair to suddenly jump outside.

Once they were out of the carriage, Rem immediately realized that they were surrounded by witch cultists.

It took her a bit before she was able to sniff out the stench of the witch from the witch cultists.

"Witch cultists." Rem's voice turned cold as she pulled out her morningstar while noticing Sora and Louis Arneb knocking back witch cultists away from the carriage.

Without hesitation she jumped in to assist Sora and Louis Arneb in fighting off against the witch cultists though she was taking them out rather than knocking them out like Sora and Louis were doing it.

The others started to join with Roswaal and Meili staying back due to Meili being scared that 'mother' would be there and due to her unable to fight.

Roswaal L Mathers stayed behind to protect Meili and to protect Frufoo from any witch cultists attack.

Yabuto and Kishida stayed side by side as they fought off the witch cultists with Yabuto on the offense and Kishida on the defense.

Ram kept a distance from the carriage in the case she needs to protect Roswaal while also trying to make sure that nobody hurts her sister as Rem was right in the middle of the fight with a large amount of cultists.

"There's so many of them ~tsu!" Louis shouted as she was protecting Sora from being attacked from his back side.

Sora did notice this as well though he remained focus on the fight against the witch cultists.

Right as he managed to block away one of the witch cultist's fire ball attack, he turned towards the building that seems to be the headquarters of this witch cultist group.

'I wonder if she's here...'

There was that glimmer of hope that she could be there, that they really are right here to save Elsa Grainhart before anything bad could happen to her. This motivated him to get his mind back in the fighting and to put it his all.

"We need to hurry before it's too late!"

"Right!" Louis Arneb spoke out as she started to use a little more strength to overpower any witch cultists that try to attack her.

Rem nods at what Sora said and quickly brings out her oni powers into the mix, allowing her to start killing two witch cultists each second she swings her morningstar.

Yabuto and Kishida nodded at what Sora said, understanding the stakes and that they can't waste any more time against the large wave of witch cultists.

The two turned towards each other and nod as they split up, understanding and trusting each other in their ability to fight on their own against the witch cultists.

While everyone was giving it their all in this important fight, from a distance Young Xehanort and Xehanort observed, analyzing how all of Sora and his allies were fighting.

Young Xehanort crossed his arms as he questioned his older self:

"Why help him? How does that further our goals?"

Xehanort remained silent for a moment before turning around and creating a corridor of darkness.

"Let's just say, he didn't realize what he sacrificed for taking that chance."

Xehanort pulled out a similar orb to the one his younger self had given Sora. In this orb, there was a familiar looking keyblade.

"The X-Blade?" Young Xehanort questioned, surprised to see it in the orb his older self was carrying.

"Yes. We can proceed with the last phase of the plan. The start of another keyblade war."

With that being said, he put away the orb and began to leave the area to initiate the next phase of his plan. Young Xehanort followed behind.

Author's note:

I want to make a slight apology for the slow chapters and for this one being short. Was working on two big videos last month, the Emilia video and the Re:Zero Q&A with friends video, which I didn't think it was going to be a 2 hour video. Now that I've done those and have a kingdom hearts video on the works, I should be speeding up again with writing. The new opening and ending of Re:Zero Season 3 actually helped in giving me the last idea in finishing this chapter.

I also want to add that I'll be rewriting some of the chapters related to arc 5 because I want to fix some issues but also add some more fun stuff thanks to the anime inspiring me to go back and add some stuff.

Overall, I hope you all enjoyed this small chapter.