Chapter 24
Intentions
The sensation of cool metal seeped into Velcia's heated skin. Her head throbbed. Beads of sweat from her previous battle still dripped down her neck. Her fingers curled against the metal, her eyes struggling to open. For a moment, she wondered if she was back in Finklestein's lab. Maybe something had gone wrong or perhaps Hinata had woken up on her own. She listened, allowing her heavy eyes to rest. There were no voices, no one murmuring about their progress, or various machines beeping. Instead, she heard raindrops hitting a window and thunder rumbling in the distance.
Her eyes fluttered open. A polished white ceiling poorly reflected her lying on a metal slab bed. Velcia stared up at the warbled reflection, her mind clouded and exhausted from her two recent battles. She languidly looked around, realizing she was inside a cell of some kind. Everything appeared polished and pristine, a strange state for a setting of confinement. Velcia pushed herself to sit up, her fingers gently gripping the edge of the metal slab bed.
"This must be Hinata's dream," she surmised.
Beyond her exhaustion, her heart felt heavy. It was different from Riku's guilt and loneliness, or from Axel's uncertainty and shame. Instead, there was dread. It was an alarming and terrible feeling— the kind that made Velcia's entire body shudder and her stomach flip as if she were about to throw up. She took a shaking breath and swallowed hard.
"I have to find her," she whispered, standing up.
Her body swayed as she walked out of the cell. She looked down the similarly pristine hall. The door to her left was shut, while the way to the right curved around to head further in. Velcia braced her hand against the wall as she moved. She glanced out the window that showed the storm outside. She could vaguely see massive waves of water crashing against the building while strikes of lightning lit up the sky.
Turning away, she saw the lines of windows on either side of the hall, each one darkened and black, making it impossible to see what was on the other side. Velcia looked between the windows as she walked, her hands running along her arms. Even in a place so seemingly untouched, she couldn't shake the sensation that something was very wrong.
Going through the open doorway, it hissed shut behind her. She glanced over her shoulder as it did, then looked back forward. Her eyes narrowed.
"Am I… back where I was before?" she asked, peeking into the open cell on her right.
It was just as she remembered, down to the metal slab bed bolted against the wall. Fiddling with a piece of her collar, she continued on.
"Hinata?" she called, turning the corner.
There was no reply. No change in the darkened windows. Just a flash of lightning and a crash of thunder that startled Velcia. She continued, allowing the door to hiss shut behind her, and looked over to see the same cell on her right.
"How will I find Hinata in this place?" she wondered aloud.
Turning the corner, an old sparring room appeared in the first window on the left. She looked over at it, but it flickered out almost instantly, as if realizing she wasn't Hinata. Velcia frowned, but continued forward. More loops, more flickering windows that disappeared the moment Velcia looked over at them. There were gradual changes in the hall: scrapes along the walls, gashes in the windows, the cell door creaking open and shut, yet there were no signs of Hinata.
As the door yet again slid shut behind her, Velcia went into the cell and sat along the edge of the metal bed. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. "Hinata, where are you?" she whispered.
She focused on the dread still present in her chest. It throbbed at the attention. Velcia's fingers tightened in her lap. Seconds passed, then minutes, but there was no change— no dark portals or floating embers to lead the way. Velcia opened her eyes, releasing a heavy breath as the sickening sensation fell back to a simmer. She swallowed thickly and stood back up.
Leaving the cell behind, she continued onwards and turned the corner. She gasped, coming to an abrupt stop. Broken glass covered the ground, each piece painted with blood. Bile burned the back of Velcia's throat as the all too familiar scent hit her nose.
"What's happened here?" she asked, her voice trembling. Forcing out a breath, she cupped her hands around her mouth and called out, "Hinata! Hinata, please, can you hear me?"
She looked to the broken window that showed nothing but a blackened abyss on the other side, but there was no response. Looking back to the nauseating scene, she saw bloodied footprints leading towards the door. Velcia's disgust waned with a sliver of hope and she summoned her Keyblade. The tip shimmered as droplets of water swirled around it. A pool of water sloshed over the ground, covering the carnage and washing it away. With a swish of her blade, the water spiraled, picking up all the glass and pouring it into the blackened abyss through the broken window. Velcia's Keyblade flashed away and the hall glistened. Velcia continued onwards, going through the door once more.
The hall trembled as the door hissed shut behind her. Entire sections of the ceiling were torn away, revealing a dark ethereal sky as she had seen in the other dreams. Thin cracks webbed in every direction. Rather than the other dreams, the cracks barely showed any light. They were barely noticeable, but Velcia recognized them.
Looking down to the floor, more bloody footprints marked the ground. They were sporadic, shaky, leading in every direction, including into the cell. Velcia followed the path into the cell and her heart sank. Smeared handprints were scattered over every surface, as well as gashes from something being slashed repeatedly against the walls.
Velcia left the cell behind and continued down the hall. Similar markings marred the walls. Deep cracks were sprawled across the window overlooking the storm outside. Velcia examined them for a moment, before turning around. Her eyes widened at the sight of every window shattered to pieces.
"I must be getting closer," Velcia assured herself.
Summoning her Keyblade, she conjured more water to take care of the shards of glass before she passed through. More sections of the hall were missing completely as the door slid shut behind her. Parts of the walls and the floor were cracked and chipped, allowing water to splash through as waves crashed against the side of the hall. It washed away the footprints and the handprints smeared against the wall, but coated the floor in reddened water.
With a flick of her hand, a shimmering aura surrounded Velcia's feet and the water dispersed under her with every step. She carefully walked between the broken tile, reaching a spot where an entire section of the wall was ripped away and it gave her a clear view of the outside. The ocean didn't seem to go on forever, but rounded out as if the entire environment were trapped in a bubble. Velcia stared out at it for a moment, lost in the sound of the waves, the rumbling thunder, the cool spray of the ocean against her skin… and then the strangled cries of someone further down the hall.
Velcia tentatively continued on and turned the corner. Then she finally saw her. In the first shattered window on the left, was the old sparring room once again. It was unnaturally dark around the corners. Warm, golden light creeped in through the shut window sills. Beneath the window, up against the wall, Hinata sat slumped on the floor. Her face was blank, despite the tears fresh on her cheeks and the occasional sob causing her entire body to tremble. In front of her laid a Keyblade, close enough to be within reach of her, but far enough away where it wasn't touched.
"Hinata…?" Velcia climbed through the window, glass cracking under her foot. "Hinata, are you alright?"
There wasn't any reaction or response. Velcia slowed to a stop, the dread she'd been feeling since arriving grew thick, nearly swallowing her whole.
"Hinata, I'm here to help you wake up."
No response.
Velcia's heart rate quickened. It was as if Hinata were lost in a trance, her eyes locked on the Keyblade in front of her. Velcia followed her gaze and she stumbled back with a gasp. She recognized the blade. Flashes of memories raced through her. The old man with Vanitas, his amber eyes and stomach curling smirk. His Keyblade. It belonged to him.
"Hinata, do you…" she started, her voice choking before she took a breath and tried again, "Do you know where that came from?"
When there was no reply, Velcia walked forward and knelt in front of the Keyblade. She reached out towards it.
"Don't," Hinata muttered.
Pulling back her hand, Velcia darted her eyes up to Hinata. "Do you know who it belongs to?"
Hinata's brows furrowed, her gaze still fixated on the blade. Velcia carefully moved her hand towards her, as if to grasp her hand. Hinata flinched away, making her retract her touch.
"Hinata—"
"Please," Hinata begged, her voice weak and strained. "Leave me be. I've had enough."
Velcia blinked. "Enough?" she repeated. "I'm here to help you wake up."
Hinata shook her head. "You're just a dream."
"Oh, Hina…" Velcia whispered, realizing what was happening. "You don't understand. I was sent here by DiZ, Sam, and Dr. Finklestein. I've managed to enter your dreams, as well as into Riku's and Axel's."
There was a lingering silence.
"Riku?" Hinata asked finally.
"Yes." Velcia nodded quickly. "His dream was the first one I entered. I found him in the Realm of Darkness, and then we entered Hollow Bastion."
"And he's alright?" she asked.
"I believe so," Velcia explained. "His dream began cracking, similar to the cracks I saw outside this room. And we confronted the same creature you fought in Halloween Town. Once it was defeated, we were surrounded by light and I appeared in Axel's dream. As far as I know, both of them have woken up."
Visible relief washed over Hinata. The dread in the air lessened considerably, though it still lingered in the pit of Velcia's heart. Hinata didn't respond outside of an understanding nod. Velcia looked her over, her eyes briefly flickering to the Keyblade before she focused her attention instead on the gashes and marks along Hinata's skin.
Holding out her hand, she took in an even breath. Green and gold particles swirled out of her fingertips. The glow whirled around Hinata, catching her attention. She held out her hands, watching the sliced skin repair itself and the blood wash away. Her fingers slowly opened and closed around her palms.
"Thank you," she whispered..
"Of course." Velcia sadly smiled, still looking her over. "Are you alright?"
Hinata shook her head, wordless.
Velcia rubbed the fabric of her sash between her fingers. She wanted to pry, even though she knew it wasn't her place. That sickening sensation in her chest, the emptiness in Hinata's eyes, it was worrying. She looked again to the Keyblade, her gaze landing on the blue marbled eye that stared back at her with a chilling, piercing aura.
"It belonged to my old master," Hinata murmured, drawing Velcia's attention. "Xehanort."
"I've… seen it before," Velcia admitted.
For the first time since arriving, Hinata looked up at her. Velcia couldn't hold her gaze and instead faltered back to the Keyblade.
"The man with Vanitas, from all those years ago," Velcia explained. "He had the same blade."
Nausea swirled in the pit of Velcia's stomach and she wasn't sure if it was her own, or from Hinata. She had thoughts as to how both of those men could have possibly had the same blade, but she couldn't stomach saying it out loud. Not there. Velcia had seen Hinata's desperation to escape when she ventured the hall over and over again. Neither of them said anything else about it, yet their unspoken thoughts lingered heavily between them.
Velcia looked over her shoulder towards the hall. The rise and fall of the waves and the thunder were muted, seemingly far off in the distance even though it would take less than a dozen steps to be back in the hall completely. She could still make out the thin cracks in the sky and the sight of them brought her back to her mission.
"We can discuss this further later on," Velcia offered. "For now, our best option is to wake you up as soon as possible."
Hinata remained still for a moment, before nodding. "What do I need to do?"
Velcia resituated how she was sitting and explained, "In both of the others' dreams, there was a truth they needed to accept. And that truth is what began breaking the dream apart and causing the cracks. It seemed like the creature you battled in Halloween Town created this environment to wear each of you down and absorb your powers."
Hinata nodded in understanding. "I should have known."
"How could you have?" Velcia asked.
"Thaanix gains her powers by absorbing them from others," Hinata told her.
"I see." Velcia made a mental note of that detail and then asked, "Do you know what your truth could be? From the cracks already out there, it seems you might have some idea."
Hinata looked out the window towards the sky, noticing the cracks. She then quickly darted her eyes back to the Keyblade, before looking away to the other end of the room. "I… do," she confessed with a quiet voice. "I have an idea."
"That's wonderful!" Velcia nearly grinned, clasping her hands together. Her expression quickly faltered when the nausea in her stomach rolled and gurgled. A panic settled in that didn't belong to her. "Hinata, what is it?"
"I need to accept it?" she asked.
"I believe so," Velcia told her. "At least, that was how it worked with the others. Why? Is something wrong?"
Hinata took a deep, long breath, her eyes sliding shut. She leaned her head back against the wall, and blew out the breath between her lips. Velcia watched her in silence, sensing that whatever Hinata was internally figuring out, she didn't need her pestering questions. Instead, she folded her hands in her lap and shut her eyes as well. She focused on the mismatched panic in her chest and tried to soothe it. There was no way to know for sure if quelling it inside herself would help Hinata, but it gave her something to focus on.
Minutes passed, then Velcia's internal encouragement slipped out with a sudden whisper, "Everything's going to be alright."
"You're right," Hinata agreed, startling Velcia out of her trance.
Velcia blinked her eyes open, realizing she had said the last thought out loud. She looked up, finding that Hinata was now standing, the Keyblade in her grasp. "H-Hinata!" she stammered out as she scrambled to her feet. "What are you doing with—"
"I'm getting us out of here…" Hinata told her, looking ahead.
She looked between the blade and Hinata. Darkness resonated off the blade, but Hinata seemed unaffected, or perhaps she was used to it.
"I don't like this, Hinata," she admitted.
Hinata glanced back at her, forlorn. "I don't either." She looked down at the blade in her hand. "But this is just a dream. None of this is real, including this Keyblade and its darkness. I'm going to use what I need to end this."
Velcia frowned, but resigned, "I'll follow your lead."
"Thank you." Hinata half-smiled back at her, before turning forward and walking out of the sparring room.
The waves roared to life the moment they were back in the hall. Strikes of lightning flashed overhead, causing the crumbled remains of the ceiling to cast dark, ominous shadows across the hall. Hinata stalked forward, Velcia not far behind. Reaching the edge of the platform, just before the tile cut off with a jagged edge, Hinata held up the Keyblade.
A ring of purple light formed around the tip as an orb of energy grew in its center. Then suddenly it shot forward with a steady beam of magic and pierced the sky with a deafening crack. Velcia covered her ears, watching with awe as the sky fractured in every direction. For a moment, there was silence — the ocean fell still and the storm froze. A strike of lightning remained lit in the distance, sprawled across the horizon as suspended raindrops refracted its light. Then a single piece of the sky fell away like a shard of a broken mirror. It flipped through the air, a single ray of light forming a spotlight over it from where it had fallen away. Velcia's eyes followed it, watching it splash into the ocean.
The moment it did, the sky burst. Shards showered over them. Velcia summoned her Keyblade, about to cast a barrier to protect them, but another, darker barrier formed instead. She looked at Hinata, seeing her Keyblade above her head, glowing with power. Fragments of the sky clinked against the shield, bursting into sparkling particles.
Both Velcia and Hinata took in the spectacle with wordless wonder. Hinata glanced back at Velcia with a small smile and Velcia nearly returned it before she noticed a dark mass falling towards them.
"Look out!" she cried just a bit too late.
The creature from the other dreams crashed against the shield, cracking it and sending both the girls flying back. Hinata's Keyblade flung from her grasp, clanging and skidding against the ground. The barrier fizzled away, leaving the girls unprotected. The creature yowled, half of its body hanging off the edge of the ledge while it clawed desperately to get back up. The entire hall creaked horridly. Metal strained and the lights flickered.
Velcia helped Hinata up with one arm, while her other hand held up her Keyblade, summoning a spell. Strikes of lightning pierced through the air, crackling over the creature's body and causing blue glowing orbs to spill out. The creature hissed and gurgled, spitting golden acid all over the ground that sizzled away what little floor it had left to leverage itself on. With a snap, the ledge gave way completely and the beast plummeted to the ocean below.
The glowing orbs melded into Hinata's skin. She let out a pleasurable sigh at the rush of familiar power, while Velcia carefully peeked over the edge of the ledge.
"I'm sure that wasn't the end of it," she told Hinata. Turning around to face her, she asked, "Are you alright?"
"As much as I can be," Hinata replied. Holding out her hand, the Keyblade disappeared in a flash of light and reappeared in her grasp.
"Are you a Wielder?" Velcia asked without thinking.
"I… don't know," Hinata answered honestly, looking at the Keyblade in her hand. "I'm just doing what I need to so we can get out of here." She uncomfortably shifted her weight, averting her gaze from Velcia's questioning eyes. "None of this is real. There isn't any reason to think this means something. It's probably nothing other than just… weird dream logic."
"I suppose that's possible." Velcia eyed the Keyblade with uneasiness. Letting out a breath, she looked back up at Hinata. With a soft smile, she went up to her and placed her hand along her shoulder. "Whatever the case, we'll figure it out together. First, we wake up."
Hinata placed her hand over Velcia's and strained a smile. "You're right." Her face hardened and she snapped her attention back forward. "Does that thing have my powers already?"
"Yes, I feel it too." Velcia spun around, readying her Keyblade. "It's manipulating the ocean."
As if on command, the world itself began to rumble. The ocean outside spiraled, its current strong. The supports beneath the facility waned and creaked. A massive, towering wave crashed against the side of the building. Water flooded the hall, pouring into the windows and sweeping up the girls with one swift movement.
"Hang on to me!" Velcia yelled, reaching out for Hinata as the edge of the ledge swiftly approached.
Hinata gripped onto Velcia's wrist, just as the water swept them off the facility entirely. Velcia wanted to scream. Rain pelted their backs, icy wind whistled in their ears, but their grips remained strong as they plummeted towards the roaring ocean below. The moment they hit the water, they were caught up in its spiraling current. Hinata held out her hand from instinct, desperately trying to control the water, but her power hadn't yet fully returned. She managed to create a small air pocket. The water burst outwards, forming a bubble around their heads. Both of them sucked in gasping breaths.
"I-I can't hold it," Hinata sputtered.
"It's alright!" Velcia assured her. "I think I can manage something."
She closed her eyes and tightly gripped her Keyblade, trying to focus even as their bodies thrashed around under the strength of the water. A glow covered her blade, then suddenly they both fell, landing on the bottom of a bubble. Velcia opened her eyes, her chest heaving breathlessly as water slid around the outside of their magically encased bubble.
"Wow," Hinata breathed. "That's incredible."
"I'll teach you sometime," Velcia told her, distracted.
A roar reverberated through the water, rippling across the surface of their barrier and catching their attention. Both of them scrambled to their feet and stood back to back, their Keyblades at the ready. The bubble's surface was difficult to balance on and bent under their weight, but they remained standing as they scanned the dark, swirling water for any signs of the creature.
Velcia narrowed her eyes, spotting a subtle golden glow in the distance. She wasn't able to keep her gaze on it for more than a moment as they spun wildly out of control from the current. Nausea pooled in her stomach, making her dizzy and weak.
"We need to—" Her voice cut off as she wobbled, and Hinata spun around and caught her. "Oh I don't feel good."
Hinata said something in response, but she couldn't understand her. Another roar vibrated around them, this time much louder than before. Despite her warbling vision, Velcia noticed Hinata's eyes widened. She followed her gaze, seeing the briefest glimpse of the creature barreling towards them. It slammed against their barrier, popping the bubble and caving it in with water. Hinata screamed. Velcia's head flung back from whiplash and everything went black.
"Oh crap!" Hinata screamed.
Hinata flailed, free falling into the very center of the whirlpool. She could see the ocean's floor, the sharp, jagged black rocks sticking out of the soaked sand — just waiting to impale her and Velcia upon their unfortunate and swiftly approaching crash landing. Hinata looked beside her, realizing all at once that Velcia was limp, completely unconscious.
"Ok, ok, think," Hinata scrambled.
She held out her hand and a spiral of water shot out from the whirlpool. It wrapped around Velcia's waist like a lasso and whipped her over to Hinata. She wrapped her arms around Velcia the moment she was close enough, but the momentum sent both of them spinning wildly. Hinata held out her hand once more and desperately tried to summon her dagger. It flickered into existence, before wisping away with blue glitter.
"Come on!" Hinata groaned, running out of time.
She tried again, and the blade weakly appeared, seeming like it would disappear again within seconds. Hinata didn't waste any time and hurled the blade towards the ocean's floor. It stuck into the mud and Hinata closed her eyes to attempt a warp strike.
"Come on, baby, please work," she muttered under her breath, her brows furrowed and heart pounding.
A zap of static surrounded her, right before impacting hard, soaked sand. Hinata held Velcia close, tightly shutting her eyes as they rolled and skidded across the ground, before her back slammed against a rock. A pained groan escaped Hinata. She took a moment to catch her breath before she opened her eyes. The whirlpool spiraled above them; lightning cracked across the broken sky. It was a surreal sight, one that Hinata didn't have the time to take in.
She looked down to Velcia, still unconscious and encased safely in her arms. Sand was caked in her hair, against her clothes — Hinata was sure she looked the same. With a hiss, she pushed Velcia back and forced herself to stand. Her body strained, battered and bruised from the fall and particularly the landing, but she managed to get up and situated Velcia to sit against the rock.
A golden glow caught her attention. She looked up to see a golden light deep in the water, swimming along with the current. The light crept closer to the whirlpool's edge, a dark silhouette of the creature forming around it until it leapt out of the water entirely and landed hard against the sand. Hinata took a deep, even breath, opening and closing her hands to ready herself while the creature growled, acid dripping from its mandibles.
"It's just you and me now," Hinata called out.
She grabbed the hilt of her embedded dagger, but it flickered out of existence. With a heavy breath, Hinata attempted to call it back, but none of her usual weapons appeared. The creature clawed the sand, readying itself to charge.
"Fine then," she resigned.
Holding out her hand, the Keyblade flashed into her grasp with a burst of darkness. She sucked in a sharp breath, her throat tightening and vision momentarily blurring from the sickening, but familiar rush. There wasn't any time to adjust, as a blue glowing magic surrounded the creature. It zapped away, disappearing in a flash of blue. Hinata spun around, barely noticing shimmering particles beside her before the creature reappeared in their stead. Its sharp claws sliced across her side, sending her flying into the side of a rock. She slid to the ground, and gasped for breath.
"Great, it can warp strike," she realized between her gasps. "Of course. I should have known."
Another burst of shimmering particles appeared just overhead. Hinata's eyes widened and she rolled out of the way. The creature warped to the top of the rock in place of the particles and swiped at the now empty spot where Hinata had just been. Without wasting the opportunity, Hinata held the Keyblade with both of her hands and thrusted it up towards the sky. The tip glowed a deep purple, crackling with darkness before shooting out a beam. The beam split into multiple sections, surrounding the creature like a cage and spinning around it. It whipped its head around at the sight, hissing and curling in on itself. The beams closed in and created a blinding sight. Hinata shielded her eyes, hearing the monster's curdling shriek as it was sliced through.
Blue glowing orbs spilled out of it, melding into Hinata's skin. She breathed in deeply, feeling her familiar power fill her veins. There wasn't any need for the Keyblade anymore. She could easily resummon her blades, but the dark whispers in her mind pleaded with her to remain using the Keyblade. The beams dissipated and Hinata peeked to see golden acid splattered over the top of the singed rock, and floating blue particles that proved the creature managed to warp strike away.
Hinata looked around the arena, seeing no signs of the beast. Letting out a breath, she took the pause in the fight to release her Keyblade. It slid from her fingers and landed hard in the sand. A choked sob struggled up her throat, the creature's screams echoing in her head and the dark whispers crying out as they fled her body. She staggered forward, running her hand over her face.
"Never again," she promised herself.
Standing up straight with clenched fists, she purposefully stepped on the Keyblade as she went past. With a flick of her wrists, her daggers appeared in her hands. She tightened her grip around them, nearly crying at how good it felt to hold them again.
"Come on girls, let's do this," she told them, feeling somewhat silly for talking to her blades, but at the moment, she'd take anything to talk to.
She looked over her shoulder towards Velcia, still unconscious against the rock, unmoved. With a nod to herself, Hinata walked to the center of the arena. She was silent, looking through the whirlpool and towards the rocks, waiting for any sign of the creature. It didn't take long as a rush of water splashed from behind. Hinata spun around, eyes widening at the sight of a massive worm made purely out of water with the creature riding along the top, its blue tongue lapping up the water wildly. She made a scrunched up face of confused disgust at the sight, carefully strafing backwards. With a roar, the beast opened its mouth wide, sending out darts of water mixed with acid.
Hinata scrambled back. The darts pierced the sand and sizzled with a wisp of smoke. She looked up, seeing a whole new slew of acid spikes coming straight for her. Her entire body phased side to side in a blue shimmering mist, until she threw her blade behind a tall rock and zapped over, hidden from view.
"I don't think I can control that much water yet," she talked herself through it, pressing her back against the cool rock. "I have to get more of those orbs first…" She peeked around the edge, then whipped back as a spike of acid shot past. "Alright, new plan then."
She dispelled her daggers and summoned her shield instead. It flickered, but then firmly appeared in her grasp. At the sight of it, she couldn't help but smile.
"It's been a while," she said, smiling warmly before she looked away and chuckled awkwardly. "This is great, I'm talking to inanimate objects. I'm not going insane at all." Taking a deep breath, she shook out her arms and bounced between the balls of her feet. "Let's do this."
Stepping out from behind the rock, she lifted her shield. Darts impacted the metal almost instantly. Hinata's feet dug into the sand, skidding back with every hit. Her shield absorbed the water, pulsing slowly with power that grew brighter with every shot. The acid bubbled along its surface, tainting the intricate engravings in the metal, but Hinata didn't have a choice. A low, vibrating hum emanated from the shield, reaching full absorption as the creature relentlessly fired.
"Ok, ok," Hinata hyped herself up, preparing for the next move. "I can do this."
She waited for the slightest break in the shots, when the creature needed to pause to lap up more water. With a yell, Hinata spun around, and launched her shield. It shot up and sliced through the monster's tongue. Hinata zapped away in shimmering blue and reappeared at her shield up above the creature while it screeched and spewed acid from where its detached tongue used to be. Gripping the shield, Hinata held it flat and released the absorbed power.
Water burst from every inch of the shield. It formed a pillar that consumed the creature in its wake and thrashed it around wildly. Blue orbs fled from its body and melded into Hinata, just as she hit the ground with a roll. She stood back up, and held out her hand, reaching out for the pillar of water. The cool chill of the magic seeped into her fingertips and she grinned.
The pillar of water followed her movements with practiced ease and Hinata spun around and plummeted the water into the face of a tall rock. Through the rush of the water, she could hear the gurgled growls of the creature being crushed against the rock. Before the water had completely splashed away, Hinata gripped her shield and hurled it forward. It sliced through the creature's neck, embedding it against the rock.
"I'm not taking any more chances with you!" she yelled, summoning her blades and throwing them one after the other, piercing the creature's stomach.
Acid globbed around the weapons, dripping onto the ground and melting the sand. Her weapons' shine dulled under the acid, but Hinata didn't care. She watched with disgust and a trickle of guilt as the life faded in the creature's eyes. Its wiggling legs curled and dried up. Its body went limp and slid to the ground, her blades slicing through what remained of its stomach. Acid pooled around it as the left over blue orbs spilled out and swarmed into Hinata. She reluctantly reached out and resummoned her weapons. The creature's head splatted to the ground once the shield dispelled, the sound making Hinata sick to her stomach.
She stepped back and tore her gaze away from the gruesome scene, and instead looked towards Velcia. The entire fight she had been left alone, as if the creature knew she wasn't the one it was really after. Hinata let out a breath and looked up towards the broken sky, seeing the light slowly making its way towards her. It was finally time to wake up.
"We did it Velcia," she breathed out, grinning.
Looking down from the sky, she turned to make her way towards Velcia. But she wasn't there. Hinata blinked. She rushed to where Velcia had been seconds before, but there were no footprints or indentations in the sand that indicated any sort of movement.
"Velcia!" she called out, cupping her hands around her mouth.
No response.
She looked back to the creature's remains and saw nothing but globs of acid still sizzling away the sand. Both of them vanished.
"M-Maybe she already woke up," Hinata said, looking up towards the incoming light as it surrounded her.
"Hmm, I wouldn't count on it," Thaanix's voice said from behind.
Hinata spun around, seeing Thaanix standing in the center of the arena. Her eyes were completely black, her skin dulled and hair in disarray. She smirked as Hinata's expression went from surprise to sudden rage.
Hinata stalked towards her. "If you do anything—"
"Tick tock," Thaanix teased, just as the whirlpool caved in and Hinata woke up.
"Hinata, look out!" Velcia cried, sitting up in a rush.
Her vision spun around her as her head throbbed with pain. She blinked rapidly, slowly realizing that she was no longer surrounded by water. There was no facility, no whirlpool, or creature. She found herself instead on a forest floor. Impossibly tall trees towered around her, their tops disappearing into the misty sky. The branches were bare and blackened. Dead leaves covered the ground between the thick black roots protruding from the dirt.
Velcia looked around and hesitantly stood up. "Hinata?" she asked, her voice disappearing into the mist. Her hands ran uncomfortably up and down her arms as she walked. "Why do I get the feeling I'm not in her dream anymore?"
"Hmm clever," Hinata's voice muttered through the wind.
The sound sent shivers up Velcia's spine.
"You're not Hinata." A Keyblade flashed into Velcia's hands. "Show yourself."
There was a pause, then a laugh that carried itself between the trees, echoing through the forest. Velcia turned in place, her blade at the ready. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a silhouette in the mist. Turning towards it, whatever it was disappeared.
"Let's see how clever you really are," Hinata's voice offered behind her. Velcia spun around, but no one was there. Against her ear, she felt a whisper, "Come and find us."
The unsettling presence vanished and Velcia stumbled back, leaning against the trunk of a tree. Her heart pounded in her chest. Exhaustion ached in her muscles and her joints. She swallowed hard, attempting to coat her parched throat. Looking up towards the misty sky, she took a deep breath.
"How will I get back?" she asked. Fear crept up in her chest, but she stamped it down with a sharp breath and shut her eyes. "Sam, if you're somehow able to hear me, it might be up to you, like we talked about... I just hope the others really woke up." She reluctantly opened her eyes and looked out into the forest. "I have to get moving."
She stepped forward, careful not to trip on the thick roots. Every direction appeared the same— shrouded in mist and covered with trees. She walked aimlessly for a few minutes, before slowing to a stop with a soft huff of breath. Placing her hands over her heart, she shut her eyes and reached out to feel the magic around her. It was different from doing so in the outside world, where she could feel each and every individual element that made up the fabric of the world itself. Here, everything was fabricated and illusory. Reaching out with her mind felt empty and fuzzy, despite how real everything seemed around her. Taking a deep, steady breath, she reached out further and she sensed the pulse of darkness. It festered stronger the more she focused on it, causing her to draw back and open her eyes with a gasp.
Even after detaching herself from it, her heart felt heavy and sick. Velcia looked in the direction she sensed the darkness and walked. Her feet crunched the dead leaves underfoot. Wind creaked the branches overhead. Everything else was silent and eerily so. Velcia continued onwards, her sash in her hands while she rubbed the fabric between her fingers. The texture, the stitching, it gave her a distraction while her mind struggled to wrap around what she was doing and where she was.
Minutes passed, Velcia wasn't sure how many. The mist gradually began to clear and the trees thinned out. The occasional sunflower stood in place of where a tree would normally be. Velcia ran her hands along a few of the petals as she passed. Orange sunlight peeked through the mist, though Velcia still couldn't quite see the sky through the shroud. Then she reached the edge of a clearing.
The mist abruptly disappeared. A perpetual sunset covered the sky. Hundreds of sunflowers covered the clearing. The only thing between them were thick black roots, each one leading towards a single colossal tree in the center of it all. Velcia stood at the edge of the clearing, already sensing the heavy darkness emanating off the tree. There was no doubt in her mind it was the exact source of the darkness she sensed when she was deep in the forest. Her heart lodged in her throat. She knew that was where Thaanix awaited her.
A rustling sound caught her attention. She snapped her eyes over to see the same creature from the dreams scuttering out of the forest beside her. With a gasp, she jumped back and summoned her Keyblade, but the beast paid her no mind. It simply moved past her, disappearing in the field of sunflowers. She could see the sunflowers bending to the side as it made its way towards the tree. Her Keyblade flashed away and she looked around. Other various creatures of all different shapes and sizes were doing the same. Each of them emerged from the forest and ventured into the field of flowers to reach the tree. Velcia's gaze once again settled on the tree. From where she stood, she couldn't make out many details, but it didn't appear natural; though, she supposed nothing in the dream would be.
She looked over her shoulder at the misty forest behind her, but then back towards the clearing. With a deep breath, she moved forward. The sunflowers provided a comforting scent that masked the putrid scent of darkness. Velcia ran her hands along the petals of the ones that stood near her height, purposefully releasing the perfume. It did little to help the gradually growing stench, but Velcia did it nonetheless. She stared up at the tree as she went. It wasn't made of any sort of recognizable wood, but instead black tendrils that twisted and weaved together. Between the tendrils, were creatures of all manner of shapes and sizes— many of which matched the types already scuttering towards the tree from the forest. They wriggled against their confinement and as Velcia approached she could hear their hisses and whines as the vines tightened over their remains. She felt sick.
The creature from the previous dreams stopped at the base of the tree. It happily chittered, about to enter through an opening in the trunk before tendrils burst out and wrapped around its body. Velcia startled with a gasp. The creature thrashed in surprise, but the tendrils tightly constricted until it fell limp. Without any more fight, the beast was dragged up the side of the tree to become a part of it.
Velcia stepped back, her face pale. "I need to leave," she told herself, though she knew she had no idea how. She walked backwards several steps, watching as more and more of the approaching creatures were consumed.
"Not yet," Hinata's voice muttered behind her.
Velcia's eyes widened and she spun around. Everything shifted. The sunflowers, the orange sunset, and the barren trees, were all replaced with a hollowed tree. Velcia frantically looked around at the towering, twisted walls, her breaths becoming heavy.
"How did I—"
"Why are you helping them?" Hinata's voice asked shakily from behind. It sounded different from before, causing Velcia to pause.
She cautiously turned around, her grip tightening around her Keyblade. In the center of the hollowed tree she saw Thaanix kneeled on the ground. Her hands were folded in her lap, her eyes fixated on the floor with blackened tears stained against her cheeks. Velcia carefully stepped towards her. She looked to Thaanix's hair. It was loose and long, much longer than she had ever seen Hinata's. It fell all around her, cascading over the floor, until melding into black and forming the dark tendrils that made up the entire fortress around them.
"They're my friends," Velica told her honestly, noticing Thaanix's hands tighten in her lap. "I'll do everything I can to help them."
"Good little Hinata knows how to make everyone loyal." Another Thaanix formed out of darkness, her eyes black and skin grayed. "Even enough to convince others to kill us."
"Such a clever addition to the team." Yet another form appeared. "So much power. She reeks of magic." The form laughed. "Imagine little Hinata's surprise when we take it for ourselves."
"You will get nothing from me." Velcia's Keyblade ignited and a shimmering shield surrounded her. She looked between each form, her heart pounding but her stare remained level and seemingly calm.
"You have no idea how often we hear that," the form told her. "And every time, without fail, they end up here. Just look for yourself."
Velcia's eyes darted around the tree's walls. She had tried not to notice the bodies weaved in between the vines: past Organization Members she recognized from DiZ's books, a being formed out of a burlap sack, and all forms of people she didn't recognize. She swallowed hard, averting her gaze as her stomach flipped.
The forms of darkness laughed and more of them appeared. In the center of it all, the real Thaanix remained silent, eyes still fixed on the floor, tears pooling beneath her. One of the forms walked up to Velcia's shield and pressed her hand against the barrier. Darkness hissed and sizzled from the touch, but the form didn't move away.
"I can't imagine you have much left," she taunted Velcia with a sickly sweet voice. "It's just a matter of time until every piece of strength you have left is gone and all of your precious magic will fizzle away."
"My friends will wake me up well before then," Velcia bit in return, but she couldn't hide the tremble in her voice.
"Hmm, maybe." One of the other forms walked around Velcia, trailing her hand along the shield as her fingers sizzled away with wisps of darkness. "But imagine their panic right now. The guilt. All of the little what-ifs, wondering if there was a way they could have stopped this from happening. Completely helpless while you waste away, becoming our prey."
Velcia's chest twanged at the thought, but rather than focus on it, she took a deep even breath and looked towards Thaanix sitting in the center of everyone. "I know what the darkness wants," she started, carefully walking forward. "It's the same thing it always wants." She knelt down in front of Thaanix and leaned forward to be in her line of sight. "But what do you want?"
Thaanix didn't look up, but her brows knitted together. The dark forms around her snickered and whispered between themselves, their voices rumbling. She swallowed hard, her hands clenching until her knuckles were white. "What did she tell you about me?" she asked finally.
Velcia blinked, surprised at the question. She considered her words carefully. "She told me that you are a Replica, created with an overabundance of darkness beyond your control."
"She's lying," one of the forms hissed, making Thaanix wince.
"I'm not," Velcia replied firmly, yet her voice remained gentle.
"Do you know what I've done?" Thaanix asked.
Velcia was silent for a moment, before nodding. "Yes, but—"
"Did you join them to kill me?" she interrupted.
"I joined to help put a stop to the darkness inside you," Velcia replied. "But I would still very much like an answer to my question. What do you want?"
"I…" Thannix's voice started weak, then trailed off. Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks, much to the amusement of the dark forms around her. They mocked her while Velcia remained still, patiently awaiting her answer. "I want to be left alone."
"Why is that?" Velcia asked, taken aback by her answer.
"I woke up with memories of a life I can never go back to," Thaanix began to explain, tears straining her voice. "Memories of people that want nothing but to see me dead. They hunt me, relentlessly. Every moment I see Hinata, in the life I will never have, I-I'm overcome with—" she suddenly cried out, her fingers digging into her head. "I hate it!"
"If we can get the darkness out of you—"
"No!" Thaanix screamed. "The darkness is the only thing that understands! I-I fought it for a while. The pain it makes me feel when I don't give in…" She held out her hands in front of her, her skin stained black. "But all of that changes when I listen and it only makes me stronger. It's given me a new life, a new chance to be someone else. Everything I've done, everything it helps me do, no one will lay another hand on me."
Velcia's eyes darted around, seeing the dark forms watching and listening intently. Even without their mouths moving, she could hear their whispers affirming Thaanix's words. Her shield remained strong, but she knew it wouldn't for much longer. The Keyblade seemed heavier by the second, her hands were slicked with sweat around its hilt. Her heart pounded heavily in her chest, aching for a moment's rest that she couldn't give it. Closing her eyes for a moment, she steadied her breaths and focused on her magic reserves. There wasn't much left, but she pushed forward.
"The darkness makes promises it can't keep," Velcia finally replied, opening her eyes and noticing each of the dark forms bristling from her words. "It destroys everything it touches, including its user. Though… I have a feeling you already know that. Don't you?"
Thaanix averted her gaze.
"What are you truly after?" Velcia asked.
"Why does it matter?" Thaanix asked, the strain returning to her voice. "After everything I've done, the only thing that remains is a monster. For once, Hinata gets to see what happens when things don't go her way. Except she gets the luxury of watching it, while I get to live every excruciating moment. But I won't be the victim forever. No, I'm going to be stronger than her. I'm going to show her and every other person that wants to destroy me what I am capable of. If she doesn't leave me alone, she's not going to be on the other side of a window anymore, she's going to be the one living it."
"You want to be left alone so you can protect her," Velcia muttered in realization. "Part of you doesn't want this."
Thaanix looked up in surprise. For the first time, their eyes met. Velcia's heart dropped. The fear in Thaanix's eyes, the pain and the hopelessness, it all brought Velcia back to her childhood, watching helplessly as the darkness ripped everything away. Her family, her life, everything vanished in an instant. For a single moment, Velcia considered dissolving her barrier and protectively wrapping her arms around Thaanix.
Instead, she let out a soft, shaking breath and told her, "You don't have to do this. Any of this. You aren't as alone as you think."
"She's trying to deceive you," one of the forms whispered.
Velcia shook her head, a sheen of tears covering her eyes. "I'm not. We can stop this. You don't need to listen to the darkness."
As she spoke, her barrier wavered. Velcia's body ached, but she didn't move her gaze away from Thaanix. The dark forms noticed her weakening state. Some of them laughed and taunted, while others surrounded the shield and pressed their hands against it to force its power to run out faster.
One of the forms knelt beside Thaanix and caressed her face. "After everything you've done, do you really believe any of them would want to save you? The destruction, the chaos, the killing, it's disgusting to them. That's all you are in their eyes. A monster."
"That's not true," Velcia countered, desperately trying to keep her barrier up. "We will do what we need to protect the worlds from darkness. If there's a way to remove the darkness from Thaanix we—"
"Oh their pet name for you," the form interrupted with a chuckle. "How incredibly fitting. The name of a nobody."
"What?" Velcia's eyes widened. "No that's not—"
"Kill her," the darkness whispered. "Take what's yours."
Dark tendrils slowly wrapped around the outside of Velcia's shield, tightening around it despite the magic sizzling the darkness away like smoke. The dark forms whispered to Thaanix, urging her to continue, to take what belonged to her. Thaanix remained silent, her gaze settled on Velcia as the black vines wrapped tighter and tighter around the shield. Velcia held her Keyblade above her head, her chest heaving as beads of sweat dripped down her neck. Her arms trembled, the shield cracked.
"Please," she pleaded. "You don't have to do this."
Thaanix's eyes drifted back to the ground. "I'm sorry…"
The shield caved in and Velcia crumpled to the ground. She reached out for Thaanix, but the black vines forced her down. They wrapped around her, tightening with crushing weight. She cried out for help, but the tendrils constricted her neck. Little by little, her vision darkened and dulled. Velcia struggled, but there wasn't much fight left inside of her. The very life inside of her drained, as if being sucked away.
A flash of light surrounded her, followed by a surge of electrical current that caused the hairs on Velcia's skin to stand on end. The vines disappeared. Darkness wisped away, immediately replaced with an overwhelming rush of magic that caused Velcia to suck in a sudden sharp breath as every inch of her was reinvigorated.
Machines beeped, multiple voices talked over the other, but Velcia couldn't see. She tried to lift her arms, but something held her down. "H-Hello?" she stammered, her voice hoarse.
"It worked!" Hinata's voice exclaimed over the others. "Guys, I think she's awake!"
The room fell silent and multiple hurried footsteps rushed towards Velcia.
"Holy shit," Sam breathed. "That actually worked."
"I-I can't see, is everything alright?" Velcia asked.
"Of course, dear Velcia!" Skellington's bony hand gripped Velcia's shoulder, making her flinch. "Just allow us a moment to get the equipment off."
"Scans show accelerated heart rate," Ben informed the others. Velcia could hear his fingers clicking against a keyboard. "But vital signs are re-stabilized."
"Get that damn thing off of her then!" Sam ordered.
"Patience!" Dr. Finklestein scolded. "That Nia just unplugged the entire thing, we need to make sure her brain functions appear normal."
"We're here, Velcia." Hinata gently grabbed her hand. "You're safe now."
Tears welled up in Velcia's eyes, even though she couldn't see any of them quite yet. She squeezed Hinata's hand in return. Minutes passed, but Velcia didn't mind the wait. Hinata's hand remained in hers the entire time while the others performed scans to make sure everything was all right. She was asked a few questions, but was mostly told to rest while Ben completed the necessary tests.
"Gentle now!" Dr. Finklestein directed.
The helmet covering Velcia's head ever so slowly lifted. Light bombarded Velcia's eyes, making her blink rapidly before she could see clearly. Hinata and Sam stood on either side of her bed, both of them disheveled and tired with reddened eyes. Velcia was sure she looked similar. She pushed herself to sit up.
"I… I'm not sure what to say," she said softly.
Hinata let out a sudden breath and wrapped her arms around her. Velcia immediately hugged her in return, burying her face in Hinata's hair as soft sobs trembled through her. She felt Sam's hand rubbing against her back, before squeezing her shoulder in support.
"Are you alright?" Hinata asked gently.
Velcia nodded. "I am now." She reluctantly pulled back, rubbing away the tears in the corner of her eyes. "Thank you… all of you." Jack floated into her arms with doggy whines spilling out of him. Velcia giggled and welcomed the snuggles. "It's good to see you, too, Jack."
"You can thank H—" Sam caught herself, "Nia. We weren't sure what to do and once we saw that dark magic aura stuff surrounding you, she went and unplugged you from the machine."
"I knew we didn't have much time," Hinata admitted, pushing back her hair. "They were worried it might cause something to happen to your mind, but… I couldn't sit here and let you be destroyed."
Velcia swallowed hard, looking down to her hands in her lap that had returned to the bright green she had from entering Halloween Town. The sight made her smile softly before she explained, "Even if it would have damaged my mind somehow, I'm thankful you did it. Thaanix was…" her voice trailed off, her hands tightening around her dress in her lap.
"Trying to take your power for herself," Hinata finished for her and Velcia nodded. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't be." Velcia looked up at her, giving a small, reassuring smile.
"You gave us quite a scare." Dr. Finklestein rolled up to Velcia's bedside. "Even with my superior intellect, I was surprised by this outcome. One of the wonders of science!"
Sam scoffed while Velcia smiled politely.
"I just can't understand why this Thaanix would go so far as to do something like this," Skellington mused out loud. "Even Oogie Boogie didn't trap people in nightmares. Though…" he scratched the side of his skull, "I suppose he did scare a few dozen people to death in their sleep. But somehow this feels worse."
"Amazingly, that doesn't help anyone feel better," Sam commented, walking to the other side of the bed and shooing them away. "Go discuss it somewhere else, maybe not in front of the people that have suffered through it for the past who the hell knows how long."
Velcia watched them go into the other room, her polite smile gradually falling as they disappeared. Soon all that remained in the lab was her and Hinata, while Sam kept an eye on the others.
"Where are Riku and Axel?" she asked.
Hinata looked at her and smiled sadly. "I haven't seen either of them since I woke up, but DiZ told me Riku volunteered to head back out and take care of those creatures still at Oogie's tree. I'll probably head out there too in a bit. Axel… I'm not sure. DiZ said he woke up and disappeared in a Corridor shortly after without talking much."
Velcia nodded and floated upwards, accidentally bonking her head on the overhead light above her bed. "Oof," she huffed, floating to the side then down to Hinata's side. "I almost forgot how to fly in this form," she joked.
Hinata chuckled. "I can imagine. I forgot how long my hair was in this form. Or that Sam is a fish princess."
"Yes, that was odd to wake up to," Velcia confessed, getting another soft laugh out of Hinata.
Velcia looked around the cluttered lab. It was far messier than it had been when she initially went to sleep. Plates of half eaten food, empty jars, and spilled potions were scattered on random surfaces. Even after waking up, a heavy, uncertain air still permeated around them.
"If…" Hinata started, her voice trailing off with a breath. "If you need to talk about anything. Or if you need time… Whatever you need basically, I'm here for you. We all are."
"Thank you." Velcia fiddled with a piece of her tattered dress. "I… I do need time. I know I will need to talk about it. But, not yet."
"Yeah, I understand." Hinata sighed. "I feel similar, honestly. Lots to think about, you know?"
"Yes," Velcia agreed and took a deep breath. "I believe I will go after Riku." Hinata looked up at her in surprise. "I know how to get rid of the darkness inside the fortress. It needs to be taken care of before anyone else becomes a victim."
"I'll come with you," Hinata offered. "I'm sure Sam would like a chance to get out of here for a bit too. From what Ben told me, she hasn't left the building since you went to sleep."
Velcia nodded wordlessly, watching as Hinata turned to head into the other room. Once she was alone, she wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes. She shivered, letting out a shaky breath. The door opened and she opened her eyes and strained a smile.
"You sure you're both up for this already?" Sam asked as she approached alongside Hinata. "I'd be up for beaming both of you back to the ship immediately if you wanted it."
"To be honest, I just want to see Riku," Hinata confessed, raising her hand.
"Gross, but alright." Sam rolled her eyes.
"And I would like to take care of the darkness before anyone else becomes trapped in a dream," Velcia explained.
"That too," Hinata agreed.
"God, I'm so glad you're both awake." Sam walked on ahead of them, her hands laced behind her head. "I was low key starting to freak out. Just a bit."
"I couldn't imagine," Hinata joked, sending Velcia a wink before following Sam.
Velcia watched her friends for a moment, her smile faltering. Another shiver rushed through her, making her shudder and run her hands along her arms.
"Vel, you coming?" Sam called back over her shoulder.
"Yes, of course." Velcia floated after them.