KH: Antipode [Alpha draft] pt 34 v2

[keybearer]

Chapter 34: The Spread of Darkness

“…You.”

It was the first word that came to mind as Riku glared at the cloaked man. After all this time, he’d hardly anticipated coming face to face with him again. Even then, he still remembered how the man took advantage of his goals, ambitions, and insecurities in order to send Destiny Islands into the darkness. Had he been waiting in the shadows this whole time, while Maleficent used Sora to gather the princesses? Just who was this man, anyway? And what was he doing with all those Heartless? Though Riku tried to step forward and seal the Keyhole, several of the Neoshadows hopped in his path.

Donald and Goofy readied their weapons and rushed towards the Heartless, but even when they delivered harsh blows to clear the way, more Neoshadows became obstacles. Not only that, but the two Darksides still stood at the ready. Even if they did manage to defeat all the small fry, they’d still have to deal with two extremely powerful enemies. Any time wasted on fighting would give the Heartless more time to send Hollow Bastion into dark, just like what happened on Pleasure Island. Right now, they were caught in the middle of a stalemate, and with Kairi completely defenseless, they just couldn’t risk it.

So Riku lowered his weapon to his side and kept his eyes locked on the man, who remained perfectly still with his face hidden beneath his hood.

“Have you enjoyed your freedom, Keybearer?” said the man, his voice dripping with malice. “I imagine it’s been quite a journey for you.”

“That’s none of your business.” Riku practically spat out his words, and he narrowed his eyes.

“I should think that it is.” The man shook his head. “After all, were it not for my encouragement, you would have never opened the door. You and your friends would have drifted at sea aimlessly. To that end, I did you a favor.”

“Riku, what’s he talking about?” Kairi frowned, stepping closer to him.

“Don’t worry about it, Kairi. He’s just trying to get a rise out of me.”

“I merely speak the truth, boy.” Slowly, the man stepped away from the Keyhole, and the two Darksides slid closer together. “By opening the door, you managed to escape your island prison. You even gained the power of the Keyblade… Surely the loss of one world was well worth it in the end.”

“Shut up!” Riku jerked forward, tightening his grip on the Keyblade. “Don’t think for a minute that I’m happy about what I’ve done. Sure, I got to see the outside world. And, yeah, maybe this adventure was what I’d been dreaming of after all those years, but you know what? It hasn’t been easy.” He took a deep breath and continued. “I lost my home, Kairi lost her heart, and now we’ve both lost our best friend. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Ah, yes, Sora…” The man chuckled. “He was quite a peculiar specimen. Thanks to the princess’ heart, he could not wield the power of darkness. Then again, I imagine that even without it, his kind nature would prevent him from being a proper vessel.”

“Vessel?” Donald gasped. “Hey, what’re you trying to say?”

What was he talking about? And just how did he know Sora? Riku’s shoulders shook, and he had to force himself to stand still. Jumping at that man would solve nothing. If there was a chance he knew something about Sora’s fate, then, like it or not, he’d have to cooperate.

The man continued to approach Riku at a snail’s pace. “You all shall find out soon enough. After all, this foolish boy has yet to realize just how strong a hold the darkness has on his heart.”

“The darkness?” Goofy blinked, and he turned to face Riku. “But Riku’s been fightin’ the darkness this whole time!”

Why would the darkness have a hold on his heart? Though Riku said nothing, he looked down at his chest and clutched onto the front of his shirt with his free hand. Maybe… maybe in the beginning he’d been close to the darkness. He’d let his jealousy, his pride, and his stubborn tendencies get the best of him. But things had changed since then! He’d become stronger after everything he’d been through. So why did this man say otherwise? Was he just trying to mess with his head?!

“It matters not. Darkness rests within all hearts, except for those who are pure. Some resist its influence, and others embrace it.” About halfway between Riku and the Keyhole, the man came to a complete stop. “Riku’s heart contains untapped potential. It is dripping with darkness, make no mistake about that.”

“No, it can’t be!” Without warning, Kairi stepped out in front of Riku and glared at the man. “Maybe… maybe at one point he was close to the darkness, but Riku’s changed since then. He and Sora both went through so much because of me.” She shook her head. “I’m sure he’s become stronger because of it.”

“You tell him!” Donald nodded, and he swung his staff through the air. “We don’t care who you are or what you’re planning. Nobody gets to push Riku around besides us, and we’re his friends!”

Even Kairi was sticking up for him. Did she really have faith in him now? Riku still remembered when she joked about taking off without him, and he still recalled her wariness when he tried to slip through the door. How much did she see from inside Sora? Did she know about everything they’d been through since their home disappeared? She had no weapon, no way to defend herself, and she still stood up for him. Kairi wasn’t letting her fears get to her, so why was he worrying over a little darkness?

He couldn’t let that creep mess with his head. It didn’t matter that he kept preaching about darkness or how weak he was; Riku really had changed. He wasn’t about to throw that all away.

That’s why he raised his Keyblade and stepped forward once more. Right now, he had to stay strong. Even if the darkness tried to worm its way into his heart, he’d keep fighting back. Not just for his own sake, but for Kairi, Donald, Goofy… and Sora. He wouldn’t want his sacrifice to be in vain.

“Give me your worst. I dare you,” Riku said, watching as the man started to approach once more. “Your darkness doesn’t scare me, and neither do you.”

“You speak so boldly,” said the man, whose body began to glow with a dim, blue aura. “If you wish to see what the darkness can do to your heart, then so be it. I imagine the results will be quite interesting.”

Before Riku could even budge, he felt a cold chill run down his spine. Wincing, he stepped back, as that pale aura spread from the man to his chest. Within seconds, he fell down to his knees, dropping his Keyblade flat on the floor.  His heart throbbed, and he clutched tightly onto his chest. What… what was going on? It felt like something was trying to break through his heart, to… to take control of him. The strange, chilling sensation prompted Riku to hold even tighter to his chest. He gnashed his teeth and pushed himself back to his feet. If that man was trying to prove a point, then he wasn’t about to sit still and let the darkness overtake him. There had to be some way to stop him!

“Nice… try…” Despite the tense feelings wrenching his heart, Riku still managed to smirk. “But it’s not over yet!”

Though the man no longer appeared before Riku’s eyes, his voice rang through his mind, like a twisted echo. It was too close for comfort. Almost like the man had invaded his conscience and continued to bore through him to seize control.

It is useless to resist, boy. Doing so is only denying your inevitable fate…

“Like I’m gonna believe that!” It didn’t matter that his heart felt like it was being squeezed tighter and tighter as the seconds passed. While some people might have given in to avoid the suffocating feeling, Riku continued to wrestle with the man’s presence. He even managed to scoop up his Keyblade after a few moments of painful struggling. The fight was hardly over.

“Don’t give up, Riku!” The voices of his friends rang out from behind. When Riku peered over his shoulder, he caught sight of Donald and Goofy standing firm, even though a circle of Neoshadows surrounded them and kept them at bay.

Plunge deeper into the darkness. Let your whole heart blacken and ease your pain…

The man’s hold on his heart tightened, and Riku let out a sharp groan. His knees bent, and his grip on his weapon loosened up for a second or two. Unfortunately for that jerk, his little darkness speeches did nothing but motivate Riku to keep on fighting. Did he really think his preaching would change his mind? Throughout his journey, Riku had seen the darkness at full force, and he’d witnessed just how far people fell when they tried to tap into its power. Becoming its pawn just wasn’t his style.

That’s why, when he felt a sudden warmth all around him, he f even harder against the man’s dark powers. He opened his eyes and found Kairi at his side, just another reason to keep on fighting. She looked up at him with a faint smile, and he silently nodded. Then, after taking a deep breath, he pushed with all his might. Pushed at the chilling darkness, at the twisted man who tried to exploit his power, and at the fear, jealousy, and rage that had filled his heart at one point or another. Who he used to be didn’t matter anymore. Not as long as he had friends to back him up in times of need.

The man’s voice wavered the more Riku pushed. Soon, the blue aura started to leave his chest.

Impossible… How could your heart resist? The darkness is natural… All hearts…

His cloaked form reappeared, surrounded by that same aura. Breathing deeply, the man stepped back, bringing a hand to his chest. As the aura faded, Riku felt the pressure leave his heart. That choking sensation vanished completely, and he no longer felt the constant strain of fighting back. It seemed like the perfect chance to make a preemptive strike, so he held up the Keyblade and prepared to attack; unfortunately, his legs grew limp, and he fell to his knees. His heart still ached a little bit, and exhaustion rapidly overwhelmed him. Kairi still stood next to him, and Donald and Goofy knocked two of the Neoshadows aside before they, too, hurried over.

“Perhaps I underestimated you…” The man’s voice sounded oddly shaky, and he pulled at the front of his cloak. “However, that does not change the state of your heart. Your darkness remains strong. So strong that it would be a shame to let it rot beneath a veil of light.”

Chuckling, he held out his other hand, and Riku let out another groan. Something… something was tugging at his heart again, only this time, it felt like something was being… pulled out of him. Almost like something inside him was being stretched and held at an arm’s length, still there but with only a faint presence. Whatever it was, it left him with a sharp pain in his chest, and Riku reflexively got back to his feet and charged.

“Stay out of my heart!” He swung his Keyblade, half-expecting to strike the man; instead, one of the Darksides sent him flying with a powerful blow. He landed right on top of Donald and Goofy, who yelped and squawked in a mix of frustration and agony. All the while, the man continued to pull at Riku’s heart. Not just his heart, in fact, but at the Heartless around him, too. One of the Darksides twitched and fell to the ground, and its body melted into a black mist that the man readily absorbed. The other soon followed.

“If I cannot have my vessel,” said the man, “then I shall draw upon the darkness in order to repair my fragile form.” He reached for his cloak and threw it aside, revealing his true appearance. Though he stood hunched over and darkness still obscured him, Riku could make out a few distinguishing features, such as his golden eyes, dark skin, and a head of long, white hair. Something about this guy looked almost familiar, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

Still, with Kairi’s help, Riku got back to his feet, readying his Keyblade for round two. It didn’t matter that he’d been drained of almost all his energy. This guy, whoever he was, was bad news. He couldn’t just… let him win!

“Do not think for a minute that this is over.” The man grinned, stepping back towards the Keyhole. “This Keyhole contains darkness in its purest form. I have held it back out of pity alone, but now it’s over. You and the princess have served your purpose…”

The remaining Heartless inched closer to Riku and the others, flexing their claws as they approached from all sides. Riku cringed at the sight; what was he supposed to do? He still didn’t have the energy to put up a good fight, but if he gave up, what would happen to the Keyhole and Hollow Bastion? On the other hand, staying and fighting could put Kairi in danger. Even if he, Donald, and Goofy all took on the Heartless, there were just too many. One wrong move could put Kairi’s safety at risk. And what about Sora? They still didn’t know what had happened to him or if he was even still alive!

Riku shuddered, and he took a look around. With the Neoshadows forming a circle around him and the others, they had little room to fight back. More and more appeared from within the Keyhole; if they didn’t act fast, they’d really be in trouble! He was running out of options, and quickly at that. At this rate, they’d have to leave now or they'd risk being torn apart by the Heartless. Without even thinking, he took Kairi by the hand and turned away from the Keyhole. Just then, he caught sight of a familiar, bulky Beast, who leaped into the air and clawed through the approaching Heartless.

“Riku, go!” The Beast gave Riku a quick glance before he tore through several more of the Neoshadows. “Leave the Heartless to me.”

“But what about the Keyhole?” Goofy gulped, pushing back one of the Heartless with his shield.

“Forget it. Beast’s right!” Shaking his head, Riku knocked away three Heartless and tugged Kairi towards the stairs. “Right now, we need to get Kairi to safety. It’s too dangerous here!”

“Oh, well…” Donald frowned, glancing from the Neoshadows, to the Keyhole, and back towards Riku. Then, he whacked one of the Heartless with his staff and scurried over to the steps. “C’mon, Goofy! Let’s get outta here!”

When the two finally caught up with him, Riku bolted down the steps. It didn’t matter that his legs still ached and his chest throbbed; he continued to rush through the countless levels of the castle in spite of his exhaustion. On his way, he kept his eyes peeled for any Heartless that might catch them off guard. For the most part, Kairi managed to keep up with him, though his frantic running nearly left Donald and Goofy in the dust, even when they made quick stops to catch their breath. Along the way, Wyverns, Defenders, and Neoshadows fiercely attacked with a combination of brute strength and magic. In order to keep Kairi safe, the trio focused on deflecting their blows and relied on the lifts to progress back towards the castle’s lower levels.

About halfway down, as they stood on a lift, Kairi tapped Riku’s arm and frowned. “Riku, are you sure this is okay? You don’t have to leave because of me. Besides, what if Sora’s still—”

“We don’t have a choice.” Riku sighed. “Trust me, if I had the strength, I’d go back there and settle the score.”

“Riku’s right,” said Donald, “we were outnumbered back there. I don’t wanna leave here, either, but it’s just too risky.”

“I just wish I could help somehow.” Kairi peered over the edge of the lift, gazing down at the canyon below.

What Kairi didn’t realize was just how helpful she’d already been. Seeing her stand up to that man was enough to make Riku push aside his fears and fight back. She stood by him when he wrestled for control of his heart and forced back that suffocating darkness. Even if she didn’t have a weapon, armor, or magic, she made up for it with strength of heart. It was a different kind of help, but in Riku’s eyes, it meant just as much as fighting by his side.

“Kairi, look.” He placed a hand on her shoulder and looked her straight in the eye. “You’ve already helped. Just having you here has made a difference.”

“Riku…” Despite the tense circumstances, she cracked a smile, giving him a light nudge. “You really have changed, but… I’m glad.”

They still had their work cut out for them. A path of countless lifts, winding walkways, and dangerous halls awaited them once they came to their next stop. In order to avoid falling into the castle’s lower levels, Riku, Donald, and Goofy hurled their weapons and powerful spells at any nearby Heartless. While Riku continued to lead Kairi along, Donald and Goofy stood at his sides, keeping her safely surrounded. It worked well in the long run, since they along with Riku took the brunt of the attacks. A few cure spells here and there ensured that they made it out in one piece, and soon they returned to the Castle Gates.

As they came to a stop, Donald flailed his arms and shouted at the top of his lungs. With one wave of his staff, he sent fireworks soaring high into the sky, and he called out for Chip and Dale. It didn’t take long for the crew to respond. A small speck of red and yellow appeared in the distance and rapidly drew closer to the group. When more Heartless emerged, the ship fired its lasers and reduced them to blackened smoke and bubbling ooze. With the path clear, the ship landed safely on the stone path, and Donald flung the door wide open. Hopping into the driver’s seat, he motioned to the others to follow. They didn’t have much time.

But before he took Kairi into the ship, Riku gave the castle one last look. They’d barely had time to face that strange man, much less come to grips with what happened to Sora. The man said something about using him as a vessel, but obviously that didn’t work. He’d given up his heart, after all. Because of that, he was probably nothing but a Heartless… That alone filled Riku with dread. But would Sora really fade into darkness after everything they went through together? What if he managed to pull through somehow? For all he knew, Sora could’ve been waiting for him somewhere in the castle…

Though Riku knew he couldn’t afford to stay, a part of him wanted to rush back in there and search with all his might. However unlikely it was, he’d have to hold onto the faint hope that Sora would make it out okay. Somehow, Riku would find a way back to his friend, even if it meant plowing through the darkness to get there.

But for now, it would have to wait.

x.x.x


Blades of grass tickled his cheek, as he started to stir. Letting out a quiet moan, he pushed himself into a sitting position and blearily looked around. Pine trees stood in the distance—was that some kinda forest? Patches of dirt and twigs stood out among the surrounding grass, and a sunset sky gave his new surroundings an almost comforting feel. It contrasted with the cold, black gate behind him and the eerie mansion that stood just a few yards away. Rubbing his eyes, he got to his feet, bringing a hand to the cold, steel bars. Then his eyes widened, for he soon realized that he no longer wore his fingerless gloves… just a checkered wristband. What was going on?

He ran his other hand against the top of his head. His hair still felt spiky, but the shape was completely different. And when he plucked out a hair, he found the strand to be blonde instead of brown. Narrowing his eyes, the boy looked down at the rest of his clothes. Instead of bright, red shorts, he wore a pair of baggy pants. The crown necklace that seemed so familiar to him no longer rested around his neck. And though a flash of familiar faces left him longing for the comfort of friends, he felt a hollowness in his chest, like something was missing. Something important.

Who was he really?

He stepped away from the gate and the surrounding brick wall, nearing the forest up ahead. Maybe if he took a look around, he could figure out what had happened to him. This place, wherever it was, sure wasn’t a castle. No crazy contraptions lined the way, and not a single Heartless appeared. Worst of all, he was all alone with nobody to comfort him in this moment of confusion. No one to tell him if Kairi made it out okay or if Riku was doing all right. Those were his best friends, weren’t they? They were the first people that came to mind, anyway. But still, something felt off about the whole situation. Something he just couldn’t put his finger on…

He heard a rustle in the grass, and he drew to a complete halt . His body grew tense, and he slowly turned around. Then, he gasped. There, standing in front of the fence, appeared a man dressed in a black cloak. His hood kept his face completely hidden, and he didn’t say a word. Just where did that guy come from, and who was he? Narrowing his eyes, the boy reached for his belt, only to realize that he had no weapon. Glancing around, he looked for something, anything to defend himself, and then he spotted a stick lying along the ground. Maybe it wouldn’t do much in the long run, but he still scooped it up, holding it like a sword.

And then the man suddenly spoke in a deep and monotonous voice. “Tell me… Do you remember your true name?”

“My true name?” The boy took a step back, and he gazed down at the ground. “It’s… Sora.”

Wasn’t it?

x.x.x

So, this is what darkness is like…

It felt like he’d been falling for hours, maybe even days. No matter where he looked, he found nothing but endless darkness all around. It was cold, quiet, and most of all, frightening. Though Sora knew this was his fate and even accepted it, that didn’t change how jarring it was to really experience the darkness firsthand. After falling so long, his head felt so hazy. The longer he spent in the dark, the dizzier he became. That man did say that the darkness would consume him if he didn’t make it his own, but how was he supposed to do that? When he reached out to grab at the darkness, his hands went straight through it. It wasn’t something tangible, so how?

He hated being alone with no one to turn to. No light to give him hope in this darkest hour. Cringing, Sora shifted so that he rested on his belly and looked straight into his dark surroundings that drew closer with each passing second. At least… it felt like it; the funny thing about darkness was that it all blended together. He was the only thing that stood out against all the blackness. And soon, he’d probably blend right in unless he did something about it. Taking a deep breath, he tried to pull himself a bit higher, but the more he fought against it, the stronger its push. It was like going against a powerful current. Maybe it was like the man said, the more he resisted, the stronger it’d fight back.

What else could he do in pure blackness? There were only two ways to go, up or down, and right now, up didn’t seem like an option. That metaphorical fish kept squirming out of his grip. He must not’ve been holding on tight enough.

But if I let the darkness consume me, I’ll be like every other Heartless. I’ll forget about my friends, and I’ll probably hurt people. I can’t let that happen!

He bit his lip, turning downward again. If I’m gonna make this darkness my own, I know I’ve gotta find another way to do it. A different angle, like something nobody’s tried before.

I just wish I knew where to start…

Suddenly, he caught sight of a faint glimmer of light. Something small and distant, just bright enough to stand out amidst all the blackness. Sora's eyes widened at the sight of it, and he began to ‘swim’ downward towards this strange little light. The closer he came to it, the warmer he felt. It was like the darkness suddenly didn’t matter so much. Almost as if… somebody was helping him. Just thinking about it brought a smile to his face, even though he kept diving deeper into the dark. Something about this light felt… familiar somehow, like something he’d experienced a long time ago, in a distant memory.

And when he drew close enough to this light, he heard a faint little voice just as familiar as the warmth.

“Don’t give up! Your friends are counting on you, Sora.”

Huh?

That voice… who was it? For a moment, Sora clutched tightly onto his head, just trying to find a face or a name to match it. He searched and searched his memories for some kinda clue, but nothing stood out. His head still felt hazy from his descent into darkness. Maybe that was why…

“You’ve gotta keep trying somehow,” said the light. “If you can hold on just a little longer, I’m sure you’ll make it through!”

But I’m just so lost. Sora frowned, bringing a hand to his chest. I know I’m supposed to turn things around, but Maleficent never showed me how, and neither did that guy with the cloak. I wanna get back to my friends, but… I’m scared. What if there’s nothing I can do?

“It’s okay.” The speck of light circled around him. “You’re not alone anymore.”

But who are you? Sora frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. You do seem kinda familiar. Were we… friends once?

The light laughed. Not to poke fun at him… no, it was the kinda laugh he’d hear from a close friend.

“Well, you saved me once, a long time ago. When I needed it most, you gave me a second chance.” Slowly but surely, the light slid closer to his chest. “I don’t know if I can pull you outta the darkness, but I can at least give you something to hold onto, that way you don’t lose sight of things.”

Like… a light at the end of the tunnel?

“Exactly! If things get outta hand, I’ll try and push you in the right direction.”

Then I guess… that’s okay. Sora smiled, gazing down into the darkness below. In his loneliness, he’d almost lost sight of what really mattered. The darkness almost swallowed him. But now that he had this light here to guide him, his fears started to melt away. The haze in his head gave way to clarity. If darkness was all he had left, then instead of worrying, he’d just have to remember his friends. They’d give him a reason to fight through the darkness. Maybe he’d still be a Heartless, but that didn’t mean he’d have to hurt people. He could still grab that fish if he stayed focused, and now that he had someone to light the way, there was no way he’d give up!

He might’ve made some huge mistakes, and he might’ve been tricked into hurting others. Now was his chance to make up for it, and maybe being a Heartless wouldn’t be so bad. If he could find a way to help his friends, then what else really mattered? They were his power, and their bonds kept him going. So, even if the darkness still frightened him, and even if he didn’t know what waited beyond the horizon, Sora took a deep breath and dove down with the light at his side.

Somehow, he’d find a way back to them.

TO BE CONTINUED

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