Chapter 37: A Mere Shell
Upon returning to the chapel, Riku and his friends discovered something unusual. The princesses brought it to their attention the moment they arrived, motioning towards the farthest wall, beneath the Heartless emblem. There, a whirling corridor of darkness awaited them, just like the portal that appeared before they faced Maleficent in dragon form. It seemed kind of odd that a portal would pop up out of the blue, but at least it provided a momentary distraction from Riku's worries. Though he still continued to fret over the return and separation of the worlds, this corridor was suspicious enough to catch his eye. Just what did it mean?
He crossed his arms, turning to face the princesses with a frown. "So, where'd this come from?"
"Oh, it was the strangest thing!" Snow White clasped her hands together, and her eyes widened. "A man in a black coat appeared! He didn't say a word when he passed us by. All he did was leave that portal there."
"Something about him felt almost familiar…" This time, Cinderella spoke up, placing a hand to her chin. "I couldn't put my finger on it, but I feel like I've met him before."
A man in a black coat? That was new. Riku raised a brow, turning towards the portal and eying it carefully. So, some guy showed up and didn't say a word. What could it possibly mean? By the sound of it, he didn't try to harm the princesses, so maybe he wasn't an enemy. Still, it was just too weird. Even if it'd slow them down, they had to check it out! And with Hollow Bastion's Keyhole sealed, it wasn't like the world was going to disappear any time soon.
So he smirked, taking a step up to the corridor. "Well, guys? Think we can take a quick detour?"
"But what about Ansem?" Donald scowled, puffing out his chest. "We've still gotta find our way to the darkness!"
"It does seem pretty suspicious, though." Kairi, too, stepped up to the portal, watching it whirl around endlessly. "Maybe we should take a look."
"Goofy?" Donald raised a brow. "What're you doing?"
"Well, Donald, what if that feller is on our side?" Goofy tilted his head and marched right over to where Riku and Kairi stood. "Maybe he wants to talk to us about somethin'! We'll never know unless we check it out."
"Aw, phooey." He groaned, crossing his arms. "I guess there's no way outta this, huh?"
"Where's your sense of adventure?" Kairi laughed. "Don't you want to see who it is?"
"I just wanna get this over with." Donald sighed. "But if you guys really wanna check it out, then I'll go."
"See, that wasn't so hard." Grinning, Riku slid right up to the portal's edge. "Now, c'mon. Let's see who we're dealing with."
With nothing more to lose, Riku and his friends stepped through the corridor, passing through darkness and entering the same ruined chamber where they faced Maleficent. At first glance, the place looked completely deserted. As they made their way further into the chamber, they glanced around, keeping their eyes peeled for this strange man the princesses mentioned. Each of them took off in different directions, skimming the rounded chamber. At first, they found nothing but roots and rubble. However, as Riku made his way to the center of the room, he heard the faint sound of footsteps, prompting him to slowly turn around.
A faded figure crept his way, his black coat clouded by smoke. As the man drew closer to him, his form become much clearer. As the princesses said, a black coat concealed his true identity, and his face remained hidden beneath a hood. His boots and gloves were as black as his coat, and he remained completely silent as he marched right up to Riku and… passed straight through him. He didn't even have time to react before he fell flat on the ground, clutching tightly onto his head. What was going on?
Voices and faces flashed before his eyes. Images from his home, watching the sunset with his friends… The night of the storm, his arrival in Traverse Town and his journeys with Donald and Goofy all appeared in an instant. His struggles against Cerberus, Ursula, and other powerful foes flickered one by one. The more memories that flooded his mind, the tighter he latched onto his head. Everything he'd encountered, all of his past experiences appeared within seconds. This went on for several more moments. Then, when at last the memories ceased, he let out a groan and got back on his feet. His friends stood right behind him, while that man faced the other direction, standing perfectly still.
"You okay, Riku?" Kairi placed a hand on his shoulder, watching him with a faint frown.
He let out a sigh and nodded, keeping his eyes locked on the man. "Don't sweat it, guys." Narrowing his eyes, he approached the stranger, who continued to stand motionlessly and silent. "So, what was that about? And who are you?"
The man chuckled under his breath, peering over his shoulder. "So you are the Keyblade's chosen…"
"Do ya think it's Ansem?" Goofy tilted his head, bringing a hand to his chin.
"Don't be ridiculous." Donald shook his head. "If this guy's Ansem, then—"
"That's a name I haven't heard in quite some time…" The man slowly turned around. Sparks formed all around his hand, prompting Riku to step back and summon the Keyblade. All the while, the sparks grew brighter, and an orb formed in his palm. "And you, Keybearer, are most intriguing…"
"Oh yeah?" Riku sneered. "And what's it to you?"
"The power you possess…" He lifted his hand. "I wonder if you are truly worthy of it."
"Riku, I've got a bad feeling about this." Kairi eyed the man's palm, which continued to glow. "Maybe this wasn't a good idea…"
It didn't matter. They couldn't back down now. Rather than flee, Riku raised his Keyblade, watching the man's palm very carefully. It wasn't a bad idea in the long run, because the man soon thrust his hand forward, sending a beam of electricity rushing towards Riku's chest. He had to act fast in order to avoid being shocked, forcing back the beam with his weapon alone. Sparks flew across the room as he pushed with all his might. The blast pushed him back a few inches, and to avoid losing his footing, he had to grasp tightly onto his weapon with both hands. Then, he thrust his upper body forward, pushing the blast in the opposite direction.
This sent the burst of electricity rocketing through the air, and it slammed into the ceiling above. Bits of debris fell down to the ground, and the man lowered his hand to his side. Seeing this, Riku grit his teeth and stood up straight, breathing heavily. Donald and Goofy reached for their weapons and crouched by his side, while Kairi took a step back and shrieked! It was enough to draw Riku's attention away from the man and over to his friend, who struggled to escape the dark tendrils that suddenly wrapped around her shoulders and feet.
He hurried over to her, reaching for her hand, even as the darkness weaved its way around her waist. Kairi tried to grab onto him, but a clawed hand reached out from the darkness, grabbing tightly onto her arm. Before Riku could land a hit, it dragged Kairi back, into the whirling corridor. He didn't even get a chance to follow her before the portal collapsed, leaving him grasping at thin air. Though Riku didn't understand what had just occurred, his shoulders shook and his whole face scrunched up. From behind, he heard the man's cold chuckle. Was that his doing…?
"How wise of him to rescue her..." He stepped forward. "After all, a battleground is no place for a princess."
"Him?" Riku blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"It is irrelevant." The man shook his head. "Now is the time to show me your strength. Unleash your power and prove your worth…"
A part of him wanted to go look for Kairi, to make sure she was safe. At the same time, this guy, whoever he was, didn't look like he was about to back down. If he wanted a fight, then he'd get one all right. As the Keybearer, Riku wasn't one to turn away from a challenge. For that reason, he turned his attention back to the man, lifting his weapon and holding out his free hand. Donald and Goofy exchanged quick glances before they slipped back into battle stances, bracing themselves for the worst. In response, the man stepped back and held out his hands, as bright streaks of red light appeared in his grasp.
Riku didn't even have time to escape before the man rushed forward, twirling around and driving his blades into his chest. Cringing, Riku retaliated with a spinning strike, only to clash with a glowing barrier that sent him back several feet. Though he managed to leap back to gain some space, he soon found himself darting away from energy balls that struck the ground with an explosive fury. All the while, the man continued to move across the field, whirling his blades against anyone who drew too close. His strength and speed made him a difficult target. Even when Donald hurled blizzaga spells his way, the man swiftly retaliated with his own devastating blows. They'd been fighting for less than a minute, and already that guy had the upper hand!
Something had to be done to level the playing field. As another energy ball exploded right in front of him, Riku rolled to the side and hurried over to the roots. On the way, he kept his eyes peeled for any surprise attacks, occasionally stopping to watch the man brutally strike at Goofy with his blades. By the time he made it to the roots, he held up his weapon and shut his eyes tightly. At a time like this, he could have easily called upon the Genie for an assist, but another thought crossed his mind. Before leaving Neverland, Peter said that he could call upon Tink at any time. While Riku didn't know just what Tink could do, maybe now was the time to give her a call.
"C'mon, Tink! Hurry…"
A bright light shot out of the Keyblade's tip, reaching high into the sky. In the corner of his eye, Riku caught sight of the man, who sent Donald flying with one of his barriers and soon turned towards the roots. Fortunately, he didn't have to wait very long before help arrived! A bright, glowing sphere circled around the room and hurried over to Riku's side. Sure enough, Tinker Bell had made it in one piece. Talk about fast travel. Upon spotting him, she circled around his face, frantically pointing at the approaching man.
He didn't know what she was trying to say, but it probably had something to do with that jerk. With little time to waste, he readied his weapon and said, "Think you can help us deal with this creep?"
She gave the man one last look before she nodded and rushed into the air, flying from Riku to Donald and Goofy and eventually circling around the room. With Tink on the move, Riku slipped out from under the roots and charged at the man. When he summoned another one of those pesky barriers, Riku slid to the side and nailed the man from behind. He got in about two hits before the man retaliated with his burning blades. One struck Riku in the chest, another in the side. The swift blows sent him down to the ground, but his pain swiftly subsided when Tink came around. Was she… healing him?
Well, whatever she did, it worked. That's what really mattered, especially with that man firing more energy blasts all across the room. To avoid getting caught in the crossfire, Riku and his friends scurried around, taking off in various directions. When Donald came to a stop, he called upon the power of wind to shield himself and the others from harm. Goofy then hurled his shield at the man's chest, striking him before he could pull up another barrier. At that point, Riku lunged at him from the side, rapidly slashing him with all his might. This time, he got in a few solid hits before the man retaliated with more spinning strikes. The blades sent him flying once more, but Tink's healing magic eased the pain, and he carefully glided down to the ground.
When the man charged at Donald, he narrowed his eyes and whacked his staff against the man's knee. It gave him a chance to hop out of his way and summon a field of gravity that held the man still for a moment or two. At that point, Goofy rammed his shield into his back, while Donald clobbered him in the chest. To keep the others from stealing all the glory, Riku followed their attacks up with a powerful Strike Raid, sending his weapon right at the man's waist. He jerked forward and groaned, whirling around to face Riku. Then, he held up his hand, lifting him up off the ground with an electric blast.
His skin burned and his chest ached, and he struggled to escape the blast. It was futile. Several seconds of agonizing pain passed before Riku landed flat on the ground, and the man slid back. Just like before, Tink rushed to his aid, but he had barely any time to celebrate before the man charged once more. He bit his lip and rolled to the side, using the force of gravity to pin the man down just long enough to plow straight through his defenses, striking once, twice, three times before a barrier appeared and blocked his finishing blow. The man laughed, hopping back and raising his hand once more. This time, a series of blue lasers zoomed through the air. They spread all around the chamber, forcing Riku to keep moving constantly to avoid being blasted.
The next few minutes flew by as Riku, Donald, and Goofy dealt with the man's incredible power. He continued to strike hard and fast with his ethereal blades. His energy blasts sent the trio all flying across the room, and he continued to fire lasers and summoned barriers at the drop of a hat. As the fight progressed, his attacks grew stronger and more frequent. The lasers he unleashed burned bright red and flew faster. He hit harder with his blades and sent energy balls flying at a much higher rate. And whenever Riku drew too close, he'd lift him up with that terrible, electrifying move that left him writhing in agony. To make matters worse, he started to warp around, making it even harder to land a hit.
Not that it stopped the trio from giving it their all. Donald constantly abused the gravity spell in order to slow down the man's movements whenever he got the chance. Goofy charged forward and slammed his shield into their opponent whenever there was an opening. The rest of the time, he kept a safe distance and frequently threw his weapon like a Frisbee. Riku, on the other hand, continued to stay on the offensive, dodging and deflecting attacks whenever he got the chance and focusing on physical blows to nail the man. He lashed out with rapid strikes while using Ars Arcanum. Sonic Blade allowed him to ram right into his opponent, making him stumble around the field. This wasn't to say that the fight was one-sided; that man still managed to bruise him up a bit, but so what? It wouldn't be the first time he'd faced a terrifying foe.
After a few more minutes of nonstop fighting, the man began to hover above the ground. A pale, blue orb completely surrounded him, and lasers shot off in all directions, leaving scorch marks along the floor. He moved throughout the arena, wrapped in this energy sphere. Riku's attacks did nothing to faze the man, and when he came too close, the white-hot lasers singed his skin and made him scream in pain. Even Tink's magic didn't do much when another laser struck him right in the back. Only the gusts of an aero spell shielded him from the lasers; good thing Donald was there to save his skin.
When the energy field faded, Riku, Donald, and Goofy all rushed for the man. Donald and Goofy dove at him from the sides, while Riku slammed his weapon into his back. Together, they hammered away, slipping out of his path when he called upon barriers and deflecting his blades whenever possible. They needed to end this now, or they'd wind up collapsing from exhaustion. Thus, they kept ganging up on him and unleashing their strongest attacks. In due time, their teamwork took its toll on the man, and he let out a sharp groan. Sparks formed around his chest, and his weapons vanished from sight.
He slowly stepped backwards and flung his arm to the side. The sparks faded, and he stood up straight, silently staring at the trio. Then, he laughed.
"Impressive. Your power exceeded my expectations…"
"Expectations…?" Riku cringed, and he sluggishly approached the man. "And just what do you expect from me?"
The man shook his head. "You cannot possibly understand…"
"Wanna bet?" Gritting his teeth, he charged forward, driving his Keyblade against the man's chest. It went straight through him, and the man stood perfectly still. Seeing this, Riku groaned, and he spun around for round two. Once again, he failed to make a hit.
"This is going to be quite enjoyable…" As the man took another step back, his body became transparent and rapidly started to fade. He chuckled under his breath and peered over his shoulder. "I look forward to our next meeting. It is sure to bring intriguing results…"
This was getting ridiculous. Just who did this guy think he was? The man talked about him like he was some kind of lab rat, for crying out loud! It didn't make sense. This jerk came out of nowhere and started a fight, and for what? With the man disappearing, he was running out of time. There had to be some reason behind it, and Riku wasn't about to let the answers slip between his fingers. So, as the man continued to fade, he grasped tightly onto the Keyblade and glared intently.
"Who are you?" he said. "Answer me!"
"All shall be revealed in due time." By now the man's form was barely visible, just a faint shadow amidst the surrounding wreckage. He held out his arm, dropping a slip of paper on the floor, and then he looked away. "Until then..." He vanished completely, though his voice rang throughout the chamber.
"Go forth, and bring me more hearts!"
For the next few moments, Riku and his friends remained perfectly silent, as they took in those final words. What did he mean by fetching hearts? Who was that enigmatic man? With a slip of paper as the only clue, nothing really added up. However, that guy must've left the paper there for a reason. Maybe it was a sign. Heaving a sigh, Riku scooped up the report, skimming it over for a moment or two. As he read through the text, however, his eyes widened, and he turned to face his friends. There was something about this report that stood out like a sore thumb. The idea that there could be some other beings complimentary to Heartless… the cast-off body and soul… What was that supposed to mean?
Riku shook his head, and he slowly headed back towards Donald and Goofy. This new report gave them a lot to think about, but with Ansem still out there, it'd have to wait. Besides, they needed to get out of there and figure out if Kairi made it out all right. Heaving a sigh, he led the others towards the corridor that would surely bring them back into the chapel. They passed on through without a word, emerging back where they started. There, the princesses stood together in a circle, and when Riku caught sight of Kairi among their group, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Hey, is everything okay?" He hurried over to her with a frown. "You had me worried sick!"
"You aren't the only one who was worried, you know." She shook her head. "But I'm okay. I don't know who brought me back here, but I think he was trying to help me."
"Ya mean ya didn't see him?" Goofy scratched his head, stumbling over towards the princesses.
"No…" Kairi sighed. "I never got the chance."
"Great, so there's another mystery." Riku groaned, bringing a hand to his face. "It's bad enough that we never found out who that man was. As soon as we beat him, he just… vanished." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the new report. "All we've got to go off of is another one of Ansem's reports. Even then, it's pretty vague."
"Betcha Ansem will know what it means!" Donald smirked, and he turned towards the exit. "We'll never know until we get there, and if you ask me, we've wasted enough time goofing off."
Donald was right. All that time they spent fighting could've been geared towards taking out the darkness. It served as a momentary distraction at best. Still, with a new report in hand and new possibilities uncovered, maybe it'd be worth it in the long run. If Heartless had some kind of counterpart, maybe some part of Sora really was out there still. Maybe even two parts. By now, they had little time to search the castle, and Leon's words still left Riku wary about the final showdown. A part of him still dreaded the worlds' restoration and longed for some kind of loophole.
He'd just have to sort it out once he got there.
Shaking his head, he tucked the report back into his pocket and tried to push those dark thoughts aside. There was one thing he couldn't deny, however, especially to his friends.
"I just wish we could stick around. I really wanted to find Sora..."
"I know how you feel." Kairi gazed down at the floor, clutching onto her necklace once more. "But we can't give up hope! Sora has to be out there somewhere."
Goofy grinned. "We'll just have to keep lookin' and hope for the best! I'm sure we'll find our pals again in no time."
"But we can't forget about the darkness," said Donald, as he waddled over to the exit. Once he reached the door, he frowned, peering over his shoulder at the others. "So, come on. We can't stop moving!"
Slowly but surely, Riku and the others followed Donald to the door. With the mysterious man defeated and time running short, it was time to bid the castle farewell. The heart of the darkness waited just around the corner, and who knew what dangers it would bring? A world full of darkness undoubtedly contained powerful Heartless and rough terrain. All the other worlds they'd faced thus far were probably just a warm up for the grand finale. Once they set foot in the dark realm, there'd be no turning back. They'd have to find Ansem and settle the score.
The fate of the worlds hung in the balance. Only time would tell if peace and light would reign supreme.
TO BE CONTINUED
Upon returning to the chapel, Riku and his friends discovered something unusual. The princesses brought it to their attention the moment they arrived, motioning towards the farthest wall, beneath the Heartless emblem. There, a whirling corridor of darkness awaited them, just like the portal that appeared before they faced Maleficent in dragon form. It seemed kind of odd that a portal would pop up out of the blue, but at least it provided a momentary distraction from Riku's worries. Though he still continued to fret over the return and separation of the worlds, this corridor was suspicious enough to catch his eye. Just what did it mean?
He crossed his arms, turning to face the princesses with a frown. "So, where'd this come from?"
"Oh, it was the strangest thing!" Snow White clasped her hands together, and her eyes widened. "A man in a black coat appeared! He didn't say a word when he passed us by. All he did was leave that portal there."
"Something about him felt almost familiar…" This time, Cinderella spoke up, placing a hand to her chin. "I couldn't put my finger on it, but I feel like I've met him before."
A man in a black coat? That was new. Riku raised a brow, turning towards the portal and eying it carefully. So, some guy showed up and didn't say a word. What could it possibly mean? By the sound of it, he didn't try to harm the princesses, so maybe he wasn't an enemy. Still, it was just too weird. Even if it'd slow them down, they had to check it out! And with Hollow Bastion's Keyhole sealed, it wasn't like the world was going to disappear any time soon.
So he smirked, taking a step up to the corridor. "Well, guys? Think we can take a quick detour?"
"But what about Ansem?" Donald scowled, puffing out his chest. "We've still gotta find our way to the darkness!"
"It does seem pretty suspicious, though." Kairi, too, stepped up to the portal, watching it whirl around endlessly. "Maybe we should take a look."
"Goofy?" Donald raised a brow. "What're you doing?"
"Well, Donald, what if that feller is on our side?" Goofy tilted his head and marched right over to where Riku and Kairi stood. "Maybe he wants to talk to us about somethin'! We'll never know unless we check it out."
"Aw, phooey." He groaned, crossing his arms. "I guess there's no way outta this, huh?"
"Where's your sense of adventure?" Kairi laughed. "Don't you want to see who it is?"
"I just wanna get this over with." Donald sighed. "But if you guys really wanna check it out, then I'll go."
"See, that wasn't so hard." Grinning, Riku slid right up to the portal's edge. "Now, c'mon. Let's see who we're dealing with."
With nothing more to lose, Riku and his friends stepped through the corridor, passing through darkness and entering the same ruined chamber where they faced Maleficent. At first glance, the place looked completely deserted. As they made their way further into the chamber, they glanced around, keeping their eyes peeled for this strange man the princesses mentioned. Each of them took off in different directions, skimming the rounded chamber. At first, they found nothing but roots and rubble. However, as Riku made his way to the center of the room, he heard the faint sound of footsteps, prompting him to slowly turn around.
A faded figure crept his way, his black coat clouded by smoke. As the man drew closer to him, his form become much clearer. As the princesses said, a black coat concealed his true identity, and his face remained hidden beneath a hood. His boots and gloves were as black as his coat, and he remained completely silent as he marched right up to Riku and… passed straight through him. He didn't even have time to react before he fell flat on the ground, clutching tightly onto his head. What was going on?
Voices and faces flashed before his eyes. Images from his home, watching the sunset with his friends… The night of the storm, his arrival in Traverse Town and his journeys with Donald and Goofy all appeared in an instant. His struggles against Cerberus, Ursula, and other powerful foes flickered one by one. The more memories that flooded his mind, the tighter he latched onto his head. Everything he'd encountered, all of his past experiences appeared within seconds. This went on for several more moments. Then, when at last the memories ceased, he let out a groan and got back on his feet. His friends stood right behind him, while that man faced the other direction, standing perfectly still.
"You okay, Riku?" Kairi placed a hand on his shoulder, watching him with a faint frown.
He let out a sigh and nodded, keeping his eyes locked on the man. "Don't sweat it, guys." Narrowing his eyes, he approached the stranger, who continued to stand motionlessly and silent. "So, what was that about? And who are you?"
The man chuckled under his breath, peering over his shoulder. "So you are the Keyblade's chosen…"
"Do ya think it's Ansem?" Goofy tilted his head, bringing a hand to his chin.
"Don't be ridiculous." Donald shook his head. "If this guy's Ansem, then—"
"That's a name I haven't heard in quite some time…" The man slowly turned around. Sparks formed all around his hand, prompting Riku to step back and summon the Keyblade. All the while, the sparks grew brighter, and an orb formed in his palm. "And you, Keybearer, are most intriguing…"
"Oh yeah?" Riku sneered. "And what's it to you?"
"The power you possess…" He lifted his hand. "I wonder if you are truly worthy of it."
"Riku, I've got a bad feeling about this." Kairi eyed the man's palm, which continued to glow. "Maybe this wasn't a good idea…"
It didn't matter. They couldn't back down now. Rather than flee, Riku raised his Keyblade, watching the man's palm very carefully. It wasn't a bad idea in the long run, because the man soon thrust his hand forward, sending a beam of electricity rushing towards Riku's chest. He had to act fast in order to avoid being shocked, forcing back the beam with his weapon alone. Sparks flew across the room as he pushed with all his might. The blast pushed him back a few inches, and to avoid losing his footing, he had to grasp tightly onto his weapon with both hands. Then, he thrust his upper body forward, pushing the blast in the opposite direction.
This sent the burst of electricity rocketing through the air, and it slammed into the ceiling above. Bits of debris fell down to the ground, and the man lowered his hand to his side. Seeing this, Riku grit his teeth and stood up straight, breathing heavily. Donald and Goofy reached for their weapons and crouched by his side, while Kairi took a step back and shrieked! It was enough to draw Riku's attention away from the man and over to his friend, who struggled to escape the dark tendrils that suddenly wrapped around her shoulders and feet.
He hurried over to her, reaching for her hand, even as the darkness weaved its way around her waist. Kairi tried to grab onto him, but a clawed hand reached out from the darkness, grabbing tightly onto her arm. Before Riku could land a hit, it dragged Kairi back, into the whirling corridor. He didn't even get a chance to follow her before the portal collapsed, leaving him grasping at thin air. Though Riku didn't understand what had just occurred, his shoulders shook and his whole face scrunched up. From behind, he heard the man's cold chuckle. Was that his doing…?
"How wise of him to rescue her..." He stepped forward. "After all, a battleground is no place for a princess."
"Him?" Riku blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"It is irrelevant." The man shook his head. "Now is the time to show me your strength. Unleash your power and prove your worth…"
A part of him wanted to go look for Kairi, to make sure she was safe. At the same time, this guy, whoever he was, didn't look like he was about to back down. If he wanted a fight, then he'd get one all right. As the Keybearer, Riku wasn't one to turn away from a challenge. For that reason, he turned his attention back to the man, lifting his weapon and holding out his free hand. Donald and Goofy exchanged quick glances before they slipped back into battle stances, bracing themselves for the worst. In response, the man stepped back and held out his hands, as bright streaks of red light appeared in his grasp.
Riku didn't even have time to escape before the man rushed forward, twirling around and driving his blades into his chest. Cringing, Riku retaliated with a spinning strike, only to clash with a glowing barrier that sent him back several feet. Though he managed to leap back to gain some space, he soon found himself darting away from energy balls that struck the ground with an explosive fury. All the while, the man continued to move across the field, whirling his blades against anyone who drew too close. His strength and speed made him a difficult target. Even when Donald hurled blizzaga spells his way, the man swiftly retaliated with his own devastating blows. They'd been fighting for less than a minute, and already that guy had the upper hand!
Something had to be done to level the playing field. As another energy ball exploded right in front of him, Riku rolled to the side and hurried over to the roots. On the way, he kept his eyes peeled for any surprise attacks, occasionally stopping to watch the man brutally strike at Goofy with his blades. By the time he made it to the roots, he held up his weapon and shut his eyes tightly. At a time like this, he could have easily called upon the Genie for an assist, but another thought crossed his mind. Before leaving Neverland, Peter said that he could call upon Tink at any time. While Riku didn't know just what Tink could do, maybe now was the time to give her a call.
"C'mon, Tink! Hurry…"
A bright light shot out of the Keyblade's tip, reaching high into the sky. In the corner of his eye, Riku caught sight of the man, who sent Donald flying with one of his barriers and soon turned towards the roots. Fortunately, he didn't have to wait very long before help arrived! A bright, glowing sphere circled around the room and hurried over to Riku's side. Sure enough, Tinker Bell had made it in one piece. Talk about fast travel. Upon spotting him, she circled around his face, frantically pointing at the approaching man.
He didn't know what she was trying to say, but it probably had something to do with that jerk. With little time to waste, he readied his weapon and said, "Think you can help us deal with this creep?"
She gave the man one last look before she nodded and rushed into the air, flying from Riku to Donald and Goofy and eventually circling around the room. With Tink on the move, Riku slipped out from under the roots and charged at the man. When he summoned another one of those pesky barriers, Riku slid to the side and nailed the man from behind. He got in about two hits before the man retaliated with his burning blades. One struck Riku in the chest, another in the side. The swift blows sent him down to the ground, but his pain swiftly subsided when Tink came around. Was she… healing him?
Well, whatever she did, it worked. That's what really mattered, especially with that man firing more energy blasts all across the room. To avoid getting caught in the crossfire, Riku and his friends scurried around, taking off in various directions. When Donald came to a stop, he called upon the power of wind to shield himself and the others from harm. Goofy then hurled his shield at the man's chest, striking him before he could pull up another barrier. At that point, Riku lunged at him from the side, rapidly slashing him with all his might. This time, he got in a few solid hits before the man retaliated with more spinning strikes. The blades sent him flying once more, but Tink's healing magic eased the pain, and he carefully glided down to the ground.
When the man charged at Donald, he narrowed his eyes and whacked his staff against the man's knee. It gave him a chance to hop out of his way and summon a field of gravity that held the man still for a moment or two. At that point, Goofy rammed his shield into his back, while Donald clobbered him in the chest. To keep the others from stealing all the glory, Riku followed their attacks up with a powerful Strike Raid, sending his weapon right at the man's waist. He jerked forward and groaned, whirling around to face Riku. Then, he held up his hand, lifting him up off the ground with an electric blast.
His skin burned and his chest ached, and he struggled to escape the blast. It was futile. Several seconds of agonizing pain passed before Riku landed flat on the ground, and the man slid back. Just like before, Tink rushed to his aid, but he had barely any time to celebrate before the man charged once more. He bit his lip and rolled to the side, using the force of gravity to pin the man down just long enough to plow straight through his defenses, striking once, twice, three times before a barrier appeared and blocked his finishing blow. The man laughed, hopping back and raising his hand once more. This time, a series of blue lasers zoomed through the air. They spread all around the chamber, forcing Riku to keep moving constantly to avoid being blasted.
The next few minutes flew by as Riku, Donald, and Goofy dealt with the man's incredible power. He continued to strike hard and fast with his ethereal blades. His energy blasts sent the trio all flying across the room, and he continued to fire lasers and summoned barriers at the drop of a hat. As the fight progressed, his attacks grew stronger and more frequent. The lasers he unleashed burned bright red and flew faster. He hit harder with his blades and sent energy balls flying at a much higher rate. And whenever Riku drew too close, he'd lift him up with that terrible, electrifying move that left him writhing in agony. To make matters worse, he started to warp around, making it even harder to land a hit.
Not that it stopped the trio from giving it their all. Donald constantly abused the gravity spell in order to slow down the man's movements whenever he got the chance. Goofy charged forward and slammed his shield into their opponent whenever there was an opening. The rest of the time, he kept a safe distance and frequently threw his weapon like a Frisbee. Riku, on the other hand, continued to stay on the offensive, dodging and deflecting attacks whenever he got the chance and focusing on physical blows to nail the man. He lashed out with rapid strikes while using Ars Arcanum. Sonic Blade allowed him to ram right into his opponent, making him stumble around the field. This wasn't to say that the fight was one-sided; that man still managed to bruise him up a bit, but so what? It wouldn't be the first time he'd faced a terrifying foe.
After a few more minutes of nonstop fighting, the man began to hover above the ground. A pale, blue orb completely surrounded him, and lasers shot off in all directions, leaving scorch marks along the floor. He moved throughout the arena, wrapped in this energy sphere. Riku's attacks did nothing to faze the man, and when he came too close, the white-hot lasers singed his skin and made him scream in pain. Even Tink's magic didn't do much when another laser struck him right in the back. Only the gusts of an aero spell shielded him from the lasers; good thing Donald was there to save his skin.
When the energy field faded, Riku, Donald, and Goofy all rushed for the man. Donald and Goofy dove at him from the sides, while Riku slammed his weapon into his back. Together, they hammered away, slipping out of his path when he called upon barriers and deflecting his blades whenever possible. They needed to end this now, or they'd wind up collapsing from exhaustion. Thus, they kept ganging up on him and unleashing their strongest attacks. In due time, their teamwork took its toll on the man, and he let out a sharp groan. Sparks formed around his chest, and his weapons vanished from sight.
He slowly stepped backwards and flung his arm to the side. The sparks faded, and he stood up straight, silently staring at the trio. Then, he laughed.
"Impressive. Your power exceeded my expectations…"
"Expectations…?" Riku cringed, and he sluggishly approached the man. "And just what do you expect from me?"
The man shook his head. "You cannot possibly understand…"
"Wanna bet?" Gritting his teeth, he charged forward, driving his Keyblade against the man's chest. It went straight through him, and the man stood perfectly still. Seeing this, Riku groaned, and he spun around for round two. Once again, he failed to make a hit.
"This is going to be quite enjoyable…" As the man took another step back, his body became transparent and rapidly started to fade. He chuckled under his breath and peered over his shoulder. "I look forward to our next meeting. It is sure to bring intriguing results…"
This was getting ridiculous. Just who did this guy think he was? The man talked about him like he was some kind of lab rat, for crying out loud! It didn't make sense. This jerk came out of nowhere and started a fight, and for what? With the man disappearing, he was running out of time. There had to be some reason behind it, and Riku wasn't about to let the answers slip between his fingers. So, as the man continued to fade, he grasped tightly onto the Keyblade and glared intently.
"Who are you?" he said. "Answer me!"
"All shall be revealed in due time." By now the man's form was barely visible, just a faint shadow amidst the surrounding wreckage. He held out his arm, dropping a slip of paper on the floor, and then he looked away. "Until then..." He vanished completely, though his voice rang throughout the chamber.
"Go forth, and bring me more hearts!"
For the next few moments, Riku and his friends remained perfectly silent, as they took in those final words. What did he mean by fetching hearts? Who was that enigmatic man? With a slip of paper as the only clue, nothing really added up. However, that guy must've left the paper there for a reason. Maybe it was a sign. Heaving a sigh, Riku scooped up the report, skimming it over for a moment or two. As he read through the text, however, his eyes widened, and he turned to face his friends. There was something about this report that stood out like a sore thumb. The idea that there could be some other beings complimentary to Heartless… the cast-off body and soul… What was that supposed to mean?
Riku shook his head, and he slowly headed back towards Donald and Goofy. This new report gave them a lot to think about, but with Ansem still out there, it'd have to wait. Besides, they needed to get out of there and figure out if Kairi made it out all right. Heaving a sigh, he led the others towards the corridor that would surely bring them back into the chapel. They passed on through without a word, emerging back where they started. There, the princesses stood together in a circle, and when Riku caught sight of Kairi among their group, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Hey, is everything okay?" He hurried over to her with a frown. "You had me worried sick!"
"You aren't the only one who was worried, you know." She shook her head. "But I'm okay. I don't know who brought me back here, but I think he was trying to help me."
"Ya mean ya didn't see him?" Goofy scratched his head, stumbling over towards the princesses.
"No…" Kairi sighed. "I never got the chance."
"Great, so there's another mystery." Riku groaned, bringing a hand to his face. "It's bad enough that we never found out who that man was. As soon as we beat him, he just… vanished." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the new report. "All we've got to go off of is another one of Ansem's reports. Even then, it's pretty vague."
"Betcha Ansem will know what it means!" Donald smirked, and he turned towards the exit. "We'll never know until we get there, and if you ask me, we've wasted enough time goofing off."
Donald was right. All that time they spent fighting could've been geared towards taking out the darkness. It served as a momentary distraction at best. Still, with a new report in hand and new possibilities uncovered, maybe it'd be worth it in the long run. If Heartless had some kind of counterpart, maybe some part of Sora really was out there still. Maybe even two parts. By now, they had little time to search the castle, and Leon's words still left Riku wary about the final showdown. A part of him still dreaded the worlds' restoration and longed for some kind of loophole.
He'd just have to sort it out once he got there.
Shaking his head, he tucked the report back into his pocket and tried to push those dark thoughts aside. There was one thing he couldn't deny, however, especially to his friends.
"I just wish we could stick around. I really wanted to find Sora..."
"I know how you feel." Kairi gazed down at the floor, clutching onto her necklace once more. "But we can't give up hope! Sora has to be out there somewhere."
Goofy grinned. "We'll just have to keep lookin' and hope for the best! I'm sure we'll find our pals again in no time."
"But we can't forget about the darkness," said Donald, as he waddled over to the exit. Once he reached the door, he frowned, peering over his shoulder at the others. "So, come on. We can't stop moving!"
Slowly but surely, Riku and the others followed Donald to the door. With the mysterious man defeated and time running short, it was time to bid the castle farewell. The heart of the darkness waited just around the corner, and who knew what dangers it would bring? A world full of darkness undoubtedly contained powerful Heartless and rough terrain. All the other worlds they'd faced thus far were probably just a warm up for the grand finale. Once they set foot in the dark realm, there'd be no turning back. They'd have to find Ansem and settle the score.
The fate of the worlds hung in the balance. Only time would tell if peace and light would reign supreme.
TO BE CONTINUED
That will become clearer when I post Fragmented Truths, the sequel. Which I may start doing later tonight or tomorrow. Decided I'd go ahead and do 'em here because it gives me an opportunity to go over the chapters to see if Fanfiction.net botched the formatting.