A/N: Here's the 'overpowered-Sora-but-not-because-he's-awesome' chapter!
Disclaimer: I-I think maybe...nope. No, still don't own.
Oh, and, super long chapter warning. I mean, first chappy - 2000 words (approx). Second chappy - 3000 words (approx). I'm worried how long this one will be...
The group stopped off at another world, asking around for Sora. Riku and Kairi seemed almost desperate, though Ventus was certain Sora could look after himself. Especially as that dog seemed to have disappeared, and may have sneakily found its way to Sora's side.
He gave a wide yawn, lying back and gazing up at the sky. Sighing happily, he closed his eyes, allowing himself to drift off.
Someone touching his arm made him jerk awake, and he briefly gazed into aqua blue eyes before sitting upright.
"Aqua, don't do that!" he protested, then who he was seeing sunk in and he gasped. "Aqua..!" he cried, throwing himself at her. She smiled, hugging him back.
"I missed you Ven," she murmured.
"Me too...I thought I'd never see you again.." he sobbed.
"Well, your friend had a hand in that."
"What? Who?"
"Sora."
"You saw Sora? Where is he?"
"Well, he was in the Realm of Darkness, but he's moved on now, I think. He's looking for Terra."
"Terra..? But why?"
"He said he had to do it for you," Aqua explained, then frowned. "Didn't he tell you?"
Ventus shook his head. "He left without telling anyone where he was going. We've been looking for him, but with no luck. I'm not surprised though, if he went straight to the Realm of Darkness..."
"It's no wonder he didn't want to come back with me then. He's probably avoiding you guys."
"Why?"
"He seems pretty determined to find Terra."
Ventus sighed. "I don't understand why he's so intent on that, though. I never asked him to, and he doesn't really need to."
"I think he feels he owes you."
"For what?"
Aqua shrugged. "We didn't talk long. I wanted to get back and see you."
Ventus sighed, then shook his head. "It's fine. That's more information than we had to go on before, anyway. Now we just need to figure out where Terra is."
"Maybe he's in the Land of Departure?"
"That place doesn't exist anymore. It's called Castle Oblivion now, and it was being used by the Organization."
"Oh...then I don't know."
"Hey, Ventus!"
The two of them turned as Riku and Kairi walked up to them.
"No one's seen him here, so we'll go..Oh, hello!" Kairi said with a smile as she spotted Aqua.
Aqua gazed at her, then stood. "You're the girl from Radiant Garden," she murmured.
"Oh, um, yes? Do we..." Kairi began, then gasped. "Oh! You're the pretty lady!"
Aqua smiled. "Why, thank you. My name is Aqua. I'm a friend of Ven's."
"She saw Sora!" Ventus added quickly, standing up.
"What? Where?" asked Riku.
"In the Realm of Darkness," Aqua said. Riku raised his Keyblade, pointing it to the sky, and she quickly lowered it. "I don't think he's there anymore. He wanted to try and find Terra."
"Terra? Oh yeah, the guy that gave me his Keyblade when I promised to.." He trailed off, frowning thoughtfully. "Wow, I haven't really stuck to that promise..."
"What promise?" asked Kairi.
Riku looked at her. "He asked if I had something to protect, and I said that I'd protect Sora. That's why he gave me the power of the Keyblade, so that I'd use it to protect the most precious thing to me - Sora." He frowned. "But since then, I've fought against him, caused him a lot of pain and trouble, made him come chasing after me and lose his memories, hurt his Nobody, then nearly abandoned him when I had to side with the darkness.."
Kairi smiled. "But you did a lot of it to protect him. Don't worry Riku, you're not as bad as you think." She looked over at Aqua. "Do you know where he went?"
Aqua shook her head. "I know he was going after Terra, but that's it. He said he wasn't going to meet up with me again if I chose to go back to Ven."
"What happened to Terra, anyway?" asked Riku.
"He got taken by the darkness," Aqua murmured sadly.
"What do you mean?"
"He was already a part of the darkness, but Xehanort stole his body and locked his heart away."
"So he became like me...a vessel for Xehanort.." Riku murmured.
"Wait, where would Xehanort be then?" Kairi asked.
"Well, he's probably not at Castle Oblivion so..." His eyes widened, and he looked at Kairi, who had reached the same conclusion.
"The World that Never Was!"
Sora entered the remnant of the fake Kingdom Hearts, heading in deeper and gazing around. Pluto growled softly as he looked around.
"Xehanort! I know you're in here!" Sora called, coming to a halt.
There was a moment of silence, then suddenly darkness gathered in front of him. Pluto backed away a little, his growling growing stronger, but Sora stood his ground.
"What are you doing here, child?" Xehanort asked, gazing at him with golden eyes.
"You have Terra. I want him back."
"And what makes you think I would just hand him over? He has been a very good host for a while now. I have come to like this body."
"What if you found a better host body?" Sora suggested, hating himself for even suggesting it.
"Oh? And who would that be, hmmm?" Xehanort asked, his golden eyes glittering.
Sora swallowed thickly, but refused to back down. Steeling himself, he met Xehanort's gaze.
"Me. Release Terra, let him go back to his friends, and I'll..I'll join you. Willingly."
Xehanort considered this, eyeing Sora. "I suppose that is good enough," he agreed. A dark light appeared around Terra, floating away from him. Slowly his features changed, his skin becoming lighter, the silver hair turning brown and golden eyes also changing to an earthy brown.
Terra stood before him, looking woozy.
"W-What.." he murmured.
"Don't worry. I'm going to send you back to Ventus and Aqua with Pluto, okay?" Sora said gently. Terra gazed at him confused for a moment. Sora smiled, then opened up a Dark Corridor. He looked at Pluto. "Go on boy. Make sure he gets home safely. Take him back to the others."
Pluto gave a whimper, and Sora stroked him affectionately.
"I'll be alright. Just go," he murmured. Pluto padded over to Terra, tugging his trouser leg and pulling him to the portal. Terra stepped through and Pluto glanced back one last time, whining. Sora smiled, shooing him, and he padded through unhappily.
The portal closed, and Sora turned to the dark aura.
"Alright. I'm ready when you are," he said quietly.
There was a deep chuckle, then the aura sunk into him. He gave a gasp as darkness filled him up, struggling briefly before halting it. Slowly his heart was locked, his mind fading as Xehanort took it over.
Xehanort raised his head, gazing around with golden eyes. He smiled, flexing his hands.
"Yes...this body will do nicely," he murmured with a cruel chuckle.
The group were just hurrying up the castle tower when a Dark Corridor opened in front of them. Stopping, weapons raised, they gazed into it.
"Sora? Is that you?" Riku called.
There was nothing for a moment, then a tall figure came stumbling out, Pluto beside him. The Dark Corridor closed as he left, and Aqua and Ventus gasped, running forward.
"Terra!"
Terra raised his head groggily, smiling as he spotted them. "Aqua...Ven.." he murmured, allowing them to support him.
"What happened? Where's Sora?" asked Ventus.
"Sora..? Is that that boy? He...said he'd give himself up to Xehanort..if he let me go..."
Kairi gasped, tears entering her eyes as Riku's eyes narrowed.
"Come on Kairi. We've got to go stop him," he said strongly. Kairi nodded, turning and starting to run.
"Stop who?" a voice asked, and they turned as another Dark Corridor opened. A figure stepped out, clothed in black but with the hood turned down. Black hair and gold eyes gazed at them, a smirk on his lips.
Riku hesitantly stepped forward. "Sora?" he asked.
"Sora? Oh yes, I remember him. I'm sorry, he's not here right now. He never will be again."
Terra's eyes widened, then he turned. "Get back!" he shouted. The two kids obeyed his order, leaping back just as the attack hit the floor. The darkness sunk into the ground, swirling ominously for a moment before fading.
"He's been taken by the darkness. He probably can't hear you anymore," Aqua said, a little sadly, as she summoned her Keyblade. Ventus copied her, as did Kairi and Riku.
"Well well, four Guardians of Light, all together in one place, hmm? Almost makes me wish I still had all thirteen of my vessels of darkness... but I suppose this one will have to do."
"Give Sora back!" yelled Kairi.
"'Sora' doesn't exist anymore, child."
"What?" Kairi faltered.
"Ignore him, Kairi! He's just messing with your head!" Riku called to her.
"Am I? Your friend has been completely taken by the darkness. He has lived his life as other people, not himself. There was no longer enough of himself to truly support him, and he easily gave in to my power. 'Sora' may have been dead for several years now."
"But...how..?"
"Why don't you ask yourselves? You're the ones who shared his heart, took what little space he had within and made it your homes. The ones who threw him aside so that you could live on, then left when he needed you to stay."
Ventus hesitated, then shook his head. "Sora gave us our hearts back willingly," he said strongly.
"Maybe, but only because you were bugging him about it. And let's be frank, Ventus, you took everything from him. He'd grown up partly as you, and yet you left, taking not only yourself, but the bond with his Nobody and the puppet with you. He'd become reliant on the hearts within his heart, and you all stole it away from him. Is it any wonder that he turned to darkness?"
"He didn't turn to darkness!" Riku yelled.
"And yet he was using it to move between worlds."
"Because he couldn't use the Keyblade!"
"And why was that? Because you stole his power. The only thing that made him useful." The figure turned their gaze towards Ventus. "Ultimately though, it is your fault. You lived within him to the point he practically became you, used your power and gained a new destiny, and then you left him without a thought, dooming him to his old one; to become a vessel for darkness."
Ventus cast his gaze to the ground, nodding. "I know," he murmured.
"Don't listen to him Ven, it's not your fault," Aqua said, grasping his shoulder.
"But..it is. If I...if I hadn't..."
"Believe me Ven, it isn't your fault. It's mine, for not stopping him when he gave himself up to the darkness," Terra interrupted.
The figure gazed at the three of them, a frown slowly creasing his forehead.
"You're supposed to be happy!" he suddenly yelled, his voice different from before.
The group looked up in surprise. "S-Sora?" Ventus asked.
"You've wanted to see each other for years, right? Now you're back together, and all you can do is blame yourselves. It's not your fault!" The figure grinned, a familiar grin that made Ventus' heart clench. "Come on, I went through a lot of trouble to get you three back together. Be happy at least!"
"Sora-" Riku began, stepping towards him, then suddenly an attack came shooting down. Riku leapt out of the way, only just dodging the attack.
"Brat...but no matter. He's gone now." The voice had changed again, gone back to the cruel, hard voice, and Riku felt his hopes fall again.
"Sora, please, listen to us!" cried Kairi, squealing as she leapt back from another attack.
Attack after attack came raining down, forcing the group to dodge each one. They couldn't get close to the figure at all, and their shouts only made them a target.
A Keyhole opened up behind them and they looked back as several people came running through.
"We heard you'd found Sora and came as soon as we could!" Mickey called, running up to join them. Lea, Donald and Goofy also ran up, standing with the group.
"Sora. You said you wouldn't be overtaken by the darkness," Yen Sid's voice rang out.
"He hasn't. He just gave himself up to me to save that Terra kid," the figure replied.
"Please Sora, please! Just fight it!" Kairi cried again.
"Will you please just shut up with your insistent whining!" the figure snarled, sending an attack flying at her. She gave a scream, raising her Keyblade in front of her despite how ineffective it would be.
The figure's eyes widened briefly, then suddenly they jerked their hand away. The attack flew off course, hitting a wall.
Everyone went quiet, staring at the figure. Then Riku took a step forward.
"Sora's still in there, I know he is. I don't care if you say he doesn't have enough of himself to be there, he's fighting you and that means he's strong enough to be himself."
"You are basing this purely on speculation," the figure replied calmly.
"Maybe, but I can think of a way to get rid of you," Riku said.
"Oh? And how, pray tell, will you do that?"
Riku gazed at the others, who nodded. They summoned their Keyblades, raising them so that they were facing the figure. Riku gazed at him a moment then also raised his, and light gathered on the tips of each Keyblade before shooting out.
The figure barely managed to give an angry shout before the light hit him. For a moment it struggled, then it shot out the other end, dragging the dark aura with it.
Sora fell to his knees, panting, and Riku ran over.
"Sora, are you alright?" he asked, checking his friend over.
"I'm fine..." Sora replied, though his body was shivering. He gritted his teeth, giving a growl.
"What's wrong? Sora, tell me, is some of him still inside you?" asked Riku worriedly.
"N-No..the darkness is...all mine.." Sora replied in a strained voice, arm twitching slightly.
The others hurried over, surrounding him. Yen Sid bent down, placing a hand on his forehead, then gasped.
"His darkness has been unlocked...Everyone, get back. There is no telling what may happen," he ordered. Everybody stepped back, a few more hesitantly than others.
Sora gave a cry, curling in on himself, and Riku nearly took a step forward. "Sora! What's the matter?!" he cried worriedly.
Sora didn't reply, but waves of darkness began to flow from him, surrounding him. He gave a stifled cry, hugging himself tighter, eyes screwed tight.
"HAHAHAHAHA! You fools! He has already succumbed to the darkness!" cried the dark aura, then flew towards him, intent on taking over him again.
"No! Sora!" cried Riku and Kairi, stepping forward.
Just as the aura was about to touch him, light suddenly burst from him. The aura drew back with a cry, recoiling from the light.
Sora cried out again as the light extended, rippling through the darkness. Everyone backed away, eyes widening.
"H-How.." gasped Aqua.
The light and darkness slowed slightly, shimmering but not with the same force as before. Slowly, the group straightened, gazing at Sora hesitantly.
Riku stepped forward, despite the others' warnings, and approached Sora.
"Sora, are you okay?" he asked, laying a hand on Sora's shoulder. He was still shivering, and Riku's expression softened. He reached down, helping Sora up. "Come on, let's get you back home," he murmured. Sora raised his head, gazing at Riku with dazed eyes.
"...Riku?"
"That's right," Riku replied, starting to walk back towards the others and ignoring the waves of light and darkness that alternately made their way over his body. The others stepped back slightly as he approached.
"Can one of you make a Keyhole? Anywhere, really, just somewhere Sora can rest," he said.
Ventus glanced at Riku, catching his eye, and Riku gave a nod. Ventus raised his Keyblade, pointing it to the sky, and a Keyhole appeared. Riku and Sora stepped through first, then everyone else filed in after them, it closing behind Ventus, and leaving the dark aura that was Xehanort behind.
Riku gently lowered Sora onto the chair that Ventus had previously occupied for so long, and sat back on his heels, gazing into his friend's hazy gaze.
"Sora?" he called. Slowly, Sora's eyes swept up to gaze at Riku's. "Listen to me Sora. Focus. Do you know who you are?"
"...Sora."
"Good. Do you know who I am?"
"Riku."
"Can you name anyone else here?" Riku asked, motioning to the others.
Sora looked up at them, his heavy lidded gaze sweeping over them. It settled on Ventus, clearing slightly.
"Ventus," he said. Then, glancing beside him, he smiled slightly. "Kairi," he added.
"Anyone else?" Riku prompted. Sora frowned slightly, then shook his head, looking disappointed. "It's alright. Now, do you know what this is?" Riku asked, lifting his hand. His Keyblade appeared. Sora gazed at it, then suddenly blinked.
"Keyblade," he murmured, gently taking it from Riku's grasp. Riku let him have it, frowning.
The light and dark began to flood down the blade, lighting it up. Riku backed away a little, everyone watching warily.
"Keyblade...and χ-blade," Sora murmured, and suddenly the blade seemed to explode with light. The group gave a yell, covering their eyes as the light practically blinded them. Slowly, it began to fade, and they turned back before staring.
What Sora held in his hand was no longer Riku's Keyblade, but rather, the χ-blade. It shone brightly in his grip, and was long, thrumming with power.
Riku hesitantly flexed his hand and was reassured when his Keyblade appeared. Looking back at Sora, he frowned.
"But...how is that possible? How can Sora have the χ-blade when he's a vessel of darkness?"
"Because he is not a true vessel of darkness," Yen Sid replied, and everyone looked at him.
"What do you mean?" asked Aqua.
"Yeah, Xehanort seemed pretty convinced he was," Terra agreed.
"You were not there, but some of you may remember a while back, when both Ventus and Kairi said that Sora's heart was like a sea of light. And yet, there was a definite darkness within him, one that had been locked away and buried deeply within him when Ventus joined with his heart. Maybe Sora was always destined to be able to wield the χ-blade, or maybe that ability was left behind by Ventus; but for whatever reason, it quickly became apparent to me that Sora is the wielder of the χ-blade."
"Then...why didn't the Keyblade choose him?" asked Riku.
"Because the χ-blade is much purer than the Keyblade, a person who wields it should be unable to use the Keyblade. Obviously, Sora's circumstances were rather...unique, but the principle remains the same."
"Then that means that Ventus could never make the χ-blade, right? Because he uses the Keyblade," Aqua pointed out.
Yen Sid nodded. "Exactly. Xehanort was doomed to fail from the start." He gazed at Sora, frowning. "However, this is not news that we can just allow to seep out. We must keep it a secret, lest Xehanort learn of it and target Sora again."
The group nodded, glancing at Sora who was still gazing at the χ-blade. Riku walked back over, kneeling in front of him.
"Alright Sora, are you going put that away?" he asked gently.
Sora hesitated, then nodded. The χ-blade vanished, and Sora gazed at the little bits of light that were left behind for a moment. Then his eyes slid shut and he fell forward, crashing into Riku and sending both of them falling to the floor.
"Sora?" Riku asked, trying to prop him up. A light snore answered his question, and he sighed. "Guys, little help please?" he asked to the others. Kairi gave a giggle before they headed forward, picking Sora off.
"Is he okay?" Kairi asked when Sora didn't wake at all.
"He's merely exhausted himself. If this place is safe, it would be better if we remain here until Sora awakens," Yen Sid replied.
"Yeah, it's safe. I slept here for a long, long time, and nobody ever found me," Ventus replied, settling Sora on the seat. Riku grimaced at how much like Ventus Sora looked, and picked himself up, sitting down beside Sora. He motioned to the other side for Kairi, and she gave a nod before cuddling in the last little space, her head resting on his shoulder. Riku placed an arm around both of them, feeling Sora's head come to rest on his shoulder, and smiled gently before also closing his eyes.
A/N: You gotta love the cuddles. Anyways, yes, Sora is the weilder of the χ-blade. For whatever reason.
There may be another bit to conclude or something. In fact, this may become super long. Or, it may remain like this, ending as a lonely three-shot. What do you think? Do you want me to continue, or shall I just leave it here?
Thoughts and review?