Kingdom Hearts: The Coming Darkness

Chapter 2: Awakening

     Haseo felt as though he was slowly falling through an endless sky. Looking around he saw nothing but vast, empty, darkness. As he continued falling, he began to wonder whether he was alive or dead. As that thought exited his head, the darkness started to feel thicker as if it were water. He began to panic as he felt the sensation of suffocating, as opposed to the expected drowning, take over. Soon after his body started to pick up speed to the point gradually, it was a struggle even to keep his eyes open as he fell. Just as quickly as his body had begun to pick up speed, it immediately stopped, and he softly landed on to what seemed to be a solid surface. He stood slightly confused by what was going on as he could now breath freely, and a bright glow illuminated the ground below him. He looked down and saw that he appeared to be standing on a giant pillar of stained glass. There was an image on the stained glass, but he could not quite make out what it was from where he stood. Haseo was utterly unsure as to where he was or how he even got there.

     Not knowing what else to do he began to walk around the surface of the pillar. He made his way to the edge and peered down, but all he saw was endless darkness. Still not knowing what to do Haseo proceeded to examine the image on top of the pillar.

     The image was of a slender figure, most likely female, wearing a snow white version of the Organization XIII cloak. The hood cast a shadow that obscured the top half of the figure's face, allowing only a pair of blue eyes to shine through the darkness. The figure's hands also had a radiant yellow glow around them.

     "Haseo, you've finally made it here."

     The feminine voice seemed to come from the darkness itself but still seemed to have a friendly and in some strange way familiar undertone to it.

     "Who are you? Where or what is this place even?"

     "If you want to know where this place is, quite simply it is inside of you. However, what this place is is a little harder to explain. Suffice it to say when you are in here you are not truly alive or dead, but in-between as if in a dream. You see 'outside' your body is either lifeless, unconscious, or just out of your control in, but here in your heart your will has taken over and is calling out for help from either the Light or the Darkness. And if you want a name for this place, this state of being, you can refer to it as a Dive to the Heart."

     Haseo still did not completely understand what this place was but felt some reassurance as to the fact that he was not entirely dead yet.

     "I need to get out of here."

     "There is only one way to leave, but you are not quite ready to do so yet."

     At the center of the pillar, a strange doorway emitting light appeared and from it stepped a person resembling the one on the stained glass. As they did so, the doorway closed leaving the two atop the pillar.

     "I need you to open that portal and get me out."

     "If I did so you would simply die."

     "If I don't get out then even more people will die!"

     "In your current state, you have no chance of slowing, let alone stopping Ifirt. However, if you allow me to help you find your inner strength then maybe you will be able to. Also, that is the only way I will open a doorway."

     "Fine. What do I have to do?"

     "Stop me."

     In an instant, the girl charged at Haseo. Once in range, she forcibly pushed he palm into Haseo's chest knocking him across the platform. Haseo slowly stood up somewhat staggered from the blow. Had the girl not attacked him first he would have opposed the idea, but seeing as she did, he showed no hesitation in retaliating. He rushes at the girl, at a noticeably slower pace than she had at him, and unleashed a combination of punches and kicks. The girl dodged his attacks with ease which gave him a sense of awe and frustration. Following up his assault Haseo quickly held out his right hand at the point-blank range, prepared to cast Fira. Before he could do so, the girl grabbed his arm and pointed it upwards while simultaneously placing her free hand against his chest. In the following instant, a burst of Light energy erupted from her hand and once again knocked Haseo across the platform.

     "I thought you would be stronger seeing as you were entrusted to protect Traverse Town."

     "Triple Firaga!"

     Haseo cast one of the stronger spells that he knew. Three fireballs his size rushed out at the girl, but right before they could hit her, they faded away as if they had been drained of their magical properties.

     "That was a nice try Haseo, but I am actually far more skilled in magic than I am in physical combat."

     Her statement was somewhat concerning to Haseo as even her physical skills outmatched his. Haseo stood in place lost in thought.

     "You have not given up have you?"

     "No, I'm just trying to think of any way to stop you."

     "You should try not telling your opponent when you are trying to think up a plan."

     "I don't think that applies to you."

     Haseo put forth both hands casting a Double Fira. The two moderate sized fireballs rushed at the girl, but before they were going to hit her, they collided with each other creating a small explosion and a lingering smokescreen. Putting his hands together he cast an extremely fast Thundaga Shot. The shot tore through the smoke catching the girl off guard, she quickly lifted her hand and caught the ball of lightning. However, before she could drain the spell the ball bursts sending bolts out at the girl slightly stunning her. Seeing the opening, Haseo called forth his halberd and rushed at the girl preparing to strike. The girl had now regained some semblance of movement, and cast Barrier as the blade of the halberd neared her. The halberd collided with the invisible barrier that surrounded the girl leaving Haseo struggling to bring the blade into contact with the girl.

     "Come On!"

     Haseo placed all of his strength into the continued strike, and as he did, so there was a swirl of many purple hues over the length of the halberd. Suddenly the halberd began to change shape into a more sword-like weapon. The blade was skinny and curved, and its center was spiraled. The blade's teeth were composed of a crescent moon with a smaller crescent moon within that which had a four-pointed star within itself. Between the handle and blade was a crescent-like shape. The teeth of the blade were white while the tip and base of the shaft were blacks which progressively turned to a light purple as it got at the spiraled center of the shaft. Along the blade, there were white star-like specks.

     Although surprised by the change Haseo continued his attempt to slash through the barrier. Once again he was surprised as the blade actually cut through the barrier with far less resistance than his halberd had. Before the edge could hit her, the girl leaped backward dodging it.

     "It looks like your heart was finally able to reach out and grab something."

     "Wait... This is a keyblade?"

     "Yes, it is. This is the reason you were here Haseo, so listen closely because you will naturally leave this place soon. You are going to awaken in the same place that you were in the outside world when you commenced your Dive. In the outside world, you have only been unconscious a matter of seconds, which means that Ifrit is still nearby. Know this though, just by becoming a keyblade wielder your natural abilities have become far superior to what they had been. This, however, will not be enough to defeat Ifrit, so I advise against you going back with that in mind. But, do not worry there are already two presences nearing who have come to assist you."

     "Wait, I just got this keyblade. I have no idea how to use it properly."

     "Honestly none of us really know how to 'properly' use a keyblade when it first appears, it is more instinctual than anything. If you trust in yourself, it will naturally come to you."

     "Us? Wait, who are you?"

     Light began to engulf the area, but even so, Haseo was able to make out that the girl was removing her hood. Although he had never seen this girl in his life her name still managed to slip from his lips.

     "Xion."

     "Good luck Haseo."

     Haseo could make out a warm smile on her face before everything was engulfed in a blinding light.