Chapter 4: Targeted by Darkness
“And because of the Keybearer, the king’s followers and that mysterious outsider who now aids them, the Heartless have been driven out of Traverse Town.”
Sharak just stared at Jafar. He’d just returned with Captain Hook from Neverland and was now sitting in his throne before his royal vizier, who had just delivered his report.
“And why should I be interested in this news?”
“Forgive my most improper query, emperor”, spoke Jafar, confused, “But why do you dismiss my report as being unworthy information?”
“For starters”, explained the creature, “Traverse Town is nothing but a world comprised of filth that is teeming with the most cretinous vermin in existence. It is a world that is so pathetic; it is hardly even worth conquering. I only had the Heartless invade it and consume its people for entertainment purposes.”
“I thought you were intent on reclaiming ALL worlds.”
“Indeed I am, Jafar, but Traverse Town is a world that can be conquered all too easily. I have far more important worlds to invade and take. The best must come first. For the moment, Traverse Town is excluded from my primary plans.”
“But what of the fact that the Heartless were forced to retreat?”
“It is like I said earlier”, continued Sharak, “I only sent them there to have fun and nothing more. They have been inactive for too long, and they crave for hearts to feed on. They are just like me. The fact that they were forced to flee from a pathetic excuse for a world is a matter of supreme indifference to me.”
The emperor then stood up of his throne and walked down the steps that lead up to it.
“As far as the Keyblade master and his friends are concerned, they are…insignificant for the time being.”
“But you always say how much of a threat they pose”, said the genie as he followed Sharak out of the throne room, “They STILL pose a formidable threat to our plans and one that we should take into consideration.”
“I am ALWAYS concerned with threats”, replied the emperor, “I am merely turning my attention to priorities which take place BEFORE threats.”
The two exited the throne room and continued walking down the stairs. They entered the conference room where the villains discussed their plans. They approached the ominous green light in the centre of the almost pitch black room. All of a sudden, an image of Kairi appeared in the green spotlight.
“The others can wait”, explained Sharak, “She is by far the most important one of them all. She will be most valuable as both an incentive and a tool. She will be first.”
Sharak opened a portal and proceeded to walk through it. Whilst entering it, he issued his orders to Jafar.
“Contact Hades. Tell him to return from the Coliseum as soon as he has completed his task. Also, be kind enough to give the captain a tour of his new home and inform him of his new role in my empire.”
“As you wish.”
Meanwhile, back in Traverse Town, Sora woke up screaming again. The nightmare that he had had a few nights ago came back to haunt him again. Only this time, he saw a lot more this time than he had previously. He’d dreamt of fighting Sharak and trying to save Kairi but he didn’t know exactly where he’d been fighting him. This time, he’d dreamt of fighting him in a more familiar place but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He’d gone to that world only to know that people he’d loved and cared for had died. And ultimately, to see Sharak kidnap Kairi and Sora die himself.
“Are you alright, Sora?”
Sora turned to see Jaron standing in front of him.
“I’ll be fine.”
“You had that dream again, didn’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“If you don’t mind me saying, Sora”, remarked the Saviour, “You’ve had that dream every night for the last three days.”
“What are you getting at?” asked the Keybearer.
“I’m just concerned, and so are Donald and Goofy. If you want to talk about it, we’re here for you.”
“I appreciate it, Jaron”, said Sora, “But I’ll talk about it when I feel like it.”
“Just remember”, said the ninja, “When you’re with friends, you don’t have to face things alone.”
“I know. Thanks.”
“Are you coming to the main gate in the first district?”
“Why?”
“It’s time for us to leave”, answered Jaron, “We’re no longer needed here. There are other worlds that need our help and there are those that we need if we’re to defeat Sharak.”
“Okay”, said Sora as he stood up off the bed. The two walked out of Jaron’s hideout high above the third district. They climbed down the exit ladder to meet Donald and Goofy where there were waiting for them. The four walked to the first district.
“How are we gonna get to other worlds without a vessel?” asked Goofy.
“But we do have one”, replied Jaron.
“Huh?”
The four walked out of the world’s exit. What Sora, Donald and Goofy saw in front of them was a sight to see to believe. In front of them was the sleekest and largest space cruiser they had ever seen. It was twice the size of the gummi ship that the three of them had used previously; it had twin lasers and numerous rockets mounted on its wings, it had triple thrusters on its rear and a cargo bay that could hold an army.
“Most impressive, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Where did you get that?!” exclaimed Donald.
“Something the council gave me before I came here”, replied Jaron, “With the impassable walls that denied interplanetary travel destroyed, we can go to other worlds.”
The four boarded the cruiser and readied for take-off. Jaron explained the controls of the vessel to Sora, Donald and Goofy. The three of them had had experience in piloting gummi ships, so they understood the controls very quickly and easily. After all the adjustments were made, the four sat down and prepared to leave for another world.
“All systems check a-okay!” said Goofy.
“We’re ready to go”, said Sora.
“Launch will commence in 5…4…3…2…1”
“Blast off!” shouted Donald.
The cruiser took off into the starry blackness of space. In a few seconds, Traverse Town disappeared from the four’s sight as they began their journey to other worlds.
The Destiny Islands.
A world full of peace and harmony. The laughter and happiness of innocent children echo throughout the confines of this beautiful paradise every day. There are those who enjoy the haven of this island and express it by either playing games or relaxing and admiring the scenery and environment around them. And there are those, who though love the home they reside on, are so inquisitive, that they question their surroundings and what lies beyond.
One of those children has all of these characteristics.
Kairi loved her home. She loved to play games and admire all that was around her, and as far as questioning the world she lived in was concerned; she used to do that. She loved doing it all the time with Sora and Riku. Whenever the sun set, the three of them used to watch it do so together, whilst wondering about other worlds that might exist. The three of them talked about it every day, when they were playing or admiring the horizon and the scenery.
But she didn’t need to question anymore.
Ever since she arrived at the island from her home of Hollow Bastion, she had suffered from amnesia, unable to remember anything about her past. She yearned to find out more about where she grew up and all other details of her past life. So she decided to explore with Sora and Riku by building a raft and trying to leave their home for other worlds.
One night, two years ago, the Heartless invaded the Destiny Islands. Sora, Riku and Kairi were separated from one another during the destruction of their home. Kairi’s heart had been transferred to Sora’s. The Keybearer had protected her heart from danger and in the end, returned her heart to her. During that time, Sora and Kairi knew more about each other. Both their past and their present. When Sora discovered about Ansem and his report, Kairi knew about her past. She had originally resided on Hollow Bastion but had been cast away by the seeker of darkness whilst researching the Keyblade, the Heartless, the Keybearer, The Keyholes, Kingdom Hearts and the Princesses of Heart. Ansem had correctly guessed that Kairi might be one of the seven princesses of the purest heart and used her to seek out the Keybearer because of their connection.
Kairi had discovered the truth along with Sora. She had been an unwilling pawn in Ansem’s research and experimentation, just like so many who had been manipulated by the former ruler of Hollow Bastion. She had led a normal life until the researcher had let the darkness take over him.
The princess had found all the answers she needed. She knew where she came from, she knew of her past and she knew there were other worlds out there. She had no reason to continue questioning.
All that was left now was the waiting.
She hadn’t forgotten what had become of Sora and Riku. They were still alive but things hadn’t been the same without them. What happened two years ago had changed everything. They’d known of their individual destinies and their lives had changed dramatically because of them. After Ansem had been defeated, Kairi, Sora and Riku had been separated once more. She knew that the three of them would be reunited one day but she wanted the day to come sooner rather than later. She missed her friend Riku, but more importantly, she missed Sora, the boy she loved more than anything else.
Every day for the last two years, Kairi wandered around the Destiny Islands. She looked at the ocean surrounding the island; she admired all the places that the three of them used to hang around and she entered the Secret Place and smiled at all the stone drawings she and Sora drew on the walls. Most particularly the one of Sora and Kairi feeding each other poupu fruits.
And before she went home, she watched the sunset. The things she did were reminders that would keep her going until the day she would see Sora again. She always hung around with the other children to further help her from going into depression. She was still relatively happy on both the inside and outside but there was never a day when tears fell from her eyes in sadness that said how much she missed those closest to her.
One morning, she was sitting down on the beach all by herself, looking out to sea, like she usually did. She just stared out so thoughtfully.
“Beautiful morning as always, huh?”
Kairi turned around to see one of the island’s newest arrivals. He’d arrived six months ago.
“I guess so, Adam.”
“They will be back one day, you know”, he said reassuringly.
“I’ve heard that all too many times”, the princess replied sadly.
“And every time you’ve heard it is a reminder of how more and more true it is.”
“I know”, smiled Kairi.
“Come on, little miss misery”, joked Adam, as he put her fingers around Kairi’s mouth and lifted her lips into a wide smile, “Let’s go for a walk.”
The two wandered around the island, talking about the beauty of their home amongst other things. Ever since his arrival, Kairi and Adam talked with one another about their friends and families, as well as well of their pasts and how they came to the Destiny Islands. Adam had lost his world six months ago and like Kairi, he couldn’t remember the full details of his previous life. He remembered his family and friends but the details of how he’d lost his world were completely blank. As was the fate of those he loved. They continued to discuss things like as their conversation took them into the Secret Place.
“I can understand what you’re going through”, said Kairi, “Its very frustrating not being able to remember things.”
“Yeah, but what’re ya gonna do?” smiled Adam, “How did you feel when you found out about your past, Kairi?”
“Well I was a little shocked at first after discovering what Ansem had been doing, but afterwards, I felt more at ease knowing about my past and making peace with questions that I always wanted answers to. It made me appreciate what I have even more than before.”
“I used to appreciate everything in my life before I came here. I had nothing to hate. I just don’t know why or how I lost it all. I’d love to know about what happened but at the same time, I’m also scared.”
“About what?”
“Would revelations about my past change my life for better or for worse?” answered Adam, “If I found out the truth, I’m scared that things would never be the same again.”
“If we have unanswered questions, then we can never be at peace with ourselves”, said Kairi, “Even when we get answers and it turns out that they’re not what we want, its up to us to see how they affect our lives. We can either give into sadness and let them ruin our lives, or embrace happiness and use them for some really great thing.”
“I suppose so”, smiled Adam. He looked at the stone drawing of Sora and Kairi feeding each other poupu fruits. “Seems like you and Sora were really close.”
“Yeah. We still are and we always will be.” Kairi then smiled at Adam, “Don’t get any ideas. I’m already taken”, she giggled.
“It never crossed my mind”, he replied innocently, “Come on, what do you say we find Tidus, Wakka and Selphie and…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Adam drifted into a sudden trance. Then all of a sudden, a vision came before him. His past flashed before his eyes or rather, a brief portion of it did. And he remembered a face he’d seen before.
“…Sharak?”
“Who?”
Adam ran out of the Secret Place towards the beach. He looked around him. Everything was still normal. He walked slowly along the beach, looking all around him.
“You’re here. I know you are.”
Confused, Kairi ran out after Adam and saw him standing still, waiting. She ran up to him.
“Adam, what’s wrong?”
“It’s here.”
“What is?”
Adam turned around with a look of fear on his face.
“I have a very nasty feeling that you’re about to find out.”
All of a sudden, Adam was sent flying forwards by the powerful blow that struck him from behind. He went straight past Kairi and landed unconscious several meters away from her.
“Adam!”
She ran over to help him. She felt his pulse. It was slow, but steady.
“Thank heaven”, she sighed.
“Greetings, Princess Kairi”, said Sharak, “I have come for you.”
Kairi stood up immediately and turned around to see the emperor towering in front of her. She backed away at the ominous creature before her.
“Who are you?” questioned the princess, “How do you know my name?”
“I know a lot about you, young Kairi”, replied the emperor, “And I know how much you want to see Sora again. I can make your wish come true.”
“I don’t need your help!” shouted Kairi, “Sora will come back to me!”
“He’s certainly taking his own sweet time”, stated Sharak calmly, “Maybe he doesn’t care about you anymore. Or maybe he’s forgotten about you. His failure to return to you quickly is evidence of this.”
“You’re wrong! Sora’s not like that! And he’s NOT a failure! He’s never failed anyone or anything!”
“If you come with me, you can ask him yourself and find out”, continued the emperor as he offered his hand out to Kairi. The princess spat on Sharak’s hand immediately, not showing any hesitance or cowardice.
“I don’t need your help, you heartless freak!”
Sharak’s eyes narrowed and burned red light as he looked at his hand and then at Kairi.
“Such bravado”, remarked the creature, “You’re not as weak or as frail as you appear, but evidently stupid to disrespect me like that.”
“Leave us alone!” shouted Kairi, as she turned around to help Adam. Just as she knelt down to help him, the source of all darkness grabbed her by the wrist.
“You do not have a choice. You’re going to help me, Kairi, whether you want to or not.”
The creature opened a portal and walked towards it, dragging Kairi behind him. She struggled to get free but to no avail.
“Let me go!”
The two of them advanced closer and closer to the portal.
“LET ME GO!”
Before Sharak could take Kairi through, a powerful Blitzball struck the emperor behind his head. He staggered, released Kairi from his grip and the portal closed instantly.
“Are you deaf, man?” asked Wakka, “The lady asked you to let her go!”
The source of all darkness turned around to see Tidus, Wakka and Selphie before him, wielding their weapons. He sneered at all three of them.
“This does not concern you.”
“Oh I think it does, mister!” said Tidus, “Cause we’re not the type to let our friends be kidnapped by strangers!”
“If you think you’re on for a date with her”, said Selphie, “you’re even crazier then you look!”
“Impudent child!” roared the darkness, “I have far more serious matters with her! She does not have a choice. She comes with me. You three on the other hand, DO have a choice. You can either walk away and live, or oppose me and die.”
“The only way you’re leaving with Kairi is over my dead body!” challenged Tidus.
“Same here!” agreed Wakka and Selphie.
“Very well then”, chuckled Sharak. He morphed into a rhino-like creature and charged the three of them. The surprised teenagers had never seen anything like it. They were so surprised that Sharak hit them hard before they could move out of the way. Tidus, Wakka and Selphie were launched high in the air and landed in the water.
“Kairi, run for it!”
“But, Tidus…”
“Don’t argue!” yelled Wakka, “Get yourself and Adam out of here! Now!”
Wakka felt Sharak’s hand grab his neck from behind. The seventeen-year-old felt the vice-like grip choking the life out of him.
“Did no-one tell you?” asked the emperor, as he thrust Wakka’s head below water whilst still choking him, “This is the new era of darkness. NO-ONE IS SAFE!”
Tidus repeatedly hit the creature with his pole, whilst Selphie jumped him from behind trying to choke the darkness with her skipping rope. He just ignored the feebleness of the primitive weapons that struck him whilst trying to drown Wakka. Wakka tried desperately to get free but Sharak’s superior strength pinned him down so effortlessly. In mere seconds, Wakka’s struggles ceased.
“There is no where to run! There is nowhere to hide!”
A fierce kick from the emperor sent Tidus crashing into a large rock on the beach and a snap mare takedown with one hand sent Selphie flying above Sharak’s shoulders and into the water. Selphie recovered only for Sharak to raise his hand. Selphie noticed a large shadow cast over her. She turned around to see a gigantic tidal wave ready to hit her.
“No-one can fight it!”
Selphie felt the power and the force of the tidal wave crashing down on her. She fell back down immediately and groggily rose a few seconds later, coughing and spluttering. Sharak then backhanded the fifteen-year-old in the face, spiked tendrils coming out of his hand and scarring her even more.
“Those who are foolish to believe that they can deny the darkness have no right to exist!” continued the creature; “People who embrace the light are soft! WEAK!”
The emperor placed his hand on Selphie’s face and lifted her off the ground.
“There is no place in this universe for weakness! Only the strong can survive!”
Selphie screamed as she felt Sharak’s hand horribly burning her. Tidus recovered to see the source of all darkness turn around, holding Selphie off the ground by her hair in front of the fifteen-year-old. She had a vicious burn on her face, and her eyes had been altered. Her eyes were now point-blank and emitted a flickering red light, which then faded.
“What did you do to her?!” cried Tidus.
“You play with fire”, said Sharak, as he let go of Selphie and her body fell to the ground, “and you get burnt…badly.”
Tidus dropped his weapon, got down on his hands and knees and cried.
“Why?!”
“People have a choice in this era. They can accept the darkness in their hearts and prosper under my order, or they can refuse it and perish. Your friends chose the latter. I give you one more chance to decide what’s best for you, young Tidus. Join me…OR FEEL THE WRATH OF SHARAK!”
Sorrow immediately turned into rage as Tidus grabbed his weapon and ran towards the emperor.
“TAKE THIS AS A NO!”
Sharak just teleported behind Tidus and head-butted him viciously.
“You see?!” jeered the creature, “Compassion is for weaklings! Losers!”
Tidus tried to get up but the emperor placed his foot on his back pinning him down.
“The desire to avenge loved ones only serves as a handicap! It only results in misguided action!”
Sharak took his foot off Tidus and slowly began morphing.
“And misguided action…”
Tidus got up and looked up to his horror of what the emperor had become.
A ten-foot high scorpion.
“…is the death of ALL weaklings!”
The emperor’s tail struck Tidus hard and fast. The fifteen-year-old screamed as the darkness ran through his body and swallowed his heart. It was only a matter of seconds before his screams were silenced. Sharak then flung the lifeless Tidus off his tail where he landed in a pool of water near the waterfall.
Meanwhile, Kairi was trying to get herself and Adam into her boat and set sail.
“Adam, please wake up!”
“Did anybody get the number of that truck?” joked Adam as he slowly woke up.
“Adam, this isn’t the time for jokes!” cried Kairi, “That thing is after us!”
“Where…where’s everybody else? What about Tidus, Wakka and Selphie?”
“In a word…dead.”
Kairi and Adam looked behind them to see the humanoid form of the emperor.
“I am certain you now realise that I don’t play games, princess”, spoke the source of all darkness, “And I am also certain that you know now that escape from me is impossible.”
“Why are you doing this?!”
“Because I can.”
“I know who you are, Sharak!” yelled Adam, “I remember that you were there when I lost my world! You know what happened, don’t you?!”
“Indeed I do, Adam”, the darkness calmly answered, “And I think it’s time you learnt the truth.”
The emperor grabbed the seventeen-year-old by his shirt and gazed into his eyes. The creature’s eyes went bright red as he glared in Adam’s. Whimpers came from Adam as the full details of how he lost his home flooded through his mind. Tears came from his eyes as he remembered his past and Sharak’s part in it.
“You now remember how you lost everything”, spoke Sharak, “You now know the truth and you had every right to be scared of what you would find out.”
Adam, still traumatised of what had happened, didn’t even notice the source of all darkness lift him above his head.
“Because the answers, are indeed very…”
The creature then slammed the boy against his hardened knee. A loud snap sounded and Adam screamed in pain. Kairi held both her hands against her mouth as she gasped in horror of what Sharak had just done. Tears flowed from her eyes as she saw Adam fall to the ground, writhing in tremendous agony.
“…crippling.”
Kairi got out of the boat and ran towards Adam. She didn’t try to move him. She knelt down beside him and cried of what Sharak had done to his back.
“Now that you now know how futile it is to resist me”, spoke Sharak, as he knelt down before the princess, “and now that he has learned of the past, it is time for us to leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you!” she yelled as she punched him in the face. Sharak reeled with the blow, moving his head in the same direction of Kairi’s punch. He looked straight back into Kairi’s face, his eyes blaring red and narrowing in anger.
“Unfortunately, princess, I have to resist all these temptations to kill you.”
Sharak then struck Kairi, knocking her unconscious.
“Be very thankful that you’re of more use to me alive.”
The emperor than channelled his power into his fists and unleashed a thunderstorm on the entire island. A huge sphere of energy then slowly began to materialise in the sky and dark clouds loomed over the entire world. Lightning tore into the Destiny Islands again and again. Shadow and Darkside Heartless soon emerged from the ground, running amuck and consuming and destroying anything that moved. Sharak then teleported to the Secret Place and approached the door to the world’s heart. His fingers extended into razor sharp claws, which dug into the door and then helped the emperor rip the door off. He summoned more Shadows and gave his orders.
“Take this world, my children. It will be a fine addition to our collection.”
The Heartless entered the hole to the core and Sharak teleported back outside to the still unconscious Kairi. He gathered her in his arms and returned to his home world. He chuckled at the carnage he’d left behind.
“A most entertaining and satisfactory day”, he said as he left a world that was now his.
Later on, Sharak was in the conference room of his castle, discussing the day’s events with the other villains.
“Nice going, boss man!” congratulated Hades.
“Everything is going according to plan”, said Jafar.
“Of course”, said Sharak, “We have one of the princesses, worlds are falling into darkness, enemies are falling and this is only the beginning. Isn’t that right, captain?”
“Indeed so, Sharak!” said Hook, “Now is the time to hang a few bilge rats out to dry!”
“You are aware of what your mission is?”
“Of course.”
“Then go!”
Hook left the room to carry out his mission. Sharak turned to Hades.
“I take it your recruitment was a success, Hades?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Bring him forward.”
“Come on, bud”, gestured the god of the Underworld, “Don’t be shy.”
Out of the darkness emerged a figure. He had grey hair and a black wing on his back. He was a master of darkness and one of the truest incarnations of evil. Sharak’s eyes changed position so it looked like he was smiling. He walked up to the man and greeted him. He then turned towards the green light and an image of Sora appeared. The man grimaced at the sight of him.
“Sore subject, I assume?”
“He will pay for humiliating me”, the man replied. He then turned and was just about to walk out of the room when the emperor placed his hand on the man’s shoulder.
“No, my friend”, said Sharak, “Not yet. But soon. Very…very…soon.”
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