Dark Side

Indigo colored comets crash-landed into the black sea. He was already knee-deep in the freezing sea, but the water was rising higher with every fallen star. Soon the comets, similar to how raindrops smashed on pavement, were pelting the water. Raising his face toward the collapsing sky one last time, he felt his body being pulled into the darkness. Drowning… further… the cold seeping into his every pore. It didn't really matter. The darkness had no hold on him. He was a warrior of the light. The darkness… was his enemy.

The darkness had no hold on him.

The darkness…

"Uh… heya Donald?"

"What?" The duck muttered irritably.

"Did you think Sora's last form change seemed a bit odd…?"

Goofy's voice was a whisper, but Donald couldn't help but glance at the spikey haired youth walking several feet ahead of them. Dropping back a few more feet Donald nodded in agreement to his much taller companion's words.

"They've gotten stronger."

"Yeah. But I meant his eyes. They changed color."

"Its magic from Master Yensid. Its probably just a weird side effect."

"I – uh – don't think that-"

"Aw, what do you know, you big palooka?"

As always that seemed to stump Goofy as a legitimate question. Donald knew that Dippy Dog here was only trying to look out for their friend. Sora was their friend for sure, but he was still young. Not that the duck would consider himself or his lankier comrade old, but he would definitely admit that they had been around the block a few times. If the magic was from Master Yensid it had to be safe. Any side effects the boy may or may not be experiencing had to have been simply from lack of experience in magic.

Sora had only been using magic for a couple years. That's all it was. Donald stole another glance at his friend. Though he trusted Goofy with his life, he didn't quite trust the Goof to keep his giant mouth shut. If Sora knew that they had doubts about him after fighting together for almost three years now he would be heart broken. The youth was strong in every way, but he cared about every single person he met, which in Donald's eyes was too much. However, he was a Keyblade wielder, so maybe that's part of it.

"Let's stop here to eat." Sora was looking at a noodles-to-go shop in the Second District of Traverse Town.

"Sora." Donald scolded. "We are on a mission for Master Yensid."

Sora sighed. "Its not like he said we couldn't eat."

"If we just go look into whatever was causing those disturbances real quick maybe we can eat after?" Goofy offered as a compromise.

"Besides, we are here because someone failed their Mark of Mastery exam."

Sora's face puffed up in anger. "Hey! That wasn't totally my fault."

"Right. Riku passed."

"I'll get it next time!"

"Sure sure."

"Hey you Duck-!"

"Isn't that a heartless?" Goofy interrupted.

They stopped their spat and looked at where he was pointing. A large Darkside was just visible over one of the rooftops. A large grin formed on the Keyblade wielder's face. "Let's go!"

The heartless was taken care of in just a few moments. It had summoned a swarm of Shadows, but they were used to handling them as well.

Sora had his arms crossed behind his head and was sighing at Donald. "I don't know why you didn't heal me."

Donald squawked indignantly. "You are perfectly capable of using Cure yourself. I've seen it you know!"

"I was busy fighting!"

"And what do you think I was doing?!"

Sora stared blankly at the Duck. "What do you do when I'm fighting?"

Goofy grabbed Donald before he could attack Sora. Their spikey hair friend laughed casually strolling away.

"He failed the Mark of Mastery because we weren't there to hold his hands." Donald grumbled.

Goofy decided silence was the best coarse of action here.

Screams broke out from right where they had just come from. Turning they saw that four more Darksides were now causing havoc. With a nod at his companions Sora summoned his Keyblade and led their charge back into the battle. They could handle the heartless. They really could. But every time they took out one three more seemed to appear in the small area.

"It's like that Hydra." Sora panted glancing over at where Donald was guarding over Goofy as he recovered from a particularly nasty blow.

"Yeah. So stop taking them out!"

"Then what else am I supposed to do?! Jump on their backs?!"

Donald gave him a withering look. Making jokes even now... "I don't know! But if too many more appear there won't be anything left of this world!"

Sora looked around. Donald was right. There was one other option… "I'm going to use a Drive Form."

Usually it wasn't a big deal. Donald and Goofy never minded sitting out for a moment as they lent Sora their magic and strength. But with how odd his transformations had been lately… "Wait Sora…"

"Sorry Donald – but there isn't time. I think I can do it in Master Form."

"Fine… but if it doesn't work, revert instantly."

Sora gave him a confused look but nodded in agreement before transforming. Whenever he transformed Donald felt like he was in a haze. Almost like an out of body experience as the youth borrowed their magic to unleash his Drive Forms. He saw the clothes Sora normally wore turn yellow and another Keyblade appeared in his hands. Next to him Goofy was still regaining his strength and becoming aware what exactly was happening. It seemed like seconds passed when he suddenly was back in the fight. Sora looked exhausted, but was still glaring determinedly at their foes. It seemed he had managed to take out about half of the Darksides. And the best part was that they didn't seem to be multiplying.

"See it worked!" Sora grinned.

Donald nodded. "But you are out of magic now."

Sora shook his head. "I've got a Recovery. It's no big deal. You guys alright if I go again?"

Goofy was clearly hesitant about it and Donald saw why. Their young friend's normally blue eyes seemed more of a yellow-green color. But the only way to get rid of these heartless for whatever reason was through Sora's Drive Forms. And besides Traverse Town was full of neon lights… maybe it was just the lighting of the town? Shrugging Donald gave him the go-ahead.

"We've got no other choice it seems."

They watched as Sora consumed the Recovery item and the haze took over again. But something was wrong… this felt different. Why was everything going dark? Donald looked for Goofy but he couldn't see him in the dark haze. Even Sora who he could usually barely make out as he fought was gone. This was like when they were in the Realm of Darkness… it was cold. He tried to call out for Goofy but there was only silence. What had happened?

Sora looked around the empty Second District. The Darksides had been defeated, and looked like they weren't making any returns. In fact everything seemed peaceful once again. By the Gizmo Shop he saw a Moogle fly by. If they were out and about surely everything was safe again. Those little guys never came out at the hint of heartless. Where were Donald and Goofy? Looking around he saw them passed out by a bench.

"Hey!" He ran over and shook their shoulders. "Nice of you guys to take a nap right now!"

They slowly blinked their eyes as they returned to consciousness.

"What happened…?" Goofy asked.

"You guys were sleeping while I did all the work!"

"No you wanted to use your Drive Form!" Donald spat jumping to his feet.

Sora looked confused for a moment then grinned. "Oh yeah. I forgot." He laughed. "Sorry guys. You good?"

"All is well." Goofy gave one of his classic dopey grins.

Donald just snorted as he started walking toward the First District doors. Behind him he heard the other two discussing food options and whether they should eat at a restaurant or in the Gummi Ship. Everything was definitely not ok. Why couldn't he remember any of that fight? And even worse – why did Sora seem to have no idea what happened? Even if he was in a Drive Form he was still in the fight. And while Sora was known to have his moments of ditzy-idiocy he was always focused during battle. This was possibly worse than he had originally thought.

"Hmm… that sure is strange" King Mickey agreed.

He and Donald were talking in the Library of Disney Castle.

"And you are sure Sora has no idea?"

Donald nodded. "With the exception of Riku and Kairi, Your Majesty, I would say Goofy and I know him better than anyone. He didn't even remember he used a Drive Form when he woke us up."

The King stared hard at the floor as he thought it over. "I would say you are right to be worried. Hopefully it isn't anything serious. I will bring it up in my meeting with Master Yensid this evening however."

"And what about Sora?" Donald asked hesitantly.

"You said this only is in issue with Drive Forms right?"

"Yeah."

"Try to keep him out of fights for now, but if he's got to then just keep him from using his Drive Forms."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"That is weird." Kairi agreed as they watched the sunset from their tree on Destiny Islands.

"I mean, I would never call Donald a liar. Maybe an exaggerator… by a lot. But I don't remember using a Drive Form." Sora had his fingers laced behind his head as he leaned against the trunk next to her legs.

"You're probably just tired. Master Yensid has had you doing a lot of odd jobs lately."

"Yeah well Riku's been so busy with all those Keyblade Master duties that someone's got to pick up the slack." He shot her a huge grin over his shoulder.

Kairi chuckled. One of the things that were most admirable about Sora was that he never seemed to be jealous. Not once since Riku had been deemed a Keyblade Master did Sora do anything but congratulate his best friend. He was always happy for his best friend's accomplishments.

"Just don't work yourself into an early grave. We still need you around."

"Cause you'd miss me?" Another large grin.

"No. Because we need Seven Guardians of Light."

"Aww that's just mean Kairi!" He mock pouted.

She giggled. "Well maybe I'd miss you a bit."

Sora's pocket started chiming. He pulled out the small communicator that Chip and Dale had made for him. "Hello?"

"Hey Sora!" The chipmunk twins greeted. "Master Yensid wants you to look into a weird reading in Radiant Garden!"

"Roger that."

As he put the device back in his pocket he heard Kairi sigh. "Another one? You just got back! And Riku will be home any day now!"

"Sorry Kairi. I'll make it real quick. Promise! Maybe I'll make it back the same time as Riku!"

"You better." She tried to sound stern.

"Do I get a goodbye hug?"

"No." She remained seated. "You get welcome back hugs. So hurry back."

He laughed. "I'll be as fast as I can."

"Don't do anything stupid!" She called to him as he headed away from the tree.

"Do I ever?" He laughed.

"Yes." She said under her breath. "Yes you do."

Normally Sora called Donald and Goofy to pick him up in their Gummi ship for missions. But Chip and Dale seemed to think he could handle this one solo and had lent him one of their extras. The reading on the ships monitors did look pretty small. But heartless tended to only get worse if they weren't cut off. How did Axel describe it before? Nip it in the bud. He laughed as he realized that he had the phrase memorized. Axel – or rather Lea – would be proud.

When he landed in Radiant Garden he headed for Merlin's house, the base for the Restoration Committee. Inside though he found that only Aerith was still there.

"Sora? We weren't expecting you." The kind woman said in her soft voice.

"Master Yensid sent me. Said there was some weird reading. I came just in case."

Aerith looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. "Maybe Leon would know… he's at the castle helping restore the old library."

"Thanks Aerith!" Sora headed for the door.

"Sora?"

"Yeah?" He looked back and saw the worry in her gaze.

"Are you feeling alright?"

He gave his biggest smile to reassure her. "Right as rain. Why do you ask?"

She frowned. "I'm not sure… something just feels off…"

"Maybe you've been working too hard." He crossed his arms. "The place looks great."

"Thanks. You're always so kind." She smiled. "I've held you up enough. Go find Leon."

Leon was in the old library. Some of the shelving had been wrecked beyond repair and the leader of the Restoration Committee was currently hard at work building new shelves for the old books that had been neatly piled up all over the room. Sora waited till the man set down a circular saw that he was using to cut out another shelf.

"Sora." He greeted pulling a black bandana out of his pocket and wiped the sweat from his forehead and neck. "What brings you here?"

The young Keyblade wielder explained the situation again.

"I haven't heard from Cid… but if Master Yensid sent you it's worth looking into I suppose. Follow me to Ansem's Study."

Once there, Cid gave a gruff greeting and pulled up the monitor that Leon indicated.

"Course I saw that blip. But it was so tiny I didn't think much of it." Cid grunted.

"Well I'll look into it." Sora said.

"Do what you got to do kid."

"I'll be back in the Library if you need me." Leon said before leaving.

"Hey Cid?" Sora looked at the computer himself, but too much was happening for him to make sense of it. "How small is this 'blip'?"

"Tiny."

"Ok. Thanks."

"See ya around kiddo."

As Sora headed for the Great Maw where the blip had been, he couldn't help but pout a little. He knew that he was a Keyblade Master… but surely Master Yensid could give him slightly more important tasks? If he walked all the way out there for a few Shadows he was going to be really bummed out. Not that he necessarily wanted a big fight right now. But he wanted to do something important again. It felt like forever since he had done anything really worthwhile. He knew that every heartless that he took out was important. But it felt like child's play compared to what he had done in the past.

When it was just him and Donald and Goofy they went where they wanted and did what they wanted. They were still saving the worlds, but they didn't have someone telling them that they couldn't handle it. Actually they had lots of people wondering if they were capable, but together they always managed to pull through. He knew that Master Yensid was wise, and if he thought this is what Sora needed to be doing then he was probably one hundred percent right. But it still hurt that he couldn't be helping with something bigger than dispatching a couple weak heartless here and there.

Upon arriving at his destination he looked around and saw nothing.

"Great… did I seriously come all the way out here because of some faulty machines?" He grumbled.

No sooner did he say it though a large portal of darkness opened up allowing tons of shadows to creep out.

"Just some small fry? No big deal." He summoned his Keyblade.

"I knew he had nothing in that head of his." Riku laughed as Kairi informed him of Sora's latest escapade.

"I'm kind off worried though." She bit her lip as she stared at the food in front of her. They were eating dinner at a small café on the main island. "He seemed really tired. And something about him just seemed off."

"Like how?" Riku asked before taking a huge bite of his burger.

"I don't know how to describe it really… it wasn't in his actions… oh! It was his eyes!"

Riku swallowed his food and stared at her. "What about them?"

"They were so tired. And they seemed a little off colored. At the time I just figured it was the red sunset, but now that I think about it his eyes don't usually turn that yellow then. Their usually just a darker blue…"

"Yellow eyes?"

She nodded.

"Where is he now?" Riku called the waiter for the check and quickly handed over the right amount of munny.

"Radiant Garden… Something about a weird reading?"

"I'm going to go check on him."

"You just got back! Wait – is this really bad?" Kairi followed him at his fast pace out the door.

"Probably not. I mean its Sora…" Riku muttered. "But maybe. I just want to be sure. We'll be right back."

"Take me with you!"

"This will be fast. Besides, you have training with Master Yensid soon."

Kairi huffed. "You always leave me behind!"

"And somehow you always meet us at the end." He smirked.

"Because I get kidnapped!" She snapped.

"Then maybe you should stay and train." He pointed out.

Crossing her arms defiantly she glared at him. How dare he make a really good point and give her nothing to argue with? "Fine. But you better be back really soon!"

"I will." He nodded before taking off.

Why were the Shadows still coming? Radiant Garden had been doing so well! It wasn't that he couldn't handle it. But they were starting to break off into multiple swarms and he really was more tired than he thought he had been. A small part of him had hoped maybe Cid would notice something was up and send Leon. Or even Yuffie. But it was just him. Slicing through several more and rolling past a swarm attack he felt his Drive Form ready for activation.

But without Donald and Goofy to help… I suppose I always have Limit Form…

He couldn't name it, but something felt wrong with it. When he reached out with his magic to it there was a tint of something he wasn't familiar with. Was he so tired his magic was being effected? That was certainly possible… But if he just finished clearing these guys then he could go home. Kairi was waiting for him. Maybe a nap first though.

I'll just use the Limit Form and get out of here.

Riku looked around and found himself surrounded by a few shops in Radiant Garden. He wasn't especially familiar with this part of the world. The last time he had been here he had been consumed with the power of darkness… Not a time he particularly liked to remember. And there was very little left of the world at that point. Maleficent had only needed the castle, so that's where he had remained. Asking for directions couldn't hurt though… A young woman with long brown hair and friendly eyes was shopping nearby.

"Excuse me miss?"

She looked at him with a smile. "Oh. You must be a friend of Sora's."

"Uh – yeah. How did you know?"

"Just a feeling. If you are looking for him I think he is with Leon."

"Could you tell me how to find this Leon?"

She nodded. "Sure. I am heading that way myself."

As they passed a small cluster of houses Riku saw two very familiar someones. "Donald! Goofy!"

They looked at him in surprise.

"Riku?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm looking for Sora. Where is he?"

Goofy shrugged.

"Not with us." Donald sighed. "We were on our way to the castle Library to ask Leon."

"Hello Aerith." Goofy nodded at the woman.

"Hello Donald, Goofy. Could you take this young man, Riku was it? To Leon for me then? I have some business with Merlin."

The two nodded then started to walk toward a staircase.

"Riku…"

He looked back to see the woman with a troubled expression. "Help Sora please. He's done so much for us. And something feels off…"

He nodded then hurried after Donald and Goofy.

Leon didn't seem at all surprised to see them and sent them to the Great Maw, which is where Sora had gone apparently.

"Why didn't he call us if he had a mission?" Donald grumbled loudly.

"Chip n' Dale said that the reading was so small they figured he could handle it on his own." Goofy reminded him.

"That's not the point! He should know by now that whenever he tries to 'handle it himself' he just makes things worse!"

"What exactly is wrong?" Riku asked.

"There is something wrong with Sora's Drive Forms. When he activates them he is pulling on a thread of darkness from somewhere. Master Yensid just found out. He sent us to bring Sora back before he uses one."

"But doesn't he rely on you two for support when he does that?"

"Yeah. Except with Limit Form. He doesn't need us for that."

"And Sora's been more reliant on them more recently for some reason." Goofy put in.

They hurried to the large space known as the Great Maw.

"There are Shadow heartless everywhere!" Goofy exclaimed.

"Sora!" Riku called out.

"I don't see him." Donald muttered.

"Lets get rid of these Shadows then look for him." Riku summoned Way to Dawn.

They worked together to get rid of the heartless. It was going well until Donald was sent flying backward.

"Did you see that? Was it a Neoshadow?" Goofy turned to look for it.

Riku felt a strong presence speeding toward him and threw up his Keyblade to block it just in time. It was a heartless. But it was Sora. It was his best friend, but his fingers had elongated to talons. His eyes had become yellow orbs. Darkness was seeping from every pore in wisps of black and blue.

"Oh god." Riku struggled to keep his Keyblade blocking the attacks.

He had seen this before… but it wasn't Sora then. Back in Neverland, on Captain Hook's ship. Riku had created a heartless in the likeness of Sora to attack his friend. This looked like that, but with much more detail. It still had his clothes, his chain with the crown pendant that he always wore. It was Sora… consumed by darkness in a way he had never seen before.

"Is that…?" Goofy looked over at Riku and his new opponent.

Donald used thunder on the last shadow and looked at where Goofy was pointing. "Oh no… we're too late…"

"SORA!" Riku shouted in his friend's face, but got no reaction other than another attack.

The Anti-Sora was attacking like a wild beast. He ran on all fours and swiped at them with his now talon-like hands.

"What do we do?" Goofy asked.

"I got it." Donald raised his wand and cast a powerful Sleep spell.

They watched as it slowly stopped bucking and curled up on its side asleep. As soon as it was unconscious the darkness vanished revealing their friend.

"What was that?" Riku looked over Sora to make sure he was all right, using a Cure just to be safe.

"Somehow, Sora is using dark power without even realizing it. I don't remember the exact details." Donald muttered. He had been in too much of a hurry to go find his friend. "But we need to get him back to Master Yensid."

Riku lifted his friend over his shoulder and followed Donald and Goofy back to their Gummi Ship. "It's always something with you isn't it?" He sighed.

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