Chapter 13: The Truth RevealedTraverse Town, Jaron's Hideout. After much discussion and recuperation, everyone was ready to head to Hollow Bastion to put a stop to Sharak's plans. They were just about to leave when they noticed Sora wasn't among them. "Where is he?" asked Peter. Tarzan looked out of the window to see Sora standing all by himself in the middle of the third district. "Sora, there!" "He looks upset about something", said Aladdin, "Somebody should go find out what." "As well as telling him that it's time to go", said Genie, "We gotta move faster then the speed of light if we're to stop Sharak." "Let us talk to him", said Donald, "We know him better than all of you, we can soon put a smile on his face." "Yeah, we've helped him out loads of times before!" agreed Goofy. "Okay", said Jack, "We'll wait for you by the cruiser. Just be quick about it." Everyone except Donald and Goofy returned to the vessel. The Chief Magician and the Court Guard of Disney Castle walked over to their friend to find out what was wrong. "Sora", said Donald, "What's wrong?" "No frowning, no sad faces", reminded Goofy. "I'll still can't believe all of this", said Sora, "I'm gonna have to fight someone that I thought was my friend and Kairi's life is hanging in the balance. With Sharak the mastermind behind it all." "Just believe in yourself, Sora", said Donald, "It always helps. Always." "But if I do beat Jaron and save Kairi, that still leaves Sharak. And I still don't know how to stop him. I thought we had him beat the first time we met, and I was wrong." "You can overcome anything, Sora", said Goofy as he put his hand on top of the Keybearer's shoulder, "You can do whatever you want. Where there's a will, there's a way." Sora didn't say anything. "Why don't you read King Mickey's letter again?" suggested Donald, "That might help." "We've been over it a dozen times, guys." "Well maybe we missed something", persuaded Goofy.Sora took the letter out of his pocket and read it out loud. Sora, If Pluto gave you this letter, then you, Donald and Goofy can be heartened by the fact that Riku and me are alive and well. You are still on the right path. Continue walking down it and your quest will come to an end. As you venture further and further down the road, you will encounter new good and new evil. The evil you will find will be unlike anything you have ever seen before, the good you will meet will come in the form of the Saviour. Seek him out, he will help you no matter what the differences are between you. You are all on the last stage of your quest but that doesn't mean that it will be an easy one. Many ghosts from the past will haunt all of you because of this evil but do not despair. You can destroy it if you believe you can. Remember, your heart is the mightiest weapon of all and you will be the one that will open the door to the light. Your friends are your power. Whether in body or in spirit, they will all help you throughout this. All of them. Take care, Sora. King Mickey. "It's the same old stuff", sighed Sora, "We know all of this already." "Are ya sure?" asked Goofy. "What about "all your friends helping you"?" said Donald. "I know that, Donald", sighed the Keybearer, "Everyone is helping me, even…Jaron?" "The king told us that the Saviour will help us no matter what our differences are", said Goofy, "It's possible that he could still be helping us." "But he seemed so intent on killing me. He's no longer the Saviour, he's working for Sharak. He's not my friend anymore." "All for one, one for all", spoke Donald, "Jaron agreed to it." "That was then. This is now. Why are you standing up for Jaron?" "We're not, Sora, but there's always a possibility that he could return to help us. That's what the king said. He met Jaron when he started his training, he knows what he's like." "I guess so, Goofy." "When you fought him, you said he didn't seem himself." "Yeah, he didn't speak to me or anything, and the way his eyes were glowing seemed as though he might have been…"controlled" somehow." Sora looked up to the starlight sky, lost in deep thought. If only there was a way I could be sure. Sora closed his eyes. A white flash appeared. He flew towards a bright, shining light. As the Keybearer went closer and closer, another white flash appeared. Sora looked around him, he was at the path behind Kingdom Hearts after it had been sealed. He gently landed on the road and looked all around him. There was nothing but darkness. "I'm here again." "I knew you would find your way back here", said a voice. Sora recognised it. It was the voice that had guided him two years ago. "You again", said Sora. "The ultimate battle with the source draws ever so nearer", said the mysterious voice, "You must be prepared." "But there's still so much I don't understand. So much that I'm…" "There is a lot to learn in such a short amount of time. But the answers may come to you all at once. Whatever happens, you must be prepared." Sora looked at where the door to Kingdom Hearts once stood. "When the door was sealed, I thought it would just be a simple case of finding Riku and King Mickey." "Nothing is ever what it seems, Sora. Nothing." "You know everything, don't you? What happened between Jaron and Sharak?" "Darkness can very easily corrupt. No matter how strong the heart can be, darkness can easily force another to do its bidding. Some can accept darkness and freely serve it, whereas others can become its unwilling or mindless slaves." "What if Sharak isn't the one responsible for all of this? I've known how easily others can be used." "The power that darkness offers may be freely utilised, but that does not mean that the ultimate darkness can be manipulated. Sharak is the ultimate evil, those who try to use him end up destroyed. He does not allow treachery or defiance." "Can he re-open the keyhole?" "What closes can open again, no matter how well sealed it is. It may prove difficult to re-open that which is locked with incredible power, but with enough strength to help, anyone can open anything." "Can it fully restore him?" "No. The power behind it is incredible but it can only restore a quarter of what he lost." "Then what else can he do?" "What closes can open again. You will understand as the final battle draws closer." "What about Kairi?" "What you have done once, you can easily do again", said the voice, "Faith is all you need. You can stop Sharak." "I don't know how!" cried Sora. "You do", persuaded the voice, "You'll know when the time approaches. Deep down you've known all along. Just remember, the greatest light exists within the deepest darkness. Your heart is the mightiest weapon of all. You are the one that will open the door to the light." "Wait. Just one last question", said Sora, "Who are you?" "Deep down, you've known all along." A bright light flashed and Sora was sent flying back through the darkness. He woke up in Traverse Town, still standing in the middle of the third district with Donald and Goofy alongside him. "Mickey?" "Sora, are you okay?" asked Goofy. "Why did you say our king's name?" asked Donald. "He helped me", said Sora, "Just like's he been helping me all along. Like he's been helping all of us." "Huh?!" The Keyblade master turned around to Donald and Goofy. "I know what's happened to Jaron. I know what Sharak's trying to do." "How? What? Why?" asked Donald and Goofy. "I'll explain on the way", said Sora. A smile appeared on his face, "You guys ready for this?" "Whenever you are, Sora!" smiled Donald. "All for one, one for all!" smiled Goofy. The three put their hands on top of one another and then ran to rejoin the others at the cruiser. "Hollow Bastion, here we come!" | 
