Chapter 15: Redemption Before Goodbye

Sora, Donald, Goofy and Adam raced into the grand hall. They noticed Alice, Jasmine, Belle, Snow White, Cinderella and Aurora unconscious and trapped in their capsules that were aligned along the walls of the grand hall. For Sora, this reminded him of two years ago, when he had come to Hollow Bastion to rescue Kairi and where he had found out so much. Like how Riku had been possessed by Ansem, how Maleficent and the other villains had been pawns in the Heartless' twisted game of chess and how Kairi's heart had been deep within Sora's own heart throughout most of the Keybearer's quest. Sora's last visit to Hollow Bastion had been an emotional ride and a major turning point in his life.

The four ran up the stairs leading up to the giant podium. When they made it to the top, Sharak and Jaron were nowhere to be found. The keyhole was open again with darkness flowing out of it. Sora and the others looked over to the centre of the podium.

"Kairi!"

Sora ran over to Kairi, who was lying in the centre of the podium, eyes closed. The Keybearer felt her pulse and listened to her heartbeat. There were no signs indicating she was alive. Sora burst into tears as he tried to rouse her.

"No, Kairi", cried Sora, "Not you too."

"Whether she lives or dies is my choice."

Sora and the others looked up in anger to see Sharak standing on top of the stairs that lead to the keyhole.

"I am this universe's rightful master. I make the rules. I choose who lives and who dies, just like that."

Sharak pointed to Sora. The Keybearer grunted in pain as he felt his heart slowing down and become weaker and weaker. He fell to his knees.

"Sora!" shouted Donald as he and the others ran to him.

"Leave him alone!" shouted Adam.

"What's...happening?" asked Sora as he held his hand over his heart.

"Stupid child!" roared Sharak as he made his way down the stairs, "All hearts are connected to me! Yours is no exception! The darkness I put in people's hearts not only allows me to know everything about everyone; it also allows me to do whatever I want with them! I can turn them on and off as many times as I wish!"

Sora groggily looked up to see the source of all darkness just meters away from him.

"But that is not as much fun as ripping hearts to pieces as you feast on them", continued the creature, "I only revealed this to you just now because now is the time to prove that none of you have a chance against me. But then, you all knew that when we first met. Now I will prove to you that I don't need the immense power that the keyhole will give just to prove that I am your superior."

Sharak walked towards the four friends. Donald screamed as he charged at Sharak and leapt at him. The creature just swatted him aside, knocking him unconscious. Goofy and Adam also charged Sharak, only to be thrown down the stairs. The source of all darkness formed a barrier that prevented anybody else from walking to the podium. Sora was all by himself with Sharak, unable to get help.

"You've been the biggest thorn in my side for too long", said Sharak, "Now I will eliminate you and take what's mine."

Sharak's eyes glowed bright red and Sora went weaker and weaker until his heart finally stopped. The Keybearer had died. Sharak turned to the keyhole to take the darkness from it. He was just about to walk up the stairs towards it when he stopped in shock.

"No", said Sharak as he swung round in total horror, "It...IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!!!"

The source of all darkness looked to see Sora standing before him, Keyblade in hand and ready for battle. Sharak's eyes widened in shock to see the Keybearer alive and well.

"You...you can't possibly be alive! You're dead! Do you hear me?! DEAD!!!"

"Was", said Sora, who was now extremely angry, "But I can't ever rest in peace as long as you're still alive!"

Sharak screamed as he leapt at Sora, morphing his right arm into a sword. The Keybearer blocked the attack and thrust Sharak backwards. Sora seethed in fury as stood before the astonished emperor, wielding his Keyblade.

"Now you're going to pay for everything you've done!" roared Sora.

"Very easy to say", growled Sharak, "Very hard to back up."

"Too bad all the darkness in the universe can't help you", sneered the Keybearer, "You're gonna be wishing it."

"Then come and get me", taunted the source of all darkness as he gestured Sora to attack.

Sora ran up to Sharak, swinging his Keyblade wildly. The creature jumped over the attacks and kicked the Keybearer in the face, causing Sora to bleed a little from the mouth.

"First blood mine, human! And I shall also obtain the last!"

The Keybearer responded by unleashing a Stopga spell on Sharak, freezing him instantly, and then delivering an Ars Arcanum combination on the creature. Seconds later, Sharak screamed in pain as he became unfrozen and the power of the Keyblade tore into him.

"Sharak, just shut up!"

Sora cast an Aeroga spell on himself and ran towards Sharak. The wind magic tore into the creature again and again, as did the Keyblade. The emperor was thrust against the barrier and then received a Thundaga spell which electrocuted him.

"You made a very foolish mistake in coming back to life, Keybearer!" roared the emperor as he extended his arms to four times their normal length and turned his hands into razor-sharp scythe blades, "Now you’ll die a million times as horribly as you did before!"

The creature span round and round in a tornado-like fashion with his enormous scythe arms outstretched. Sora was hit hard by the deadly blades repeatedly but the Aeroga magic reduced half of the damage caused. The Keybearer hit the Sonic Blade on Sharak, stunning him long enough to strike the creature in the head with the Keyblade. The source of all darkness fell to the floor only to rise again and slash Sora in the face.

"Foolish human! Your strength and power is nothing compared to mine! NOTHING!"

Sharak floated to the middle of the podium and held his hands high in the air as his eyes went bright red. Pillars of darkness appeared out of the ground, too many for Sora to dodge. He was hit by the pillars again and again, whilst powerful thunderbolts rained down on Sora from above. The Keybearer became greatly wounded as the power of the source of all darkness struck him continuously.

"And now", said Sharak as he stopped his onslaught and morphed into a wolf-like creature, "DIE!!!"

He sprinted towards the Keybearer with murderous intents. Sora high-jumped out of Sharak’s way and set Sharak on fire with magic. The creature felt the burning flames eat away at him and tried to regenerate from the damage done to him. Sora though had other ideas as he threw his Keyblade at the emperor, which dug deep into his side before returning to the Keybearer. Sharak then assumed a falcon form and flew high and fast, using "hit and run" tactics, swiping the Keyblade master with his talons. Sora responded by using Graviga magic on the creature, which sent it crashing back down to the ground, severely injuring it. Sora then healed himself and unleashed a Ragnarok attack on the emperor. Impact fireballs soon followed, burning the insidious monster even more.

Sharak then went totally berserk. He resumed his humanoid form and punched Sora in the face before kneeing him in the stomach and press-slamming the Keybearer hard to the ground. He then dived on the Keyblade master whilst he was still on the ground, and sat on top of him, pinning him down. He then proceeded to hit Sora in the face with one hand whilst choking him with the other.

"Die, curse you!"

Sora then clubbed Sharak in the head with the Keyblade, allowing him to kick the creature off him and deliver more vicious Keyblade strikes. Sharak shot lasers from his eyes that struck Sora in the chest. The Keybearer backed away from the impact and was kicked in the face by an infuriated Sharak.

"Die."

Sharak then delivered an uppercut to Sora before head-butting him and backslapping him.

"DIE!"

The emperor leg-swept the Keybearer, knocking him off his feet and putting him once more on his back. He looked up wearily to see Sharak alter his left arm to an axe and bring it down, aiming for Sora’s neck.

"DIE!!!!!"

Sora rolled out of the way of the death strike and swept Sharak’s legs with the Keyblade. Sora then unleashed an Ars Arcanum combination attack, injuring the source of all darkness even more. The emperor screamed in pain and did so even more when he crashed down to the floor, thanks to a Graviga spell from Sora.

"Sorry, Sharak", sneered Sora as he sped in with more Keyblade swings, "No can do!"

"I cannot believe this!" roared Sharak as he altered his hands into sai blades and tried to impale the Keybearer, "I killed you. You came back to life. I had you at my mercy many times over and you still refuse to go to the world of death. WHY DO YOU REFUSE TO DIE?!"

"Because that’s what you want", replied Sora as he viciously punched Sharak in the face, "And I’ll NEVER give you what you want. I’LL NEVER LET YOU WIN!"

Sharak staggered as he tried to recover from Sora’s punch and then wandered around dazed after Sora hit the Sonic Blade on him five times in rapid succession. The Keybearer healed himself with Curaga magic before tearing into the emperor once again with the Keyblade. Sharak teleported and raised his right arm in front of Sora. The Keyblade master was raised off the ground and bonds of darkness formed around him. Sharak’s eyes went redder and redder as the bonds tightened, squeezing the life out of Sora. Sharak chuckled at the boy’s screams but once more fell into shock as Sora broke free in seconds.

"NO!!!!"

Sora went back in on the attack, unleashing Blizzaga magic on the source of all darkness, injuring and distracting him long enough for the Keybearer to use his weapon. Sharak screamed as the power of the Keyblade was inflicted onto his stomach, his shoulder and in-between his eyes. He held his hand over his face in pain before floating to the far edge of the podium and charging his hands with the power of darkness. He formed a shield in front of him and flew after Sora like a battering ram. The Keybearer was brutally struck twice before he could summon another Aeroga spell and protect himself. The powerful wind magic cancelled Sharak’s attack and proceeded to tear into him once more.

Although Sora was clearly winning, he had run out of magic. With no Elixirs available, Sora could only replenish his magic with physical attacks and he certainly wasn’t tired yet. Sharak on the other hand was becoming more and more injured. His frustration with Sora’s refusal to perish was also blurring his focus and resulting in savage, reckless and misguided action. The source of all darkness had believed throughout his entire existence that only those who embraced the light suffered from misguided action. His refusal to believe that he himself could suffer from the same fate was driving him insane. To him, all of this was completely incomprehensible.

Sharak punched and kicked Sora continuously and unleashed fireballs on the Keybearer, injuring the sixteen-year-old. The creature turned into a rhino-like creature and charged for the kill. Sora rolled out of the way and laughed as Sharak impaled himself into one of the walls that surrounded the podium. Sharak heard the Keybearer’s laughter and succumbed to madness even more.

"DON’T YOU DARE LAUGH AT ME!!! NO-ONE LAUGHS AT SHARAK!!!"

His insane rantings once more turned into screams of pain as the Keybearer hacked and slashed away at him even more. He broke free with the remnants of wall still on his horn, which he shot with lasers that shot from his eyes. He turned around and snorted at Sora who charged him and continued his onslaught. Sharak reverted to his humanoid form and punched the ground, creating shockwaves that Sora easily glided over. The emperor looked in further astonishment as Sora glided towards him and swung the Keyblade at him. The powerful weapon connected with his head, sending him rolling across the floor.

"I can’t lose", Sharak said to himself insanely, "I can’t be defeated! It’s impossible! IMPOSSIBLE!"

"Can’t accept the fact that you’ve at long last met your superior?" asked Sora innocently as he closed in for the kill.

"YOU’RE NOT MY SUPERIOR! I HAVE NO SUPERIOR! I AM THE SUPERIOR OF ALL!!!!"

Sharak’s refusal to accept what was happening drove him totally over the edge of sanity. He laughed and laughed as Sora struck him again and again. After a few more minutes had passed, Sharak’s laughs turned into screams for the umpteenth time as Sora impaled the Keyblade through Sharak and light "sizzled" out of him like electricity. The creature then turned around to the keyhole to notice darkness was still pouring out of it. He grunted and seethed in pain as he staggered towards it. The emperor only took a few steps before falling flat on his face.

"Me like darkness", giggled the creature, "Darkness makes Sharak a big, strong boy...and it tastes nice too."

"Forget it", said Sora as he looked at the keyhole, "It’s over."

Sora pointed his Keyblade at the keyhole and got ready to seal it. The defeated creature realised what was going to happen and used whatever power it had left to communicate with its slave.

Jaron, spoke Sharak telepathically, Be a good boy and help out the being that loves you more than anything else in the whole, wide world. Stop that nasty kid who bullies you at school.

Jaron reappeared out of nowhere and ran towards Sora. The Keybearer looked in shock to see the ex-Saviour coming at him. Jaron kicked the Keyblade out of Sora’s hand and went for his throat. Sora ducked Jaron’s leap and threw him to one side. The ex-Saviour, still in ungodly pain, slowly got back up.

"Jaron, please!" cried Sora, "Resist it! Resist the darkness!"

Jaron didn’t reply. He just stood still in silence staring at the Keybearer, like he had done when they fought at Neverland. Sora then turned around to see Sharak, although far from fully healed, running in madness and agony towards the keyhole.

"GIMMEE! GIMMEE! GIMMEE!" laughed the creature as he dived towards the darkness that flowed out of it. Sora looked on in horror as he realised that it was far too late. The keyhole exploded into vast darkness with Sharak absorbing it like a dry sponge. The source of all darkness cackled in manic glee as he felt the enormous power surge through him, and part of what he had lost return to him. However, savage joy soon turned into misunderstanding when part of his memory also returned and he remembered how he had been destroyed previously.

"No", Sharak said to himself as soon as he had taken all the darkness that the keyhole had to offer, "I am TOTAL darkness. I can’t have any...It’s not possible! I..."

Sharak’s confusion soon turned into insanity. He laughed and laughed as an idea formed in his deranged head.

"Guess I’ll just have to take more of my medicine to make me feel ALL better!"

Sora looked on in disbelief as he saw the creature’s insanity. He gasped in horror when Sharak turned around to reveal startling changes. Sharak was now eight-feet tall, his body was unbelievably skinny and no longer resembled anything human but the most noticeable change was that he now had a frightening grin that spread across his face. At long last, Sharak could actually smile.

Sora ran over to his Keyblade whereas Sharak took off his cloak and threw it to one side, where it vanished into nothingness.

"Seconds out, round two!" laughed the mutated creature as he leapt at Sora, grabbing his head and slamming it hard into the ground. The Keybearer groggily got up and tried swinging at Sharak but the strike just passed straight through the emperor who altered his left hand to ten times its normal size and morphed it into a huge hammerhead. The source of all darkness hit Sora hard, knocking the wind out of him and sending him crashing against the wall. He lay in a heap, weakened and unable to move.

Donald, Goofy and Adam slowly woke up to see Sharak cracking his fingers and morphing into a bull-like monster, readying himself to deliver for the fatal charge. The three gasped in horror and tried running up to the podium to help their friend but the source of all darkness formed another barrier that prevented them from doing anything.

"Sora!" yelled Donald.

"Sharak! Stop!" yelled Goofy.

"Leave him alone!" cried Adam.

"Sorry, chaps!" sniggered Sharak, "But he’s wearing red. And I always find red a very infuriating colour."

Meanwhile, Jaron was still standing at the podium, just staring at what Sharak was about to do. The ex-Saviour then remembered what his masters had told him six months ago

"You can understand how to decide the greater good, giving up your life so others may live. That is what being the Saviour is all about. All Saviours before you learned and appreciated the responsibility of saving innocent lives at ANY cost, whether it be you, us or anyone else."

Jaron then remembered what Sora had said to him when they battled.

"This is stupid! We're still friends! Don't you remember?!" shouted Sora as the two fought at Neverland.

"Jaron, you're not his pawn!" shouted Sora as the two fought at Hollow Bastion, "You're your own being! You don't have to take this from him! Fight his control! You can do it!"

The ex-Saviour then remembered what he had told Sora, Donald and Goofy when they first met.

"I can’t allow you three to suffer at Sharak’s hands like I have."

"I believed I could save you, and I did."

Then the final remembrance. What Goofy had said when Jaron had joined his new friends.

"All for one, one for all!"

Jaron had remembered everything he had learned. Despite his battles with Sora, the Keybearer still regarded him as a friend and refused to give up in his attempts to try and save him. Sora made him realise that he wasn’t Sharak’s pawn. Jaron was NEVER ANYONE’S pawn. He was his own being. Sora, his closest friend, had made him realise this. Jaron then remembered his duties and responsibilities given to him as the Saviour. He knew he couldn’t allow anyone to suffer at Sharak’s hands like he had and because of the Council of Light, Jaron had understood the concept of saving lives at any cost, and that included giving up his life so those he loved could live. Jaron couldn’t let Sora die, he was his best friend, not his worst enemy. He believed he could save him and resist Sharak’s power. Jaron also realised that everyone had done so much for him. Sora had contributed the most. Jaron knew that as a friend, he had to return the favour.

All for one, one for all.

The evil red light in Jaron’s eyes flickered and then ultimately faded. He closed his eyes and then opened them up again. They were back to normal. No longer under Sharak’s control, the Saviour looked in horror to see the bull creature charging towards the Keybearer at top speed.

"SORA!" yelled Jaron as he ran over to push him out of harm’s way, "LOOK OUT!!!"

The Keybearer looked to see Sharak drawing closer and closer towards him. He closed his eyes and braced for the worse. But then opened them up again when Jaron pushed him out of the way and took the charge for him. Sora looked on in horror as Jaron screamed more painfully than he had ever done before. The bull’s horns gored the Saviour and sent him crashing through the wall out into the open air. Sharak morphed back into his demon form and flew back inside to the grand hall. Jaron fell hundreds of feet downwards to his doom. Sora, Donald, Goofy and Adam looked on in horror and despair.

"JARON!!!"

"Oh, whoops", said Sharak sarcastically.

Sora breathed heavily and continued to do so. He seethed with rage before letting it all come out.

"You...ANIMAL!!!"

Sora concentrated all his power into the Keyblade, swung round, leapt at Sharak and brought the Keyblade plunging deep into the creature’s face. The emperor screamed as all of the Keyblade’s power surged through him. The light tore at the source of all darkness viciously on the inside. A huge explosion followed and Sharak was sent crashing through the wall out into the sky. Sora and the others looked through the hole in the wall to see a greatly injured Sharak hovering before them, with a lifeless Kairi gathered in his arms.

"This is NOT the end", smiled Sharak, "You will never ever be rid of me, Sora. I’ll always be around to haunt you. I’ll keep on hurting you, I’ll keep on taking away your loved ones one by one and you can keep on fighting all you wish. That’s just further proof of how ultimately naive you are. You’re too stupid to understand the importance of what you’ve lost. You’re too stupid to understand anything. And when you’re the only one still alive, and I’ll finish you off once and for all, you’ll STILL have no idea just how much I’ve taken from you!"

Sharak then fell backwards with Kairi still in his arms. The source of all darkness cackled in manic glee one more time as he fell out of the sky. Sora and the others looked on as he disappeared into nothingness, teleporting back to Castle Sharak and taking Kairi, the other princesses, his allies and the Heartless with him. Sharak’s insane laughter continued to echo throughout Hollow Bastion moments after he’d gone. Sora and the others seethed with hatred as his echoing laughter subsided.

"Jaron", remembered Sora. The Keybearer ran away to find him, with Donald, Goofy and Adam following with the same intentions.

After making it outside, Sora and the others saw everyone else gathered round a dying Saviour. He’d fallen into a nearby lake after falling out of the enormously high castle and had been recovered by Genie. Amazingly, he was still alive but that was hardly any consolation. Everyone looked on in sorrow as they acknowledged the horrible truth that death was inevitable. Jaron gave his most sincere apologies to everyone present and everyone accepted.

Sora, Donald, Goofy and Adam ran over to the Saviour. Jaron smiled as they approached him.

"Donald...Goofy. I’m...so...sorry."

"It’s okay, Jaron", replied Goofy as tears fell from his eyes, "It’s okay."

"You’ve made us all proud", smiled Donald as he also welled up with tears, "Never forget that."

"I...won’t", replied the Saviour, "Thank you for being my friends."

"And thank you", replied the king’s followers, "For being our friend as well."

Jaron looked at his brother, Adam and smiled. The two held hands.

"Adam. I-I’ve found...found you, only to have...lost you...again."

"You’ll never lose me, little brother", replied Adam as he wept, "NEVER."

The two brothers smiled at one another.

"It...it’s still not a crime for big boys to cry, is it?" asked the Saviour’s brother.

"I shouldn’t think so", smiled Jaron as he grunted in pain, "See ya later, big bro."

"I’ll be looking forward to when we are reunited, my sibling", replied Adam. The two said these opposite phrases as a mark of respect for one another, as well as to show how much they loved and appreciated each other. Jaron then looked to his side to see Sora knelt down beside him.

"S-Sora."

"You...can’t...die", said Sora as tears fell from his eyes.

"It’s...too...late", grunted the Saviour.

"I didn’t come here to watch you die", cried the Keybearer, "I came here to save you."

"You already have saved me", smiled Jaron, "In more...ways than...one."

The Saviour seethed in more agony as his death drew closer and closer.

"Jaron, why did you save me?"

"I...I take great...comfort in k-knowing...that you’d do the same for me", smiled Jaron, "And I also take great comfort in knowing...that you’re the best friend I ever had."

Sora held Jaron’s hand and the two friends smiled at one another. Tears continued to fall from Sora’s eyes as he smiled, feeling heartened by Jaron’s words. The Saviour seethed in pain one more time before succumbing to the darkness. His eyes closed and his breathing and heart stopped.

"No...no...no", whispered Sora as he planted his face into his hands and let the tears fall.

Adam also succumbed to letting the tears fall down his face and hit the ground. Expressions of sorrow appeared on everyone.

And a great hush fell over Hollow Bastion.