Kingdom Hearts: SfE Part 2 - The Final Keyhole and the Mark of Mastery

"Interesting...and is there a limit to this growth?" Gexln questioned.

 

"Only when I am complete. It will take more hearts, but I will be complete." Valdis ran off, going to consume more hearts that would complete it and allow it's full use to it's master.

 

Gexln looked down at the palms of his hands, recalling the last time he had gone into his Dark Form. When i'm like that..i'm not sure if it's a heartless form or not..if it isn't its as close as one can get...could i grow too? he wondered. "How would one such as myself go about growing?" he asked.

 

"Master, you are a Nobody, I do not know how a nobody strengthens, but you will learn how. Eventually." Valdis chirped, swallowing down her 83rd heart, trying to scour the almost desolate islands for more. With another loud scree, she glided to her next prey, 84.

 

"Well..might try a little later then, only one way to find out after all" Gexln said. He looked at the now almost-entirely deserted Destiny Islands. "Quite a bit of damage we've done here. Oh i can't wait until Sora and Riku see their home like this" he said with a slight chuckle.

 

Valdis nodded, her form growing taller and slimmer, the now thick tail feathers truly resembling fire. The "crown" of the head was more prominent, and the Valkyrie helm had melded within the darkness of the head, a full, sharp beak ready to peck anything. She was complete, but still nibbled on a few more hearts. She soon returned to Gexln, towering over him. "Have I done well to complete myself?"

 

Gexln had to strain his neck to look up at the now complete Valdis. "Very well. I would hate to be the one to oppose you" he said. And with any luck, i never will be.

 

Valdis took this as a compliment, crooning with glee. "Thank you my Lord. I am pleased by the compliment." To that, she did a "bow". It wasn't much of a bow, as it was her lowering the angle of her body and spreading out the impressively large wingspan.

 

"Now approaching Destiny Islands..."The gummis computer announced. "Gre-"Sora and Riku looked out the dome as they started coming in for a landing. Corpses, ruins, fire.... Sora's eyes widened in fear. "Oh no..."Riku frowned. "Gexln, Eden... No other heartless though."Sora frowned. "The keyhole has already been sealed here. The only reason they're here must be because they knew we were coming."Riku said.

"Oh greeeat... Any ideas?"Valerie asked. "We can land on our play island. The only way they can get there is by boat."Sora said. The gummi made a slow descent to the trios play island. It was safe...for now. Riku looked, seeing row of boats on the docks. "People must have fled here when Gexln and the beast arrived..."he said.

 

"This is horrible..." Jeffrey could see smoke rising from somewhere on island. "I hope everyone's okay..." Kairi whispered. She knew that many people would have their hearts taken, or even be dead, but she still held a hope that their friends were still alive.

 

"Huh?"Sora noticed a moogle doll carrying a coconut. "Whats Lu's moogle doll doing here?"Riku asked. They watched as the moogle doll made its way to the secret place, heading inside. "The shacks shut too..It's usually open..."Sora looked over to the shack. "Lets check out the secret place first."Valerie said. Riku was still a bit annoyed that so many people knew about it now...

 

"So much for secret, huh?" Kairi joked, seeing Riku somewhat annoyed. Then she remembered that the drawing of her and Sora was there. She blushed in embarassment. "Maybe there are refugees in there," Jeffrey said, walking over to the entrance the secret place.

 

Valdis had noticed the Gummi and where it landed. With narrow eyes, she glanced at Gexln, once again doing her awkward bow. "Master, the keybearers are here. I will go try to overpower them. I shall be back, if things get bad." With two powerful strokes, she was in the air and flying to the play island. Her form was huge, threetimes the size of her beginning self, and she was on fire too, so she looked quite menacing. With a regal swoop, she skimmed the trees of the great island, setting them ablaze.

 

"I'll go in first, thank you..."Riku cut the others off, entering the small cave first. Upon entering where all their drawings were, there came a suprise. "Riku! Oh thank goodness!"Riku's mother wrapped her arms around her son. She was a woman in her late 30s with dark hair but Rikus cerulean eyes. "M-Mom..."Riku turned a light red in embarassment. "Where's father?"he asked. Rikus mother let go of her son, frowning.

Sora was the second to come in, glad to see his parents along with some other refugees with Lulu, Wakka, and Tidus. Sora's mother had blonde hair and emerald eyes, while his dad had brunette hair and Sora's bright blue eyes. "Mom, dad!"Sora went over to his parents, glad that they were okay.

"Sora, honey! What happened to you?"Sora's mother was a bit suprised by Sora's swollen middle. Sora's eyes drifted over to Riku, his face becomming a light red. "Why am I not suprised... You two were always close."Sora's father gave a soft chuckle.

Valerie was about to enter when she saw the heartless bird, getting her daggers out. "I got it!"she rushed to get the bird away from everyone.

 

"Where's the Mayor?" Kairi asked. She couldn't see the man she had lived with since he arrived in the islands anywhere. "He's in the shack with Selphie and Irvine," someone replied. Good, he's safe for now. "Not without me you're not!" Jeffrey bolted after her, knowing they'd have a better chance with two people.

 

Valdis, not just a tiny bird, was as large as three of Riku, and two busses in winglength. She could easily snatch up Valerie like a measly bug. Lighting herself on fire, she swooped towards the lightning bug, king to consume her as she did with countless others on the island, before the one she was attacking burned down of course.

 

Valerie yelped, taking cover. "Protega!"A barrier formed around her so the heartless couldn't harm her. Riku had exited the cave, spotting the pheonix. That beast is going down... No questions asked....

 

"Earth!" Jeffrey launched a volley of stones at the phoenix, not caring whether or not they hit. He drew the katana from his side. "So you're what Eden's become? I gotta admit, it's a step up from a Neoshadow."

 

Valdis angrily breathed a flurry of flames upon Riku, swooping on the shack of wood to try and keep her aerial advantage over the three humans. She flapped her large wings to try and knock them back, slamming her talons in an early victory dance.

 

Riku rolled to the sand to avoid falling to the sand. "This beast has to go down...." "She'll destroy the islands if we don't..."Valerie understood the situation. The shack door opened, Selphie coming out. "heeeey! Leave this island alone, you dumb bird!"she snapped, taking out her nunchaku. Irvine followed Selphie, a rifle at his side. Valerie was relieved at the reinforcements, while Riku groaned at the sight of Selphie.