Purify

Ventus gritted his teeth. He was at a loss about what to do to save his friend. He couldn’t dash in keyblade blazing. He didn’t want to hurt Kiera. 

“Kiera? This isn’t you! What’s wrong with you?” Zack pleaded. 

Kiera growled.

“ThUnDrA!” She shouted. 

She pointed her keyblade at Zack and sent an electric shock running through his veins. He twitched violently and collapsed onto the ground. 

“Zack!” cried Hercules.

Hercules and Ventus rushed to his side and helped him up. Zack looked on in horror.

“I…I’ve seen this before” Zack breathed. 

“What?” Asked Hercules, “Where!?”

“It happened once…to me…” 

.

Just then, Zack unsheathes his giant, sharp bladed sword and pushed his way beside them. 

“I can’t watch someone else suffer from this like I did!” He growled. 

Ventus wanted to inquire more about Zack’s experience, but all he desired to focus on was Kiera.

“There’s only one thing that can bring her to her senses without harming her” Zack continued: “Light.”

“That’s it?” said Hercules.

Kiera rushed forward and took a swipe at them with her keyblade. All three of them jumped out of the way. 

“Not just any light: pure light,” Zack emphasized, pointing to Ventus’ keyblade, “That key, those are the only weapons that can cast pure light without hurting anyone.”

“How do you-?”

Kiera shot fireballs at them and Hercules picked up some ginormous barrels and crates and threw them in front of them, causing the objects to catch fire, but keep the heroes from harm. Ventus thought for a moment.

“I think I may have something that could work,” he proposed, “But I’ve never done it before. I’ve seen Master Eraques teach it to Aqua and Terra. The only problem is, it takes a lot of magic. I don’t know if I’m strong enough to do it.”

“You can do it Ven!” Hercules encouraged, “Zack and I can keep Kiera distracted while you pull it together.”

Ventus frowned. At that moment, he seemed abnormally unconfident.

“Yeah, we’ve got your back!” Zack agreed.

Ventus looked up. Then, he smiled. 

“Okay! Let’s do it!”

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

Hercules and Zack kept themselves in plain view of Kiera’s eyes, while avoiding her strong attacks and speed. Ventus tried his best to concentrate. He closed his eyes. He recalled the words he was supposed to speak to use the keyblade spell. He only prayed that he had the strength and ability to cast it. 

.

Kiera continued her blind rage. The colosseum has been evacuated by Phil, but the stone columns and walls slowly crumbled. A whirlwind of darkness began to build up around Kiera. The bright blue sky grew dark, and thunder and lightning began to lash out. Her pure white eyes scowled in fury. Zack and Hercules grew a little bit nervous, but continued their plan. They were determined to save their friend. Ventus squeezed his eyes tighter.

“I have to save her. I have to save Kiera!” He mumbled, “Aqua, Terra, give me strength!”

Suddenly, he exclaimed:

.

“Purify!”

.

A bright beam of light suddenly shot from Ventus’ keyblade, whom Hercules and Zack barely avoided. It hit Kiera square in the chest and she halted abruptly. 

She stood there, still. The clouds began to clear. Ventus stumbled a bit, suddenly experiencing fainting. Hercules grabbed him before he could fall. Zack watched Kiera closely, mumbling to himself, pleading for the spell to work. Kiera stared at the sky. Ventus lifted his head.

“Kiera!” He cried.

Kiera suddenly turned around and looked at him. Her scowl had melted onto shock. The darkness began to dissipate, inserting itself back into the wound. Her white eyes slowly returned to color, and her skin faded into its normal pink tone. Her expression grew terrified.

“VeN?” She asked, raspy.

Finally, the darkness completely vanished. 

.

Kiera was about to faint and hit the ground. Even though he still felt weak, Ventus broke away from Hercules and sprinted to catch her. He fell to his knees and cradled Kiera’s head in his lap.

“Kiera!? Kiera!” He pleaded, “Come on Kiera wake up!” 

Slowly, Kiera opened her eyes. She was dazed. She looked up at Ventus’s overhanging face.

“Ven…tus…” she breathed.

Ventus smiled, and sighed in relief. 

Suddenly, Kiera’s eyes widened and she sat up quickly.

“Easy!” Hercules warned.

“Is everyone okay? Did I hurt anyone??” She exclaimed. 

“No! No! You’re alright! Everyone’s safe!” Hercules assured, “Phil evacuated all the spectators when the trouble started.”

Kiera sighed and covered her face. 

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to! I don’t know what happened!” She cried.

Ventus rose up to his knees and grabbed her shoulders.

“Kiera, don’t you dare be sorry!” He ordered.

He pulled her into his arms and squeezed her tightly. 

“Don’t you dare be sorry!”

Kiera once again was surprised, but felt warm and secure. She closed her eyes. Ventus glanced at Hercules and Zack. He smiled at them. Hercules and Zack smiled back. 

Ventus loosened his hold and he and Kiera’s eyes met.

“I don’t know what caused that darkness,” Ventus announced, “But I’m here to help you. We’ll find someone. I promise!” 

Kiera smiled, and nodded. 

“Thanks…Ven.”

Ventus smiled again.

“Until then, we need to find somewhere to wind down, law low for a bit.”

He reached into his pocket, and pulled out the Disneytown pass. A sparkle glimmered in his eye.

“And I think I know just where to go…”