SSFW II - Ninth Round - "Stairway to Heaven"

[Xehanort - Event Guest]

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h21/Wzrdto25/Stairway_to_Heaven.jpg

I'm sure you remember this level. Your goal is to reach the heavens and save the universe from the evil Shadow Gods. As you try to make your way up the mountain darkness will reign down on you from above, hoping to destroy you and everything you stand for.

Eliminated:
Xuan - Older Riku
ShikaX - Chimchar, Piplup, Pikachu
Yellow Flash - Naruto

Good luck and don't die...these mountains are a little too clean to have blood on them.

[UltimaxWeapon]

Almost immeadietely, sora had popped out of the portal from the burning city, and fell into another world. The fall almost knocked him out and it was hard for him to stand up, and open his eyes. He was completely tired from the last round after fighting all of the nobodies, and running through the city, just to survive. Was this competiton even worth it anymore? Or was sora just to detirmind to give up now. He knew, at this point, there was no turning back. The only thing ahead of him was greatness, and a spot in the final round, to fight for team sony, and become the winner. But victory was not goning to be an easy thing. Ever since Xehanort had come along, the road to the final round has been a difficult one indeed. Amost every fight he gets into, he turns into the darkness side of him, and he can't control it. He gets more and more powerful, but he doesn't care who he hurts.

Sora slowly opened his eyes, and took a first look at the new world he was in. It looked like a mountain region, where there was mountains everywhere he looked. But he looked a little farther. And he saw something that amazed him. Quickly, he thought all the way back to the first round, where sora started in the labryinth of chaos. He remembered, the beam of light. Once sora caught his eye on it, he never took them off until he walked away from it compietely. He thought he had seen the last of the beam of light, but he was terribely wrong. Sora looked ahead, and saw, the portal to the heavens. He knew immeadietely what he had to do. And there was nothing in his path.

But there was one thing that bothered sora. He looked everywhere where the portal was, but couldn't find what he wa looking for. There was no other explanaton, except for, Riku and Naruto, have been eliminated from the competiton. Sora felt horrible. He knew how much this competiton meant to Riku, and how much he wanted to win. But he was gone. His best friend, the only one who has always been by his side, and the only one who sora really ever wanted besides him, was gone. Sora, was on his own. Naruto was also eliminated. Sora was just starting to like Nauto and get used to him, but he was also eliminated. It was at this point, that sora had no one to turn to. Him and Axl never really got along since they met, and at this point it's all about getting to the final round. Sora knew exactly what he had to do, but it won't be easy. He fell to his hands and knees, trying to suck up the fact that his friends were gone, and weren't coming back. He told Riku before the last round had ended that he'd see him on the other side. But he was wrong. At the same time, Sora knew that Riku would won't Sora to go on and win the competition. Do what he set out to do since he started the competiton, and do it for team sony. And of course, find Xehanort.

Sora stared back at the beam of light ahead of him. That's where he had to go, and that's where he was going to go. There was no time to rest, and no time to rely on others. The only way he could win the competiton, was to do it on his own. But he knew that his friends will always be with him, in his heart. Sora stood back up and stared at the portal to the gaming heavens, and said, "I will avenge you Riku. I promise!", said sora. He took out his keyblade, and made his way to the portal.

Round Nine, Stay Alive.

[Roxas 1994]

Just as Axl assumed, the vibrate arrays of light collided with his existence. The massive feeling of warmth was truly inviting, almost sending the Reploid into a critical trance. In the robot’s eyes, the light held mercy, making him feel no pain. The divine light that was shining deeply into his metallic eyes did not corrupt his heart, and it surely did not weaken his energetic soul. The mystifying light just felt so liberating, draining away all of the irrational emotions of sadness and depression from his weary heart. He no longer felt the burdened from being almost hollow inside. The darkness that intertwined with his existence was simply cast away from the safe haven.

But as time wore on, the overwhelming sensation grew colder, the distance between the Hunter and the light was increasing, like it was retreating from the small boy. And with just a signal blink of his emerald eyes,the warmth had completely disappeared, making the cold robot seem almost completely lifeless. Now, at that moment, his body was laid across an open field. His bolts that connected his structure felt hollow once again.

‘I wonder where I am now,” The young warrior stated, his gaze was corrupted by a strange blurry feeling. “I bet you it’s filled with death.”

The bulky boy lifted the upper part of his boy up, his version was still distorted. Axl blinked his eyes, trying his best to sharpen his dull eyesight. And with just a mere blink, a sudden expression of complete awe erupted from the pale face of the Hunter, a small smirk soon expanded across his face as well.

In his view, the foundation his gaze was examining held nothing but utter beauty. The mountain held the same peace Axl had uttered along his adventurous path. There was not a single stain of the fowl crimson liquid that he detested so much. And the vibrate sky, the endless void that concentrated a multitude of brilliant rays of light, was also a pleasure for his eyes lay upon. The divine array of the colorful lights was always relieving to his sight. His aggressive nature could only evaporate into the holy clouds above his presence as his wondering soul observed the corridors of the majestic mountains. The special radiance the magnificent land held was a true enigma. His heart could only ponder the bountiful beauty that resided in the divine land ahead.

“This place is amazing,” The Reploid stated, his eyes widened in complete awe. “Do we have to fight here?”

With a quick glance to his forearm, a horrible recollection caught the gaze of the Hunter. Inside his extended hand was his trusty pistol, but he did not wish to see the weapon meant for war to seize his attention. Just with a single glance, the aggressive programming erupted from the archives of Axl’s metallic mind. His lust for battle no longer fowl his breath.

[Wzrdto25]

Kameo touched ground on a cold rock surface, still slightly fainted from the previous stage. Her head was spinning and not only that but everything in front of her seemed to be far away, but close at the same time. After emerging from the deep dizziness she stood up to see the expanse of air lifting in the distance, hovering over the mountains like a spirit pressing through her eyes. As she opened and closed her eyes it felt as if they were on fire, and they began to water. The scraped and cuts along her arms began to sink into her skin. Finally they heal she thought, caressing her arms to make sure no pain was felt. The dark presence inside of her was consuming her still, but after releasing it she had began to suppress it again, this time feeding of it's energy to make herself stronger. She was finally ready to move, without being dizzy.

She took a stepped forward as a spear of darkness shot from the sky and landed in the ground next to her. She gasped, barely stepping aside to miss it. She breathed in and looked up. Darkness filled the sky, but she knew this place was near the end of her journey, pushing herself up from the ground again she stepped forward, dodging another spear that came down from the heavens again. She did the same repeatedly until she got to a safe spot, under rocks. Now she had time to think. If I can just use my elemental powers and this dark power together maybe I can beat my opponents and stop whatever is in those clouds before I put anyone else at risk. She felt a presence behind her grab her and pull her in. She glanced over to see the WotNot standing in front of her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked picking it up from the ground. She examined it, no scratched or tears and then held it in the air, opening it. You are in great danger, it told her flipping pages open itself and reading to her. The dark energy within you is growing out of control, the only way to counteract it is to obtain the light form and use both in a twilight mixture. Kameo grabbed the book and shrunk it, sticking it in her satchel and pulling out her stick, marking symbols int he ground. She was going to try and transform into the light creature and mix it right here, right now. Using all her strength she began to chant, high and loud so that the entire mountainside could hear her.

"Rock grant me your protection, Fire grant me your judgment, Water grant me your stability, Plants grant me your life and Ice grant me your defense" she said calling upon the elements all by herself. If she was going to do this she needed to do it fast. Giant angelic wings sprouted behind her and light poured down on her from the heavens. She was the light form, but the dark form was unreachable, no trace of it had been left. WotNot she thought looking over at it. Madam you must use the light form for now and get a feel for it, you can then use your forms together and conquer everything in your path. She smiled, knowing some fool would dare challenge her and they would lose. She laughed letting her voice fill the air. Floating above the ground with her massive wings and a halo, 6 arms full of spears she was a Goddess herself.

"Who would dare to challenge Kameo: Goddess and Light" she spoke shaking the mountains.

[HappyHeartless]

The world seemed brighter than ever, so bright that Bastila was disgusted by it. She squinted, trying to see where she had emerged from the portal.
There are mountains... rocks... some more mountains and, oh this is just ridiculous.
Anywhere Bastila could see there was nothing but bare mountains, not a single tree, not a house, not a river, barely even a tiny brush. And from above the sun was shining through a cluster of clouds, but it still seemed to shine brighter then it did on cloud free days. Typical my luck she thought, before rubbing her eyes, getting a moments reprieve from that horrible light.

Then she remembered.
The woman, the one who could turn into that large... creature. Thing. All pure darkness, wasn't here. Damnit... Must have emerged at different spots...
Bastila wasn't too eager to track her down. All she wanted now was the Dark Knight, and for each portal she passed through she started to long for her home more and more. She wanted to show those naive people back there what had happened to her, and she would rule the sith. She had been with them before, and the power she now controlled was more powerful than anything she had felt from anyone within the sith ranks. And with the sith under her control she could become the new scourge of the galaxy.

She could not, however, until she found a way out of this place.
There are four ways I can go. North, South, East and West.
There were also mountains reaching high up in the sky, some even past the clouds, but she doubted there would be anything there.

At that exact thought, a cluster of fireballs shot through the clouds, coming straight at her. Bastila was neither tired nor unready, so she easily dodged them all, hearing them hit the ground behind her, blowing tiny holes in the giant mountain.
Who? Is it... Can it be? No. None of those she had met could make fireballs, could they? She didn't take kindly to people trying to kill her though.
The heavens it is!

She sat down to use her farsight, but immediately a hail of ice came down, sharp, and this time faster. She had to throw her entire body forwards to avoid them all, but this was still trouble. It meant that she couldn't stand still, and that she couldn't get the concentration needed to look so far. She felt some power up there, but it was too far for her to make out something for sure.

She started forwards in a slow jog, heading towards the highest mountain closest to her.
If she couldn't find a place to hide from the heavens on the way, this would be one hell of a trip.

[UltimaxWeapon]

Sora walked up and down the steep and narrow mountains, on his way to gameing gods. He could see the beam of light from miles and miles away, but he was no where near it quite yet. Along the waym there was nothing that Sora could think abut except for Riku and Naruto. The only two people Sora had left, were gone, and eliminated. He knew they were ok, and back at their homes. Riku wa probably telling Kairi all about what happened, and how Sora was still in the competiton, with a good chance of winning. Naruto was probably back telling his friends about what happened in the buring city, and close we were from getting destroyed. It was a fun time for Sora, and a very long road But now, it has come down to this. The semi-final round. The winner of this round would go on to fight for the prize of becoming the next gaming god. Could that be Sora? Does Sora really stand a chance at defeating Axl, and going onnto the final round? Only time would tell. But Sora also knew, if he didn't make it the finals, Axl would take home the prize, and win it for team sony. He only wished that Riku was there beside him, because they wanted to defeat Xehanort together. And even if the odds were against him, there was nothing stopping Sora from winning.

The huge mountains went on for miles and miles. Sora was completely exausted from past rounds, and fights. But he couldn't let that stop him now. Sora has come to far, and fought to hard to give up. There was no time to take a rest and save his energy. His hard work has paid off. And even though his friends weren't next to him, they were always with him. As long as they were in his heart, the darkness couldn't take him over. But if it did, that would mean Xehanort wasn't to far behind. But that's what Sora wanted. He wanted to fight Xehanort all by himself, and he's said from the sixth round, that he was going to beat Xehanort and find out why this has all happened to him. Sora had destiny in front of him, and he was ready to win.

[Wzrdto25]

Kameo was floating across the mountain with ease, no darkness was even reaching near her. She was growing stronger and stronger with the light shining in the distance, so much that she barely had to think in order to move. It was unbearable how much she was growing into this form. She lifted herself off the ground and came crashing down into the light above basking in it's glory and feeling the warmth of it on her skin and caressing her face. She was going to try and destroy everything in her path, her angelic wings flowing behind her like a massive tail stroking the air as she flew. It was a free time for her, she didn't have to worry about anything anymore, this power from above was going to protect her and the power inside her, lurking for an escape point. She knew she couldn't give up hope. She was going to pick her battle wisely so she could escape and steal their soul, then get to the light's source.

She dropped her wings and stood on the ground as if waiting for someone to come. She was daring someone to try and attack her, hopefully it would work as she had planned it. She just had to wait here and look helpless, and maybe she could remain sneaky and clever, despite the light growing inside her. Pulling the WotNot book out she began to summon the energy from it and use it to expand her power even further. She was going to be the strongest opponent in this game.

[VenFan]

The radiant sphere of light beamed down upon the mountainous terrain below. The young MegaMan's red armor from his Model OX BioMerge reflected the gleaming, fiery star above known only as the sun. His eyes began to squint immediately upon witnessing it. The sun seemed so close right now. Too close, actually. Closer than he'd ever seen it before. Vent was so high up... So high in the sky. He, along with the other remaining five warriors, were getting closer and closer to the Heavens, where they'd soon meet up with the malevolent dieties of the shadows... The final round was upon them, as was Vent's aspiration...

The boy slowly kneeled down on one knee, getting a closer look at the rocky, precipitous topography. He placed his hands on the mountain's surface below, stroking his hand across it back and forth. Not only had he been surrounded by mountains, but some plant life, as well. On some mountains, moss covered certain parts of the mountains, and where that moss grew also grew small flower buds. This was no place to fight. This place looked too calm... Too peaceful for violence. The last thing he wanted to see was the beautiful green lushness turn into a sea of reddish hues of verdure. The young boy took a deep sigh, slowly lifting himself back up to his feet again.

"There's no way I'm fighting here...," Vent quietly stated to himself. "This place is too serene... Too thriving for this to turn into a graveyard." Of course, Vent knew deep down that he'd most likely be forced to. This was, after all, a world-- no... a universe filled with agression and ignorance. Everywhere he turned, there would be some form of violence in the area. It was just as he had told Axl in the previous world. "Is all this fighting... really worth it? Is being crowned a brute warrior... something to boast about?"

Suddenly, a sea of evocations began to flood his young mind... Memories of Ouroboros, Model W's, Pseudoroids, and many more threats that he'd once faced in his life. He remembered these flashbacks as mindless, senseless battles. But what else was he to do? Just let them run amock and destroy everything down, dwindling humanity down until no life was left? No... He would never allow that. Sure, he had to fight, but it was for a good cause. Not for self-satisfaction or for fun. He did it to save lives. Vent's loosened hands immediately turned into fists of anger.

"No, I've got to fight!" Vent exclaimed. "I have to do this! I have to fight my way through! I'll do this for the many friends I've lost along the way through this competition... And I'll continue to fight until this world-- this universe-- is a safe haven for all life once again!!"

[4thkeybladeholder]

Cecil's eyes opened, looking through the dark lines through his helmet with curious eyes. Immediately he closed them again, half-blinded by the horrible light that shined down so harshly. Lifting his hand, he placed it where he thought the sun was positioned, once more opening his eyes, which were now slightly watering.

Getting up with one hand, making sure the other kept the light from his pupils, he took in the surroundings. Around him now was a huge field of long grass, coming up to his waist, brushing his armor when the wind pulled it along.

The grass was pressed down where he had been laying, ground dug up slightly. That meant he had fallen. Tree's were placed sparsely around his area, letting him know it would be hard for any good-sized man to sneak up on him, unless he came through the grass. Wild-flowers grew as well, hidden behind the mass of green around them. Looking at a small yellow colored flower in front of him, he became silent.

The flower was beautiful, splashes of colors mixed in with the yellow, ranging from purple to pink. The stigma stuck out in an awkward fashion, attracting a bee that was near-by. It lazily made it's way over, sticking himself where the humming yellow bug could collect the rich nectar from it. To many, it could be classified as capturing, a beautiful process of life.

When he moved again, he made sure to step on the flower hard on his way.

[HappyHeartless]

The mountain was getting steeper, and the way more difficult to travel. The wind was blowing faster and harder for every step Bastila took on her way to whoever had tried to hurt her, and while this was annoying, it also slowed her down considerably. Enough for whoever was up there decided it was time to try again. Boulders was rolling down from the mountain, somewhere above the clouds, with a terrifying speed. Bastila was too busy keeping in motion and feeling for energies in the force she didn't notice the threat at first, and when she did , it was nearly too late.

One of the boulders struck the mountain side and made a cracking sound sure to wake a bantha from it's deepest sleep, and Bastila looked up.
"Shit!"
She threw herself flat on the mountain side as the boulders smashed down around her. Rocks both small and big struck her on the back, but none was lethal. It had been close. Too close. I need to rest.
Getting those bastards up there was something Bastila wanted more than most things right now, but to do so she had to prioritize finding a place to rest.

She dared letting her guard down for a few seconds, searching the nearby mountain sides for somewhere she could hide. The light was still shining like on the clearest of days, and quickly she spotted a cave, pretty large, so she headed towards it. It was a little below her, and not far away, so she was able to slide on some moss that was growing on the many rocks. This sped things up a little, and she couldn't deny that it was kind of entertaining. Before long the cave was right before her, it's darkness calling out to her. The closer she drew, the more sinister the cave seemed. It felt.. wrong, just wrong.
I should find somewhere else. This isn't right.

Right when she was about to turn around, a dark laugh erupted from the mouth of the cave. She turned around, and before her stood Cecil, right there in the mouth of the cave. "You!"
He turned around and ran into the cave, and Bastila, blinded by hate, followed.

Only after the entrance closed violently behind her did she realize how she had been fooled, how that was not Cecil at all, but a mind trick. This cave was evil.
Luckily, Bastila knew how to deal with evil.
"So... You want to try and match my darkness?" she yelled out to no one in particular, readying herself for whatever would come. Suddenly a rumbling sound broke the silence, and although she couldn't see it, she knew what was happening. The walls were closing in on her, and it would crush her, destroy every bone in her body.

"As if..."
She ran back to where the entrance once was and placed her hand on the cold stone, feeling the air as it grew more cramped. She called on the force and felt it mass in her hand, ready to blow out any moment. Suddenly she could sense the walls of the cave, they were close. Really close. In a hurry she released the blast in her hand, utterly destroying the wall that had tried to block her freedom.
Light appeared once again, hurting her eyes, but now she didn't care. She threw herself forward and landed on her stomach, listening as the walls behind her closed together, moaning for her to get back. For them to crush her.

I'm starting to get enough of all this bullshit...

[Roxas 1994]

A soft melody followed the passing press, flowing into Axl’s ears. His metallic system felt the warm radiation that reeked over the humble mountains region below his presence. In his emerald colored eyes, his existence felt so irrelevant compared the tremendous beauty that had seized his gaze. His emotions were still trembling with a complete sensation of awe, he could utter no words. The divine lights drove a warm feeling into his hollow bolts, making him actually feel the radiance that was cast over the marvelous lands. The brilliant lands that were equal to his existence also ceased his tongue from creating the exact words his computerized cranium longed for.

“This place is just so beautiful,” The Hunter finally spoke, a slight shock embedded in his stubborn words. “I don’t want to fight here.”

But the dangerous image of his metallic pistol was locked into the archives in his cold system. His mind did not want too ponder the existence the deeds his weapon was created for. The lust for bloodshed no longer dwelled inside his pure heart. His hateful nature seemed to vanish from his structure. Indeed, his hate for the fowl crimson liquid still wore in the clash in his soul. The story behind every stain was surely frightful, making an overwhelming feeling control his commands. The focal point of his actions relied on the solemn hatred he conceived during his weary ambitions. Every wrongful deed was committed by a hateful person and the fowl stench of blood always seemed to radiate into Axl’s cold senses.

[4thkeybladeholder]

The mountains that filled the land were just as bad as the Light itself. Nature thrived in the heavenly light, and the sparse amounts of darkness weren't enough to make him feel comfortable. The idea of that Dark world from the past rounds made him wish he had simply stayed there. It would have been so much easier.

With a sigh that was nothing but hate, his eyes searched for an enemy that he could destroy. The area didn't matter, only the enemies. He would go anywhere to kill those he hated. The shining light gleamed off his armor like a black mirror, making him shiver at the touch. His blade practically growled with disdain, eager to bite into flesh.

It's time to complete that wish, then...

It would be sooner, rather than later. The presence up ahead was filled with light, and a certain power he recognized. The one that had gotten in the way before, when he was settling his revenge. It seemed it was time to settle yet another fight before moving on.

[Roxas 1994]

A disturbing substance caught the sight of the Reploid, seizing his attention away from the bountiful sight that existed in front of his small presence, and his hateful nature once again erupted from the boundaries of his metallic frame. Now, in his sights, stood the deceitful stature of the Dark Knight. In the Hunter’s point of view, the distrustful radiance of darkness still seemed to radiate off the dark warrior's once noble presence, creating a deep passion of anger to envelop inside Axl’s hollow structure. The brutal existence of darkness always tore at the positive emotions that were dwelling in the robot’s cold system.

“I’m taking it you want to fight,” The frail voice of the Reploid spoke, a shaking awareness in his fragile body. “After seeing you fight, I have no intention in letting you escape with darkness dwelling in your heart.”

With a mere thought, the orb that was placed on the small being’s torso quickly shined with a multitude of brilliant lights. The pure energy of the divine light was the cause of his dire actions, making the boy call upon the aid of one of the weapons he had filed into his mainframe. The archives installed in his programming lead to an adventurous path, but the notion of violence and guns still reminisced through Axl’s computerized mind. His once aggressive behavior, his tormented lust for an interesting brawl, was still carved into his memories, and his old soul felt an immense sensation of regret in the multiple emotions that were flooding into his heart.

Finally, after entering the horrible memories, the object he wishes for came into his impressive gaze. He held both of his pistols in his possession up to his chest, trying his best to use his unique ability to transform his pistols into another weapon of war and bloodshed. With a slight nerve that insisted that he nod his helmet covered head, the orb on his chest force the light residing in his soul to come forth. Then, the two weapons levitated into the relaxing breeze, a shade of light still surrounding the metal objects. In the matter of seconds, the odd pistols vanished from existence, but a new weapon had committed to taking its place.

Now, just like before, the replica of the Z-Saber was now in the possession of the Reploid. His hands were tightly pressed around the hard, metal handle of the brilliant blade. His grip was tense, making his hand shake slightly from the massive force he called upon. But the true enigma, at least in Axl’s mind, was the saber itself. It was like it brought the presence of light to the battle field all by itself. A different array of divine lights glistened sharply into the heavens themselves. This was the power of his light, the messiah that save his being from the distant torment darkness brought with it.

[4thkeybladeholder]

Cecil stepped forward with a menacing gaze, his eyes burning holes through his helmet, had they been able to. The wind caused the grass between them to shift slightly to the left, his dark aura trailing off to the side as well. The fighter before him was filled with nothing but Light in the Dark Knights eyes, making him sick, and pleased that he was to be the one to kill this being.

His armor clinked softly as he moved his arm, dragging it to his side to pull out his sword, which was ringing in his hand, full of promises to kill. A sword like this was one to be held proudly, for none other could destroy such as this. The black metal was comforting to him, and at the same time pulled him even deeper into his insane mind-set, making him thirst for the blood of his enemies.

It was with the feeling this sword gave him that the darkness slowly began to reposition itself around his soul, biting into it with greedy teeth. He felt a twinge in response, and the darkness slowly began to latch on, far more than it was before. Darkness began to pour out sluggishly, until it began to act like a fountain. Cecil's eyes went wide as he took another step forward, controlled by the full destructive power that was Darkness, and the wish it had to destroy everything that shined, even in the slightest of ways.

"You shall die."

The voice was thick with the black darkness, making his words heavy and deep. The sword thumped, as a heart would, and Cecil lifted it high in the air. Without a single drop of hesitation in his lost mind, he thrust his blade forward, causing a massive amount of darkness to fly forward. "Omega!"