Chương 4: Chapter 3
The chaotic streets of Zaun felt even more oppressive now that they were being hunted. Every step Powder took felt heavier, her mind swirling with memories and emotions she'd tried so hard to suppress. As they hurried through the alleyways, Sora stayed by her side, his hand hovering close to hers, as if ready to catch her if she faltered. His presence was comforting, but it didn't completely drown out the weight of her past.
Powder's thoughts raced, every corner of the city reminding her of Vi—her sister, the one who had left her behind. Being back in Zaun had stirred up her worst memories, and with every step, it felt like the past was clawing its way back to the surface.
"You're doing great, P," Sora said softly, his voice warm and encouraging. "I know it's tough being back, but you've come so far."
Powder forced a smile, but the truth was, she was barely holding it together. She was strong enough to wield a Keyblade, but was she strong enough to face the demons of her past? She wasn't so sure.
"You think I'll make it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, doubt creeping in. "You think I'll pass the Mark of Mastery AND face my past? What if I mess up like I always do? What if I fail?"
Sora shook his head, his blue eyes filled with determination. "You won't fail, P. You've already proven you're stronger than you know. Besides, I'll be there with you every step of the way." He gave her a playful grin, adding, "And if you do mess up, well, I'll be right there to help you clean up the mess."
That pulled a small laugh from her, despite the weight in her chest. "Always the hero, huh?"
"Only for you," Sora teased, nudging her with his shoulder.
Before Powder could reply, Donald, walking ahead, turned around with a stern expression. "Hey! Less flirting, more focus! We've got some thugs on our tail!"
Goofy chuckled, patting Donald on the back. "Aw, lighten up, Donald. They're just young and in love!"
Powder blushed furiously, while Sora scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Right, right. Sorry, Donald."
But the lighthearted moment didn't last long. Powder's anxiety crept back in, gnawing at her. She hadn't told anyone—not even Sora—about the nightmares she still had. About how sometimes, when she closed her eyes, she could still hear Vi's voice, could still feel the sting of being abandoned. If she failed this test, would Sora abandon her too?
No, Sora was different. He had always stood by her. She knew that in her heart. But the fear, the insecurity, still lingered.
"Oi! What are you kids doing here!?"
Before she could dwell on it further, the sounds of heavy footsteps echoed from behind them. Powder's heart leapt in her chest as she glanced over her shoulder, spotting the gleam of enforcer armor down the alley.
Sora tilted his head, "Who is-?"
"Run!" Powder hollered, grabbing Sora's arm and running for it before he could ask the question. The stomping footsteps of the enforcers gaining up to them.
"They're catching up!" Donald squawked, readying his staff as he ran. "We need to split up!"
"Split up?!" Powder exclaimed, "Splitting up in the horror movie is a bad idea. But in Zaun with enforcers chasing us?! That's a freaking death sentence!"
Donald scowled at her, worry adamant in his eyes, "Ok! Then what's YOUR plan?!"
"Easy! We stick together and run our asses off!" Powder replied sharply, "Come on, this way!"
They darted down another alley, the sound of the enforcers closing in. The chase was frantic—metal clanged, feet pounded, and every corner they turned seemed to lead them deeper into the maze of Zaun.
Just as they thought they'd gained some distance, a sharp pain exploded in Powder's leg, and she cried out, stumbling. An enforcer had fired his weapon, the bullet grazing her thigh.
Sora's eyes went wide. "P!" He caught her before she hit the ground, panic flooding his face. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she gasped, wincing as she tried to stand. The pain was intense, but she wasn't about to let it stop her. "Just keep going."
Before they could even try to move, the enforcers were on them, surrounding the group with weapons drawn. The leader, a burly enforcer with a scar running down his cheek, sneered down at them. "End of the line."
Sora stood protectively in front of Powder, Keyblade raised. Donald and Goofy flanked him, prepared for a last stand. But just as the enforcers readied to attack, something crashed down from above, sending several of the enforcers sprawling.
An unconscious Sevika lay in a heap, having been thrown through a window. Powder's eyes widened as she watched Sevika's body slam into the enforcers, knocking several of them off their feet.
Before anyone could react, the same mysterious figure from earlier leaped down from the building. She moved with the same grace and ferocity, dispatching the remaining enforcers with swift, powerful strikes. Powder's heart raced as she caught a better look this time—the figure was a woman, tall and muscular with reddish-pink hair, bandaging on her arms and what seemed to be a Stillwater prison uniform that was hidden by a slick scarlet jacket, her movements strong despite the clear injury to her abdomen, where blood seeped from a deep stab wound.
Sora's grip on his Keyblade tightened, but Powder's gaze remained locked on the figure as she took out the last enforcer. Then, the woman turned to them, her blue eyes meeting Powder's. She was an older woman, but not OLD old. She was just about in her early twenties.
P's eyes widened.
No.
It couldn't be.
"Vi…?" Powder whispered, her voice trembling.
The woman staggered slightly, her face twisted in pain, but Powder would know those eyes anywhere. It was Vi—her sister. After all these years.
Vi's once cold gaze softened for just a moment, her mouth opening as if to say something, but then her knees buckled. She collapsed onto the ground, unconscious from her injuries.
"Vi!" Powder cried, rushing to her side. She knelt beside her sister, her hands trembling as she tried to assess the wound. "G-Guys, help me! We need to stop the bleeding!"
Sora immediately crouched next to her, trying to help as best he could. Goofy pulled out some bandages from his pack, and Donald began casting healing spells, his focus sharp.
But before they could do much, a sharp click echoed through the alley. Powder's heart skipped a beat as she looked up to see a rifle pointed directly at her.
"Step away from her."
The voice, sloppily sugarcoated in a British accent, was cold and commanding. Powder's eyes widened as she saw a tall woman, also in her early twenties, with sharp sapphire blue eyes and dark navy hair aiming her rifle at them. Powder had zero clue who she was. Again, she hadn't been back here in 7 years.
"We're not a threat!" Sora called, holding his hands up in a non-threatening gesture. "We're just trying to help!"
The woman's eyes flicked to Vi's unconscious form and then back to the group. Her grip on the rifle tightened, suspicion clear in her gaze.
"Then why is Vi bleeding? What did you do to her?" She demanded, her tone sharp as her eyes darted between them.
"She saved us," Powder said quickly, her voice trembling. "Vi—she saved us. We didn't hurt her."
The woman's expression softened slightly as she looked at Vi, though her rifle remained trained on them. "She saved you?"
"Yeah, and now she's hurt because of it," Powder said, her voice thick with emotion. "Please, we need to help her."
For a moment, the woman seemed to hesitate, her finger twitching on the trigger. Then, with a deep breath, she lowered her rifle, though she still kept it in her hands.
"Fine," she said, her tone still cautious. "But we need to get out of here. There'll be more enforcers coming."
Sora nodded, already helping Powder lift Vi to her feet, while Donald and Goofy kept watch. The woman moved closer, her eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger.
"We'll take her somewhere safe," she said, her voice more urgent now. "But we need to move—now."
Powder nodded, trying to hold back the wave of emotions crashing over her. Her sister—her Vi—was alive. But there was no time to process it, not yet. Right now, they had to survive.
As she and Sora lifted Vi's arms around each of their shoulders before lifting her unconscious body up on their backs.
"Sweet Numora! She's heavy!" Sora complained comically.
"Well, she's a lot of women!" Powder jabbed back playfully before she turns back to the front, her face clouding with worry again.
As they hurried through the darkened streets of Zaun, the weight of everything settled on Powder's shoulders, literally. Her past had come crashing back into her life, and with it, all the pain, fear, and hope she thought she had buried.
But this time, she wasn't alone. Sora was with her. And she was determined not to lose anyone again. Not after a part of her past has literally crashed into the present.
—
The safe house the woman had led them to was nestled deep within the shadows of Zaun, hidden beneath the decaying metal and grime. It wasn't much, but it was enough to shield them from the enforcers—at least for now. There was still some homeless people living there and before the women could explain to them the situation, Donald had the small brains, and balls, to drive them out. It wasn't the nicest way to claim shelter, but it was currently an emergency, so it'll do.
Sora and Powder carefully laid Vi down on a worn-out cot with mattress and pillow that the poor homeless dudes had thankfully left behind, while the woman rummaged through a makeshift first aid kit, her movements quick and efficient.
Powder hovered by her sister's side, her hands trembling as she watched the woman begin tending to Vi's wounds. The room was tense with silence, only broken by the quiet sounds of the lady's work and Vi's shallow breaths.
Sora stood close to Powder, a hand resting on her shoulder in a silent gesture of support. But even his presence wasn't enough to shake the guilt gnawing away at her.
"If I hadn't come back… if I hadn't…" Powder's voice trailed off, tears welling in her eyes. She couldn't finish the sentence. She couldn't admit out loud what she feared—that it was her fault Vi was hurt, that her presence had somehow dragged her sister back into the line of danger.
Sora squeezed her shoulder gently. "It's not your fault, P. You didn't cause this."
Powder shook her head, her throat tightening. "But what if I did?"
Before Sora could respond, the woman spoke up, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at the four strangers in her safe house. "Alright," she said, her tone sharp but not unkind. "I think it's about time you explain who you are and what exactly you're doing in Zaun."
Donald, who had been pacing nervously near the door, immediately fluffed his feathers. "Well, I beg your pardon, madam-"
"The name's Caitlyn" the woman interrupted as she introduced her. Powder blinked. Caitlyn. Isn't that the name of the daughter of one of Piltover's council members? If so, what is she doing down her in Zaun, with Vi!?
"Well my apologies Caitlyn." Donald continued ill-manneredly, like always, "But I don't think we should be telling anyone about—"
"Come on, Donald," Sora interrupted, his tone light but firm. "She saved us. I think she deserves to know the truth."
"Saved us, she did, but what about the world order?" Donald interjected, "we can't just blabber about our business to a Po-Po lady!"
"DONALD DUCK!!!" Powder scolded, not like that fact that he called the woman who is saving her sister's life a Po-Po lady.
Caitlyn folded her arms, her sharp gaze unwavering. "World order?"
Sora smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, it's, uh… complicated."
"AND classified!" Donald added before Goofy pulls his hat over his head, covering his beak like a muzzle.
"Classified information." Caitlyn said, her eyes still gleaming with suspicion, but now with a second emotion: interest. "I'm listening."
Sora and Powder glanced at Donald, who had just pulled his out his head out of his hat. The duck lets out an exaggerated sigh of defeat. Sora sighs in relief before stepping forward. "I'm Sora," he began, offering a small, friendly smile. "This is Donald, Goofy, and… Powder."
At the mention of her name, Powder's eyes flickered up to Caitlyn, but she quickly looked back down at Vi, who was still unconscious.
"We're from… other worlds," Sora continued, hesitating slightly as he searched for the right words. "Powder's not from our world, but she's been traveling with us."
Caitlyn frowned, her eyes darting between them. "Other worlds? You expect me to believe that?"
"I know it sounds crazy, but it's true," Sora said earnestly. "We've been to a lot of different places—some that aren't connected to each other like Zaun and Piltover. Powder's one of us now, and we're here to help."
"Help with what, exactly?" Caitlyn pressed, her skepticism clear.
Sora hesitated, glancing at Powder before answering. "There are dark forces out there—things that threaten different worlds. We're trying to stop them."
Caitlyn studied him for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. She didn't look entirely convinced, but there was a flicker of something in her gaze—maybe curiosity, or maybe just exhaustion.
"And you brought Powder back to Zaun because of that?" Caitlyn asked, her tone softening as she glanced at the younger girl.
Powder winced, her shoulders tensing. "No," she whispered, barely able to get the words out. "We're here because… I needed to come back. I needed to face what I left behind."
Caitlyn's gaze softened at that. She knelt beside Vi, wiping some of the blood away from her wound before speaking. "She didn't leave you behind, you know."
Powder's breath hitched. "What?"
"Vi," Caitlyn said quietly. "She didn't leave you behind by choice. She's been fighting ever since."
Powder's throat tightened, her eyes welling with fresh tears. "But she did leave. I saw her! She left me because I… I messed everything up."
Sora's heart ached as he watched Powder struggle with her emotions. He could feel the weight of her pain, the unresolved guilt and trauma she had carried for so long. He wanted to say something to comfort her, but before he could find the words, Goofy spoke up, his voice gentle.
"Gawrsh, Powder, it ain't easy facing the things we're scared of. But ya know, sometimes, the people we love are fightin' their own battles too."
Powder wiped her eyes, sniffling. "But what if… what if I mess up again? What if I get her hurt again?"
"You didn't get her hurt," Caitlyn said firmly, her eyes locking onto Powder's. "Vi's been in danger long before you showed up. She's made her choices, just like you've made yours."
Sora leaned closer to Powder, speaking softly. "You've already come so far, P. You're strong enough to face this. We all believe in you."
Powder's lip quivered, but she nodded slowly, trying to hold onto his words. Sora's faith in her was unwavering, even when she couldn't see the strength he saw. She still had so much to prove—so much she was afraid of. But right now, she just needed to focus on the present.
"Thanks," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Sora gave her a reassuring smile, brushing a stray lock of blue hair from her face. Powder then looks at Caitlyn, who had just finished wrapping up Vi's lower torso with the bandages she got. She sighs in relief, knowing that Vi was now stable and now needs rest.
Donald, trying to bring things back to the immediate situation, cleared his throat. "Now that we're all introduced, what do we do next? Vi needs help, and we can't stay here forever."
Caitlyn stood, crossing her arms as she considered their options. "We need to find somewhere more secure. This place is temporary at best."
Powder's gaze shifted back to her sister, the fear in her heart still heavy but slightly less suffocating now. "What if she doesn't wake up?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"She will," Caitlyn replied confidently, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.
Sora knelt down beside Vi, his hand glowing faintly as he cast a small healing spell. "There. This may help." He said in his usual cheerful tone, even though a hard situation like this. "Don't worry P. Once she's all better, we'll figure out what's next."
Powder nodded, though doubt still lingered at the edges of her mind. She glanced at Sora again, her heart swelling with both fear and affection. He was always there—always ready to help her, no matter how broken she felt.
For now, they were safe. But Powder knew that facing her past was only just beginning.
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực