The Darkness quivered around Rassia as the image before her displayed
the destruction of Darkness Hearts and the defeat of Ansem. Rassia stood
amidst the image, just behind Ansem, as he spoke to the triumphant Sora.
With the mighty Keyblade held firmly, Sora proclaimed the true nature of
Kingdom Hearts, the true Light. Rassia watched as Ansem was struck hard by
the piercing energy flowing from Kingdom Hearts and fell slowly.
"Light...," was all she heard him say as an expression of comprehension flashed across through his surprised eyes. She extended her hand to him as to touch him, but to no avail. She had seen this coming, had predicted the fall of Darkness by the hand of this strong boy and his friends. It was Ansem who did not understand, but she was determined not to stand in his way. Like a child, he must see for himself. The image faded as Sora and the others closed the door to Darkness and locked it. She had no intentions on watching the final displays of the young warriors' success. She had Ansem to attend to.
Just as the image faded, the darkness began to shake again. Looking up, Rassia saw Ansem's body floating down slowly. Gracefully she walked beneath him and caught him in her arms. Kneeling on the invisible ground she set him at her knees carefully. His eyes were opened slightly and his breathing was shallow. Rassia's expressionless face changed to a bit of deep compassion as she watched her love lying still before her. There was pain shimmering in his amber eyes, and, though she knew he would be all right, for now her heart was gripped by his pitiful state. She leaned over him, her soft hand stroking his cheek gingerly. His eyes fluttered and he took in a deeper breath.
"Rassia...?" he murmured in a husky voice. Rassia nodded. "Rassia, I'm so sorry," he continued, trying to shake his head. Rassia took in a quick breath, unable to properly hold back her emotions.
"Ansem, no. My Love, it's all right. You'll be all right. You-"
"You knew...all along, didn't you?" Ansem asked looking straight up into the lightening darkness. Rassia tightened her lips and pulled her hand away suddenly.
"What do you mean?"
"The Light. You knew," he managed to get out. His voice was deep and hoarse. Rassia let out a deep sigh as she tried her hardest to hold back the tears.
"You were doing so well, My Love. I thought that, maybe, you'd succeed. I tried to tell you, he was strong, very strong," she stammered leaning in closer, her icy hair falling near his face. Ansem breathed in deep taking in its fragrance. He closed his eyes, exhausted. He was in immense pain, the thoughts and feelings he once believed now fleeing from him faster than his body could handle it. Rassia placed her full hand on his pale cheek. She knew his suffering would be only temporary, but how long would it last. "Ansem, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I should have-"
"You did all you knew to do," Ansem whispered. "It is my fault, I pushed your comments away and now.... I deserve this." Rassia shook her head vigorously, a tear escaping and landing in Ansem's hair. He felt the tiny crystal droplet and smiled a bit. "My Lovely, don't cry for me." He lifted his hand and felt her face. More tears fell to meet his frail hand as Rassia grasped it with her own. "I was wrong, I will change. Now, I can be better; better for you," he chuckled feebly.
"There is nothing to change, Ansem. I loved you before and that will not change. I will always be your Queen. I'll always stand beside you, whatever you do." Rassia kept her voice steady as she spoke, despite the tears running down her face. She watched painfully as Ansem grimaced trying to prop himself up on his elbows. "Don't move," she commanded stroking his hair.
She looked out into the dissipating darkness as cracks of light began to stream through an invisible ceiling all around them. A tiny sliver of light fell suddenly down upon the fading Heartless symbol on Ansem's chest and he let out a pitiful cry of pain. Rassia's heart screamed as well as she lay her hand softly upon the spot to protect it. Ansem was not ready to be subjected to the sudden change. He would need more time to heal both, externally and internally.
Quickly, Rassia looked to the vanishing portal and the increased rays of light and knew they needed to leave. With a swift wave of her hand, her sword, Black Rose appeared in her hand. Forcefully she drove the illuminating blade hard into the breaking ground beside Ansem. A sphere of colors arose from the blade and encircled them. Then, growing smaller, it collapsed inward and Ansem and Rassia disappeared along with it. Just after the sphere burst, the black ceiling crumbled inward and a heavy band of light shone triumphantly on the spot where Ansem and his Queen had fled.
"Light...," was all she heard him say as an expression of comprehension flashed across through his surprised eyes. She extended her hand to him as to touch him, but to no avail. She had seen this coming, had predicted the fall of Darkness by the hand of this strong boy and his friends. It was Ansem who did not understand, but she was determined not to stand in his way. Like a child, he must see for himself. The image faded as Sora and the others closed the door to Darkness and locked it. She had no intentions on watching the final displays of the young warriors' success. She had Ansem to attend to.
Just as the image faded, the darkness began to shake again. Looking up, Rassia saw Ansem's body floating down slowly. Gracefully she walked beneath him and caught him in her arms. Kneeling on the invisible ground she set him at her knees carefully. His eyes were opened slightly and his breathing was shallow. Rassia's expressionless face changed to a bit of deep compassion as she watched her love lying still before her. There was pain shimmering in his amber eyes, and, though she knew he would be all right, for now her heart was gripped by his pitiful state. She leaned over him, her soft hand stroking his cheek gingerly. His eyes fluttered and he took in a deeper breath.
"Rassia...?" he murmured in a husky voice. Rassia nodded. "Rassia, I'm so sorry," he continued, trying to shake his head. Rassia took in a quick breath, unable to properly hold back her emotions.
"Ansem, no. My Love, it's all right. You'll be all right. You-"
"You knew...all along, didn't you?" Ansem asked looking straight up into the lightening darkness. Rassia tightened her lips and pulled her hand away suddenly.
"What do you mean?"
"The Light. You knew," he managed to get out. His voice was deep and hoarse. Rassia let out a deep sigh as she tried her hardest to hold back the tears.
"You were doing so well, My Love. I thought that, maybe, you'd succeed. I tried to tell you, he was strong, very strong," she stammered leaning in closer, her icy hair falling near his face. Ansem breathed in deep taking in its fragrance. He closed his eyes, exhausted. He was in immense pain, the thoughts and feelings he once believed now fleeing from him faster than his body could handle it. Rassia placed her full hand on his pale cheek. She knew his suffering would be only temporary, but how long would it last. "Ansem, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I should have-"
"You did all you knew to do," Ansem whispered. "It is my fault, I pushed your comments away and now.... I deserve this." Rassia shook her head vigorously, a tear escaping and landing in Ansem's hair. He felt the tiny crystal droplet and smiled a bit. "My Lovely, don't cry for me." He lifted his hand and felt her face. More tears fell to meet his frail hand as Rassia grasped it with her own. "I was wrong, I will change. Now, I can be better; better for you," he chuckled feebly.
"There is nothing to change, Ansem. I loved you before and that will not change. I will always be your Queen. I'll always stand beside you, whatever you do." Rassia kept her voice steady as she spoke, despite the tears running down her face. She watched painfully as Ansem grimaced trying to prop himself up on his elbows. "Don't move," she commanded stroking his hair.
She looked out into the dissipating darkness as cracks of light began to stream through an invisible ceiling all around them. A tiny sliver of light fell suddenly down upon the fading Heartless symbol on Ansem's chest and he let out a pitiful cry of pain. Rassia's heart screamed as well as she lay her hand softly upon the spot to protect it. Ansem was not ready to be subjected to the sudden change. He would need more time to heal both, externally and internally.
Quickly, Rassia looked to the vanishing portal and the increased rays of light and knew they needed to leave. With a swift wave of her hand, her sword, Black Rose appeared in her hand. Forcefully she drove the illuminating blade hard into the breaking ground beside Ansem. A sphere of colors arose from the blade and encircled them. Then, growing smaller, it collapsed inward and Ansem and Rassia disappeared along with it. Just after the sphere burst, the black ceiling crumbled inward and a heavy band of light shone triumphantly on the spot where Ansem and his Queen had fled.
