Melissa leaped back, barely dodging her opponents attacks. This Nobody was much taller than her, with glowing hands and a hood obscuring it's face. It's hands glowed red, and she jumped again, barely avoiding it's fireballs. She sunk into the ground, coming up behind it and slicing it in two. Several more Mage Nobodies showed up behind her, but a burst of water sent them flying, and the Dancers quickly finished them off. Gale and Demyx were behind them, fighting off several Dragoons. Melissa attacked them from behind, cutting three of them to pieces. The remaining Dragoons looked at each other, then flew off, realizing this was a fight they couldn't win.
Ansem fought off several Dusks, as the higher-ranking Nobodies had fled. All that was left was the Dusks and a few Emblem Heartless. Except for one Assassin Nobody, which seemed to be waiting for him. "Ansem, Gale needs your help. Follow me." Ansem did so, quickly finding Gale, Demyx, and a few Assassins being attacked by Zexion.
Zexion tortured Demyx with Thundaga spells, chuckling to himself. Demyx had always annoyed him with his music, and now he would suffer for it. He was so busy blasting Demyx that he didn't see the Assassins sneaking up on him, or so it seemed. They tried to stab him from behind, but his weapon, the Book of Retribution, appeared in front of them, blocking their attack and sucking them inside the book. Gale tried to slice him in two, but Zexion blocked with a copy of Vexen's shield. The ice on it started spreading, entrapping Gale's sword and arm. Zexion then made a copy of Ansem's katana, and stabbed Gale in the gut. Zexion pulled the blade out, ignoring his howls of pain. He opened his book, and Gale was pulled in as Zexion portaled away, the book closing with a decisive snap.
I awoke in darkness, alone except for a vague noise. It sounded like someone walking. With nothing better to do, I got up to find them. Instantly, I stumbled, grasping the wound in my stomach. Cursing under my breath, I muttered, "Cura." Nothing happened. "Huh? Cura! Cura! Why isn't my magic working?" Zexion's chuckle rang through the lightless void. "Your magic works fine. I am simply blocking it." A spotlight appeared from nowhere, revealing Zexion. He was lounging in a bizarre throne. It was clearly a throne, but any other details were hidden by illusions. He was reading a book of some sort, which floated in front of him, slowly turning it's pages. Glancing at me, he healed me, asking, "Do you like the throne? I based it of mine in The World That Never Was." I shrugged. "Well, it's impressive, but I don't remember your throne looking like that." Turning his attention back to the book, he replied, "I'll give the games this: They were incredibly accurate, but the smaller details are somewhat lacking." As he spoke, I summoned my sword and charged at him. Well, I tried to. My feet wouldn't move. In desperation, I threw my sword at him. Zexion snapped his fingers, and the blade stopped in midair. "You can't harm me, not here, inside my Book." A shudder ran through me as a unseen force slammed me into the ground. Zexion disappeared, I heard a horrible sound, like a book slamming shut. That may not seem too bad to you, but to me it rang with all the finality of a dying scream.
Zexion closed his book with a satisfying snap. He smiled as he made his way to the Castle. "Soon, Gale, I will make you see that your hopes are nothing… nothing but mere illusion…"