Hope everyone is still enjoying the story so far!
Loud voices and rushed movement all around the tent make me briefly wonder why I didn't wake before the hand shaking me out of my dreams. "What's going on?"
"The heartless and nobody's are on the move. The monitor is making it look like they're going to show up a lot sooner than we first thought."
Sitting up quickly "have any been spotted?" I fish around my bag next to my sleeping bag I search for a clean set of clothes that will be ideal for fighting in…something loose enough to move around in but not too loose as to easily snag on something and with lots of pockets.
"No not yet. The teachers are getting all your classmates packed and ready for the boat. They called someone so the boat will here pretty soon."
"Why didn't you wake me earlier?"
"You looked tired. I wanted you to rest for as long as possible."
I hum in agreement. Can't really argue with that; I was really tired last night and am glad I was able to sleep in somewhat. "When are they supposed to start showing up?"
"Not until this evening…but according to Cloud and Leon their rate of showing up seems to be increasing exponentially." Changing alongside Axel, I make a mental list of the items I'll need and have during the fight as well as all the islands significant features and locations we briefly agreed upon yesterday. Tying my last shoe lace brings an end to my mental list and a beginning to me and Axel arranging the bonus items Tifa handed out last night in our pockets or in the case of a few defense items securing them to our persons.
Stepping out of the tent, I glance down at my watch; it's just after nine. There should be plenty of time for all the students to get off this island and back to town. I wonder if any of us should go back with them in case some nobody's and heartless show up back on the mainland too.
Everything is going smoothly from the boat arriving and everyone being ready to go and me and Axel helping load the boat. Really it couldn't have even been a quarter to eleven yet when I heard someone scream. Whipping my head up, my eyes search for a disturbance with heartless or nobody's as the cause. I easily spot a few floods that have a quickly growing crowd surrounding them. Resisting rolling my eyes, I raise my voice and tell those within a good thirty feet of me to get on the boat and forget any of their belongings not in hand or already on the boat.
Looking back to where the heartless are, I see Sora and Riku running up and quickly dispatching them. "What are you guys waiting for? Hurry and get on the boat!" Riku yells at everyone staring at him and Sora as well as the place where the heartless were just moments ago. No one moves anywhere just continuing to stare like a bunch of idiots. Soon there's more heartless appearing. Different types and apparently the nobody's have decided to show themselves as well as dusks begin appearing.
"MOVE!" I hear Kairi or perhaps it is Naminé yelling from somewhere in the crowd.
"RUN!" Sora adds right after finally spurring the students and teacher alike into action.
I see small fights breaking out among the students and teacher and a few on the outskirts of the crowd closest to the wooded part of the island between the heartless/nobody's and those of us trained to fight them. Me and Axel stick close together and weave our way through the freaked out mass.
I wait until I'm almost upon a group of dusks then summon my key blades knowing it is much easier to move around my classmates without them in hand. With Axel, we remove the nobody's existence within seconds and keep moving with our weapons out to the next group of non-human beings.
When I hear screams erupt from my left, I follow close behind Axel towards the additional noise. Looking around Axel's body, I see Leon for the first time today being surrounded by higher level nobody's.
I feel my stomach drop as one of the nobody's gets away from him and jumps on a student. Me and Axel try to move faster pushing others aside to get to the fallen and trapped student. Using magic crosses my mind, but with all the commotion I don't think I'd be able to only hit the nobody. The nobody raises itself into a posture I recognize as the one it assumes before attacking. We won't make it in time. As the nobody begins lowering in attack, I hear a single gunshot then the nobody going up in smoke. Through the smoke I make out Leon lowering his gun blade before whipping it back up to fire another shot. Looking at where he's aimed, I see Mrs. Harada stilling when she catches sight of Leon. She obviously isn't aware of the heartless coming up behind her. She looks petrified and currently most scared of Leon rather than the terrorizing creatures all around. As the heartless jumps to attack her, Leon shoots his bullet so it flies right over her shoulder and nails the heartless in the face. She must have heard the impact it made as she whips around in time to see it fade into nothing just inches from her face.
Situation taken care of, we move on and quickly find more heartless and nobody's about to attack. Working in a familiar pattern, I start to feel like we're training and not fighting for our lives as well as for the others in my school. Though I must admit it really doesn't feel much like I'm fighting for my life as I don't find this battle very difficult or strenuous in the least…well not yet I suppose.
For my classmates and teachers lives being in danger, it sure takes them a long time to get to the boat and board it. When there are only a few students and teachers left, I'm able to see everyone: Cloud, Leon, Tifa, Yuffie, Sora, Riku, Kairi, Naminé, and of course Axel. Having never fought along with any more than one person (mainly Axel) this fight doesn't seem…I dunno how to put it but it feels laid back. I've fought this many heatless before but never with much aid from allies…no not allies but friends.
Leon, Cloud, and Tifa meet up and exchange quick words before separating. Cloud heads for the boat and grabbing a kid around their middle as said kid stumbles and is about to fall; tucking the student under his arm Cloud continues on his way running eliminating any and all non-human entities that appear before him. Making quick work of the threats and the distance between him and the boat Cloud jumps on depositing the boy in the arms of those nearest. Jumping back off onto the small dock he ran up, Cloud alternates between helping students board the boat and protecting those coming onto the dock from the attacking heartless/nobody's.
Leon meanwhile seeks out Kairi and Naminé before working his way through the group of nobody's holding them down. Leon must have said something to them for as soon as they are free from defending themselves, they are sprinting towards Cloud shouting magic attacks on their way. They stop a few times to help fellow students from a few stray heartless/nobody's. Bypassing Cloud, they quickly untie the rope securing the passenger vessel to the dock.
All of the students and teachers have managed to either get on the boat or are within a few feet of the docks and boarding. Wait…to my dismay I notice a group of four people out of the corner of my eye: the art teacher Daisuke, Takashi, Satoshi, and Yuffie. They are being chased out of a gap in the trees towards the water closely followed by a few nobody's. As Axel and I are the closest, we race to meet them. Upon reaching where they're at, we fall in step along side them; Yuffie stays long enough to explain "we got attacked and pushed into the woods. Only ones. No one hurt" before she whips around to deal with the remaining pursuers.
Looking around again I see many more nobody's and heartless than there was just a minute ago. It is a very good thing that Daisuke, Takashi, and Satoshi are the only people who can't fight out here. If the whole school was out here like when they first started to appear, there would undoubtedly be so many casualties. We pause en-route to the docks as our path is blocked by swarms of heartless and nobody's. Axel and I position ourselves so the other three are between us and we can each see about half of those circling us. I feel either Satoshi or Takashi press against my back shaking and terrified. Not sparing a glace behind to check who the teenage sized body behind me belongs to I speak up talking only to Axel. "Think you can make a low ring without hurting them? I can freeze the sand after so their feet won't burn."
"You bet Rox. One fire ring coming right on up!" I think he's trying to make Daisuke, Satoshi, and Takashi feel a little better by making it look like this fight really isn't that hard and that they don't have much to worry about. Partly that is true. This fight, at least so far, isn't all that tough and for me, Axel, and our friends we can actually defend ourselves and that in itself is very comforting.
Out of the sides of both my eyes I see Axels flames lick up from the ground and make the heartless and nobody's disintegrate into darkness. As he promised he keeps the flames low and the temperature that reaches us comfortable. At least I think it's low…since I'm immune to the fires harmful effects I can't really tell, but the heat does not seem hot at all.
When most of the enemies are gone and there is a good area for us to break through to the boat, I shout "blizzardra" freezing a path and grabbing the closest person to me and dragging them along behind me. I glance back and see that I've grabbed Takashi and Axel is coercing Daisuke and Satoshi to follow quickly. A few heartless step into my way so letting go of Takashi, I spring forward and cut them down before Axel can catch up with the other two. Heartless taken care of, Axel orders our three charges to "keep running for the boat and don't stop, we'll take care of anything that might attack."
They pause and slowly come to a stop as a few larger nobody's appear suddenly and once again block our path. Arg. We have to get them to the boat so they can all get out of here. The longer they stay the more dangerous it will become. I almost feel like growling in frustration. I wouldn't care much if it was just me and Axel but having to protect someone else is hard and stressful, besides Axel can't use his fire freely since he'd incinerate those we're trying to protect as well as those we're trying to defeat.
"H-how can you guys d-do this?" the art teacher sounds as terrified as Satoshi and Takashi look.
"Years of practice" Axel says "it's really not so bad once you get used to it. I'm not joking I'm sure to you guys think the heartless and nobody's seem scary and all, but me and Roxie here know each of their strengths and weaknesses, we know their attack patterns and there's not one bugger here that we haven't fought it kind before so no worries. This will just take a bit longer that we thought. Just relax and be ready to run for the boat when we get a chance okay?"
Glancing quickly at the trio I'm glad to notice that they each look slightly less pale than before. "Roxas I'll cover you."
"Got it" I dart past them raising my key blades poising them ready to strike. Jumping up and over some of the nobody's I swing my blades down connecting with two different nobody's. Finishing my jump, I land in the mist of them crouching low ready to jump in almost any direction if need be. As one nobody from my side steps forward for an assault, I spring away and drive another back, making quick work until it's fading from all existence. As I round on my next opponent, I feel the heat and rush of fire burn paths around me and the enemies. With a few powerful and well aimed strikes to weak area's on the nobody's, I help Axel's fire deal with the nobody's faster so we can keep moving. Freezing the ground quickly I motion for Axel to bring Daisuke, Takashi, and Satoshi along.
"Dammit" I hear from Axel and as I follow his line of sight I see heartless coming towards us from the ocean.
I allow myself an exasperated grown "not again" and to Axel, "your turn."
"Forget the heartless" I hear Tifa yell from somewhere nearby. Looking to my side I see her pound her way through a group of heartless and nobody's with almost no apparent effort. Her strength really is amazing and the efficiency she uses to get over to me and Axel is impressive. With the smaller opponents she just grabs them and slams them into the ground while with the larger ones she takes out with a few punches and/or kicks.
Axel sends a stream of fire to encircle the former block to the boat and leads the teacher, students, and me around the ring of red heat to Tifa as she joins up with us. From there Tifa does a much better job of keeping us going and not pausing when more distractions pop up demanding attention and posing as potential danger. I guess she would be good at something like this after being on Radiant Gardens restoration committee for so long. Protecting and escorting others must have happened on a regular basis for quite a few years.
By the time we reach the docks, the boat has already pulled feet away from the dock and is too far for us or the art teacher and our friends to jump to. Tifa however, wastes no time in grabbing a hold of Daisuke and yelling to Cloud to catch. When she has Clouds attention, she bodily throws the teacher over the gap and into the waiting Cloud. Cloud manages to catch him and only stumbles a few steps back without falling upon impact. Next Tifa steps in between Takashi and Satoshi to lift one up under each arm. As soon as she's satisfied the teacher is safe, Tifa backs up a few paces to the edge of the dock, pauses looking like she's calculating the distance and how much power she'll need to make the jump, and then she's moving forward and powerfully pushing off the end of the dock leaping over the gap to the boat and landing quite well for someone with a person under each arm.
Seeing the last of my school mates on the boat with the addition of Cloud and Tifa who yell back "we're going with in case of attacks in town" Axel and I turn back and join the fight. Knowing that Tifa and Cloud are going back with the school eases a worry I hadn't even realized I had. I saw Kairi and Naminé on the boat as well. I know the girls can fight, but they both have very limited experiences and from what I've seen of their actual fighting today, I can see they don't know how to really handle their key blades let alone be aggressive enough to do much damage. More likely I feel like they'd just become a point of weakness for us after a while when they start to get tired.
Part of me wishes Tifa and Cloud had stayed but if any heartless or nobody's show up on the boat or back on the main island I feel much better knowing they can handle the situation. They're good fighters and know from being part of Radiant Gardens Restoration Committee how to protect a town and its citizens.
Pushing all thoughts from my mind besides those focused on the battle in full progress around me, I immerse myself in the familiar rhythm of battle with Axel either at my side or protecting my back as I keep his safe in return. Block. Slash. Swipe. Jump. Block. Use magic. I rely on instinct and the sounds of Axel's fighting to guide my chosen movements and risk a glance beyond my immediate vicinity to see how the others are fairing. Not surprisingly I see Sora and Riku fighting together. I notice a few cuts on them and torn clothing but nothing to suggest that they can't take care of each other. A few swipes at some heartless and dodging the blows of another then proceeding to eliminate it, brings me in sight of Leon and Yuffie. They're not fighting close like the rest of us but I can tell they're still working together as a shot from Leon's gun blade helps Yuffie out before she bounds over to Leon to catch her breath before rejoining and giving Leon the chance to reload his ammunition.
"Roxas!" I hear Axel shout before I feel his fire rushing around then disintegrating the heartless that escaped my notice while observing the others. "Keep your guard up and your eyes on what's in front of you. They'll be fine" he shouts at me. He doesn't sound happy with me at all, but can't say I really blame him. I feel guilty about my lapse in attention when I recognize the worry and fear that laces the edges of his voice.
He can't lose me either I realized blocking an attack. He thought he had lost me once already. Setting my face in determination, I take my attackers out in a flourish leaving Axel for a moment to do so. The beginnings of satisfaction at seeing them disappear freezes and plummets as I move to return by Axel's side once more. A large and powerful nobody materializes behind Axel in the span of time it took me to leap away and deal with my opponents. The nobody is facing and towering over Axel looking ready to strike at any given moment. "AXEL!" I scream racing forward and jumping up to attack the largest nobody or heartless that I've seen today. Briefly I remember seeing one of its kind before, but it was only for a few moments and I never hand to do battle with it. The thing is easily a good twenty feet tall, about twice as long and a third as wide. My loud incoming attack quite effectively alerts it to my presence removing its attention from Axel. My jump only enables me to hit it about half way up its body. Its head whips around and I see what I knew would be a feline head. Its jaws are not close enough to make contact with me but it still snaps them ferociously regardless. To make the creature think twice about fully turning to attack me I send a burst of my magic aimed at its face with a call of "blizzardra!"
Landing back on the ground I narrowly avoid a spiked tail trying to impale me, but missing my mere inches. As fire roars up and over its far end where Axel is, I take myself a safe distance away jogging around until I have an unobstructed view of Axel and the nobody. Assessing the situation I take a quick glace around for any immediate dangers to myself or Axel before fixing my gaze back on the oversized creature. In my glace I noticed very few nobody's and heartless remaining. Sora and Leon have both left their fighting partners to the few dangers remaining and are currently running towards the new nobody to aid me and Axel.
Glad to know we've almost wiped all the nobody's and heartless out, I try looking for a weak spot on the felines nobody. Just when it recovers from Axels assault, Axel makes an inferno of his fire, much like the one at the end of our duel a few days ago, but there's nothing calming and reassuring as the nobody growls and seemingly shakes the attack off much like a dog would water.
If I could see my own face I know I would have a similar expression of shock covering it as I see on Axel's face at his fire being shaken off. I wasn't shocked enough to not react however, when the beast lunges at Axel. Raising both my blades I conjure enough magic to release two attacks. Out of one blade races freezing ice "Blizzardra!" and the other not a breath later with the other half of the quickly summoned magic "Curadra!" The ice shoots for the nobody and the healing spell right into the blazing flames I know Axis is in even if the flames are too thick to see through now. Behind me I hear Sora shout off some magic as well and Leon's gun blade going off in rapid succession. Before the beast has even pounced on Axel or our magic/bullets have reached them yet, I'm off sprinting to Axel deathly afraid my efforts were too slow or just plain not enough even with Sora and Leon's back up. Just as it's descending down upon Axel's fire I vaguely notice out of the top of my vision Yuffie's fuma shuriken spinning with a deadly accuracy for the nobody's visible eye. All of our attacks seem to hit the nobody almost simultaneously. My magic freezes part of the nobody's face while Leon's bullets make a trail from its snout on up its head as it gets closer to the ground and Axel. Sora's attacks hit it in the neck and shoulder and Yuffie's large weapon hits the area of its quickly closed eye. The nobody is tilted in mid-air from the force of all our attacks as I hoped it would. However when the beast drops the last feet to the ground, its head crashes down into the flames that until now I hadn't noticed that were trying to get out of the nobody's attack range. The body lands and the away ward motion of the fire ceases. Panic grips me when I notice the flames getting weaker and the nobody getting back up while soundlessly howling in pain and thrashing its head around.
Any thought of my own safety dies as soon as I see the feline descending upon Axel. I can hear someone yelling something but I can't understand the words right now and all I know is that it is not Axel's voice and that I must get to him before the nobody steps on him with all the thrashing and furious stomping it's doing. I run past the closest paw sending ice magic up in its face. By the time I'm to Axel the flames have dispersed and I can see him on the ground barely moving, but moving none the less. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. I repeat in my head to who ever so incredibly relieved that he's alive, hurt, but alive and conscious. Stepping into the fire I feel instantly better, but not entirely as I'm tired from battle and worried almost sick about Axel. I don't watch my back half just not caring and half hoping Sora and Leon will be able to keep us safe. I know it's unfair of me but I can't bring myself to care right now. Crouching down next to him, I pull on his arm until he's laying on his back and not his side. I notice some half healed injures and how he's clutching his head and shoulder groaning in pain. As I start to draw upon my magic, I notice I only have a small amount left; not nearly efficient enough to help heal him. Cursing I lowly I reach into my pocket with shaky hands quickly locating a healing potion and pulling it out. Putting the bottle neck in my mouth, I use both arms to haul Axel up into a sitting position propped against me. When I know I have a good enough hold of him not to let him slip, I free one hand away and grab the potion from my mouth. Using my teeth I pull the cork free of the bottle and spit the cork out to the side. Tilting Axe's head to a good position I slowly pour the potion in his mouth. Axel most immediately begins swallowing. Probably more out of reflex than conscious thought but still he's drinking. Movement behind me reminds me of the battle. Not pausing in pouring the potion slowly into Axel's mouth I turn my head sharply and see everyone trying to keep the nobody from advancing forward and crushing me and Axel. With the sight, all sounds beside Axel's come back at me in full volume, the yelling of my friends telling each other openings or when an attack was coming and for me to move. Leon's running towards me as Yuffie and Riku rejoin us. I almost unconsciously note that Yuffie is using her usually hidden kanai to protect herself with as her fuma shuriken has not yet made it back into her possession.
Turning my head back to Axel I let the last of the potion flow in his mouth before tossing the bottle away carelessly. I need to get him away from here. Now. I can feel the strains of battle taking its toll on my body as my muscles feel weaker and my legs shake slightly with the effort of pushing myself to my feet. As my grip on Axel starts to slip the closer I get to standing, a larger hand moves and grabs a hold of him so he doesn't fall. A second hand grabs Axel's other arm and pulls him past me. Turning with Axel's body, I see Leon hoist Axel across his shoulders then grab his momentarily dropped blade before sprinting away from the dangerous nobody and dragging me along with. I keep up best I can, but the toll of the battle so far make it hard to cross the few hundred feet away to where Leon carefully lays Axel down. Turning to me "stay with him." Like he really needs to say that. I'm not going to be leaving his side anytime soon. Nodding in answer, he runs back over to where I can see Riku block the nobody with his shield defense keeping Sora from harm as the latter quickly downs a healing potion.
As Axel call my name "Rox, Roxas" I quickly walk the few feet between us and heavily plop down beside him my arms already reaching to him to help hip sit up. The closest arm of Axels to me reaches for my shoulder to help himself up while the other goes to his head rubbing it gingerly. Once he's sitting up with my support keeping him up right I question "are you okay? What huts?"
Grumbling before really answering me I do another body scan of Axel's condition. He doesn't really look all that hurt. "I think I need another potion" he says just above a whisper. The hand that was on his head moves slowly for the pocket I know he put his potions in. Doing it for him I reach into the pocket removing the first bottle I feel. Pulling it out I drop it in the sand and reach for another. It was a magic restoration potion not a healing one. Finding what I want on my second try, I open the bottle in the same manner as I did the previous. Holding it up to his lips he opens his mouth and easily drinks it in seconds. With his last swallow he sits up straighter and on his own. Looking almost as lively as usual. "Uhhg I feel like I got totally pummeled."
Face darkening with sudden anger I reply cooling "yeah and you almost died. That nobody hit you when it jumped."
Tearing his eyes away from the fighting he looks as me slightly surprised more at my tone than the content. "Thought so. I remember running away when it leapt then pain and healing magic. Thank you Roxas." He says recalling then reaching out to pull me to him. He notices my stiff posture and resistance to being hugged at the moment. Searching my eyes for a moment before sighing "I'm sorry I worried you Roxas I was trying to get to safe ground."
And just as fast as the anger came it disappears and I practically fall into Axels embrace; warm and most definitely comforting with the sound of his heart beat going strong under my ear. With the anger gone relief floods my body and I wrap my arms around him pulling myself close to him with my face buried in his chest. His arms copy mine, but only for a few moments. When I feel him pulling back my grip on him tightens. "Rox" I feel his hand on my shoulders urging me to move away. "We need to help them."
Fear laces my nerves so I push my face hard into this chest and yell "NO!" I don't want him getting hurt not again…or worse. No, no, NO!
"Rox I wasn't planning on getting within range of any of its attacks. Relax okay. You know I can also be a distance fighter. Remember?" he tones gently with patients not often seen on a battle field. Yes of course I remember…now that he mentions it. Slowly I release him from my near death grip and sit on my own. Smiling gently at me, he picks up the discarded magic restoration potion, uncorks it, and downs the contents in a single gulp. Grabbing my hands he pulls me up with him and answers my unasked question "I feel fine now don't worry." Then adds one of his own back at me "how are you fairing? You look tired."
My mouth lifts in a hint of a smile "I am tired, but otherwise I'm fine. I won't do anything unnecessary." I promise. Just because he scared me half to death doesn't mean I need to return the feelings, nor do I want or need to.
Letting my hands go, he summons his chakrams. Following suit I recall my key blades, when I let them disappear eludes my memories. With weapons in hand we lightly jog towards the nobody thrashing its tail around viciously. As we make our way closer, I see Yuffie as retrieved her fuma shuriken and is quickly running about the nobody throwing the weapon then running and catching it after it strikes. Leon meanwhile is switching between directly striking and firing more bullets. Still fighting together Sora and Riku alternate who's striking and who's getting ready for their next attack or watching the others back in case of the nobody doing something unexpected.
When we reach the battle, but are still out the other nobody's striking range, Yuffie calls over "hey you guys alright?"
Yelling back "good enough" Axel waits until the nobody's side is facing us before he throws one chakram then the other at the exposed flank.
The large feline jerks its head up leaving its neck exposed for Sora and Riku's thunder attacks. The nobody must be reaching its limit. Its attacks and reactions to attacks are becoming sloppy and its movements seem more desperate to hit us then anything thought out and planned. Looking close it looks like the nobody is fading away. Encouraged, I point this out to Axel and we quickly plan a combination attack. As his chakrams return, he catches them both easily immediately ready to throw them once more. With a nod from Axel I gather what magic has replenished in my body to launch two ice attacks at the nobody's side. Following up, Axel slings his chakrams each one aimed for one of the frozen expanses. The chakrams shatter the ice, making the nobody move its attention once more to me and Axel. This gives Sora and Riku a break from dodging and blocking its head and front paw strikes. Before it can get any closer to us, I quickly fish out a magic restoration potion and swallow the substance in a single swallow. Dropping the bottle I feel renewed magic surge through my body. Releasing some of the new magic in thunder strikes, Axel sends a hot rush of flames to chase the lightning burning paths around the enemies body. As the attacks leave us, we both rush back, away from the turning nobody to gain more distance, thus more time to react to any attacks it may perform in retaliation.
At a safe distance away we stop and watch the nobody. Now that I'm standing still and not quite as tense as I was when closer to the feline, I can't help but notice my legs shaking slightly around the knees. Since there is only one enemy remaining with six of us fighting it, my earlier adrenalin rush is leaving quickly making me feel exhausted. My hands and arms have grown tired from wielding my blades. Air rushes down my throat drying it of the little moisture it has on the way to alleviate my burning lungs. I feel like I could collapse at any moment, but I know I have to keep going and moving until the nobody is dealt with. I barely noticed when me and Axel had our fight that I'm not used to having prolonged fights anymore, but I'm really feeling it and noticing a lot more now.
When I fought Axel I'm sure it was my emotions running high from all sorts of positive feelings that kept me from getting tired so fast. Now this fight today has kept my nerves on edge and scared so bad when Axel was down that I'm really feeling it all now – the expanse of how weak I became after becoming a somebody. Also I know fighting Axel was easier because he was only one opponent, I know how he fights, I didn't have to guard against multiple enemies or protect anyone else, and really compared to this nobody he's really not all that much bigger than I am.
"One more attack everyone should do it!" Sora hollers running with Riku following the nobody turning its head to face Axel and I. "Its face and tail are most sensitive" Sora pants out when they reach where me and Axel are warily watching the nobody.
We both make affirmative noises but otherwise wait for in human being to lower its head so we can launch attacks that will cause the most damage.
Meanwhile Yuffie and Leon situate themselves back by its tail readying their weapons. Leon reloading his gun blade once more and Yuffie hefts her fuma shuriken with one hand while fishing out some kanai with her. I think they're waiting for Sora, Riku, Axel, and I to begin the (hopefully) final round of attacks.
Growing impatient with the nobody's unusual lack of aggression with so little life force left, Axel arcs a stream of fire up and then crashing down upon the nobody's face forcing it to lower its head with the down current of the raging flames. With the face in plain full view I release more ice magic creating areas of frozen face only to be shattered by Axel's chakrams slamming in one after another.
From behind the nobody I note Leon and Yuffie attacking themselves. I don't want anything to happen because I was careless and get distracted from the remaining enemy so I refocus my full attention to the front of the nobody.
We all jump back as it swipes its front paws towards us trying to either knock us down or gut us with the claws. Getting tired of missing us, the nobody starts to turn, likely to attack Leon and Yuffie. Before it can get very far, Sora and Riku rush its head shooting off a variety of magic's.
Nudging me, Axel asks for me to summon more lightning and motions to the nobody's torso. I know he'll follow up my magic with his once more. By attacking the middle, Leon and Yuffie have its tail still while Sora and Riku keep up with the head.
So without further ado "thundra!" I yell as bolts of lightning streak from both of my raised key blades. The attack arcs to then surrounds the main body of the nobody followed shortly by a thick current of blazing fire that at first twists around the nobody before thickening and covering then expanse between the shoulders and hips.
The nobody remains solid only until Sora and Riku leap from either side of its lowered head and bring their key blades heavily down together with a final crushing force. For a fleeting moment everything seems to pause as Axel's fire swirls, Leon and Yuffie's projectiles sound their contact, and Sora and Riku come to a halt in their mid-air attack.
Black mist takes place of the once solid nobody allowing Riku and Sora's momentum to carry them through the dark matter before they land on the ground. Axel's flames condense and swirl tighter together as the darkness moves through his fire up to the sky before finally fading into nothing. The fire slowly dissipates as Axel stops feeding it magic and the last of Leon and Yuffie's attacks pass harmlessly overhead.
The battle is over. Relief and total exhaustion floods my body. I can no longer maintain the energy nor will to remain on my feet let alone keep holding my key blades. Letting the blades go, they disappear as I collapse to the ground welcoming the silence and lack of movement around me. "Roxas" I watch as Axel comes into my field of vision plopping down quickly beside me. I manage to lift my arm and reach over and grab his shirt. Tugging on it, I try to let him know that I want to be pulled to him. I'm grateful when he does and situates me to sit sideways in his lap. I'm so tired right now I can barely manage to move my limbs, soon I'm sure I'll be fast asleep. "Hey Roxas, are you alright?"
Nodding sluggishly I manage "yeah, no injuries…just so tired…"
Chuckling in relief "alright I'm glad. Sleep. I'll be here when you wake up."
Letting my eyes slip close as his arms secure themselves around me I whisper "'kay, love you."
"I love you too" I hear. I think he says more but I'm too close to sleep to understand and then I'm dreaming of the good times Axel and I are bound to have in the future.
Yay only the epilogue is left and this story will be complete! Perhaps I'll even finish editing it tonight…though it does need the most work out of all of my previous chapters as it was the most roughly written…well if not tonight then tomorrow for sure!