School has begun. That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it XD

TriforceBrave: Lol, aww, I love Irvine and Laguna ^.^ Cowboys and klutzes are endearing to me, for some reason XD Of course, I love Quistis, Zell and Selphie too. I don't wanna kill them ;_; But as far as Selphie is concerned. . .well, I'm not too sure. I'm thinking I'm just going to take some fan fiction liberties and smudge her age a bit, but we'll see. And "One Winged Jerkface" lololol I love it XD

Anti the Infinity Holic: Aww, poor Sephy plushie. And I didn't even think about Tidus! I always just thought he was some island kid that hung out with Sora o.o Maybe there will be opportunity to bring him in later *muses*. And I agree. There should be more FF8 characters in KH -.-

KMSaum: Well, glad you like icky XD Thanks for all the help, again! Talking some of this stuff over with you really helps me a lot :) I'll message you as soon as I gather my thoughts and come up with some things to run by you ;) And I'm enjoying reading it! I'm ready for life to slow down so I can get back to it XD

Forward!

Getting in had been more difficult than it had before. With a larger party, they looked more conspicuous than just Lea and Squall had, and eventually had to split up and meet in the library.

Squall was prepared for the entrance to be guarded this time, and wasn't surprised when he felt a shift in the air of the room before them; a subtle stirring that was easy to pick up on when you were paying attention. Something was alive and breathing in there.

Squall looked at Selphie and Zell behind him and made a signal with his hand, then pointed at the room. The two nodded and Zell stepped forward with an excited grin on his face. The blond skulked his way closer to the door, looked to make sure Squall and Selphie were close behind, then ducked and rolled into the room.

Gunfire exploded from just around the door, ammunition biting into the carpet where Zell had been a moment earlier. Squall dove into the room, his eyes immediately landing on Braig's back as the sharpshooter took aim on Zell's head. Squall hit the back of his head with the butt of Lionheart and the raven-haired man crumpled to the floor.

"Selphie, tie him up," Squall ordered quietly. "Zell, watch the door." As his teammates hastened to comply, Squall went deeper into the library and pulled back the rug. The trapdoor was shut, but not locked.

"This guy's got some funny scratches on his face," Selphie said as she fastened the zip ties around Braig's wrists and ankles. Squall stepped over to have a look. "Think it's Heartless?" she asked.

Squall shook his head. "No. Those cuts are too shallow. They look . . .human."

"Cloud's?" Zell asked.

"Maybe." Squall looked up to Zell, then back. He picked up Braig's limp form and hauled him behind the desk.

A low whistle alerted him to the arrival of the other team. Zell allowed Quistis, Irvine and Laguna entry into the library. "We got held up by a palace guard," Quistis explained.

"What'd you tell him?" Zell asked.

Irvine smiled. "I told him we were going to break into the basement, destroy valuable equipment, free an imprisoned soldier, and obliterate all other signs of life."

Zell blinked. "And how'd that go?"

The cowboy made a face. "He wasn't impressed. He's sleeping it off in the broom closet."

Zell laughed and clapped him on the back. "Maybe he'll decide that it's all a bad dream."

"Let's go," Squall interrupted, hauling open the trapdoor and stepping down into the dark. His team filed in after him and Irvine worked to close the door behind.

Squall felt his way down the stairs slowly, mindful of the others behind him judging their own steps by the faint sound of his. Aside from that and their even breathing, Squall could hear the hum of ventilation and equipment and low voices.

"—and so what?" the voice of Even rang out suddenly, causing the group to halt in surprise. "Even if he gets his little puppet, what does that get us?"

"We will know for certain that a human heart can be controlled by another," the soft voice of Ienzo came.

"Yes, but what of the visitor?" Even pressed. "The mouse king?"

"What of him?" Xehanort asked absently. He didn't sound too concerned.

"He suspects something!" Even hissed. "And worse, Ansem listens to him! We'll be shut down!"

"We've already been shut down," Aeleus pointed out.

"We'll loose the research, and probably be imprisoned—"

"Nothing of the kind will happen," Xehanort interrupted.

There was a stunned pause before Even spoke again. "What makes you think that? You think we'll receive a slap on the wrist? We have blood on our hands, Xehanort!"

"And when did you develop a conscience?" the other scientist asked. "Ansem will not be a problem, nor will the mouse. I already have plans to take care of them both, if the time comes. All you need to worry about now is the continued production of Heartless and how the Strife boy adjusts to his new state."

"Shouldn't someone check on their progress?" Ienzo asked, his voice closer than it had been. Squall saw a shadow cast in the dim pool of light at the base of the staircase and held his breath.

"Perhaps so. Take Even and find out how they're faring."

Another shadow soon joined Ienzo's and the pair of scientists emerged from the mouth of the room, turned right and disappeared down the hallway.

Squall started breathing again. So, there was a plot to get rid of Ansem? And this mouse king. This ran even deeper than Squall could have imagined. Would it be best to take them all out at once? To ruin the conspiracy before it could begin?

No. They had no witnesses, outside of themselves, and this was too big for Squall to take on himself. Killing the six of Ansem's favored apprentices? He would have to have to take it to the General, or probably Ansem himself for something like this. The King would want an investigation and a trial.

So, their mission remained unaltered. Retrieve Cloud and get out.

Squall continued down, silencing his steps almost completely as he reached the bottom and moved forward enough for the others to do the same. The room that Xehanort and Aeleus were in was only ten feet away. It would be convenient if the two scientists were out of the way, but that posed a problem of its own. If caught, Xehanort would surely call down his Heartless on them, and defeating an army of shadows would be next to impossible with such a small team and in such close quarters. Sneaking by would be difficult, though.

Squall crouched down low and slowly peeked around the corner.

The room seemed to be some kind of library or office, with shelves of books and a desk against the right wall. Xehanort sat at the desk with his back to them, reading some kind of journal under a lamp. Aeleus was pacing the room, amusing himself by swinging his axe sword back and forth in his hands.

Then there was Dilan, whose voice Squall hadn't heard contributing to anything. He sat in a plush chair, a book in his lap. He was facing the doorway.

This would be tricky.

Squall pulled back and turned to his team, informing them of the situation with hand signals. They nodded in understanding and Squall got down again to peer around the corner.

Dilan's face was in his. "Hello, Squall."

Squall wheeled back, bringing up his gunblade in a hasty effort to block the blow aimed at his head. Then Irvine's rifle was at the scientist's temple and the man went ridged.

Xehanort and Aeleus were on their feet, weapons in hand, but also froze as Laguna trained his machine gun on them.

"Never bring a knife to a gunfight," Irvine said with a smirk, plucking Dilan's spear from his hands and handing it to Zell behind him.

"Drop your weapons," Squall ordered the other two. "Get back to the wall and face it."

Xehanort's surprise turned to faint amusement as he let his daggers slip from his hands and clatter to the floor. "Squall, haven't you learned anything by now? This is all pointless."

Squall glared. "I've learned to have Irvine put a bullet in your head if I see a single Heartless. Against the wall."

The humor died on the scientist's face as he scowled. "That would be an act of treason, attacking one of Ansem's apprentices."

"What you're running down here is illegal. Last time; face against the wall or I'll have them open fire."

Xehanort slowly complied and faced the wall along with Aeleus and Dilan. "And what is it you are hoping to accomplish with this?"

Squall motioned to Zell. "Nothing you need to concern yourself with."

Zell positioned himself behind Xehanort and brought the sides of his hands down on either side of the base of the man's neck in a well-placed chop. The scientist crumpled to the floor. Zell repeated the maneuver on the other two with the same results.

"Selphie, Zell, tie them up," Squall ordered.

"Should we secure the other scientists?" Laguna asked, turning his gun to the doorway.

"They should be with Cloud. We'll deal with them then." Squall and Quistis helped the other two drag the bound scientists to the wall next to the door. Then Squall considered a moment who should stay behind to ensure Xehanort didn't come to. This would probably be the safest place for Laguna, anyway. "Laguna, Selphie, stay in here and make sure they don't wake up."

"And if they do?" Laguna pressed.

"Bash their brains in?" Zell suggested.

Laguna looked a bit horrified, and Irvine grinned. "Just knock them out again," Squall sighed. "Quistis, Irvine, Zell, with me."

The three followed him out and down the corridor. Squall led them on a thorough search of several rooms, checking them all for signs of Cloud, scientists, and loose Heartless.

Finally, they found him.

The room had a high ceiling, with containers of Heartless covering most of the walls. Equipment and consoles were scattered around the room and a large, cylindrical tube was in the center of it all with various control panels around it and a green mist swirling inside.

Out in the middle of the floor sat Cloud. He was strapped to a chair, his head bowed and his skin a deathly pale color. Something was draped partially down one side of his back, but other than that, all he had on were a pair of shorts.

Squall fought down the urge to call out to him. He searched the room thoroughly, posted Zell and Quistis at the door, then hurried to the blond's side. "Cloud?" he asked, sliding two fingers below the boy's jaw to check his pulse. It was weak, but steady. Satisfied that he was stable, Squall and Irvine worked to free him. They unbuckled the bonds holding him to the chair and the youth pitched forward. Squall caught him and pushed him back, his hands brushing underneath the strange fabric the clung stubbornly to Cloud's back.

That's not fabric . . .

Squall leaned forward to examine it and pulled the object away from Cloud's body. It stopped and held in place and Squall dropped it like it had burned him.

Hanging from Cloud's back, just inside of his right shoulder blade, sprouted a black, leathery wing. It looked like it had been ripped off of a demon and sewn on. The skin around it was red and inflamed, dried blood still clinging to the appendage and the flesh below.

"Squall?" Irvine asked, coming around the chair to investigate. "What is thi-" he stopped in realization, horror washing over his face at the sight of the wing.

"Give me your jacket," Squall ordered. Irvine mutely removed the long duster and together, they wrapped Cloud in it. Irvine then gently swung the blond over his shoulder, holding him secure with one hand while holding his rifle with the other.

"Squall!" Quistis cried. Squall spun around sharply, his gunblade in his hand. Quistis and Zell were no longer at their posts, but Squall could hear the crack of her whip and the shuffle of Zell's feet just beyond the doorway.

And as he ran for the door, he heard the unmistakable swish of a blade slicing through flesh and a choking gurgle. Then Zell's despairing and furious cry turned into something far more pained and animal. Then the worst sound of all:

Silence.

;_;

Next chapter is going to be SAD. I've cried through most of what I've written. You've been warned! Bring tissues.

Hope you enjoyed, and if you have ideas/thoughts on how the world should end, I would LOVE to hear them. I've been going back and forth on a few in my head and can't make up my mind XD

Have a great week!

God Bless,

-RainFlame