Thanks for the review bitterbeauty813, you save me from a painful death.

Jay: *sulking in a corner*

*laughs nervously* on with the story.

disclaimer: i do not own Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, Bleach, 7-Ghost, or any other anime or games involved in this story.

Legend of the Guardians

Chapter 10: Reasons to Fight

Jake's POV

...

I could feel my power steadily increase as the battle progressed and so I made to swipe at him. He sent a wave to halt my efforts but I appeared behind him before delivering a powerful kick to his gut, sending him into the air. He seemed shocked by this and as I sped after him he sent a ave at me. It collided but had little effect on me and so I closed the distance between us and unleashed a powerful wave at him, causing a massive explosion. As he fell he vanished and launched a powerful wave from his hand to my face, causing another explosion.

As I fell to the ground I was to weak to dodge the onslaught of waves he sent my way, and so I found myself silently screaming as agonizing pain filled me to the brim.

...

Is this the end? Is this how I'm going to die? As the questions wondered through my head I was engulfed in a flash of light. The pain left me as soon as it came. At first, I wasn't sure what was going on until I opened my eyes. I was in an empty space filled with light and darkness. As I looked around I noticed that I wasn't alone. Standing a few meters away from me were two beings, One was completely white while the other was completely black. The figures then took shape and what I saw shocked me beyond belief. Standing before me were two figures that looked exactly like me, one black and one white. They then summoned keyblades in their hands and looked to me. Before I could say anything they vanished and reappeared on both sides of me. I raised my blades to block and spun to force them back.

We've seen them.

Before I could look around for the source of the voice the white one appeared behind me and struck, sending me flying. When I recovered the black one appeared above me and punched it's fist into my gut, forcing the air out of my lungs. It then opened it's palm and released a blast of darkness, sending me through the empty space. The black and white then faded and I found myself crashing into the dark margin from before. I got up just in time to block a ball of light and turned around just in time to block a powerful swipe from the white one. I then forced it back and sent a wave of light it's way. It simply lifted a hand to extinguish it.

They were a lot like you.

That voice, I searched for the source just to realize that it was coming from the beings I was fighting. Just as I came to this conclusion the black one appeared before me and struck with it's blade charged with darkness. I charged Aubade with light and blocked it while looking at the faceless being, causing an explosion.

"Who are you?" I asked. The being simply forced me back with powerful brute strength before the white one appeared behind me and struck. I used Omega weapon to block before forcing it back using the Aubade. once it landed it then opened it's palm and charge up an orb of light while the black one charged up an orb of darkness. I put up my keyblades to block just as they threw the orbs at me, causing a HUGE explosion.

We are what's left. Said the black one.

Or, perhaps we are all there was to begin with. Said the white one.

Before the smoke cleared I launched an orb of light at each of them, causing two giant explosions. I then sped to the white one while it was stunned and stabbed it through. It seemed unfazed and just when I thought it was going to kill me it reached out and touched my blades before touching my chest where my heart is. Just then I was engulfed in a blinding flash of light.

Will you be the next one to prove his worth?

When my eyes adjusted I found myself engulfed in a pillar of golden light. I looked myself over to find the the only difference was the power running through my keyblades, causing them to glow. The power of the blade caused the wind to swirl around me as I began to search the sands of this world for my opponent. I found him staring at me wide eyed as he witnessed my new found power. I could feel the incredible power flow through my veins and I couldn't help but smirk under my mask as he got into a battle stance, I knew that this battle was mine. He sent a powerful wave of green darkness my way and the force of my power alone stopped it in it's tracks. I could see the surprise in his eyes as I simply walked through the attack unfazed with an emotionless expression.

I dismissed my blades and his face became expressionless as he tried to determine my next move. My face became emotionless as the overwhelming power began to dull my senses. He then vanished and reappeared behind me before delivering a powerful swipe. The force of my power blocked the attack, causing a massive explosion. When the smoke cleared he stared, dumbfounded as I took his head and forced him to the ground, causing another massive explosion. I then summoned the Aubade and raised it to deliver the finishing blow when his power surpassed mine for a moment, allowing him to escape. I then looked up to find him standing a few feet away with an emotionless expression on his face.

I thought so, he was holding back this whole time. As I came to this conclusion I felt a powerful presence that surpassed mine. He must have sensed it as well because with in seconds I found myself floating high above the kingdom. I then searched for the source of the power to find a giant monster version of the Reaper. When I looked back there was no sign of my opponent. Where could he have disappeared to? As the thought crossed my mind I felt the wind shift and looked down just in time to see the monster unleash a wave of darkness at a group of what looked like bystanders. Without skipping a beat, I sped to intercept the wave. I hope I'm not too late, was my only thought as I closed the distance between me and the wave. When the smoke cleared from the resulting explosion, I charged Aubade with light before launching a wave at the creature as payback for attacking civilians. As it screamed in pain I noticed Jay on the battle field and appeared next to him before turning to the monster who was now laughing maniacally.

"THAT's IT, SHOW ME YOUR TRUE POWER, BEINGS OF TWILIGHT!" it screamed. I could tell it was Grimm from the sound of his voice. Jay and I barely had enough time to acknowledge each other's presence before Grimm struck down with his massive scythe, forcing us to break apart and flank him. Once apart we attacked with a barrage of fireballs and orbs of light. A barrier of darkness appeared to block our blow before he countered with a swift swipe towards Jay. Jay stopped the attack in mid-swipe with his blade, causing a shock-wave of power. He then used his keyblade to send a powerful flame at Grimm, causing a large explosion. When the smoke cleared Grimm seemed unfazed by the attack and struck Jay, sending him crashing to the ground. Grimm then turned and swiped at me with his weapon. I blocked the scythe with Aubade before sending a powerful wave of light using omega weapon. Grimm screamed in pain before striking me, sending me to the ground. He raised his blade to finish me when a wave of red energy crashed into his back. He turned around to see Jay speeding towards him with his blade raised.

He blocked the attack with ease before sending him flying. He then grew dark tentacles from his back and launched a barrage of darkness at him. I then appeared in front of Jay and blocked the attack before Speeding towards him. He raised the massive scythe to block but I forced him back with the strength of the attack. Jay then appeared behind him before unleashing a powerful beam of red energy. The explosion caused the dust to stir and we were momentarily blinded. When the smoke cleared Grimm swiped madly at Jay. Jay easily avoided the strikes and sent a ball of flame at Grimm's face. Grimm then rose his monstrous form to the sky and began to absorb darkness from the monsters he summoned. Amelia appeared by our side and we could only watch as the darkness engulfed Grimm's monstrous form in a massive pillar that seemed to rip large rock formations from the earth itself.

When the pillar vanished Grimm was engulfed in a massive orb of darkness that seemed to be watching the world from beyond the clouds and the rock formation seemed to be floating from lack of gravity. As we looked closer we saw that the rock formations were teaming with countless Hollows. As we measured our odds the barrier of darkness exploded and from it emerged a creature twice the size of Grimm's monstrous form. The creature had two pairs of demon wings and skulls floated around the head engulfed in purple flames. A torn cloth covered all but the flaming skull and the bones carrying the scythes. The hollows charged up their energy and we examined the enemy before looking back to Grimm. Grimm pointed at us and a miniature war broke out.

The hollows unleashed a barrage of energy orbs at us and Jay walked in front to create a flame shield. As the hollows focused their attacks on the shield Amelia and I flanked them on both sides before Taking to the sky and landing on different rock formations, relentlessly striking down hollows. With the hollows distracted with us Jay took down the shield and unleashed a powerful beam of energy that obliterated the smaller rocks that were teaming with hollows before flying in to join the fight. Once I finished off the last hollow on this rock formation I looked around to find Amelia in trouble. The hollows surrounded her before unleashing an onslaught of energy. I appeared before her and created a barrier that shielded us from the attack. When I dropped it I used blades of wind and cut down half of them before moving to the next rock, letting her handle the rest.

As I flew to the next rock some flying hollows appeared and sped towards me. Before they could get close, however, a demon blade engulfed in flames flew by me and cut them down one by one before returning to Jay's hand, who then used his flames to help me get to another rock formation. Once I landed a wave of hollows attacked me. I twirled my blades to get a good feel of them before attacking. As I defeated the second wave a few hollows attacked from behind. I wasn't able to turn around in time to block, but I didn't have to. A beam of purple energy took them out and when I looked for the source I found Amelia heading towards another rock formation. I took down the last wave before looking around to find that half of the enemies have been cut down. I then saw Jay being chased be flying hollows and sent a wave of light to cut them down before moving to the next rock formation.

Sora's POV

We stood there and watched in awe as the monsters were easily annihilated by only three key bearers. The monsters that Squall and the others were fighting had long since disappeared. At first, we didn't know what was going on. That is, until the darkness from the creatures started to be absorbed by the giant monster version of a Grimm Reaper. After seeing this Squall told us to head back and evacuate the city. When we got back, however, we found a barrier protecting it from any stray attacks. Instead, we decided to watch the battle between the monster and the wielders to find any strategies to use against them should we have to fight them.

So far the search seemed in vain. The wielders have grace and amazing skill, allowing them to effortlessly eliminate the creatures. Their power seems unmatched and their stamina seemed endless. So far, no matter how hard we searched we couldn't find any weaknesses, all the more reason to make them allies instead of enemies. Though they were good, there was some thing off about the way they fought. They looked no older than fifteen and yet it's like they've been fighting for more than a few decades. There is also something else about the way they fight. It's nothing like us when we fought to save the worlds, they way they fight looks as if it's deeper than that, as if it's not the world they care about but something that's much more important to them. At first I thought I was over thinking things. That is, until Kairi spoke.

"Hey guys? What do suppose...they're fighting for?" She asked with a hand on her chest and her eyes glued to the battle. At this we looked to her with confused expressions plastered on our faces.

"What do you mean, Kairi?" Riku asked. When she heard her name she gave a quick glance in our direction before looking back at the battle. It wasn't quick enough, however, for we already saw her watery eyes. Kairi was crying.

"It's just...they don't seem to be interested in protecting us at all. It seems...that their fight goes a lot deeper than than that." she said.

"What would make you think that?" I asked softly.

"I can see it...in their eyes. I can see the deep pain in their hearts." was all she said before she let the tears slide freely down her cheek. At her response Riku turned to watch the battle while I stared at the girl before me. I had heard that she had special powers as a princess of heart and that the keyblade allowed her to use those powers. I just couldn't help but wonder at what she saw. As I thought a bout it I found myself watching the fight again. I was watching the fire wielder defeat a bunch of heartless when I saw it.

It was right in their eyes, just as she said it was. When I looked into their eyes all I saw was pain, a deep pain that seemed to be endless. Each had a different kind of pain hidden behind their masked faces. In the one who used flames, I saw anger, frustration and guilt. It's as if he blames himself for a horrible loss and despises his very own existence. When I looked at the girl I saw pity and helplessness, as if she desperately wishes to heal the pain of her friends and end their suffering, no matter the cost. Finally, when I looked to the duel wielder I saw...a deep sadness and turmoil, as if he's angry at the ones who despise him without giving him a chance, but he doesn't blame them and instead blames himself for being different. At the same time it seems that he wishes to pursue a better future despite the odds.

That's when I realized that what Kairi said is true. They aren't fighting for us, they're fighting for themselves, for their own reasons.

Jake's POV

Once I was done killing the monsters on this rock I looked around for my friends. Amelia moved to join me while Jay finished off the flying hollows. We joined up and looked to the beast that was Grimm and saw that he was still gathering dark energy. We defeated the hollows, so where is he getting the energy from? As this thought passed through my head I looked to the town to find it infested with heartless. There were some people with strange weapons who fought the heartless as well as some more keyblade wielders, but at the rate they were fighting they would lose the fight soon. I then looked to my friends to find them looking at the town before looking to me for a plan. I nodded and looked to Amelia.

"You take care of the heartless. Jay and I can handle him." At the end of my sentence I looked to Grimm before turning back to my friends who nodded. Within seconds she was headed for town while Jay and I sped towards the biggest rock formation at the top of this gravity-defying pillar. When we got to it we looked to Grimm to find that he had stopped gathering energy. Amelia's fast. I looked to Jay to find him looking at Grimm with determination in his eyes.

"You ready?" I asked. He looked at me and simply nodded before turning back to Grimm. I turned to Grimm also.

"Alright, let's end this." At my word we ran towards the end of the rock before jumping off and speeding towards Grimm.

Sorry this chapter took so long. I had writers block for a while. I'm also sorry that this chapter is short. I'll try to come up with longer chapters.