So So So Sorry this chapter took so long! (get on knees and begs for forgiveness) this chapter was So HARD to write! I rewrote it three times and finally got it to go the way i wanted, plus work is been... interesting (too say the least). But enough excuses!

On with the Story!


Chapter 11 - Escape Attempt

After a brief moment, Cloud and Leah broke apart to smile at each other before Cloud frowned slightly and gently took her chin in his hand and tilted her head back slightly.

"Who hit you?" his voice was gently but under it was steel.

Leah shook her head, "later"

Cloud's eyes narrowed slightly but he didn't have a chance to press the subject as the rest of the small band of rescuers came towards them.

Cloud put a hand on Leah's shoulder as he introduced the group to her, "seeing as you've already met Sora and Roxas, meet Squall, Bartz and Zidane" he gestured to each hero as he said their name.

"I'm glad you're okay, Leah" Squall smiled at her before he turned to Sora and Roxas, "Do you two see any Heartless or Shadows before and after you rescued her"

Sora shook his head, "It was strange, there wasn't anyone guarding her either"

Roxas nodded in agreement, "yeah, you're the first people we've seen since we got out of that prison place"

Zidane grinned, "So, we must have surprised them and they ran off scared"

Bartz grinned too, "Sweet!"

"Umm, can I add something?" Leah piped up so everyone looked over at her, "sorry to rain on your parade but those Heartless guys knew you were coming"

"What!?" Bartz, Zidane, Sora and Roxas cried out.

Leah threw her hands up in mock defense and nodded, "Yeah, that Head Heartless guy kept telling me stuff about how he was going to enjoy ending this pitifully little rescue attempt and listed in great detail in how he was going to do" Leah's face when hard and her eyes glinted with rage, "and he told me he was especially going to enjoy killing off my brave big brother"

Zidane snorted, "Fat chance, he ran off scare the moment Cloud had him pinned"

Squall frowned as he crossed his arms, "still this isn't good news, they may have some trap waiting for us when we try to leave"

"So what do we do now?" Bartz raised his hands then let them dropped, "we have to go out that way, there is no other way out!"

Squall let out a breath as he raked his hair back from his face, "I didn't say we weren't going out that way, I'm just saying we need some kind of plan first"

Cloud place a hand on Leah' shoulder, "We could do a running battle"

Zidane frowned, "so, we just fight and run?"

Squall nodded, "at the moment, it's our best option"

Sora looked at Bartz, "what do you mean by running battle?"

To his and Roxas surprise, Leah answered, "It's exactly what it sounds like, you run and fight at the same time"

"That sounds… fun" Sora let out a windy sigh, "but what do we fight with?"

Leah reached over and patted him lightly on the shoulder, "you don't fight, you just run" she looked up at Squall, "right?"

"Unless their Keyblades suddenly appear, then yes" Squall glanced at her, "you run too"

Leah smiled, "sure, I run pretty quick" she strode over to the twins and drape an arm over each of their shoulders, "you two follow me, I'll lead you to safety"

Bartz opened his mouth to say something but Cloud cut him off, "trust her on this, if she says she can get them out, she can"

Squall considered it for a moment, "if she can, then a least then we just have to focus on the fighting part"

He looked at Cloud and added in a low voice so the teenagers couldn't hear him, "she seems pretty good for someone who spend just over two weeks as Heartless prisoner"

Cloud shrugged, "she's be though worst'

Squall, Zidane and Bartz all shot him looks of mild disbelief, so he shrugged again, "It's her story to tell not mine"

Squall's eyes were dark as he nodded once in agreement, "we all have our secrets"

"And to tell them is that person's choice" Bartz added solemnly.

"So are we doing this or not?" Sora asked, as he, Roxas and Leah watched the Heroes, wondering what their hushed little discussion had been about.

"Fine, let's decided on how we're doing this first" Squall gestured for everyone to gather up close to him to hear his plan.

-F-I-N-A-L-K-I-N-G-D-O-M-

"Hurry up or they'll catch up" Leah called back over her shoulder to Sora and Roxas. They were racing across the massive room that acted as the entrance of the Fortress. Squall's plan had been a simple one, Sora and Roxas would follow Leah out of the Fortress then in turn she would follow them to where the Airship was hidden. Cloud, Squall, Bartz and Zidane would lag behind them, taking down any Heartless that tried to follow them.

"We're hurrying" Sora forced his legs to go faster, "we're not as quick as you"

Leah flashed him a grin over her shoulder, "do you want me to slow down a bit?"

"That would be nice" Roxas panted out as he managed to sprint past Sora, who was starting to slow down, "come on, Sora, you don't want to be left behind!"

Sora slid to a stop, "I… I just have this bad feeling"

Roxas slowed to a stop too, "what do you mean?"

"It's like a sharp pain in my head," Sora lift his hands and rubbed his eyes, "right behind my eyes"

Roxas touched his brother's shoulder, "Sora, we have to go forward. It's the only way out"

"What's wrong?" Leah looked worriedly at Sora as she jogged back towards them, "if we don't hurry up, we'll be noticed"

Sora dropped his hands, "I know but I think, no, " he shook his head, "I know something bad is going to happen if we go any further by ourselves!"

Leah frowned and crossed her arms, "I don't know about that, but" she held up her hands to shush both twins as they opened their months to argue, "but I don't think we're gonna get a chance to decide!" she grabbed both boys and began to pull them both into runs, surprising them with her strength.

"What? What's wrong?" Roxas stumbled as he and Sora tried to right themselves.

"Just run!" Leah glanced behind them as she let go off their hands and shoved them both in the backs, "Go!"

"But…" Sora looked over his shoulder and saw what Leah had, a huge shadow that run along the walls and pooled on the floor. And it was moving towards them, fast.

The three teenagers run down the hall as fast as they could, well aware the shadow was slowly gaining on them. After a breathless few seconds, the archway leading to the Entrance Hall appeared fuelling them on before their hopes were crushed by the sight of a massive door blocking them from escape on the other side. It forced them to slow to a stop or risk crashing.

"Roxas looked back at the slowly advancing shadow, "now what?"

"Just use that trick you did in the cell" Sora exclaimed

Roxas shook his head, "and if it doesn't work?"

Sora threw his hands up, "and if it does?"

"Move!" Leah shouted as she shoved them both out of the way.

"What are you…?" Roxas began before Leah shushed him as she laid her head on the door and tapped with it with her knuckle

"What's that gonna…?" She silence Sora with one look as she tapped the door again in another spot before she nodded to herself and took a step back.

Tossing her head back, she grinned, "watch and learn, boys" with that she sunk into a low stance with her eyes closed and seemed to gather herself. With a low growl she pivoted on her left foot, bringing the heel of her right foot smashing into the weak spot of the door she had found. With a shuddering moan, the door slowly swung open.

The twins gaped, impressed by both her strength and quick thinking.

"How'd you do that?" Roxas gasped.

Leah shrugged, blushing slightly, "one of Cloud's friends taught me" she smiled shyly, "glad I got it right this time"

Roxas smiled as he gestured towards the door, "ladies first"

Leah blushed a little more as she muttered to herself, "no one's ever called me a lady" as she stepped in ahead of the twins, she didn't see Sora elbow Roxas and roll his eyes at him before Roxas retaliated by punching his brother in the shoulder. Sora just smiled wickly at his brother and followed Leah into the Entrance hall of the Fortress.

-F-I-N-A-L-K-I-N-G-D-O-M-

Zidane ducked under a pair of Heartless' claws before cutting it in half with a quick up sweep of one of his swords, "they just keep coming!"

Bartz danced backwards out of the way of a large Heartless charging at him before he aimed a quick Aero spell forcing it to ram into the wall before he spun and run his sword into its head, "well, we did invaded their base and beat the crap out of the General guy in charge, so I guess they might want some revenge"

"Go figure," Cloud grunted out as he held off a massive Heartless' claw with his sword before he pushed its claw up before he pushed its claw upwards and ducked under it to deal a massive blow across its chest with his sword. Even as it dissolved into dust, another one stepped up to take its place making Cloud snarl in frustration as he dodged out of this way, "this is getting a little annoying!"

"I agree" Squall dodged to the side to avoid one Heartless' claw before bring his sword up to stop another's from slicing him in half, "let's break off and join the kids!"

"Got it!" Bartz grunted out as he sidestepped one Heartless and twirling around in the same move kicked another in the chest causing it to fall backwards in the Heartless that Zidane was fighting. Using one of his swords, Zidane stabbed downwards and finished them off before he and the others retreated though the doorway that lead to the Entrance hall where they'd meet up with the twins and Leah.

As he passed though, Squall used a fire spell to block off the doorway, "so, they can't follow us!"

"Good plan!" Bartz replied as he sent an aero spell back to push the Heartless back and to stoke the flames higher.

"Let's catch up with the kids and get out of here!" Cloud moved to the front of the small group as they sprinted along the corridor.

"Agreed!" Zidane chimed in as he glanced back over his shoulder.

Suddenly from up ahead of them, they heard a loud bang followed by a crashing sound. Fearing what might have or could be happening, the group broke into a full run, hoping that they wouldn't be too late!


Dun Dun DUUUUNNNNNN! Cliffhanger! Next chapter up soon!