ZEXION'S POV

"I... I..."

"What, has the cat got your tongue? Or would that be the mutt you take as your natural form?"

He spoke from above me, on that large rock in the center of that forest again. All my nightmares occur in the same place, that dark forest. Trees covered in claw marks and nearly all bark stripped from the trunks about 6 feet high. The snarls and taunts sounded around me from this menace's lackeys hiding in the shadow just outside my sight in the clearing. The eyes just focused on me. For all I cared, they weren't even there. My blood boiled for only one enemy right now, this beast who was getting me to the point of anger that I didn't know myself when I got to that point. I become an animal when I get to that point, I can't be stopped. I become the animal this creature standing before me is. I realized that now. I am fighting what seemed to myself... my demonic side. In truth, I knew that my real strength lies within this beast, so I cannot simply defeat him. He's the heart of darkness I possess. Only I can control him. I can't defeat him, or I defeat my real strength. He's part of me and he needs to know his place. If he is myself, he knows my thoughts, my emotions, my fears...

"Well? What happened to your brave face? Lost it so soon? This was beginning to become fun."

"Fun? What was fun?"

"Oh, you didn't know? This may be a dream to you, but in reality, your friends are being torn apart, both physically and emotionally."

"What?"

"I've been hijacking your body. SURPRISE! From the looks of it, your little fox girlfriend is the most torn up. She's speechless and scared of you now."

"...Lisica"

"Oh, so THAT'S her name. Not very impressive. A fox? The small thieves of the forest. Oh please, who would call her a friend. She can't do anything for you, Zexion. NONE of them can. Even that Grand Guard of yours... the Lion... What is his name?... Simha... that's it, isn't it? Simha..."

"You're wrong."

"Oh, really? I can see inside your mind, Zexion. You think they are nothing. They can't help you stop the hunting of the Paladins. You are finished. You only have faith in yourself, no one else. You think you can just keep them beside you to take the fall for you, and save the Paladins by yourself. I can see it all like an open book... a picture book. Nothing can hide from me... just like you can't hide from yourself."

"You're... WRONG" I don't know what came over me. My body became boiling. My blood seemed to burst, filling my muscles with energy. I just lost all control. I leaped up into the air at the beast. He just evaporated before my eyes. I dug my claws into the rock where he once stood. I snarled as I turned around to see him standing where I was. I flicked my tail towards him. I saw a black streak launch from my tail and tangle around his feet, trapping him. Now's my chance to get rid of him for good. I sprang down upon him. I landed beside him and turned my head towards hi throat and dug my fangs into whatever it grasped. From my view, I had missed his throat and got his shoulder. He had moved last second to cause me to miss. I closed my fangs as far as they would go. The taste in my mouth only fed my chaotic anger and rage. It seemed to flow into me, not just into my throat. I felt strength, sweet power. I felt unbeatable... Immortal. I looked up at him, fangs still sunk into this shoulder. He seemed to feel nothing. He looked at me, then smiled. I knew then that something was wrong.

"Do you feel it? That power? That lust that can't be denied? Devour it, Zexion." It was then I felt the real truth. I felt something ripping, tearing, feeding and growing inside of me. It was tearing me apart, and planting something new. Turning me into something I'm not. I wasn't letting that happen. I realized that's what he was after... me. He wanted to plant that demonic seed... and he did. I released my fangs and he sprang away from me as took his place atop the rock again. My body tingled, almost could say a gentle fire... almost empowering. The sense of release after a punch, the sensation or re-cooperation. I felt different now... I still felt powerful. Like nothing in the world could stop me. Then, I felt it fading from me. Draining my very being. My body craved it, and now the little taste caused an addiction in a second. I looked up at him again.

"You feel it now? I was giving you this power. If you let it grow, it will serve your deepest... and darkest wishes."

"I want this... more than you know... GIVE IT BACK TO ME!" I leapt up to him. For hours, we fought. I fought to keep feeding that immediate addiction to my own dark power. While he just fought to tire me. Eventually, I just stopped. If he wants me to have his power, he will need to hand it over willingly. I just stood there. He assembled before me.

"What is it? Run out of steam already? Don't you want what I offer?"

"No, I believe it's the other way around. You want what I offer... a living host to your power, your other half. If you want me to have it... then hand it over!"

"Oh... you have it backward... this power is just a taste of what you are up against in that world out there."

"Just a taste... hold , you aren't me?"

"Of course not, you fool. I'm much more than that. Much stronger... overwhelmingly stronger."

"Then who are you? TELL ME!" I was letting anger take over again. He led me to believe something false. I wasn't going to forgive him for this.

"You'll discover that in time. If you want to stop me from exterminating the rest of your pathetic Paladin race, then you'll need to abandon them, as I did, and join me."

"You... deserted the Paladins? You WERE one?"

"That's right... Zexion, think about it. You and I together... we can dominate this world. Make it how WE want it to be. Nothing can stop us from bringing the Earth back to it's rightful glory. All the animals can be restored. We just need the power to destroy the humans. THEY are the true enemies here. They killed us off. We cannot let them live for that."

A long silence filled the air. Even the lackeys held their tongues. I thought about it. Why WERE we protecting the humans. They did kill us off, by suffocating the world they lived in, the world WE lived in. They were the species to destroy us...

"You are right, they did kill us off."

"Do you see now that they are the ones who should be killed. Those who felt the humans weren't to blame for the wildlife's downfall were the ones to die in those raids I dispatched to the Paladin centers."

"The DID kill us off... They were the species to nearly destroy us... But... They are still a species that the Grand Mother protects and supports. They are part of the wildlife, like us. They deserve to live. It's the powerful few that deserve to die. The newer generation was born into this curse. We cannot end them when they haven't lifted a finger to harm the Grand Mother."

"You are STILL weak, Zexion. You always have a soft spot for those fleshlings. They don't deserve to take over the world we have inhabited for so long. Think about it. Even with all the power you possess, you will still never live up to me, brother." He leapt down upon me. I felt weak and vulnerable. I know he was raging with my body for that last discussion. I felt no connection to who I was. I almost didn't want to return to my life, just to see what that monster did as me. Or, what I did to myself. I watched as he was coming down upon me. He suddenly faded away, and so did the forest around me.

The darkness divided to reveal a pale light before my eyes. Was it morning already? That night was restless. I sighed a moment, trying to gain sense of what position I was in. I tried to move my arms... and couldn't. What was going on? My eyes finally focused to see Lisica about 9 inches from my face. I gave a small grin. She was safe. He hadn't gotten her. Suddenly, exhaustion struck me. I began to breath mildy heavy. My eyes hung half open as I gained my breath.

"Zexion, is it you?" Lisica spoke softly. I nodded and blinked my eyes once lazily in confirmation.

I panned my view to the left so see Simha being held up by Tora, both of them with awe stricken faces, staring at me. I tried to move my arm again, but still, it was stuck in something. I looked up to my right arm, to see two daggers sticking out of the rock cliff above my arm. I felt no pain, so it must have pinned my coat to the rock.

"Wha- What is this?" I asked.

"It's to keep you restrained... or WAS." Lisica replied, giving a small smile. It seemed so innocent and delicate, but at the same time just struck me... somehow.

"To keep me from hurting you... all of you..." I sighed, closing my eyes a moment sadly.

"Yes..." Lisica said plainly. I felt something touch my shoulder. I jumped. I was on edge.

"It's over now." Lisica spoke as she moved to hover over my right arm, and attempted to pull the daggers from the rock, she tried several times, grunting at the last attempt. I kept staring at the ground. What had happened? What had they seen to be so awestruck. I can only imagine the evil they saw spawned by me.

"Simha... please remove them."

"Sorry..." Simha replied weakly.

"What do you mean sorry? REMOVE THEM!" Tora spoke up, in a loud shout.

"I cannot. I am too weak now to reverse the seal."

"Seal? What do you mean?"

"That seal, represented by the quartet of power absorbing daggers restraining an ally, or supposed ally, is the Seal of the Grand Guard. It can only be used against an ally... who is harming his allies, whether in his own conscience or not. I had to use it on Zexion. He would have killed all of us if I hadn't."

"That's right... The Grand Guards not only protect the Grands from damage, but also protects them from damaging his allies. The Grands are gifted with power that could go against the Paladins. It's their code..." I spoke, my eyes closed, saddened expression.

"So, when can you release him? We can't let the others see Zexion like this. They don't know what happened tonight, they CAN'T kn-!" Tora spoke.

"Just leave me here..." I spoke, breaking the end of Tora's comment.

"What?"

"Leave me to hang here... Let people see what has become of their leader; broken by his own mind, turned on his allies, and spilled blood of his own kind...It's unforgiveable..." I spoke, my head hanging heavy, my whole body feeling like stone.

"Zexion... That's not right. YOU ARE OUR LEADER! WE CAN'T ABANDON YOU LIKE THIS!"

I heard the others stir from Tora's loud comment. The first to stumble into the area was Dominix.

"What's with the shoutin-" Dominix stopped mid sentence. "Oh my... what happened?"

No reply. Aetos followed and landed on Tora's shoulder as he sat holding up Simha still. She made no comment for a while, until it seemed the silence was killing her.

"So, anyone going to tell me why he is pegged to the wall?"

Again, no reply.

"I'll take that a big fat NO." Aetos took flight and flew towards the dead forest to the north. Lisica kneeled down in front of me again.

"We'll get Simha to heal up, then he'll free you. You'll see. Just hang in there." Lisica spoke and turned to help Simha.

"Joke not intended?" I questioned, Lisica stopped and turned. I made no eye contact, I didn't open my eyes for several hours. I didn't care if they forgave me... I couldn't forgive myself. I gave into the power locked within me, lost myself, and hurt those I lived for.

"Welcome to The End." I heard pulse in my head. "All the time we spent together, I was just planning your destruction. The Great Zexion... fails to take down the enemy, or even realize who it is. You STILL haven't realized have you?"

I ignored the voice.

"You don't dare to look in my eyes. Although, looking into your own is all the same."

"You really DON'T know? I can't make it any more obvious for you. I guess when you realize it, it'll be a surprise that will shock you to death." A manical laughter closed the one way conversation and faded away.

Welcome to The End.

Of me?

... or the Earth itself?