The tornados came back as they had all expected them to do, and the rains still lashed out as always. It hadn't taken the news of the Diviner's prophecy long to spread to every member, though none of them were quite sure as to what to do. Lost, battle-warn, desperate…
This was the state of every Nobody as they gathered once again in the Hall of Empty Melodies. The thirteen members were keeping quiet, hardly daring to breathe a word to anyone. They were still unsure as to what exactly was going to happen to them, though some were getting more convinced that it wouldn't end well. Marluxia was still firm in his belief that this was the end, and many were beginning to agree with him. Xigbar, for his part, was one of the only ones who still remained convinced that they would make it out alive, Demyx siding with him. Luxord was content to let fate decide, knowing what would happen would happen, while Saïx still believed in hanging on to life, not going down without a fight.
Though, for what they were worth, these four were the only one's either ready to fight or convinced they'd make it out alive. The rest were beginning to go to Marluxia's side.
Xemnas looked around at all of them, seeing Demyx and Xigbar still smiling, even playing and talking happily. Luxord and Saïx were by them, more resigned but talking nonetheless, acting as if it were their afternoon tea instead of their impending deaths. Xemnas knew it'd be up to him to tell them what their next move was, but found he wasn't sure. He was quite certain that they could never win, but at the same time… He would try. He wouldn't let his members go down without fighting for them all. He was the reason they were all there, in Never Was, and he wasn't going to just watch them die because he had failed to try for them.
"I'm going to fight."
The one's who had been talking fell silent, all gazes turning to their Superior, a few in complete shock.
"Fight?" Vexen shook his head. "What can we do, though? We've tried everything we can."
"I'm not saying all of you have to fight. Those of you who would rather stay inside to wait and see what happens, then you may. But I'm fighting, even if I have to fight alone."
He already knew he wouldn't though. As much as he wished for all of them to be safe, Xemnas could see Saïx's small smile and he knew that the Diviner would be fighting with him. He could see Xigbar's unhidden smile, knowing he too would fight, and that Luxord would fight beside him. Demyx had one hand holding onto Saïx's arm, the other holding onto Xigbar's, and Xemnas knew no matter how frightened the Nocturne was he would be there with them. He wouldn't let them go on their own…
Xemnas nodded, walking to the doors. "If you wish to fight, then come and fight. If not, then we'll see you if we return."
He left through the doors, stopping in the next room and turning to see who had followed. Saïx had, as he knew the Diviner would, and Demyx was still beside him. Surprisingly, instead of Xigbar on Demyx's other side, Xemnas found Axel there, determined but silent, not willing to give up that easily. Xigbar and Luxord were there, the Freeshooter already eager to fight, Luxord ready to tempt fate. Zexion and Lexaeus were there as well, ready to do what they could in the oncoming battle. Whether their near death experience had made them fearless, Xemnas didn't know. Perhaps they now knew what it would feel like to die, and they refused to give up yet. Whatever the reason, the Superior was happy they were there. Listening to the sounds of the resounding thunder that came from outside, they began to plan their own counterattack.
Their plan of action had been hard to make, seeing as how their enemy had no exact plan it's self. Xigbar was ready to run out and just go to war, but Xemnas wouldn't risk losing them all just like that… But it was beginning to look as if he'd have to listen to the Freeshooter… Improvise, each and every one of them…
While the tides came back in, all eight Nobodies prepared for the battle at hand…
It was a freezing day when the war for their own home broke out, fought against an enemy that was neither human nor there to murder them.
As with most battles, it started out as planned, and all the Nobodies found themselves close together. It didn't take long for that to change though, and soon they all found they had lost their other members. The rains hit them with such force that it was surprising that any of them were able to still see, and Axel for one found this all miserable work. Trying to evaporate a vast sea was something he had never thought to sign up to do, which was why he was constantly yelling insults at the water as his fire licked at it.
"Take that, you cursed bloody water! How about a little heat, huh!? Yeah, I'm sure you liked that! Well here, have some more!" Axel was fairly certain that he was losing his mind, and also certain that he didn't really care right now.
Demyx, who discovered he wasn't far from Axel upon hearing the red head's curses, had jumped into the water, using all his force to evaporate the water like Axel, making it dry up as much as he could. He knew it would take him years to do it all, felt himself getting tired and impatient already, but he wouldn't give up. This was his family, and he wasn't giving up on them. He knew this wasn't Kingdom Heart's fault, for he understood. He felt for them too, wanted them to realize everything about themselves, to know they had hearts. Maybe this would be good for all of them… Yes, that had to be it. They'd see.
Bubbles suddenly erupted in the water not too far away from him, causing Demyx to gasp. Were there monsters in there now? Something coming for them… But that didn't make sense. They weren't being attacked… Or had another world merged with theirs? The Darkness was certainly behaving strangely enough. Demyx lifted his head out of the water, raising his voice to rise over the wind.
"Axel, watch out! I think there's something in the water!" When he didn't get an answer, he yelled louder. That's when he realized how silent it was. Had Axel moved somewhere else, taking his curses with him? Suddenly, a cold dread fell over Demyx. The bubbles, how far away from him had they been…? Taking a deep breath, Demyx went back underwater, swimming in the direction of the bubbles.
He searched all around, looking for a sign… when he saw the bright red. He blessed Axel's hair, quickly grabbing hold of the Flurry, who was quite known for his lack of knowledge when it came to swimming. Today was no day to make fun of him for it though. Today Xigbar's warning came back to Demyx: "Everyone needs to know how to swim, just in case." Axel had agreed to learn, but had he ever actually took the time to practice on swimming?
Demyx tightened his hold on Axel and quickly pulled him to the surface, Axel coughing and gasping for air when he could once more. He was holding onto Demyx so tight that the Nocturne almost lost his grip, which would cause both of them to fall back into the water.
"Hang on, I'll get us back to shore!"
Demyx tried, pulling with all of his might, but the current had caught them. Reaching desperately, Demyx managed to wrap his hand around a pole that was just breaking the surface of the water. Demyx suspected that it was the decoration on the very tip top of one of the smaller skyscrapers, and the young man tightened his grip like his life depended on it. It was all the Nocturne could do to keep them from being swept out into the city.
His power was gone; he could feel it weighing on him now. Saïx used all the power he had left in him to push the water away one last time and then fell to his knees, looking up to see the water already coming back. He had been without the moon for too long, his power slipping away from him each day, and now… Saïx hit his fists on the ground, feeling the reality sink in. He could no longer help his Superior, could no longer protect Demyx, could no longer stop the water from getting to any of the others… What was more, he knew he shouldn't feel any concern. He icouldn't/i feel any concern. He had no heart… But his heart was up there, he knew, turning his gaze to where Kingdom Hearts used to shine brightly. And his heart was crying for him…
"Hey, Moonbeam, you okay?"
Saïx turned to gaze up at Xigbar, shaking his head.
"I can do no more to help. My power is gone, and now…" He couldn't breathe, thinking of how he had failed them.
"I'm sorry…"
Silence followed his words, when suddenly laughter came from beside him. Saïx looked up, narrowing his eyes, though he knew that without the Berserker inside of him it wouldn't be near as menacing. Xigbar was smiling up at the sky, seeming to have just found the answer to the universe.
"Of course! It's so obvious, I don't know why it took so long to think of it!"
"Xigbar, what are you-"
Saïx had no time to voice his question though, for the Freeshooter had suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. Saïx then suddenly found himself being pulled towards Xigbar, the Freeshooter actually hugging the Diviner close. The next instant, Saïx felt the void wrapping around them, the odd sensation of being two places at once, and then he found himself far above the ground, inside the clouds.
"Xigbar, what are you thinking!?"
It was at that moment that Saïx felt it flowing through his veins, as if the separation from him had been torturing it too. Saïx turned slowly, the feeling of weightlessness upon him, and let his gaze fall on the light before him: the shine of Kingdom Hearts. The light seemed to be coming off of it, leaving the moon and passing into the Diviner. It was coming back to him, the power filling him, Saïx taking in more than he ever had before. His eyes were glowing again, this time with the power within him.
Soon he felt the odd sensation of being in two places at once again, now finding himself on the ground once more. He wanted to thank Xigbar for his assistance, but the power was so strong within him, so uncontrollable, that he could barely think. Without any effort at all, Saïx used his newfound power to push the water back, and the next instant he let the Berserker free once more.
They were losing it, both Axel and Demyx were aware of that. Demyx couldn't keep this up forever, and it was only a matter of time before a tornado caught hold of them. Worse, Demyx couldn't get the idea of monsters out of his head now.
"Demyx, thank you…"
"Consider it my thank you for defending me."
"Yeah, but you just saved my life…"
"Did you see the look in Marly's eyes!? You saved mine, too!"
Axel laughed, coughing afterwards as water was let into his mouth.
"I guess we're even then…"
Demyx nodded, smiling slightly.
"Hey, Demyx…"
"Yeah?"
He had barely spoken the word when he found Axel's lips against his own, the Nocturne momentarily taken aback, blinking repeatedly. The Flurry's lips left his, Demyx finding Axel smirking at his expression.
"What, we're about to die, aren't we? Thought a little more thanks was in order, is all."
Demyx only nodded, still in slight shock from what had just happened, already feeling the strange happiness wrapping around him, making him dizzy. But, he found, in a good way.
Luxord had lived on the sea for many years, had braved many storms that most would have run from, and had survived them all. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to survive this one, but he knew Xigbar was right. He wouldn't go down easily either. It was harder to scatter the water than it was his cards, but he was going to do it, and going to succeed. He suddenly heard laughter, Xigbar appearing beside him smiling.
"It's amazing, but I missed that Berserker trying to kill me."
Luxord merely smirked, shaking his head.
"Do you always find a game in everything?"
"Do you?"
Luxord laughed now, glancing at Xigbar.
"It makes things interesting."
"That it does!" Xigbar agreed, suddenly vanishing again and appearing not far off in the air. He began warping the water away from him, even daring to warp it into a tornado that wasn't far off, amusing himself.
Luxord sighed, shaking his head. That was when he saw it. A tornado that was closer to them, coming from the side, suddenly ran into one of their many buildings. The building swayed for a moment, before finally seeming to give up. In the blink of an eye the whole skyscraper began to crumble, the windows exploding out as the structure came down. It wouldn't take long for the falling remains of the building to crash into the water, but first they would crash into… No...
"Xigbar!"
Xigbar barely had time to turn around to see the pieces of metal that were coming at him before they would hit, giving him no time to run. With this knowledge, he closed his remaining eye and braced himself for the inevitable… But found that the impact never came. In fact, it was as if all sound had been washed from the world. Xigbar slowly opened his eye, seeing his impending doom only a foot above him, perfectly still. He looked down, finding the water below him no longer flowing, the waves frozen in place… And what was more, he was alive to find all of this…
"Xigbar, get down here!"
Xigbar warped without having to be told twice, appearing before Luxord and finding the British man appearing to be furious.
"Why can't you pay more attention, why do you always have to play around in the middle of danger!? Can't you-!"
"You froze time."
Out of everything that had almost happened, that was all he could say?
"Yes, I did."
"You're not allowed to do that."
"You're lecturing me about rules?"
"You froze time for me…"
A smile was breaking across Xigbar's face, and Luxord recognized it as the look the Freeshooter had gotten when the Gambler had suggested they could be friends, given Xigbar would stop stalking him everywhere.
The next second, he found the eccentric Freeshooter kissing him amid the frozen world. Luxord had long ago given up on predicting Xigbar's next move, which was why he hadn't been prepared for this. Despite that fact, it only took a moment for his shock to wear off, and he found himself relaxing into the kiss.
Xigbar pulled back, still smiling, though now it had the slightest hint of a smirk to it.
"I told you that you loved me."
Luxord sighed, trying to wave the remark off, though he knew it was too late.
"Even way back, when you first arrived at Never Was. I told you then that you loved me."
"Yes, yes…"
But a smile was on his lips as well, and it was still there when the world came to life again, not aware in the slightest of the exchange that had taken place while it slept.
Demyx and Axel were prepared now, just as Zexion and Lexaeus had been earlier that day. They were ready to die, taking a strange comfort in the fact that they'd be going together, finding what was waiting for them side-by-side instead of alone. That was why neither of them had been expecting to hear the yells coming from the shore.
"Take a hold!"
"Come on you fools, before one of us has to go out there and make you!"
Demyx looked up in confusion, noticing for the first time that something was snaking its way beside them on top of the water… A means to their survival. He immediately grabbed a hold of it, Axel doing the same to help with the grip.
"Finally, they've decided they want to live! Pull! Pull or it will be the end of you!"
They suddenly found themselves being dragged through the water quickly, and the next minute they were being pulled onto the castle steps.
The vine they had been pulling was thrown to the side, Marluxia and Larxene turning back to the battle immediately, but Roxas kneeled down before the Nocturne and the Flurry.
"Are you two okay? We thought you were already dead when you wouldn't take the vine at first!"
"No, we're okay…" Axel said, not quite grasping yet that they were alive.
"I thought you weren't fighting." Demyx said to the group, just as stunned as Axel.
Larxene sighed, turning to him.
"Yeah, but we care about you idiots. You're our family, we couldn't let you go and commit suicide all on your own."
Marluxia gave a sharp laugh, flowers blooming on top of the water to catch the rain as it fell.
Roxas soon ran to join Marluxia and Larxene, the young boy using his Keyblade to battle the water into the flowers. Behind them, Demyx and Axel both stood slowly.
"Then, we're going to live…"
Axel nodded, just as stunned.
"For now, yeah…"
Demyx suddenly smirked, turning to the Flurry.
"So, what was that you were saying about we were going to die so we had to have last minute thanks?"
A blush slowly spread across Axel's face, the Nocturne smiling even more deviously.
"I didn't mean, I mean, it wasn't, I…"
The Nocturne suddenly pressed his lips to the Flurry's again, the group before them too absorb with the water to look back and notice.
Demyx pulled away, grinning at Axel, the Flurry sighing and looking defeated.
"Ah ha, sure."
Demyx walked away to join the battle again, feeling very lighthearted indeed.
Zexion found his Lexicon could be quite useful when used properly against the water. He opened it to a page about evaporation, watching as the water evaporated before his eyes, smiling to himself. Why had he been so upset earlier? All it took was a little ingenuity.
Lexaeus never left his side, opening the earth and raising rocks from the ground, the Silent protector of the small Schemer. They had things going quite well for the most part, a system worked out.
It wasn't until Zexion's fear came true that things began going downhill for them. One of the tornados did indeed touch the ground, the water rising quickly, lashing out in every direction, throwing daggers made of liquid.
Lexaeus immediately turned, leaning down to cover Zexion and to take the onslaught on his own.
"Here we are again, then…" Zexion mused, thinking of all the mortal danger they had been going through. How much someone could do in one day, he found…
"Yes, and there's a chance we won't survive this time…"
"There was a chance we wouldn't survive last time." Zexion reminded him, smiling at his companion.
Lexaeus nodded, acknowledging the truth in his words, when Zexion reached up slowly, kissing him lightly. Lexaeus neither made a move to hold him there nor push him back, but let Zexion lead, as was their way. The Schemer pulled back, looking up at Lexaeus with worry in his eyes.
"Just in case." Zexion murmured, Lexaeus nodding.
"Just in case…"
Xemnas had done everything to push the water off, using the powers he had obtained when Demyx had joined to keep it back, to keep it at bay. This water was not going to win, one way or another!
He had been fairly surprised to find Saïx fighting back with more ferociousness than the Berserker had left in him, but Xemnas also found that the sight of the Diviner back to his old self gave him a great comfort. Saïx fighting with so little power had worried him from the beginning, and he had half wished that Saïx had been one to stay behind. He knew the Berserker wouldn't have though; Saïx was too loyal, too stubborn…
Xemnas found himself being drawn to the Diviner more and more, something dangerous, something he shouldn't do… He had no heart, no emotions, no cares… But he did care, didn't he? Otherwise he wouldn't be so determined to keep his members alive, to save them… It made no sense, as things often didn't, he had found… All things to think about later though. For now, he had to worry about keeping them all alive. He could worry about the world later. It was with these thoughts that Xemnas returned to the battle, once more doing all that he could to push the waters back and away from his members.
The tornados were closing in on all of them, Xigbar and Luxord both knew that. Xigbar's near death experience had made them more alert, and both of them watched as more and more whirlwinds spawned from the sky, twisting to the earth. A few of them had even landed, rising with the water now, not near as amusing as Xigbar's small water cyclones had been.
The Freeshooter and the Gambler were making sure to avoid the tornadoes, while also trying to keep a watch on everyone else so that they wouldn't get caught in one either. Suddenly it seemed the numbers they were watching were growing… That was why neither of them was that surprised when the wind blew in a new direction, turning the cyclones in the air, breaking them down and destroying them. Xaldin had decided to help them after all. Xigbar smiled, finding more of their members joining the War for Never Was, as he had named this one. The day just kept getting more interesting.
Marluxia for one wasn't in the best of moods, not at all. He was soaked, his hair was a mess and hanging in his eyes, and no matter what he did more and more of that damned rain kept falling! Larxene, Roxas, Axel, and Demyx had all left to guard over other parts of the castle, which left the Assassin alone in his suffering. This had all gotten very old, very fast…
He had watched as the water spouts rose into the air, so he had quickly moved to another part of the landing… only to find the small tidal waves the damned tornadoes made had followed him. Great, more water coming towards him. Yay…
Marluxia quickly made his flowers grow, letting them drink up the water greedily. That would show them… That was when he noticed the shadow that was looming over him. He turned slowly, suddenly finding he was watching as the biggest tidal wave he had ever seen came straight for him… Oh, damn…
Marluxia quickly looked around, finding he had nowhere to run. With as much pride as he could, he held his head up high and stared at the wave defiantly. He actually took a shocked step back as he watched the wave suddenly change before his eyes, the water rippling and turning a strange chilled white color. It took him a minute to realize that it had turned completely to ice. Staring at the water, he saw that some other parts of the surface had turned to ice as well, including a few of those vicious water spouts. He noticed one water spout that seemed to be closing in on two loan figures, though now it was only a tower of ice standing as tall as the castle.
He had been staring in so much wonder at the ice that now surrounded the area that he hadn't heard anyone approaching him from behind, which is why he was surprised when he felt a cold hand on his shoulder, turning him. Vexen's green eyes were narrowed at him, waiting for an explanation.
"What? I had nowhere to go…"
Vexen sighed, acting as if he were ready to hit the neophyte upon the head.
"Marluxia, what were you thinking almost dying on me like that!? Don't you know you have to live!? You have to live…"
For me…
Marluxia could hear the unspoken words, knew they were there below the surface. He actually smiled.
"Why do you care so much, dear Vexen?"
Vexen raised his eyebrow, acting as if there had been nothing in his words at all.
"Because, Marluxia, I need someone to utterly despise, you know?"
"Of course, Vexen." Marluxia replied, innocently twirling one of Vexen's bangs around his finger, looking cockier than the scientist had ever seen him.
"I hate you, Marluxia."
Marluxia grinned wickedly, bringing his lips up to the Academic's.
"I hate you as well, dearest Vexen."
The Assassin closed the distance between him and the Academic, and suddenly there wasn't enough room between them for the conversation to continue.
They were all still alive, every member. It was more than Xemnas could have hoped for, and yet he knew the battle wasn't over. He walked out onto the newly formed ice, smiling at the thought that his old colleague was fighting with them now. In fact, it seemed the entire Organization had joined their cause, all banning together in their final effort to win… But could they win? Despair seemed to fill him as he looked around. The sounds were deafening: the roar of the waves and wind, a strange, distant cracking noise, the cries of the members around him… So strange, to be fighting an enemy that was brought on by his Kingdom Hearts itself…
"Superior!"
It all happened so quickly it was almost a blur. Xemnas turned to see Saïx there suddenly, the Diviner positively pushing him to the side, not usual behavior for him at all. It was then that Xemnas realized what the cracking noise had been. One of the water cyclones that had been frozen by Vexen's desperate attempt to save Marluxia had snapped in two, the top half quickly falling to the ground.
"Saïx!"
Saïx ran towards his Superior, the ice cap missing the Diviner completely, but splitting the ice beneath his feet. The ground suddenly split into two, ice cracking in every direction, and the next moment Saïx was gone, slipping through the ice and into the water, getting caught in the current instantly.
Xemnas didn't need time to think, time to work out what to do next. The Superior had immediately gone in after Saïx, feeling the now chilled water catch him in its current just as it had the Diviner.
It was dark under the ice and water, as Xemnas knew it would be, but it wasn't rational instinct that was guiding him now. This was life or death; not for him, but for his Second. Saïx… Then again, maybe it was his life or death as well… If he couldn't find the Diviner…
That thought was pushed from his mind though; he would find him. And at that moment, he did.
Saïx wasn't far from him, and luckily the water hadn't pushed him down too far. The Diviner was pushing against the current, struggling to get closer to the ice capped surface. Xemnas quickly swam to the Berserker and reached his hand down, while Saïx reached up for his Superior.
Their hands touched, yellow eyes met golden ones, and the next instant Xemnas had his grasp on Saïx's hand, pulling the Diviner up to him. With all the strength that he had in him, the Superior pushed up against the current until he felt the icy chill of the surface above them. He put his hand to the ice, calling forth an Aerial Blade and watching as it sliced through the very ice that was keeping them trapped. The ice gave way, melting into the water, and the Superior and his Second surfaced, both gasping for air, feeling the cold water now mix with the cold wind coming from the ice.
Xemnas quickly pulled himself and Saïx from the chilled waters, laying the Diviner on the ground before falling next to him, both breathing heavily and trying to cough the water out of their lungs. Xemnas had never been more furious in all of his life, thinking of how Saïx had nearly gotten himself killed, all for him! And this time it was no dream, it was real. That's why, in all his anger, Xemnas could never figure out why instead of slapping his Second, he had hugged him, both laying there and taking comfort in the fact that they weren't alone, and never would be.