Hey, power outage out here, but I'm back! And I promise, I'm still writing!

Also, just because I saw some of his work for the first time in a while recently, I 100% recommend that everyone reading this go to the nearest library or bookstore and ask for something written by Neil Gaiman: the man is a genius!

Chapter 14: Soft Light, Bright Light

Zexion's PoV

The indigo color is…interesting, if nothing else. It isn't big and flashy like the others; it isn't bursting at the seams with raw energy. It's a bit more…subtle than that.

That was my first impression of it anyway. When I finally realized that I was back in the real world, I was a little underwhelmed; I had expected my body to be filled with some unearthly, intense surge of energy. Instead, I just felt…calm.

Don't be disappointed; I may not be as big, but I am far more capable.

That was strange…I wasn't in the web anymore, so why could I still hear it? You're still here? How?

Not entirely; I am the indigo, a part of the Color Collective. I hold most of the collective together by nature, I alone maintain coherency when separated. On your left!

Acting on reflex, I raised my arm in defense—along with the sleek new pole the indigo had made for me—to block what turned out to be a massive wave of yellow energy. The wave was huge, spanning the entire length of the room…but it never hit me. The staff shaped all the energy into a single line before pulling it into its long frame, leaving only a shocked Demyx across from me.

Wow…the indigo—I mean, you—can cancel out other colors?

I can do much more. Now watch.

I did as it said as the energy staff pulled out of itself a new strain of yellow—one with an indigo hue—and fashioned it into a long whip-like strand. The strand then twisted around Demyx's leg and pulled it out from under him, effectively knocking him off balance.

Do you see now? I am the indigo. I am empathy and understanding, the connection between two hearts. I can form solid objects like the others, but my primary function is to make that connection; as long as the host—you—can identify the other's colors, I can bring them forth for your use at your discretion.

I see… I did my best to keep a level head, but honestly? I was over the moon. The indigo, if I could keep it with me, was the key to it all; it was the perfect tool for separating and analyzing the colors' effects and reactions. The doors this could open…but not now; we had other things to worry about. Stuffing Retribution back in my cloak for the time being, I took the staff in both hands and jumped forward to the already-recovering Demyx. It was going to be a fun ride testing the indigo's limits.

Sora's PoV

Man, I cannot stand this world. It's too dark, there aren't any people, and it's always crawling with Heartless and Nobodies!

It's a good thing I learned that glider trick though; I managed to fly past most of them up to the castle. I think my Keyblade must have been homing in on Kairi or something, because I know I wasn't driving the thing; it turned around the halls on a dime, and I had to crouch down and hold on for dear life. It just kept going and going, deeper into the castle than I'd ever been…and then it stopped and sent me flying.

A well-timed Dodge Roll saved me, but it still scared the heck out of me. "Yikes, what gives…?" I looked back at my Keyblade; it was already folding back into its normal shape, and once it was done it dropped down in front of a metal door. I ran over, picked up the key, and slid the door open…opening the biggest can of worms I've ever seen.

The room was completely trashed, and it looked like everyone inside was hard at work causing more damage. I couldn't believe what I was seeing; they were everywhere, shooting colors at each other like fireworks: yellow, orange, dark-blue…and purple. I snapped into focus and ran inside, knocking aside a few wild blasts and trying desperately to find—

"Sora! Over here!"

I didn't even get the chance to find out who it was before Kairi swooped in, lifted me by my shoulders, and flew us to the center column where this guy I hadn't seen before was hanging. Setting me down, she danced around me in this beautiful dress, weaving a purple cocoon around us and the column. She then raced over and…and she did something that, despite all my feelings, I still hadn't worked up the courage to do; she kissed me.

It…I…I couldn't even understand what we were doing for a minute. For half a second, it was like…there was just Kairi, and me, and the two of us were closer than I'd ever dared to be before. I could feel those crystals growing where Kairi's hands held mine, but I didn't even care; we were just…melting into each other, and I felt safe and alive and warm…

Then, I heard Roxas starting to laugh in the back of my head, and I came back to reality and pulled away. I brought up a hand to wipe off my mouth, while Roxas was having the time of his life enjoying my embarrassment.

Ahahahahahaha...! Oh, oh man Sora, no offence, but it's about time!

Shut up, Roxas! Just because you get to see all of this, doesn't mean I want you offering your opinions! I get enough of that from Donald and Goofy…

"Sora? Are you ok?"

Oh no, Kairi! I looked up at her, hoping that she wasn't too upset…but she wasn't. Through all that purple light, she just looked…happy. She had that small smile, the kind she has when she's trying to see if I'm as happy as she is, but besides that I couldn't tell what she was thinking at all. She just stepped closer and took my hand slowly, like she didn't know how to make it better. Heck, I didn't know how to make it better.

"Is it Roxas again?"

Kairi always knew me better than anyone. "…yeah. Yeah, it's Roxas. But that doesn't mean…I mean, I liked…"

"It's okay, Sora. We've got time." She leaned in, and I thought she was going to kiss me again…but she just wrapped her arms around me and brought me close; I finally relaxed and did the same. "I'm sorry if that was too much. The purple stuff, the love color…it's making my head really fuzzy; I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since I let it in. That's what this power does: brings love into the real world."

I didn't get it, but I didn't have to. All that mattered was that we were here, and for the moment we were safe. "Don't worry, Kairi; I'm gonna fix everything. I'll help Roxas, and then we'll be together again."

"Roxas…I can't imagine this must be like for him, and for you too." She looked up into my eyes, the purple light bobbing in the center of her eyes. "You know, I met him once? It was only for a minute, but I could tell: he's so much like you, and yet he's nothing like you. I don't know how you live with him in there, there's such a…divide…like a schism…"

Suddenly she jumped back out of my arms and flew to the column with the guy. He looked a lot like Roxas, but with black hair, and there were a bunch of tubes coming out of him filled with blue and green stuff. "Sora, come over here. I need to show you something, it'll help. I promise." I ran over, and she took hold of my shoulders and pointed me towards him. I looked up at his face—just like Roxas'—and his eyes opened, letting loose this huge blast of sky-blue light.

Sora. Roxas. The schism…

You have seen much in your short lives. Sora, your childhood was ended out of necessity as you entered a war greater than any one person. Roxas, your entire existence has been the product of this war, and despite all of your efforts you have been little more than a pawn in its trials. In both cases, you have witnessed events and betrayals which, in most hearts, would inspire enough rage and cynicism to spread a dark stain on all you would touch.

Instead…you have found hope. In the face of the deepest darkness, you have found a way to perceive even the faintest of lights, and this light will see you and your friends through to what is on the other side. It is a power that most ignore, some recognize…and a special few embrace.

Will you accept this power?

I still didn't understand; this power felt like light, but…it seemed different, somehow. Still, everything it said felt right, and I wanted to accept, but…it wasn't just my decision. Whattaya think, Roxas? Should we accept?

He was quiet for a while, but he came back with a good response. Kairi seems to think we should, and it doesn't look like there are any risks, so…yeah, I accept.

Me too then.

The blue light faded away, and once it did, I noticed my outfit had changed. I had on a black coat, like the one Roxas used to wear, except all the metal zippers were the same sky-blue color. I looked down, and I nearly jumped a mile; I had two Keyblades out, Oblivion and Oathkeeper, each coursing with blue electricity. The same kind Roxas used…I had to find a mirror!

"Relax Sora, you're still you. The blue color must've found the keys inside your heart."

Kairi. Good, at least she understood what was going on. "What's happened to me? To all of us?"

"The light and dark met, Sora, and they split to make all of this."

I wanted to ask Kairi more, but we didn't have anymore time—something big and yellow smashed its way through our cocoon, and an all too familiar face rushed over the broken remains. Roxas, is that who I think it is?

Yep: one of my old buddies from the Organization, Demyx. Guess that tugging feeling did a lot more than wake me up.

I smiled; if this was going where I thought it was going, then I definitely knew what to do next. Heck, I spent years doing it. Wanna take'em out?

You read my mind.

And I did what I do best; I jumped into the fray, ready to do whatever it takes to reach the good at the end of it all.

And we have one more to go! Has anyone figured out who the "fight" is?

Also, for those of you who want to know who the guy on the column is, you'll be happy to know that he will be revealed within the next two chapters! An origin will follow soon after, depending on how he's recieved.

Please review. Reviews to me are like Luke to Gilmore Girls; they add a nice little extra to it all, something to change the mood enough to lead to something better.