No, Roxas, stop this. Please!
The seven landed in a world of grey sand and black rocks, jagged and deadly looking in the dark light. Zexion had barely closed the portal when they all had to duck to avoid getting hit by a shower of dark bolts. They shattered the rock behind the group, raining down pieces that cut hands and faces. Nearby something solid slammed into another rock.
"Cover!" Zexion yelled, coughing on the dust and sand stirred up. He and Donald made a barrier around the group. It flickered blue-yellow, illuminating their surroundings. Grey sand, black rock rearing up to the sky, and a giant shadow just a few feet away. "Weapons at the ready! Mickey, it's almost time-go find Roxas!"
"No need," Xemnas intoned. He smirked at the teen-sized hole in a rock. "He's already gone. You were too late, I'm afraid."
"Afraid? You?" a voice coughed. Roxas fell out of the hole, landing on both feet on the grey sand. In his left hand was Oathkeeper; Oblivion was a ways away, lodged in yet another rock. "Heh, that'll be the day. Come on, got anything better to hit me with? Or was that all you had, Xemnas?"
The shadow growled at the condescending, mocking tone. "Fool, I will destroy you! You were lucky to survive that. Now, this you will not." He reached up, creating a black cloud. "Good-bye, pathetic Nobody."
"No! Roxas, move you idiot!" Riku ran out, trying to get close enough to attack the shadow while still far away enough to not get killed. Not an easy task, with all the pieces of black rock that were still falling. Sora followed, weaving in and out of the falling shards. One hit him on the shoulder; he winced and doggedly moved on. Kairi stood behind Zexion, hands held together in front of her chest, almost as if she was praying. King Mickey ran to one side, and momentarily disappeared. He reappeared on top of a huge outcropping of rock, raining down magic, Keyblade in one hand.
Cut it out or you'll get killed!
Riku had just reached were he thought Roxas was, but he was gone. Looking around, he spotted the blond trying to get his other Keyblade. "No! Roxas, forget it! You'll-" Too late. Xemnas had already caught him in one hand. He threw the boy into the sand, causing a huge explosion of it upwards. "Roxas!"
"On it!" Sora ran around the frozen Riku and headed for the crater. Xemnas was laughing, his cruel, evil, heartless laugh, and pointed at the crater.
"See what you get for defying me? Mwahahahahaha!"
Sora reached the crater, and barely dodged a dark bolt thrown at him. Roxas lay on the sand, eyes closed, hands clutching both Keyblades. He grabbed the non-moving boy and hauled them both out of the crater, heading for the safety of the magic barrier.
"No you don't!"
Goofy shielded them as Xemnas launched a barrage of bolts at them. The black cloud above his head grew larger, and darker. It seemed to suck in the very darkness itself, and evil as well.
Sora and Roxas almost ran into the two magic castors. Zexion grabbed Roxas, who seemed to be reviving. Donald steadied Sora, then resumed launching magic at the shadow. Goofy, after a pause, ran out again to help Riku. The other teen was still attacking Xemnas, trying to stop him from building the dark cloud up more. Kairi was frozen where she was standing, hands still in prayer position.
Let your friends help, Roxas. You can't do this on your own.
"Roxas?" The boy stirred in Zexion's arms. "Are you alright? What are you thinking, attacking the shadow all on your own? Got a death wish?"
"Let go of me." The blue eyes opened; they glared up at Zexion. Roxas pushed himself up, and stood shakily. Zexion didn't try to stop him. Something in his cerulean eyes told the older man that this was something Roxas had to do. Just like the seashell, it was unexplainable; it just had to be done. Roxas closed his eyes, and summoned his Keyblades back. They reappeared, almost willingly it seemed, glowing either white or dark.
"Sora. Are you gonna help me?" He turned to his Somebody. Sora shook his head.
"You have to ask? My friend's fighting to help you as well. You really think I'd just let him fight alone, or not protect my home and island?" Sora grinned at Roxas, who surprisingly grinned back. "Let's go."
Zexion shook his head as the two raced for the shadow, Keyblades at the ready. He looked back at the frozen Kairi, who now seemed to glow a little. What's the Heart princess doing now?
Riku jumped to one side and dodged Xemnas's hand, then made his way up to King Mickey. Sora ran right below them, Roxas going the other way around Xemnas. When they were directly across from each other, they struck, four Keyblades all at once. Mickey, Donald, and Zexion launched huge bursts of magic right as Xemnas was reeling from the attack.
"What are we going to do? We can't beat it." Riku swung his blade, glaring hopelessly at the shadow. Mickey looked at him out of the corner of his eye. He didn't answer, just kept throwing more magic. Riku watched Sora and Roxas weave around Xemnas, tripping him up while preventing him from concentrating on building up the black cloud. It floated above all of them, a huge hole in the sky, menacing and evil.
"Look around you, Riku," came at last the quiet reply. "What do you see?"
"Huh?" Riku gave the world an once-over. "I don't see anything special. What do you want me to see?"
Mickey shook his head and gave the boy a sad smile. "Look at the people, not the world. What do you see, inside of each one of us?"
Riku furrowed his brow, and looked at Sora. He could just see a slight glow around the other boy. Same glow was following Goofy and Donald around, and Mickey had one too, just a bit brighter than everyone else. "Is that…what, their hearts? Then…" He turned; Zexion had the same glow, very dim though; and Kairi was full of it, brighter than Mickey.
"She is a Heart Princess. They are the physical representations of light in the worlds. Now look at Roxas."
Riku turned. Roxas was slashing at Xemnas's chest from atop a rock, Sora backing him up on the ground. He was full of the same glow as Kairi, but his... "Is something wrong with him?"
Roxas…be careful. Watch out!
"No. We'll see. Just wait." Mickey had stopped throwing magic; he simply stood, watching the battle below, waiting with Keyblade in hand. Riku gave him a confused look, and started down the rock to help Sora and Roxas fight. Just as he was about to jump, a huge crack echoed throughout the area.
"Sora! Roxas!" Kairi had found her voice again. She was still standing frozen, but now she watched the battle with a horrified expression. "No-get away from him!"
Xemnas had finally completed his cloud of darkness. He lifted one hand towards it, an evil grin on his face. "Now, face the wrath of the darkness! Die, scum!" He brought it down, crashing it onto the sand. And the two standing right below him.
Sora stood frozen, watching it fall at him. Suddenly he was thrown to one side; and the cloud crashed down, right on top of Roxas. "NO!" A huge storm of sand and dust blew up, choking everyone for precious moments; when it cleared, only Xemnas remained. He began to laugh, throwing back his head and spreading his arms wide.
"See? I am almighty! No one, nothing may stand against me! Kneel to me, the king of all the worlds!"
Roxas, no.
Everyone stared at the spot Roxas last stood on. Nothing remained, just sand blackened by the explosion. Sora refused to believe what he was seeing; Riku couldn't either. Kairi was frozen again, her eyes glassy as she witnesses something only she could see. Donald and Goofy looked to their King; he just leaned on his Keyblade. Zexion fell to his knees, thinking that they had just lost their only hope.
Please get up.
Sand was piled up against the surrounding rocks. As Xemnas continued in his victory speech, oblivious to his surroundings, one of the piles shifted ever so slightly. The sand moved again, sliding to the side as something started to stand up. As the figure stood up, the sand fell away in waves. The two Keyblades flashed; another flash as blue eyes opened and looked up at the shadow in front of him.
Thank you.
"Think you're done so soon? I'm not dead yet, so better get ready for another attack, damn bastard." Xemnas whirled around, only to find Roxas standing behind him. He took several steps back, clearly afraid of the small boy standing there, just watching him.
Roxas closed his eyes, and dropped his head. I remember. Why I'm fighting. For Xion. He swung his Keyblades out, eyes still closed. I almost forgot, but-I will never forget her. I will never forget any of them, never again. My past, I couldn't decide, but I can change my future. Our future.
"Get ready, Xemnas. Cause only one of us is going to come out of this fight." Roxas took one step back, then began his final charge at the shadow.
Riku, Sora, Kairi, Zexion, Goofy, and Donald all watched in horror as the blond charged. They all wished they could stop him. Mickey watched with a small smile on his face. Riku noticed, and began to look closer at Roxas. He was running full-tilt, but something was wrong with his Keyblade. Oathkeeper seemed…different. Like someone else was holding it at the same time Roxas was. But that was impossible…
Wait. What was that, there, right beside…no. Roxas's shadow seemed to run alongside him, one hand stretched towards Oathkeeper.
No. It was a person, slowly forming, holding the Keyblade-
That's impossible.
Both ran towards Xemnas, each wielding a Keyblade. Oblivion to Oathkeeper, they charged.
They aren't real…what is going on?
Xemnas stumbled back, trying to avoid both slashes. He couldn't dodged the next set, and fell. Oblivion and Oathkeeper rose up, came back down. A final scream-
Two people. Not one. Two
-and the shadow of hate, anger, malicious that was Xemnas shattered. Pieces of darkness floated up, and disappeared. The two figures landed on the sand, sliding. Turning, they flashed identical grins, blue eyes lit up. "See? You're not the best after all! We are, and you won't hurt us anymore!" Two voices, one high and sweet, the other lower and trembling.
I have to be dreaming.
Riku watched as Roxas heard the other voice, and slowly turned. Black hair tossed by the wind, blue eyes glowing in happiness, and a smile of pure light. Roxas had barely turned when the second figure ran to him, almost knocking him over in a hug.
"Roxas! You did it, you really did! I always knew you could, always always always!" Roxas dropped his Keyblade; it dissolved into black smoke. He looked down at the figure holding him, arms tight around his waist.
"Xi…Xion?" She looked up, her smile almost blinding him. He remembered how he had longed for that smile, that voice, how he had longed for her… "Xion!" Wrapping his arms around her shoulders, Roxas spun Xion around, laughing. "Xion!"
Riku stared at the two in amazement. Next to him, Mickey put his Keyblade away. He turned to the mouse. "You knew, didn't you?"
"No, I guessed at the last moment." Mickey walked down to his charges, both of which were frozen watching the scene unfold in front of them. "Zexion! Open the portal-I expect the boy'll collapse any second now." Right as he said that, Roxas stumbled and fell. Xion caught him with a laugh, cradling his head in her lap.
Sora finally moved, and ran to Kairi, who had fallen when Oathkeeper had switched hands. He pulled her up, checking to see if she was hurt in any way. Kairi shook her head, and pointed at the two still on the sand. Slowly standing with Sora's help, she made her way over to Xion and Roxas. Zexion stayed were he was kneeling on the sand. After a moment he looked up at the King.
"You know, from now on I don't think we can say anything is impossible. Because Roxas will go and prove us wrong." He shook his head and stood up, giving Donald and Goofy a knock on the head as he passed them. "Wake up. We've gotta get out of here before we get attacked by something else. And who knows what that'll be." Reaching the unconscious boy, Zexion lifted up Roxas. Xion stood up, locking eyes with Kairi for just a moment before everyone was whisked away through a portal, back to King Mickey's castle.
"So, Xion, how are you feeling?" Zexion asked the girl. She was seated across from the former Organization member, Riku on her left. Sora sat on Zexion's right, Kairi beside him. King Mickey sat on the corner of the table, watching.
"Fine, I guess." Xion looked around her, at the room they were in. "It seems like I woke up from a very long dream. Most of which entailed of Roxas's experiences as he started living with Riku, Sora, and Kairi." She smiled at the three. Kairi smiled back while Riku looked away. Sora tilted his head to one side.
"Why don't you look like Kairi, if you're, ah," he stumbled over his words, not knowing what he should say. Riku rolled his eyes.
"She knows everything, Sora. Castle Oblivion, her true existence, Xemnas's lies, all of them." He began to say something else, then changed his mind and looked away again. Xion laughed.
"I never thought I'd see the day Riku actually had nothing to say." Kairi smiled, and gave a small laugh as well. Riku turned slightly pink. "Everything's changed, though, during…how long was I gone?"
"Uh…about half a year?" Zexion guessed. "I haven't really thought about it much."
"Wow. Zexion, not thinking. This must mean the end of life as we know it," Sora teased. Everyone laughed that time, even Mickey. The mouse shook his head, and turned his gaze on the door to his left.
"I regret to pull apart this gathering, but I do believe leaving Roxas alone, even in sleep, is not the smartest thing to do. I suggest we all rest now, after that battle. Xion, would you stay with Roxas?" The girl nodded, her blue eyes also on the door. She stood up, and gave a small bow to those still sitting.
"It was nice to meet you at last, Sora, and you too, Kairi. Bye Riku, Zexion, King Mickey." Xion turned and left through the door. Before she closed it, she could hear Sora and Riku already ragging on each other, and Kairi's sharp rebuke to them both. She smiled, and leaned on the closed door, watching the sleeping boy on the couch. He was curled up on his side, one hand clutching something in his shirt, the other hanging off the edge, as if reaching for something. Xion smiled again, he special smile for Roxas, and went over to sit next to the couch.
"I'm here, Roxas," she whispered, taking his hand. "We're together again. And we'll always be together, forever."
The dark blue-haired man looked up as invisible lighting crackled through the meadow. He could barely make out its outline as it struck the ground a few yards away from where he was sitting, reading his new letter from his counter part in the other world. He didn't bother to get up as several others ran to the site, gathering around the rosebush that now grew there. A shadow fell over the paper.
"Did he really…?" the giant asked. A moment later everyone crowded around the bush clutched at their heads. All over the world, people dressed in black all grabbed at their heads. The giant didn't, but the wince on his face told the blue-haired man all her needed to know.
"Yes, I think we can safely say Roxas did it. Xion came back. Now we can finally start fixing the mess from ten years ago." The giant said nothing, just watched the rosebush grow at an amazing rate, till it produced two flowers: one blue, the other pink. The man with the phoenix tattoo on his arm leaned back in the grass, smiling at the clouds above him.
Inezo, it's almost time. He brought Xion back, and has fully stabilized now. We can finally fix that mess, and restore those lost lives at last.
a/n: Yes. Almost done. And afterwards...sequal time. ^^
One more chappie to go, but not till Sunday. Tomorrow I'm going to an anime expo in Sun Valley. Anyone else going, look for people cosplaying as Organization XIII members. You just might meet the authoress of this fanfic!
HIPPIE GIRL SAYS: ALMOST DONE. I LOVE YOU ALL FOR READING MY STORY. KISSES AND COOKIES TO EVERYONE!!