Well, we're getting close to the end of Part 1! I hope you're all excited for what's coming. Shout outs:

Legionary Prime: Thanks, and no problem! Happy late Birthday!

Lucenthia: You're fine! You're not far off, for sure! Agreed! Thanks!

The Unknowing Herald: Haha, that's so funny! Yeah it was a dream with a random part at the end, for Prime!

T1M3: Yeah, let's hope so! Thanks! I swear, you're the one person I know who has never seen it!

So just remember what I own, and who Ava, Shin, and Luriel belong to and enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 21: Deliberation

Having been out in the field so frequently, he had almost forgotten the feeling of hot water against his skin. He had always made do with what was available, but somehow there was nothing like a hot shower back home.

Jack had just finished taking his rather long shower. Rayne had left for Radiant Garden a few hours ago, and Jason had gone to meet with the Council of Sovereigns. Excluding Mist, a couple of random agents, and little Pierce, the rest of the Agency was scattered across the worlds.

So much had happened within the last week that he struggled to wrap his mind around it all. Adenar's attack on Denerim, Kunomar's attempt to seize the X-blade, and just now he had received a letter from his brother.

"Cave's compromised, so I'll be on the move for a while. Had a lead on Darkness, doing a follow-up at the moment.

-Marek."

There were times that he just didn't want to know. Now was one of those times. He walked back into his sleeping area wearing nothing but a clean pair of gray combat pants and reached down to the table with his personal belongings on it. His fingers slipped over something he had almost forgotten about. He instantly looked down at the necklace he had touched. It was quite ordinary, except for the water drop pendant hanging on the front of it. He couldn't even remember how long he had had it, but for some reason had kept it with him through everything.

A moment later, something began buzzing loudly from the bottom of the pile, and he reached inside to pull it out. He raised an eyebrow at realizing it was the communicator Zack had given him almost a month ago. He clicked the button on the side and held it closer to his face. "Jack." he greeted hesitantly.

"You never called me, bud." Zack's voice came through casually. He sighed, for some reason expecting there to be an emergency.

"A lot's happened, Zack." he answered honestly. He heard the other man laugh quietly.

"Yeah, we get the news from the Council. I'm sorry about Eraqus. Are you holding on?" he replied with just a touch of genuine concern.

"We're at war. You know I won't let myself get caught up in the moment." Jack answered as he shook his hair into its normal position and sat down on his old bed.

"Great. So hey, Spiky and I wanted to know if you could come out here for a couple days. Our newer recruits could use an experienced commander teaching them the ropes, and it'll give you a chance to take your mind off of everything that's going on." the other man offered. By the way he was talking, Jack suspected that he had heard about Rayne's clash with Kunomar, but he didn't comment on it.

"I can spare a day or two. I'll take those here with me, and I'll see you in a couple of hours." he agreed.

"Perfect. You know where to find us. The Zack man's out!" Zack gleefully stated, and a moment later, his voice was replaced with static. Jack shook his head ruefully as he placed the communicator back on the table and began to get dressed.

Replacing his comfortable pants with his black field ones and donning his white sleeveless shirt, he made his way down to the makeshift armory that used to be the storage room. In truth, the only reason he had accepted his friend's offer so readily was because he did not like how empty the castle was now. Those old white hallways would never echo the master's voice as he called his apprentices down for breakfast or for training. His boots would never clunk through the stone floors again and alert the children to his presence. Jack had moved on from the master's death, but he still didn't like confronting it every time he returned to the base.

He was in the process of putting his gauntlet on when he heard the door open behind him. He slowly turned around as he fumbled with the straps and looked toward his visitor. Mist silently walked toward him, picking up his belt from the peg on the wall. He stared at her, trying to silently convey his apologies. She smiled slightly as she placed it around his waist and touched his arm. "I know." she spoke softly. He nodded slowly and stocked his belt pouches with rations, finally placing the Keychain of the Eternity Fang in his front pocket.

"I lashed out at you, and that was wrong of me. I wasn't angry at you, I just didn't how to react to what had happened." he tried to explain, but she quietly shushed him and wrapped her arms around her husband. He exhaled hesitantly as he returned her embrace, allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder.

"We were both wrong. I should have realized that I was trying to protect her too much." she whispered calmly. He remorsefully looked at the wall as he spoke.

"I worry that this war is changing me, Mist." he told her so quietly that she wasn't sure he had actually said it.

"What do you mean?" she finally asked him when he was silent.

"Why is it impossible for me to leave the battlefield behind? No matter how hard I try, that is where my path always takes me. How can Pierce and Rayne respect a father who knows nothing but battle and death?" he asked her. She looked up at him questioningly, but he just continued. "Ever since Eraqus died, I've worried what it might take to end this war. I ask myself over and over again how much I would give to stop Maechil. But, the answer I give myself frightens me, Mist." he elaborated. She shook her head slightly and cupped his face in her hands.

"Jack, you are a loving father and a faithful husband. You are much more than a warrior. You are my husband, and the father of my children. Jack, this war only will turn you into something if you allow it to happen. Once this war is over, you will be able to come home and be the person you want to be." she told him firmly. She meant every word, but the look he had in his eyes nearly broke her heart.

"By that time, I'm not even sure there will be enough of me to salvage, Mist. Every step I take in this war compromises a part of me. When I battled Adenar, I felt a fierceness rise inside me that I haven't felt since Xehanort tried to take over my body. You know that I am yours, and I always will be. But if I must choose between remaining who I am and allowing the worlds to fall, or becoming something that can save and rebuild a world where my family is safe, the choice will be an immediate one." he explained. He was ready to do whatever he needed to do. For his family, for his friends, and for the worlds, he was ready to give whatever was required of him. He smiled at her slightly, but then they heard another voice from the hallway.

"Didn't you say something about heading to Gaia, One who knows nothing but battle and death?" Roxas asked. They both turned to see him leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.

"Eavesdrop much?" Jack muttered as he let go of his wife and strode toward the door. Roxas shrugged his shoulders.

"Well you know, it's just that Xion, Namine and I are bored and ready to go do something." he replied as the older man passed him. He glanced over to Mist, who seemed to already be in much better spirits than before their talk.

He then turned and followed Jack back to the living room, where Namine and Xion were waiting for them. "Cloud and Zack want us to help train their recruits. Gather a couple days' worth of supplies, because we'll be gone at least that long." he told them as he filled his water bottle up in the kitchen and made for the front doors.

"It's already taken care of." Xion immediately replied. Evidently they WERE ready to go. He couldn't help but laugh to himself as they fell in line behind him and mounted their riders.

As one, they kicked off from the ground and set course for Gaia.

MEANWHILE, REALM OF DARKNESS…..

Even in the depths of the dark realm, the air was changing. Marek couldn't even remember how many times he had traveled through this place, both before and after his time as the Illusion. For a long time, he had searched for a way to revive Kalanna, or to locate Eclipse. Eventually though, he had learned to leave well enough alone. It hadn't taken him long to discover that there were creatures in those shadows that even he could not withstand…..at the time.

He had donned his old black coat for the journey, as he really was not interested in being discovered today. Though it would have surprised everyone(including Marek himself), he was on a recon only mission.

Something or someone had leaked the information of his living area to Kunomar. He didn't know who or what, but Darkness was his first suspect. He was more than aware that Pierce and his team were tracking the Divine Beings, but his opinion of them was less than stellar at the moment. Sure, he had watched them stand against Corruption, but hadn't he done the same? He had taken down the son of Dawnomar while he was fused with the Divine Being.

They had not proven themselves to him, not yet. Besides, he had his own means of tracking the being who had consumed almost a decade of his life.

He slowly crouched to the ground and touched the sand with his fingertips. He rubbed them together before bringing them in front of his nose. Recognizing the scent, he narrowed his eyes and grunted softly. He stood back up and looked around. He sighed as he closed his eyes and shifted the energy flow through his body. His eyes flashed to yellow and illuminated everything around him. He could now see something beneath the top layer of sand. He silently summoned his Keyblade and pointed it at the ground. A surge of dark energy poured from it, connecting to the sand and causing it to erupt in all directions.

He himself was knocked into the air by the blast, but he landed nimbly on his feet and immediately dismissed his blade. It was dangerous to wield a Keyblade here, even one as dark as his. He heard something behind him, and instantly whirled around to face it.

He found himself staring into the massive eyes of a Darkside Heartless. The eyes stared at him curiously, and he held his breath to stop himself from making any noise. His yellow eyes stared fiercely into the eyes of the Heartless for several silent moments, neither one moving a muscle.

Finally, the Heartless seemed to nod and it turned away from him, trudging on in the direction it had originally been going. Marek cringed as he looked back at the crater he had formed. "Even after all these years, I still can't get used to the rotting smell that Darkness emits. Xehanort said it smelled like power, but I always thought it smelled like rotten garbage." he thought sullenly as he looked down at what he had seen beneath the old layer of sand.

There were traces of darkness dug deep into the sand, but it wasn't a natural set, like footprints. These traces were left in long smears that stretched for many yards, almost as if something big was being dragged through it.

"Whatever was dragging something really didn't wanna be followed. Looks like Darkness is getting sloppy." he thought smugly as he followed the new trail.

Though he was not afraid of anything he could end up facing in this realm, he still took great care not to be discovered. Twice, a herd of Darkside passed by, as if they were all migrating somewhere. He had made sure to press himself against the wall of the crater/pathway and cover every inch of himself with his black coat.

He knew he was getting tired of sneaking when a Behemoth Heartless nearly stepped on him. He had been walking when he felt himself shadowed by something. Needless to say, he was starting to miss the realm of light for once.

LATER…..

After an hour or two, he began to wonder how much time he had missed back home. Had he missed a week? A month? A year? Had the war already finished?

It turned out, that the answer to all four was no. Apparently time flowed the same at the core of the Dark Realm. He had barely walked five more minutes when he realized where the trail was taking him.

The one place in the Realm of Darkness that he had never dared enter before. A great and monstrous gateway formed by solidified darkness and the rotting bones of defeated enemies now stood before him. Apparently many of the bones once belonged to Keyblade wielders, for there were several dozen Keyblades standing guard around the gates, with a thick black pillar supporting either side. Marek didn't need a sign to know what the place was.

"The Lair of the Dark Realm's Guardian. The Throne of Wrythenann." he surmised. For a split second, he considered turning around and heading back. But just as quickly as that thought came, it was replaced with curiosity as he stepped toward the gates and pushed them open.

They swung wide and he waited for enemies to attack him, but none came. Slowly but surely, he began making his way farther in. He realized that the gates led to a path into the mountains that he had seen from every corner of the Dark Realm. Of course, Wrythenann's Throne would be at the very center of the realm. He continued walking even as the path sloped into the mountain and formed a tunnel.

Once he entered here, the smell of rotting garbage that he attributed to as Darkness became even more prevalent and foul. The air condensed around him, and he could feel the darkness in it with every breath he took. He kept a hand on his dagger as he followed the path that the Divine Being had taken.

The farther in he traveled, the more evident it became that there were two voices speaking back and forth to each other up ahead.

He could see a faint light glowing up ahead of him, and so he became even more cautious as he neared a massive doorway that looked like it had been clumsily made.

What he saw in the throne room surprised even him.

Sitting on a gigantic black throne made of black clay and dirt was Wrythenann, the Sovereign Guardian of the Dark Realm. The Heartless was staring back at Darkness with his scarred face, his claws tapping idly on the armrest of his throne. "What say you?" Darkness asked in an apparent attempt at politeness. Wrythenann narrowed his great yellow eyes at the Divine Being as he leaned casually in his throne.

"I say nothing, for you are beneath me, Discord." he replied firmly. Darkness let out a furious grunt as he spoke back.

"You dare address me in such a manner?! I who spawned you? I am the rightful lord of this realm, and you shall submit to my authority. Lord Omnivion requires you and the dark denizens who answer to you. This is not a request." he growled as his fists curled in anger. Wrythenann smiled widely, allowing his fanged teeth to show.

"In the thousand years I have guarded this realm, you have shown me nothing, and the Ancients, less than nothing. You are not worthy of our allegiance, so I shall repeat myself. I give you no answer, for you are not worth my words." he said with an air of boredom and yawning. His visitor spoke again.

"I AM Darkness! I demand your allegiance, and your respect! I am your elder, your better! You are as a child, and I the adult who deserves your submission because of who I am!" Darkness roared as the vapor covering his figure exploded with energy. He took a step toward Wrythenann, but the Heartless quickly stood to his feet and pushed his hand forward.

Immediately, Darkness fell back through the air with a groan. He angrily stood back to his full height, surprised by how weak his powers currently were.

"You will not threaten me again, Discord. You think yourself so powerful that you would stroll into my domain without a second thought and make demands of me. Allow me to remind you how insignificant you are. Maechil values you as little more than a pet, and you are satisfied to fulfill that role. That is why you garner nothing from me or this realm. You are no longer the lord of the dark realm. You are nothing more than Maechil's servant, a messenger. How far you have fallen that you demand respect that is not yours. Respect and allegiance are never bought or demanded. They are earned and won. Light has attained many victories over the last many centuries, but as for you and Corruption, the Dark Realm will offer you no harbor." Wrythenann declared with a dangerous voice. Darkness shook his head rapidly, but realized that the Heartless was more powerful in his lair than he was. He reluctantly backed away and faded into the air. The Heartless chuckled loudly as he glanced over at the dying Behemoth Heartless to his left.

"You thought to intimidate me by slaying one of my brethren, but I fear nothing. Your worlds will burn. The Ancients shall decimate the Realm of Light, and the Keyblade Wielders shall set the Golden City on fire. Only here shall we outlast them both. The Denizens of Darkness will live on, for we have no part in this war." he announced to the room as if Darkness was hiding out of sight.

Marek had been hiding just around the corner the entire time, not trusting himself enough to even look out. He knew that Wrythenann could probably sense his presence, but he was fairly sure that Darkness had been too preoccupied to notice. His suspicions were confirmed when the Guardian spoke next. "Have you heard everything you came to hear, little darkness?" he asked calmly. The Keyblader sighed as he hesitantly stepped into the light and walked closer to Wrythenann's throne.

"So Maechil is gathering more allies. I guess he isn't as determined to exterminate humanity as he claims." he said casually.

"Indeed, human. The Ancients are gathering amongst them their chosen servants among humanity. Even now, they are working to usurp the world governments. Those who choose the new world order may yet be spared, but Lord Omnivion is not satisfied with his current forces. He does not trust that I will remain neutral in this small conflict, and he would rather have me as an ally than an enemy." the Heartless played along. He hadn't decided what to do with his new intruder, so he occupied himself with speaking while he made up his mind. Marek nodded, pretending to be ignorant as to the Heartless' intentions.

"But surely you realize that Maechil will destroy this place as soon as he finishes everything topside. He won't suffer any rivals, no matter what realm they belong to." he said as he started pacing in front of the throne.

"Of course I am aware, boy. However, Wrythenann fears nothing. I have no interest in this battle. Maechil even forced me into the realm of light for a brief moment because he wished to pit me against the Light's Enforcers. I refuse to do his dirty work for him, and for that reason, I shall allow you to leave this day. Depart, and do not return here, Marek Rikkison. Should you do so, I will not be so charitable." Wrythenann announced and waved his hand, showing he was done talking. Marek smirked as he turned back toward the tunnel.

"Alright, fine. If you don't wanna talk, I'll go see what Chernabog has to say. Maybe he wants to help. See ya, Wrythie!" he yelled behind him as he jogged toward the tunnel.

He heard the Heartless let out an angry growl and ducked as a blast of darkness exploded into the wall behind him.

Three more chapters left in part one! We're almost there, eh? Hope you enjoyed it, and stay tuned for the next chapter!