Well, as I mentioned, this is last chapter, except for the epilogue I'll add here. Thank you for reading about the trio's adventure :) now we'll find out what happens to them, the Nobodies and what is their spirit. Let's get to it, then :)
"Are you sure we're going to right direction?"
"Would you mind shutting up or I'm gonna take that machine and push you down these stairs?"
"At least Cadryx can see something here... Ow! Ansem, did you step on my toes?"
"How in the earth could I when I'm walking behind you?"
"I thought you were behind me".
"Cadryx, was it you? Ow, Ansem, now it was you! Wouldn't mind stop crashing on my back, it's really perverted ya know!"
"I didn't choose this way".
"Well, I'm sorry if I didn't build this castle more wisely!"
"This is a secret passage after all, so keep it down".
"And watch for that step, there's..."
"Ow!"
"...Malformation".
"You couldn't warn any earlier?"
"Actually, I don't mind you just stumbled on it. As long as the machine stays in one piece and works. Did I by the way mention that this would be better to work, or we're dead".
"And so are you, just so you know".
"She may as well cut you in pieces if you try anything stupid".
"You then can't put any more faith in me?"
"No".
"Thought that..."
I throw the door open to roof and crawl out from tower. Xainn comes right after me, then comes Ansem's machine, then Ansem himself.
"Well, better get to work, we don't have the whole day here!" Xainn growls and kicks (not hard )Ansem on rib. Ansem scowls at her, crawls up and then grabs his machine.
"I'm on it", he says, places the machine on roof facing Kingdom Hearts and then turns it on. Whatever it now means.
"So, what exactly are you doing?" I ask.
"Reclaim Kingdom Hearts and encode it as data".
"Say what?" we yelp.
"Just don't get on the way", Ansem growls. We stare at weird light from machine to moon, when suddenly there appear Dusks on the roof. "So, we've been found out", Ansem states. Oh really? What else, having a tea party here?
"You take care of that", I growl and summon Dark Matter. "We'll deal with these". Xainn summons Crystal Drop and then creates shield between us and Ansem.
"Let's get these punks", she growls. Whoa. I wouldn't want to be one of the Dusks now. I use two arrows at the same time to slice two Dusks. Xainn jumps high up in air and lands in the middle of group of Dusks. She's too small to be seen from there, but judging by the thrown off and disappearing Dusks, I think she's doing just fine. I keep on shooting arrows. We're kind of destroying our comrades' pets, but never mind. They're not out comrades anymore after this show... More Dusks keep appearing when we manage to destroy the first ones. Xainn throws sharp pieces of glass from Crystal Drop at the Dusks. I kick one Dusk against two others, and shoot them with one arrow. Looks like we're getting stronger... Suddenly I hear weird noise, and roof feels like shaking... I glance at Ansem over my shoulder. The machine is shaking weirdly.
"Ansem?"
"Keep your shield up, Inna. This is going to self-destructive any minute", Ansem answers.
"What?" we yelp. Then what the hell is he standing there? Ansem just sneers, like finding something amusing in this situation.
"I should probably thank you for giving me a chance to get my revenge on Xehanort... And stop him from destroying the worlds any more", he says and glances at us, "be careful, you three. Make things right again. Farewell". With those words, the machine explodes. Xainn's shield protects us from blast wave that destroys rest of the remaining Dusks, but still we get blinded for a while by bright light. When I next see something, I see empty place there where Ansem was just a while ago, and then I turn to look at Kingdom Hearts. There's huge hole in the moon, and small hearts fall from it through the sky.
"Wow", I state.
"How do we know which belongs to them?" Xainn asks. We watch as hearts fall on the ground, disappearing with blink of light.
"I think they know well enough", I say. "Let's go. We still need to get them out from here".
"Right", Xainn nods. She opens Dark corridor with wave of hand and we hurry through it. Feels like we have used too much time already. We appear at the cells, only to be faced by Xemnas.
"Oh crap", Xainn says.
"I would have thought same, if I was you. Now, would you mind returning my key?" boss growls and stretches out his hand. With other hand, he's holding Nenjax' arm, and Saïx and Xigbar are standing by his side. I glance to the cells. Axel. Luxord. Larxene. And what the heck are Demyx, Zexion, Marluxia and Xaldin doing there too? Or should I ask where the hell is Roxas? If Xemnas really found the cure, why are they still there? I take deep breath and turn to face boss.
"What is your cure?"
"Different from yours, I see, as my Kingdom Hearts is ruined", Xemnas growls.
"Your Kingdom Hearts? So it's only yours, not the Organization's?" Xainn asks, keeping her gaze on Saïx. Xemnas gives a laugh.
"You three have been such a pain already from the beginning", he mumbles. "Well, I guess it can't be helped anymore. So I'll let you hear about my true plan as we all seem to be here now. Reason why the Organization XIII was created, was to gather thirteen Nobodies - persons without hearts".
"They do have hearts. They're just separated from them for now!" I growl.
"Because he needs the thirteen darknesses..." Xemnas continues. Is he... Xehanort? "We used Kingdom Hearts to copy his heart into thirteen. And those hearts, put in these people, who are separated from their own, turn into Xehanorts. The thirteen darknesses".
"What?" Xainn yelps. Hey, I don't want my boyfriend to be turned into someone freak! Poor Larxene, as Xehanort is a man (at least I suppose so). Poor us! Speaking of which...
"How could you do that to them? You just used them from since the very beginning!" Xainn snarls. I look at calm Xigbar and Saïx by Xemnas' side. Like all this wouldn't bother them at all. I glance towards cells again. Axel is looking at me with his green eyes. Demyx is looking at Nenjax. Zexion and Xaldin are looking at floor. Marluxia turns his gaze towards me. And his eyes aren't blue anymore. They're bright yellow. Just like Xigbar's and Saïx'. Wait a minute... Larxene's eyes have turned yellow as well. I turn to look at Xemnas again. Those orange eyes...
"If Roxas wouldn't have ran off (me: "because of the alligator?" Xainn: "shut up".), he would have had his thirteen darknesses by now... And if you hadn't destroyed Kingdom Hearts, they", Xemnas nods towards Axel, Demyx, Zexion and Xaldin, "also would now be partly Xehanorts".
"What about us?" I ask. Xemnas sneers.
"Yes, you three. Always you three. I guess I then have to use one of you after all. My plan was to find out what is your spirit, and use it later to make fighters for him. Three trained fighters, without burden of heart, and as not exactly as living people, not bound to any kind of rules. And with the spirit, totally under his control. You didn't actually think I would have brought you into Organization if you couldn't have been turned out useful?"
Well, he definitely never has liked us.
"Very well, enough with the chatter. Saïx, Xigbar... Get the hearts to them", Xemnas says and nods towards the cell.
"No, Saïx, please don't!" Xainn screams. Saïx turns to look at her with deadpan face. I notice Xemnas delving out one more heart from his pocket and moving his hand towards Nenjax.
"Leave her alone!" I scream and lunge at Xemnas. I gather all the darkness in room and let is spread all over. I see heart gleaming slightly. I don't have any kind of plan about what to do, I just shove Xemnas' hand aside and pull Nenjax farther from him. Xemnas summons his sword and waves it in air. I'm in bad position, so I don't reach to do anything but to lean aside and raise my arms to cover my face. Sword hits my arms, and I'm thrown four meters farther on floor (about 13 feet). At the same time darkness disappears.
"Cadryx!" Nenjax yelps. I glance at my arms. Instead of bleeding, pure darkness spills out from the wounds Xemnas' sword made. Soon darkness hardens on top of the wound, like scar. I hear small crack from my earring.
"The cells!" I scream. Xainn hits keys on Nenjax' hands and summons Crystal Drop and then lunges at Xigbar. Nice, leaving boss to me. Oh well. I get up from floor and summon Dark Matter. We just have to try to keep Nobodies away from the cells. I move next to Xainn and shoot arrow towards Xemnas, while Nenjax is trying to open cell's locks. Xemnas blocks it with his sword, Xainn throws Xigbar farther and creates wall of glass between us. However, Xemnas easily comes through it with force. That moment Nenjax manages to get Demyx's cell's lock open. Xainn creates another wall to keep Xigbar and Saïx farther, and then we try to block and avoid Xemnas' strikes. I use darkness to prevent Xigbar and Saïx from finding the wall without crashing on it. Xemnas' strike goes so close at me, I accidentally manage to make my whole upper body incorporeal and Xemnas' sword goes right through me. Gross... I don't stop to wonder it any longer and use my very corporeal fist to punch Xemnas. I manage to land a hit right under his chin, and he sways backwards.
"Nenjax, hurry up!" Xainn screams.
"On it!" Nenjax answers and pulls Axel's cell's door open before moving to Zexion. I come to glance at Axel. He's looking terrible with broken bones and blood all over his chest and chin.
"Cadryx, snap out of it!" Xainn snarls blocking another sword. I block other with my bow and manage to throw a kick on Xemnas' knee. Cheap, I admit, but works for us. While Xemnas sways again, Xainn manages to hit him with Crystal Drop so hard he's thrown few meters back. Xemnas doesn't seem to appreciate it, though, as he gets up really fast and lunges at us. Xainn is thrown against wall, I get thrown over Xemnas' on floor. Xemnas raises his sword and I quickly slide out of the way with shadows. Sword hits the floor where I was just laying. Nenjax pushes key into Xaldin's lock, letting him get out by himself, and summons Reverie while lunging at Xemnas.
"Don't you dare to touch my sisters!" Xemnas turns around surprised, and gets hit by huge paint brush. Wow, Nen. That was cool. I jump up from floor and hurry by my sister's side. Xainn joins us. Xemnas gives us somewhat amused gaze.
"What is it that you three are fighting for? You, unlike these people, have no hearts anymore".
"For friends", Nenjax says.
"For sisters", I say.
"For the world", Xainn adds. Xemnas growls quietly.
"Fine. Have it your way then". He takes step towards us, when Demyx, Zexion and Xaldin step by our side. Even Axel. I've never really liked Xaldin, and I doubt that he has ever liked us, but now we're on the same side.
"You dare to turn against me?" Xemnas growls and destroys the wall Xainn had created. Xigbar and Saïx move to his sides.
"You betrayed us", Zexion answers.
"Used us, and now you're going to kill us", Axel growls.
"Kill you? Weren't you listening a word? I told you..."
"It would kill me to be like you. Or like him. And you're not touching my girlfriend". I fear I blush slightly for Axel's words. He's just way too cute! Okay, maybe now is not the best time...
"Fine! Then I'll just deal with you all right now right here", Xemnas snarls. And then he uses his element. And I have to see it's not just about creating power fields. And he's not the boss without a reason, his element is damn strong. Even though we use our weapons to block his power, we all still get thrown backwards. My head hits the bars behind me. I shoot arrow towards Xemnas, but he just waves it aside with his sword. Damn. We really managed to piss him off now. Xainn gets up first and throws pieces of glass towards Xemnas. He creates power field to stop them. Nenjax growls quietly, and suddenly wings grow out of her back. She rises up in the air, and flies over Xemnas, Xigbar and Saïx. Xemnas flinches a bit, but Xigbar and Saïx fall asleep almost immediately. Xemnas spins around and throws another one of his swords at Nenjax. Nenjax quickly dives on the floor to dodge the weapon. I guess Xemnas has never heard of that men shouldn't hit girls. Well, we're talking about Xemnas after all here. After he has thrown me against wall again, pressed Nenjax on floor and hit Xainn on head with his sword, cutting piece of her hair, I realize that we're gonna need much more strength to defeat him or at least run away from him. I remove my earring, slide along the floor and grab Xemnas' arms behind his back.
"Guys, you gotta get out of here..! What..?"
"Dammit", Xemnas growls. Four Nobodies on floor have started to fade away.
"Axel!"
"Demyx!"
"What's going on?" Xainn asks. Nenjax uses the moment to escape from under Xemnas' leg and knocks him out of balance. I let go of him and hurry over to Axel.
"Axel, what's wrong? You're not... Dying, are you?"
"You ruined everything!" Xemnas roars.
"They are just returning to the place where they were turned into Nobodies". We all turn around when hear unfamiliar voice from the stairs. Moomin stands there, looking at us. "You made it. You released their hearts and now they're turning back into Somebodies". She can talk? Since when? And how does she know all that? Well, hello, Cadryx! Why, indeed? At least not because she is our spirit!
"So it's you", Xemnas growls and lunges towards the Heartless. I dash between them and raise my bow to block his sword.
"Stay back!" I growl. I call all the shadows from castle and use their strength in addition to my own. I easily manage to throw Xemnas against farthest wall from me.
"Moomin, why are you here?" I ask.
"To save you, of course", she answers and points at my arm. It has turned into shadow from fingers up to elbow. Xemnas scowls at Moomin and materializes towards her. But then he changes the way and appears behind Nenjax. Moomin jumps between them, and Xemnas' sword goes right through her, as she can't turn incorporeal.
"Moomin!" we scream. Xainn attacks straight at Xemnas, and really tries to hurt him now. I kneel next to Moomin, who has started to fade away, just like the Nobodies. She gives me and Nenjax weak smile.
"Let's see again... In the next life..." Then her eyelids shut. I'm afraid to touch her, but I have to do something. I grab her small hand and squeeze it carefully. And then she disappears into air. Tears trail down Nenjax' cheeks. Even though she doesn't know the truth... Or does she?
"I'm so sorry..." she whispers. I wrap my arms around her.
"Don't, it's not your fault".
"Ah..!"
I spin around. Xemnas has grabbed Xainn's neck, and raises the sword.
"Are you scared?" he asks. Xainn sneers and grins little.
"I've died already once". So have we. And I'm not afraid of it. I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
"Nenjax, remove your ring", I whisper. Nenjax gives me puzzled gaze, but does as I say. "When you get a chance, create as sick nightmare as you can". She nods. I use all the strength I can find to dash to Xainn in a blink of eye. I grab her necklace and rip it out of her neck. Xainn understands immediately. I slide against the floor to avoid pieces of glass that grow through her skin, impaling Xemnas' body. For a moment he just stares at her shocked. That's when Nenjax finds her opportunity, grabs Xemnas' head from behind and uses her powers. I let the darkness take over me, I turn into a shadow and hit my arm right through Xemnas' chest, where the heart should be. As if he could have one. He is part of him. He is him.
Time, which feels like eternity, but takes only a second, I, Nenjax and Xainn look at each other and smile. We've finally found the reason why it just wasn't our time yet.
I had to give Moomin some kind of meaning in the story, and I think this was good for her.