Hello! I hope your all good! Only three shout outs today:

Celeron96: Really? Great minds think alike, I guess.

TWI1IGHTMAST3R: Thank you, and I know! It's so sad.

.7: Thank you and welcome to the story! I agree, but it had to happen. It won't let me put the rest of your name for some reason, but thank you, liam

So all of you were shocked and sad about Zack. Me too. It was killing me writing that scene, but I will tell you this: Look closely at how Zack dies. He doesn't stop breathing, he is carried into Darkness. I'll let you figure the rest out.

Anyway, let's get this chapter up cause I have a Cross Country meet early tomorrow. Wish me luck. But you don't care about my life, so let's get on to the story!

I own nothing but Jack!

Chapter 25: On to Spira

The group arrived in Radiant Garden outside of the castle. Barret, Nanaki, Reeve, and Vincent followed the silent Cloud into the castle to tell the others about Zack. Aqua came walking out to meet the boys. "How did it go?" she asked. Jack looked away. Riku watched the ground, and Ven wiped his eyes. Sora spoke.

"Zack, he….he's gone." he finally got out. Aqua gasped in shock.

"Oh my gosh." she said quietly. She turned as Auron came out of the castle.

"I heard about Zack. It is a shame. He was a pretty good guy. But you need to move on." he said. The group rounded on Auron, angry.

"You're telling me to move on, after my friend from over twelve years just died before my eyes?!" exclaimed Jack, disgusted. Auron walked past them and looked at the sky.

"You mustn't let Zack's fate wear you down. One story already ended here today. Refuse to let go, and more stories will end as well." Auron said cryptically. He turned back to the group. "Aqua, Riku, and Ven, go inside and rest up. I can see you aren't ready to go. Sora, Jack, and I will go on." he decided. The three nodded and walked inside. Aqua hung back and looked at the two boys.

"Come back here in one piece, because if you die, I'm gonna kill you." she said tearfully. Jack and Sora nodded, and turned back to Auron.

"So you know our itinerary? Right, then let's go." announced Auron. He raised his arm and summoned a portal of light leading to his homeworld. The group walked through it.

SPIRA….

Sora, Jack, and Auron appeared in the center of an abandoned city which was obviously at one time the center of the world. "Bevelle, it's been ten years." whispered Auron. Sora and Jack looked at each other, and followed Auron as he walked through the city.

They walked for a long time, seeing no one. Suddenly, Heartless appeared all around them. (Enemy Attack, FFX)

"Seymour is the cause of all of this!" yelled Auron as he effortlessly swiped through a Large Body Heartless. Sora swung his Keyblade in a circle and cast Thundaga, destroying a small group of Heartless. Jack stood emotionless. He hardly moved, but raised his arm to bat a few Heartless away from him with his bare hand. Auron killed the last Heartless and put his sword on his shoulder. He looked back at the Keybladers, and then kept walking. (end Enemy Attack)

Pretty soon, they had made it to the edge of the city. After a few more hours, they stood at the bottom of a high and twisting mountain. "Mt. Gagazet." said Auron. They began the climb up, but a Darkside Heartless appeared in front of them. They heard a thunderous roar, and a blue figure pounced down from a nearby cliff, striking the Heartless down with one swipe of its spear. (Servants of the Mountain, FFX)

Auron put away his sword and walked to the figure. "I didn't know you were still here, Kimahri." he said to the blue figure. Kimahri turned, and Sora and Jack got a good look at him. Kimahri had all blue skin, and he had a lion-like appearance. Auron turned to them. "This is Kimahri, last of the Ronso tribe and one of my old companions." he explained. Kimahri walked toward the group.

"Kimahri is glad to see Auron safe. Kimahri also welcomes the Keyblade's chosen ones." said Kimahri. Sora and Jack nodded in greeting. Auron then spoke.

"Are you alone, Kimahri?" he asked. After a moment, the Ronso nodded.

"For long time, Lulu traveled with Kimahri, but not long ago, she vanished. Kimahri suspects Yunalesca is behind it." explained Kimahri. Auron raised his eyebrow.

"Yunalesca still lives?" he asked. Kimahri nodded in confirmation.

"She stands as Guardian of the Keyhole in Zanarkand." he said.

"So who's Yunalesca?" asked Sora. Auron turned to him.

"Yunalesca is a being who has lived for a thousand years. She resides in the ruins of Zanarkand, where she waits for Summoners to come and sacrifice themselves." he explained. Jack stepped forward.

"So if we're gonna reseal the Keyhole, I'm guessing we have to take out Yunalesca." he said. They nodded. Jack began walking up the mountain. "Then let's go. I'm not letting anyone else die today." he said. 'I really can't protect anyone. I couldn't save Terra, and I couldn't find Aqua. I let Zack die. Xehanort will pay. He will die by my hand.' he thought determinedly. That was when he felt it: a flicker of Darkness within him. He gasped inwardly. 'This Darkness, where did it come from?' he thought. He lurched forward as his mind was bombarded with flashes of light: Jack and Sora faced Xehanort. Xehanort knocked Jack off the edge. Jack tapped into the Darkness. 'What is this? Is this of the future? Will I need the Darkness to save Terra? Whatever the cost, I'm ready to pay it. I won't let anyone else die today.' he thought as they trudged on up the mountain.

NEARBY ON THE MOUNTAIN….

Watching the group from far way was none other than Seymour. He had three figures bound and gagged at his feet. One was a girl with black hair who wore a low-cut black dress, one was a girl with blonde hair who wore an orange tank top and short shorts, and the last wore a long white and blue robe. Seymour smiled. "Yes. How long can you go, Sir Auron, when you see I have captured who you failed to protect. He looked sinisterly at the three women. He looked at the black haired woman. "Who will you die to save? Lulu?" he looked at the blonde. "Rikku?" he looked at the last one. "Or the Lady Yuna?" he asked evilly. He dragged the three unconscious women through a portal headed for Zanarkand.

So what do you think of Spira so far? Just to clear some things up: Rikku is not Riku, and I know Yuna, Rikku, and Paine appeared in KH2, but notice how I haven't used them. I'm ignoring that appeareance, one cause FFX-2 was lame, and they were little fairies. So I'm using their FFX appearance. EVERYONE PLEASE VOTE ON MY POLL. Thanks to the two who did. I'll update as soon as I can.