Ven stopped shivering. He took deep breaths for several moments, trying to collect the fragments that ran amok in his mind.

"Ven?" Aqua asked. Ventus noted she was running her hand through his hair.

"I-I'm fine, Aqua." he pushed her away so he could stand. He collected the fragments of his memory of the past half hour or so. Not only was he recalling the worst day of his life-

he had seen and felt the horrors Sora faced.

Ven began running "Come on, Sora needs us!" Confused, everyone else followed. Okay, he's just a good walk away-

"Ven?!" Riku exclaimed, his small group meeting the rest about halfway.

Sora was walking, but supported by Kairi and Riku on either side while Roxas had his Keyblade bared and ready to defend at a moment's notice.

"Sora! What did they...?" Ventus hovered near Sora; although his wounds were mostly healed, blood was still on his shirt and pants, and he looked tired. Ventus held Sora's shoulder, lowering his head and whispering "I wasn't there for you..."

Sora smiled "Hey, it's alright Ven-"

"No. No it's not alright. You nearly died and I wasn't there-"

"Ven, no one was there for me-"

"They were!"

"They arrived long after it started!"

Ventus sighed "I could've been there, I could've protected you. You gave me a second chance, YOU are the reason I'm still here, and I couldn't protect you. I owe you my life and I couldn't keep you safe."

"Ven," Kairi began "you shouldn't beat yourself up over this-"

"Excuse me, but has anyone else here survived their heart being shattered?!" Ventus snapped at her "I'm supposed to be DEAD right now and Sora taking me in is the only reason I'm not. This is the thing that should happen to ME, not him..." he added in a shaky whisper "Never him."

Aqua, while they had been arguing, walked up to Sora and asked "Are you okay?"

Sora nodded "Kairi fixed me up-"

"Hmm, shoddy healing..." Aqua muttered, holding Sora's arm and cutting the boy short; pinkish lines had begun to appear on his skin.

"Shoddy?!" Kairi exclaimed "I put my heart into that!"

Aqua pointed to the lines forming on Sora's skin "Scars." she stated simply "A good healing spell shouldn't leave scars, no matter how grave the injury-"

Sora started coughing.

"Sora, are you alright?" Goofy asked. Mickey and Donald nodded in agreement. Sora waved his free hand dismissively

"I'm-" cough "-fine-" wheeze "-guys!" His coughing grew even more violent, blood starting to come out of his mouth. He fell to his knees, shuddering profusely.

"Kairi, was there anything-?" Aqua barely had her question out before Kairi quickly said

"Stab wound, upper chest. There was one on his side too-"

Aqua wasted no time and wrenched off Sora's jacket and shirt, finding that the wounds Kairi mentioned had started to re-open.

"Curaga!"

The injuries healed, and Sora shuddered one more time before slumping into Aqua, eyes closed and falling into unconsciousness.

Kairi held herself awkwardly, fully aware that it was her substandard healing that led to this. Aqua noted Kairi's shame and said "I admire your willingness to help Sora, Kairi, it's just... this was healing on a level way above yours. It would've been better if Riku or Roxas did it." she then gave an approving nod "Although I will say that you did a remarkably good job."

Kairi nodded, but continued to look remorseful. "Um... T-thank you, Master Aqua-"

"Just Aqua."

"...O-okay, and um... can you at least put Sora's shirt back on?"

Aqua's cheeks became a light pink, and she weakly laughed. "Oh, yes, I-I think I should." She gently put Sora's shirt back on and tucked his jacket around him. Sora smiled, and muttered "thanks...mom..."

Aqua looked surprised by the remark, but only ruffled Sora's hair, saying "No problem."

Ventus watched, still frustrated with himself. Roxas patted his shoulder "There wasn't anything you could've done-"

"I have Keyblade armor and a rider. I could've traveled out here and gotten him back to safety-"

"Or you could've died. Ven, there's twelve of them and only one of you."

Ventus's shoulders sagged "I mean, I owe Sora everything I have. He kept me safer than I've kept him. It just feels like I can't even begin to repay my debt."

"Ven, you did your best." Riku patted his back "You're here for him now, so don't let anything stop you."

Ventus then nodded, Keyblade appearing in hand. He looked at it for a few moments, then gripped it tightly.

"Xehanort. It's time to face justice."

Yen Sid spoke "Yes, it is indeed time that Xehanort pay for the wrongs he has committed." he stared at the stars

"I think, now that Sora has been returned relatively unharmed, I shall go back and reclaim my tower."

"But Yen Sid, aren't you a-?"
"I am a retired Master. I have no place here, since I have put to rest the ways of the Keyblade decades ago." He waved his hand, a portal appearing. Before he left, he addressed everyone.

"The battle ahead for you, is one that has been brewing for many years. The experiences you have faced thus far, Aqua, Ventus, Sora, Riku, Kairi, Roxas, and Mickey, have been preparing you all for this moment. The Realm of Light is counting on your valor and bravery in the coming clash of light and darkness to prevail, and those who have been hurt in this conflict have been waiting for the justice that is about to be handed out at last."

He bowed, to everyone's surprise, and finished "My thoughts are with you, Heroes of the Realm of Light." and he vanished.

King Mickey summoned his Keyblade, raising it to the sky. Everyone else but Sora repeated the gesture, although the Kingdom Key appeared in Sora's hands, and it was clear that he was aware of what was happening.

"It's time to finish this fight once and for all."

Okay, don't expect the next chapter to be up quite as quickly, since I suck at writing combat scenes. But hey, we're ALMOST done.

BTW, point goes to anonymous user 'me' for knowing Sora's song back in chapter... 23, I think? Although he/she only gets half since they don't know the title ;)
And I thank everyone who's reviewed so far, since they've made this story my most reviewed one with a grand total of 34 reviews as of 8/22/12 at 11:37 AM central time. The reviews are good, and they've surpassed my previous epic story, Looming Darkness(only 13 right now) So I feel all warm and fussy inside thinking that you guys actually like this so much. To be honest, LD was my first fic EVER and even though it has always had a special spot in my heart, I think I like this more XD